This is a little personal

[IrishCowboy]

It can be a very difficult situation having to deal with a vindictive ex-spouse who will try to use any situation to his/her advantage. Unless you have experienced it, you don't know what it is like.

We've cruised 5 times on DCL over the past 2.5 years and we never needed any documentation for my step-daughter.

My wife's ex-husband is a real SOB and we didn't want to have to deal with him. We were prepared to tell DCL or Custom or whoever asked that her birth-father was deceased.

Nobody ever asked or questionedus about anything, even though she has a separate last name from the rest of our family.

 

[tecdavidt]

I have been on a total of 13 cruises since '97 and never once did USA customs checked people boarding the ship to see if they had a slip of paper from a noncustodial parent giving them the OK to take the child on a cruise. All one needs is a valid birth cert. or passport to leave the country. What USA customs do check for is valid citizenship for the USA when coming back into the country, period.

Again my two sons have different last names than mine, the address is different from their birth cert. and I and their father are listed on their certificates. No body has every questioned me if I had permission from the ex. I am the custodial parent and no one has ever asked me if I was the custodial parent. We have friends who took their children on a Celebrity cruise last Spring Break. She has custody and her husband is a family law attorney. No form was signed by her ex giving her the OK.

I do not have a good relationship with my ex. If I would of asked him to sign a piece of paper the vacations would of never been taken. He is vindictive and would go all out to make my life miserable. IrishCowboy is correct, "unless you have experienced it, you don't know what it is like." In my case, the ex is the one who wanted the divorce and he is the one who is vindictive. I quit trying to figure the man out. I raised my children and I took them on DCL cruises and if somebody decided to question me I had my attorneys phone number. I never had to call him for help.

Kathy

 

[yourtravelpro]

Unfortunately, customs and immigrations doesn't excuse people who have a bad relationship with their ex, which I might add is probably 50 percent of the population, including myself.

The notarized letter is something that is required for parent's traveling without the other parent. The fact that you have never been asked before for this information doesn't mean it's not required. They randomly ask for this info and you have obviously been lucky.

It's like crossing the border into Canada, you can probably go across 10 times without your car ever been searched, but it doesn't mean that it will never happen.

I don't know what more to say about this subject.

It's my job as a travel agent to advise my clients of this information. If they chose to travel without the proper documents then they are responsible for the consequences, if there are any.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I find this very scary that children are being able to travel (especially outside the country) without both parent's permission. I don't want to use the word custodial because the way divorce decrees are written both parents can have joint custody with primary residence with one parent. Anyway, how would you feel if your ex-spouse traveled with your child without your permission?

While a notarized form is not required for all countries it is now a requirement if a passport is applied for by a minor under the age of 14. And I am certainly for this being a requirement anytime a minor leaves the country.

For the record, those of you on the Western Cruise take note:

With the number of international child custody cases on the rise, several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent child abductions. For example, Mexico has a law that requires a child traveling alone, or with only one parent, or in someone else's custody, to carry written, notarized consent from the absent parent or parents. No authorization is needed, if the child travels alone and is in possession of a U.S. passport. A child traveling alone with a birth certificate requires written, notarized authorization from both parents.

This information was obtained on http://www.travel.state.gov/yourtripabroad.html You can look up each country's requirements on www.travel.state.gov

Edited to add: here is some Bahamas' information:

ENTRY AND EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens must present original proof of U.S. citizenship (valid U.S. passport or certified U.S. birth certificate with a government-issued photo ID) and a return ticket. A passport is recommended as it eases processing upon return to the U.S. Voter registration cards, Social Security cards, driver's licenses, affidavits, and other similar documents are not acceptable as proof of U.S. citizenship. U.S. citizens do not need to obtain visas for stays of up to one month. Travelers arriving via private watercraft are charged docking fees.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian not traveling with the child. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry and departure.

For further information, U.S. citizens may contact the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, 2200 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 319-2660, or the Bahamian Consulates in Miami or New York. Additional information is available on The Bahamas Tourist Board web site http://www.bahamas.com, by telephone at 1-800-422-4262, and on the official web site of the Government of The Bahamas, http://www.bahamas.com.bs/.

I found this information at http://travel.state.gov/bahamas.html

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by yourtravelpro
The notarized letter is something that is required for parent's traveling without the other parent. The fact that you have never been asked before for this information doesn't mean it's not required. They randomly ask for this info and you have obviously been lucky.

It's like crossing the border into Canada, you can probably go across 10 times without your car ever been searched, but it doesn't mean that it will never happen.

What I think the OP was interested in, and what has been repeated over and over, is that there seems to be zero incidence of anyone traveling on a DCL cruise with their own child who was required to produce a notarized letter from the other parent. (As already mentioned, it really isn't a particularly logical requirement as neither Disney nor customs could really have any idea of whether you are currently married to the other parent, they have disappeared from the planet, they are deceased, or you have no idea who the other parent is.)

Theoretically customs could request all sorts of troublesome things and cause problems with any traveler if they questioned identity or documents. As a practical matter, written permission from other parent appears to a non-issue on DCL.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

So what happens if during the course of the cruise the "troublesome" ex-spouse or other parent finds out that his or her child is out of the country without his or her permission in a country that REQUIRES such documentation and raises an issue with the State Department? Far fetched? Maybe, but if these ex-spouses and other parents are so feared that they can't be asked to sign a permission form, wouldn't this be in their realm of possibility?

 

[FredS]

Just about anything is "in the realm of possibility" in this world. I think that many "troublesome" non-custodial parents would not go to the expense or effort to attempt to pursue the matter with the state department. They are not "feared" because they will go to great lengths and expense, but that they will interpret a simple request as an opportunity to be difficult by their lack of cooperation.

Each parent would have to make that decision, but "farfetched" is an understatement in most circumstances.

 

[hydster]

I guess if you are willing to chance it then if you do get denied boarding it's your own fault. Same thing with trying to get on board with documentation that "kind of" falls in the right category but not all the way..such as your state having raised seals on their birth certificates but you bringing your hospital record of birth. Some people havent been stopped and have gotten on without any problems..others arent as fortunate! I found a website for traveling as a solo parent. It was interesting because there were 2 quotes about cruise lines themselves (granted neither were disney) but it was interesting. Here is the web address:
http://www.familytravelforum.com/soloparent.html

And here are the highlights of it:

Did you know that a child departing the United States and traveling with only one parent, a guardian, grandparents or other adults, must have written and notarized permission from both birth parents or legal guardians to enter many countries, even on a cruise ship?

In an effort to halt international child abduction, runaways, and the transport of children involved in child-custody disputes, American carriers have been cracking down on adults departing the U.S. with minors. “This is due to the enhanced awareness of children’s rights in the last few years because of the Hague Convention,” explains Anne Arnott, Immigration Program Manager at the Canadian Consulate in New York.

In fact, the Consular Information Sheets issued by the U. S. State Dept., which does not make these regulations, now carry this routine warning: "In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure."

Carnival Cruise Lines spokesperson noted documentation wasn’t mandatory on Carnival’s Mexico-bound cruises “unless the child is spending more than 24 hours in Mexico.” Mexican Consular Officer Hebe Cue corroborated this but added, “In case of weather or other cruise delay, it’s better if adults have the notarized permission letter. In any case, it is required for American minors entering Mexico by air, no matter how long their stay.”

A consular officer at the U.S. Office of Children's Issues ( 202/312-9700) verified that many countries require a Permission to Travel letter, and reiterated that parents’ notarized signatures plus identification for the child (certified birth certificate or passport), were both essential

A 2002 incident aboard the Norwegian Wind sailing for Alaska via Canada was one of the first indications that cruise lines are now more cautious about boarding children without the proper documentation. At Royal Caribbean, an agent interviewed about Canada-bound cruises suggested single parents or other adults traveling with a minor carry notarized documentation “to be on the safe side.”

Thorough documentation is especially important in situations such as travelers with different last names, same sex couples, and adoptive, divorced or widowed parents, who should carry certified custody or death certificates, as well as identification for themselves and the child.

Contact the FTF office ( 212/665-6124) or click here for a sample "Permission To Travel" letter you can print out, fill in, and carry with you on all future international travels.

Better safe than sorry.



Just because it hasnt happened to anyone on here does NOT Mean that it cant or wont happen to someone! If you and your ex have that bad of a relationship then maybe it would be worth it to go without...It is your discretion ultimately. At the VERY least I would make sure you take the court papers showing you have custody!

Heidi