Short notice cruise and no time for passport!

[clten]

What is advised and what is required are two different things.

I personally would not cruise without a passport. But I have my passport and can grab it and go. Now if I misplaced it, it's not going to stop me from cruising because a passport is not the REQUIREMENT for a closed loop cruise from a US port. At this point in time, my driver's license and birth certificate are all that is needed. I don't need to call DCL. It isn't their rules - it's a government requirement so I can check the State Departments website and see what the current requirements are.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't need to call DCL. It isn't their rules - it's a government requirement so I can check the State Departments website and see what the current requirements are.

You need to check with your cruise line. Some cruise lines, not DCL, require passports on close loop cruises. Government requirements are minimum requirements.

edited to add: DCL, and most of the mass market cruise lines want lot of customers. Minimum government requirements are all that's required.

Some of the luxury lines require passports, even on cruises which are exempt from the passport requirement.

 

[Lilsia]

I agree. You actually do not need them, they are not required.
The marriage certificate for your wife and the notarized form saying that your wife can leave the country with your daughter are good ideas.

You don't need a notarized statement for the Mom to take the child on a cruise. I have sailed with my daughters(without my husband) 9 times and have never once been asked for that. You would only need something like that if the adult with the child is not a parent. I do recommend getting everyone a passport and trip insurance that covers the cost of emergency medical/EVAC back to the US in case of an emergency. If someone gets hurt, you don't have the time to sit at an Embassy trying to sort out how to get a passport.

 

[Dug720]

You don't need a notarized statement for the Mom to take the child on a cruise. I have sailed with my daughters(without my husband) 9 times and have never once been asked for that. You would only need something like that if the adult with the child is not a parent. I do recommend getting everyone a passport and trip insurance that covers the cost of emergency medical/EVAC back to the US in case of an emergency. If someone gets hurt, you don't have the time to sit at an Embassy trying to sort out how to get a passport.

It's better to have that notarized letter and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Lilsia]

It's better to have that notarized letter and not need it than need it and not have it.

I am all for being prepared, but there is no legal requirement for that. I have not heard of 1 story of anyone being asked for one. If you are planning on flying with a child to another Country, then I would get one. But a closed loop cruise, it is not necessary. We would have heard from people if they were ever asked to produce one. It is one less thing to worry about getting ahead of time. I travel been travelling with my girls solo since they were 2 and 3 years old. We have gone to numerous states, including Hawaii and several cruises and no one has even raised and eyebrow about it.

 

[MomOTwins]

I am all for being prepared, but there is no legal requirement for that. I have not heard of 1 story of anyone being asked for one. If you are planning on flying with a child to another Country, then I would get one. But a closed loop cruise, it is not necessary. We would have heard from people if they were ever asked to produce one. It is one less thing to worry about getting ahead of time. I travel been travelling with my girls solo since they were 2 and 3 years old. We have gone to numerous states, including Hawaii and several cruises and no one has even raised and eyebrow about it.

This is from the US Customs and Border Protection website. It's great for you that you have never had an issue, but I don't think that is an adequate reason to counsel others ignore the US government's published guidance.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups, a note signed by both parents) stating 'I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission.'

​

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

Adults traveling with children should also be aware that, while the U.S. does not require this documentation, other countries may have a requirement and failure to produce notarized permission letters and/or birth certificates could result in travelers being refused entry (Canada has very strict requirements in this regard)."

 

[Lilsia]

This is from the US Customs and Border Protection website. It's great for you that you have never had an issue, but I don't think that is an adequate reason to counsel others ignore the US government's published guidance.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, friends, or in groups, a note signed by both parents) stating 'I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission.'

While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if we do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

Adults traveling with children should also be aware that, while the U.S. does not require this documentation, other countries may have a requirement and failure to produce notarized permission letters and/or birth certificates could result in travelers being refused entry (Canada has very strict requirements in this regard)."

That is for when you are flying outside of the Country. A closed loop cruise is not included in that, hence the reason why you don't need a passport. DCL does not ask for this and no TSA agent asks for proof for just flying within the USA, unless the rare case that your child fits some Amber Alert. And if an issue comes up that you have to fly back to the Country, they are not going to ask you to prove that you are bringing your own child BACK into the Country. Everyone should do what makes them comfortable. I am just giving my extensive, personal experience on this matter.

 

[MomOTwins]

That is for when you are flying outside of the Country. A closed loop cruise is not included in that, hence the reason why you don't need a passport. DCL does not ask for this and no TSA agent asks for proof for just flying within the USA, unless the rare case that your child fits some Amber Alert. And if an issue comes up that you have to fly back to the Country, they are not going to ask you to prove that you are bringing your own child BACK into the Country. Everyone should do what makes them comfortable. I am just giving my extensive, personal experience on this matter.

The CBP website actually also discussed driving across the border so it was not just flights You said just generally that you have been on lots of cruises and it is not needed and did not say only closed loop, but DCL also sails from Vancouver, and Canada is the country US customs specifically mentions. Additionally, even on a closed loop there is always the possibility of having to fly between ports if you are on an excursion that misses the boat or end up needing emergency medical care. While closed loop is nice in theory, you are in fact no longer in the USA when you disembark.

I’m sure there are lots of travelers who have had misfortune you have never had in your extensive experience, but that doesn’t mean it does not happen. For example, I was reading on another site where someone asked about safety of taking passports with you off the ship, and a person there commented that those who mentioned the risk of theft were overstating the risk because they have been on dozens of cruises and never had theirs stolen. But my mom did have our passports stolen by a purse snatcher on our vacation so it does happen. My point was just that you cannot say something does not happen ever simply because it has never happened to you.

 

[daedelus]

Additionally, even on a closed loop there is always the possibility of having to fly between ports if you are on an excursion that misses the boat or end up needing emergency medical care.

This is/was my point exactly. In the event of a disruptive issue, you would be much better equipped to deal with said issue if you traveled with a passport. Unless directed to by the incoming country's customs / DCL, I do not carry my passport with me off ship either, but I DO carry a photo ID (usually my driver's license) and a photocopy of my passport. I've also never had an issue, but I've heard of people who have.

At the end of the day, you do what you're comfortable doing. Best of luck, and enjoy your cruise.

Cheers!