Lulu73

Is there an advantage of booking on board?

Yeah. My dog, because of his size, has 2 lower kennels. He’s 60lbs. And they said my cat will require 2 upper kennels. One for him, and one for his litter box. But flying them (and I may still need to fly my cat) is super expensive too. I really like the idea of walking up to the ship with them, and leaving the ship with them. Seems like less opportunity for things to go wrong, or for them to be lost or end up at the wrong destination. That’s kind of the whole point of me going on the QM2 instead of flying. I’m already thinking I should book my return to the US, which won’t be until 2025. I appreciate your feedback on this. It’s a lot to figure out, and Cunard doesn’t want to answer any questions at all about the pets. Which I get is probably because they don’t want to be held liable if we can’t get on, and also it is complicated and whether we have the proper paperwork and such isn’t their ultimate decision.

Find a way to bungee cord my cat’s carrier to my rolling suitcase. (Edit) although my cat doesn’t even have a kennel spot yet. He is on the waiting list. He might have to be flown cargo separately.

Also, I’m planning on renting a car in Wisconsin and driving to New York with my luggage and pets. So I’m thinking I take my dog to the vet for the tapeworm treatment the day before I leave. And drive and drive, stay overnight somewhere, drive and drive, stay overnight somewhere close to where the QM2 departs, return the car, and take a taxi service or something from the car rental place to where the QM2 departs. Does this sound like a decent plan? (Edit) I figure I will take one large rolling suitcase and a large bag that I can wear as a backpack. My cat will be in a carrier. My dog will be on a leash. I will ship whatever else I think I am going to need.

My cat was vaccinated February 15th of this year. And the vet office says he is fine to go to the UK. My dog…..I have to double check. He is up-to-date according to US standards…..but the person I’m working with at the vet office says he will need to be re-vaccinated before we leave. (Maybe because there were lapses in coverage or something….I’m not sure) Which will be earlier than when he is due by US standards. She said it wouldn’t be harmful to him to be revaccinated early, even though he doesn’t need it yet. @gkerlin Have you made this trip before? (Edit) I just found out I was accepted to the grad school a few weeks ago…so there is a lot to figure out between now and July. Yikes.

Gherkin, thank you so much for the info. My vet is USDA certified, but the office manager is kind of dealing with the timeline and organizing everything. They have done pet certificates before, but I don’t think it is a frequent thing, and I think I’m the first person they have dealt with who is taking a boat over. But I will look into what you are saying about the EU tapeworm thing. It’s possible I am misunderstanding what the office manager was saying. And I’ll double check on the USDA certification thing. Thank you you again! It’s a lot to figure out, (a lot of moving parts to coordinate) and I’d hate to get to the port and have them not let me on!! (Edit) Double-checked and my vet IS USDA certified.

Thanks Host Hattie. That’s a really helpful thread. Looks like I will be fine with just the GB health certificate.

Hello, I’m not sure if this is the appropriate forum to ask this question. I’m taking the QM2 from NY to Southhampton in July (with my pets). I’m relocating to the UK for a couple of years for school. Cunard sent both the EU Health Certificate form, and the GB Health Certificate form. Does anyone know if I need to have them both filled out, or just the GB one? I’m not sure why they included the EU one. And they don’t want to answer any questions. My vet is concerned because I think there is more leeway with the tapeworm treatment timing for the GB health certificate than there is with the EU one. Thanks in advance.