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OT- Ish Cruising with your kids

justmakingthebest's picture

Just beacasue it started a huge debate on my last blog and a certain someone got rather crappy over it- I called our crusie line. Even though I have taken my kids without their dad on 3 others and SS on one.

Carnival Cruise Line- "You do not need a letter from the other parent to to take YOUR child on a cruise." --- "While we recommend passorts to all travelers they are not required if you leave from the United States and return to the United States. You do have to have a birth certificate and for any child over the age of 16, a picture ID"

I have not taken my kids on any other lines, don't see the point in spending the extra $$ for other lines when they don't know the difference and there is no way in hadies I would spend the $$ on a Disney cruise- those things are stupid expensive. Other lines may have different policies. I also have not ever left out of anything other than a US port and returned to a US port. So, that could change things as well. 

Just and FYI to anyone thinking they have to have some sort of letter or the other parents approval to travel. If your court order doesn't say you can't- go for it!

Comments

notsobradybunch's picture

Yes, we sailed Carnival when we took ours. I did not have a letter from BD and did call to confirm this as well. The boarding process is very easy although we decided passports were definitely the way to go as I didn't like carrying everyone's original birth certificate around. 

I actually just booked a cruise yesterday for only DH and I. I vowed to never take kids on a cruise again!!!! My BD19 enjoyed it but SD whined the whole time and BS just wasn't into it...he enjoyed all the food the most lol. 

Princess Cruises had a $1 deposit deal yesterday so I booked at trip for 2020. And now we both have passports so I'm happy we'll be able to use those!

Where are you sailing to?

justmakingthebest's picture

We are doing a 7 day western carribean. Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize, and Mahogany Bay. I am pretty excited! Less than a month to go! 

Next summer I want to go on one with just me and DH. My kids will be spending the summer in Cali with their dad and SS won't be with us until Mid July (best case scenario), so we have about a month with no kids. Even if we just do Bermuda or something where the port is nearby, I would be so happy to have a getaway for just us!

notsobradybunch's picture

We're cruising the Western Carribben also. Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman & Cozumel!! Can't wait!!

justmakingthebest's picture

I think you have the flip of our trip! I really wanted to do that one but the dates didn't line up for spring break. Maybe we will enjoy this ship so much we do that one for just us!

notsobradybunch's picture

Ahhhhhh yes. Another plus side of no kids. I just scheduled with no regard to a school schedule lol!!

dysfunctionally_blended's picture

Wow! I hope this information never gets into the wrong hands.

I can see HCBM doing this...

Father: Im here for the kid.

HCBM: OH we are on a cruise, out of the country. 

Father: What?! And you didn't need my permission?

HCBM: Nope. See you in a week!

 

tog redux's picture

Well, if CO says she has to ask permission, then whether or not the cruise line wants it is irrelevant.

justmakingthebest's picture

Exactly. Neither Dh's custody order or mine states anything about permission from the other parent. Now, because I am a decent human being- I alway communicate with my ex for travel and he does the same for me. Mostly so that if there is an emergency we are aware of where our children are. 

BM never tells DH anything about where SS is. While we have informed her over and over about this cruise- along with the judge, lawyers and the GAL- she has not right to stop it. Nor do we need her "permission" to go. As long as SS is back for school after spring break is over, that is all that matters. 

lieutenant_dad's picture

That is absolutely no different than any HCP not making a child available during the other parent's visitation time. You don't have to be on a cruise to not make a kid available. Hell, the HCP could be HOME and not make the kid available.

Is the issue just that it would be easier to disappear? You don't have to leave the US or Canada to do that. 

Am I missing something?

Harry's picture

At the cruise terminal trying to check in and you are asked for information you don’t have.  If they requir a letter from other parent giving permission for kids to go on cruise, and you don’t have it.  Guest who not going on a cruise. 

There a whole kidnapping thing. Taking kids to foreign country, as in islands. Nothing stop you from getting off the ship and not getting back on.  Keeping the kids in actually in a different country.