Cruise Docs - is this all there is?

[bbowers]

Got my cruise docs on Monday and looked them over last night - for some reason, I was expecting to have to fill out reams and reams of paper. Is this seriously all there is? A couple of pages in the booklet and the Bahamas form? I feel like I'm missing something and it will be ugly when we get there - I certainly don't want to hold up the line!

THANKS!

 

[paulmc80]

That would be pretty much it. A couple of those cards is about all to fill-in if you aren't adding on transfers at the last minute, or not taking a minor person for whom you are not the parent or legal guardian.

We only fill out the embarkation form, charge authorization form (only one), departure form, and signing the contract. Not very much at all.

 

[kcashner]

That's it....and part of what's in the package probably doesn't even apply to you. It really isn't a big deal.

 

[Penny12]

Originally posted by kcashner
It really isn't a big deal.

Unless you're the nominated form filler for the household I find it tedious having to fill the darn stuff out and I only have to do it twice!

 

[DrCavin]

If your on the Eastern and everyone in your family is from the USA you will be saying, That is all I have to do to clear customs??? What was all the big deal about on the Disboards about it???

 

[Jillpie]

Just curious (first time cruising)...we have 3 kids and I've never seen these docs. So will I have to fill out five different forms for the five of us or is it one per family?

 

[invaderzim]

Jillpie

Each member of your family will get a cruise booklet -- a glorified bound coupon book basically. Everything is in there except the Bahama form, which is separate. And yes, you have to fill out the paperwork for every person separately, including the authorization to charge forms for your kids.

 

[kellimomo3]

If you are on the Western, do you still have to fill out the Bahamas form because of Castaway Cay??

Kelli

 

[jennyl772003]

The Bahamas form is because of Castaway Cay.

It's really kind silly how we all obsess over these documents, when there is not really anything to them, and realistically, you can get them and fill them out at the port.

 

[Jillpie]

Originally posted by invaderzim
Jillpie

Each member of your family will get a cruise booklet -- a glorified bound coupon book basically. Everything is in there except the Bahama form, which is separate. And yes, you have to fill out the paperwork for every person separately, including the authorization to charge forms for your kids.

Ok, thanks a bunch .

 

[shmora]

CAn I rip out only yhe pages that we need instead of taking the whole big coupon loooking books with us. We have six of them and they will take alot of room in my special organizer for this trip to take with me.

Shmora

 

[HumanCookie]

shmora,

You need to take the whole booklet with you.

 

[MarkRG]

The immigration morning on the Eastern has nothing to do with this book. If you're on the 7day Eastern, you'll still have to get up quite early in the am just so some offficial in St Thomas can look at you, at your id, yawn and send you back to your cabin. And the entire ship has to turn out for that tediousness.

No, you don't need to bring the whole booklet with (I'd bring one copy of the 6), just the pages that have forms to fill out or be signed and the top page that has all the info on it. Keep the forms from each booklet together however as that's how they'll look for them at check in.

I still recommend sitting down and filling them all out before going; There arn't very many writing surfaces at the port short of the check in counter. And it goes so much smoother when you get there if the forms are all done.

 

[mmouse37]

including the authorization to charge forms for your kids.

All forms need to be filled out for everyone except....
we only had to fill out one charge authorization for our family of five....we have sailed 10 times and that is all DCL needs....one per family.

Unless of course different people in your family will be using different credit cards.

MJ

 

[tecdavidt]

I would bring all booklets with you in case you missed tearing out one of the forms. You wouldn't want to skip tearing out one and have the booklet left at home. Just throw the books in a carry on you can get to if that happened at check in time. I was the form filler and for our family of 6 my hand got tired! I even got tired after ripping out the forms. Have a great cruise. Kathy

 

[amymouse]

I agree with tecdavidt. While it's true that you don't have to have the whole booklet. I would be afraid that I would miss a page that I needed when I was doing all the tearing.

But if you PROMISE to be very, very careful and rip out EVERY single page you need, then we MIGHT allow you to travel without all the booklets. (big wink)

BTW, for all you folks whose writing hand gets tired after filling out the forms for your entire family, the good news is that the customs form that has to be filled out when you return is just one (O-N-E) per family! That should make your day, right?

 

[shmora]

I think I'm going to rip out all forms that I need and bring only one of the whole DOCS to be safe.Thank you! Maybe then I will be allowed to sail with everyone. (wink!) Ha Ha!

Shmora

 

[invaderzim]

WARNING ABOUT RIPPING OUT PAGES.....

We just came back from the August 28th "10-day" cruise. I would be careful not having all your booklets with you for this reason. When the ship finally docked Monday night and we were bussed from Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, DCL offered to put anyone up in a hotel who could not catch their flight out on Tuesday. We missed our flight due to the distance the bus had to travel back to Orlando. When we met up with the DCL CM in the airport, she needed a page from at least one of my cruise booklets (the one with the original booker's name) to tear out and use for the hotel transfers. Luckily, I had brought them all with me.

Just in case of an emergency, I would bring everything. You never know if there is something in there they may need because of special circumstances.