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Are small dogs allowed on cruise ships?

While most cruise ships have a no-pets policy, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Certain cruise lines allow small dogs on board, albeit with specific weight and size limitations. One example is Cunard Line, which permits small dogs on its Queen Mary 2 ocean liner.



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Unfortunately, pets and other animals are not allowed on board any ships, unless they are service animals or certified therapy dogs.

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Which Ships Offer Pet-Friendly Cruises? When it comes to pet-friendly cruises, there's only one ship: Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (QM2). On certain transatlantic sailings between New York and Southampton, and vice versa, you can bring your dog or cat. That doesn't mean your pet will be able to snuggle with you in your cabin.

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Royal Caribbean International welcomes service dogs on all ships. * Please note we do not accept pets. A service dog is defined as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Service dogs are not considered pets.

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Pets are accepted on all Transatlantic crossings, except the first and last crossings of the year. Availability is limited, so plan to book your cruise well in advance. The cost of transportation will be given to you at the time you make your own booking but will likely range between $800 and $1,000 USD.

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Fortunately, most cruise lines have areas designated as service dog “relief boxes.” The service dog owner can request a service dog relief “box.” This box is typically filled with mulch, sod, wood shavings, or faux grass and kept in a private service area.

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The only commercial ship that travels to Europe from the continental United States is the Queen Mary 2. As this type of travel is in much demand, reservations are normally made over a year in advance. Your pet will travel in a kennel supervised by a full time pet attendant.

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Norwegian Cruise Line -Animals of any kind, except service animals, are not allowed on board. Royal Caribbean International – Royal Caribbean International welcomes service dogs on all ships. They do not accept pets.

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Don't fret! Many people bring their dogs with them (even on vacation) in the Caribbean. Whether you want to island hop via air or sea, there are plenty of options to choose from.

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We are sorry but pets are not permitted onboard. Carnival Cruise Line only permits service/working dogs on board our ships. Therapy/companion or service dogs in training are not permitted onboard.

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Situations such as rough waves or strong currents can make the water too dangerous for your dog. Be on the lookout for dangerous sea animals, like stingrays and jellyfish, that could be near the shore. Avoid hot sand. Especially midday, sand can get blisteringly hot and can burn your dog's paw pads.

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Drug dogs are used at some cruise ports, but not all. They are most commonly seen at ports in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia, but in Europe and Asia, they don't tend to be used very often. Typically sniffer dogs don't tend to go near passengers though, they are more used for luggage.

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Each country has its own requirements and means of properly checking in. Some of the requirements can take months to complete. A few timely requirements include a Rabies Titer Test (results can take weeks), Lyme/Lepto vaccines (two shots 2-3 weeks apart), and import permits.

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You probably have a plan for your own passport, but your animal companion needs one too. All pets traveling to and from the United States need a passport.

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Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is the only cruise line to date that permits dogs and cats (sorry reptile, pot-bellied pig, and hedgehog lovers, your time hasn't quite arrived) to travel on their transatlantic sail between New York and Southampton.

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Pet Passports for European Union (EU) Countries. Cats, dogs and ferrets can travel freely between most EU countries without documentation if they have what is called the EU PET PASSPORT that is issued by veterinarians within the EU.

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