Have you ever craved to experience an adventurous sea voyage alongside your pet? If you’re planning on indulging in such an activity, be wary; only a select few cruise ships offer this pleasure. Although cruising is a popular way to spend your vacation in luxury, different cruise lines have different pet and service animal policies.
Besides the rules of the cruise line, make sure to research the countries you stop at. It’s best to come prepared with all the needed documentation to avoid getting your pet stuck in quarantine.
Since numerous pet restrictions exist, we want to provide you with all the needed information about your best choices. So come with us and discover these rare dog-friendly cruises, their policies, and what they offer.
Cruise Line Pet-Friendliness
Defining cruise line dog-friendliness is difficult since most of their rules and regulations differ from normal vacation venues. While pet-friendly means taking your beloved furry friend along for most accommodations, it’s different for cruise ships. Their dog-friendliness usually applies to service animals only.
Pet, emotional support, or service dog
While we define pets as animals we take home to share our companionship with, this doesn’t make them emotional support or service dogs.
Service dogs are special because they can perform certain tasks for people with disabilities. Regardless of the physical, intellectual, or sensory condition, these animals are trained to help with the person’s everyday needs.
However, according to the ADA, emotional support dogs don’t fall under the category of service animals. This is because they aren’t necessarily trained to perform specific tasks but rather to provide comfort. While service dogs act flawlessly in public, most emotional support dogs are usually indistinguishable from normal, well-behaved pets.
Most common pet policies for cruise ships
While researching the possibility of cruising with your pooch, you’ll stumble upon four frequent pet policies.
The first and fairly common one is “No pets allowed.” No matter if you have a pet, emotional support animal, or service dog with you, there’s a zero-tolerance policy for bringing them aboard. It’s typical for international cruises and is usually due to country laws, passenger care, or simply misbehaving pets.
The second one you’ll find is “Service animals only.” Most cruise lines simply follow this as a general rule because service animals are part of US law. It states that these dogs must be allowed to travel with their owner since they’re responsible for the person’s well-being.
The third option is for both service and emotional support animals to be allowed on the ship. This heavily relies on the cruise line itself since emotional support dogs don’t fall under the same laws as service ones.
Last but not least, the hidden gem is known as “All pets allowed.” Although the name is self-explanatory, you can rarely find this opportunity. However, there is one big ship and a few themed cruises you can freely enjoy with your dog that we’ll elaborate on next.
The Most Pet-Friendly Cruise Lines and Their Policies
As mentioned above, most big cruise ships only allow service animals, excluding Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2. We’ve also included a section for small, themed cruises, ideal for spending time with your furry best friend. Without further stalling, here are the best dog friendly cruises we could find.
Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2
On the top of our list, we have Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2. By far, it’s the only cruise ship you can board with your dog to sail the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout its 180-year history, it’s well-known for accepting animals as passengers.
While some animals were part of the crew, like the three cats hired to deal with the ship’s vermin, others were exotic guests, such as an elephant, a hippo, a raccoon, and a monkey.
The ship and its amenities
The Queen Mary 2 is 1,132 feet long and big enough to accommodate 2691 guests and an 1173-person crew. Its luxurious design is enough to leave anyone in awe. It offers a wide space to enjoy many activities or simply unwind.
On Deck 2 and 3L, you’ll be mind blown by the Britannia restaurant, theater, casino, photo gallery, and illuminations. Deck 3 features an art gallery and chart room, while Decks 3 through 6 are designated for guest rooms.
On the middle ground at Deck 7, you will find the Carinthia lounge, Mareel Wellness & Beauty, Kings Court, and Grills Lounge. Deck 8 is perfect for leisure as it has a swimming pool, a library, and a bar. The Commodore club and penthouses are located on Deck 9, while Decks 10 and 11 are reserved for suits and staterooms.
We’ll elaborate more on Deck 12 as it has renowned dog kennels, but you’ll also find various deck games. Lastly, Deck 13 has a sunroof where you can enjoy a nice stroll and view the horizon.
Room amenities
Since Queen Mary is a luxurious ship, expect deluxe amenities during your stay. Some of the things included in the rooms are satellite TVs, refrigerators, hair dryers, bathrobes, direct-dial telephones, and slippers. If you need anything during your stay, there’s 24/7 room service available, including a nightly turndown service with chocolate.
Pet care and policies
Queen Mary offers 24 kennels on Deck 12 for passengers traveling with pets. Although your furry companion won’t accompany you to the stateroom, you can rest easy knowing that the extraordinary staff will take care of it. Since they are trained in the White Star Academy, expect nothing less than the highest level of service.
If you want to spend time with your pet, you can visit the Owner’s Lounge during the designated visiting hours. Additionally, there’s a large outdoor area where the dogs regularly get their exercise and play from 3 PM to 6 PM. It’s decorated with a Liverpool lamppost and a New York fire hydrant, making them feel more at home.
During your pet’s stay, they’ll be given their own kennel, food and water bowl, delicious food and treats, and toys. In case of an emergency, there are protocols for their safety, including a designated life jacket.
Royal Caribbean
Another outstanding cruise line is the Royal Caribbean, which only allows service dogs on its ships. They’ve been chosen as the Best Cruise Line Overall for 20 years straight by Travel Weekly due to their luxuriousness. Furthermore, they offer a wide range of travel options, including over 60 counties and 270 destinations.
The ship and its amenities
Royal Caribbean has a large fleet to choose from, including their award-winning Symphony, Mariner, Navigator, and Harmony ships. Although your experience may vary based on which ship you’ll cruise on, expect high-class accommodations and fine dining options. We highly recommend their Oasis Class and Amplified ships if you plan on traveling with this cruise line.
Depending on the ship you choose, you can find whole neighborhoods nestled inside the ship. If you feel like it, the company also provides themed cruises you can indulge yourself in. Some ships go as far as providing waterslides, dance floors, and even escape rooms.
Room amenities
The rooms are divided into four categories: interior, outside, suites, and balcony. All the rooms come equipped with telephones, private baths and showers, TVs, vanities, and hair dryers.
While on your cruise, you can also stay in some breathtaking deluxe rooms. Some of them include the Room to Play, the Stateroom for Couples, Ultimate Family Suite, and the Royal Suite Class. The rooms come with free Wi-Fi, room service, and daily cleaning service.
The Ultimate Family Suite is a two-stories accommodation, ideal for energetic families. You can enjoy tons of fun activities since there’s an in-room slide, video game systems, table tennis, and a jacuzzi. However, these rooms are only available onboard the Spectrum, Wonder, and Symphony ships.
On the other hand, the Royal Suite Class has three tiers to choose from: sea, sky, and star class. All of them include priority boarding, coastal kitchen dinners, bathrobes, kettles, and luxury bathroom amenities.
Pet care and policies
Regarding their pet-friendliness, Royal Caribbean only sticks to service dogs. Since they’ll be able to accompany you in most public areas, including the dining room, you’ll have to keep them restrained on a leash or harness. However, dogs aren’t allowed in the spa, pool, or whirlpool due to safety reasons.
It’s best to notify the Access Department about traveling with a service animal 30 days before departure. This way, they’ll have the time to make certain arrangements, such as providing a relief area and refrigerated space.
The 4 by 4 relief area is shared with other service dogs that may be on the ship. Moreover, the crew is not required to care for your furry friend or provide it with food. That’s why you can bring food and bowls without an additional charge.
Another rule to follow is that you can’t leave the dog unattended in the stateroom, especially if you plan on exiting the ship while in a port. On their website, you can get all the needed information about the documentation required for traveling with your pet. Note that these requirements are based on country laws, not the cruise line itself.
Other popular cruise lines
Other noteworthy mentions that accept service dogs onboard are Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line has a two weeks notice policy if you’re traveling with a service animal. You’ll also need to provide them with a vaccination record and check with the ports if there are any further requirements. Furthermore, even though they provide you with a relief sandbox, other amenities such as food, medications, and life jackets for your dog are your responsibility.
Carnival Cruise Line only accepts fully trained service dogs since they have a strict no-pets and no emotional support animals policy. Furthermore, you’ll be asked to show the required vaccination certificate as soon as you board the ship. Same as Norwegian Cruise, it’s advised that you check in with the ports for any further documentation needed before planning your trip.
Smaller-themed cruises
Bow Wow Brunch Cruise
If you truly want a full experience cruising with your puppy, check out the Bow Wow Brunch Cruise in San Diego. You can enjoy this two-hour San Diego Bay cruise while absorbing the amazing view. It’s the same as a Sunday Champagne Brunch Cruise, but you can bring your furry friend along.
You’ll get the chance to enjoy a grandiose buffet with unlimited champagne while your pooch munches on the pet buffet. Furthermore, the yacht has a designated area on the sunroof where your dog can do its “business.” There are freshwater bowls for your pets, so you don’t have to worry about the heat.
There are a few rules to follow while on the cruise, including one dog per person. Cleaning up after them is a must, and they also have to be on a leash and friendly toward other guests.
Last but not least, a portion of the revenue goes to the Helen Woodward Animal Center. This way, you can enjoy an amazing time and do a good deed at the same time.
Mercury’s Canine Cruise
If you want to enjoy a cruise around Chicago’s Riverwalk in Illinois with your dog in your lap, check out Mercury’s Canine Cruise. Discover the rich history and architecture through lively narration while basking in the sun for only $42. However, the price for your dog to accompany you is an additional $8.
This adventure comes with snacks, a water bowl, and a spacious outdoor area. However, make sure to obey the instructions and keep your pet on a leash. If you decide to indulge in this activity during October’s spooky season, you might also get some Halloween treats.
Conclusion
In conclusion, no matter how difficult it is to find dog-friendly cruises, there are still some great options out there. The first place is rightfully reserved for non-other than Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2. It’s the only big cruise ship allowing pets onboard while providing premium quality stay.
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise, and Carnival accommodate only service animals, excluding emotional support dogs as well. If you want to experience a cruise side-by-side with your pooch, we recommend you try out some smaller themed cruises, such as Bow Wow Brunch and Mercury’s Canine Cruise.
We hope this article provides you with all the needed information about cruising with your puppy. Set the sails high and enjoy your voyage!
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