Cruising With A Service Dog....everything You Ever Wanted To Know!

[DisneyKidsDad]

Am I the only one that wants the "first unread" button back? 

[puppycanducruise]

On 12/8/2018 at 11:01 AM, rpclmc said:

Great family picture.

[DUTRAVEL]

2 hours ago, DisneyKidsDad said:

Am I the only one that wants the "first unread" button back? 

 

If you are on a computer, click the star or dot in front of the topic thread and it will take you to first unread post. I can't see a star or dot on my iPhone and so I haven't figured that out yet.

 

Dianne

[Caribbean Chris]

Nice new profile pic of world-traveler Henri, Dianne!

[DisneyKidsDad]

15 hours ago, DUTRAVEL said:

 

If you are on a computer, click the star or dot in front of the topic thread and it will take you to first unread post. I can't see a star or dot on my iPhone and so I haven't figured that out yet.

 

Dianne

Thanks...that makes things easier!!

 

[S.S. Cruisers]

17 hours ago, DUTRAVEL said:

 

If you are on a computer, click the star or dot in front of the topic thread and it will take you to first unread post. I can't see a star or dot on my iPhone and so I haven't figured that out yet.

 

Dianne

I'm on my computer, went back to Main menu, topic threads and there is no blue dot or star in front of this thread.  The rest of them have it.  It may be because I had already gone into this post and scrolled to the first unread thread.  Weird. 

[swarms]

 

Hi,

We are cruising on the MSC Divina next month with my service dog and I just got this email from their special needs dept. 
•  Medical certificate stating that the passenger requires a service dog
•  Training certificate stating that the dog is trained as a service dog
•  Veterinarian health certificate showing the dog is medically certified to be free from any transmissible disease
•  Dog’s vaccination certificate
•  Dog’s sanitary international passport

 

Are all these certificates normally asked for?  She helps me as a migrain alert dog and I can go on cruises because of her.

Any advice would be appreciated.  She has vaccination papers and proof of chip but why the other stuff?  We have cruised with her before and we never get off the ship. 

Thanks,

JMS

 

 

[HenryKisor]

First, we need to know where you are boarding this ship. The answers you receive would begin with this.

 

[swarms]

13 hours ago, HenryKisor said:

First, we need to know where you are boarding this ship. The answers you receive would begin with this.

 

She is licensed in Florida.  We will be embarking at port of Miami and returning to the same port.  We have cruised 30 times before and have been to all the islands at some time so now we just want to cruise and enjoy the ship.  We do not want to take the dog off the ship. Hope this helps.

JMS

[HenryKisor]

If the ship is going to the Bahamas you will need a pet import permit and Bahamas health certificate even if you do not get off the ship. Entering Bahamian waters triggers the need for the permit. You should also have a rabies certificate and a USDA APHIS Form 7001 international health certificate for the ship. But check at APHIS for the requirements for the other countries, even if you are not getting off the ship. Requirements change frequently.

 

[swarms]

40 minutes ago, HenryKisor said:

If the ship is going to the Bahamas you will need a pet import permit and Bahamas health certificate even if you do not get off the ship. Entering Bahamian waters triggers the need for the permit. You should also have a rabies certificate and a USDA APHIS Form 7001 international health certificate for the ship. But check at APHIS for the requirements for the other countries, even if you are not getting off the ship. Requirements change frequently.

 

ok...I guess I will go ahead and get the Form 7001 for her and anything else for each country we stop at.  Don't know about a passport but everything else I have.  Thanks for the help. 

JMS

[HenryKisor]

I wrote pet import, not passport . . . you musta  misread. You'll need a passport for yourself, of course.

 

[DUTRAVEL]

On 12/12/2018 at 6:47 PM, Caribbean Chris said:

Nice new profile pic of world-traveler Henri, Dianne!

 

Thanks Chris - you know the black dogs are hard to photograph!

[JudyShaw5]

On 7/6/2007 at 4:55 PM, wizard-of-roz said:

We travel with a service dog..she is going to be on her 6th cruise in September and 7th in November.....We've learned a lot and have some suggestions for you....

 

• Don't be hesitant to do it.....it's wonderful! And truly has made our cruising so much more fun!!!!!! 😛
• We've cruised on Celebrity/NCL/Princess/Carnival and HAL.
• The Best (most accomodating-all around) - HAL
• The Best set-up (potty-box) - NCL/Princess
• The Best crew for dog friendliness HAL/Princess
• Passenger friendliness...every ship we've ever been on. We only 1 passenger in all of our cruises who absolutely refused to eat in the Buffet area, with a dog!

If you have any questions about the ship requirements/easy way to deal with "special needs" departments/cabins/dining area/potty box/food/exercise/hotel/excursions/airplanes, etc. Ask away......

 

I don't want to bore you with all the details...so, I'll let you lead the way! 😉

 I would be very grateful to communicate with you privately regarding traveling with service animals. My address is Judy Shaw 6 at Hotmail dot com.    There are actually no spaces in the email address. 

Edited December 14, 2018 by JudyShaw5

[lonelysable]

On 12/14/2018 at 9:47 AM, swarms said:

She is licensed in Florida.  We will be embarking at port of Miami and returning to the same port.  We have cruised 30 times before and have been to all the islands at some time so now we just want to cruise and enjoy the ship.  We do not want to take the dog off the ship. Hope this helps.

JMS

Service dogs do not have to pay for permit for Bahamas contact the 

Dr. Deandra S. Delancey-Milfort BSc. DVM
Veterinary Officer
Veterinary Services Unit
Department of Agriculture

Phone: 1-242-397-7450/1

[Algebralovr]

On 12/13/2018 at 6:09 PM, swarms said:

 

Hi,

We are cruising on the MSC Divina next month with my service dog and I just got this email from their special needs dept. 
•  Medical certificate stating that the passenger requires a service dog
•  Training certificate stating that the dog is trained as a service dog
•  Veterinarian health certificate showing the dog is medically certified to be free from any transmissible disease
•  Dog’s vaccination certificate
•  Dog’s sanitary international passport

 

Are all these certificates normally asked for?  She helps me as a migrain alert dog and I can go on cruises because of her.

Any advice would be appreciated.  She has vaccination papers and proof of chip but why the other stuff?  We have cruised with her before and we never get off the ship. 

Thanks,

JMS

 

 

MSC is an European Line, and the EU issues pet passports.  I’m guessing that the person in special needs is used to EU citizens having them.  

[Caribbean Chris]

On 12/15/2018 at 4:38 PM, Algebralovr said:

MSC is an European Line, and the EU issues pet passports.  I’m guessing that the person in special needs is used to EU citizens having them.  

 

That was my thought, too, when I read that list.

 

As far as a medical certificate stating that a passenger requires a service dog, that might be a European line’s custom, but there is no such “Certificate” existing in the United States, nor required under the ADA as a condition of public access. I always provide cruise lines with my dog’s ID issued by her training organization, which has both of our photos, so that would have to suffice if I cruised MSC.

[SargassoPirate]

Quite a discussion on the Royal Caribbean thread about people gaming the system so that they can bring Fluffy the Lap Dog on board.  I hope some of you that depend on real service dogs can chime in and provide some good information.  People who abuse the system make it more difficult for folks with real needs.

 

I hope

[GUT2407]

6 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

Quite a discussion on the Royal Caribbean thread about people gaming the system so that they can bring Fluffy the Lap Dog on board.  I hope some of you that depend on real service dogs can chime in and provide some good information.  People who abuse the system make it more difficult for folks with real needs.

 

I hope

What makes it even harder is people who think they are entitled to say if my dog is a service dog or not

[HenryKisor]

I read that entire thread. It is useful to us because it reminds us of the abysmal ignorance most people have about service dogs and the laws about them, and the airheaded "common sense" solutions to the problem of fake service dogs.

[wizard-of-roz]

Hello My Darlings, well, we're home from our 15 day Hawaii cruise onboard the Emerald Princess.  Registration was easy, finding the potty box.....not so much:  I approached "Guest Services" upon arrival and the gentleman behind the desk, "Martin" was not very happy to see me or Horton.  When I asked where the Potty Box had been placed he told me he had to find a maintenance person to help me.  I REMAINED CALM......Well, "calm" for me.  I said, "my dog needs to use the box and I need to know where it has been placed ASAP"!  Mind you, I had already checked my veranda, the stairwell near my cabin a crew closet near our cabin, all to no avail.

 

Martin was becoming more and more frustrated and I became more and more insistent.  I asked for the Hotel Manager and was directed to a Chief Engineer who was so frazzled that I thought she was going to have a major stroke or melt-down right in front of me.  She kept telling me that she was very, very busy and was dealing with many issues.  I had taken Horton to the bathroom before we entered the dock so I knew he was okay, but they didn't need to know that!

 

The Engineer showed me where a 3x3 box had been placed under a set of stairs, outside on deck 6 forward [mind you, my cabin was on Deck 12 Aft.]  I had to bend over to approach the box and Horton had no room to do his business, without missing the box.  WHAT A JOKE!  I told her this was unacceptable!

 

I walked back to Guest Services [getting angrier and angrier with each succeeding step].  I asked Martin if he's ever heard of "Cruise Critic".....I told him that I was going to write in my blog about what Princess had provided for my Service Dog.....I suggested that he get on the computer and read some of the posts.  IT WORKED......He actually excused himself, went on the computer, came back to me and said that he would make sure that a larger box be provided and that it would be moved to the stairwell directly around the corner from my cabin.  Hallelujah!  Cruise Critic actually carried some weight on this occasion.  THANK YOU!

 

The box was placed in the stairwell, within the hour and was perfect for the rest of a wonderful and restful journey. 

 

Horton was well loved and appreciated by all.  Only once did I encounter someone who seemed very "put-out" by the presence of my beautiful boy.  There was a small poodle also onboard, who was pushed around in a baby carriage [looking absolutely ridiculous].  The dog would bark and growl at Horton when he saw him, acting like a nervous, hyper embarrassment when we were in the same area.  The owners would avoid us the entire 2 weeks.......I don't blame them.....their dog looked very silly and certainly not well-trained in it's response to a very professional and well behaved Horton.

 

I loved the pictures that were posted about President Bush's dog, "Sully", what a wonderful dog.  He brought great happiness to Mr. Bush at the end of his life.  The pure joy that walking and traveling with a Service Dog brings to our lives can't be duplicated in any way, shape or form.  As I grow older and my needs for Horton change and evolve, I realize how much peace and calmness he brings to me by just being present in my life!  I'm so thankful for everyday that Horton Jeffrey is with me! 

 

Judy, please feel free to ask your good questions of ALL of us.  We work together as a wonderful resource to each other in the way that we support and help one another.  Please ask away on the boards.

 

REMINDER:  Customs agents will ask to see the ORIGINAL copies of your dogs documentation so remember to make copies for the ship's registration but keep the originals for the customs agents.

[puppycanducruise]

Glad you and Horton had a good cruise.

Sorry you  had to work so hard to make others do their job properly.

[Caribbean Chris]

Roz is back!!! We missed you.

 

So sorry Princess gave you stress on embarkation day. Our dogs' boxes seem to be an afterthought for some of the cruise lines. I'm imagining how these folks would feel if they ever needed to use the bathroom after boarding, and were told maintenance would have to be involved first, or "I'm very very busy right now." And if eventually they were sent to an inadequate relief facility. I'm glad it worked out because you persisted.

 

How did the Hawaiian entry formalities work out this time? 

[Cruisefanatic71]

On 12/8/2018 at 11:04 AM, Ragoczy said:

We got on the 29th. 🙂 Probably have you to thank for them offering to put it on the balcony without having to ask. Thanks!

 

 

I was on the Liberty over Thanksgiving. When we returned we went and picked up my daughters service dog. We are avid cruisers and Cruise Carnival most of the time..We just booked a Christmas Cruise for next year. It's a 4day cruise on the Liberty to the Bahamas. We booked an 2 interior rooms but was wondering what the best type of room would be best for us as well as our service dog. My daughters dog is a Goldendoodle. He weighs in at about 65lbs at this moment. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. 

 

[wizard-of-roz]

12 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

Glad you and Horton had a good cruise.

Sorry you  had to work so hard to make others do their job properly.

Thank you so much.  It's a very simple issue made more difficult by Princess being very stubborn about placing the box directly on our veranda.  Their claims that it is not possible to put the box [easily] on our own private veranda is NOT VALID.....since other cruise lines do this very thing!