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

[Caribbean Chris]

I'm passing on information that was new to me last week about Turks & Caicos, which is often on cruise itineraries these days. 

 

I've been told in the past from info on this message board that Bahamas insists on a permit - even for a cruiseline's private island and even when the dog is not going ashore. Since it has been difficult at times to get directly from the government there, I now arrange it by paying $90 to Wellington Saunders at Bahamas Pet Permit.com. 

 

We were preparing to cruise during the Easter season this year for 9 days. The line wanted copies of my permits for Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. I emailed Bahamas and told them the dog would not be getting off the ship when it was in Turks & Caicos.

 

The cruiseline's accessibility people quickly replied that I would be denied boarding the ship without an "in-transit" permit for Turks & Caicos even if the dog was staying on board. Apparently this is something new, in addition to? the USDA APHIS requirements shown online. Has anyone else dealt with this?

 

I found the application form on a T&C Tourism site (with a box to check for in-transit, and a mention that the $50 fee is waived for service dogs.

 https://www.visittci.com/downloads/animal-import-application-for-dogs-and-cats.pdf.

I emailed it to the address shown on the form. I have never heard another word about my application. 

 

In the end, we were not willing to risk driving to the port and being denied boarding. We cancelled the night before the cruise. The cruiseline was very cooperative and I don't blame them for policies of foreign governments over which they have no control. 

 

I should add that my original itinerary did not even go to Turks & Caicos. It was substituted for another island. I have avoided T&Cs for years since it requires a blood titer test, and it was not worth it to me to spend approx $200 starting months in advance for that titer paperwork just to go ashore in the morning briefly - this itinerary had a  2 p.m.departure! And their own tourist web site mentions the feral dogs roaming around the island that kill pet cats.

 

To end with a smile, since this transpired, I discovered that the island's only veterinarian offers a concierge service for "only" $250 to help people get pet permits. (Maybe because no one responds when you apply for your permit according to instructions?

https://www.visittci.com/providenciales/bark-and-bliss.

No, I'm not planning to use them. Or to ever set foot or paw onTurks & Caicos. 

[DUTRAVEL]

Thanks for the update Chris. Sounds like a real catch-22 situation!

[Caribbean Chris]

1 hour ago, DUTRAVEL said:

Thanks for the update Chris. Sounds like a real catch-22 situation!

 

It was, Diane, I still think it makes sense to TRY to get the necessary paperwork for all the known port calls, just in case there was a medical or other reason to leave the cruise early and fly home. But trying doesn’t always mean succeeding.

 

“Cancel for any reason” insurance is expensive but a good idea. 

 

 

[Mlkjunk11]

Thanks for sharing 

[Rudi-Cruiser]

22 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I'm passing on information that was new to me last week about Turks & Caicos, which is often on cruise itineraries these days. 

 

I've been told in the past from info on this message board that Bahamas insists on a permit - even for a cruiseline's private island and even when the dog is not going ashore. Since it has been difficult at times to get directly from the government there, I now arrange it by paying $90 to Wellington Saunders at Bahamas Pet Permit.com. 

 

We were preparing to cruise during the Easter season this year for 9 days. The line wanted copies of my permits for Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. I emailed Bahamas and told them the dog would not be getting off the ship when it was in Turks & Caicos.

 

The cruiseline's accessibility people quickly replied that I would be denied boarding the ship without an "in-transit" permit for Turks & Caicos even if the dog was staying on board. Apparently this is something new, in addition to? the USDA APHIS requirements shown online. Has anyone else dealt with this?

 

I found the application form on a T&C Tourism site (with a box to check for in-transit, and a mention that the $50 fee is waived for service dogs.

 https://www.visittci.com/downloads/animal-import-application-for-dogs-and-cats.pdf.

I emailed it to the address shown on the form. I have never heard another word about my application. 

 

In the end, we were not willing to risk driving to the port and being denied boarding. We cancelled the night before the cruise. The cruiseline was very cooperative and I don't blame them for policies of foreign governments over which they have no control. 

 

I should add that my original itinerary did not even go to Turks & Caicos. It was substituted for another island. I have avoided T&Cs for years since it requires a blood titer test, and it was not worth it to me to spend approx $200 starting months in advance for that titer paperwork just to go ashore in the morning briefly - this itinerary had a  2 p.m.departure! And their own tourist web site mentions the feral dogs roaming around the island that kill pet cats.

 

To end with a smile, since this transpired, I discovered that the island's only veterinarian offers a concierge service for "only" $250 to help people get pet permits. (Maybe because no one responds when you apply for your permit according to instructions?

https://www.visittci.com/providenciales/bark-and-bliss.

No, I'm not planning to use them. Or to ever set foot or paw onTurks & Caicos. 

I also sent out an email to both the address on the form and the Vet in T&C. I have not gotten a response yet.

[Caribbean Chris]

33 minutes ago, Rudi-Cruiser said:

I also sent out an email to both the address on the form and the Vet in T&C. I have not gotten a response yet.

I appreciate your sharing this. It does make things difficult for service dog handlers, doesn't it!?

[Rudi-Cruiser]

1 hour ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I appreciate your sharing this. It does make things difficult for service dog handlers, doesn't it!?

Just got one back form the Vet. They have their $250.00 charge but didn't give me any information regarding Service Dog and those fees if any.

[emtben]

I had to have "in transit" paperwork for Jamaica, even though my SD stayed on ship.  You should always call each country department of agriculture to get info and if going to Bahamas...its free. Don't get suckered into paying $90 to that company. Just get ahold of Bahamas department of agriculture and they will send you all the info via email and service dogs are free.

[DUTRAVEL]

Just a heads up that the CDC has issued new rules starting August 1, 2024 that will require that all dogs entering the US appear healthy upon arrival, be at least 6 months old, be microchipped and be accompanied by a “CDC Dog Import Form” receipt that was filled out online two to 10 days before arrival. These rules apply to all dogs, including service dogs and those who were born in the United States but are returning from another country.

 

Unless I am reading the CDC checklist wrong, it looks like a dog vaccinated in the US will also need to have either a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form or the USDA APHIS health certificate (which in either case will need to be endorsed by the USDA). Hopefully, USDA endorsement of one of those forms will not be necessary every time you return to the US.

 

Here's a link to a good explanation of the rules: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/08/health/cdc-dog-import-rules/index.html?bt_ee=ZPVTkqTnMd0AyE5HlJ0kf3iKBdPsCrkLFvjwXYBK5Q8dyntljCQgX6cw%2F7p70WjU&bt_ts=1715251930296

 

Link to CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs-entering-us-after-august-1.html

 

Edited May 9 by DUTRAVEL

[Naples2018]

I have a question, we are traveling with a service dog that is trained to detect nocturnal seizures for my young son.  We are traveling on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  Since our service animal is only needed when our son sleeps, we were wondering if the dog can be left in our stateroom in a closed door play pen.  Wondering if anyone else had taken a service animal on RC and been able to leave the dog in the room safely in an enclosed plan pen when going on shore or when enjoying the ship.   Does the cruise line have a way to detect that the service animal is not with you when you exit the ship to go on shore?

[FOPMan]

Your service animal should remain with you at all times. 

 

Ship’s personnel can and may enter your stateroom for a variety of reasons, including verifying ship’s equipment and safety. Your dog could, of course, bark. There are lots of different noises aboard a ship, many of which may be unfamiliar to a service animal.

 

If you left your service animal in the cabin unattended while you were in port, you might very well come back to the pier and find your suitcases and dog on the dock, having been unceremoniously disembarked at the captain’s orders.

 

Of note, regardless of whether you go ashore or remain on the ship with the animal, you will need to comply with each country’s requirements for registering your animal.

 

 

 

[DUTRAVEL]

1 hour ago, Naples2018 said:

I have a question, we are traveling with a service dog that is trained to detect nocturnal seizures for my young son.  We are traveling on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  Since our service animal is only needed when our son sleeps, we were wondering if the dog can be left in our stateroom in a closed door play pen.  Wondering if anyone else had taken a service animal on RC and been able to leave the dog in the room safely in an enclosed plan pen when going on shore or when enjoying the ship.   Does the cruise line have a way to detect that the service animal is not with you when you exit the ship to go on shore?

I don't know of any cruise line that will allow you to leave your service dog alone in your cabin.

[Caribbean Chris]

I agree, cruise lines generally spell out clearly in paperwork you must sign that you verify your understanding that the dog is not to be left alone in a stateroom unattended.

[Mlkjunk11]

Finally, reporting on our first cruise with my small medic alert service dog.  We did the April 27/24 Princess Cruises Pacific Coast Wine Tour, which left from Los Angeles and ended in Vancouver, Canada, which is our home port. 

 

Flying into Los Angeles on Westjet was no problem except for the border control at YVR. They put us into secondary inspection because I had some tiny pieces of dried fish in my pocket for my service dog for going through security.  The second border marshal waved us through after looking at the package of dog treats, which I had in my carry on. 

 

We went through the special services check-in desk at embarkation and handed over copies of all of my service dog papers (rabies certificate, copy of our BC service dog certification, vaccination records, health certificate).  Several different people came over and wanted to see the papers themselves, which was quite nerve wracking. Finally, a supervisor came over and asked if we had pre registered!  EEEEEK! I said yes and then we were allowed to board.  Anxiety level pretty high at this point!

 

Once on board, we checked in at the customer service desk about the location of the potty box, but nobody there knew where it was!  EEEEK!  I did my best to maintain calm and also checked in at the excursion desk, where, finally, somebody knew to expect us.  Then we went to our cabin, where fortunately, our cabin steward knew where the potty box was.  The level of disorganization was disheartening and I was just about ready to get off the ship again!

 

Everywhere I walked on the ship we could hear people commenting on the dog; not always in a kind way. Many smiles and people telling me about their dogs, but also pretty regular unpleasant comments. Plus, so many people asking completely inappropriate questions about what the dog did for me... especially in elevators, oddly enough. I expected that people would want to touch him, but not the frequency with which people jumped out and tried to pick him up. I didn't mind too much as so many people, especially crew, had such huge smiles on their faces when they saw him. I heard a lot of stories about a lot of dogs from a lot of different people I'd never met before.

 

Despite having exposed my dog to a replica potty box with a similar material, he was completely uninterested in using the one on the boat.  It was really stressful for about a day and a half, until he would finally use it without having to be walked around it for quite some time.  I actually moved the box into another part of the crew area than where they placed it as the original area was very loud. My dog seemed more comfortable with it tucked into a quiet corner.  If this is the first cruise with your service dog, expect to spend a good amount of time walking around the potty box area on the first day

 

The most stressful part of the trip was that people just didn't notice the dog, despite his very obvious harness and labeled red leash. He was kicked numerous times in the first few days and I finally started picking him up anywhere that was crowded, including entering the dining rooms sometimes. 

 

The first day on the ship, the dining room staff were really good about moving us around until we found a place that was comfortable for me and safe for the dog. We got to stay at that table every meal for the rest of the cruise and never even had to wait in line.

 

The staff were fabulous. Some of the passengers: not so much.  

[Caribbean Chris]

mlkjunk11, your experiences triggered some not-happy memories of my days cruising with my dog. You are definitely not alone!

I had similar problems with Celebrity - for example, being told they had no record that I would be bringing the dog - even though it was THEIR paperwork I brought to the pier. Logic was useless, the clock was ticking, our friends had already boarded, no one was telling us anything, and a clerk eventually came back to the checkin area and reported that an officer on the ship had decided I would be permitted to sail with the dog. As if this was a big favor. Well, gee, thanks. Meanwhile, Celebrity staff never seemed to know where the box was located on embarkation day.

It can be very stressful. 

 

[DUTRAVEL]

I now always print out the email from the cruise line approving my Service Dog jut in case. Our last Princess cruise had no record of my Service Dog even though I had at least two emails approving her. Its never stress free; I just try to bring copies of everything possible!

[Mlkjunk11]

27 minutes ago, DUTRAVEL said:

I now always print out the email from the cruise line approving my Service Dog jut in case. Our last Princess cruise had no record of my Service Dog even though I had at least two emails approving her. Its never stress free; I just try to bring copies of everything possible!

I did bring all the cruise service dog authorization documents, fortunately!  I included them in the bundle I handed over but no one ever looked at the papers.  I followed as many of the recommendations as possible from what I have read on this group.

[Af0ne]

Hi everyone,

 

This is all really good info!
 

I’m in the process of gathering all the necessary paperwork and approvals for my service dog for my upcoming cruise. My Carnival cruise itinerary includes stops in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. Good thing I’ve been doing lots and lots of research since I just found out the Dominican Republic has a screwworm presence. This requires a signed certificate from a veterinarian in the region stating that the dog is free of screwworm to enter back into the United States. This means we would need to schedule a vet appointment for the one day we’re in the Dominican Republic, so it's probably just better to stay on the ship. We’ll probably still get the USDA certified import health certificate regardless just in case.

 

Anyway, I’ve got all the paperwork in progress for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, including permits, passed titer test, and health certificate vet appointments.

 

Is there anything else I should be aware of for the other ports? Bahamas and Turks? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance!

[Af0ne]

11 hours ago, Af0ne said:

Hi everyone,

 

This is all really good info!
 

I’m in the process of gathering all the necessary paperwork and approvals for my service dog for my upcoming cruise. My Carnival cruise itinerary includes stops in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. Good thing I’ve been doing lots and lots of research since I just found out the Dominican Republic has a screwworm presence. This requires a signed certificate from a veterinarian in the region stating that the dog is free of screwworm to enter back into the United States. This means we would need to schedule a vet appointment for the one day we’re in the Dominican Republic, so it's probably just better to stay on the ship. We’ll probably still get the USDA certified import health certificate regardless just in case.

 

Anyway, I’ve got all the paperwork in progress for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, including permits, passed titer test, and health certificate vet appointments.

 

Is there anything else I should be aware of for the other ports? Bahamas and Turks? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance!

Just to add a little on to this last post.

 

I’ve applied to Turks and Caicos for the import permit, and they responded that I need to provide the USDA-endorsed health certificate along with the application. The only problem with this is the timing of the certificate and application process. The USDA certificate is only valid for 10 days from the first vet appointment. The USDA requires three business days to endorse it, and Turks and Caicos requires two business days to process the permit. This makes it impossible to get the permit in time, as our stop in Grand Turk is 5 days into the cruise on a Friday. We are told we need all paperwork on day of embarkation

 

I’m currently in the process of contacting the Turks and Caicos Department of Agriculture to shed some light on this situation.

 

Any and all advice from someone who’s been through this process would be amazingly helpful!
 

[AeroArcher]

Wow, sounds like your service dog is quite the seasoned cruiser! Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. It's awesome to hear how accommodating and friendly the cruise lines have been. Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures!

[Caribbean Chris]

4 hours ago, Af0ne said:

Just to add a little on to this last post.

 

I’ve applied to Turks and Caicos for the import permit, and they responded that I need to provide the USDA-endorsed health certificate along with the application. The only problem with this is the timing of the certificate and application process. The USDA certificate is only valid for 10 days from the first vet appointment. The USDA requires three business days to endorse it, and Turks and Caicos requires two business days to process the permit. This makes it impossible to get the permit in time, as our stop in Grand Turk is 5 days into the cruise on a Friday. We are told we need all paperwork on day of embarkation

 

I’m currently in the process of contacting the Turks and Caicos Department of Agriculture to shed some light on this situation.

 

Any and all advice from someone who’s been through this process would be amazingly helpful!
 

 

Wishing you good success in dealing with T&C. They truly do not make it easy.