Do I need their Dads signature?

[cedricandsophie]

We have taken our grandson several times. Just had his mother sign a form. When she came with us, there was never a question about custodial parent. he has a passport. But a couple of years ago the father made a fuss and took all of us to court because we were taking him on a cruise during a period when his family was having a reunion. The judge looked at all the facts and said he could go but to stop taking up the courts time and work it out ahead of time. But still never needed an signature from the father to get a passport or on the Ship.

 

[wilkeliza]

Oh ok that makes sense. I wasn't sure how that worked. So will it show up then when they scan the passport that I was allowed to be issued a passport without my ex husbands signature?

I'm not sure what all will come up. The passports really are only for identity. They ask questions to you and the kids to determine the rest. They might ask for name, age, whose this, etc. In most cases to get a true flag you would have to have a spouse or ex who already called in that you had kidnapped the kids. Yes they can ask anyone but through the minor questions they try to weed out harmless people trying to have a nice vacation from those trying to do harm. They also pay attention to how the kids are acting etc. So just remind your kids when coming and going through any official stop be it another country or US customs to be on their best behavior and to be polite and truthfully answer any questions they are asked.

 

[chik1987]

I'm not sure what all will come up. The passports really are only for identity. They ask questions to you and the kids to determine the rest. They might ask for name, age, whose this, etc. In most cases to get a true flag you would have to have a spouse or ex who already called in that you had kidnapped the kids. Yes they can ask anyone but through the minor questions they try to weed out harmless people trying to have a nice vacation from those trying to do harm. They also pay attention to how the kids are acting etc. So just remind your kids when coming and going through any official stop be it another country or US customs to be on their best behavior and to be polite and truthfully answer any questions they are asked.

Thanks yea I'm sure we wouldn't have any issues i just worry about everything in general haha.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks yea I'm sure we wouldn't have any issues i just worry about everything in general haha.

Totally understandable. I am always so worried traveling internationally but have come to really enjoy it. I'm always too overly cautious with the customs form and my fiance who has been traveling internationally all his life is like you do not need to claim the value of the fish extender gifts.

 

[chik1987]

Totally understandable. I am always so worried traveling internationally but have come to really enjoy it. I'm always too overly cautious with the customs form and my fiance who has been traveling internationally all his life is like you do not need to claim the value of the fish extender gifts.

ha yea I can see myself being over cautious too. It might not seem like it but most everyone has put my mind more at ease about this specific cruise. I know future trips might be a little more difficult with things but we will have to wait and see. If not there is still plenty of the US I still haven't seen and we can save all international trips till the kids are older

 

[tink1970]

When DD was much younger I think I had a notarized letter for a couple of cruises she took...DCL never asked for them. So no longer out of PC do I bother.

I've traveled internationally with her several times and the only place they actually look at the letter and take her aside and ask her questions is Canada.

 

[professorandmom]

Where in here do you see anything that sounds like anything involved is simple?

The most common response is to just get a notarized permission letter to be safe....that IS a simple solution to folks who don't understand the challenges of an uncooperative ex [or an absent ex or a disappeared ex or a vindictive ex]...most folks would not assume that a person would use a child's vacation as a hammer/leverage but it happens...
I certainly didn't mean to imply that you or any one person sees this as simple, but some one always does

 

[nancyjo1998]

Did you get asked anything getting on and off the ship?

They did not ask any questions! Also as a side note this April I took my ex-step son on our spring break cruise. I had his dad sign the paper that DCL provides on the website about a minor traveling without parents, they did not ask once to see it. Not sure if its because we still have the same last name or not, but I was prepared with that form.