Beware of the ship sailing when last names of travelers do not match!!!

[ehfl]

At least you did enjoy the days you were onboard. Regrettably not everyone takes the time to read their travel contracts to find out exactly what they need in terms of proper documentation for their travel. I know I usually don't. It is unfortunate that you were unable to sail as planned, But ultimately it is YOUR responsibility to make sure you have all the documentation you need. This is NOT a new policy. It is on their website, has been for some time and it is also in the booklet that some of us get from either RCI or our Travel Agent. I believe it is on page 11. The following is from their website:

 

Family Legal Documents

Should the last names of the parent and minor child traveling with them differ, the parent is required to present the child's valid passport and visa (if required) and the child's birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy). The name of the parent(s) and the child must be linked through legal documentation.

 

Adults who are not the parent or Legal Guardian of any minor child traveling with them are required to present the child's valid passport and visa or the child's birth certificate (original, a notarized copy or a certified copy) and an original notarized letter signed by at least one of the child's parents. The notarized letter from the child's parent must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise, must authorize guardian to sign legal documentation/waivers for participation in any activities requiring them (i.e. Rock Climbing, Flowrider, Bungee Trampoline, Inline Skating, or Ice Skating) and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any medical treatment that must be administered to the child. If a non-parent adult is a Legal Guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of Guardianship with respect to the child.

 

This is another lesson for all of us that enjoy traveling.

 

Thanks for that post! From looking at the boards, I'd guess that 75% of compaints could be avoided by simply reading the information on the cruise line web site.

 

Is it really such a terrible policy that the cruise line and/or homeland security asks for proof that you have custody of a child before taking them out of the country? Would you rather sail on a cruise line that didn't care about the kids?

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thanks for that post! From looking at the boards, I'd guess that 75% of compaints could be avoided by simply reading the information on the cruise line web site.

 

 

Is it really such a terrible policy that the cruise line and/or homeland security asks for proof that you have custody of a child before taking them out of the country? Would you rather sail on a cruise line that didn't care about the kids?

 

 

Agree with both points!

 

###

[cruisenfever]

Thanks for that post! From looking at the boards, I'd guess that 75% of compaints could be avoided by simply reading the information on the cruise line web site.

 

Is it really such a terrible policy that the cruise line and/or homeland security asks for proof that you have custody of a child before taking them out of the country? Would you rather sail on a cruise line that didn't care about the kids?

You are absolutely correct..........it's always the "fine print" that people don't read but it's always the "fine print" that is the most important thing to read.

[Jacqueline]

I travel with my maiden name=== and my children have traveled extensively wth me to France and on cruises,

I always brought their Birth Certificate which has my name as the mother as well as a notarized letter from their father.

I have also never been asked for this !! In about a decade of travel.

I do think that men are more likely to run into this problem.... traveling with children with a different last name....

On the other hand this is my first cruise with my partner ab\nd his children. they have the same last name and I have a different one...

As does their mother.

I have been wondering whether to get a signed notarized letter from her, bur without their birth certificates, what is the point.

the kids have passports. We are going in and out of SJU....

[cruisenfever]

When we checked in on July 30th in Baltimore, I was asked to provide both the notarized letter and my daughter's certified birth certificate. I provided her birth certificate (raised seal copy), a certified copy of my sole custody order (so no notarized letter is required), and a certified copy of my name change order (since it is different than the custody paperwork). A superior had to view the documents to ensure they were correct. ICE in Miami checked the same docs when we came back into Miami in April. We both have US passports issues withing the last year.

 

CrusinFeaver is correct - this is not new - it has been in place for quite some time (mid - late 2007). It is on page 10 on the printed Docs (I have mine from this July on Grandeur) and in my e-docs from the Freedom in April.

Thanks for letting me know that it isn't a new policy. I didn't think it was, but after the OP said it was a new regulation just put into effect a week ago, I had to do my own research.

[gigguy]

For someone "who travels often" should know what paper work is needed.

 

Here is some info from RCCL website:

 

What forms of ID are required for minors? - Royal Caribbean International this secure drivers license will denote identity and citizenship) or any other Department of Home Land Security approved Identification / Citizenship document(s), a birth certificate (original or certified copy), plus a laminated picture ID card including photo, name and date of birth issued by a federal, state, or local government agency is required. U.S. and Canadian citizen children ages 18 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county or municipal authority. Note: Baptismal paper and hospital certificates of birth are not acceptable.

 

I would make the assumption that the OP did not do her due diligence prior to booking this cruise.

 

Not RCCL's fault.

[djneph]

Adam Goldstein, CEO

Royal Caribbean International

1050 Caribbean Way

Miami, Florida 33132

 

Re: Grandeur of the Seas - August 8, 2009

Reservation: #3065913 – JS-7650 - $3,971.32

 

Mr. Goldstein,

 

Hope this letter finds you well. I am not the typical complainer and never documented a situation in the past for any reimbursement or compensation of any sort but the ordeal that I endured was devastating and completely ruined my vacation. At the time of my vacation, I was burned out mentality from a long tax season and really needed to just get away from it all and dedicate down time with my 14 year old daughter.

Where shall I begin? Can you imagine this: the emotion of arriving, after a 2 hour drive to the Baltimore, Maryland Port, arriving 3 hours ahead of schedule? Anxiously awaiting your 4:00 sailing, checking in your luggage, taking pictures..., laughing and then during check-in taken aside and told you cannot travel??? Wait it gets even better, my best friend and her sister get on the ship without realizing what is going on.... Are you feeling this yet? You are traveling with your 14 year old daughter that carries a different last name than yours. You have all the normal travel docs required & of course your passports, then you are told that you cannot travel without an ORIGINAL birth certificate to establish a relationship between the 2 of you!!! (New regulation that was adopted after my initial booking) What do you do?? Me, the Notary, thought out all my options, first, request to fax right? NO!! I was told not acceptable.

How about a sworn affidavit from my friend who can acknowledge? NO!!!I showed them pediatrician documents that I happened to have in my daily planner that showed me as the Parent of a minor, I also told them that my daughter had already sailed with me in the past and they could verify that as well. I was told that the only acceptations could come from headquarters, I was on the phone with resolution department for a good 2 – 3 hours and they even spoke with the captain to accept a faxed birth certificate!!!! I was given the fax number at 2:30; my son left work to fax a copy. I could hear it ring on his end but for unknown reasons on the port end the fax was not ringing to receive.

After my son resent various times, what a surprise, someone turned the fax off. I then HAD THEM TURN ON THE FAX AND IT WAS RECEIVED AT 3:12. At that time, FULL OF MIXED EMOTIONS, we gathered OUR belongings, preparing to board and one of the Royal Caribbean employees THREW THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE at me and told me it could not be accepted!!!! Desperate and in tears, (as the ship started to blow its horn for departure) I again called resolution, spoke to security, every supervisor and final highest in command & told me point blank that I was unable to travel because I did not have the ORIGINAL!!! I, then approached Tonya Valentine, from Australia, the person who while I was on the phone with Nancy at the resolution department, told the rest that they could notarize the faxed copy, then denied it all and point blank told me to leave that I was not going to sail. I, my daughter and our luggage were then escorted out by security (as we were the only people left in the building) & I cried like never before in my life as we watched our perfect vacation sail away!!!! To make it even worse, my best friend was still on board the ship!!!

All of the phone calls I had with Nancy from resolution and my planner Tamar at the Miami Corporate are documented and a timeline of events are also documented to explain better the situation and explains the cynical way that I was treated.

To sum up the rest of the story, I was devastated to say the least to have been led on for hours with false hopes. I understand that if I was instructed to bring the needed documents, and for own negligence I did not have, that would have been totally my fault. In this case, I and a lot of people were not aware of the new regulation. Some people that needed travel letters were written and notarized in the Port but it was written and notarized without the person being present. I saw faxes coming through the fax for other families in the same situation and they notarized them so they could board the ship!! Rules and regulations should be true to all or none.

 

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I am a Bilingual Notary Public & IRS Acceptance Agent here in Pennsylvania and the owner of “Denise’s Centro de Servicios” for 9 years now. I am considered in the community as an advocate and help many clients with daily challenges that you and I take for granted. I am about options and finding a way to make things work. That was not the case with the pier staff and this has been very difficult for me to get past the way that I was treated.

 

 

 

Initially, I was going to give up on the idea of booking another cruise but from persuasion, of my emotionally distraught friend, still on the boat, I flew out of Philadelphia airport to Bermuda. We traveled via taxi to the other side of the island to board the ship on Monday, August 10, 2009. I was told in resolution that the ship’s staff would be waiting for my arrival. Unfortunately, that was not the case, the room cards were not ready, my sign and sail credit card information was not on file and there were no usual amenities that we are accustomed to.

 

Upon my return to Baltimore, I spoke with a “Cynthia” and caught off guard many employees at the pier and explained to them, in a very educated manner, that the way I was treated was unprofessional and degrading and that the changes regarding documentation need to be posted or emailed to upcoming sails to avoid this from ever occurring again. They then informed me that due to my situation, there were new procedures in place. (For what it’s worth)

 

Attached you will find copies of my airfare and taxi transportation fare. I trust that you will research in more detail with the resolution department to verify what occurred and I am sure various people will remember this ordeal as many of your employees were very upset with the treatment I received.

 

 

Should any questions arise, please contact me at your convenience.

 

 

Thank in advance for your cooperation and assistance,

 

To the OP,

 

I worked for RCI in the department that answers letters. Unfortunately, you will not be reimbursed for the expenses to board the ship in Bermuda. As others have stated, it is the sole responsibility of the guest to have proper travel documents and to determine what documents they need.

 

As far boarding the ship in Bermuda. Nothing is setup until you arrive at the ship. We let the ship know you are headed there, so they don't give your room away, but you "check-in" when you arrive and all information must be entered at that time.

 

If you get a generous agent, you may get a Future Cruise Certificate, but it will probably be about $100 off. I was fairly generous when handing out compensation and I would be hard pressed to give any in this situation.

 

Sorry for your experience.

[klfr]

I called RCCL and spoke to someone there. He put me on hold for a while. I told him that the kids would both have passports, and I would have a notarized letter from the father. I would also have the birth certificates but they do not identify mother or father. I was told that the passports and the notarized letter would be all I would need. In thinking about it further, if I were not their mother, according to the information on RCCL's site I would only need a notarized letter and the passports and birth certificates. I'll bring the divorce order along with me, but since I changed my name after the divorce order was signed, it still wont show the name I use now.

 

Travelling back and forth between Canada and the US, all I've ever been asked to show is our passports and the letter. I'm a little unclear, it's Homeland Security that is asking for this documentation, not the cruise line, right? If that's the case, I'm sure it will be fine.

[ruth1964]

I just wanted to say that this happened to me Easter 2009, cruising out of Newark.

Daughter 17 years. I had reverted to my maiden name. I booked my cruise through the UK RCCI and booked 2 cabins, all party members having different surnames and agent made aware that my daughter had different name.

Having earlier cruised out of Miami twice before with her, and NO request for birth certificate or proof that I am her mum - at that time I was aware that 'unless I was the parent or guardian of a minor' {i was her parent therefore this older rule did not apply} then I would need notarized permission to take the minor child on the cruise [know this as was considering bringing a friend of my daughter at the time].

Our Easter cruise was booked Oct/Nov 2007 so this obviously 'older' version of the rule was in place at the time of booking.

 

When we received our cruise documents prior to the 09 cruise [2 weeks] the same terminology was in place. Legally my cruise was booked under terms and conditions in place in 2007 and therefore any amendments to the contract by RCCL should be advised in writing. Obviously the perfect opportunity would have been in the cruise documentation 2 weeks before the holiday.

 

However once at Bayonne I was presented with the statement that as she was a minor and had a different surname I needed to produce a full birth certificate as ID that I was her mother. [ceasarian scars dont count as proof!] Needless to say my world fell apart. I was well aware that my normal holiday insurance would not cover us if we were denied boarding - as this would be down to me not having correct paperwork.

 

I fortunately was helped by an excellent port agent and it was through her negotiations, after already being denied boarding, that we were allowed to board subject to producing the certificate.

It was Sunday in the UK and I had to get a neighbour to break into my house.. she couldnt find it and I had to order an replacement 'online' and get it collected and scanned/emailed direct to the ship or we were being kicked off at the next port.

 

Without going into the various other issues and specifics of the repercussions of that disasterous start to my cruise - one of my main arguements was that this new rule would still not have protected my daughter from abduction by her father! As it happens I have full custody of my daughter and her father is not allowed to take her out of the country without my permission! So by RCCL rules because her surname is the same as his, they would not have questioned her travelling. She is 17; and now able to voice her opinions, this rule would not have helped a toddler/baby being abducted.

 

Needless to say RCCL now has amended their wording, certainly since Easter 09 and has it as an IMPORTANT NOTICE on their web home page., which also refers to the different surnames now.

 

My advice to any parents with differing surnames to their children is take a full birth certificate showing both parents names or birth documentation relevant to your country - even if they have their own passports; they are classed as a minor by the USA until they are 21 I think?

 

Happy Sailing!!!

[temple1]

Why is it that the folks who come on here to give warnings and then go into a rant (and I somewhat understand the OP's rant ) why they attribute extremely rude behavior to the cruise line representatives at the port and the poor suffering OP (not this OP in particular, but OP's in general) always speaks politely and in an "educated manner" about the perceived ill treatment at the hands of the buffoons working for the cruiseline?

 

Just wondering? I would love to have a nickel for every letter like the one the OP sent that Goldstein and his staff have received over the years.

 

Don't know about you folks - but I've never seen rude behavior by any cruiseline representative at check in.

 

About the perceived problems in Bermuda - all of that information is only handled at check in which the OP was doing in Bermuda and what are the "usual amenities" that were missing? :confused:

[Jacqueline]

Great post Ruth !! It is always best to be prepared.

[cruisingnic]

I've just returned from the Indy, and I was asked for a letter from my daughters father. This was the first time I'd been asked, so it must be a new policy.

 

I explained that my daughter's father has no legal rights and handed them a copy of her full birth certificate, which clearly states im her mother.

I was told again that I needed a letter or we wouldn't be able to travel, after talking to the manager we were eventually allowed to board.

 

What I don't understand is a letter would prove nothing, as how would they authenticate it anyway. I could write a letter and sign it from her father, so this policy is not protecting any one.

 

As Ruth stated, her Dad wouldn't get asked for anything as he has the same name as her (but no legal right over her).

[cynt]

I understand the extra precautions when it comes to safeguarding children and I think it's great. So now I'm thinking how can this process be improved and/or more efficient. I dont' have children so I don't know what is required for their passport. However they wanted my life's story when I applied. So maybe a minors passport should establish who their parents are, have a copy of the child's original birth certificate, marriage licenses and/or divorce decree w/ parental custody, guardianship scanned and saved with the other personal data on the scanned bar code on the passport.

 

So then once a minors passport is scanned all this data will flash on the screen and the authorities will know immediately this is a minor and these are the parents and this is the parental situation - full custody, joint, married, adopted, foster etc. Also add a scanned picture of the parents and their passport numbers. It will identify by photos who the child is and there related parties. The parent would then have to verify WHO THEY ARE - passport, birth certificate, notarized letter from other parent, etc.

 

So I guess my point is allow the passport to serve as the documented source which provides how the child is related to the parent, "how the dots are connected" and then the parent just proves who they are (passport, birth certificate) and a notarized letter from the other parent.

 

If this is already on the barcode on the passport then disregard my post. LOL! I'm just trying to figure out a better way to do this. What do you guys think?

[Sue L]

I've just returned from the Indy, and I was asked for a letter from my daughters father. This was the first time I'd been asked, so it must be a new policy.

 

I explained that my daughter's father has no legal rights and handed them a copy of her full birth certificate, which clearly states im her mother.

I was told again that I needed a letter or we wouldn't be able to travel, after talking to the manager we were eventually allowed to board.

 

What I don't understand is a letter would prove nothing, as how would they authenticate it anyway. I could write a letter and sign it from her father, so this policy is not protecting any one.

 

As Ruth stated, her Dad wouldn't get asked for anything as he has the same same as her (but no legal right over her).

 

 

the requirement is a NOTARIZED letter so that makes it a legal document. You can't just write a letter and sign it.

[cruisingnic]

the requirement is a NOTARIZED letter so that makes it a legal document. You can't just write a letter and sign it.

Hi Sue

 

I was told in Southampton that a letter signed by her father is what they required, maybe it's different in the USA.

[msmayor]

I've just returned from the Indy, and I was asked for a letter from my daughters father. This was the first time I'd been asked, so it must be a new policy.

 

I explained that my daughter's father has no legal rights and handed them a copy of her full birth certificate, which clearly states im her mother.

I was told again that I needed a letter or we wouldn't be able to travel, after talking to the manager we were eventually allowed to board.

 

What I don't understand is a letter would prove nothing, as how would they authenticate it anyway. I could write a letter and sign it from her father, so this policy is not protecting any one.

 

As Ruth stated, her Dad wouldn't get asked for anything as he has the same name as her (but no legal right over her).

 

The letter needs to be notarized. You could indeed sign it, but then you'd have to get a notary to risk their license and lie about the certification that the person signing the letter presented himself in person to sign it. Doubtful that would happen.

 

 

So maybe a minors passport should establish who their parents are, have a copy of the child's original birth certificate, marriage licenses and/or divorce decree w/ parental custody, guardianship scanned and saved with the other personal data on the scanned bar code on the passport.

 

So then once a minors passport is scanned all this data will flash on the screen and the authorities will know immediately this is a minor and these are the parents and this is the parental situation - full custody, joint, married, adopted, foster etc. Also add a scanned picture of the parents and their passport numbers. It will identify by photos who the child is and there related parties. The parent would then have to verify WHO THEY ARE - passport, birth certificate, notarized letter from other parent, etc.

 

So I guess my point is since the passport already gathers the parent information for the child allow it serve as the documented source which provides how the child is related to the parent, "how the dots are connected" and then the parent just proves who they are (passport, birth certificate) and a notarized letter from the other parent.

 

If this is already on the barcode on the passport then disregard my post. LOL! I'm just trying to figure out a bette way to do this. What do you guys think?

 

Good idea in theory, but doubtful it would work. Custody arrangement can change at any time which would mean the passport itself would have to be changed every time a new court order was issued.

[alphakitty]

deleted - already been addressed. :)

[cruisingnic]

Just as I was posting earlier I had a phone call from RCI, replying to the email I sent yesterday about my problem in Southampton checking-in.

 

She has just told me that it is a new policy that started on 1st June.

In my case the check-in staff were wrong to ask for a letter as I had provided them with a birth certificate.

 

I was worring about my next cruise in October, she assured me that as long as I have her birth certificate and passport, I'll be ok.

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

I am a Notary and always orient people and do travel letters & POA on a daily basis. Just so hard when you always find a way to make things work and someone gives you a rollercoaster ride.

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

The notarizing without the person present was what I saw on my nightmare cruise. I am a Notary and I know they may do that to assist folks from missing the ship but all or none and I myself would never risk my notary for that.

[G'ma]

Hello all my cruise critic friends, I am back and semi enjoyed a 3 out of 5 day cruise.... Where shall I begin??? Can you imagine this: the emotion of getting to the Port 3 hours ahead of schedule for your 4:00 sailing, checking in your luggage, taking pictures..., laughing and then during check-in taken aside and told you can not travel??? Wait it gets even better, my best friend and her sister get on the ship without realizing what is going on.... Are you feeling this yet? You are traveling with your 14 year old daughter that carries a different last name than yours. You have all the normal travel docs required & of course your passports, then you are told that you can not travel without an ORIGINAL birth certificate to establish a relationship between the 2 of you!!! (new regulation as of a week ago) What do you do?? Me, the Notary, thought out all my options, First, request to fax right? NO!! how about a sworn affidavit from my friend who can acknowledge? NO!!! Told only acceptions could come from headquarters, on the phone with resolution department and they even spoke with the captain to accept faxed birth certificate !!!! Given the fax number at 2:30, son leaves work to fax copy, rings on his end but does not go through, wow what a surprise, someone turned the fax off, I realized and HAD THEM TURN ON FAX AND WAS RECEIVED AT 3:12. At that time, FULL OF MIXED EMOTIONS, we gathered OUR belongings, preparing to board and THROWN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE and told it would not be accepted!!!! Desperate and in tears, (as the ship started to blow its horn for departure) called resolution, spoke to security, every supervisor and final highest in command & told me point blank that I was unable to travel because I did not have the ORIGINAL!!! Myself, my daughter and our luggage were then escorted out by security (as we were the only people left in the building) & cried like a baby as we watched our perfect vacation sail away!!!! With my best friend still on board!!! To make a long story short, booked a flight to Bermuda with my daughter and checked in while at port. New procedures have taken from my experience and am working on a timeline to the CEO to make him aware of my ordeal and hopefully get reimbursed for all my extra expenses.

 

What an ordeal!!

 

This could have probably been avoided if you had done what the State Department and HLS recommends. If one parent is taking a minor under 16 out of the country, a notarized letter from the other parent giving permission is required. The non-traveling parent writes up the permission, giving names, dates of travel, itineray, etc., signs it at a notary. No problems.

[CruiseDad-NYC]

Thanks to the OP for the post - this was an eye-opener for me. I have traveled on 2 cruises so far with my wife and our 2 children. I never paid too much attention to the family legal document language, since we always travel as a complete family and the children have passports. Theoretically, we could run into a boarding problem, since our children have my last name and my wife retained her own. So, there's no name link to suggest that we're married or that she's the mother of our children - which means I would not be able refute with any documentation a claim that I were traveling out of the country with my children but without their mother's permission (i.e., there's nothing to suggest that my wife is my wife or that she is their mother). I haven't had a problem so far, but to be on the safe side, I'm going to bring certified birth certificates on our upcoming cruise. Sorry this happened to you, but thanks very much for sharing so that it may help others.

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

Thank you for your kind words. My reasoning for the posting was so that no one ever goes through what I did. Just to be on the safe side take with you a certified notarized copy of Birth Certificates or the Originals. I just got a call from Royal Caribbean wanted to talk to me. I have high regards for Royal and I feel confident that this will be addressed.

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

I wish it had been that simple. I notarize travel letters on a daily basis but not the case

[DENISECENTROCRUSIN]

I always book my trips directly with Royal caribbean and both her and resolution told me it was enforced as of June 1st of this year and I booked previously and that is why I was not aware. I am sure that alot of things are in writing and have been overlooked in the past. The fact of a travel letter documenting relation and passport for identifying purposes, in the past has always been sufficient. A rude awakening for me and will never be taken for granted again.