PopeyeDaSailor

On 1/24/2019 at 9:38 AM, tallnthensome said:

Ask yourself if you want to pay 40% more to see people in costumes .... or just for a one year old at that. You’ll be surrounded by kids your whole cruise. Don’t waste your money on Disney. 

This.  I have a 12 and a 6 year old and we're sailing on Symphony this May.  I looked into Disney but a room with a standard balcony was like $7,700 for a week.  For that money you can get a Grand Suite on RCCL and all the upgrades that come with it.  Which is exactly what we did.  I also booked during a "Kids Sail Free" promotion and our Grand Suite ended up costing $5,000 for the week!  $2,200 less than a Disney cruise for a bigger room, all the Suite benefits plus the kids programs of RCCL.

No brainer, considering we can take our kids to Disney world if they want to see Mickey which we have done multiple times since my parents are retired right near Disney world.

I'm cruising with my 12 and 6 year old this May.  I'm bringing a laptop loaded with games (plus two tablets loaded with games).  My laptop has a great video card in it and I've got lots of LEGO games on it to play plus two wireless XBOX controllers.  We are staying in a suite so we already have VOOM for everyone.  I'm planning on hooking the laptop via the HDMI cable to one of the TV's and letting them play all the games they want that way.  They will be in kids club programs all day unless we're taking an excursion, or with us.  I wish RCCL would make the seapass cards like Disney does their wristbands at Disneyworld where you can tell them to turn off purchasing on the certain child cards.  Some here have said this is an option, if so we will be using it.

Does RCCL associate a PIN with your seapass card like Disney does with the wristbands?  That would eliminate people from taking others cards.

By personal choice I would never want to get off the ship and leave a child that young alone, especially if I'm going to another country. 

5 hours ago, brillohead said:

That's just it, though --- nobody here is SUPPORTING bringing untrained fluffy on a cruise.  

ESAs and pets aren't allowed on new reservations.  Service dogs will always be allowed under US law and just out of common decency.

Saying ALL dogs should be banned is denying people the right to have their true service animal with them on the ship.  If you think blind people or other handicapped people shouldn't be allowed to cruise, you're just a monster.

 

I don't understand any points in your quoted threads like Papaflamingo said ... I never said anything about Service dogs just the self absorbed A holes that need to bring fluffy everywhere with them. 

5 hours ago, brillohead said:

 

Service dogs aren't pets. Period.

Emotional support dogs aren't service animals.  Period.

LOL, so now it's my fault I didn't keep my child away from this dog that shouldn't be in the store in the first place?  You're laughable.  First off my child was STANDING in line with me waiting to check out while this lady walked up and stopped with her dog.  Was I supposed to leave the check out line because this self absorbed A hole wanted to bring her dog into a store? 

8 minutes ago, brillohead said:

 

Thanks for clearing all those service dog questions up that none of us had.  Now back to the topic of people bringing untrained fluffy on the cruise.

7 hours ago, Zee890 said:

I have never felt the need to respond to anything on here before, but goodness, what a callous thread.

 

For those that want to be the pet police - why? How is something so trivial truly impacting you?  There just seems to be a lot of holier than thou, animal haters on this board.

 

I have always felt people that are anti pet lack empathy/compassion.

 

For the record - I think it is irresponsible to bring a pet on a cruise. I feel like they would just be nervous and unhappy. But the pitchfork mentality by all the "Karens" in this thread is terrible. Loudly call people out and shame them? Wow. I would never want to interact with you if that's how you handle yourself (on vacation, no less).

 

To the person that said you went holiday shopping and saw a couple with their dog in a mall. How was that distasteful? I love seeing people out and about with their pets - shows that they care.

 

Worst of all, many of you seem to be older and criticizing the "snowflake/millenial" generation,  but have no problem posting strangers photos on a public forum? A. It is truly a heinous, invasive violation of someone's privacy. Whether you agree with their life choices or not. B. If caught, you can be persecuted.

 

Also, I have no dog (pun intended) in this fight - but again criticizing people that have emotional therapy animals.. have you seen suicide rates? I'm sure you all are the same people that are heartbroken when someone dies of suicide and comment on how tragic it is. If an animal is a calming presence for someone that is dealing with anxiety or BPD or another mental illness that you can not visually see, even if you don't believe in it's effectiveness, what's it to you? 

 

Basically, all you 'shame them/speak to the manager' people - gain a soul. I'm not saying you have to agree and again I do not think it is responsible to bring pets on a ship, but chances are your partner's mouth or that guard rail you touched or a toilet seat have more germs than an interaction with a dog. Put that into perspective. 

 

Edited to add: it would be one thing if this were a completely out of hand problem. I do not agree with people masquerading their dogs as service animals, but if they don't claim it to be and the ship has allowed them, so be it. But 4 out of upwards of 3000 guests is the vast minority because the rest of us are sensible not to bring pets on board. But for how minor it is in the scheme of things in life, why be so negative?

Wow.  First off you're assuming people that don't want to see an animal on a cruise automatically are "animal haters" and lack empathy/compassion.  I guarantee most of the people that are against non service animals on cruises have pets at home and love animals.  To assume someone that spent thousands on a cruise doesn't want to have to deal with a "pet" on a cruise but can still love dogs isn't a stretch.  Now imagine if everyone that starts to take a cruise decides they want to bring their dog along?  Imagine the chaos of thousands of dogs on a boat?  How about we start to bring all our pets?  Maybe RCCL can start providing litter boxes for cats in the rooms?  This is the reason why businesses make rules about this.  Why do you think major hotel chains don't allow pets?  This is why places like Walmart, Lowes and RCCL are specifying polices to deal with this.  My kids can't bring peanut butter to school anymore because ONE kid in the school is allergic to peanuts.  So imagine staying in a room that a dog/cat had stayed in and suddenly your cruise is ruined because your allergies kick in.

Why do you think they don't allow children under 16 into the Solarium on ships?  Should I claim that my daughter gives me "emotional" support and just bring her in anyhow? 

  It was me that mentioned seeing people strolling through the mall with their pet and you might think it's "great" because these people love their animal but I also had to deal with my 4 year old daughter being afraid of this dog as we were walking into Target (which is attached to our mall).  The dog was on a leash but the owner was busy talking to someone else and didn't see their dog put it's nose right into my daughters face (they were eye level with each other).  I finally said to the woman, "please get your dog away from my daughter it's scaring her."  Now this was a dog with no vest, wagging it's tail and didn't look trained at all.  I'm sorry but leave fluffy at home.

  I'm not sure when in society this became the norm but when I grew up you didn't bring dogs into public places unless they were a service animal that was well trained. 

As far as "shaming" people on a cruise or in public I couldn't care less about their "pet".   The only time I would ever say something to one of these owners is when their pet starts to invade my person space or the space of my family like the dog at the mall did to my daughter.  If I drop $6K on a cruise the last thing I want is to hear fluffy barking all night.

Does this mean I hate pets?  Absolutely not, I love dogs (not a cat person).

8 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

If you mean me....

 

defend8n people from others who think hey have the right to decide what is and isn’t a true service dog, by appearance. Same as idiots that think the6 can urge if a disability is “genie” or not on appearance.

 

And yes I have a dog (several) in fact I have had dogs all my life, including breeding, showing, training and judging, one of my current dogs is a service dog, I have never taken him on a cruise, to be frank I’m not convinced that a cruise ship is a great location for a dog.

 

what services does e perform, he pics things up and brings them to my wheelchair, he warns if I’m about to pass out and he is a eat hearing alert do

The simple fix that would put an end to all of this would be for RCCL to mandate that any service pet wear a service vest while in public areas of the ship.  But anyone can buy a "service vest" on Amazon. 

I still think that any owner bringing a service animal on board should require a medical clearance form but again this is only MY opinion (I don't want to start that debate again).

Oh know, someone has ripped this band-aid open again!

Until the cruise-line takes this serious it's only going to be abused.

On 1/13/2019 at 7:10 AM, blusun said:

Following along - we are on the same trip April 6th, was also thinking of the same Bodden Fun and Sun tour.

Have a great time!

Same here.  We're on May 11th almost same itinerary except we hit Cococay instead of Nassau . 

We're bringing our two kids and staying in a Grand Suite so I'm loving this review.  I haven't been on a Cruise since 2002 (pre-kids) so this should be fun!

Nick, you have to wear your yellow crocs with the tux at least ONCE!  Please?

I want to cruise with you, you look like a blast!

On 12/26/2018 at 3:00 AM, roadburner said:

Saw three last week (& the one before) on Navigator that seemed true service dogs. Well trained and NOT in MDR or in lounges that I saw. Only observed when they appeared to be truely “working”.

I don't care where a true Service animal is with their owner.  If someone is in need of the Service animal then of course they will be seen in the MDR or lounges.  But a true Service animal will simply be by the side of their owner, not sitting in a stroller or anywhere near the food on the table.  They will be trained like that old lab that just lays there and doesn't move unless instructed.  That is what their training will enforce. 

And people should know that a Service animal should never be approached, petted without the handlers approval.  Even then they shouldn't be approached because they are working.

4 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

But what gives YOU the right to decide which dog is a genuine service dog or not.

Hence this goes back to my post about requiring medical clearance to bring the animal.  I know Ragoczy disagreed with me, and this his right, but it would eliminate (or make it difficult) for people to game the system.  I'm not asking you to hand over your medical records just get a note from a doctor (or have some type of certificate you can keep) that you have to show the cruise line.  That way the cruise knows why the service dog is on board.

Again, just my 2 cents.

21 minutes ago, lovelife said:

While walking around an outside deck recently, a dog being walked in front of us stopped and dumped a load in the middle of the floor.  The woman leading it turned around and watched and then pulled the dog along with her, leaving the mess.

What?  I would have taken out my phone and videoed the dog's mess, woman and immediately called a crew member.  That's insane.  Both should have been removed and barred for life.  I could see the dog having and accident but CLEAN IT UP.

It's amazing how lax we have become with animals.  I was Christmas shopping and passed a couple just walking their dog through the mall.  No vest, nothing just out with fluffy.

Ragoczy let's start over (olive branch).  I get why you would be upset over someone questioning your service dog.  I'm, sure it stinks what you and your wife have to go through.

I thought my cruise rules made common sense and I was suggesting them to make it clear to other passengers that the animals was indeed a service animal and not to be bothered thus allowing you to not be harassed.  Those rules would also make it difficult to those that abuse the service animal rules from falsely bringing animals on board. 

My wife is a vet and she deals with trainers that train service dogs.  Those trainers are not happy when people abuse the service dog definition in public because it undermines their work.

32 minutes ago, Ragoczy said:

I'm arguing because of what I have to deal with on a daily basis due to crap like your suggestions. I read the original post I replied to and it clearly laid out what the poster thought were things worth loudly confronting a handler over, and then I laid out exactly how he wasmisinformed on several of them, which would result in those following the advice to loudly confront legitimate handlers. Don't do it.

I work in IT also, don't pull an appeal to authority logical fallacy here. Your hypothetical situations are entirely meaningless. It is up to the person with a disability to gauge the risk and necessity of disclosing their medical information to who THEY choose, not who you think they should to meet your made up situations. Many do, and many have conditions that are private, personal, and do not require medical intervention, so should not have to disclose their private information to strangers.

It does not matter what you would welcome, as you're not the one affected. Leave people alone.

[Edited to correct that I had conflated this with the original post I responded to.]

 

Man you're bitter, cheer up.

LOL at half your post.  Yeah it's up to the person to disclose and gauge risk, until someone sues the cruise line because a doctor mistreated them.  I don't care what you private or personal condition is, if it requires a service animal then it should require medical conditions be handed over to the ship "stranger" or as we call him doctor.  You're sailing at sea with limited access to medical treatment and you're complaining about informing the ship's doctor of your condition that requires you to have an animal nearby?  That's silly. 

This whole thread was about people abusing the use of "dogs" to bring them on a cruise, not an attack on your service dog.  I never once said to "question or confront handlers" but laid out a logical set of things that would make a service dog on a cruise clearly spelled out.  It's you that go your panties in a bunch over three simple easy things to do.  If your animals has a vest on then it's pretty clear it's a service dog and anyone that questions that would be stupid.

So as Sergeant Hulka said in Stripes .... "LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS".

21 minutes ago, Ragoczy said:

 

Fake service dogs are far more of a problem, and a real danger, to legit teams than they ever will be to you.

 

There are already easy rules: If the dog causes a problem in a public space. If it is barking, lunging, urinating, defecating, etc. It can be removed. That's the law.

 

Your "easy" rules, create more hoops and difficulties for the disabled to jump through before they can exercise the simple, civil right of going out in public. 

No one should have to turn their personal, private medical information over to complete strangers just to go on a cruise. It's none of your business.

 

Here's a better rule: If the dog's not actively causing a problem as I describe above, mind your own business and leave people alone.

But, please, do, tell the disabled more about the easy rules they should follow before you'll graciously allow them to share public space with you.

I think you're arguing to argue.  I agree with you and if you read my post I never said I would bother a working service animal or question it unless they did what I posted above.  Going out in public is a lot different than being at sea on a cruise ship.  No one is trying to deny you and anyone with a service animal.

LOL at turning over your private medical records to "strangers".  I work in IT and understand the importance of HIPAA and privacy.  But I also understand the importance of the medical team on a cruise ship.  Let's say a passenger has seizures and their service animal is there to help them.  Well assume the passenger has a seizure and another passenger/crew member finds them laying unconscious next to the service animal.  Should the passenger/crew ask the animal what their medical condition is?  Does your service animal speak English?  OR ... if they have a service vest on with a number and the ship's doctor has your medical records (safely on file) they can QUICKLY administer the correct medical treatment without guessing or translating your animals bark.  If anyone in my family needed a service animal I would WELCOME these requirements, not fight them.

25 minutes ago, Ragoczy said:

 

The above is a prime example of the danger of being partially correct and incredibly ignorant at the same time.

 

"but passengers can" -- If you ever accost my wife over her service dog, I'll be in your face with a body cam and you'll find yourself being made an utter fool of with the result posted everywhere. It is not a handler's responsibility to justify themselves to you.

"not dressed up" -- There is neither law nor reason that service dogs can't be "dressed up" either with decorative vests or costumes for holidays. They might be medical equipment, but they're also part of the handler's family. An important part on a level you probably can't understand. It's the handler's decision whether some frippery will interfere with the dogs tasks or not, not some judgmental prat who knows nothing about the individual situation.

"not seen alone with different adults" - I hold my wife's service dog while she uses small restrooms, goes on ziplines, waterslides, or just when he needs to use the facilities and she'd rather rest in the room. It happens.

"not being available to be pet" - In general, correct. But people do ask. And some handlers, for whom the distraction is not a hardship, allow it, using the opportunity to teach the asker why it's not generally allowed and why they probably shouldn't ask.

So three of your little signs to use when deciding to confront someone make it likely you'll confront a legit handler and ruin their day. They have enough problems without dealing with your self-righteous crap. Most don't have the temperament or inclination to back you off as you deserve, they'll simply take the abuse and be on their way.

I won't. Back off.

Come on, you've seen people with little toy dogs that are clearly violating and abusing this.  And I would never say anything to a person with any dog unless that dog is violating my person space, safety or doing something they should not (think eating off table, peeing on deck, etc). 

The cruise line can EASILY address all these issues with these simple mandatory rules:

1.  Any person(s) boarding with a service dog will need a medial note from a doctor which explains the exact need of the animal.

2. The animal and passenger will have to register with the ship's doctor and the animal will be given a service vest (if one is not present) with a registration number so the ship's medical crew can easily look up in case of an emergency (common sense).

3. The animal at all times when in public areas MUST wear their service vest with the above registration number regardless of any "outfits" their owners want to dress them up in.

All of these rules can be dealt with way before sailing, so they shouldn't be a problem to handle. 

If the animal violates any of RCCL's policies (spelled out by SargassoPirate's above post) they and the passenger can/could be removed.

13 hours ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

And leave their kids at home too.

I know you were kidding, but I bet if you went back in time you'd find you were actually a kid once.

Now if you want to talk about parenting said kids once on board ... I'm right there with you. 

13 hours ago, luckyprincess said:

The issue really is that some people need emotional support dogs. There is real scientific evidence that it can help people like our vets with PTSD. Also one of my clients has a white fluffball that loves her sweaters and alerts her to seizures. Another I know always has her nails painted and alerts to glucose changes. You don't get to dismiss a dog as a service animal because it's small or fluffy or white or wears clothes. The point is all those that are super huffy about this have no real recourse. There is no certification. Also the law in NJ does not allow anyone to ask anything other than if it is a service dog and what it is trained for, not sure about other states.

To those crying about allergies well, you are the one with the medical issue. Bring allergy medication or don't  fly/sail.  If you are afraid of dogs as an adult then here is your chance to get out of a phobia and embarrassing issue. If you just plain don't like dogs - well to be honest I don't trust those that don't like dogs lol. 

Nonsense.  No one here is saying SERVICE dogs that are used for LEGITIMATE medical reasons should be denied access.  But when you are pushing your dog around in a stroller, tying it up to slot machines that's ridiculous.  It's funny you are so quick to tell people not to sail if they are allergic to animals but how about flipping that script and telling the people that are in need of "emotional" support don't fly/sail? 

How did we as a race survive millions of years without bringing dogs everywhere? 

Nope, you're allowed two bottles.

I think I'm going to pull the kids out of school for two extra days and flight down to Orlando two days ahead of time and stay at Disney for two nights then drive from Orlando to Miami one way (rental car) on the day of the cruise.  Extra surprise for the kids.

6 minutes ago, MNfamilycruiser said:

Yes, also less risk flying in May (as OP stated) than in winter.  It also depends on how far away your direct flight is coming from and how many other flights are available that day that could get you there in time if something goes wrong.  I recently looked at flights from Minneapolis to Miami and was surprised at how few options I had compared to flying into Orlando,

Yeah this is what I'm thinking.  I will be using America miles and flying first class so changing tickets won't cost anything plus there are lots of flights from Philly to either Fort Lauderdale or Miami that day.  So if I book the early flight and hit issues being first class I will have a leg up on any later flights.  But the problem there is bags could/will get lost if something happens.

My wife wants to drive (two kids 12 & 6) but to me that eats up valuable days.

Thanks all.  That's pretty much a quorum. 

37 minutes ago, Nessa55 said:

I do believe there is a difference between support animals and service animals? I believe the animals we are referring to here (at least for my post) are the ones people don't want to pay to have in a pet hotel while they vacation so they bring them with them as opposed to someone who has a disability and actually needs assistance from their dog.

People that need a service animal have a legitimate medical reason for this. 

People that need to bring a dog for "emotional" support need a psychiatrist not a toy dog.

I'm taking a cruise out of Miami next May.  I'm flying out of the Philadelphia area to either Fort Lauderdale or Miami (which ever is cheaper). 

Do people fly in a day early and stay local the night before or do they risk it and fly early morning of the cruise?

I'm just trying to gauge what others have done, I'm leaning towards a hotel room near the port.