carnival cruise line minor consent form

• Carnival Cruise Lines

Letter of consent for a minor

By teampayne , June 29, 2013 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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I know this is how long is a piece of string but I would appreciate your views on this.

Myself, dh and our dd's 15, 9 and 2 are cruising in sept from Miami, dd 15 is mine from a previous relationship, she has a different surname from the rest of the family, we have not seen her bio father in 3 years as dd has decided she wants no further contact.

We will not be able to get a letter of consent from dd's father as we are not in contact nor do we want to get in contact for fear of problems and there is no way he would give us the letter anyway.

I was thinking as we are coming from the uk would this make us less likely to be asked for a letter as we will have already left our country of residence? we have cruised before and not been asked but obviously that does not mean we won't be this time, also do you think the age of the child is a factor at all? being that a 15 year old can vouch for the fact she is just going on holiday etc?

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Good question. We are bringing DS and his best friend for a graduation present. The friend will still be 17 so I'll have to see what documents we will need for him.

Your best bet will be to Carnival and ask them.

On my Glory cruise last month I took my 5 year old granddaughter along. The lady checking us in did ask if I had a letter from her parents. I said, nope. She looked at me for a second and then replied "Carnival doesn't back up its rules like it should". She checked us in and sent us on our way. I previously have taken my daughter's friends along on cruises with no problems. You just never know.

We were asked for the letters when we took our grandsons on a W. Caribbean cruise, but that was Royal Caribbean. They do tend to enforce the rules more than Carnival. When we called RC we were told they were required because the cruise stopped in Mexico

I always get a letter from my DS and DIL even when we babysit the kids at home. It came in handy one weekend in December when I had to seek medical care for our grandson. The clinic would not have treated him without it unless they could have gotten in touch with his parents, who were on a plane and unavailable at the time.

It's your call OP.

Since you are coming to the US from the UK,,, I would be more concerned if the US will allow her entry into the States without her fathers knowledge. I was stopped at the Canadian border and denied entry because my daughters mother was not with us and we didn't have a letter indicating this. She was 13 at the time.

BTW, this letter requirement (I believe) is a UN agreement in an attempt to stop international trafficing of children.

Pookeybear1966

Problem is with customs and not carnival. We took our daughters 16 yr old friend on a cruise a few years back and carnival did not ask for documentation upon embarkation but customs did when they noticed the different last names. We did not get our letter notorized from her mom because carnival told us we didn't need it notorized however the customs agent said we did. He hassled us and we told him what we were told by carnival. He suggested we should have asked customs and not carnival. He did let us go thru but we had no issue with him calling her mom either. Next time I know to notorize the letter!

That border person was completely out of line and should have been reported.

He is not the first and he will not be the last. I remember as idiot in galveston issuing warning to people who did not have a passport.

this is from the rules,

"Adults traveling with children should also be aware that, while the U.S. does not require this documentation, many other countries do; 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)."

You can read the rules for yourself here:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/268/kw/minor%20child%20travel/session/L3NpZC9HUjQ3Qy10bA%3D%3D

I had no problem with him. I even told him if he thought letter was not legit to detain us and verify it. To that he said "you don't want to have to wait for hours!" Omg he was rude but I just told him to do his job

i don't doubt he was rude and by not reporting him you left him free to harrass the next family with bull**** he pulled out of his hat and they may have a problem with it.

Don't you wish someone before you had complained and got him set straight before you can upon him?

i don't doubt he was rude and by not reporting him you left him free to harrass the next family with bull**** he pulled out of his hat and they may have a problem with it.   Don't you wish someone before you had complained and got him set straight before you can upon him?

Problem is I DID NOT KNOW THIS until now. I thought that was the truth. Now I know. Thank you for clarifying the rules. I would have done something if I had known he was making his own rules.

We took my DH's son (16) and my nephew (14) on a western carb cruise a few years ago (2010) and we had a letter for the nephew but not for step-son. No one ever asked to see a letter. It stayed in my purse the entire time. And we went to Cozumel..no one asked.

According to the link Loxley provided, it explicitly states that CBP ma y detain you if you cannot produce the "strongly recommended" signed, notarized statement from the absent parent(s) authorizing the minor child to travel outside of the U.S. with you. (See following quote.)

"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."

So, people traveling with minor children that are not their own (e.g. Billys5764) or with a minor child traveling with only one parent (Teampayne) should read the requirements from the official source (U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection) and not rely on anything that a cruise line says.

Finally, Teampayne, as you will see in the link Loxley provided, you do not need to get the notarized authorization from the absent parent. I would assume in this case that you have legal sole custody of the child, so you would want to bring either a court degree stating that or a birth certificate which names only you as the parent.

Ahhh, now i understand. maybe by educating people here we can get some of these jerks reported and they can get off their power trips.

caribbean dreams

I always take my niece on our cruises, I always have a consent form drawn up and notarized! I have never been asked for the letter before but I think it's because she has the same last name as me. Regardless whether I'm ever asked for it, I will always have it, better to be safe then sorry...and miss the ship. FYI, Most banks notarize for free.

Let's clear this confusion up too while we are at it. Carnival used to "suggest" a letter, but my link to that page now says this:

What documentation is needed for minors traveling without both parents/legal guardians and disembarking (Terminating their cruise) in Mexico?

THIS IS NOW REQUIRED FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS :

Please note that a notarized letter to this effect is required if debarking with children in Mexico.

read the whole thing here: http://www.carnival.com/Core/FAQ.aspx?faq=minorstravelingtomexico

I cannot even find where it is even "suggested" anymore.

Do you have sole custody of your daughter? If you do, bring legal documentation stating this. You will not need the father's permission to take your daughter out of the country if you have legal sole custody.

theaterjunkie1976

I can't speak for anyone else's experience, but we took my friend's 17 year old niece on our first cruise. She had the letter, just as instructed, but we were never asked for it. With that being said, I would make sure I had the proper documents, just in case!

And what would the proper documents be?

and who instructed you she needed the letter?

I think, but I'm not entirely sure, as it's been several years ago, she had to have a letter if consent from her nieces parents notarized and signed. And of course, she had her birth certificate and picture ID. I haven't cruised with a minor since, so I'm not 100% sure what exactly is needed. I would probably contact Carnival to make sure I had what I needed.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Typos all in my last post, sorry.

mustardgirl

Are you traveling to mexico?? Because the link has to do with mexico... so does this mean that if there is no stop in mexico you don't need something signed giving the ok??? I'm guessing your child has a passport since your coming from the UK, so you already had to get him either to sign for that or go through the hoops on getting one without his consent. So I think if you have a passport and he signed for it, he was giving you permission to take the child anywhere in the world you wish.... :D

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• General Cruising

Minor Travel Consent Forms 1.0

• Author Cruising Earth Downloads
• Creation date Oct 22, 2013

PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS - FOR MINOR CHILDREN TRAVELING WITHOUT BOTH BIRTH PARENTS In Addition To The Child's Citizenship Documentation, A Minor Child Under The Age Of 18 Must Have A Legal Guardian, Or Parental Consent Form From Their Birth Parents To Exit The United States And Enter Most Foreign Countries. Parents Should Complete One Of The Forms Listed Below For Each Minor Child Under The Age Of 18 (At The Time Travel Starts) To Prevent Immigration Problems When Entering Or Leaving The Country. When The Form Is Completed, ONLY Sign Form In The Presence Of A Notary Public! FORM #1 - Both Birth Parents Are Alive - If both birth parents are alive, and one or both of them will NOT be traveling with minor children, the non-traveling parent(s) must complete the form giving a notarized affidavit of consent to the person traveling with the child(ren) their authorization to take them in and out of the country or to allow the minor child to travel on their own with no guardian. FORM #2 - One Birth Parent Is Deceased - If one birth parent is deceased, and the surviving birth parent WILL be traveling with the minor child(ren) they need only to have in their possession a certified copy of the death certificate of the deceased birth parent and the child's citizenship documentation. However, if the surviving birth parent WILL NOT be traveling with their minor child(ren), they must complete this form giving a notarized affidavit of consent to the person traveling with the child(ren) their authorization to take them in and out of the country and attach a certified copy of the death certificate for the other non-living birth parent. FORM #3 - Guardian For Minor Child - If both birth parents are deceased, or you have legal guardianship of minor child(ren) and WILL be traveling with the minor child(ren) you need only have in your possession a certified copy of your guardianship papers and the child's citizenship documentation. However, if the guardian WILL NOT be traveling with their minor child(ren), they must complete this form giving a notarized affidavit of consent to the person traveling with the child(ren) their authorization to take them in and out of the country and attach a certified copy of their guardianship papers to it. All forms and instructions are attached in the single file download.

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• Carnival Cruise Lines

Refuse to Sign Minor Consent Form

By myers0214 , March 1, 2010 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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We have just been informed by my son's father that he will not sign the minor consent form for my son to go on our cruise. Just wondering if this has happened to anybody and what they have done. We have thought about contacting the court to try and get a document stating that he is allowed to travel but our cruise leaves in 13 days and I don't know if we have the time to do that. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

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I would contact a family law attorney and find out exactly what your rights are ..Did he agree when you orginally made the plans to let your son go? I am so sorry I hope it all works out..

candigirl41

Where are you travelling? As far as I know you only need this for Mexico and most times they don't even ask for it. I took my then 5 year old to England and didn't need anything. Do you have joint custody? Just curious why you didn't get his okay before hand if you have joint custody. Please keep us informed.

Where are you travelling? As far as I know you only need this for Mexico and most times they don't even ask for it. I took my then 5 year old to England and didn't need anything. Do you have joint custody? Just curious why you didn't get his okay before hand if you have joint custody. Please keep us informed.   Candi

yes we lived in both South America and Switzerland and I traveled back and forth with my children on several trips when my husband stayed behind i never had a problem..this must be a rule with Carnival

Sitterfamily

We had this issue with my step daughter when we went on a cruise to Mexico. We were told we needed the form, mother wouldn't sign. We had a "form" but were never asked for it so I never took it out of my luggage.

I hope you get this sorted out.

It's a legal requirement to enter Mexico. You don't have to have one for the cruise, just if you want to get off in Mexico.

I believe if you call Carnival you will find that is only for Mexico. Last year I traveled with my 12 year old son and did have the signed letter from his dad but no one even asked to see it. I would go with whatever Carnival tells you. As sure as the world, if you sail without it you will be the one asked. You know how that goes!! :eek:

A question I would ask is, did you book the cruise and think, "Of course he'll sign it," or did you just find out about this (in which case, research might have helped, but is moot)? I hope this works out for you. If you are not going to Mexico, it's likely moot anyway.

salty dingo

I think the best course is to speak with the dad and find out what his concerns are. Does he fear you will not return? If so, maybe you can convince him that you will return, based on family or job ties, etc.

If he is just being a stick-in-the-mud, then there's probably nothing you can do. Courts move slowly, and taking a kid on a cruise is not going to be viewed as an emergency or urgent matter.

How old is the son? If he is a teenager, maybe HE can convince his dad that this will be best for him. If the son is very young, that may not work, but acutally, you may have more fun and freedom without the responsibility of parenting. We feel that way, and have never taken our kids on a cruise.

However it shakes out, I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Does your son have a passport? Probably no issues if so. My son and I travel all the time and never have needed it. Only once in Seattle did they ask him as we were going to the ship "where is your dad" and he was like -"At home" and that was the end of it. If you don't worry and make an issue then it won't be a problem. We have even flown the the Bahamas three times with his passport. He will be 14 in two weeks.

My son is 15 and has been looking forward to this cruise for over a year. My husband and I will be going on the cruise with him and our three other children. It just never occurred to me that he would not give consent. He can be very mean and nasty just didn't know he would be this mean. My son has tried to get him to sign it to no avail.

We are going to Cozumel but he can stay on the ship if necessary. So maybe we will just try going and see what happens.

He will be 14 in two weeks.

That was the point I was trying to make... an older teen can speak for himself and is not going to be considered a potential abduction. A baby is another matter, though.

If the passport requires both parents' consent, then I can understand why having one would be enough.

I didn't know this....hmmm. I have been wondering how I was going to handle this with one of my "younguns". I have joint custody and I probably could find his father if I really needed to, but I haven't heard from his mother in years. I could get sole custody, but it is a pain since I can't give her notification without an address. But anyways I am bringing our Original custodial papers where DH and I are named his Guardians and go from there.

We have taken my niece since she was ten and have never been asked for any paperwork. I would go and not sweat it. You really won't have any problem. She is now 16 and has been on 7 cruises.

We have taken our boys on 3 cruises and never been asked for it. I have always had the paperwork for my 16 year old and have never needed it. My boyfriend has a son who is 16 and lives with us and we do not have the current whereabouts of his mother so have been unable to get paperwork signed. They do both have passports that they have had for a few years. The only problem would be if the dad tries to say you took him out of the country without his permission.

It amazes me what some parents will do to spite the others even at the expense of their own children.

I just remembered what happened when we came back from Mexico (my 12 year old and me). The customs officer asked my son, "Who is this?" pointing at me. My son said, "That's my mom." He said, "Are you sure?" He said, "Yes sir, I'm sure."

I guess maybe the customs guys are trained to look for suspecious activity with children. Though this was when we got back from Mexico not while entering the country.

Hope this works out for you and your family. It makes me very, very grateful that my ex and I are dear friends now. What a meany head that ex is!!!

First of all, I am very sorry for your situation. I have an ex who is very difficult to deal with and I can certainly relate. As a precaution, I always have my kids' dad sign the parental consent form, but in actuality, we have never been asked for it, even when flying to England. If you are unable to get it, I'd probably take a chance and go. You might also want to take a copy of your marital settlement agreement showing you have custody of the kids during the time of the vacation, just as a back up. This was advice given to me when my husband was being difficult about signing for one of our trips.

On our HAL trip to Guatemala, Casa Maya, Belize, and Key West, my ex objected to the kids (who were in 7th grade at the time) leaving the ship in Casa Maya and Belize. He wrote this on the form he signed, but no one asked to see the form, so it really didn't matter. Since we had to tender in Belize, we stayed on the ship. Did the same in Casa Maya, although we docked at a pier and could have walked off easily. I just wanted to show the kids we were adhering to their dad's wishes (however unreasonable), even though no one at HAL had seen the form.

You have my sympathy...I too have an ex who just likes to be difficult and exert control where he can. Please let us know how it works out for you.

We just returned from the western carribean(2 mexican ports) . We took my grandson ,7 with us. We all have different last names . they did not ask for the form and when I showed it to them at checkin they acted like they didn't know why I was showing to them so I think you would be fine.They actually had a different birthdate on My dgs paperwork but the lady just changed THEIR paperwork to match my grandson's birth certificate.

Although legally required the forms are rarely asked for. We brought my daughter's friend with us to Australia and no questions asked. My kids look nothing like me (3 adopted) and I have never been asked whether my husband is with us or not. I brought my son as a baby with me all over the world and nobody ever asked. I did run into trouble in Guam because he didn't have a US passport and I told them I had to go and told them to take very good care of him while I was gone. After worrying for a bit, my son came with me.

I would not worry about it and just go. It is so unlikely that you will be asked that it is a non-issue. The rules came about to halt parental abductions but especially as kids get older they can indeed speak for themselves.

I did run into trouble in Guam because he didn't have a US passport and I told them I had to go and told them to take very good care of him while I was gone. After worrying for a bit, my son came with me.  

That is AWESOME!!! ROFL!

My son is 15 and has been looking forward to this cruise for over a year. My husband and I will be going on the cruise with him and our three other children. It just never occurred to me that he would not give consent. He can be very mean and nasty just didn't know he would be this mean. My son has tried to get him to sign it to no avail.   We are going to Cozumel but he can stay on the ship if necessary. So maybe we will just try going and see what happens.

Not to try to be negative, but does your custody agreement say that you need his consent to take your son out of the country? If yes, and you do not get the consent you could be in violation of the agreement. If your ex is mean and nasty, is there any chance he could then call the cops on you as soon as you leave the country? I don't think it would matter whether or not you get off the ship.

I would at least consult with your lawyer as a minimum.

No, there is nothing that states that I can't take him out of the country. The only thing it says is that I need to provide notification of travel plans and provide a way of communication and we have done all of that.

Thank you all for your help - I love cruise critic!

Why do people do this.....doesn't he realize that he is hurting the son...NOT YOU. What a butthole...It might take a hammer or a baseball bat....but he would sign that dang paper...lol....just playing...but hey, it sounds good.

Your son is old enough to realize what his father is doing and that might make him resent his dad.... Some people are so hateful.

I wish you the best of luck...

The first five cruises we took my wife's daughter on, she was my step daughter with a different last name and no one ever asked a question. We didn't have a form from the father because we don't know where he is. The sixth cruise it was just her and I and no one ever asked a question and she was 10 with a different last name. (side note: Dad's take just you and your little girl on a cruise before they grow up, it is awesome!!)

I've since adopted her and we've taken her friends with us and never been asked for any documents from their parents.

It is a Carnival employee that reviews your docs to board the ship and there are no Mexican officials reviewing docs to leave or board the ship.

Too bad he can't be an adult and put the kids first!

VeggieCruzer

I got a form signed from my ex when i took my boys on a cruise 3 years ago and was never once asked for it. when we embarked and i pulled it out to show the woman helping us, she told me she didn't need to see it.

i don't expect to have an issue with my stepkids this time because i share the same name with them. i'm still getting the letters from the exes though.

is there an actual paper that carnival has that can be signed? i just brought a notarized letter but as i said, i never even needed it.

BUT i would get whatever you can. my ex is fine, DH's is a complete lunatic. heaven only knows if she'll flip out at the last second, she's done it before. there's no cure for a crazy ex. i'm so sorry you are dealing with this.

CanWeGoYet?

No, there is nothing that states that I can't take him out of the country. The only thing it says is that I need to provide notification of travel plans and provide a way of communication and we have done all of that.   Thank you all for your help - I love cruise critic!

If you can't get anything from the courts in time, bring an official copy of your custody agreement. If worst comes to worse, maybe the official you deal with will be one who is willing to use common sense and not just go by the book.

If you do have time to try to get a resolution from the courts, or see a family law attorney - I would ask that your ex's stance on blocking his son from taking a family vacation with you be put into the court's records. If he is shown as not acting in his son's best interest, and using the son as a pawn in a "get back at the ex" game, you might get awarded sole custody & control (at a future time) if you went back to court. Good luck, I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this crap at what should be a happy time.

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Can You Drink On A Cruise At 18? Everything you need to know

W hen most people think about cruising, the first thing that comes to mind is drinking. And for good reason – a cruise is a great opportunity to let loose and enjoy some cocktails with friends.

But what are the rules around drinking on a cruise ship?

How old do you have to be?

Can you drink on a cruise at 18?

Can you drink in public?

And what happens if you get drunk?

As as a travel advisor who has taken many courses to become a cruise specialist, I have learned the ins and outs of cruising.

Read on for answers to all your questions about drinking on a cruise.

The answer to this question cant be answered with one single answer. The fact is, the legal drinking age on cruises depends on the cruise line and the port of embarkation.

Let’s look at the policies of a few of the most popular cruise lines .

Carnival Cruise Line

On Carnival cruise ships, alcohol consumption is only permitted for guests aged 21 and over. This rule applies to Carnival private islands such as Half Moon Cay , and Princess Cay as well.

The only exception to this rule is for Carnival Australia, where passengers 18 and over are allowed to consume and purchase alcohol.

Royal Caribbean

For sailings that begin in North American ports, the legal drinking age onboard Royal Caribbean is 21.

However, if you are sailing on Royal Caribbean from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Asia, the drinking age on board is 18 years old.

Royal Caribbean private islands, such as Perfect Day at Coco Cay , the drinking age will be 21 years old, no matter where the cruise started.

The legal drinking age for all alcoholic drinks on Norwegian Cruise Line ships is 21.

However, NCL does have one advantage over the other lines, and that is that in international waters passengers who are over 18 can drink beer and wine.

Like Disney, this rule only applies if the parent is on board with the minor and signs a consent form.

The legal drinking age on Disney Cruise Line is 21 with one exception.

If you are sailing from Europe, and you are sailing with a parent, that parent can sign a consent form that allows you to drink in their presence only. This option is available for guests 18-20 years old.

Celebrity Cruise Line

The legal drinking age for alcoholic beverages on all Celebrity Cruises ships sailing from North America is 21.

For guests sailing from South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages onboard any of our Celebrity Cruises ships is 18.

The drinking age on private islands is 21.

Can you drink at 18 on a Caribbean cruise?

The drinking age on most cruise ships is 21. If the cruise originates from a US port, the minimum age to drink on board is 21.

It is a common misconception that minors can drink on board if they are heading to a port where the drinking age is 18, but that is not the case.

You must provide identification when booking your cruise, and that information will be attached to your sail and sign card, and your age will be known by crew members. Cruise crew members will not serve underaged guests.

Can you drink at 18 on a Bahamas cruise?

No, you can not drink on board a cruise to the Bahamas if the cruise has departed from a US Port.

What about private islands in the Bahamas?

Many cruise lines have private islands in the Bahamas such as Half Moon Cay (Carnival) or Castaway Cay (Disney).

The minimum age to drink in the Bahamas is 18, so some assume that once you are on the private island, you can drink as long as you are 18.

This isn’t the case though. If you are on an island owned by the cruise line, the same rules apply as if you are still on board the ship, which means no drinking for anyone under 21.

However, if you get off the ship in a port that is not owned by the cruise line, you are able to follow the rules in that country.

For example, the drinking age in Nassau is 18. So if you have a cruise stop in Nassau Bahamas, you can drink as long as you are 18 while you are in that port.

Read more: The best bars in Nassau

To help clarify this:

Cruising Age2118Can I drink on board the ship?yesnoCan I drink on Private Island? yesnoCan I drink in Bimini, Nassau, or Freeport?yesyes

Are there any cruises where you can drink at 18?

Yes, cruises on certain lines like Disney , Royal Caribbean, Carnival Australia, and Celebrity that do not originate in North America you may be able to drink at 18 years old.

Can you drink at 18 in international waters?

Once you are in international waters (more than 3 miles away from US waters) you may drink on Norweigan Cruise Line if your parents sign a waiver.

If your cruise line has a no drinking under 21 policy in place, where you are located in the ocean does not change the rules.

What if I turn 21 during my cruise?

Most cruise lines determine your age based on the age you are the day you board the ship, meaning if you aren’t of drinking age when the cruise starts, you will not be able to drink for the duration of the cruise.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Norweigan and Celebrity Cruise Lines, both allow a guest who has turned 21 during their sailing to show ID to guest services and have their age updated. Once this is approved by guest services, that passenger will be allowed to purchase alcohol for the remainder of the cruise.

Overdrinking on a cruise

No matter which cruise line you go on, you need to drink responsibly and maintain control of yourself.

Drinking too much can cause a host of problems for you. First, getting too drunk on a moving ship can make it difficult to navigate your way around safely.

You can also become dehydrated easily and become sick in the heat and humidity.

If you become so drunk that you are dangerous or disruptive to other passengers you can find yourself in trouble with ship security, and potentially authorities when you return to port.

You can be confined to your cabin, or even earn yourself a trip to the cruise jail if you become overly intoxicated.

Drinking ages on Cruises Recap

As you can see, the “typical” age that you can drink on a cruise is 21 years or older. While there are exceptions to the rule especially if your cruise does not originate in North America.

It is always best to check your cruise line’s alcohol policy before you board so you know what to expect.

Hiring a travel advisor is a great way to be sure you know all of the facts pertaining to your unique situation as well. As a cruise specialist, I am happy to help you plan your trip (at no additional cost) and help you fully understand all of the rules and regulations pertaining to your sailing and situation.

If you need any help planning your cruise, message me to get started.