TacMedic

I agree with you Tommyj4. I started a thread a couple of years ago i. Which I said that I simply didn’t understand why anyone would want to pay for Specialty Restaurants on board. Someone pointed out to me that for many Americans who live in rural areas, good restaurants are not readily available, so they enjoy trying different cuisine. Coming from the UK where it’s rarely difficult to find somewhere good to eat, that shut me up. It just hadn’t occurred to me.

This, for most of my family and circle of friends cruises, are the only way to eat anything but chain restaurants or southern home cooking.

I have never paid full price for specialty dining, I don't really think it is that much better than MDR, in fact, I tend to find them cramped.

Going on Harmony of the seas at the end of the month, and while doing the online check-in it required me to select an arrival time between 1 pm and 4 pm. Are these times hard and fast or can we get in the ship whenever? anyone have any experience getting on before the time they chose?

There are new posters all the time who have not seen previous threads so a little patience doesn't hurt as we all were new here once.

 

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This. seems all civility has come to an end behind keyboards. If it has been covered before, link to the thread. being snarky is not a good way to keep the board active and increase participation.

I just did a google search and the top results were sites that tell you how to register your animal as an ESA and take it anywhere. I love the three dogs and cats that I had over the years but I would never drag them on my holiday, and I sure as heck would not dress them or push them in a stroller. Maybe people who do that have a physiological disorder or an attention seeking disorder. ;)

Chief said it best. There is a difference between ESA animals and ADA animals. ADA allows people with disabilities to bring their service animals in public places. However, the ADA only extends these protections to dogs that have been "individually trained" to "perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability," which is the definition of service animals. Since emotional support animals (ESA) are typically not trained for an individual's specific disability and since emotional support animals might not be dogs, they do not receive the protections of the ADA. A public place can therefore deny an emotional support animal admission. Being from Canada I might have missed something but that is my understanding of the system.

 

Business, housing complexes etc by law must follow the ADA act. If they don't they can/will suffer the consequences, in the forms of fines etc. However, the average business owner doesn't know the differences between the two and would rather welcome all pets than face the consequences. This is where people have taken advantage of the ESA system and over time it has gotten worse over the last few years.

One of the ESA web-sites promoted flying with your pet on your lap and living in a pet free housing with you "support animal". Below is a quote right from a web-site .

 

"By receiving a prescription from one of our therapists for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) you’ll never have to compromise where you live or where you travel again. Signing up for an ESA assessment with one of our therapists is quick, easy, and applies to animals of all shapes and sizes. Get an official prescription letter from a certified therapist, and be on your way to living stress and worry free with your Emotional Support Animal".

I'm not sure a how therapist can give a prescription letter over the internet, at most possible by phone conversation but it can be done.;)The further I read into the website, it looks like a money making endeavour for those who will take Fifi anywhere. Need a ESA letter, they will provide one for you for a fee etc. If people are buying outfits for their dogs, what is a fee more dollars so they can take them anywhere.

 

Somewhere along the way the dog went from being a pet to a family member and this industry is taking advantage of their market place. Just spend the bucks and take for dog, cat, or peacock anywhere. Well until a crackdown happens, and it appears as though the airlines are doing it now.

 

 

 

This is an example of one of the ESA website providers.

 

ESA Registration Of America - Emotional Support Animals

 

https://www.esaregistration.org/

ESA Registration Of America allows you to self-register your animal as an emotional support animal. Bring your animal anywhere in public it is permitted.

Just finished our first flight with our little Penelope and it was so amazing being able to have her sitting right next to us the entire flight. Thanks so much!

 

LOL, they didn't say that their anxiety was lessened on the flight.

Spend a few bucks and take Fido anywhere.

Another Sells Kits to make your dog an ESA. Here is an example of their product.

Compare our

Emotional Support Dog

Kits

 

 

 

Basic Kit

$79

Complete Kit

$159

Deluxe Kit

$199

 

As I said previously I'd rather have a 100 legitimate ADA service dogs on my cruise than Fido in their Captain's outfit.

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Did you read my post with any care? I didn't challenge his dog being in the store; I challenged its being in a grocery cart. Step down from your pretentious throne, Solomon. A dog's bare anus in a grocery cart is what's unbecoming.

Ok, dude. You, do you.

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And a ESA dog that provides the above listed comforts to the vet are not considered service animals, and therefore are not covered under the ADA, and are only guaranteed access to housing and airlines, not all public spaces. PTSD dogs that perform a specific task for their owner that may relieve the PTSD (such as "clearing a room", or nudging the owner away from crowds) is considered a service animal, and is guaranteed the access to public spaces under the ADA. The ADA specifically states that ESA's or dogs whose mere presence calms the owner are not service animals under the ADA.

Don't contribute to malice, what can easily be explained by ignorance.

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I’m sorry but I have to ask, what the flaming hell is an ‘emotional support animal’?? Never had ‘em twenty years ago! Guide dogs and hearing dogs are fantastic and incredibly well trained and would never poop on the floor of an inside area. This sounds like a silly excuse to bring a pet with you rather than pay for kennelling. Sorry I’m from Yorkshire, England....we tend to speak our minds.

An emotional support animal may be able to help alleviate some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Although an ESA can be of any species, those with PTSD oftentimes enlist the help of a canine companion.

Dogs are intuitive and can sense when their owner is becoming stressed or overwhelmed. Dogs are also;

Good companions and will not judge or criticize the person with PTSD

Fun and will help relieve stress and bring out those “feel-good” endorphins

Help engage the person in the “love” emotion making them feel less detached

Provide a need to get out of the house to spend time outdoors and meet new people

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This is clearly a sensitive issue. And just as clearly, some people absolutely do much better with service animals. The unfortunate reality is that the ADA rules are being abused. Just as you are annoyed by those who seem insensitive to you or to disabled people, some are annoyed by the blatant disregard by others of fellow passengers...pooping dogs minus clean-up is a concern, for real.

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Had a run in with a questionable "support" dog in a Harris Teeter three days ago. Man puts his invaluable dog (with the online certification collar) in the fold out area of a cart where parents seat their children. I'd had enough. I confronted him and was quite loud hoping to get the attention of all around (I did). I asked what he thought he was doing placing the dog's bare anus and genitals in a shopping cart. A young assistant manager walked up at this time. The dog owner responded that it was none of my business and I couldn't ask. I told him it was definitely my business since I might be using that cart another day and that I didn't want to to place my groceries or granddaughter in a space where the dog's bare bottom had been. I was expecting the "dog's are cleaner than people" bull defense, but it didn't come. I raised my voice even more to remind him that I could ask him anything I want, that I was not restricted by ADA. The assistant manager was in an uncomfortable position. I reminded him that this wasn't a challenge of ADA rights since the dog wasn't restricted from coming into the store. I confronted the ADA "expert" clarifying that ADA gets his darling dog in the door; it isn't a free pass into a shopping cart.

He didn't have an answer for that. He quietly said to the manager that he would carry the dog "to get him off the hook." That set me off again. I bellowed that the dog belonged on a leash, not in a cart, and that this was not a one time challenge. I made it clear that any time I would see him in the store with a dog in a cart, I would follow right behind him and would very loudly and continuously protest.

 

The phonies use ADA as weapon to scare proprietors away from challenges. They make a mockery of those with legitimate service animal needs. ADA doesn't apply to passengers adversely affected by the erstwhile service dogs. Time for us to strike back. A dog relieves itself inappropriately on a ship, raise a very loud protest. Do everything you can to focus attention on the defecator. Someone puts little Bootsie on her lap at the dinner table, start yelling, yes yelling, for the maitre d. I think you will find that this will empower others who have had enough. It's time for RCCL and other proprietors to know that pacifying the one is not worth the uproar of the majority.

who are you to decide if it is legitimate or not? Raving like a lunatic does nothing but invite mob mentality. look, if the guy saw his dog poop and walked away, a polite tone and tap on the shoulder is all that is required, gibbering like an ape is unbecoming. You don't confront people with handicap stickers, with no immediately obvious handicap, do you? didn't think so.

Is truly necessary for both my husband and I to both get a drink package. I know I should ask but is there a way around this if I just want a few drinks here and there and he buys the package for him and gives me drinks. I know I know... don't judge me but surely I'm not the only one thinking about this or has done it. #dontjudgeme

 

 

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Yes, your husband can pass you drinks. Like most things in life, moderation and not make a big deal about it goes a long way. also tipping the barkeep/server helps. On my last cruise My mum, wife and I were enjoying poolside drinks, my wife and I had the alcohol package mum did not, we got 3 drinks with just 2 sea passes, however I tipped the server a 5 when we started and another buck a drink he never said anything, that said I probably spent enough on tips to buy my mum the package for the day. Don't let the CC police get you down. As many have said it happens ALL the time, I'm sure those that complain the most are the biggest "offenders"

A debate on probably the subjective aspect of cruising is funny, but I'll add my two cents, the MDR food is about the same as the specialty dining options. I've been on 2 RCCL trips first in 06, and one last year on the Allure. The food on both was excellent much better than chain restaurants in the states. I'll admit I may have been lucky with the wait staff, as they tend to make or break dining experiences for most people. however, in a 10-year gap of cruises, the attention to detail from our servers is astounding they had our drinks already at the table before we sat down. Maybe growing up poor combined with the army has made me appreciate these small details more so than perhaps they deserve, but haveing escargot and steak then whatever else struck my nerve....in the middle of the ocean is awesome. If you can't find food on a cruise that you like maybe cruising isn't the right vacation for you. /FlameSuitOn

How do you know she didn't get the "United" treatment afterward?

If we could thumbs up a post, I would thumbs this up forever!:'):'):')

I am new at the whole drink package thing,but it seems almost all of the posts that I have read (very many), seem to only focus on the alcohol in regard to the Deluxe Drink Package. I myself am not a heavy drinker mostly social drinker... not one to drink alot by myself, but when I do drink it is usually beer. Once in a while I will have some mixed drinks. Based on the package as a whole I guess I am trying to talk myself in to getting the Deluxe package. I will be having juice in the morning with breakfast probably every morning, and some ice tea and prob water every now and then for 7 days.

So with that said, what I guess I am wondering is if getting the Refreshment Package and buying my alcohol as I go would be a better option for me. The wife is not a drinker but will have the drink of the day usually and one or two at night. I am more inclined to purchase it for the no hassle with receipts and tips everytime I get a drink and not too worried about "breaking even". Sorry I got long winded, just kind of stuck on which way to go.

 

David

The package is well worth the ability to order wwhatever you like and not worry about the price and to be honest the price of drinks your going to spend the 20-30+bucks extra a day especially if you are a social drinker who likes to be social while he drinks.

Grumpy,

When we cruised last august we got our sea pass cards before we boarded the ship, I would assume it would work the same for you.