DUTRAVEL

43 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Thanks Dianne and Henrietta.   I’ve been watching KPIX news and weather using my Firestick and YouTubeTV.    It really cooled off quickly.  
 

I was surprised to hear how bad the smoke is from the fires. 

We have had a some Spare The Air Days, but the smoke is not nearly as bad as it was a couple of years ago. 

Thank you for your great review Jim! Henrietta and I enjoyed following along and seeing new places. You are headed home to lovely fall weather in the Bay Area.

Dianne

6 minutes ago, Caribbean Chris said:

We had Relief Box adventures this month during our 10-day Holland America Line cruise to Atlantic Canada with my Hearing Dog Raylene. The metal box was fine, 4x4 feet with ropes & stanchions surrounding it on the forward port-side promenade deck. We had booked a room fairly nearby on that deck purposely, since we could reach the box area either via the outdoor promenade or via an inner corridor & heavy door.
 

The filler was wood shavings of the lightweight hamster-cage variety, and there was a very thick layer of it. It was funny to see Raylene wading through it up to her knees, and she didn’t like it much. But we were scheduled to have 9 ports in ten days, so I knew she’d get opportunities in real grass (that, however, ended up being 7 ports). By the end, she was willingly using it with no hesitation.

OMG - you are so right, you can't make this stuff up! Why is it so hard to make an accessible relief box with a decent filler?

55 minutes ago, RENEEG said:

I am looking for web sites that provides information about cruise travel with a guide dog.  Especially info about the requirements for each country regarding service animals. Also any other tips to make the trip easier, as this will be our first cruise with my husbands dog Izzy.  The dog came from an organization that belongs to both Assistance Dogs International and The International Guide Dog Federation. 
 

Go to the USDA website for information on specific requirements for each country you want to travel to (there is a drop-down menu for each country).

link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/take-pet-to-foreign-country

You can also find helpful information on https://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm. If there is a conflict with the USDA website, defer to the USDA website.

My biggest tip would be to make sure that your husband's guide dog is comfortable using a 4 x 4 relief box and can "go" on a variety of surfaces. The relief boxes most commonly contain mulch.

11 minutes ago, Rudi-Cruiser said:

I say the note that they wrote a letter for you.

Yes, because my dog was trained and provided to me by Canine Companions.

9 minutes ago, Rudi-Cruiser said:

I just looked up CANINE COMPANIONS, they have a chapter in Maryland. Would they help me out? I took Lady Bella through 8 wk refresher and prep for her CGCA & CGCU at AmericanK9. They can't be a member of ADI as they are not a nonprofit.  Lady Bella passed the CGCA & CGCU and they did the ADI PAT evaluation also which she passed. Do you know someone? Maybe they can reach out to the chapter in Maryland.

No, sorry they don't do testing or certification for dogs that are not provided through their program.

22 hours ago, shepherdqueen said:

Hello everyone.  I appreciate this board.  I have MS and I do have a service dog. My obedience instructor did have me test her for CGC, CGC Advanced and CGC Urban as well as Therapy Dog to prove public access, aside from her task work.  I would be lost without her at work but I am nervous to cruise with her.  My husband is my "Service Human" when we cruise but should I  ever travel without him I will need my dog.

 

Has anyone ever worried about a vet emergency and lack of veterinary care at sea?   I lost a puppy to GDV (bloat) once and I tend to be a worrier.

It is always a little daunting to take your first cruise with a service dog. I have taken several transatlantics and Honolulu to Vancouver with my service dog and do not worry too much about any heath issues. You will need to have your dog examined by your vet to obtain the appropriate paperwork and that will help you to know your dog is in good health. The only different thing I do for long trips is to get antibiotics from my vet in case I need to treat a bladder infection until we can get to a vet.

If the hotel offers a shuttle they are required to either offer accessible transportation or pay for an accessible taxi (or provide tranportation at the same cost of the shuttle). Ask to speak to the hotel manager. I am attaching a PDF that you can send to the manager that outlines their obligations.

Accessible Ground Transportation final2019.pdf

I believe that there has always been an extra charge in Fine Cut for a second entree. The charge was listed on the menu on our 2019 sailing. This only applied to Fine Cut and not the other speciality restaurants. No extra charge for additional appetizers and desserts.

Hi Jim,

I hope you enjoy your cruise! Henrietta and I will be following along with great interest.

Dianne

Thanks @ollienbertsmum and @John Bull for your helpful information.

37 minutes ago, ollienbertsmum said:

 

Where exactly do you want to go from and to?  It might be an ‘interesting trip’ for a tourist in the same way that the Yangon Circular train was for DD and me when we were on a backpacking trip.  It is a very small bus.  I would think that it is easier to walk although there are a few steps on the way.  

Thanks cannot do steps, that's why I'm looking to go on the bus. I have to be more creative than those who can walk everywhere.

5 hours ago, John Bull said:

@DUTRAVEL

 

Gibraltar bus route map (Route 1 is in green)

 http://www.gibraltarbuscompany.gi/bus-network-map/

 

Route 1 stops & timetable 

http://www.gibraltarbuscompany.gi/routes-and-timetables/route-1/

 

JB 🙂

Thanks!!

Does anyone know if Bus Route One is running in Gibraltar? Google maps only show Bus Routes 5 and 10.

When we have docked there, there have been Taxi's waiting.

4 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

If I might ask, how did you know that the particular cruise you booked onboard was a cruise that your TA had an established Group for?

I actually didn't know - its hit or miss, sometimes I have been lucky and they have had a group rate. 

I have booked onboard and then received a group rate from my TA. Usually when this happens, I have had to pay the full deposit to get the group rate (e.g. I paid $200 onboard and then had to pay another $700). No big deal though, since the deposit is refundable.

21 hours ago, d-n-Toto said:

Called the Access Desk, they communicated with GR, same response again. I asked her to email the chat log. "Cannot do that." I must say thought that this was the most helpful person so far. She made some suggestions to help me be heard. I mentioned all along that I want to help them improve for the next person who cruises with a service dog. But they just don't seem to care!!!

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

If you have any comments or suggestions on reaching up the chain of command at Norwegian, please let me know.

 

Saint the Service Dog and his distressed mom

 

Sorry that you had such a difficult time. I have not cruised with NCL and I do not have any specific advice for that cruise line. When I have an issue on a ship with my Service Dog and Guest Services does not resolve it, I request a meeting with the Hotel Director. I have found that Service Dog policies are set by each ship's individual management (and vary widely by ship even within the same cruise line) and not by the corporate headquarters.

2 hours ago, ladyj1138 said:

Friends, 

 

We are cruising AK round trip out of SEA on 9/2/2023. I’ve submitted our special needs list to the accessibility department, we have our vaccination certificate, and we are looking into the trackable health certificate because our vet didn’t seem to have a clue about it. 
 

Our problem now is the private tour we booked via Viator for Sitka is now refusing to allow my daughter’s SD on the tour, citing lack of space, but providing no alternative arrangements. I’m very disappointed in this operator, and I’m curious if any of you have toured Sitka with your SD?

 

Thanks!

I have cruised to Sitka a couple of times with my Service Dog, but haven't taken a private excursion. The actual town is about 15-20 minutes away from where the cruise ship docks. The town provides shuttle buses (and provides an accessible shuttle) which drop you off in the center of town. We have taken the shuttle and walked to the Raptor Center, the Sitka National Park, etc.

Without knowing about your particular excursion, it sounds like they may be making up excuses about accommodating your Service Dog. Since you are in Alaska, you are of course covered by the ADA. I would follow up with the actual operator of the tour.

Here's a menu for Eden's breakfast from January 2023.

Eden-Cafe-Breakfast.pdf

22 hours ago, QnMuppet said:

so, RCCL sent me a pic, see below, of the relief area and it's honestly not great, looks like a small litter box compared to my 75lb dog and there are lots of rails that I would have a hard time ducking under or around plus it is located under a stairway so after you bend down to pick up the poop you can hit your head when you stand up. They did not make it sound like they were willing to listen to any suggested changes to this though. Of greater concern for me is this:

 

When I went to my vet last week they said they had a "new system" to use to create and store the certificates. My understanding was that would meet Alaaska's requirement for form 7001 to have a traceable number, but today when they called they said they can do an electronic CVI but not a 7001. How do I get a 7001 with a traceable number? seems to be that is what I need but no one (me or vet) knows how to get it, the vet thinks the electronic CVI is enough, my wife just found an article that suggested we have to send something to the Alaska environmental department, I am very confused, and getting terribly stressed over this, any help would be greatly appreciated. 

RCCL RELIEF AREA PICTURES.pdf 535.28 kB · 6 downloads

.

As far as the relief box goes, I have found that it is pretty much useless to talk to the Access Department about the location of the relief box. It seems it is really the decision of the management on each particular ship. Once you get onboard, they should work with you on getting the box into a location that is accessible to you.

For our Alaska cruise last September, I had the regular downloadable Form 7001 and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and we had no issues. I remember seeing the requirement that a copy must be submitted by mail to Alaska, but I do not know if my Vet did that. As far as I know, you do not need both an electronic CVI and a Form 7001 with a traceable number.

The first time cruising with your Service Dog can be very stressful. I am much more comfortable now than when we first started out.

2 hours ago, QnMuppet said:

I also carry a micro chip reader I bought though we have never needed it so far. What do any of you carry to help with this stuff? Just curious. 

 

I was planning on asking them to take me directly to the relief area as soon as we board to see what it is and resolve any issues right away. Someone else with a svc dog had suggested I do that. Any other advice on any of this or about the relief areas? If they would do sod that would be great but I do not think we get to make any requests? When we were first told about this cruise (it's a family reunion so not my idea) RCCL had a thing on the website saying you could request sod for your balcony but after we booked the cruise and called them they said they no longer offer that and that their website was not correct and needed to be updated. 😒

I do not carry anything to read my Service Dog's microchip. The only time in all our travels she has had her microchip scanned was when we entered the UK from France. They had several types of scanners available (I found out that the Avid scanner would read my dog's chip).

Yes, definitely have them show you the relief box as soon as you board. That leaves you some time to deals with any issues before the ship sails. Celebrity used to let you request sod ahead of time, but they do not anymore. We have only been able to get sod on one cruise out of all our cruises.

I have not sailed RCCL so I do not know where they place the relief box. Celebrity places their box in an inaccessible location. If you have mobility challenges, have them move the box to an area you can access. I am firm, but polite that I need to have the box moved to a location I can access in my wheelchair. I do not take no for an answer.

1 hour ago, QnMuppet said:

Hi everyone, new here. My Service dog Muppet and I are going on our first cruise, somewhat against our wishes. I have concerns about the bathroom situation for her. I am sure she will handle it though. She was professionally trained and she is an experienced flyer, we have made over 30 flights together so far but this will be the first time on a cruise and dealing with Canada and cruise ports etc...

 

Forgot to tag you in my post.

Going to Alaska is pretty easy - good choice for your first cruise. Depending on your cruise line, the relief box will probably be filled with mulch. You can practice ahead of time using that kind of surface.

You will need the Aphis Form 7001, the Rabies Certificate, and a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or Health Certificate to enter the state of Alaska (NOTE: The State does not accept the downloadable USDA 7001 form available on the internet, since this document does not have a unique and trackable identification number). See the Alaska requirements here: https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/import-export/. My Vet did not have any issues with providing the CVI.

I would suspect (but am not sure) that a copy of the Rabies Certificate will be sufficient. I was in the same situation when I first traveled with my Service Dog (having only a copy of the Rabies Certificate). I contacted the Vet who had given her the shot and he was happy to mail me an original Certificate.

Have a good time on your cruise.

On 6/8/2023 at 5:22 PM, zitsky said:

You may want to reach out to Celebrity to ask them to stop selling accessible cabins to pax who did not ask for them.

Sure I can do that - what's the name of your TA?