Beware of the ship sailing when last names of travelers do not match!!!

[hollon]

I was wondering if you need a letter, birth certificate if the child is 17 and will be 18 in March - were taking our cruise this Dec. She's just three months of her 18th B-Day. Mother and Daughter have different last names because of divorce....?

[RetireeWannabee]

Far stranger & more incomprehensible things can happen.

Imagine our rage when we finally had to provide a death certificate (phone calls didnt work) to the hospital where our 23 yr. old son died, following an accident, so that they would quit billing him for the hour of treatment in their emergency room prior to his being pronounced dead? Absolutely true story that took place at the Baptist South Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN in 2002. Months of my calling their billing department to reiterate that they were billing, not only a dead person, but one who died on their property, did no good. I had to provide the documentation in the form of a death certificate........so anything is possible in this world of nightmarish paperwork that we all live.

 

I am so sorry, both for your loss and the ridiculous added stress, drama and BS.

 

I would have let them take him to collections.

[LeesSummitCruiser1]

I was wondering if you need a letter, birth certificate if the child is 17 and will be 18 in March - were taking our cruise this Dec. She's just three months of her 18th B-Day. Mother and Daughter have different last names because of divorce....?

 

 

If she is not 18 on day of departure the rules apply and if you get a check in agent that is up on the rules and enforces them you will need the documentation. The law is clear its the enforcement that is spoty.

[LLM]

Now I'm getting worried.

 

I'm travelling with my children, who are 12 and 13. They have a different last name from mine and have their own passports. I will have a notarized letter from their father giving me permission to take them on the cruise. Here in Ontario, birth certificates do not have the parents names on them so even though I have the birth certificates, they don't have my name on them and I've changed my last name since they were born anyway. Should I take a notarized copy of our divorce order or will the letter from their father be enough?

 

You have to get the long form birth certificate. DH and I had a son back in November. We were told to get the long form birth certificate as it has both of our names on it. The only thing is that it has my maiden name. I guess that way you would be covered if a married person did end up changing back to their maiden name after a divorce or whatever.

 

Lisa

[pmshirl]

I suspect that these regulations are less about Homeland Security and more about taking a minor child out of the country, without both parents present, due to the increase in divorce & child kidnapping, usually by a family member. Administrative entities aren't trying to make our lives miserable, but only adapting to an ever complicated world.

 

We learned the hard way, 5 years ago, when crossing the Canadian border with our 15 yr. old Grandson who had recently come to live with us full time.

His mother had willingly relinquished guardianship and we had the documents listing us as primary guardians, but it had not occurred to me to bring those with us. We all had proof of citizenship & share the same last name, but immigration still wanted documentation stating that we had permission to take our Grandson out of the country. They said that it was standard procedure as a result of so many estranged family members fleeing with minor children. Because of Brandon's age, they settled on a private conversation with him in a back room, out of our earshot, in which he could verify that he was with us of his own free will & we were in fact, his legal guardians. Had he been younger so less able to speak for himself, they would have turned us back. That experience taught me to never go anywhere without a copy of our guardianship papers, including for doctors, drivers permit, etc. A copy stayed in my purse.

Live & learn....just sorry it had to be at the start of your much anticipated cruise. What an awful circumstance.

 

 

To make a long story short! I too have legal Guardianship for my 17 yr old GD. She has cruised on RC with us many time ( Diamond status earned herself). Her mother is Incarcerated! No where about of Father!

 

In June 09 on the AOS out of San Juan, I had my Guardianship papers, she had her passport ( last name different from ours), and they refused her to Board the Ship, without a Letter from her parent giving consent to leave the country!

 

This was a B2B cruise and I was in No way not getting on that ship! I had always taken a notarized letter from her mother on prior Salings, No One ever ask to see it! I had to contact a Friend who is a Political Representative from our State, on a Sunday, to get in contact with the Prison, have her mother Fax a signed Doc. to RC, so we could board.

 

My Legal Guardianship papers were not accepted by the Agent with RC!:confused:

 

I need proof she was allowed to leave the Country by a Parent! I tried explaining if I am the Legal Guardian, I am giving her permission to Travel!

I was still denied!

 

Just to give you a heads up on my experience! My GD just cruised in May on the Explorer (2009) and we were never asked for anything, nor did we have to provide docs for any other of her 19 cruises.

[james_19742000]

This is interesting, seems to me that it all depends on the check in person doing the business as to whether you have problems or not.

 

I am from the UK, and am travelling on the Independence of the Seas this Saturday, am planning on travelling with my wife same surname as me, my wifes daughter (name changed to my name by deed poll) and her friend, we have notorized letter that we downloaded from the Rc website, all signed etc, sent to RC for checking, all agreed its fine, we have all the various travel insurance covering everybody etc etc etc, now it looks liek my wife might not be able to go as her Father has been taken ill, and she might be needed here, soif I continue to go with my wife's daughter (who has my surname, and is on all the paperwork, passports etc) plus her friend, what additional paperwork do I need to take??

 

I have not adopted her, her biological Father has no contact and has not been in any contact for over 10 years so no chance of getting anything from him, so would I need a notorized letter from my wife for her???

 

Anyt ideas???

 

Thanks, James.

[emdia43]

This is interesting, seems to me that it all depends on the check in person doing the business as to whether you have problems or not.

 

I am from the UK, and am travelling on the Independence of the Seas this Saturday, am planning on travelling with my wife same surname as me, my wifes daughter (name changed to my name by deed poll) and her friend, we have notorized letter that we downloaded from the Rc website, all signed etc, sent to RC for checking, all agreed its fine, we have all the various travel insurance covering everybody etc etc etc, now it looks liek my wife might not be able to go as her Father has been taken ill, and she might be needed here, soif I continue to go with my wife's daughter (who has my surname, and is on all the paperwork, passports etc) plus her friend, what additional paperwork do I need to take??

 

ave not adopted her, her biological Father has no contact and has not been in any contact for over 10 years so no chance of getting anything from him, so would I need a notorized letter from my wife for her???

 

Anyt ideas???

 

Thanks, James.

Is she under 18?

[james_19742000]

Is she under 18?

 

Yes.

[emdia43]

You say you have a notarized letter already? I am not clear why you would have needed that since your wife and her daughter with the same name were traveling together.........the girl is under 18 so your wife was the only person who could give permission since her natural father is out of the picture.

Am I confused ...

[james_19742000]

You say you have a notarized letter already? I am not clear why you would have needed that since your wife and her daughter with the same name were traveling together.........the girl is under 18 so your wife was the only person who could give permission since her natural father is out of the picture.

Am I confused ...

 

Sorry, my mistake, we have a notorized letter for our daughters friend that is travelling with us, its just we wondered what we would need to produce if my wife doesnt travel as her Father is ill, and doenst look good, I am still willing to travel, but obviously, not being the real parent (although in her eyes I am her Dad) and although she carries the same surname, and I have not adopted her in law, I just wondered what RCI would need me, or my wife or the pair of produce so as not to get any hassle with boarding?

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks, James.

[emdia43]

I think I would rather get a letter for your daughter than risk running up against these rules and being turned away at the pier. As you can see, they are enforced erratically, but...

It was my understanding that UK pax did not need a Notarized letter for RCCL UK- I thought they had changed their regs, since the services of a Notary are harder to come by in the UK (they are easily found here) and much more expensive there, since they are Lawyers first and Notaries second......

[emdia43]

Here is RCCL UK's own policy.

Notice that they no longer mention a Notary but legal documents are required.

http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Before+You+Purchase+&faqId=2702

[pmshirl]

James:

 

I would get the exact type notarized letter ( proving that your Wife, the mother of the daughter), is giving you the permission for the daughter to travel with you on the Cruise!

 

Don't take any chances!!! the last thing you want is to be at the pier and have no connection to get the proper paperwork needed to cruise.

 

Take it from me...I spent 3 1/2 hrs on the phone at the Pier to get what was requested!

 

These RC agents seem to be cracking down on the minor requirements after how many years it's been in affect!!!!

 

Sorry to hear your wife can't join the rest of you!

Have a Great Cruise!

[james_19742000]

I spoke with RCI this morning and they have assured me that it isnt a problem, as we both have the same surname, and they have emailed to that effect, unfortunately getting a notary etc to sign the paperwork here in the UK is not that simple, its about £80 which is about $140, so expensive as well.

 

Hopefully teh wife will still come, so wont be a major problem, but will have to see how things go!

[emdia43]

I spoke with RCI this morning and they have assured me that it isnt a problem, as we both have the same surname, and they have emailed to that effect, unfortunately getting a notary etc to sign the paperwork here in the UK is not that simple, its about £80 which is about $140, so expensive as well.

 

Hopefully teh wife will still come, so wont be a major problem, but will have to see how things go!

 

Yes, that's why they recently changed the requirements that said 'Notarized' to fit the UK situation. If you go to any bank, travel agent, business here, they are likely to have a notary. They don 't have to be lawyers as they do in the UK. They just attest to the ID of persons signing documents.

If you are a customer of the business there will be no charge or a minimal fee here....

[james_19742000]

Yes, that's why they recently changed the requirements that said 'Notarized' to fit the UK situation. If you go to any bank, travel agent, business here, they are likely to have a notary. They don 't have to be lawyers as they do in the UK. They just attest to the ID of persons signing documents.

If you are a customer of the business there will be no charge or a minimal fee here....

 

So whats the difference then between getting a notary to sign the documents then as I thought and getting it notorized then? Or is it just the same thing?

 

We can go to a lawyer etc here in the Uk and get them to sign it and put there official stamp etc on it, but again that still has cost implications, personally I have objection to a small fee, but when its these silly overpriced fee's it just gets silly then.

[emdia43]

Umm- a Notary attests that the person signing documents is who he says he is.

It's just that it's a simple procedure here, as they are plentiful.

 

It's harder to find a Notary in the UK and more $$$ as a Notary also has to be a Lawyer... you just don't find Notaries employed in businesses, banks etc.

 

All that RCCl is now saying is that it does not have to be a NOTARY PUBLIC, in Britain, but someone with legal credentials to certify that the document has been signed by the person with the authority to give permission for travel.

[golfer1966]

Hello all my cruise critic friends, I am back and semi enjoyed a 3 out of 5 day cruise.... Where shall I begin??? Can you imagine this: the emotion of getting to the Port 3 hours ahead of schedule for your 4:00 sailing, checking in your luggage, taking pictures..., laughing and then during check-in taken aside and told you can not travel??? Wait it gets even better, my best friend and her sister get on the ship without realizing what is going on.... Are you feeling this yet? You are traveling with your 14 year old daughter that carries a different last name than yours. You have all the normal travel docs required & of course your passports, then you are told that you can not travel without an ORIGINAL birth certificate to establish a relationship between the 2 of you!!! (new regulation as of a week ago) What do you do?? Me, the Notary, thought out all my options, First, request to fax right? NO!! how about a sworn affidavit from my friend who can acknowledge? NO!!! Told only acceptions could come from headquarters, on the phone with resolution department and they even spoke with the captain to accept faxed birth certificate !!!! Given the fax number at 2:30, son leaves work to fax copy, rings on his end but does not go through, wow what a surprise, someone turned the fax off, I realized and HAD THEM TURN ON FAX AND WAS RECEIVED AT 3:12. At that time, FULL OF MIXED EMOTIONS, we gathered OUR belongings, preparing to board and THROWN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE and told it would not be accepted!!!! Desperate and in tears, (as the ship started to blow its horn for departure) called resolution, spoke to security, every supervisor and final highest in command & told me point blank that I was unable to travel because I did not have the ORIGINAL!!! Myself, my daughter and our luggage were then escorted out by security (as we were the only people left in the building) & cried like a baby as we watched our perfect vacation sail away!!!! With my best friend still on board!!! To make a long story short, booked a flight to Bermuda with my daughter and checked in while at port. New procedures have taken from my experience and am working on a timeline to the CEO to make him aware of my ordeal and hopefully get reimbursed for all my extra expenses.

 

 

I believe the Set Sail Pass makes reference to this and says that you need to have the originol birth certificate. What happened to you stinks and I am sorry you had to go through that, but I doubt that RCI will refund your airfare since the Set Sail states this. I hope I m wrong and they refund your airfare. Once again...sorry for your inconvenience.

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

My letter was received and I was called for the 3rd time now from the Guest Resolution department since my return home. I was told that even the captain was involved with my nightmare on boarding and it was all documented by resolution from my very first phone call. I was assured that I would be sent credit vouchers for myself and my daughter (minimal) for the unacceptable treatment. I was assured that there is going to be consequence to employees for the nonsense on the day of departure. It was nice to see that I was not just another "Member" to them and appreciate the fact that this was all addressed. I think it has been a learning experience for myself as well as many others. More than anything, the "one time" you do not carry a document, that is the time you will need it!!! I in the meanwhile have already booked my next family vacation and nothing will stop my love for cruising!!!!

[crusinmama06]

Denise, it's a shame you didn't find CC (or even the Family Board) sooner because we discuss this issue all the time. Could have saved you some heartache. :(

 

I sometimes cruise without my husband. So, even though my kids have the same last name as me, and they have passports, I still bring a letter from their father saying I have permission to leave the country with them.

 

This isn't a new issue. I started carrying those letters on our first cruise without him, back in 2006.

 

It would have been horrible to watch that ship sail away. Glad you have a great attitude and will continue to cruise.

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

Denise, it's a shame you didn't find CC (or even the Family Board) sooner because we discuss this issue all the time. Could have saved you some heartache. :(

 

I sometimes cruise without my husband. So, even though my kids have the same last name as me, and they have passports, I still bring a letter from their father saying I have permission to leave the country with them.

 

This isn't a new issue. I started carrying those letters on our first cruise without him, back in 2006.

 

It would have been horrible to watch that ship sail away. Glad you have a great attitude and will continue to cruise.

 

 

I did have all of those docs and always do. What I did not have this 1 time was her birth certificate. Never was requested in the past now that all carry passports. So I just left behind.

[MickeyB426]

I always bring my nephew and nieces and bring passports and notarized letters from their parents.

 

 

When I heard that birth certificates were needed, as well, I was shocked.

 

Based on this thread I contacted RCCL ten minutes ago.

 

They told me that you need (in addition to the letter) either a passport or an original birth certificate, but NOT both.

 

When I asked for the area on the website that tells me this, she referred me to this link,

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do;jsessionid=0000pzBn0K8yNJAWN4XJl6MY70C:12hbioe0u?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqSubjectName=Before+You+Purchase+&faqId=2702&faqSubjectId=322&faqType=faq

 

which says this:

 

Q: What if I'm traveling with a minor and I'm not the parent or legal guardian?

 

A: Adults who are not the parent or legal guardian of a minor traveling with them must present an original notarized letter signed by the child's parent(s), authorizing the adult to take the child on the specific cruise, supervise the child and allow emergency medical treatment to be administered.

 

(Of course, what I referenced does not mention birth certificates at all, and I told the rep as much, but she insisted you do not need both)

.

.

[morgan1312]

I always carry the correct documents, notarized letters, and RCCL staff have yet to ask for them ... which doesn't surprise me as every policy they have seems to be enforced erratically.

 

 

Just took my 11 yr old GS on his 8th cruise, his mom has been on a couple but not many of them. We have different last names. He has a passport. We have always had a notorized letter from our daughter giving us permission to take him on the cruise and allow medical care. This was the first time RCCL ever asked for the letter, boy am I glad I insisted that my daughter give it to us.......she kept forgetting to get it till 2 days before we left.

 

I didn't need his birth certificate, but think I will take it in the future just in case.

[emdia43]

Problem is, it depends on who is at the desk when you check in.

The OP was denied boarding because she didn't have the child's birth certificate.

Mickey B426 has just got off the phone with RCCL and that rep says you don't need a birth cert.

This is the problem...

[mom2tcdx2]

I had wondered what issues would come up from telling everyone to get passports. Those do not show the parent's names but if you are told to get a passport preferably, why would you bring both? I have a different last name from my daughter and son as they have their father's last name and we were never married.

 

I am thinking it would be better off to just sail then with a birth certificate and not worry about getting the passport then. Why go through that extra cost right now.

 

Oddly on the Royal website it does state the following: U.S. and Canadian citizen children ages 18 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county or municipal authority.

 

And also - A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.