SeasRcalling

We understand that in order for the dog to go onto land at port we have to be cleared through that country.

I too thought this to be true and it’s not!

“Import” dog and “entry” to that country means if you are on the ship docked in their port. It doesn’t matter if you step foot in their country or not.

Contact the special needs department now! Some permits can take months to obtain.

Even if the cruise line or country tells you that you don’t need a permit if you remain onboard, please, get one regardless!!! Accidents happen, don’t take the chance of someone needing hospitalization and not having the permit to enter that island. Would you feel comfortable if your wife and daughter needed to leave the ship in a foreign country and you had to remain onboard with the dog because the dog has no permit to enter that island? Please, don’t take that chance!

In Feb 2018, I was denied boarding because I didn’t have the permits, thankfully this was told to me prior to sail date, so get the permits for each and every port of call on your itinerary, policy can change without notice and you wouldn’t want to be denied to board on the first day of your cruise!

I would love to hear how your cruise in November goes, hope you have an amazing time!

Again, I think you're missing the mark on all this -- and it has been explained several times in previous posts on this thread. You're not getting permits to exit in ports. Being on the ship, being off the ship. Doesn't matter. You're getting permits necessary just to dock at the pier.

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Yes, I understand that now. When I wrote that I was trying to explain why at the time prior to booking I got confused. All the years of talking to handlers and being told most times they don’t get permits they just remain onboard, then mix that with the policy not clearly stating “no permits, no entry” is what caused this, along with getting the all clear to board.

I wish what you just wrote was in their policy, it’s very clear. When I read your words there is no confusion as to remaining onboard or not. No confusion as to what it means to enter their country!!!

1) Why would you expect all of the different Carribean countries to have the same laws? That's like expecting France and Germany to have the same laws because they are right next to each other. That is not how the world works.

 

2) The second the ship hits the dock' date=' you have entered a different country. It doesn't matter if you stay on board. You still have to follow the laws of that country. For as much as you say you have traveled, I'm shocked that you don't understand that concept.[/quote']

 

I don’t expect them to have the same laws, I stated all the ships abide by the same laws, this issue was resolved by someone kindly telling me that “all the ships do have to obey the same laws, it’s different islands allow the dog to remain onboard” that was the reason I was seeing and talking to people throughout the years who stated they don’t have the permits but remain onboard, I believe my reply to this kind person who clarified this information to me was that makes sense because this was the first time in the Bahamas for me.

As for the second the ship hits the dock I’m in that country, do an online poll and ask “when do you believe you are officially in a country, when your feet touch the ground of that country by getting off the ship, or when you are still sitting in the water”, most people are like me and falsely say when their feet touch the soil of that country. Don’t be shocked that I didn’t understand the concept of sitting in water means you entered the country. Many others thought as I did. When you stand in front of an entry door to a restaurant do you say you entered the restaurant? Or do you say you went to the restaurants but did not enter? When I traveled by car from California to New York, I drove through many states, I have never told people “oh, I’ve been to that state” when all I did was drive through it. Humans are all different in the way they think, that is why when it comes to important information they trust a trained professional, such as a representative for a company.

 

Another poster stated to me that the words of the contract mean “some countries allow you to remain on the ship, but obviously not the Bahamas” when no where in the contract does it state anything about remaining in the ship. Yet this fellow cruiser replied to my post to inform me of what she understood it to mean, almost the same as what I understood it to mean. Does that mean we are both not highly educated people, or does that mean the contract is flawed, so far it’s not just me reading and coming up with the same wrong interpretation.

First off, I don't believe there is anywhere in any policy or contract where it says anything about "getting off the ship." This is simply not understanding, and I'm not blaming you for this because it can be confusing, "enter" and "visit". When they say "enter" the country, that means clearing customs at the dock. When they say you may not be able to "visit" a country, it's the same as "enter." Not entirely blaming you for that.

 

 

 

This is not a fair comparison. Here, you're comparing CRUISE LINE policy with the laws/policies of the country the ship is visiting. OBs routinely tell pregnant women that, barring complications, travel is safe up through Week 30. My wife's OB has said she wishes cruise lines allowed women to travel later in their pregnancy.

 

These are cruise line policies, so of course cruise line employees will be better versed in them.

 

 

 

And this is everything that's wrong with society today. The "you're wrong, but sue anyway" approach. C'mon. Grow up and own some responsibility. (Not directed at you, OP, but society in general.)

This is what I found online prior to booking, this is also what the executive in charge of complaints told me it taken directly from the cruise contract:

The words “inability to visit a port” is very misleading, as I was just replying to another person who stated that this meant “some countries allow you to remain onboard and others do not”. Meanwhile, no where does it say anything about remaining on the ship being allowed, but that is how it is interpreted.

Using the pregnancy as an example is to show that agents are aware of the rules and regulations. Instructing an agent to immediately transfer the phone call to the special needs department to handle and ensure everyone has all documents needed, whether it be service dogs or pregnant cruisers, this would ensure no one is given false information and prevent a lot of confusion and hardships.

I worked in an area where a small part of my job was dealing with permits. My coworker allowed someone on to travel who required a permit, the driver knew he needed a permit, I had to call and report there is a truck entering with no permit, law enforcement had to pull the truck over and bring the driver back to get the permit, the officer told us that if anything happened to that truck it was the fault of our company, I tried to side with my coworker and tell the officer the trucker does this for a living and knows the rules and regulations and knows he is required to get a permit to haul that load, the cop informed me yes, he knows he needed a permit, but once your coworker told him he is free to travel and handed him his ticket to travel, that released him of any fine I could of given him. Because as a representative of an agency or company, giving someone the all clear releases them of any responsibility.

Rules and regulations change, even the contract states the policy can change at any given time without notification. It is the responsibility of a company to not give out wrong information.

We all remember the airlines changing policy regarding liquid carry on, people lost a lot by having to throw out bottles of wine, make up, shampoos, and other items, but they were protected because policy can change without notice. The same is true in the reverse, that is why when I was given the 100% all clear to board and travel and assured all paperwork was filled out, I believed her, because she is trained to represent a company. No one should have to question what a trained representative says is the truth.

Thank you for your post, and for understanding and agreeing with me that those terms are very misleading. I was starting to feel like my neurological issue was getting the best of me by having a different understanding of what “entry” means. When I hear “entry” I think of a supermarket sign on the door, I have not legally entered the supermarket if I am still standing outside on the sidewalk. But I now understand “entry” does not only mean stepping foot in a country, it also means sitting on a ship in the waters surrounding their country.

Regardless of what you feel is "ridiculous", the simple fact is that the Disney "terms and conditions" or "ticket contract" that you agree to when you book your cruise, if you read them as you should have, clearly states that it is the passenger's responsibility to obtain any and all clearances for a service animal. Despite their statement that "Disney Cruise Line is not responsible for your inability to visit a port of call due to your failure to comply with any such entry requirements." That means only that some countries may allow a service animal to stay onboard without a clearance, but obviously the Bahamas does not. Do you hold an airline responsible if they sell you a ticket for you and your service animal, and then you find out they didn't tell you the country you are flying to doesn't allow the dog? It is not their responsibility to ensure you have the proper travel documentation.

This is no different than if you needed a visa to visit a country, were told by a customer service agent that you didn't, and were denied boarding because of it. The cruise line has no responsibility to inform you of your travel document requirements in advance, any more than an airline does.

This was found online in my research prior to booking:

~ I met the 72 hour notification

~Strict entry requirements...we were going to remain onboard as other do.

~inability to visit a port due to failure to comply with entry requirements...we were remaining onboard and not exiting in the port we did not have the permit for. This isn’t misleading as strict entry requirements are assiciated with getting off in the port.

Very simple clause that could be added to resolve any and all confusion regarding the word “entry” not meaning getting off the ship, but meaning being on the ship in port of that country, is to include, “failure to obtain entry requirements for all ports on your itinerary, regardless if passenger remains onboard or exits the ship, will result in banning the service animal from entering the ship on day one”.

When you interpret the contract and state,“that means only that some countries may allow a service animal to remain onboard...” then that is your interpretation and not factual in the contract. You are proving the point I’m trying to make. The way it’s worded and the practices seen onboard other ships is misleading you to interpret that as some countries may allow the dog but the Bahamas does not. No where in he contract does it state some countries will let you remain onboard and some will not when you don’t have the permits. Your interpretation is the same as mine although I did not interpret it to mean the bahamas will not. So you are the second person to read the contract and understand it to mean remaining onboard is permitted in some countries, even though the contract does NOT state this. Thank you for proving my point further that its not just me reading the flawed contract and coming away with the same misunderstanding from it. This is why I so desperately ask that they amend the contract to include it is not acceptable to remain onboard without having a permit for the island.

As for would I hold an airline responsible, yes and no, it’s different situation. If I told the agent I have a dog and I have no valid health certificate for the dog to travel and the agent goes ahead and sells me the ticket with the knowledge that they are selling me something I won’t be able to use, then yes, I hold them responsible. If the airline is not on a direct flight and has a layover where all the passengers that are going to the next destination remain onboard and do not exit the aircraft, and I tell the agent I don’t have a permit to step foot in that country and they give me the 100% that I’m able to fly with the paperwork I have, then yes, I hold them responsible if customs boards the aircraft and takes my dog. Do I hold them responsible if the plane is going on direct flight to my final destination, then no, I would have the permit to exit the aircraft in my final destination.

You say the company wouldn’t be responsible for their employee telling me I don’t need a visa in a country that requires one...you’re wrong. The agents have no right to lie to customers!!! Imagine the chaos if agents were allowed to lie to customers and no one was held accountable for their actions!! If an agent doesn’t know, they need to ask, they can’t just make up their own rules. When I enter into any contract, I expect the contract to revolve around the truth, a contract is not legally binding when it was created under false statements.

 

Yes, I read the USDA for importing dogs, I thought import was to bring into the island, I have learned now that import means anything aboard the ship. This was stated to me by the Disney special needs and made very clear. I am grateful that although he was rude at times, he did save me a lifetime of hardship by stating to me the rules regarding what happens when you have no permit for an island. I wish it was made clear in their policy and it isn’t.

It is true and I’ve gotten this from handlers of service animals aboard the ships and NOT from any cruise line agency, that people remain onboard when they don’t have the permits. I took a cruise after the Disney one, it was on Royal, spoke to a man who had a dog (in a baby carriage and stated to me it was a therapy dog, but that’s another issue entirely) and he stated he does not have the permit to exit in the port, we were in St. Marteen, and he said no issues with customs remaining onboard without a permit. He said the only issue they have is that the dog is not allowed off the ship in that port, so his wife goes off in port and enjoys herself and he stays on with the dog and then husband wife comes back on and he goes off port and enjoys himself while his wife remains onboard with the dog. This is not an option for me, as I can’t be alone due to my disability. But it does happen, I can’t speak for people remaining onboard in the Bahamas because this was my first time there and I saw no service dogs on the ship. Maybe the Bahamas are more strict than the other islands, it shouldn’t be, as this causes confusion with people believing that all the islands are the same and if you don’t have the permits you can just stay on the ship, which is not true!

OP was shopping around. She knew the regulations, but shopped until she got someone to say she didn't need all the documentation for the Bahamas. She ran with that and got burned. She says she read the long thread here about service dogs. But there is a lot in there about the Bahamas. Still shopping around? Ignore what you don't want to hear? EM

Shopping around??? Do you honestly believe that I would put my health and safety at risk by having my service dog confinscated, or worse destroyed, if I knew ahead of time it was what happens???!!!!

The only shopping around I did was look at websites to find a cruise. I spoke to five people all together, it was the fifth one that thankfully informed me of this unwritten rule. I spoke to the agency I purchased the cruise from, the only mention he made was “there is a ton of paperwork involved in bringing a service dog”. The next agent I spoke to was from Disney 800 number, she transferred my call to another agent to handle all the paperwork. This third person I spoke to gave me the 100% all clear to board. I then asked a question out of curiosity, “can we get off the ship in the Bahamas, or do we have to remain onboard”. She then gave me a number to call and speak to someone about that. I called that number and spoke to one gentleman, he then transferred my call to his supervisor to better assist me, so now I was being transferred to the fifth and final agent, it was then I was told absolutely can not bring without permits even if I remain onboard. This ended my calling, or as you call it “shopping around”, I asked the 5th agent to remove the service dog from my sea pass if that was the law, because I did not want to run the risk of having her taken from me.

I did not call around until someone told me I didn’t need all the permits for the Bahamas. Where are you getting this information from? I have never stated anyone at Disney or the agency who sold me the cruise said I don’t need all the documentation for the a Bahamas!!! Everyone who is reading this, please, don’t listen to the words she is stating I said, NO ONE TOLD ME I DONT NEED ALL THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE BAHAMAS!!! If you took the time to read my written words, I stated I did not have the permits for the Bahamas, but I was given the 100% all clear to travel and board the ship with the service dog, I was told this was wrong information to tell me all the paperwork is done and we are clear to board, and that misinformation could have resulted in having my service dog removed from me.

Do not post false statements and say they came from me!!! Not once did I state a staff member told me I did not need all documentation for the Bahamas, not once!!!

For goodness sake, you were speaking to a reservation agent and they said you could bring your dog on the ship. It is up to you to make sure you have all the proper paperwork (just like it is the responsibility of an able bodied person to make sure they have the correct visas, etc.), not the cruise line. You could have called their special services line prior to booking the cruise and I'm sure they would have assisted you. Disney does have all their rules with regard to service dogs on ships and what permits are need on their website, you just failed to read it. All the frustration, heartache and drama could have been avoided if you would have just read the rules for bringing a service dog on to a Disney cruise. Also, I'm surprised that the organization where you obtained your service dog didn't go over traveling with your dog in your training classes. My friend's husband said it was covered extensively in his training classes.

 

You say you spent hours reading through threads on here, did you read this one:

Cruising With A Service Dog....everything You Ever Wanted To Know!

 

beause there are many fine folks who would have been more than happy to help you with what your needs were?

If they had all those rules, please show me where it states failure to get permits equal failure to board. Yes, it says I’m responsible for obtaining the permits, their staff is not responsible. Just like it’s my responsibility to obtain a valid passport, not the responsibility of their staff to obtain one for me. That I understand, I’m responsible for filling out and obtaining permits to exit in ports, my issue is I was not planning to exit in ports. So I look for any information on that subject and there is none, or maybe there is and someone can be so kind as to quote that for me. Actually there is info on remaining onboard without permits, and everything I read (and spoke to people who do) says it’s okay to remain onboard for islands you have no permits for. I even spoke to a man last month on Royal who remained onboard and had no permits for any of the islands. I took two cruises last month, one with Disney and one with Royal, we are aching to take another cruise this month, but I am petrified of not knowing if what I am told by trained staff is accurate. I can’t put my service dog in harms way with misleading information.

I believe I read Cruising With A Service Dog Everytning You need to know, on here, I recall a lot of talk about what they use for the potty box, I remember scrolling through hours of posts regarding the potty box. I recall reading a person rave about their cruise rep who obtained the permits for them, I’ve read about just remaining on board if they don’t have the permits, I have spoken to handlers onboard different ships who state they remain onboard in ports because there is too much of a hassle to get the permits. I have read the policy online for various cruise ships. Not once in all my reading and talking to others did I come across anyone, whether they were trained staff with a company or a handler of a dog, has anyone ever stated failure to get all permits for all islands will result in being denied to board on the first day of the cruise (until I spoke to the second person in special needs did I become aware of this) nor did I ever read or hear anyone mention failing to get permits may result in dog being confinscated or quarantined or destroyed.

This needs to be clearly stated in their contract and through trained staff, no one should have to rely on Google to try to come across this information. My goodness, my father is a perfect example of what’s I’m trying to convey, he takes a person for their word, if he had a service dog and he called and told them and they gave him the all clear to board and no further paperwork needed (except for the health certificate) then he would take their word for it, he has no idea how to use Google, and there is no reason for him or anyone to have to go online and search if what they are being told by trained staff is accurate!!! How many people don’t use the internet, they come across a billboard or a sign or a friend tells them to take a cruise, so they call the number for the cruise, they talk to the trained staff, they tell them they have a service dog, the trained staff books their cruise for them and tells them they are 100% clear for travel with the service dog and the person eagerly awaits the day of their cruise only to be either denied entry or meet a worse fate when arriving at a port without a permit. If that scenario was a headline in the news everyone would be crying that this man was wronged and misled into believing what the trained staff stated was accurate.

Was your friends husband told that they can not remain onboard as others have done and are still doing? I don’t believe they were. I recently found out in my talk with the special needs (the second one I spoke to that day) that there are four (I believe he said four or five) islands where I am not allowed to ever cruise to with a service dog. One of them he stated was Barbados, the other was either Greenland or Iceland I can not recall, and the others I have never heard of.

Don’t get me wrong, although I am highly upset by this trained member to be told “can’t you do without your service dog for four days”, I am forever grateful to him for informing me that there can be very severe consequences if I am allowed to board without permits for all the ports. My issue is it shouldn’t have taken speaking to five people to get that information, it should be clearly stated on their contract and clearly stated when they hear a guest say “I’m bringing a service dog”.

You state OP should have read and understood the information, but then say Disney is responsible? Responsible for what? Doesn't OP have any responsibility for herself?

My responsibility ended when I was given the 100% all clear to board with the service animal. I did read their policy and it is flawed in regards to what I was told. Yes, it clearly states I am responsible for obtaining all permits. It does not state what happens if I do not obtain all permits. The only thing it states is that you can not hold them responsible for your failure to get off in a port you do not have a permit for. So with that, and talking for years with guests who remain onboard because they don’t have a permit, it leads me to believe that it’s acceptable to remain onboard, which is false. I can read the contract over and over and it does not state, “failure to obtain permits for ALL islands regardless if you exit in port or remain on the ship, will result in the service animal not being permitted to board on the day of embarkation”.

As for placing blame, I accept the blame that I did not have the permit for the Bahamas, that is 100% on me. What does the contract state if I don’t have the permit, it states I can not hold them responsible for being denied exiting in that port. I do not hold them responsible for not being allowed off in that port. What does it say about failing to obtain all permits for all the islands....nothing, it says nothing (this is what I’m trying to change).

Blame also goes to the trained staff who gave me the 100% all clear to board. This member assured me all the paperwork was filled out, even placed me on hold to fill it out. So my 100% blame and responsibility ended and was then transferred to the trained staff who gave me wrong information.

Blame also falls with the contract and policy, it’s very simple to add in and inform people failing to obtain permits for all islands regardless if you exit the ship in those ports will result in not being allowed to embark with service dog.

Blame also goes to the executive in charge of complaints. If he assured me there would be an immediate change, such as a quick memo to all staff to refer calls to their special needs department to ensure the passengers have all required documents, prior to giving them the 100% all clear to travel, then it would have resolved this issue and this thread would not have existed.

As I stated previously, if I had traveled with the dog on other cruises and remained onboard as others have done, I would have not asked if we could get off in the ports, I would not have been asked to call special needs to answer that question, I would not have spoken to the person who told me the dire consequences for not having the permit and remaining onboard. I would have been oblivious to the heartache that awaited me when I got to that port. That’s is why it is so important for me to inform others like me that if you don’t have all the permits for all the islands then don’t cruise!!! Don’t be misled by false information that it is okay to travel and no further paperwork is needed, permits are needed even if you don’t exit the ship.

OP

 

If I was you I would be talking to a good lawyer about this under the american disability act of 1990

 

 

I hate that as an adult, dealing with adults, an issue can not be addressed and handled like the adults we are, and in order to right the wrongs we must go through the process with an attorney. It is good advice to seek council, but I would much rather have this issue handled in an adult way. From what I read so far, that seems to be impossible. The attitude and responses I am getting are steered in the direction that anyone with a disability can not trust the word of trained staff of a company. When I traveled and used an electric wheelchair, I called the company (both airline and cruise) and spoke with the trained staff who answered the phone, I advised them I was bringing the electric chair, and never once, in all my years of traveling with the chair, did I ever have someone tell me, “can’t you do four days without your wheelchair”, never once did a company give me the 100% all clear to travel and then have me find out that wasn’t true, never once was I told that I would lose all the money I paid because the information given to me by trained staff was false. Why is it so different when it comes to a service animal? Why is it okay to ask a person, “can’t you go without your service animal for four days”, why does a trained member of special needs think it’s alright to make this statement? Would people feel different if he asked me to go four days without my wheelchair? I don’t understand why people feel it’s my responsibility to research what the policy is by using Google and reading posts on websites, instead of finding it conveniently on a company website. I asked the executive in charge of handling complaints to read me the policy regarding what happened to me, he couldn’t because it’s not stated. He read me the part if I was getting off in ports, and he agreed it’s not written if you don’t get off in ports what their policy is. He did agree this is a very serious issue, he did apologize on behalf of his staff, but his resolution to this very serious issue was to email me a copy of the same policy that caused the issue. I asked him, “so right now, a person can call in, even you sir can call in, book and pay for a cruise and get the 100% assurance that everything is in order by your staff, only to find out on the day of embarking, or not find out until you arrive at a port with no permit, that you were misled and it could have dire consequences by customs”, I am not okay with nothing changing! If he had told me “as soon as I hang up the phone, a memo will be sent out to all members instructing them that any special needs guest will be immediately transferred to the special needs department and then be given an authorization number from that department that they ensure all paperwork is completed and all documents are in order to prevent this from happening to someone else”, then that would have ended my complaint, I could have slept peacefully that night knowing this will never happen to anyone else. But that’s not what I was told, and I couldn’t sleep knowing someone could still get misleading information and then possibly have their service dog confinscated or worse!

 

As for being careful what I write, everything is documented through emails and taped phone conversations.

 

Even though I was told I would get no follow up regarding this situation, and in order to see if any changes were made as a result of my complaint I would have to check their website daily to read if changes were made. I still have faith in humanity and that when the executive in charge of complaints stated he would forward the complaint to other departments, I have faith that someone in one of those departments will have the courtesy to call me and update me that changes were made and assure me no one will ever go through what I went through. But all I can do now is pray that the next person who calls and is given the 100% all clear to travel uses Google and comes across this post and finds out before it’s too late they were misled.

Then I am surprised, because just in the last few pages of this thread, a poster clearly states that even if you aren't getting off the ship, to enter Bahamian waters, you need an import permit for your dog.

Are you referring to my thread? If so, then yes, I am that traveler that is informing people “need permit even if not getting off”. If you are referring to a different thread here in cruise critic, then you are proving my point 100%

It is absurd, that any person should have to google if what they are being told by trained staff of a company is true or not, they should not have to read tons of everyday customers experience to get the facts! The above quote should be made part of the policy on the cruise ship website and part of the training of staff!!! This is exactly what I was trying to convey to the executive in charge of complaints. Once I got the all clear to board with the service dog, that’s was enough for me. No one should have to hang up the phone after getting the 100% all clear and use Google to read through hours worth of posts to make sure they are being told the truth. (I spent hours reading through these threads prior, the only advice I found was to bring a sign that said “dog butts only, no cigarette butts” for the potty box, and other advice on what is used in the potty box)

May I ask how many times after you booked your cruise did you use Google to ensure what you were being told was the truth? Or did you do like millions of others, and call a company, be assured 100% everything is in order and all paperwork is done, and then anxiously await the day of your cruise? What I’m getting as replies is if you are able bodied you can book a cruise and trust what you are being told by the trained staff is true, but if you are disabled and have any special needs you can not trust what you are being told by the trained staff. If this is your resolution that people must start using Google to ensure a company policy is accurate, then we are doomed as a society! It’s not hard for Disney and other companies to include in their policy and on their website and inform all staff, “failure to obtain all documents for each and every port, regardless if you remain in the ship or not, will result in banning service animal from entering ship”. Why is that so hard? It would save so much time and heartache!

You are the one who chose to interpret the Disney policy as "well, I can choose to not get off at any port and that absolves me of the responsibility of researching whether I still actually need permits." It is not Disney's obligation in the slightest to word their instructions in such a way that anticipates such inaction on the passenger's part.

 

And I will add that while the lack of empathy on the part of those you followed up with is regrettable, as a service animal dependent person you should be hardened to public ignorance and always be prepared to fight it with real knowledge. Which you failed to obtain on your own in this case, relying on your interpretation of their disclaimer of responsibility as the final authority.

I interpreted what was written in the way it was written. That clause covers getting off in ports. It did not pertain to me because I was not getting off in port. When I looked for the clause that states what happened to me, there is no clause, no written rules, no small print. I can not misinterpret something that is not written! This is what I was trying my hardest to relay to the executive in charge of complaints. The policy needs to be updated to include that “the dog and handler may remain onboard at all ports, but must have the permits from that country to remain onboard. It does not matter if you remain onboard the ship at the port or if you exit the ship at the ports, permits for those ports are required. Failure to obtain the permits for each and every port will result in the service animal being banned from embarking the ship on day one”.

If this was included in their policy, I would never have booked that cruise because I did not have the permit for the Bahamas.

I should never have been given the all clear to board with the dog from their representative. I should have never been told that all the paperwork is filled out for the service dog to board the ship. How can I be expected to get additional paperwork when I am told by their trained staff that all the paperwork is completed? It’s not about me misinterpreting anything, the rep spoke very clearly, she filled out all the paperwork and there was nothing left for me to do except enjoy my cruise.

I think people are having an issue because it’s a service dog, let’s for arguments sake, change it to 40 week pregnant cruiser, she informs four reps she is 40 weeks pregnant, all four reps allow her to book and pay for the cruise, she is told there is a ton of paperwork to fill out, the rep states all paperwork is filled out, she gets the all clear to board by the rep, she calls a fifth rep because she has a question and the 5th rep she talks to tells her she can’t cruise at 40 weeks pregnant there is no way she will be allowed on board and she will lose all money she paid. Does everyone agree that it is the pregnant woman’s fault for taking the word of four representatives? Or does the blame fall to the four people she spoke to and informed she was 40 weeks pregnant? Because that’s what I’m reading here, I shouldn’t trust the experts telling me everything is in order and we are clear for sailing, I should keep calling and googling to find out if I am being misled.

I’m only using the pregnancy scenario to show how absurd it is to tell me that it’s my fault for believing the trained representatives.

It's too bad you had to come to a forum to 'warn others'. But this forum has a separate board for disabilities, and a VERY LONG thread about cruising with a service dog. Coming here and reading there before your cruise would have prevented your problems. Everything you needed to know is there. EM

As I stated when I wrote this post, forgive me if I’m posting in the wrong spot. I did read the long post prior to booking, I have been reading posts on here prior to getting the service animal. I have been taking to people on board the various ships regarding permits and they all tell me the same thing that they don’t have the permit so one person must remain onboard. I spoke to a man just last month on Royal who stated to me he has no permits for the dog except the health certificate and he has no problems with customs. He stated to me that his wife gets off in port and he remains onboard with the dog, when his wife comes back from port he goes off the ship and leaves his wife with the dog. This game as a shock to me because a service dog should always be with the handler, there would be no way I could go off the ship alone, my disability prevents me from going places alone.

It's too bad you had to come to a forum to 'warn others'. But this forum has a separate board for disabilities, and a VERY LONG thread about cruising with a service dog. Coming here and reading there before your cruise would have prevented your problems. Everything you needed to know is there. EM

As I stated when I wrote this post, forgive me if I’m posting in the wrong spot. I did read the long post prior to booking, I have been reading posts on here prior to getting the service animal. I have been taking to people on board the various ships regarding permits and they all tell me the same thing that they don’t have the permit so one person must remain onboard. I spoke to a man just last month on Royal who stated to me he has no permits for the dog except the health certificate and he has no problems with customs. He stated to me that his wife gets off in port and he remains onboard with the dog, when his wife comes back from port he goes off the ship and leaves his wife with the dog. This game as a shock to me because a service dog should always be with the handler, there would be no way I could go off the ship alone, my disability prevents me from going places alone.

I beieve, but not certain, that when the ship is in port, you are in that country and would have to abide by their rules.

 

Was it Disney Cruises Special Services who gave you all the information in the first place or was it the cruise consultant who booked the cruise?

I spoke to two members from Disney special needs department. It was the second person I spoke with that told me what you are saying and that is it doesn’t matter if I remain on the ship with the dog, we are still considered importing to that country by being in their waters. Don’t get me wrong, if that’s the law then I praise him for saving the life of my dog!!! But my issue is how come it’s not the same for other cruise lines? Right now someone who took their service dog on ten cruises with Royal or another company, had no issues not having the permit, then they book with Disney and get the all clear to bring the dog and then find out it’s not true. That frightens me!!! The law should be the same for all ships, just like for airlines, I wouldn’t think different airlines would have different laws.

I beieve, but not certain, that when the ship is in port, you are in that country and would have to abide by their rules.

 

Was it Disney Cruises Special Services who gave you all the information in the first place or was it the cruise consultant who booked the cruise?

I spoke to two members from Disney special needs department. It was the second person I spoke with that told me what you are saying and that is it doesn’t matter if I remain on the ship with the dog, we are still considered importing to that country by being in their waters. Don’t get me wrong, if that’s the law then I praise him for saving the life of my dog!!! But my issue is how come it’s not the same for other cruise lines? Right now someone who took their service dog on ten cruises with Royal or another company, had no issues not having the permit, then they book with Disney and get the all clear to bring the dog and then find out it’s not true. That frightens me!!! The law should be the same for all ships, just like for airlines, I wouldn’t think different airlines would have different laws.

Wondering which department you spoke to with regard to what you needed for your dog in the first place?

I booked through outside agency and was told there was a ton of paperwork to fill out. I then called Disney Cruise Line direct with their 800 number found by googling Disney Cruise Line, there I spoke to two women who were wonderful and the one woman took the time to fill out all the paperwork and inform me we were good to go. I was told by the executive in charge of complaints that this woman was wrong. This is my main situation, everyone needs to be on the same page regarding giving anyone the 100% go ahead for travel, whether it be with a service dog and documentation needed, or if it’s with medical documentation needed for pregnancy. Everyone needs to be on the same page and they are not and it almost cost me a very valuable medical assist device.

Wondering which department you spoke to with regard to what you needed for your dog in the first place?

I booked through outside agency and was told there was a ton of paperwork to fill out. I then called Disney Cruise Line direct with their 800 number found by googling Disney Cruise Line, there I spoke to two women who were wonderful and the one woman took the time to fill out all the paperwork and inform me we were good to go. I was told by the executive in charge of complaints that this woman was wrong. This is my main situation, everyone needs to be on the same page regarding giving anyone the 100% go ahead for travel, whether it be with a service dog and documentation needed, or if it’s with medical documentation needed for pregnancy. Everyone needs to be on the same page and they are not and it almost cost me a very valuable medical assist device.

Many countries require you to have the necessary travel documents, even if you don't get off the ship. It's always the traveler's responsibility to find out what these are and to obtain them. Many cruise line agents have no idea what immigration policies are for different countries, and they shouldn't have to.

It is clear you needed to have the nescessary documentation (link given in another post) to bring your dog to the Bahamas. Doesn't matter if you get off the ship or not.

I think your post is just way over-the-top.

Your dog is fine. Lesson learned, now move forward.

I don’t agree that a Disney Cruise Line representative doesn’t need to be made aware of the possibility of selling a ticket to someone that may result in death of a living creature. Why is it that they ask if anyone in your party will be over so many weeks pregnant before they sell you the ticket? Because they want to prevent selling a ticket to someone who can not travel without documentation from a doctor regarding the pregnancy. But when it comes to travel with a service dog they can very easily be trained to transfer the call directly to special needs to ensure they are safe to travel and have all documents required.

I’m sorry you find my post over the top, you are entitled to that, but if this saves one person from having a service dog destroyed or having to make a decision to do without part of their medical devices or lose thousands of dollars then over the top I shall be to save lives.

Yes, my dog is fine, but I want to ensure other people in my situation have their service dog be fine too and not encounter what I went through. This is my way of moving forward. To alert others of the danger.

Many countries require you to have the necessary travel documents, even if you don't get off the ship. It's always the traveler's responsibility to find out what these are and to obtain them. Many cruise line agents have no idea what immigration policies are for different countries, and they shouldn't have to.

It is clear you needed to have the nescessary documentation (link given in another post) to bring your dog to the Bahamas. Doesn't matter if you get off the ship or not.

I think your post is just way over-the-top.

Your dog is fine. Lesson learned, now move forward.

I don’t agree that a Disney Cruise Line representative doesn’t need to be made aware of the possibility of selling a ticket to someone that may result in death of a living creature. Why is it that they ask if anyone in your party will be over so many weeks pregnant before they sell you the ticket? Because they want to prevent selling a ticket to someone who can not travel without documentation from a doctor regarding the pregnancy. But when it comes to travel with a service dog they can very easily be trained to transfer the call directly to special needs to ensure they are safe to travel and have all documents required.

I’m sorry you find my post over the top, you are entitled to that, but if this saves one person from having a service dog destroyed or having to make a decision to do without part of their medical devices or lose thousands of dollars then over the top I shall be to save lives.

Yes, my dog is fine, but I want to ensure other people in my situation have their service dog be fine too and not encounter what I went through. This is my way of moving forward. To alert others of the danger.

Disney actually uncovered a problem with documentation that saved your dog's life. Perhaps they should have recognized the problem sooner, given that your service animal should have been a dis-qualifier for selling you a cruise that stopped in the Bahamas and/or Barbados. It's not clear which country was the problem.

 

This issue of "do I need proper documents for (insert country here) if I do not get off the ship?" has been raised many times, usually in regards to a visa. The answer is invariably, yes. Absolutely. When in port you are in the legal jurisdiction of the country and subject to all its regulations and laws. Getting off the ship or not is irrelevant.

 

If the point of your post is to caution others with service animals to be aware of the pitfalls of entering jurisdictional control of other nations without crossing the T's and dotting the I's of local documentation requirements, I applaud your goal. Perhaps you could join others to do research on which countries are receptive of service animals and which are not. That would actually be a very positive step to mitigate the emotional distress of your close call.

I just tri d to edit to include it was the Bahamas as the issue and I think I just lost my whole post so I will write it again.

Yes, my goal is to inform others of this situation. I did mention to the executive in charge of complaints, that arbough his special needs was rude and condescending asking me to go without my service dog for four days, he did indeed save her life if this is the law. I also advised him to make it clear and get everyone on the same page that this is the law and if you board without permits regardless if you remain onboard or not then your service animal may be confiscated and destroyed. I was in tears after the phone call because right now there could be another person booking a cruise and getting the al clear to board and then having their service dog meet a horrific fate because the Disney reps are not all aware of this unwritten law.

I informed the executive to immediately change the policy to make it clear of what I was told to prevent others from being harmed or much worse losing part of their medical assist devices. I was told he would pass it on to others departments and he would send me a copy of the flawed policy. He said I would get no follow up and would have to check their website on a daily basis to see if anything changed.

Disney actually uncovered a problem with documentation that saved your dog's life. Perhaps they should have recognized the problem sooner, given that your service animal should have been a dis-qualifier for selling you a cruise that stopped in the Bahamas and/or Barbados. It's not clear which country was the problem.

 

This issue of "do I need proper documents for (insert country here) if I do not get off the ship?" has been raised many times, usually in regards to a visa. The answer is invariably, yes. Absolutely. When in port you are in the legal jurisdiction of the country and subject to all its regulations and laws. Getting off the ship or not is irrelevant.

 

If the point of your post is to caution others with service animals to be aware of the pitfalls of entering jurisdictional control of other nations without crossing the T's and dotting the I's of local documentation requirements, I applaud your goal. Perhaps you could join others to do research on which countries are receptive of service animals and which are not. That would actually be a very positive step to mitigate the emotional distress of your close call.

I just tri d to edit to include it was the Bahamas as the issue and I think I just lost my whole post so I will write it again.

Yes, my goal is to inform others of this situation. I did mention to the executive in charge of complaints, that arbough his special needs was rude and condescending asking me to go without my service dog for four days, he did indeed save her life if this is the law. I also advised him to make it clear and get everyone on the same page that this is the law and if you board without permits regardless if you remain onboard or not then your service animal may be confiscated and destroyed. I was in tears after the phone call because right now there could be another person booking a cruise and getting the al clear to board and then having their service dog meet a horrific fate because the Disney reps are not all aware of this unwritten law.

I informed the executive to immediately change the policy to make it clear of what I was told to prevent others from being harmed or much worse losing part of their medical assist devices. I was told he would pass it on to others departments and he would send me a copy of the flawed policy. He said I would get no follow up and would have to check their website on a daily basis to see if anything changed.

Disney actually uncovered a problem with documentation that saved your dog's life. Perhaps they should have recognized the problem sooner, given that your service animal should have been a dis-qualifier for selling you a cruise that stopped in the Bahamas and/or Barbados. It's not clear which country was the problem.

 

This issue of "do I need proper documents for (insert country here) if I do not get off the ship?" has been raised many times, usually in regards to a visa. The answer is invariably, yes. Absolutely. When in port you are in the legal jurisdiction of the country and subject to all its regulations and laws. Getting off the ship or not is irrelevant.

 

If the point of your post is to caution others with service animals to be aware of the pitfalls of entering jurisdictional control of other nations without crossing the T's and dotting the I's of local documentation requirements, I applaud your goal. Perhaps you could join others to do research on which countries are receptive of service animals and which are not. That would actually be a very positive step to mitigate the emotional distress of your close call.

Yes, to warn others, I’m still traumatized at how close she came to being possibly destroyed!!! I did inform the executive who called me regarding this issue that his special needs person, although rude and condescending, did do me a great favor by relaying this unwritten law to me. When I spoke to the executive yesterday I advised of the extreme urgency to prevent other people from this situation. My issue now is he told me his way of resolving it is to forward my complaint and to email me a copy of the same flawed contract. I was in tears after hanging up with him because right now there maybe another person calling and getting the go ahead to bring the service animal and be completely unaware of the fate it may meet with customs on an island they have no permit for, I also relayed this message to the executive.

Disney actually uncovered a problem with documentation that saved your dog's life. Perhaps they should have recognized the problem sooner, given that your service animal should have been a dis-qualifier for selling you a cruise that stopped in the Bahamas and/or Barbados. It's not clear which country was the problem.

 

This issue of "do I need proper documents for (insert country here) if I do not get off the ship?" has been raised many times, usually in regards to a visa. The answer is invariably, yes. Absolutely. When in port you are in the legal jurisdiction of the country and subject to all its regulations and laws. Getting off the ship or not is irrelevant.

 

If the point of your post is to caution others with service animals to be aware of the pitfalls of entering jurisdictional control of other nations without crossing the T's and dotting the I's of local documentation requirements, I applaud your goal. Perhaps you could join others to do research on which countries are receptive of service animals and which are not. That would actually be a very positive step to mitigate the emotional distress of your close call.

Yes, to warn others, I’m still traumatized at how close she came to being possibly destroyed!!! I did inform the executive who called me regarding this issue that his special needs person, although rude and condescending, did do me a great favor by relaying this unwritten law to me. When I spoke to the executive yesterday I advised of the extreme urgency to prevent other people from this situation. My issue now is he told me his way of resolving it is to forward my complaint and to email me a copy of the same flawed contract. I was in tears after hanging up with him because right now there maybe another person calling and getting the go ahead to bring the service animal and be completely unaware of the fate it may meet with customs on an island they have no permit for, I also relayed this message to the executive.

It says here: You are responsible for obtaining the import permits from all countries that require those special documents and must have those original documents available at all times.

 

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/guests-with-disabilities/service-animals/

 

Information regarding the Bahamas:

 

http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/bahamas.cfm

Correct, if I was exiting the ship in that port. Disney Cruise contract says they are not responsible if you can’t visit a port because you don’t have the permit. No where does it state I will be banned from entering the ship and if I did get on customs would confinscate her.