summercruisin'

4 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

I so have empathy for anyone who has to fight for recognition for who they are on the inside or the outside.

 

In my opinion, as a society, in North America specifically, we are too label focused.  We have to put a label on everyone and the unfortunate thing is that the traditional labels are limiting.

 

I know that my opinion was not asked for here, but if you want to travel beyond the USA and Canada and maybe a few other countries, I personally would stray away from the X identifier especially on a passport.  You could be denied entry to some countries.

 

Currently the countries that I am aware of that themselves offer passports with X identifiers are Canada, USA, Colombia, Argentina Germany Ireland India, Australia, and New Zealand.

 

Outside of these countries, you may have real issues entering if they are on your travel plan.

 

I understand the want and need for the X identifier - I do.  But as @summercruisin' stated, it is about resistance to change.  In some areas of the world, it is not about resistance to change, it is about acceptance in general of anyone that is not "male", "female" or in a heterosexual relationship.  This could be for some countries decades before we see absolute change and acceptance if ever.

 

Just make your identification and passport decisions with care and with a vision beyond what we feel is right because of where we reside in the world.

That concern was a big part of why my teen finally settled on "M" for the passport. We talked about how this one will be valid for 10 years, and who knows where we/they will travel in that time, so choosing the marker that matches their name and typical appearance allows them a little more opportunity to keep their head down and blend in when it is necessary for safer (hopefully) travel around those less tolerant. I'm thankful US passports allow self-identification, at least. But, as you mentioned, it is important to make that decision very carefully.

3 minutes ago, starri said:

I'm sorry for all the levels of annoyance, but I just had to give you my admiration for how far you are going to make sure your kid is treated the way they want to be treated.

 

If my trans patients all had parents that would do even half as much, I'd have a bunch of happier patients.

Thank you 🙂. For the life of me, I cannot understand how any parent could possibly watch their child go to the very very dark mental places I have witnessed and not do what is necessary to at least help them just be okay. That's where we are...happiness is a goal and a dream, but for now, we settle for making sure they are okay. Thank you for being there for your patients and helping them be okay until they can get to a better place. ❤️ 

After what I've been going through with my kid, I think it really comes down to being resistant to change. 

My teen (afab) legally changed their name a little more than a year ago but in our state cannot change gender marker, so their driver's license/ID shows "F." When we started to book a trip to Europe, we had long discussions about what to choose for the passport, since there is the option of M, F, or X, and they allow one to self-designate, even if it does not match birth certificates or other documents. 

I called the cruise line (Princess) several times to try to decide what to put where they ask for a gender marker, since "X" is not an option there, and I originally booked it with "F" in that spot, since that matches the state ID. After all that, we decided to choose "M" for the passport, because they pass more as a male and their new-ish legal name is more masculine. As long as no one does genital checks (which would be obviously unacceptable!), we should be good with no more than maybe a second glance (fingers crossed!).

When I called Princess to update the gender marker there after finalizing the passport, the first two people I spoke with said it really didn't matter, as long as the name and birthdate were correct. I had to call a third person and insist they change it, because it matters to my kid, and they finally did. But, their insistence that it didn't matter makes me think it may not even matter for the manifest after all.

On 12/9/2023 at 2:09 PM, iuki said:

Can anyone offer experiences, suggestions, and possible issues and what we are required to do? Our daughter and great grandson would like to join us on our cruise to Italy, Greece, and Turkey next year.  Our great grandson will be 3 months shy of 18.  I want him to have a great cruise because he is very special to me.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Judy

 

Hi Judy! I (OP) am just now seeing these responses, but I am so glad you reached out to get some suggestions for your upcoming trip! 

I saw on later posts you specifically mentioned signing in and out of the teen clubs. My kiddo said when he went to the teen areas, he did not have to sign in or out at all, and that that was the policy for the older teens on Carnival. My kid was 16 at the time. So, hopefully your great grandson won't have to worry about what name/nickname to put. 

On 12/10/2023 at 6:29 AM, At7Seas said:

Thank you for caring!
 
You will need to use official name and marker for travelling, there is no way around the details as certified in a passport. Cruise lines have to communicate them to the authorities of countries visited. Only the US authorities may change them and the passports certify world-wide who you are and who your great grandson is. Please inform exactly about the documentation needed for a minor travelling without parents for all countries visited.
 
I don’t need to tell you that you will find haters everywhere, that won’t be different while travelling to Europe. Italian people are for the largest part very laid back, while the government tries to turn back the clock. Greece has a more traditional population, especially the elderly are heavily under the influence of the orthodox church, but Greece offers much better legal protection than Italy does and made on this field a lot of progress the last years. Cyprus is following the path of Greece in a social cultural a highly comparable environment, they are just a bit behind. I wouldn’t be afraid about these countries, not everything is great, but it isn’t scaring either.
 
Turkey is different in a very bad way. Latest ILA report does not make Turkey look as favourable destination. Something innocent as rainbow colours are nowadays already enough for police harassment - no exceptions for minors. And we still don’t know where recent government calls to equalise LGBT+ persons with terrorists will lead to. You should know that for example calling for peacefully granting autonomy rights of an ethnic minority in Turkey, which we would regard as fully protect free speech, can lead in Turkey to a long imprisonment as being a terrorist, also foreigners are convicted for this. If you really want to enter Turkey together with your great grandson you should completely blend into a large group and let him not contradict expectations his passport implies. I as cis gay man decided for myself not to visit Turkey any more. Still for spring 2020 I was booked on a cruise calling Kusadasi (I love Ephesos) despite a bad feeling, but as things are today I wouldn’t do that any more. Turkey is one of the few states that might turn against me for what I am, not for what I do.

 

Although it has been a while since I checked back, I am thankful for you sharing this information for the grandma, since we can benefit as we prepare to go to Europe. We are not going to Turkey, partly because I was concerned about this, so this reinforces my decision to skip it. I am sorry you are having to miss out as well, but I wish you safe travels!

Just to follow up/update, in case this helps anyone...

For the 2023 cruise, we kept the gender as "female" since that matched all the documents (passport, original birth certificate, driving permit), so everything had "Miss" on it, unfortunately. We had a little trouble at boarding because of the name change and the lack of experience on the part of those at port, but it worked out after a few extra steps. Once onboard, we told the room steward that the kid didn't want to be called "Miss" anything, and it was never mentioned again 🙂

Now, we are preparing to cruise again but with Princess and  in Europe. When I booked it, we did not have an updated passport, but now the passport had been updated to show the correct gender (as is allowed). Driver's license shows sex assigned at birth, as required in our state at this time.

Once the passport was updated, it took about 8 calls over about 3 weeks' time to get Princess to change the title and gender marker, but when I finally got to the right person, it was done. Along the way, I was told several times that it really didn't matter, as long as the legal name and birth date matched. I couldn't seem to make the representatives understand that it DOES matter to my kid, who has a legal masculine name and doesn't want to be called "Miss." Plus, since the passport has the correct gender marker and we are travelling to Europe, I am hoping having it corrected on Princess's part, so that it matches the passport, will help make boarding a little easier this time, but I'm not gonna lie...as a parent, I am a little worried about the whole thing.

So what I've learned...for now, lots of people, including those in travel, still just don't really understand, and that is fine as long as everyone is respectful (and everyone so far has been, even when clearly confused 😄), although I do wish people weren't so fixated on feeling as if they have to know one's genitals in order to decide how to act around them. Hopefully one day there will be more training and more accepting options regarding this particular issue. For now, it looks like you can probably pick whichever gender marker and title you want during booking, and unless there is some reason for concern (maybe travel to certain places?), it won't matter.

Safe travels, everyone!

Thanks, bear. The kid does have  "real ID" for the permit, but everything (including that ID) has "female" right now - listed as "sex" NOT "gender" which is what the cruise line requested. So, we are tolerating putting "female" for that, in order to cruise. And it looks like the system won't let us change the title to "Mr." with "female" in place, so that is what we went with.

Hi all, I am trying to add my child as my 2nd guest for an upcoming cruise. Kiddo was assigned female at birth, but is transgender. We have legally changed his name, but we have not been able to change his gender marker in time for this cruise. The page for adding him on is asking for gender (not sex) as well as a title (to be fair, there are some fun ones listed that I may choose). Anyway, we are flying in (to Florida, no less, which is pretty terrifying as well) with a driver's permit that has a masculine name but lists Female as sex. Am I forced to put "female" under "gender" while adding my kid on my cruise ticket? Or does it matter? And, can the title NOT match the "gender"? Like, if I decide to put "female" since that is what is on the ID, but choose "Mr." as the title, would that work?

I've called the cruise but the person I have talked to does not seem to understand what I am asking. She has literally put me on hold and come back 3 times now (still on the phone) to tell me the name has to match the birth certificate. And I keep telling her I am not asking about the name. I am asking about the gender marker and the title. 

Has anyone had this issue, by chance, and can advise?

Nevermind!  Must have been something glitchy going on, because now they are back to "normal".  🤷‍♀️🙃

I did a little searching but didn't find anything, so my apologies if I should have searched further. 

It has been about 2 years since I booked a CCL cruise, but I am happily about to book 2!! 🤗  I typically do early saver and then watch rates/request adjustments.  Right now, though, the ES rates are slightly higher than the non-early saver rates.  I don't remember that happening before.  So, what is to keep me from booking ES and then immediately requesting the lower rate?  Will they turn it down?  If so, will it be that problematic figuring out which rates they will match and which they won't every time I check?  

On a related note.....if the ES rates for a weekend one in April are about $30 more, is it worth it, or would you just go ahead and book the slightly lower and be done with it? 🤔

Hi all!  I am in Rome, departing on a cruise tomorrow from Civitavecchia. I am trying to figure out my best way to get to the port, and a search provides a ton of info that seems so complicated, I get overwhelmed and can't understand it. Can someone please suggest a simple/easy to follow way for me and my kids to get to the port without overpaying?  I usually feel like a fairly intelligent traveler, but trying to figure this out is really getting to me, for some reason!  TIA.

Update....it is still there and indeed is the Panorama!  Got closer via train than I had by bus, so I got a good look.  Very cool to see her!

8 hours ago, gnegron22 said:

Checked the cruise ship tracker and didn't see anything, and I don't think anything is heading to a dry dock. Was it a older ship with a painted whale tail, then again I'm not sure if any of those are still sailing. 

That was my first action and I saw the same!  But it was a definite Carnival whale tail.  2 big water slides and other features that looked like Dream class.

6 hours ago, Szoyka said:

But OP said that it was gone by that night. It wouldn't be moved right? Im sailing on the Panorama in January and I am beyond excited.

Maybe it was still there (but I didn't see it).  I could have had too much wine in Venice 🤪.  I will look again this morning on the way back in.  

7 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 

Yes, they will. Make sure the bottles are unopened.

 

We have done that - in CPH 2 years ago we brought 5 bottles (litres) of Akvavit 😎 on board for the TA from CPH to Miami with Bermuda as a stop enroute. They held them and released them to us (along with knives and stainless skewers that we bought in DK 🤪) when the ship docked in Bermuda, and we took them off ship and took them home along with dirty laundry. 😁 We returned to ship to continue the cruise to Miami.

 

ENJOY!! (we LOVE limoncello!!)

 

Thanks!  That makes me feel better!  🙂

8 hours ago, hallux said:

https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#can-i-bring-alcohol-board

Doesn't say you CAN bring it on embarkation day and they'll store, but it also doesn't say you can't bring it at all.  It only addresses alcohol purchases in port-of-call or on board.

Yeah, I checked that first and saw the same.  It isn't entirely clear, especially since I am embarking at what is a port stop for probably more than half the ship.  

Hello!  I am currently in Venice and about to board NCL Epic near Rome midweek.  I bought some small bottles of limoncello here but now I am worried.  Will NCL let them onboard and hold them until debarkation?  I am fine with that, but I am afraid they won't allow them at all on my embarkation day.   Hoping since lines allow purchases in port (but hold them), I can get by.....

I am in Venice before going to Rome for a cruise on another line but saw the familiar whale-tail in port yesterday and today (it was gone by tonight).  What ship was here?  I thought Carnival had no European itineraries at this time?  

5 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Enjoy the Epic. We have sailed on her 7 times. 

 

No no burger or pizza places, per se. the buffet has all of those items for lunch and dinner. Also soft serve and scooped ice cream. 

 

O’Sheehans is open 24/7 for a quick bite or dessert. Burgers are available. 

 

You can wear shorts in all restaurants for all meals except Le Bistro specialty and the Manhattan Room MDR. I. Those two restaurants, gents are asked to wear long pants (jeans or dockers). 

 

You can get steak and a fish dish every night in the MDR (Manhattan Room or Taste). 

 

Make sure to enroll the kids in the Splash Academy and Entourage club on embarkation day and let them go there on embarkation day to make friends. 

Thank you!  Very helpful!  I will check into the kids stuff too, although they usually avoid it 😕

5 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

Burgers should be available at O'Sheehan's, which is open 24/7, but does only serve breakfast items during "breakfast" hours. So burgers would be available lunch, afternoon, dinner, and late night.

 

For pizza, the only real option is the Garden Cafe, which is the buffet. They will have pizza available at lunch and dinner as well as "afternoon snack" and "late night snack", but not available past about 11:00 pm.

 

There is steak every night in the MDRs. Salmon is not always available, I don't believe, but is available sometimes.

 

Tennis shoes are fine for all dining venues. Any dining venue with a dress code on Norwegian only requires "closed toed shoes" for men.

 

Soft serve ice cream should be available pretty much 24/7 in the Garden Cafe. Hand scooped ice cream is also available during lunch and dinner there.

Thank you!  That is very helpful info!

Hi all!  I am leaving in just over 2 weeks to sail on the Epic from Rome.  I am traveling with DS (17) and DD (12), and we all have sailed Carnival many, many times (and know what to expect there!).  A few questions about dining....

Is there a pizza place?  a burger place?  a deli?  I looked at the description and do not see these things, but wanted to make sure.  The kids LOVE Guy's burgers on Carnival, so they are hoping there is something at least kinda comparable?  

At the main dining restaurants, do they serve steak every night as an option?  How about salmon?

Are there any restrictions against tennis shoes at any of the dining venues (including those with reservations)?

Is there 24-hour ice cream available?  or any self-serve?

I think that is it....

Thanks everyone!

I am booked on the Epic in June and got the "free" specialty dining package.  However, every time I look online, the website says the specialty restaurants are "not available to book."  I started looking 120 days out, then checked again and again.  Made sure to go look on the 90 day mark (no change) and have checked every few days since.  What am I missing?  What good is there to having the package if I can't get reservations?  And if I can't ever get in, can I get a refund on the prepaid service charge for my "free" dining package that I don't get to use?

TIA!

Use the search function and look for prior threads on drones. There is a thread form someone who it seemed had similar qualifications as your son and he was able to get the drone from NCL's holding location to take off ship at some of the ports.

Thanks! I actually did that AFTER posting my thread (oops! Rookie mistake with no excuse, since I've posted plenty!) and found a few threads. Would have deleted mine if I could have. Thank you for the info, though. Looks like that will be the best option.

Thank you, brookie! I will do that!