Will US Cruise ship travelling in Europe allow me travel in maiden name passport.

pennypinching77

Just caught out and having to renew sons passport with week to go as he has less than 6 months on it.
Thought this applied only if I was going to US but we're only going to Norway from Southampton on a US ship and only informed.

I am a UK citizen born here. My passport is still in maiden name. I believe the US have made changes to UK travellers since Paris Attacks but I don't know all the details.

Does anyone know if applying for my son's passport in my married name will be a problem and then travelling in a passport with my maiden name or willI have to change this to married name. Didnt change to maried name as just over a year to run and travel rarely.

Will of course take my marriage certificate at all times.

Any advice welcome

Voyager2002

What are you talking about? Neither the USA nor Europe require six month's validity after the end of your trip. Of course the cruise line might be imposing its own rules, but no-one can guess what those rules might be, particularly since we don't know the name of the company.

The general advice is that you should make sure that the name on the passport is exactly the same as the name on the booking, and bring a print-out of the rules about passport validity from the embassy website for the country you are visiting.

peachyprice

As above, who has told you you need 6 months? You certainly don't for Norway (or even the US).

If your passport is in your maiden name just use that for your sons passport, if you use your married name it may cause confusion and a delay when you put your passport number on his form.

You do know there is no legal requirement to use your married name? As long as your passport matches your booking it's fine, if you've booked in your married name you now have a problem.

pennypinching77

Hello Voyager

I know it sounds crazy and I have heard of it before but not when one has no intention of even visiting USA!

The company is Royal Caribbean, Ship Navigator of the Seas. You may be right about them implementing their own law as the .gov site says your passport needs to cover date of travel only.

Just wondered if anyone else had fallen foul.

Booked through Cruise 118 but never again.

LadyDee

pennypinching77 wrote: »

Just caught out and having to renew sons passport with week to go as he has less than 6 months on it.
Thought this applied only if I was going to US but we're only going to Norway from Southampton on a US ship and only informed.

I am a UK citizen born here. My passport is still in maiden name. I believe the US have made changes to UK travellers since Paris Attacks but I don't know all the details.

Does anyone know if applying for my son's passport in my married name will be a problem and then travelling in a passport with my maiden name or willI have to change this to married name. Didnt change to maried name as just over a year to run and travel rarely.

Will of course take my marriage certificate at all times.

Any advice welcome

Don't take any chances at all with US authorities. Check with the US Embassy. Best to play safe.

Voyager2002

LadyDee wrote: »

Don't take any chances at all with US authorities. Check with the US Embassy. Best to play safe.

Except that the US embassy is (a) very difficult to contact and (b) tends to give advice that is not in line with US law.

Voyager2002

pennypinching77 wrote: »

Hello Voyager

I know it sounds crazy and I have heard of it before but not when one has no intention of even visiting USA!

The company is Royal Caribbean, Ship Navigator of the Seas. You may be right about them implementing their own law as the .gov site says your passport needs to cover date of travel only.

I am not familiar with their procedures, have had a quick Google. This link (http://bookings.royalcaribbean.co.uk/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=2814&faqSubjectId=329&wuc=GBR)
is from their UK site although most of it seems to presume that passengers will live in the USA. Two points to note:
1. The section 'Before leaving home' includes the words "The requirements described below are stipulated by government regulations and policies", suggesting that they do not make their own rules and so you can rely on information from embassy and other official sources. As others have posted, there is NO official US requirement that passports should have six months validity. Despite this, the linked page http://bookings.royalcaribbean.co.uk/beforeyouboard/passportGuidelines.do says "If you are a British or Irish citizen ... you must have your own full 10 year ... Passport which is valid for at least 6 months after your expected return date." It is not clear whether this is a rule that they are making up, or whether they have simply misunderstood official requirements;
2. Note the section headed 'Family Legal Documents'. As I understand this, it means that you will need to bring your son's birth certificate, and it will need to include the same surname for you as the surname given on your passport.

LadyDee

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Except that the US embassy is (a) very difficult to contact and (b) tends to give advice that is not in line with US law.

Oh well, then let's hope somebody here does actually know the answers rather than just expressing their opinion.

Voyager2002

LadyDee wrote: »

Oh well, then let's hope somebody here does actually know the answers rather than just expressing their opinion.

I don't think you are up against US rules, but the policy of the company (which may be based on their understanding or misunderstanding of official requirements).

FBaby

I haven't heard about the 6 months rule but you are right about Royal Caribbean having strict rules when it comes to passports and kids. I had some issues the first time as my kids have a different surname to me. It wasn't a problem at all the second time though. I would definitely contact them to clarify.

leylandsunaddict

It's pretty common for cruise lines to ask for 6 months passport validity. P&O, Cunard and NCL do as well.