This is a little personal

[Renny the Pooh]

I have booked a Disney cruise with some friends for next July. My son who will be 13 by this time will be going with us. My concern is he does not see his father and I wasn't sure if Disney would require written permission from his father in order to be taken out of the country. His father is required to pay child support and although he has not exercised his rights, is allowed visitation. I have gotten conflicting information on this. I do not want to attempt to get this from him unless I just have to for fear that out of spite he would raise a stink. At the same time, I do not want to find out after it is too late that it was required. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Patsy1969]

Hi, We cruised in Oct. My son, took his son, on the cruise. he had the birth certificate. They did not question him about permission from his mom. so I do not think it will be a problem. When you get your cruise docoments it does have a form, but only if a non-cust adult is taking the child on the cruise. You do have to have the birth certificate, with a raised- seal on it. Patsy

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'm assuming you have custody of your son? If so, then I don't think there will be a problem. If it makes you feel better, maybe bring a copy of the custody order, but I doubt that anyone will ask to see it. A call to DCL as to what documentation is required would probably be a good idea.

 

[AnnMorin]

and he said that chances are you would never be questioned, that you could go with no problems, HOWEVER,,, he did say that if you were, and if your ex has co-custody there could be big problems.. what he suggested is you send well in advance a "form letter" saying that either custodial parent may take the child out of the country for a period of time not to extend two weeks.. you could say it is a " what if letter" that you are just clearing up loose ends. The chances are that his father would never care or know he has left the country but it would be terrible if he decided to prevent it..

 

[ChattyKathy]

How's Disney or anyone else even going to know if your married or not married to the childs father....
They have no idea.

I am the custodial parent of my kids and I had to get a paper signed by they're father to take them out of the states... He is like your ex is, pays support & has visitation but doesn't exercise them. He doesn't like the idea but he was willing to sign.

Better to be safe than sorry, I would look into it ....good luck!


Kathy

 

[lsmac]

I know when my sister cruised Disney and her kids were younger (a few years ago) she was required to have a notarized letter from her ex stating that he was aware that they would be out of the country etc. I would try to get one just in case.

Lisa

 

[tecdavidt]

This was an issue for me on our first three Disney cruises. I am the custodial parent. The ex pays child support but rarely saw the two boys. I booked the cruise and went. We had an awesome time. No one asked any questions even though my last name is different than my two sons. That was in '99, '01 and '02. A family law attorney can give you the best answers. Ann has some good advice from her post. Kathy

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I am taking my 5 year old nephew with my parents later this month and we had to have a notorized signed letter fom BOTH my sister and her hubby stating that his was OK. Maybe you could get a letter from the court if you can't get it from your ex...

 

[52plan4]

We have cruised this year and last with Disney. My 2 sons have their fathers last name,different than mine.I have just had their birth certificates both times and there was never an eye batted,no mention of further documentation needed. Luckily I have a good relationship with my ex, and if I needed a letter,it wouldn't be a problem, but as I said, only needed the birth certificate both times. Doesn't make sense that Disney would require an excess of documentation ,not even knowing the family situation- for example my father passed away when I was only 5,Disney is not too invasive.

 

[MNmom]

2 years ago I took my 2DDs on the cruise (with my mother) and DH stayed home with DS. Disney never asked about our marital status, custody or anything else. I guess I never even thought about it. I did have their birth certificates.

 

[vgaskin]

Earlier this year, I took my then 14 year old daughter with us. My ta told me to get the notarized form from her dad and it was a pain in the butt but I got it. When we went, we had land and sea so checked in at the DCL table at the hotel and I tried to show it to them and she said "I don't need that, only if she wasn't traveling with either parent".

Also, next week we are taking my daughter and her friend. The friends mother signed the Disney form and it only asks for one signature. My new TA called Disney and asked and they said only one parent is needed. I believe the friends father has visitation but isn't in the picture much.

I guess it is who you talk to but I don't think you will have a problem, I didn't bother getting it for my daughter or her friend, I will post if I have problems when we get back on Dec 1st.

Also, we checked into a passport and it was expensive and we didn't have enough time but I noticed that if they were a certain age, you only needed 1 parent to sign the passport not both as they require for younger children. I think my daughter was right at the line because I had to ask. I think it said under 14 had to have both but I am not sure. So she only needed one. I know you can find the passport forms online or pick one up at the Post office for free. I would double check to see if it says 13 or 14 and it he qualifies, just get that?

Anyway, we got it but didn't need it so are not getting it again.

 

[floridaminnie]

I've been on 3 DC and never needed anything for DD. The form that needs to be notarized from Disney is if the child isn't traveling with a parent.

 

[dclwdwlover]

In all three cruises that I've taken with the kids I have never been asked to see my custody papers & they have a different last name than me. (Two were DCL - one was one month after 9-11 & the most recent we just returned from last weekend) The papers are from a different state than we live in now, too. If you have the original birth certificates than I doubt there'll be any question.

 

[Renny the Pooh]

Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate hearing from the voices of experience. This will be our first cruise together and I don't want anything to stand in our way!

 

[mcnuss]

If you are still in contact with the lawyer who did your divorce, ask him or her. They should not charge you for this phone call.

As a lawyer, I would say that you do not need anything unless the country you are entering requires it (some do). For that, you need to ask DCL. Go straight to the source.

I am taking my 5 year old nephew with my parents later this month and we had to have a notorized signed letter fom BOTH my sister and her hubby stating that his was OK.

This is not the same situation.

 

[Love Minnie]

My husband and I have custody of my niece for over 8 years, she is now 17. We have been on 4 disney cruises and have never had a problem. I am pretty sure that we only showed our custody papers the first cruise - - I think they note the information in their computer. We also have taken a friend of hers and a relative of ours (teenagers) and have shown a certified letter from the parent with no questions asked. I hope this helps.

 

[professorandmom]

I went through the gauntlet to get the notarized letter from ex ~ SO didn't need it. Traveled with another single mom who also didn't need it...no questions asked from DCL ~ not one!
Barbara

 

[FredS]

You only need written permission if you are not the custodial parent of the child. Period. To be honest, I don't think that you even have to be the custodial parent, as neither I, nor apparently anyone else in the universe, has ever actually been required to produce any sort of "permission slip" from the other parent when cruising with our own children with DCL. I worried about this initially, but for no valid reason!

And, for what it is worth, I can't imagine any lawyer, unless perhaps he/she had actually cruised with Disney and had personal knowledge, having any clue what DCL does or does not require in allowing divorced parents to board with children. The best that they might do, totally winging it, would be some "in an abundance of caution" reaction, tell you to get written permission.

 

[professorandmom]

The explanation I worried about was that US immigration required documentation unless the parent had sole custody and although most customs officials might not worry about a cruise ship, they technically could. I spent a lot of time on the US immigration site and there is a mention of this somewhere. (That's why I finally got the letter.) I believe that the CM role is similar to when they check birth certificates (like the airlines) - they are meeting immigration guidelines.
Barbara

 

[yourtravelpro]

Hi there!

You WILL need a notarized letter from the other parent stating that it's okay to take your child out of the country. This has nothing to do with anyone but CUSTOMS. So even if Disney, your attorney, etc tells you you don't need it, there is a chance that you will be asked to produce this letter. There are many people that have gotten on the ship without it, but it doesn't mean that you don't need it, just in case. You might be the one that they ask for it. If you don't have it, you can be denied boarding. I wouldn't chance it.

Hope this helps!