MelanieDyer

Question, does anyone's Vet charge them to fill out the forms needed?  And does the APHIS waive the fee for the "seal" that is required for some ports if it's for a Service animal?  

I know someone just sailed to Turks and did not get their permit & didn't get off the ship.  We are cruising to Grand Turk in May on Carnival & they are telling us that if we don't have the permit the ship won't be allowed to dock?  

On 10/13/2019 at 6:41 AM, Caribbean Chris said:

 

Thank you, Dianne! and thanks to Peter for his excellent photos. I think any one of us on this forum could have written it because, as we all know, a service dog handler is forced to become an “expert” since very few vets have real-world experience with trying to take a dog places. TSA agents seldom follow the actual policies. Even APHIS people have conflicting interpretations. So we all prepare as best we can - and hope for the best!

It's crazy how you can ask your Vet & APHIS the same question and get different answers.  It's also very frustrating.  Have a bunch going on a cruise in May to Grand Turk.  People are coming from all over the U.S.  Some of the vets are making people get a Rabies boosters before they'll do the titre.  :-(  And some vets won't check with the APHIS to confirm travel requirements.  

7 hours ago, rangeley said:

That sounds like an amazing time. So glad and surprised that everyone was respectful. Many times people just grab our dog. Crew members making kissing noises and yelling doggy doggy. It gets frustrating. 

I think the signs helped.  We let Carnival know well in advance that we were coming.  LOL  Sent info to share with the crew.  It was just a over all great experience.  That being said my friend was on a different cruise with her guide and a drunk rude guest was upset because she wouldn't let him pet the dog nor would she tell her guide's name.  The guest made threats against them.

1 hour ago, rangeley said:

Even though John is in a wheelchair and its quite obvious what his disability is, I can certainly understand how different it must be with a non visible handicap. We have no patches on our dogs vest. I understand that a hearing dog patch would help to identify what the dog is for but not everyone wants that. 

 

Just an interesting story... This woman had this "service cat" that she was bringing on HAL. She would go on and on about it. Finally the ada only recognized dogs and minature horses and they wouldn't let her bring the cat. She was not happy! From what I can see it seems its only dogs that can be service animals now. Did they get rid of the miniature horses? 

This past May there was a group of 29 guides on the Carnival Ecstasy.  The other passengers were so great and respected that the dogs were working.  It helped that Carnival had several signs up saying "Service/Working Dogs are not pets and should not be petted or talked to at any time".   One of the ports we went to was Princess Cay.  Some of the guides were allowed "time off" and played in the water , on leash of course.  When the other passengers found out it was okay to pet the guides, after asking the handler 1st, it was a great day at the beach for all.  It opened up a lot of conversations and I believe folks learn more about respecting Service Dogs.  

On 9/11/2019 at 4:18 PM, Rozmorey1 said:

 

You will be asked to come down to a lounge in the very early morning, in some ports, so that an Immigration official can check your paperwork, your dog and you before the ship is cleared for anyone to debark.  I HATE THIS EARLY MORNING CALL THE MOST!

 

Cruising in May 202 with a group of 32 guide dogs.  I hope they don't call everyone down at 6am.  LOL  Only port I'm worried about is Grand Turk.  I've read on here where folks don't do the required permit & just don't get off the ship.  But Carnival keeps saying if you don't have the correct paperwork when checking in at Port Canaveral they won't let you on the ship?  But I'm not sure if the Carnival Port agents would even know what's required?

2 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

 

We are so lucky in Florida. The SW coast where we live got nothing but early forecasts had it coming directly toward us. That cat. 5 devastation could have hit Miami. Very close.

 

It is just heartbreaking to see the videos from The Bahamas. Amazing they can open the port of Nassau - maybe some cruise ships can deliver supplies - I read that RCCL is donating $1 million.

Grand Bahamas (Freeport) and some of the smaller islands got the worst of it.  Yesterday Nassau's airport was open.  I know all the cruise lines will send relief.  I remember after Maria the cruise ships were delivering supplies each week.  Carnival even had one of their ships set up for FEMA to use for about a month

On 8/31/2019 at 9:02 AM, rangeley said:

We are going to ask our vet and have her fill out the form. She can just leave the deworming section blank. If they don't want to let Oakland off, we are not going to worry about it. Theres alot of places we don't get off. Just checking for our January cruise and a few places we arent getting off. Grand turk actually wants money. No way are we paying $50 just to walk around the dock area. Besides they have many stray dogs there. We love staying on when everyone gets off. Plop ourselves in a chair ot on our balcony and people watch. We are very boring. Lol

 

 

70 days! 😬

 

 

The $50 for Grand Turk is waived for Service Dogs

18 hours ago, rpclmc said:

I am going to GT, but won't have Halo on this cruise.  Next cruise with Halo will be November 2020.  That one also goes to GT and some other that requires a lot of paperwork.  I will have it all done.  I love getting off at the ports.

 

Linda and Halo

Thanks Linda.  I just wished they'd make it easier for people traveling with Guides.

On 8/22/2019 at 11:06 PM, rpclmc said:

When and what ship?

 

I go on the Magic November 3-9 out of Fort Lauderdale.

 

Linda and Halo

Are you going to Grand Turk?  Are you doing the paperwork for Grand Turk?

On 5/31/2019 at 2:38 PM, Caribbean Chris said:

 

Wow, 29 dogs! Was that a Paws With a Cause Cruise? I read an article once in a magazine about how every year or two they sponsor a cruise for their program's handlers & dogs.

I was not Paws with a cause.  It started with a few handlers & went from there.  There were 4 different schools represented

12 hours ago, wizard-of-roz said:

I, too, would love to cruise with other SD's.  I've been lucky to have a few experiences with true SD's but I'm ashamed to say, I've had more with fakes!

We cruise beginning of May with 29 SD.  It was so much fun.  Going again next May.  Not sure how many we'll end up with next time

3 hours ago, rangeley said:

Just for bringing the dog on the island. $50.00 We told them forget it and stayed on the ship

I read on the permit they charge $50 but if you have a service dog they waive the fee.  I think we are going to go for it and hope for the best.    I wish the islands would come up with different rules for cruisers that are only there for the day.  Not make you follow the Import regulations.  You'd think they'd realize they are losing tourist money

13 hours ago, rangeley said:

We have skipped getting off in Turk because of the paperwork a few times. One time they wanted to charge us. ☹️

Scary!!  What did they want to charge you for?

Switching routes & looking at Eastern Caribbean.  I know the requirements for Grand Turk but was wondering if anyone has cruised there & just not gotten off the ship to avoid the required paperwork?  The other ports are St Thomas (U.S), San Juan (U.S) and Amber Cove.  Dominican Republic doesn't seem too bad?

Does anyone have information on requirements for cruising with SD to Belize and Roatan?

2 hours ago, wizard-of-roz said:

 

What do you think?  What would you have done?  Remember, Horton weighs over 80lbs, I have a bad back and there's no way I could lift him [I kept trying to think how can I pick him up?  I tried to pick up his front legs but I soon had to let them go as my back started to spasm.

 

The big one, Marla, refuses to get in the car.  Last time she went to the Vet the Vet had to come out & help my husband lift her in the car.  She's over 100pds

On ‎12‎/‎8‎/‎2018 at 11:11 AM, thephantomsgirl said:

GREAT!   I am going with a group that has five service dogs and Special Access told us we could NOT have the relief box on the balcony.  It would make it soooo much easier than running down to deck 3.  We ALL got balconies for that reason and then we were told no.  But now there's hope!  Thank you, thank you thank you!

 

We DID get an officer assigned to us, so that may help too.  (my business development manager got that for me as I'm a TA taking out a group cruise with service dogs)

 

Now if they would have let us have sod or mulch....  Oh well bought some astroturf.

 

We cruise TOMORROW~

 

Holly

Hey Holly, I have a group traveling in May with several service dogs on the Carnival Ecstasy.  I was wondering what, if anything the officer that was assigned to you did?  I'm also a TA and could get my BDM to do the same for my group if it's needed.  I was on the ship in October & talked to Guest Services on board & they were already aware of my group sailing in May.  I hope you don't mind sharing your experience?  You can email me at melanie.dyer @ mindspring.com  (remove spaces)  Thanks in advance