service animals

[kroozerj]

has anyone ever been on a cruise that had service animals on it? i was on a Princess cruise and saw a seeing eye dog. has anyone ever encountered any type of service dog or seeing eye dogs on a cruise? just wondering

[griffy116]

We've only seen one service dog on 9 cruises (8 with RCCL). It was well behaved and we only saw it once. There's an area for disabled cruises on the Boards and you will find more information and experience from people who travel with a service animal. You have to bring papers, documents in advance. You'll find the requirements too.

[uppitycats]

Yes, on 3 cruises I've been on in the past. One was assisting a person with vision impairments (what we used to call a "seeing eye dog"), the others assisting persons in wheelchairs. All were unobtrusive, caused no problems, and I don't know that I would have noticed them except that I'm in a wheelchair too, and so paid attention to what kinds of help they could provide their "partner".

[2theship]

On one cruise a gentleman on our roll call was confined to a wheelchair and travelled with a service dog. He had lots of stories about cruising with him. Perhaps he'll spot this thread and share some of them.

[sail7seas]

Yes, we have been on at least two cruises where we saw and spoke with persons using service animal. Both were seeing eye dogs. They were incredibly well trained, lay under the dining table while their family had dinner and never disturbed anyone near or around them. The family did ask no one pat the animal and reminded us he was working.

 

[BonnieVA]

Yes. My Nov Mercury cruise had 2 cabins down the hall from me with 3 or 4 dogs to aid visually impaired pax. It was amazing how those dogs learned the ship & could guide their owners immediately.

[tgwabd]

We were on th CB to the Caribbean in May/June of this year and there was a woman who was a diabetic, she had a Yorkshire Terrier that was traind as a service dog to warn her of low blood sugar.

[Essiesmom]

There is a board here for disabled cruisers under the Special Interest Cruising section. There is a very long thread there about cruising with a service animal. EM

[pixie123]

I just got off the Sea Princess yesterday and there was a visually impaired couple with service dogs. There was an area on deck 7 for the dogs to do their business. I saw them a couple times in the dining room and the dogs would lay under the table until they were finished. I would sometimes see the staff helping the couple around the ship along with their dogs. The dogs did have some sort of vest thing on them saying that they were working and please do not pet them.

[ActiveTraveler]

Has anyone else seen a dog on a plane? I flew with a Portugese waterdog once. A cart rolling into the aisle scared her, but she did not bark at all because of her training. I am not sure what the owner's problem is, but she said some days she can't walk. I thought it was cool to fly with a dog.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have been on several cruises with service animals. And most were trully service animals.

 

But we have one which even the crew thought was not a service animal -- and there were a lot of complaints about this dog. The woman allowed her dog to eat off the plate at dinner right at the table!! People were patting the dog which smelled to high heaven -- needed a bath badly!!

[Happy ks]

We have been on several cruises with service animals. And most were trully service animals.

 

But we have one which even the crew thought was not a service animal -- and there were a lot of complaints about this dog. The woman allowed her dog to eat off the plate at dinner right at the table!! People were patting the dog which smelled to high heaven -- needed a bath badly!!

 

Probably not a service dog, then. Service dogs wear a vest and you should never pet them when they are working.

 

Somehow it sounds like this woman slipped the dog in as a service dog...or perhaps it is supposed to be a working dog and she is "untraining" it. You do have to get special permission (not easy) to bring along a service animal.

[lady_cruiser]

has anyone ever been on a cruise that had service animals on it? i was on a Princess cruise and saw a seeing eye dog. has anyone ever encountered any type of service dog or seeing eye dogs on a cruise? just wondering

 

Every cruise I've been on I have always come across at least one person who has had a service animal with them.

[Lard Greystoke]

Since we're on the subject I'll pitch in with a little background. I used to work for a blind guy and it was distressing to see the efforts of well-intentioned people to "untrain" the animals. I've also known people who keep puppies in the screening process. Most don't make it.

 

The guide dog's number one function is safety. They are rigidly trained to ignore distractions. I've seen my boss's guide dog walk him into a wall when well-meaning people distracted it. Potentially a distracted dog could walk the owner into traffic. A dog in its harness is working, not playing, and should be treated like a cop, emergency-room doctor or any other professional whose business is safety.

 

The rule of thumb is that a service dog is working unless the owner specifically says otherwise. Typically he/she will remove the harness or working gear so that the dog knows it is "off duty".

[xxoocruiser]

Has anyone else seen a dog on a plane? I flew with a Portugese waterdog once. A cart rolling into the aisle scared her, but she did not bark at all because of her training. I am not sure what the owner's problem is, but she said some days she can't walk. I thought it was cool to fly with a dog.

 

In addition to service dogs, the airlines allow any dog/cat that fits into a secured carryon animal case that can fit under the seat to be brought on the plane. It counts as the persons carryon item.

[pms4104]

In addition to service dogs, the airlines allow any dog/cat that fits into a secured carryon animal case that can fit under the seat to be brought on the plane. It counts as the persons carryon item.

Not sure that the critter counts as a carryon ... most airlines, I believe, have policies regarding animals in the passenger cabin and they charge a hefty fee/fare for them.

[xxoocruiser]

Probably not a service dog, then. Service dogs wear a vest and you should never pet them when they are working.

 

Somehow it sounds like this woman slipped the dog in as a service dog...or perhaps it is supposed to be a working dog and she is "untraining" it. You do have to get special permission (not easy) to bring along a service animal.

 

 

FYI - There are both Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. Service Animals generally assist their owner by performing specific physical functions and most service animals wear a vest, though it's not legally required. However a person can also qaulfiy for an Emotional Support Animal. A support animal generally never wears a vest, nor do they perform a specific physical function that the owner cannot do and as a result they are often mistaken as a personal pet, as well as treated like a personal pet. The dog in question was most likely an Emotional Support Animal. The cruise lines MUST permit both Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals if the person can supply the necessary documentation that the cruise lines requires.

[xxoocruiser]

Not sure that the critter counts as a carryon ... most airlines, I believe, have policies regarding animals in the passenger cabin and they charge a hefty fee/fare for them.

 

That's what I was told the last time I flew and a dog was under the seat next to me. The flight attendent said charges only apply if the dog is placed in a carrier in the cargo haul because it has to be placed in a specific area of the hual that is temperatured control. But than that just might have been that specific airlines .

[pms4104]

That's what I was told the last time I flew and a dog was under the seat next to me. The flight attendent said charges only apply if the dog is placed in a carrier in the cargo haul because it has to be placed in a specific area of the hual that is temperatured control. But than that just might have been that specific airlines .

Yes, likely various airlines may handle it differently. In all cases, service animals are permitted in the cabin, outside of a kennel/at the owner's feet, for no fee.

 

Just looked at American for non-service animals ... for companion dogs and cats, passengers must make reservations, as there is a limit to the number of critters per flight, the animals must remain in their kennel and under the seat in front of the passenger at all times, and the fee is $100 (per way, I surmise). Also seemed to be an indication that's for the American flight ... if one's itinerary involves a change to another carrier, that airline's fee also is payable to the second carrier. I would surmise the policy for the legacies would be pretty similar ... no clue what the LCC's do.

[xxoocruiser]

Yes, likely various airlines may handle it differently. In all cases, service animals are permitted in the cabin, outside of a kennel/at the owner's feet, for no fee.

 

Just looked at American for non-service animals ... for companion dogs and cats, passengers must make reservations, as there is a limit to the number of critters per flight, the animals must remain in their kennel and under the seat in front of the passenger at all times, and the fee is $100 (per way, I surmise). Also seemed to be an indication that's for the American flight ... if one's itinerary involves a change to another carrier, that airline's fee also is payable to the second carrier. I would surmise the policy for the legacies would be pretty similar ... no clue what the LCC's do.

 

Wow, $100 both ways !! That's sometimes more than what the Dog's owner paid for their own ticket .

[xxoocruiser]

Tip. If you don't want to pay for pressing. Hang the items in the bathroom when taking a shower. I've always had success getting the wrinkles out that way.

[soozles]

On one of my recent cruises, there was a little dog that the owners said was a service dog. The pup had no vest or anything identifying it as a service animal. He had to be the most ill behaved service dog I have ever seen. Constantly running up to other people to say "hi", jumping up on other people. I have never seen a service animal doing this.

[pms4104]

On one of my recent cruises, there was a little dog that the owners said was a service dog. The pup had no vest or anything identifying it as a service animal. He had to be the most ill behaved service dog I have ever seen. Constantly running up to other people to say "hi", jumping up on other people. I have never seen a service animal doing this.

Not unlike our experience on our last cruise. The owner called it her Anxiety Savior ... and allowed the animal to run loose thru the corridors, casino, bars, elevators, etc. ... and even placed it on a barstool so the dog could rest its head on the bar and use it, I suppose, as a drool-catcher. This was so totally different from true service animal behavior that I did notify onboard staff and, while they said they would talk to her about such antics, it didn't make much difference. When we returned home, I called HAL's Access Dept. and learned that, as I suspected, many people do abuse the service animal provisions ... and the Access people asked me also to contact Guest Relations. Not entirely certain anyone took my comments seriously.

 

Oh, yeah, the dog must have had its own set of luggage ... for every public appearance, it wore a different outfit, such as a dress, tutu, shorts set, etc. No vest or any indication that this was a working dog rather than a common pet whose owner was working the system.

[PennyAgain]

We had a family member who had a seizure alert dog for many years. Sadly the dog died before a younger dog could be brought in to learn the way to alert on seizures.

 

This dog was small and looked like an ordinary brown dog. Nothing at all special. He was reasonably well behaved, but not obedience trained. He was with his 'person' 24/7 and in all circumstances.

[xxoocruiser]

On one of my recent cruises, there was a little dog that the owners said was a service dog. The pup had no vest or anything identifying it as a service animal. He had to be the most ill behaved service dog I have ever seen. Constantly running up to other people to say "hi", jumping up on other people. I have never seen a service animal doing this.

 

Not unlike our experience on our last cruise. The owner called it her Anxiety Savior ... and allowed the animal to run loose thru the corridors, casino, bars, elevators, etc. ... and even placed it on a barstool so the dog could rest its head on the bar and use it, I suppose, as a drool-catcher. This was so totally different from true service animal behavior that I did notify onboard staff and, while they said they would talk to her about such antics, it didn't make much difference. When we returned home, I called HAL's Access Dept. and learned that, as I suspected, many people do abuse the service animal provisions ... and the Access people asked me also to contact Guest Relations. Not entirely certain anyone took my comments seriously.

 

 

Oh, yeah, the dog must have had its own set of luggage ... for every public appearance, it wore a different outfit, such as a dress, tutu, shorts set, etc. No vest or any indication that this was a working dog rather than a common pet whose owner was working the system.

 

 

Please refer to my earlier post that explains that there are various forms of sevice animals and support animals. There a numerous reasons why a person can and will have a support dog. There is no laws requiring sevice animals and support animals to wear a vest. Service animals perform a specific function , whether it be performing a task that the owner cannot do for themselves or notifying it's owner of an inpending seizure. Support Animals are not trained to perform a specific action. Rather they are needed for a medical document emotional reasons. Most people who have Support dogs prefer to refer to them as Service Animals so as not to cause only alarm or concern that they have an emotional condition. Support animals are treated much like the family pet. In fact they often were the family pet to begin with.

 

Just as with people who have hidden disabilities, one should not pass judgement on whether or not the dog is a service animal or a support animal. The cruise lines require specific documents be provided before any of these dogs are boarded. Doctores are required to sign these forms. Becuase of Liability Insurance, State Medial Laws , and the possibility medical licenses being lost for falsifying documents most doctors will not sign these forms unless it's well documented as to the medical need for these dogs to be on the ship. So you have to assume if the cruise line approved than there's a documented need for the dog to be on the ship.

 

That's not to say the there are probably people who do get around the rules and abuse this.