Are dogs allowed on cruise ships? These are pet-friendly cruises

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated with new information.

We know that it can be hard to stay away from your four-legged friends when you’re traveling, especially if you’re on vacation with your family. After all, they are also part of the family. So can you bring pets on a cruise? There is good news and bad news.

In general, the answer is no, but there are exceptions. A cruise line that has a dedicated kennel on its most iconic ship and has space for both dogs and cats. However, you will have to leave birds, hamsters and ferrets at home.

On all cruise lines, service animals that have been trained in specific duties are generally permitted, with rules varying by cruise line. (Note that “emotional support” pets are generally prohibited in the high seas.)

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Even if you don’t bring your pet, there are ways to cuddle puppies on cruise ships and admire dogs and kittens at visiting docks.

Here are details on pet-friendly cruises.

The number of cruise ships that allow pets is extremely limited. In fact, the only cruise line with facilities for your dog or cat is The Cunard . Series, and the only ship in the airline’s fleet equipped to carry Fluffy and Fido was the luxury ocean liner Queen Mary 2 carrying 2,691 passengers. The ship alone maintains the line’s long tradition of being pet-friendly.

Back in the 1800s, cats were “worked” on Cunard’s ships to take care of vermin. In the 1900s, the rich and famous – including actress Elizabeth Taylor – set sail with their pets. The ship’s list of past celebrity guests includes the dancing dog Pudsey, “Britain’s Got Talent” winner, who sailed with her human partner Ashleigh Jade Butler in 2012.

On select transatlantic voyages between New York and Southampton in the UK, Cunard offers two dozen kennels located in a private rear area on Deck 12 for pet owners. In addition to the cages, there’s the Owner’s Lounge, where guests can spend quality time with their pets, and a large gated outdoor fitness area outfitted with antique Liverpool light poles and faucets. Firefighters from New York City.

Your pet must be in the kennel, not in your bedroom, and that rule applies even if you book a seat on the 2,249 square foot ship Grand Duplex or other fancy Queens Grill digs. But rest assured, your pet will be properly pampered. Cunard provides toys, freshly baked treats, bowls and bedding, as well as life jackets for pets if needed. If you want to eat to your heart’s content, you can order dishes such as liver or steak for your pet for an extra fee. Those wanting a fun keepsake can have their pet pose for a photo wearing a red Cunard uniform or wearing a Queen Mary 2 life ring.

Beach pets also get plenty of playtime. Dogs are regularly walked (and cleaned up afterwards) by a team consisting of a “kennel owner” and an assistant. You can hang out with your furry friend during your scheduled visitation hours.

Be aware that space is extremely limited. Cunard recommends booking pet accommodation at least a year in advance – and it doesn’t come cheap. Price tags vary by pet type and size but start at $800 for a small dog, $1,000 for a large dog, and $1,600 for a cat (since cats must have two cages: one for sleeping and another for trash). There are also regulations regarding vaccinations, microchips, and more.

Those who aren’t traveling with their pets but want to catch a glimpse of the pampered dogs should head to the outdoor area on Deck 12 in the late afternoon when the dogs are free.

Each cruise line has its own rules for service dogs. Above Royal Caribbean, for example, only pets that are “exclusively trained to work or perform duties for the benefit of persons with disabilities” are allowed. Royal Caribbean offers a specific 16 square foot relief area covered with cypress mulch that is shared with any other service dogs on board. The cruise line notes on its website that your dog must not drop them among the trees that live in Central Park on Oasis-class ships.

Pet owners are required to bring food and bowls, and the dog must be on a leash or harness in public areas and must not be left unattended in your cabin. This is much more information about bringing pets on board Royal Caribbean.

Above festival train, any dog ​​on board needs to be a “working service dog, defined by law as being specifically trained to meet disability-related needs by performing duties such as instructing blind people, warn the deaf, pull wheelchairs, warn and protect people who have a seizure, or perform other special tasks.” This is much more Information on bringing pets on board Carnival.

Norwegian Cruise Line accepts service dogs “trained to perform a specific task” and states on its website that “Do NOT accept ‘Emotional Support’ dogs as service dogs, they CANNOT go out to sea.” You will need to bring all pet food, medicine, and specialized dog life jackets. A relief sandbox is provided. Here is more information about Norwegian Cruise Line’s pet policy.

In all cases, service dog owners need to make reservations for their canines in advance and are responsible for researching and understanding the rules for disembarking dogs at each harbor. (Dog companions may not be allowed to disembark at some ports.) In addition, there may be specific vaccination requirements.

If your dog makes a mess on the plane, you may be charged a cleaning fee. If your dog misbehaves, you may be kicked off the train. If there’s no vet on board, you may also want to bring your dog seasickness medication as a precaution.

For cruisers in need of repair cuddling puppies while sailing, Princess Cruise brought professional sled dog racers and their huskies on board in Skagway, Alaska, as part of the route’s North-to-Alaska integration program.

Called Puppies on Princess (formerly Puppies in the Piazza), the show gives you the chance to pose for a photo with an adorable dog while listening to the owner talk about training the animal for races winter sled dogs such as the annual 1,100-mile Iditarod race. You’ll also learn how important dogs were in Alaska’s history – before sleds (known in Alaska as snow machines), dog teams delivering mail, medical supplies, and supplies. other materials to remote communities.

Above Alaska trip, cruise lines also often feature dog-sled shore excursions, in which passengers are pulled by a team of sled dogs on top of a snow-covered glacier (you get there by helicopter) or in Trolley on dirt training trail. Experiences are available at ports such as Juneau and Seward.

If you’re taking a land excursion before or after your trip to Denali National Park & ​​Preserve, you may want to visit the park’s resident sled dogs. Affectionately known as “bark rangers,” they are tasked with transporting supplies around the park in the winter (motorized vehicles are banned in much of the 2 million-acre park).

For cat lovers

Cat aficionados will find plenty of opportunities to photograph cats in places like Istanbul or the Old Town area of ​​Dubrovnik, Croatia, where the hairy wanderers are as popular an attraction as those once appeared as a filming location in HBO’s “Game of Thrones”.

If you are sailing on one of the Famous yachts’ In the new Edge-class ships, you can spot Bug Naked, a hairless Sphynx owned by Captain Kate McCue, who dresses Bug in a miniature captain’s uniform and pushes her around the ship in a trolley.

Or, if you’d like to show off photos of your cats wearing cat ears and sipping cocktails, or participating in themed events like cat quizzes and cat hunts, sign up Meow Meow Cruisean annual gathering at sea of ​​feline fans.

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Additional reporting by Ashley Kosciolek.