Solo Parent - Mexico cruise - Issues?

[DisneyWishes14]

Hi! We are gold on DCL, so have sailed a number of times and I even sailed solo with DS once to the Bahamas with no issues. I am contemplating taking him on one of the San Diego-Mexico Wonder cruises next spring, but DH will not be with us. I will certainly get a notarized letter signed by DH stating his knowledge of the cruise, cruise dates, etc., however, I'm wondering if anyone has encountered any issues as a solo parent on a cruise to Mexico? Our ports would be Cabo and Ensenada and I would book our excursions directly through DCL. Thanks!

 

[bearette]

The only issue as a solo parent is if you don't have the letter from the other parent authorizing travel. Mexico has issues with one parent taking the kids in custody disputes which is why this rule is in effect. I haven't done Disney in that area,but we have a house in Baja and travel with our kids there without issues.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The only issue as a solo parent is if you don't have the letter from the other parent authorizing travel. Mexico has issues with one parent taking the kids in custody disputes which is why this rule is in effect. I haven't done Disney in that area,but we have a house in Baja and travel with our kids there without issues.

Wonderful. Thank you so much! I will definitely have DH sign a notarized letter.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Hi! We are gold on DCL, so have sailed a number of times and I even sailed solo with DS once to the Bahamas with no issues. I am contemplating taking him on one of the San Diego-Mexico Wonder cruises next spring, but DH will not be with us. I will certainly get a notarized letter signed by DH stating his knowledge of the cruise, cruise dates, etc., however, I'm wondering if anyone has encountered any issues as a solo parent on a cruise to Mexico? Our ports would be Cabo and Ensenada and I would book our excursions directly through DCL. Thanks!

I sailed solo to Mexico with my son with no issues. Get the notarized travel authorization for your peace of mind, but in reality, you'll likely never be asked to show it. I've taken my son on 5 cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean & Alaska, and have flown him into Canada & Europe, yet have never been asked to show the parental approval letter that we always had ready, despite the fact that my son and I even have different last names.

I really wish it weren't so easy to take a child to a foreign country without documentation of the other parent's approval, but that's another issue.

 

[darnheather]

Have always cruised solo with my kids. It's fantastic.

 

[tlprice]

I have cruised solo with my daughter to Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, and Mediterranean. I think I worried and took a notarized letter my first cruise, but since nobody ever asked for it, I completely forgot to do it for any of my other cruises and never had an issue.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

took a notarized letter my first cruise, but since nobody ever asked for it, I completely forgot to do it for any of my other cruises and never had an issue.

Unfortunately, that's the sort of situation where it's not an issue, until it is. If you had been asked for it, what would you have done?

Yes, chances are it won't be needed. But, on rare occasions, people are asked for it.

Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. It's just a piece of paper.

 

[tlprice]

Unfortunately, that's the sort of situation where it's not an issue, until it is. If you had been asked for it, what would you have done?

Yes, chances are it won't be needed. But, on rare occasions, people are asked for it.

Better to have it and not need it than the other way around. It's just a piece of paper.

I know. I just forgot until I read this post. Good thing nothing happened. I guess I should be on it about getting one for our upcoming cruise. I've always kind of thought that since both parents have to sign and approve for her to get a passport, that kind of covers it. If he didn't want her to leave the country, then he wouldn't fill out the paperwork for the passport.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know. I just forgot until I read this post. Good thing nothing happened. I guess I should be on it about getting one for our upcoming cruise. I've always kind of thought that since both parents have to sign and approve for her to get a passport, that kind of covers it. If he didn't want her to leave the country, then he wouldn't fill out the paperwork for the passport.

Yeah, in theory that's how it works. But, you never know - there may be kids with passports (approved by both parents at the time of issuance) whose parents are now separated and one is taking the kid out of the country. It happens.

 

[anjuan]

I did that cruise with my daughter last March and was never asked for anything. With that being said, my daughter's father is deceased so I always travel with a copy of his death certificate.

 

[aliceinvunderland]

I have traveled alone with my kids to Mexico several times (hubby usually catches up with us a few days later), and have never been asked for any documentation. But I always travel with a notarized letter, just in case.

 

[disney789]

I traveled with my two young daughters on DCL to Ensenada and when we returned to the ship I was asked for our birth certificates or passports. I left those documents on the ship and only had our KTTW card and my drivers license. The officer said they’re strict because of human trafficking. He eventually let us through security but stated if we got back off the ship we would need our passports or birth certificates to get back on. I didn’t get off the ship there anymore.

 

[pangyal]

We are in Canada so I’m not sure if it’s the same in the US, but there is a template you can download on the government’s website that is an easy click-and-fill for traveling without the other parent. Perhaps this is something that is available on the US side as well? It makes the letter process really easy.

 

[tlprice]

This is what I found for the U.S.

https://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/minor-travel-consent-form.html

 

[msmama]

I have traveled extensively with my son solo and have never had any issues what so ever until driving back from Canada two weeks ago. The guy was totally nice about it, but questioned both of us (my son is 11) and then explained why he did so - he was a chatty guy. We have different last names which is why he questioned, he said.

On a cruise though, at least the ones I've been on, customs seems more lax so I would guess it wouldn't be as much of an issue. I do have a notarized letter that I usually take with me when we fly (didn't think to take it to drive to Canada)

 

[Dug720]

I think the bottom line is: it is far better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I think the bottom line is: it is far better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

This has always been my philosophy.

My DD and I have different last names. I've never been asked for the letter, but I get a notarized letter from my ex just in case. I only do this when cruising or traveling internationally. I don't bother with it for our domestic trips, and we get more questions from TSA boarding a flight to Orlando than we do boarding a cruise. I've noticed that since my daughter became a teen, the questions from TSA have gotten more numerous and pointed. I'm guessing it's due to human trafficking of teen girls. Sad, but I'm glad TSA at least attempts something to block trafficking.

 

[ali_in_al]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread! I've taken my boys on two cruises to the Bahamas, but we are considering different itineraries for late 2020 or 2021. I know I need my ex to come with us and/or sign off on me getting them passports, but had not realized a notarized 'ok to travel' letter might be needed as well. Thanks!

 

[MinnieInVA]

My husband is deceased, and my daughter has a different last name than me, so I travel with a sheaf of official paperwork these days. On our most recent cruise out of San Diego, I actually had a Disney cast member say something to me as we went through security that I might need to show proof that my daughter was my daughter because she has a different last name. In the end, I didn't have to show anything, but it's always a possibility. I'm not willing to miss out on a vacation because of a paperwork issue.