Dog on Board

[Travelcat2]

I stand by my earlier statement for many, many reasons. While I would rather see an animal on a ship that most human beings, I would not expose them to the stress of a cruise ship. In terms of abuse regarding ADA. . . . it is truly disgusting. Many people truly need the assistance. To fake a disability is beyond my comprehension:mad:

[smilingcruiser]

RaLLydye - Your post, getting into politics about liberal socialists is totally inappropriate for this board. I don't understand what socialists have to do with Regent allowing a service dog on board.

 

Not knowing the entire story (and we probably never will), it is difficult for me to object. I agree that I would always rather have a well-mannered dog nearby than a screaming, ill-mannered child.

 

Suite Travels - I, too, live in FL and the abuse of handicap decals, etc., is terrible. We know people, who, when they cannot find a "good" parking place, will simply put up their handicap sign and take the spot from someone else who might really need it.

[giggleykim]

:mad:I do like dogs but, they have their place and that's NOT on a closed environment cruise ship without the facilities to handle an animal needing exercise, a place to relieve itself and the attention of the owner. In this case, the owner has gone off and left the dog presumably in the cabin.

 

Don't know about others but, don't want to walk by or on where the dog relieves itself and most well trained dogs use a grassy area and there are no such places on the ship. Well trained and behaved or otherwise, some things and people just don't belong on a cruise ship and using the law to interfere with people who have paid 5 figures for a vacation is just not right.

 

I do feel sorry that you feel that you are able to judge if someone with the need of a "true working service dog" should not have the right to travel on a cruise ship do to having to leave there medical needs at home. If it is a well trained service dog it sould not just relieve itself any where (yes the odd accident does happen). When our dog went through training she was trained to relieve herself on a certian brick in relief area. When she is at home she will only use the grass area in our desinated area, so it is not in peoples way when my husband is home alone and unable to clean up after her right away.

I hope that your health always is very good and you are NEVER in need of any medical help including medication. I know you would never want one to say to you "sorry sir but this is a no drug enviroment so that includes Dr. Rx. as well so leave it all behind and enjoy that trip.

Service animals area a big medical assist to those who really do need one.

[rallydave]

I do feel sorry that you feel that you are able to judge if someone with the need of a "true working service dog" should not have the right to travel on a cruise ship do to having to leave there medical needs at home. If it is a well trained service dog it sould not just relieve itself any where (yes the odd accident does happen). When our dog went through training she was trained to relieve herself on a certian brick in relief area. When she is at home she will only use the grass area in our desinated area, so it is not in peoples way when my husband is home alone and unable to clean up after her right away.

I hope that your health always is very good and you are NEVER in need of any medical help including medication. I know you would never want one to say to you "sorry sir but this is a no drug enviroment so that includes Dr. Rx. as well so leave it all behind and enjoy that trip.

Service animals area a big medical assist to those who really do need one.

 

If this were truly a real working service dog, I would probably feel different but, from the reports of the dog being carried around in a shoulder bag, wandering the halls, and being left on board when the owner went ashore several times, it is abundently apparent that this is not a true service dog but, someone who doesn't want to leave their dog at home alone and has somehow found a doctor who would provide documentation that this person needs the dog at her side all the time but that isn't happening.

 

Kind of like the multitudes of medical marijuana people who need to smoke the weed for unproven reasons or those who use someone else's handicapped parking tag to take parking places from those needing them. Some people are trying to make everything available to everyone and that is simply not possible. The costs to give everyone everything they want or think they should be entitled to is astronomical and unless we want to watch the government declare bankrupcy, we must stop this lunacy.

 

There are simply some things that everyone can't have and people need to live with that. And too many imaginary illnesses have been invented in the last few years to explain abnormal behavior. We must stop trying to have the reason for bad behavior be some sort of illness all the time and realize that some people simply aren't good people and may simply need a good swift kick to bring them to their senses.

[south seas sue]

:o Your last post was pretty resonable Rallydave. I think that people with handicaps who have a trained service dog should be able to cruise along with the rest of us. Why should they be deprived of a wonderful vacation due to their disability? The service dogs I have seen are very well trained, and apparently provide a necessary service for their master - even if the disability is hidden from the view of the rest of us. I would think most cruisers travelling with such a dog would be very careful about the pet's toileting and food, and of course grooming. I see nothing wrong with a service dog sitting quietly in the dining room with its master, and accompanying the master around the ship. That is the whole point - to have the dog there to do what it is trained to do to protect its owner.

 

I cannot see leaving the dog in the cabin, or not being able to go on shore excursions. Most service animals are of some size - labs, retrievers, etc. so the idea of a service animal being small enough to carry around in a tote bag seems suspect to me.

 

You don't see that many service dogs around, so I am sure there would not be more than one or two on any ship - surely not a problem for the rest of the passengers. In my several cruises on Silversea and the Paul Gauguin, I have never seen a service animal. Personally, I would feel good about it - probably would remind me of my own doggies waiting at home.

[umtali]

Regent need to draw the 'line in the sand' NOW!!

 

A dog, or any animal, other than properly accredited service dog does not belong anywhere near people eating.

 

Given the average age of most cruisers it would be downright dangerous to allow any animal onboard. (Bad enough with some uncontrolled children running around buffet lines).

 

If I am in a restaurant and an alleged 'A' lister decides to bring their pampered pooch in to join them for a meal, I'm sorry, I'm out of there and will not be paying for the privilige of sharing my meal with an animal.

 

There is a move in Australia to relax the health regulations and allow dog owners to enjoy their lattes with their pampered pooches, in outside venues only. I don't like their chances of that being accepted.

[Keith1010]

 

Think what a lot of people are missing is that the American's with disability act does NOT apply to a cruise ship flagged in a foreign country. There are definately health and other issues with having pets on a ship. Where do they do their business. How to keep them out of the restaurant and away from food and food handlers.

 

And mostly, this dog, if it is carried around in a bag on the persons shoulder, what can the dog do to help the person?? The people on board have every right to have the dog removed from the ship and should do so immediately. Can't understand what went thru Regent's so called management when asked to bring this dog on the ship.

 

We can't just allow for everyone with any problems. There are limits and this one has exceeded the limits. The liberal socialists of the US don't have long to go before a revolt of sane people.

 

As others have said, give someone and inch and they'll take a hundred miles with lies and doctors who will write anything to support their patient. Congress and the stupid state legislatures need to think before they allow anything that is normally against the law with simply one persons signature. Doctors like lawyers and politicians can and are bought. Need to prosecute these people and put them away to save the honest people.

 

Flame away socialists, your time is coming and sooner rather than later!!!

 

I am not a socialist and I certainly do not believe in flaming anyone.

 

I am also not commenting about the reason that this thread was started because I have absolutely no idea whether or not that passenger has a service dog with her or if it is a regular dog.

 

I just want to share my experience on this issue of passenger's sailing with service dogs.

 

As I understand, cruise lines are obligated to allow passenger's with Service Dogs to sail on the ship. If you do not agree, my recommendation is to check with the cruise line directly.

 

We have sailed on a cruise on another line where another passenger did have a service dog on board the ship. I am not aware of anyone who had any issues with this and we spoke with the fellow passenger and learned how vital the service dog was/is to her well being.

 

Thankfully, she had the opportunity to take the cruise.

 

After her disembarkation, a special team was brought on the ship to thoroughly clean her cabin. This wasn't done because of any mess that was made by the dog,but we learned that it is common practice.

 

We learned quite a bit about service dogs last year at a presentation that we attended on land to see if an organization that my wife is involved with could assist in fundraising efforts. These dogs make a major difference in the lives for so many people.

 

Again, check with the cruise line but it was explained to us on the cruise line that we sailed that they were, in fact, obligated to allow the person to sail with their service dog.

 

Thankfully, we live at a time when service dogs can make a real difference to others.

 

Keith

[msmillie]

Rallydave

 

Today we visited with the Executive Concierge; he told us that Regent is not a pet friendly cruise line and that he understood our concerns. He indicated that the passenger in question had submitted medical documentation prior to the cruise and that her application was pre-approved by Regent Corporate. He also stated that although there has been numerous complaints from passengers, the ship's personnel must follow procedures outlined by Corporate. I did mention that the "American with Disabilities Act does not apply to a cruise ship flagged in another country." He said, that he wasn't aware of the legalities but that Regent Corporate followed necessary procedures. He was very nice but essentially said there was nothing that could be done. Angie

[Hambagahle]

I love dogs and I own one (well, actually he owns me!) I live in Switzerland. It is perfectly normal here, with the exception of the Canton of Ticino, to take your dog into a restaurant and my dog has been to restaurants with me in Switzerland and in France. But unlike France we prefer that Swiss dogs stay on the floor and do not sit at the table with their owners!

 

The old Cunard liners - Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth - used to have a dog kennel and passengers could indeed bring their dogs on board. In fact the Duke and Duchess of Windsor travelled with theirs all the time. But this was a purpose-built facilty, with a place for the dogs to exercise and to "spend a penny". Cunard did not allow the dogs anywhere else on the ship.

 

I think that, in the absence of such a facilty, it is not appropriate at all to bring one's dog. And I seriously doubt that Regent DID in fact give permission or knew anything about the dog until after they sailed from Florida. Further the dog should stay in the owner's suite and the owner should be responsible for a total cleaning of the suite after she disembarks!! (Or a refit of the carpets in drydock, which follows this particular cruise?)

[rallydave]

Thanks for the follow-up Angie. I'm guessing that this person provided documentation that Regent management had to rely on but, once on board, in actuality the dog was not what was advertised.

 

Understand the crew following home office orders and hope they contact management and provide what is actually occuring so that proper actions can be taken and that regent takes this situation to take a relook at future situations like this.

 

On our next regent cruise, should this occur with a valid service animal, no problem but, if someone is scamming the system, regent needs to be aware and take action!!

[fluckey]

Suite Travels, I have no particular problem with quiet, well bahaved, small (or large) dogs, I just don't want to eat with them. I know dogs are commonly found in restaurants in France and other places. Doesn't mean I have to want the same on Regent. And the French do a lot of weird things, eating horses, etc.

 

I'm with you on the kids. Parents should keep screamers out of restaurants, or take them out quickly when the screaming starts. Been there, done that. Avoidance, for the most part, of someone else's screaming, little beasts, is one of the reasons to cruise with Regent.

[Ka Honu]

Finally all is made clear! After carefully researching the issue, we found out that the dog is the passenger and the lady is its service person.

[xrvlcruiser]

very funny!

[cruiseluv]

Pretty expensive if both the passenger and the service lady are paying full fare.

[pwolftx]

What about the medical problems of the people who are highly allergic to dogs? There was a small white dog on one of our cruises a while back. My friend who has a severe allergy to dogs had to avoid the elevators and areas where the dog was (which was all over including the dining areas) and couldn't go in the observation lounge at all because the dog had been crawling all over the seats in there. At what point does one person's medical problem become more important than someone elses?

[lincslady]

What about the medical problems of the people who are highly allergic to dogs? There was a small white dog on one of our cruises a while back. My friend who has a severe allergy to dogs had to avoid the elevators and areas where the dog was (which was all over including the dining areas) and couldn't go in the observation lounge at all because the dog had been crawling all over the seats in there. At what point does one person's medical problem become more important than someone elses?

 

When I first read this thread I thought it was an April Fool joke!! I had never heard of dogs on board, apart from in the kennels on Cunard. Obviously I was ingorant and mistaken. Is this a frequent happening, and is it actually legal? On any cruise line? Please someone who knows let those who have no knowledge of this happening enlighten us.:(:confused:

[Travelcat2]

When I first read this thread I thought it was an April Fool joke!! I had never heard of dogs on board, apart from in the kennels on Cunard. Obviously I was ingorant and mistaken. Is this a frequent happening, and is it actually legal? On any cruise line? Please someone who knows let those who have no knowledge of this happening enlighten us.:(:confused:

 

Apparently "service dogs" are allowed on board. I just looked up the law on this issue and am surprised to find that a new law went into effect March 11, 2011. Here it is (sorry, it's kind of long):

 

 

How was the definition of "service animal" changed July 23, 2010?

 

On July 23, 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder signed final regulations revising the Department’s ADA regulations, including a revised definition of “service animal.” This final rule was published in the Federal Register September 15, 2010, and the effective date is six months after that publication.

Effective March 15, 2011, “Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler´s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal´s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.”

Key changes include the following:

1. Only dogs will be recognized as service animals.

2. Service animals are required to be leashed or harnessed except when performing work or tasks where such tethering would interfere with the dog's ability to perform.

3. Service animals are exempt from breed bans as well as size and weight limitations.

 

4. Though not considered service animals, businesses are generally required to accommodate the use of miniature horses under specific conditions.

Until the effective date, existing service animals of all species will continue to be covered under the ADA regulations.

Existing policies that were clarified or formalized include the following:

1. Dogs whose sole function is “the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship” are not considered service dogs under the ADA.

 

2. The use of service dogs for psychiatric and neurological disabilities is explicitly protected under the ADA.

 

3. “The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence” do not qualify that animal as a service animal and “an animal individually trained to provide aggressive protection, such as an attack dog, is not appropriately considered a service animal.”

These previously existing policies are already in effect.

[south seas sue]

I'm sorry, but I must chime in here again and say I don't understand the big deal. Service dogs are found in all public places - hotels, lectures and concerts, everywhere. They obviously are providing a needed service for their masters. I don't understand the outrage that these animals can be included on cruises. I don't believe they will be overwhelming the cruise lines - in all my travels, I have yet to see one on a ship.

 

If one is allergic, then keep your distance if you see a dog.

 

Service dog owners are accustomed to providing the care necessary for their dogs, and I don't see that toileting/grooming/feeding would become a problem. They are trained to sit quietly, and I have never seen one become disruptive.

 

Lighten up people - show some compassion, and feel glad that some people with a disability are able to travel with these trained companions.

[Keith1010]

What about the medical problems of the people who are highly allergic to dogs? There was a small white dog on one of our cruises a while back. My friend who has a severe allergy to dogs had to avoid the elevators and areas where the dog was (which was all over including the dining areas) and couldn't go in the observation lounge at all because the dog had been crawling all over the seats in there. At what point does one person's medical problem become more important than someone elses?

 

With all due respect the fact is that cruise lines are obligated to allow passengers to sail with their service dogs. The reality is this happens infrequently. I wonder how many people who post to this board or to cruse critic have ever seen a service dog on a ship.

 

We saw a passenger with a service dog for the very first time earlier this year and we have cruise a countless number of times.

 

While I sympathise with people with allergies, my wife is very allergic to a number of items including perfumes and the reality is many more passengers wear strong perfumes where we have had to move to other locations in lounges and at shows and for her that is every much of an item as being allergic to a dog.

 

Keith

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm sorry, but I must chime in here again and say I don't understand the big deal. Service dogs are found in all public places - hotels, lectures and concerts, everywhere. They obviously are providing a needed service for their masters. I don't understand the outrage that these animals can be included on cruises.

 

Hear, hear.

[Keith1010]

I'm sorry, but I must chime in here again and say I don't understand the big deal. Service dogs are found in all public places - hotels, lectures and concerts, everywhere. They obviously are providing a needed service for their masters. I don't understand the outrage that these animals can be included on cruises. I don't believe they will be overwhelming the cruise lines - in all my travels, I have yet to see one on a ship.

 

If one is allergic, then keep your distance if you see a dog.

 

Service dog owners are accustomed to providing the care necessary for their dogs, and I don't see that toileting/grooming/feeding would become a problem. They are trained to sit quietly, and I have never seen one become disruptive.

 

Lighten up people - show some compassion, and feel glad that some people with a disability are able to travel with these trained companions.

 

Thank you. I agree with you 100%.

 

Those who have service dogs would be happier if their health was like many others where a service dog is not required. It's nice that they have the same opportunity to cruise as any of us who do not require a service dog in the first place.

 

Keith

[cruiseluv]

Maybe a lawyer will chime in and clarify if a cruise ship that's not registered in the US is covered by the ADA laws.

 

To me it's very different to allow a service animal in a restaurant or hotel vs in close quarters as a ship, where they might not be in port for days at a time.

 

Interesting that the law published by Tc2 says the dog must be kept in a leash or harnessed. I think that being carried around in a tote bag is a stretch.

[flossie009]

I am on Mariner and saw the cute 'dog-in-bag' the first few days.

 

However I have not seen it lately :eek:

 

The Korean BBQ burgers today were very tasty........... :cool:

[Travelcat2]

I agree. There is obviously something wrong with the scenario described at the beginning of this thread. Having a "service" dog jump onto a strange man's lap and then leave the dog unattended in the cabin while it's owner is ashore is certainly not what is intended by the law.

[mina]

I agree. There is obviously something wrong with the scenario described at the beginning of this thread. Having a "service" dog jump onto a strange man's lap and then leave the dog unattended in the cabin while it's owner is ashore is certainly not what is intended by the law.

 

it is also NOT what a true service dog does. No trained service dog jumps into a stanger's lap. Perhaps it was someone pretending to have a service dog. Or perhaps someone who exaggerates.

 

Quite frankly give me a ship full of dogs any day compared to many of the folks who posted on this thread. I can only hope that each of you may one day require the use of one of these magnificant, giving and caring animals -- and may you have to live every day with the shame of your close mindedness.