First of all, thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge about cruising with Service Dogs. Living, eating, going around etc. with Service Dogs should be as smooth and easy as possible, but unfortunately my experience shows me this is not always true, and you guys taking the time to share your experience and to help others just make life easier for all of us! Thank you!
I have never been to a cruise with my Service Dog. I flew with her many times, in the US and internationally, though. It is hard to visually identify my special needs, thus I have to answer to questions constantly. I would like to sail with her and my wife in about 3 weeks. We are not 100% sure yet, but we were looking at cruises that go Jamaica and/or Bahamas and/or Cayman.
I was interested in a Carnival cruise, but Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Holland are also options. I tried to read and research as much as I could. I noticed that the Carnival website states that "Service dogs must have current vaccinations; these vaccinations are in addition to what governing port officials require. Please know that many of the ports you may visit will only accept annual rabies vaccinations. The three-year rabies vaccination is not recognized in many countries. It is the guest’s responsibility to contact the Department of Agriculture or your Service Dogs Veterinarian to obtain information on the requirements at each port. The failure to have the required vaccinations or documentation may result in your service animal not be able to disembark or quarantine.
If you choose to disembark the ship in a visiting port of call, in which your service dog does not have the required documents, or you choose to leave your service dog onboard. You must make arrangements for the care of your dog. Our ships staff cannot care for the dog, nor can the dog be left in the stateroom unattended.".
Well, we live in Canada and my dog has all her vaccination papers (last time she has a 3-year shot). Thus, I am not sure if I will have to get the USDA health certificate for her, or that would be only in case we would like to disembark with her. I need to have her at night, but it would be absolutely possible and feasible to leave her in the stateroom while we are visiting ports of call. I think it would be the best in our situation, as I would be extremely uncomfortable exposing her (and myself) to all stress related to disembark, non-leashed pets in the streets etc. (please note that this is not a criticism by all means for people who disembark with their service dogs - this is just my personal feeling and condition).
My questions, then, would be:
My biggest concern is how it is going to be at ports of call. The cruise I am interested in goes to Cayman Islands and to Jamaica. How is it to go out with my service dog? And how is it coming back to the ship? What is necessary etc?
As stated before, I would much prefer leaving my Service Dog onboard. Can the dog stay in the vessel while I disembark? If I bring a big and comfortable crate, can we leave her locked in the crate? Will the cruise line know and do anything if both me and my wife leave the ship and my dog stays in the cabin?
Moreover, how will it be coming back to the USA after the cruise? Any special request? When we come back to Florida, will they need any certification or quarantine for my dog?
When I travel abroad with my Service Dog, I was never asked for any documents for her (although I always bring with me her vaccine papers, her United States Service Dog Registry card etc.).
I read most of this thread and could not find specific and updated answers for this practical questions, so please help me!
Cruising With A Service Dog....everything You Ever Wanted To Know!
in Disabled Cruise Travel
Posted
Hello everyone,
First of all, thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge about cruising with Service Dogs. Living, eating, going around etc. with Service Dogs should be as smooth and easy as possible, but unfortunately my experience shows me this is not always true, and you guys taking the time to share your experience and to help others just make life easier for all of us! Thank you!
I have never been to a cruise with my Service Dog. I flew with her many times, in the US and internationally, though. It is hard to visually identify my special needs, thus I have to answer to questions constantly. I would like to sail with her and my wife in about 3 weeks. We are not 100% sure yet, but we were looking at cruises that go Jamaica and/or Bahamas and/or Cayman.
I was interested in a Carnival cruise, but Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Holland are also options. I tried to read and research as much as I could. I noticed that the Carnival website states that "Service dogs must have current vaccinations; these vaccinations are in addition to what governing port officials require. Please know that many of the ports you may visit will only accept annual rabies vaccinations. The three-year rabies vaccination is not recognized in many countries. It is the guest’s responsibility to contact the Department of Agriculture or your Service Dogs Veterinarian to obtain information on the requirements at each port. The failure to have the required vaccinations or documentation may result in your service animal not be able to disembark or quarantine.
If you choose to disembark the ship in a visiting port of call, in which your service dog does not have the required documents, or you choose to leave your service dog onboard. You must make arrangements for the care of your dog. Our ships staff cannot care for the dog, nor can the dog be left in the stateroom unattended.".
Well, we live in Canada and my dog has all her vaccination papers (last time she has a 3-year shot). Thus, I am not sure if I will have to get the USDA health certificate for her, or that would be only in case we would like to disembark with her. I need to have her at night, but it would be absolutely possible and feasible to leave her in the stateroom while we are visiting ports of call. I think it would be the best in our situation, as I would be extremely uncomfortable exposing her (and myself) to all stress related to disembark, non-leashed pets in the streets etc. (please note that this is not a criticism by all means for people who disembark with their service dogs - this is just my personal feeling and condition).
My questions, then, would be:
My biggest concern is how it is going to be at ports of call. The cruise I am interested in goes to Cayman Islands and to Jamaica. How is it to go out with my service dog? And how is it coming back to the ship? What is necessary etc?
As stated before, I would much prefer leaving my Service Dog onboard. Can the dog stay in the vessel while I disembark? If I bring a big and comfortable crate, can we leave her locked in the crate? Will the cruise line know and do anything if both me and my wife leave the ship and my dog stays in the cabin?
Moreover, how will it be coming back to the USA after the cruise? Any special request? When we come back to Florida, will they need any certification or quarantine for my dog?
When I travel abroad with my Service Dog, I was never asked for any documents for her (although I always bring with me her vaccine papers, her United States Service Dog Registry card etc.).
I read most of this thread and could not find specific and updated answers for this practical questions, so please help me!
Thank you, all!