Grandparents, stepparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, family friends, another family, and coaches usually fall under non-parent adult rules unless that person is the legal parent or guardian.
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed September 14, 2026
A stepparent does not automatically mean legal guardian. If the accompanying adult is not the parent or legal guardian, most major cruise lines currently have a specific rule.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity currently require a notarized guardian form when a minor 17 or younger travels without a legal guardian. NCL currently requires an original Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form, with both living parents or legal guardians signing and IDs attached. MSC currently requires an original notarized authorization including responsibility and medical authority. Disney currently requires a reservation-based Minor Authorization Form.
Carnival currently strongly recommends an original signed authorization. Princess currently recommends notarized forms for grandchildren or children under 18 who are not your own. Holland America’s non-parent letter is original and signed. That letter is not labeled notarized.
Aunt, uncle, adult sibling, family friend, another family, and coach or group leader usually follow the same non-parent adult analysis unless that person is the legal parent or guardian.
| Cruise line | Non-parent / non-guardian rule | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean International | Minor 17 or under without a legal guardian: notarized guardian form | Royal Caribbean guide |
| Celebrity Cruises | Minor 17 or under without a legal guardian: notarized form; current Celebrity download points to the Royal Caribbean Group form | Celebrity guide |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Under 18 with a non-parent/non-guardian adult: original Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form; both living parents/legal guardians sign; IDs attached | NCL guide |
| MSC Cruises | Non-parent adult: original notarized authorization plus responsibility and medical authority | MSC guide |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Strongly recommends an original signed absent-parent/guardian authorization | Carnival guide |
| Disney Cruise Line | Minor Authorization Form required when the child travels without a parent or legal guardian; current form is reservation-based | Disney guide |
| Princess Cruises | Recommends notarized forms for grandchildren or children under 18 who are not your own | Princess guide |
| Holland America Line | Non-parent/legal-guardian adult: original signed parent letter with contact details and specific-cruise authorization; foreign-country rules may separately require notarization | Holland America guide |
Depending on your situation, a terminal or border officer may also ask for some of the following. No family needs every item.
A cruise-line non-parent form does not replace destination entry or exit rules. See the Family Travel Documents & Minor Consent Center destination comparison.
Grandparents, stepparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, family friends, another family, and a coach or group leader usually follow the non-parent adult analysis unless that person is the legal parent or guardian. A stepparent is not automatically a legal guardian.
Norwegian Cruise Line currently requires both living parents or legal guardians on its Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form, with government-issued ID copies attached. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and MSC currently require at least one parent or legal guardian. Disney currently has a parent or legal guardian complete the reservation-based form.
Use the cruise line’s own form when one exists: Royal Caribbean’s Minor Consent Form, the Royal Caribbean Group PDF that Celebrity currently uses, NCL’s Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form, or Disney’s reservation Minor Authorization Form. MSC, Carnival, Princess, and Holland America currently describe a letter or a policy rather than a public U.S. parental-consent PDF.
Where required, the authorization should cover the specific cruise, supervision, and urgent medical treatment. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity currently also cover activity-waiver authority. MSC currently requires the accompanying adult to take responsibility and medical authority.
Norwegian Cruise Line currently requires an original at the pier. MSC currently requires an original notarized authorization and says a copy is presented at check-in. Holland America’s non-parent letter is described as an original. Confirm the live official instruction before relying on an electronic file.
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC currently require notarization in their core non-parent rules, but none of those sources expressly state that remote online notarization is accepted. Disney’s current reservation-based form still needs notarization verification. Carnival currently recommends a signed letter without a notarization mandate. Princess currently recommends notarized forms. Holland America’s non-parent letter is not itself labeled notarized.
Check the official page again before you travel.
A stepparent is usually treated as a non-parent adult unless that person is the legal parent or guardian. Use the non-parent carrier rule for that cruise line and bring relationship or custody documents if names differ.
Usually yes, if the cruise line’s non-parent rule is followed. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, NCL, MSC, and Disney currently have specific non-parent forms or letters. Carnival, Princess, and Holland America use recommendation or original-letter rules.
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Consent For Minor Children to Travel Without Parent/Legal Guardian(opens in a new tab)
Royal Caribbean International
Accessed September 14, 2026
Preparing for Boarding Day FAQs — Travel Documentation for Minors(opens in a new tab)
Celebrity Cruises
Accessed September 14, 2026
Parent / Guardian Consent & Release Form(opens in a new tab)
Norwegian Cruise Line
Accessed September 14, 2026
Children & Teens On Board — FAQs(opens in a new tab)
MSC Cruises
Accessed September 14, 2026
Minor Guest Policy: Effective February 1, 2025(opens in a new tab)
Carnival Cruise Line
Accessed September 14, 2026
Disney Cruise Line
Accessed September 14, 2026
FAQs: Onboard Experience(opens in a new tab)
Princess Cruises
Accessed September 14, 2026
What types of identification are needed(opens in a new tab)
Holland America Line
Accessed September 14, 2026
A stepparent is not automatically a legal guardian. Open the matching cruise-line guide, then check destination-country rules in the Family Travel Center. Do not start a notarization session unless the applicable rule actually calls for notarization.