Navigator a disappointment- dogs & other issues

We recently did an Oasis cruise followed by an 8 day Navigator cruise. Was very interested to note the differences moving from one ship directly to another. We have cruised on Navigator several times and love the ship. This time we were disappointed. Had 3 issues that weren't that big, but were irritating.

Dogs on Navigator: We were in Chops and the table next to us had a dog in the ladies lap eating from the table. Dog was in clothes and a diaper with a toy in its mouth. A small dog, but sure made me wonder if a dog had previously been at our table and how well it was cleaned. The dog was in the CL and DL and just negatively affected our experience and many others. Then there was a loose dog on the promenade in the cafe just running around licking folks. Next time we saw it the same dog was in a ladies lap at the table. This was a basset hound size dog. I love my pets, but I don't love cruising with other folks pets and I sure don't think they should be at the tables or loose. Then we went to the main dining room for a salad at lunch one day. Low and behold a dog was seated at the table beside us. The owners had a difficult time getting the dog to settle down. We decided to move on. I know, I know before you jump on me re service dogs. These dogs did not act trained as service dogs. Just curious if others feel as I do about dogs at the table.

Bolera bar: Ordered a margarita during the time you can get 3 drinks if Diamond or above. We have always gone to Bolera for margaritas including the week before. Navigator bartender said we had to go to the Diamond Lounge or CL for a drink. He couldn't serve. What??? We didn't ask for anything but a standard margarita. The cheap kind with nothing special in it. Hard to understand why he wouldn't have been trained to understand.

Vintages: Went in to use our buy 1 glass of wine and get one glass free. Both hubby and I had saved this as we ALWAYS use both ours at the same time and get a nice bottle of wine for 1/2 price. A previous sommelier on Navigator suggested we do this. Have done it on every cruise since and there have been a lot of them. We are Diamond Plus. This bartender looked at us like we were crazy and said we couldn't do that. A glass of wine is typically 5 - 6 oz pour, especially on the expensive ones. A bottle of wine has 25 oz. She missed a nice tip.

Loved our Oasis cruise. Will rethink cruising on Navigator. Still loyal to Royal, but will make certain we don't eat next to a dog going forward. Understand RC has to allow "service dogs" though anyone can order the certificate from the internet and it is getting abused. I have nothing against a true service dog that is trained and behaves as a service dog. I do not believe RC should allow dogs at the tables in laps and I certainly think a service dog should be on a leash to adequately provide "the necessary service."

I do wish rules were consistent between the different RC ships. I also wish Navigator was like it was on our numerous previous cruises.

Agree with you about the dog. We saw the same thing on Allure in the MDR. I had the same thought about who was at my table before or who had the misfortune to sit at their table next. I get service dogs but they do not need to be on a lap in a dining venue. Also saw the same dog in the lap of someone else in the casino . . .

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With regard to the Margarita, I've seen it both ways. Sometimes a bar will give us one on the vouchers, sometimes not. Not unusual, and I don't hassle it.

I don't know why you are going to rethink your future cruise on the Navigator.

As you said your previous 3 cruises on her were great. The issues that you described are not ship specific and could occur on any ship on any given week.

It's one thing to see a well behaved service dog on the floor next to a passenger but on someone's lap in the MDR . . . yuk! It sounds disgusting! I would ask for another table if I saw that!

I hope you reported your thoughts about this on your post-cruise survey.

just curious was it a seeing eye dog? I've seen more and more of these service dogs everywhere certified as "emotional" service dogs. It makes their owners happy. I get it my dogs make me happy too....just want to find out how to make them my service dog. would love to cruise with them.

just curious was it a seeing eye dog? I've seen more and more of these service dogs everywhere certified as "emotional" service dogs. It makes their owners happy. I get it my dogs make me happy too....just want to find out how to make them my service dog. would love to cruise with them.

From what I understand, you just have to declare them a service animal:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentWithHero.do?pagename=service_animals

The lines are terrified to tell someone there dog isn't a service dog, and to a degree I understand why.

Nope. I don't really care about dogs. I like dogs, but it doesn't bother me one way or another if they are onboard.

Margaritas are not on the cocktail menu for the DL or CL, so it is not surprising me to that you were not able to use your vouchers for them.

Same thing with the buy 1 get 1 free wine by the glass. That is what the coupon is for. It is nice that you were able to get them to discount a bottle for you previously.

I'm sorry you were disappointed. And I understand why you would be. But if they are going to be consistent, then it should be the same rules on each ship.

There were many things that we used to receive that made us feel special. We don't seem to really get them anymore, but we also understand that the ships and service have changed. We have lowered our expectations accordingly. If we do receive a nice gesture, we are both surprised and delighted. :)

 

 

Dogs on Navigator: We were in Chops and the table next to us had a dog in the ladies lap eating from the table. Dog was in clothes and a diaper with a toy in its mouth. A small dog, but sure made me wonder if a dog had previously been at our table and how well it was cleaned. The dog was in the CL and DL and just negatively affected our experience and many others. Then there was a loose dog on the promenade in the cafe just running around licking folks. Next time we saw it the same dog was in a ladies lap at the table. This was a basset hound size dog. I love my pets, but I don't love cruising with other folks pets and I sure don't think they should be at the tables or loose. Then we went to the main dining room for a salad at lunch one day. Low and behold a dog was seated at the table beside us. The owners had a difficult time getting the dog to settle down. We decided to move on. I know, I know before you jump on me re service dogs. These dogs did not act trained as service dogs. Just curious if others feel as I do about dogs at the table.

 

Agreed. People who dress dogs like baby dolls and feed them from the table and can't stand to be on vacation without their furbaby should speak to qualified counselors. There is something wrong with that behavior. Those are not service dogs.

just curious was it a seeing eye dog? I've seen more and more of these service dogs everywhere certified as "emotional" service dogs. It makes their owners happy. I get it my dogs make me happy too....just want to find out how to make them my service dog. would love to cruise with them.

Service dogs deal with more than just blindness. A service dog is any dog that's trained to mitigate a life-altering disability. This can be blindness, yes, but it can also be mobility issues, hearing problems, PTSD, severe diabetes, seizures, severe migraines, and so on.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act FAQ (http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html), a service dog may only be excluded when it:

- Fundamentally alters the nature of a service or program (at a zoo, service dogs are admitted generally but can be restricted from going near certain animal exhibits)

- ISN'T UNDER CONTROL - must be leashed unless the dog's task requires it to be off-leash, may bark once if provoked or to alert the handler but not continually, etc.

- Isn't housebroken

And service dogs are not required to be permitted on chairs or to be fed at the table. A restaurant can CHOOSE to allow this, like some doggie cafes do on their patios, but otherwise, a handler cannot assume that they have the right to let their dog on the chair or table or to feed their dog in a restaurant. The general rule is that you ONLY feed your dog at home or in your room. NEVER out in public.

So there were two failures here: The staff should have told the handler to control the dog or remove the dog from the MDR. And the owner was either ill-prepared or not legitimately in need of a service dog and just wanted to carry pookie with them.

This is becoming a huge problem. Yes, people with disabilities are discovering that they, too, qualify for service dogs, so you're going to see more service dogs out and about. I didn't know I qualified until last October, but I haven't left my house without my dog since then. We enrolled in a training class and have taken all sorts of steps, including frequently bathing the dog so he's clean, working on training, and carrying a full cleaning and care kit.

Of course, this also means that you'll see jerks who just want their precious pookie and think it's fun can buy a vest on amazon and "claim" that their dog is certified*. And because businesses are terrified of lawsuits, they're going to be more inclined to let anyone in, even with an ill-behaved, untrained, stinky dog, rather than asking the questions they're legally allowed to ask and then policing the dogs with an expectation of good behavior.

I'm going to be cruising with my service dog next March. I'll either be bringing my near-retirement-age dog, who's extraordinarily well behaved but old and easily tired, or I'll be bringing my puppy, who'll be just a year old. I will NOT be bringing the puppy if he's not fully trained or at risk at all of being a disruption on the cruise. That's rude to other passengers and it presents a bad example of a service dog handler team to others.

* Hint: The ADA DOES NOT REQUIRE CERTIFICATION. This would be an unreasonable hindrance for disabled people who can't afford or acquire certification (unless you want to pay for it with your taxes?) so all those fake places online that offer certification? They're scams. Says so right here: http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html#cert

Wow, I can't believe there isn't special certification required to bring a dog on the ship. To the poster above. It seems you have a great understanding and respect of the needs of other passengers. I would be upset if I have to deal with a barking or unruly dog. And Now that I read that they shouldn't be eating at the table I would have complained to see if they would address the person.

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A true, trained service or emotional support dog will sit or lay quietly on the floor. Not be at the table. It is truly sad that there are people that take advantage of this.

Agreed. People who dress dogs like baby dolls and feed them from the table and can't stand to be on vacation without their furbaby should speak to qualified counselors. There is something wrong with that behavior. Those are not service dogs.

Agreed. Service animals are one thing since they actually help people with certain real problems. People who can't leave their pets at home because they will miss them or the pets will stress out is just stupid. I doubt that even a very well qualified therapist could help them. As for the pet eating off of the table, that is just gross. I would have reported it since I think it is supposed to happen. Unbelievable that people take advantage of a law that is there to help people who really need it. What is wrong with these selfish self centered people?

A true, trained service or emotional support dog will sit or lay quietly on the floor. Not be at the table. It is truly sad that there are people that take advantage of this.

I agree 100%.

Agreed. Service animals are one thing since they actually help people with certain real problems. People who can't leave their pets at home because they will miss them or the pets will stress out is just stupid. I doubt that even a very well qualified therapist could help them. As for the pet eating off of the table, that is just gross. I would have reported it since I think it is supposed to happen. Unbelievable that people take advantage of a law that is there to help people who really need it. What is wrong with these selfish self centered people?

What I find incredible, from half way around the world, is that the law really prohibits requiring any proof that it IS a service animal.

In my state (Colorado) we are technically not allowed to have non-service animals inside public establishments, including restaurants. However, the last several years there has been a cultural shift where that rule is flouted and ignored. People in Colorado, especially in Boulder where I live, take their dogs everywhere, and I see at least one dog in the grocery store every time I go, and there are always several dogs on restaurant patios, even though the law says you can't even allow them on the patios if you serve food there.

As long as the dogs are well behaved, sit still at their owners feet, don't get riled up by other dogs and don't beg for food from tables, everyone, and I mean everyone, completely ignores the "no dogs" rule. I thought it was weird at first, but have gotten so used to it that even I don't bat an eye, and im not a huge dog fan. I like them well enough, I even own one, but I wouldn't take it to the store, or a restaurant, and certainly not a cruise; I think that's taking it a bit too far. And sitting in your lap while you eat? Super gross.

What I find incredible, from half way around the world, is that the law really prohibits requiring any proof that it IS a service animal.

Completely agree. Because of this people take advantage of it. This country has become so sue happy that everyone is afraid of being sued.

Completely agree. Because of this people take advantage of it. This country has become so sue happy that everyone is afraid of being sued.

But surely the ADA could say they need to be certified by a registered agency.

It doesn't impact me but it just seems crazy.

just curious was it a seeing eye dog? I've seen more and more of these service dogs everywhere certified as "emotional" service dogs. It makes their owners happy. I get it my dogs make me happy too....just want to find out how to make them my service dog. would love to cruise with them.

You can just buy and fake this paperwork in the internet. As in the US officials e.g. from ships and airlines are not allowed to ask what specific issue the person with the dog has due to discrimination law you can benefit from it without really needing a service dog. Ridiculous, does not work like this in any Europe country.

I agree all issues in this thread are not ship related.

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We have 5 dogs and we love and miss them when we are on vacation. Our youngest puppy (just over 2 yrs old) is very aware when I have a kidney stone or my blood sugar is off or even if I am sick. How or why I don't know, we haven't done any formal diabetes training with him but I have thought about it.

That all being said.... there is NO way I would want to bring him or any of my other dogs on a cruise! I'm a big girl and know what I should and shouldn't eat, what I feel like when my sugars are too high or too low etc etc

I agree with what others have said about a 'service dog'. They are well trained and sit at the owners feet, so not walk around and lick people and do not eat from the table!! Emotional Pets do serve a purpose but they are supposed to be trained properly as well!

5 dogs, 1 cat and at times up to 10 puppies and we do not eat in front of them!!

We have 5 dogs and we love and miss them when we are on vacation. Our youngest puppy (just over 2 yrs old) is very aware when I have a kidney stone or my blood sugar is off or even if I am sick. How or why I don't know, we haven't done any formal diabetes training with him but I have thought about it.

 

That all being said.... there is NO way I would want to bring him or any of my other dogs on a cruise! I'm a big girl and know what I should and shouldn't eat, what I feel like when my sugars are too high or too low etc etc

 

I agree with what others have said about a 'service dog'. They are well trained and sit at the owners feet, so not walk around and lick people and do not eat from the table!! Emotional Pets do serve a purpose but they are supposed to be trained properly as well!

 

5 dogs, 1 cat and at times up to 10 puppies and we do not eat in front of them!!

Even more, but eat in front of them, they quickly get taught to lay down and wait.

They get fed after we do, if they don't behave they wait even longer.

We just got off the Indy TA and there was a dog there, on a leash. One day we were sunbathing on deck 12 when the couple with the dog walked by. The dog relieved itself just near the running track. The lady walked off with dog and the man stood by, nonchalantly. Eventually the lady came back. I thought she had gone to get something to clear up but no they both walked away. A couple of minutes later a crew member came and wiped up the wee and squirted what I assume to be disinfectant on the deck.

I thought this was gross and lots of people were walking around in bare feet.

Don't ever go to France ( or most places in Europe) where dogs in restaurants and sitting at tables is perfectly normal [emoji190].

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Due to a medical problem I take blood thinners, last thing I want to happen on my vacation is worry about being bitten/scratch by a dog. I have no problem with "real service dogs", but the fake ones concerns me.