Cruising with Service Animals

If you are considering a cruise with your service dog, don't hesistate. GO! You will enjoy every minute.

You can bring your service animal into every area of a cruise ship that is available to the general public. They can be by your side every minute. You can enjoy meals, shows, participate in activities, even try your luck in the casino with your faithful companion and helper.

Seasoned travelers say cruise ship staff are excited to see a service dog onboard, and treat them with respect and admiration, often going out of their way to be sure both you and your service animal has everything needed to enjoy the cruise. Fellow passengers are usually thrilled to see a dog on board, as many miss their own pets that had to be left back home. Be sure to keep your service dog respectful of other passengers, especially those who may suffer from allergies.

 

Your Service Animal will be exposed to new sights, sounds and experiences aboard a cruise ship.

While your service dog is most likely accustomed to crowds, restaurants, and hotels, being on a boat may be a new experience for them. Visit a local marina, or even take him for a walk by a lake. If possible take a ferry ride or other short excursion to get him accustomed to being on a surface that moves with the waves.

Cruise lines provide facilities for your dog to relieve himself. It is usually a 4x4 box that contains mulch or other absorbant substances. It is a very good idea to construct a similar box at home prior to your cruise. Fill it with a thick layer of mulch and place it where the dog is normally accustomed to relieving himself. With leash on, lead your dog to the box. While still holding the leash, walk around the box so you are facing your dog, and while gently pulling on the leash command your dog to go potty. It is normal for your dog to be confused, or refuse out of concern they are relieving themselves somewhere they are not supposed to go. Be persistent, and use treats if it will encourage your dog to comply. When they relieve themselves, give them lots of praise. Keep repeating until your dog willingly goes to the potty box and goes on his or her own without prompting.

 

You will need documentation and proof of immunizations specific to both the cruise and all of the countries where you plan to disembark.

If you can at all avoid taking your service dog ashore, we recommend you leave the dog on board your cruise ship. Disembarking at ports of call can complicate travel. Arrangements are time consuming, costly, and it can be risky to bring your service animal off the ship. Many countries do not have leash laws, or laws covering adequate vaccination of their own pets. For the protection of your service dog, you may want to keep him on board.

You can leave your service animal on board in a crate in your room, or some cruise lines will babysit your service animal for you (check ahead), you can leave your service animal with a travel companion and take turns leaving the cruise ship at ports of call (some cruise lines require service dogs stay on the ship with one of the passengers) or you can choose to stay on board with your service animal.

If you plan on bringing your service animal when you stop at various ports of call, and the cruise line allows, you will need at least seven months to prepare the dogs to meet the health requirements in some locations.

At least seven months before departure, contact the cruise line, as well as the country's consulate or embassy for every port you plan to disembark. Inquire about health regulations and other travel considerations. Many countries require tests and immunizations within windows of time prior to boarding your cruise ship. Make arrangements to obtain those tests and immunizations, veterinary statements, and agricultural documentation in a timely manner. You will not be allowed on board, or your service animal will not be allowed to disembark at ports of call, unless all paperwork is in order. Call your cruise line to get information about their regulations.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs/ lists requirements for all the states, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/ lists the current requirements for entry for animals into many foreign countries.

Note that these links are about pets, not service animals, so different requirements/exemptions for service animals may exist but not be listed. Contact the country's consulate or embassy for such information or if information is not listed for that country.

 

The cruise line will need to know you are bringing a service animal so they can provide the proper accomodations.

When you book your travel arrangements, request early boarding so you can enter or exit the plane/train/bus/cruise ship with the other handicapped or preferred guests, before other passengers board. At the terminal, go to registration or security and state you need to board first.

As soon as you pre-board your cruise ship, go to the Information Desk and ask them to TAKE YOU to the location of the potty-box. Bring along wind chimes and ask the ship's staff to hang them at the location of the potty boxes, so you and your service animal can find them more easily.

Use the extra time to explore the ship with your service animal before the rest of the passengers board. Ask the cruise line to post your information in the daily paper. Let fellow passengers know your service animal is working and is not a pet, but set specific "petting times" when guests will be able to meet and touch your faithful companion.

When tendering to and from a port make sure that someone on the tender is prepared to take your dog's leash until you get onboard. The movement of the tender can put the dog a bit off balance so they, as well as you, need assistance getting on and off.

 

What you will need when cruising with your service animal.

1) Vaccination Status and Rabies Vaccination Certificate or Blood Titer Test. Documentation showing your service animal is current on all vaccines, especially rabies.
2) For their protection your service dog must be on medication for heartworm and an anti-flea and tick medication.
3) Department of Food and Agriculture - Certificate for Interstate or International Movement of Small Animals form. (You can obtain this from your veterinarian)
4) Animal License from your city of residence.
5) Certificate/diploma/license, etc. that shows your dog has been trained as a service animal.
6) Copy of your Passport and Drivers License.
7) Information about your service animal's microchip.

Fax copies to both your travel agent and the cruise lines. You will also need to produce these documents upon arrival and at every port where you disembark. Prepare 3 complete packets - one for your purse or carry on, one in your suitcase, and give one to the ship for their records when you board.

 

Supplies to bring along for your service animal.

Don't forget to bring along your service dog's normal food rations. Put each day's serving in a ziplock bag. Bring a food and a water dish for the cabin, and a collapsible water bowl to bring with you when you are on deck or away from the cabin. You can obtain them at most camping supply stores. They fold and stash easily inside a large purse or carryall. Don't forget to bring an extra leash or harness, and collar, as well as your dog's favorirte bed, and toys.

Seasoned travelers also recommend bringing a bag of mulch. Cruise ships have been known to place different types of filling in the potty box, and no one wants to waste time on a cruise training a dog to go in an unfamiliar situation. Just empty a layer of mulch on top of the box and your dog will have a familiar spot to do their business.

Prepare for motion sickness by obtaining your veterinarian's advice on what medication to give your service animal.

You may not leave a service dog unattended in your stateroom. It is a good idea to bring a kennel that has a door on it, that can be closed and locked, for those times when you want to leave your service dog alone.

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine


User Comments


Service animals do not have to be certified. There is no federal regulation for this. I am curious, where are you getting your information that one must show "5) Certification/training license, etc. that shows your dog is a certified service animal."

serviceAnimalHandler on April 22nd, 2009

My information comes from the cruise lines themselves. You are correct that that there are no federal regulations regarding the certification of service animals. However, in order to insure the animal you bring on board a busy ship is not a pet, the cruise line will require some type of documentation such as a certificate, diploma or license that shows your dog has completed training as a service animal. I will modify our text to avoid confusion. Thank you.

GuideToCruising on May 19th, 2009

Are you speaking of the "Good Citizenship" papers?

LoveMyServiceAnimal on August 7th, 2009

Good Citizenship (CGC) training is often requested as a prerequisite for training as a therapy dog or service dog, but on it's own it does not meet the legal requirements for access when accompanying people with disabilities. Assistance Dogs are legally protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Assistance Dogs International, Inc. is a coalition of not for profit organizations that train and place Assistance Dogs. You can get more information on http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/index.php

GuideToCruising on August 17th, 2009

I have a therapy dog that works with me. She is different than a service dog since she works with me to support my clients, not myself for a disability or anxiety disorder. So my question is as a registered therapy dog (and CGC) would she be allowed on a cruise ship with me? At this point it is just a thought, but I would like some feedback if you have it. Thanks!

Therapy Dog Owner on October 26th, 2009

We have traveled on Carnival with our service dog and have never been asked for any documentation such as a certificate, diploma or license that show our dog has completed training as a service animal. Service animals can be trained by organizations such as Guide Dogs of America, or they can be self-trained (usually not for hearing or vision impairments). Our dog is used for mobility, since my wife has trouble walking. The dog was self-trained and therefore has no "certificate or diploma". All we need to board him is an International Health Certificate from our Vet. Therapy dogs are not permitted on cruise ships (at least, not on Carnival).

Evil Elf on November 17th, 2009

Very interesting article about Service Animals and the ADA: "San Francisco has become a city filled with "service animals," meaning the owner has a permit that allows him or her to take their dog, cat, or snake (seriously) into restaurants, libraries, and often even rental properties that don't allow pets. In 2004 the city's Animal Care and Control Department issued 244 permits. In 2008 the number was 500, and interim director Rebecca Katz speculates that 2009 numbers are at least as high. Unfortunately, the practice of granting service animal permits so generously is undercutting the intent of the law. Permits that allow an animal full access to buses, restaurants and public places should go only to service animals that perform a specific task and it seems too often that's not happening. That needs to change. A good example of the problem can be seen on Haight Street. Residents complain that many of the street bullies have intimidating dogs, often pit bulls, which they take into restaurants and stores." Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/02/BAAL1BBKHD.DTL#ixzz0bV3qnIOy

TooGenerous on January 2nd, 2010

This is very helpful and I'm glad cruises do allow service animals, I have a guide dog and since my family goes on a lot of cruises I was concerned since several cruises websites said specifically no animals and I was concerned that that would apply to service dogs as well. I'm now very happy because that means Jaxon can come on the cruise next year to England and Ireland. I get to have fun in other countries and keep my guide dog with me a win win situaltion. :)

Katherine Gleckler on February 19th, 2010

Do be very careful about taking service animals on international cruises, as the countries to which you are traveling may have different rules regarding documentation and accomodation of service animals. Some countries don't have any exceptions for service animals - if a pet would not be allowed entrance or access, then neither will a service animal. Island nations without any indigenous rabies are especially concerned about animals entering the country. Other countries actually have official agencies with which service animals must be registered in order to qualify. So, if you're going on an international cruise with your service animal, there may be some ports where your animals will not be able to leave the ship, or where businesses and attractions won't be required to admit or accommodate the animal. Always check the regulations in each individual nation that you will be visiting on your cruise, if it is an international one.

Aaron Mobley on May 19th, 2010

Have something to say?