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

[wizard-of-roz]

Quam - we did, we did - she's so gorgeous! :)

 

We haven't been to a restaurant yet with Aruba, and I was thinking a table against a wall or window so I can get her under the table and out of the way of passing traffic, but that may not always be possible of course.

 

We had a vet check this week with kennel cough vaccine - popped up her nose before you could say "Aroooooba" She didn't even notice! Weight now 26.7 kilos or 58.74 lbs! She's now slightly taller than Poppy. Max has lost 8 kgs, so he's lost a whole Puppy Aruba! She was 8 kgs when she arrived! He doesn't have to lose any more, so we will just have to keep him on track.

 

The seating in a restaurant can be tricky. You have to scope it out and if you don't feel it's suitable ask for another. They totally understand. The servers don't want to be stepping on your dog and they don't want to be tripped by him either!

 

Good job Max. Horton is maintaining his 90lbs and the Vet is happy with it. He had gotten down to 81lbs and really looked too thin. He's a very tall boy!

[DUTRAVEL]

Thank you so much, me too you!!!! ;)

 

You would think that it would discourage me from cruising......NO WAY! My occupation is to Cruise and my job is the means to my occupation!

 

If I were in a wheelchair it would be so much easier because the cruise line would have to make accommodations for my chair, therefore making room for my dog. Walking in with a dog makes for a whole set of different kinds of needs.

 

The road is long and fraught with a lot of different challenges when it comes to traveling with our dogs but I'm not a quitter and it really is getting better and better!

 

You would think that the cruise line and Maitre D would use some common sense and seat you at a table that fits your needs. It wouldn't help to be in a wheelchair - lol! We are always seated somewhere in the middle where the waiters have to squeeze by and we inevitably have to do the excuse me dance through the other tables to get to our table (even if we go early, we then have the problem of getting out). Maybe someday they will figure it out.

 

Dianne

[wizard-of-roz]

You would think that the cruise line and Maitre D would use some common sense and seat you at a table that fits your needs. It wouldn't help to be in a wheelchair - lol! We are always seated somewhere in the middle where the waiters have to squeeze by and we inevitably have to do the excuse me dance through the other tables to get to our table (even if we go early, we then have the problem of getting out). Maybe someday they will figure it out.

 

Dianne

 

Dianne, when we thought they were used to us and finally we could eat our dinner in peace; they pushed the two tables close together which meant that the table bases were touching and there was NO ROOM for Horton to lay under the table......so stupid!

 

I know my dog is not their problem but, when I enter the dining room, I will become their problem and that's NEVER a pretty picture!

 

Finally, I showed them what to do and how to do it and the last 4 nights were better. The first 3 nights always had a problem of one sort or another.

 

And, then, there was the man in the wheel chair that was trying to get by our table and the food station.......don't ask....they tried every-which-way to maneuver him past us until I showed them how moving a serving tray would make room for the man and his chair. SERIOUSLY!!!! :rolleyes:

 

Set-ups in the Dining Room are meant to hold the most people in the smallest space without consideration for anything extraordinary!

 

It's the price of traveling through life either with a 90lb Service Dog or a 50lb wheel chair.

[Algebralovr]

Roz,

If you and Horton ever sail on a Celebrity ship we are on, we will happily share a table you the two of you.

 

Honest, with as many lurkers as are here, I can't believe the issues finding someone who didn't mind eating next to Horton!

 

 

Fairbourne,

Please keep up the puppy pics and tales! We are enjoying them like crazy!

[wizard-of-roz]

the other day, we had our weekly lunch with my brother and his wife & daughter. Raylene was quietly settled by my feet, tired from her morning training session. Another couple was escorted to a table nearby (but not overly close) and noticed the dog. Shortly after, they asked to be moved to a much less desirable table.

 

First time this has happened. Usually, the problem is reverse - getting business accomplished whie many dog lovers want to get their hands on her!

 

I am guessing some people are allergic (my husband used to have sneezing fits years ago) or are fearful, afraid of being bitten (someone asked me if my dog bites recently in the grocery store.) maybe traumatized by a dog once.

 

But shove my dog with your foot, and you, too, may end up trapped in a hot basement parking garage!!:d

 

;) :)

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Sarachan74']I too have had issues of this sort. Shortly after getting Jules, I would ride the regular bus home from school.

We encounter this lady on the bus that started having screaming fits, saying get that dog away from me. She was very vocal about it and caused a lot of ruckus.

I tried to calmly tell her that he wouldn't hurt her but she didn't listen.

Whenever we see her on the bus today, we simply go to the back of the bus to avoid her.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Good thinking![/B][/COLOR]

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Algebralovr']Roz,
If you and Horton ever sail on a Celebrity ship we are on, we will happily share a table you the two of you.

Honest, with as many lurkers as are here, I can't believe the issues finding someone who didn't mind eating next to Horton!


Fairbourne,
Please keep up the puppy pics and tales! We are enjoying them like crazy![/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Barb, we've been on the Celebrity Summit and had a wonderful time. The staff was amazingly wonderful. I hope we get to cruise together one day! ;)[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Surprisingly, there's a big world out there that has no clue about Cruise Critic, hard to believe, huh?[/B][/COLOR]

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='wizard-of-roz'][COLOR="Indigo"][B]When Horton and I go to the theatre there is NO WAY that anyone could get near him to touch him, let alone spill something on him! I choose seating that allows him either to lay at the end of a row or I sit in the back where the handicapped is located. I also get to the theatre in plenty of time to be able to pick and choose the most safe spot for him!

This last cruise a crew member got a "caution" sign to place in front of him so no one wheeled their chair into him![/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

This wasn't a movie theater, but a performance. You choose your assigned seats when you buy your tickets. All the seat spacing is the same, so it doesn't matter where you sit. I choose to sit where you can see the show best, which is in the center of the theater, and my service dog lays on the floor at my feet, not getting into the footspace of any strangers or anyone I am with who is not used to having a service dog near them. At this show, I had the people in my party to my left, so strangers were to my right. Unless you were to sit with people in your party on both sides, which I didn't do because of who they were, there is no way to prevent your stranger neighbor from being close enough to spill something on you and your dog. The other time it happened, we were at a baseball game and it was actually the person sitting behind me who spilled their beer, which poured down the stadium seating cement onto my dog whose rump was under my seat (the only way for her to fit into that space was rear under the seat and head between my feet).

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='fairbourne']Quam - we did, we did - she's so gorgeous! :)

We haven't been to a restaurant yet with Aruba, and I was thinking a table against a wall or window so I can get her under the table and out of the way of passing traffic, but that may not always be possible of course.

We had a vet check this week with kennel cough vaccine - popped up her nose before you could say "Aroooooba" She didn't even notice! Weight now 26.7 kilos or 58.74 lbs! She's now slightly taller than Poppy. Max has lost 8 kgs, so he's lost a whole Puppy Aruba! She was 8 kgs when she arrived! He doesn't have to lose any more, so we will just have to keep him on track.[/QUOTE]

A good way to teach dogs how to curl up in small spaces is to use a laundry basket for them to go in. Another way is to sit on the toilet and have them lay between the front of the toilet and back of your legs. You can also practice at home under a table between your feet, where the dog will go if the table is not next to a wall or the person is not on the end of a large table.

Glad she did well at the vet! I love how they don't even seem to notice when the vet does stuff to them like injections and all! My current service dog is so good around needles (and I am definitely NOT!!) and it looks like my new pup is, too, as we took her to the vet when I was there to have her microchip inserted and she didn't even flinch or turn to look at what just went into her neck! You could never do that to me and expect me to react like that!! ;) :p (It was the new Mini Microchip, which is half the size of regular microchips and uses a smaller needle. I got the ISO chip this time for travel purposes, of course; those weren't available yet in the States when I microchipped my current dog.)

Wow, Aruba has gotten so big!! Great growing, Aruba! :D

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='Rolls Royce Lover']
[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Surprisingly, there's a big world out there that has no clue about Cruise Critic, hard to believe, huh?[/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Today, I was talking to a woman working at a business I went into who mentioned her upcoming cruise, so we started talking about cruising. When she talked about loving to take two or three cruises per year, I asked if she was on Cruise Critic and she said she was! Pretty cool to meet another CC member "in the wild" (while not on a cruise ship). :) Edited October 4, 2014 by Quampapetet

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Today, I was talking to a woman working at a business I went into who mentioned her upcoming cruise, so we started talking about cruising. When she talked about loving to take two or three cruises per year, I asked if she was on Cruise Critic and she said she was! Pretty cool to meet another CC member "in the wild" (while not on a cruise ship). :)[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I love that. I also like when folks tell me that they are contributors to Canine Companions, after they see Horton's vest. Makes me feel so good to know that people are so generous! I always thank them! Without them, I wouldn't have my wonderful dogs![/B][/COLOR]

[Quampapetet]

Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.

[Algebralovr]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.[/QUOTE]

We've done 5 on Celebrity. No SD, but I can answer most general questions. My DD spent the most recent on in a WC and she was thrilled with how they handled her requests.

What questions do you have?

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I can remember how difficult it was to leave Brenda behind after Morey had passed away. My son took care of her when I cruised and although she couldn't walk far, it was still sad to leave her behind.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Morey, Brenda and I did the Celebrity Summit out of L.A to Mexico for 7 days. We liked the ship and the staff. It was the only time onboard a ship where a staff person was sent to our cabin to walk Brenda to the potty box. I remember that we liked the cruise and were treated very well. The potty box was placed on another deck, forward [really far from our cabin.] [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Celebrity had a full room service breakfast [something that Morey and I both liked!] And, something that Princess does not offer. [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Our HC Cabin was huge, with a veranda. I'd cruise onboard Celebrity again.[/B][/COLOR]

[fairbourne]

[IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg2_zps17f57a0c.jpg[/IMG]

Hello eveyone ....

Here I am with my new coat - not very happy .... I really, really didn't like it much at first, and tried to chew it and pull it off, but Mum gave me lots of treats to distract me, so I quite like it now! I hope I get treats every time I have to wear it .... somehow I don't think that's going to happen ..... :(

Love Aruba xxxx

[fairbourne]

[quote name='Quampapetet']A good way to teach dogs how to curl up in small spaces is to use a laundry basket for them to go in. Another way is to sit on the toilet and have them lay between the front of the toilet and back of your legs. You can also practice at home under a table between your feet, where the dog will go if the table is not next to a wall or the person is not on the end of a large table.

Glad she did well at the vet! I love how they don't even seem to notice when the vet does stuff to them like injections and all! My current service dog is so good around needles (and I am definitely NOT!!) and it looks like my new pup is, too, as we took her to the vet when I was there to have her microchip inserted and she didn't even flinch or turn to look at what just went into her neck! You could never do that to me and expect me to react like that!! ;) :p (It was the new Mini Microchip, which is half the size of regular microchips and uses a smaller needle. I got the ISO chip this time for travel purposes, of course; those weren't available yet in the States when I microchipped my current dog.)

Wow, Aruba has gotten so big!! Great growing, Aruba! :D[/QUOTE]

Thanks Quam - that's great advice which I immediately undertook in the toilet .... only "two" other problems .... all "three" dogs trooped in after me! LOL! So two big dogs despatched to the kitchen and Aruba and me tried it. It took a few goes but we sort of managed it, but she has such long legs!

We took her to a local supermarket cafe for a quick snack yesterday and she went under the table and stayed there for most of the time but I had her blocked in with a spare chair - she did the occasional "head up" but when I tapped her lightly to go back down, she did. Yesterday I think all the idiots were in that supermarket, the number of people who tried to distract her was incredible and I had to leave as I was getting so cross! You know the sort of idiot who is a real smart "hmmm well I can't use the word here", who snaps his fingers and makes loud kissy type noises as he's passing her, or the woman who grabs her before I could say or do anything, or the lad who thinks he's being funny and whistles at her! Honestly, I do wonder if they left their brains at home, seeing as how it was Sunday!:rolleyes:

[alexspepa]

[quote name='fairbourne'][IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg2_zps17f57a0c.jpg[/IMG]

Hello eveyone ....

Here I am with my new coat - not very happy .... I really, really didn't like it much at first, and tried to chew it and pull it off, but Mum gave me lots of treats to distract me, so I quite like it now! I hope I get treats every time I have to wear it .... somehow I don't think that's going to happen ..... :(

Love Aruba xxxx[/quote]

that's about the most precious pic i have seen.

[fairbourne]

[IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg3_zps0f65caa6.jpg[/IMG]


I'm a good girl, I am, I am, I am - Mum has her shoes on that match my flash! LOL!!!

[fairbourne]

[quote name='alexspepa']that's about the most precious pic i have seen.[/QUOTE]


LOL! :D Thank you Alexspepa! :D

[S.S. Cruisers]

[COLOR=SeaGreen][SIZE=3]Quam: We did the 15 day Hawaii cruise on Celebrity. (quite a few years ago!) without service dog. Hands down our all time favorite cruise line. Every thing was fabulous. Food was awesome, wait staff was above and beyond. The one bartender would even go get fresh fruit from the buffet for our fruity drinks! He was tipped nicely for his service. I can't think of anything bad to say about Celebrity. :D[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[DisneyKidsDad]

[quote name='fairbourne'][IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg3_zps0f65caa6.jpg[/IMG]


I'm a good girl, I am, I am, I am - Mum has her shoes on that match my flash! LOL!!![/quote]

[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Great picture!! Isn't it great when they get their big boy/girl vests? It's like a right of passage. We took Orson & Davis to an Octoberfest/Craft Fair yesterday. It was PACKED!!. Both dogs were great! Davis walked right next to me or my wife and never even thought about wandering. He is giving us hope. :D[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[DUTRAVEL]

[quote name='fairbourne'][IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg2_zps17f57a0c.jpg[/IMG]

Hello eveyone ....

Here I am with my new coat - not very happy .... I really, really didn't like it much at first, and tried to chew it and pull it off, but Mum gave me lots of treats to distract me, so I quite like it now! I hope I get treats every time I have to wear it .... somehow I don't think that's going to happen ..... :(

Love Aruba xxxx[/QUOTE]

She is so cute!

[DUTRAVEL]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.[/QUOTE]

We have sailed Celebrity several times. Handicapped accessibility is very good (on the S class ships). No thresholds, automatic doors, huge rooms, ramps to the veranda. I have not cruised with a service dog (yet) so I can't answer anything about that. We have also had great wheelchair accessible excursions (in Europe). The special needs department responds quickly, but you do need to contact the shore excursion department well in advance.

[Caribbean Chris]

Hi Quam - We've been on Celebrity three times (no service dog with us then) and had good experiences. (A five-day from Florida to the Caribbean, a transatlantic from Southampton on an S class ship, and a 15-day from San Diego to Hawaii.)

The food & service was exceptionally good on the Hawaii cruise, especially the variety & preparation of fish dishes in the main dining room.

We'll be going back on Celebrity in December, 9-day Caribbean, first cruise for Hearing Dog Raylene. I will be reporting back.

Some positives for us: (which may not matter to everyone; other lines may have some similar policies, of course.)
- a firm no-smoking policy, including on your veranda (only a place on deck allowing smokers to congregate).
- they have a lot of wine-related events for an extra charge which we enjoyed very much.
- the staterooms and bathrooms are quite roomy and nice on the largest, newer S class ships.
-there are a lot of veranda rooms at fairly reasonable prices versus some of the Holland America ships with fewer verandas.
-they frequently offer promotions (123Go, or Wave, or Pick Your Perk) whereby the cruise fare includes a classic beverage package - alcohol drinks or wine by the glass up to a certain dollar amount, also soft drinks, fresh juices, bottled water, and barista type coffees like lattes. Sometimes promo also includes a shipboard credit.
- they have a policy to reduce your cruise fare if they institute a price drop before your final payment date, which saved us about $500 if I recall correctly, and did not affect the promo.

(We like Holland America for other reasons - excellent room stewards, the wrap-around full promenade deck, and the lovely library-internet-coffee lounges, some with views of the sea. I miss those three things, but have to say the food and dining room/wine steward service has been better on our Celebrity trips in recent years.)

Happy to answer questions.

[Caribbean Chris]

Fairbourne, that sweet little puppy face could melt a heart of stone.

Look at her in her big-girl vest. Keep those Aruba photos coming! They are such a great treat.