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

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Algebralovr']Roz,
If you and Horton ever sail on a Celebrity ship we are on, we will happily share a table you the two of you.

Honest, with as many lurkers as are here, I can't believe the issues finding someone who didn't mind eating next to Horton!


Fairbourne,
Please keep up the puppy pics and tales! We are enjoying them like crazy![/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Barb, we've been on the Celebrity Summit and had a wonderful time. The staff was amazingly wonderful. I hope we get to cruise together one day! ;)[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Surprisingly, there's a big world out there that has no clue about Cruise Critic, hard to believe, huh?[/B][/COLOR]

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='wizard-of-roz'][COLOR="Indigo"][B]When Horton and I go to the theatre there is NO WAY that anyone could get near him to touch him, let alone spill something on him! I choose seating that allows him either to lay at the end of a row or I sit in the back where the handicapped is located. I also get to the theatre in plenty of time to be able to pick and choose the most safe spot for him!

This last cruise a crew member got a "caution" sign to place in front of him so no one wheeled their chair into him![/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

This wasn't a movie theater, but a performance. You choose your assigned seats when you buy your tickets. All the seat spacing is the same, so it doesn't matter where you sit. I choose to sit where you can see the show best, which is in the center of the theater, and my service dog lays on the floor at my feet, not getting into the footspace of any strangers or anyone I am with who is not used to having a service dog near them. At this show, I had the people in my party to my left, so strangers were to my right. Unless you were to sit with people in your party on both sides, which I didn't do because of who they were, there is no way to prevent your stranger neighbor from being close enough to spill something on you and your dog. The other time it happened, we were at a baseball game and it was actually the person sitting behind me who spilled their beer, which poured down the stadium seating cement onto my dog whose rump was under my seat (the only way for her to fit into that space was rear under the seat and head between my feet).

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='fairbourne']Quam - we did, we did - she's so gorgeous! :)

We haven't been to a restaurant yet with Aruba, and I was thinking a table against a wall or window so I can get her under the table and out of the way of passing traffic, but that may not always be possible of course.

We had a vet check this week with kennel cough vaccine - popped up her nose before you could say "Aroooooba" She didn't even notice! Weight now 26.7 kilos or 58.74 lbs! She's now slightly taller than Poppy. Max has lost 8 kgs, so he's lost a whole Puppy Aruba! She was 8 kgs when she arrived! He doesn't have to lose any more, so we will just have to keep him on track.[/QUOTE]

A good way to teach dogs how to curl up in small spaces is to use a laundry basket for them to go in. Another way is to sit on the toilet and have them lay between the front of the toilet and back of your legs. You can also practice at home under a table between your feet, where the dog will go if the table is not next to a wall or the person is not on the end of a large table.

Glad she did well at the vet! I love how they don't even seem to notice when the vet does stuff to them like injections and all! My current service dog is so good around needles (and I am definitely NOT!!) and it looks like my new pup is, too, as we took her to the vet when I was there to have her microchip inserted and she didn't even flinch or turn to look at what just went into her neck! You could never do that to me and expect me to react like that!! ;) :p (It was the new Mini Microchip, which is half the size of regular microchips and uses a smaller needle. I got the ISO chip this time for travel purposes, of course; those weren't available yet in the States when I microchipped my current dog.)

Wow, Aruba has gotten so big!! Great growing, Aruba! :D

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='Rolls Royce Lover']
[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Surprisingly, there's a big world out there that has no clue about Cruise Critic, hard to believe, huh?[/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Today, I was talking to a woman working at a business I went into who mentioned her upcoming cruise, so we started talking about cruising. When she talked about loving to take two or three cruises per year, I asked if she was on Cruise Critic and she said she was! Pretty cool to meet another CC member "in the wild" (while not on a cruise ship). :) Edited October 4, 2014 by Quampapetet

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Today, I was talking to a woman working at a business I went into who mentioned her upcoming cruise, so we started talking about cruising. When she talked about loving to take two or three cruises per year, I asked if she was on Cruise Critic and she said she was! Pretty cool to meet another CC member "in the wild" (while not on a cruise ship). :)[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I love that. I also like when folks tell me that they are contributors to Canine Companions, after they see Horton's vest. Makes me feel so good to know that people are so generous! I always thank them! Without them, I wouldn't have my wonderful dogs![/B][/COLOR]

[Quampapetet]

Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.

[Algebralovr]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.[/QUOTE]

We've done 5 on Celebrity. No SD, but I can answer most general questions. My DD spent the most recent on in a WC and she was thrilled with how they handled her requests.

What questions do you have?

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I can remember how difficult it was to leave Brenda behind after Morey had passed away. My son took care of her when I cruised and although she couldn't walk far, it was still sad to leave her behind.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Morey, Brenda and I did the Celebrity Summit out of L.A to Mexico for 7 days. We liked the ship and the staff. It was the only time onboard a ship where a staff person was sent to our cabin to walk Brenda to the potty box. I remember that we liked the cruise and were treated very well. The potty box was placed on another deck, forward [really far from our cabin.] [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Celebrity had a full room service breakfast [something that Morey and I both liked!] And, something that Princess does not offer. [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Our HC Cabin was huge, with a veranda. I'd cruise onboard Celebrity again.[/B][/COLOR]

[fairbourne]

[IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg2_zps17f57a0c.jpg[/IMG]

Hello eveyone ....

Here I am with my new coat - not very happy .... I really, really didn't like it much at first, and tried to chew it and pull it off, but Mum gave me lots of treats to distract me, so I quite like it now! I hope I get treats every time I have to wear it .... somehow I don't think that's going to happen ..... :(

Love Aruba xxxx

[fairbourne]

[quote name='Quampapetet']A good way to teach dogs how to curl up in small spaces is to use a laundry basket for them to go in. Another way is to sit on the toilet and have them lay between the front of the toilet and back of your legs. You can also practice at home under a table between your feet, where the dog will go if the table is not next to a wall or the person is not on the end of a large table.

Glad she did well at the vet! I love how they don't even seem to notice when the vet does stuff to them like injections and all! My current service dog is so good around needles (and I am definitely NOT!!) and it looks like my new pup is, too, as we took her to the vet when I was there to have her microchip inserted and she didn't even flinch or turn to look at what just went into her neck! You could never do that to me and expect me to react like that!! ;) :p (It was the new Mini Microchip, which is half the size of regular microchips and uses a smaller needle. I got the ISO chip this time for travel purposes, of course; those weren't available yet in the States when I microchipped my current dog.)

Wow, Aruba has gotten so big!! Great growing, Aruba! :D[/QUOTE]

Thanks Quam - that's great advice which I immediately undertook in the toilet .... only "two" other problems .... all "three" dogs trooped in after me! LOL! So two big dogs despatched to the kitchen and Aruba and me tried it. It took a few goes but we sort of managed it, but she has such long legs!

We took her to a local supermarket cafe for a quick snack yesterday and she went under the table and stayed there for most of the time but I had her blocked in with a spare chair - she did the occasional "head up" but when I tapped her lightly to go back down, she did. Yesterday I think all the idiots were in that supermarket, the number of people who tried to distract her was incredible and I had to leave as I was getting so cross! You know the sort of idiot who is a real smart "hmmm well I can't use the word here", who snaps his fingers and makes loud kissy type noises as he's passing her, or the woman who grabs her before I could say or do anything, or the lad who thinks he's being funny and whistles at her! Honestly, I do wonder if they left their brains at home, seeing as how it was Sunday!:rolleyes:

[alexspepa]

[quote name='fairbourne'][IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg2_zps17f57a0c.jpg[/IMG]

Hello eveyone ....

Here I am with my new coat - not very happy .... I really, really didn't like it much at first, and tried to chew it and pull it off, but Mum gave me lots of treats to distract me, so I quite like it now! I hope I get treats every time I have to wear it .... somehow I don't think that's going to happen ..... :(

Love Aruba xxxx[/quote]

that's about the most precious pic i have seen.

[fairbourne]

[IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg3_zps0f65caa6.jpg[/IMG]


I'm a good girl, I am, I am, I am - Mum has her shoes on that match my flash! LOL!!!

[fairbourne]

[quote name='alexspepa']that's about the most precious pic i have seen.[/QUOTE]


LOL! :D Thank you Alexspepa! :D

[S.S. Cruisers]

[COLOR=SeaGreen][SIZE=3]Quam: We did the 15 day Hawaii cruise on Celebrity. (quite a few years ago!) without service dog. Hands down our all time favorite cruise line. Every thing was fabulous. Food was awesome, wait staff was above and beyond. The one bartender would even go get fresh fruit from the buffet for our fruity drinks! He was tipped nicely for his service. I can't think of anything bad to say about Celebrity. :D[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[DisneyKidsDad]

[quote name='fairbourne'][IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg3_zps0f65caa6.jpg[/IMG]


I'm a good girl, I am, I am, I am - Mum has her shoes on that match my flash! LOL!!![/quote]

[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Great picture!! Isn't it great when they get their big boy/girl vests? It's like a right of passage. We took Orson & Davis to an Octoberfest/Craft Fair yesterday. It was PACKED!!. Both dogs were great! Davis walked right next to me or my wife and never even thought about wandering. He is giving us hope. :D[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[DUTRAVEL]

[quote name='fairbourne'][IMG]http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah177/Fairbourne/imagejpg2_zps17f57a0c.jpg[/IMG]

Hello eveyone ....

Here I am with my new coat - not very happy .... I really, really didn't like it much at first, and tried to chew it and pull it off, but Mum gave me lots of treats to distract me, so I quite like it now! I hope I get treats every time I have to wear it .... somehow I don't think that's going to happen ..... :(

Love Aruba xxxx[/QUOTE]

She is so cute!

[DUTRAVEL]

[quote name='Quampapetet']Hmm, so I might go on my next cruise late next year, as my family is thinking about doing a big family cruise to celebrate a 50th anniversary. I will be in between service dogs at that time, as I am sure my current girl will be retired by then and my new girl won't be fully ready until a few months after that time, so it would be a dogless cruise. The bad thing about that would, of course, be having no help, but the up side would be getting to get off at islands that wouldn't allow my service dog to get off on (such as the British Virgin Islands). If my current girl is still alive then, I would have to figure out who could care for her, since all/most of my family would also be on the cruise.

Has anyone here sailed on Celebrity? I found an itinerary from them that I like, whereas the other lines didn't have much to my liking. (I am the cruise guru in my family, so would be helping to pick the cruise and all.) I don't know much about Celebrity.[/QUOTE]

We have sailed Celebrity several times. Handicapped accessibility is very good (on the S class ships). No thresholds, automatic doors, huge rooms, ramps to the veranda. I have not cruised with a service dog (yet) so I can't answer anything about that. We have also had great wheelchair accessible excursions (in Europe). The special needs department responds quickly, but you do need to contact the shore excursion department well in advance.

[Caribbean Chris]

Hi Quam - We've been on Celebrity three times (no service dog with us then) and had good experiences. (A five-day from Florida to the Caribbean, a transatlantic from Southampton on an S class ship, and a 15-day from San Diego to Hawaii.)

The food & service was exceptionally good on the Hawaii cruise, especially the variety & preparation of fish dishes in the main dining room.

We'll be going back on Celebrity in December, 9-day Caribbean, first cruise for Hearing Dog Raylene. I will be reporting back.

Some positives for us: (which may not matter to everyone; other lines may have some similar policies, of course.)
- a firm no-smoking policy, including on your veranda (only a place on deck allowing smokers to congregate).
- they have a lot of wine-related events for an extra charge which we enjoyed very much.
- the staterooms and bathrooms are quite roomy and nice on the largest, newer S class ships.
-there are a lot of veranda rooms at fairly reasonable prices versus some of the Holland America ships with fewer verandas.
-they frequently offer promotions (123Go, or Wave, or Pick Your Perk) whereby the cruise fare includes a classic beverage package - alcohol drinks or wine by the glass up to a certain dollar amount, also soft drinks, fresh juices, bottled water, and barista type coffees like lattes. Sometimes promo also includes a shipboard credit.
- they have a policy to reduce your cruise fare if they institute a price drop before your final payment date, which saved us about $500 if I recall correctly, and did not affect the promo.

(We like Holland America for other reasons - excellent room stewards, the wrap-around full promenade deck, and the lovely library-internet-coffee lounges, some with views of the sea. I miss those three things, but have to say the food and dining room/wine steward service has been better on our Celebrity trips in recent years.)

Happy to answer questions.

[Caribbean Chris]

Fairbourne, that sweet little puppy face could melt a heart of stone.

Look at her in her big-girl vest. Keep those Aruba photos coming! They are such a great treat.

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='Algebralovr']We've done 5 on Celebrity. No SD, but I can answer most general questions. My DD spent the most recent on in a WC and she was thrilled with how they handled her requests.

What questions do you have?[/QUOTE]

Thanks! Glad you had good experiences with them.

I asked about special dining food needs over on the Celebrity board and everyone said they do it well, so that is good to hear, as both myself and another family member have special food needs and restrictions, leading to very limited menus of what we can eat.

I also asked about the type of lighting in the staterooms (specifically on the Summit), but haven't gotten a response to that question yet. Do you know what kind of light bulbs they use (fluorescent, incandescent, halogen, LED) in the staterooms, including the bathrooms? Fluorescents are harmful to me, so I will have to make special arrangements/bring my own bulbs for the table lamps if that's what they use.

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='Rolls Royce Lover'][COLOR="Indigo"][B]I can remember how difficult it was to leave Brenda behind after Morey had passed away. My son took care of her when I cruised and although she couldn't walk far, it was still sad to leave her behind.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Morey, Brenda and I did the Celebrity Summit out of L.A to Mexico for 7 days. We liked the ship and the staff. It was the only time onboard a ship where a staff person was sent to our cabin to walk Brenda to the potty box. I remember that we liked the cruise and were treated very well. The potty box was placed on another deck, forward [really far from our cabin.] [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Celebrity had a full room service breakfast [something that Morey and I both liked!] And, something that Princess does not offer. [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Our HC Cabin was huge, with a veranda. I'd cruise onboard Celebrity again.[/B][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Glad you enjoyed the Summit, as that's the ship we're looking at going on!

I will have to think about who to let care of my current service dog, since all those who I would normally think of for doing that would be on the cruise with us. We shall see!

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='fairbourne']Thanks Quam - that's great advice which I immediately undertook in the toilet .... only "two" other problems .... all "three" dogs trooped in after me! LOL! So two big dogs despatched to the kitchen and Aruba and me tried it. It took a few goes but we sort of managed it, but she has such long legs!

We took her to a local supermarket cafe for a quick snack yesterday and she went under the table and stayed there for most of the time but I had her blocked in with a spare chair - she did the occasional "head up" but when I tapped her lightly to go back down, she did. Yesterday I think all the idiots were in that supermarket, the number of people who tried to distract her was incredible and I had to leave as I was getting so cross! You know the sort of idiot who is a real smart "hmmm well I can't use the word here", who snaps his fingers and makes loud kissy type noises as he's passing her, or the woman who grabs her before I could say or do anything, or the lad who thinks he's being funny and whistles at her! Honestly, I do wonder if they left their brains at home, seeing as how it was Sunday!:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

First, what a wonderful photo of her in her vest! I'm sure she'll get used to it soon enough. :) The other day, my trainer took a photo of my new girl in her in-training vest for the first time - so exciting! It looked good on her, too! :)

Too funny how ALL the dogs went into the bathroom with you!! That must have been quite the sight! :-D

Unfortunately, once the dog is partnered with its disabled person, the idiots who try to distract the dog don't stop. :mad: I've even had idiots bark at my service dog! Crazy people! This is why your training Aruba to ignore such things is so important. Sounds like you're doing a great job with her!

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='S.S. Cruisers'][COLOR=SeaGreen][SIZE=3]Quam: We did the 15 day Hawaii cruise on Celebrity. (quite a few years ago!) without service dog. Hands down our all time favorite cruise line. Every thing was fabulous. Food was awesome, wait staff was above and beyond. The one bartender would even go get fresh fruit from the buffet for our fruity drinks! He was tipped nicely for his service. I can't think of anything bad to say about Celebrity. :D[/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Ooh, a fifteen-day Hawaii cruise sounds wonderful!! We can't do that one (not everyone in the family can be away for that long and one person has flight-length restrictions), but maybe someday I will get to Hawaii. I think the only way I would want to do Hawaii is a cruise.

So glad you enjoyed Celebrity! I am feeling much better now that everyone had good experiences with them! And, mmm, fruity drinks from the bar ... yes, please! :D

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='DUTRAVEL']We have sailed Celebrity several times. Handicapped accessibility is very good (on the S class ships). No thresholds, automatic doors, huge rooms, ramps to the veranda. I have not cruised with a service dog (yet) so I can't answer anything about that. We have also had great wheelchair accessible excursions (in Europe). The special needs department responds quickly, but you do need to contact the shore excursion department well in advance.[/QUOTE]

Good to hear! :cool: I wish we could do a European cruise, but the man in the anniversary couple cannot fly for that long due to blood clots - too bad there are no round-trip transatlantic cruises/back-to-back cruises!

Do you have a service dog or are you on a waiting list to get one?

[Quampapetet]

[quote name='Caribbean Chris']Hi Quam - We've been on Celebrity three times (no service dog with us then) and had good experiences. (A five-day from Florida to the Caribbean, a transatlantic from Southampton on an S class ship, and a 15-day from San Diego to Hawaii.)

The food & service was exceptionally good on the Hawaii cruise, especially the variety & preparation of fish dishes in the main dining room.

We'll be going back on Celebrity in December, 9-day Caribbean, first cruise for Hearing Dog Raylene. I will be reporting back.

Some positives for us: (which may not matter to everyone; other lines may have some similar policies, of course.)
- a firm no-smoking policy, including on your veranda (only a place on deck allowing smokers to congregate).
- they have a lot of wine-related events for an extra charge which we enjoyed very much.
- the staterooms and bathrooms are quite roomy and nice on the largest, newer S class ships.
-there are a lot of veranda rooms at fairly reasonable prices versus some of the Holland America ships with fewer verandas.
-they frequently offer promotions (123Go, or Wave, or Pick Your Perk) whereby the cruise fare includes a classic beverage package - alcohol drinks or wine by the glass up to a certain dollar amount, also soft drinks, fresh juices, bottled water, and barista type coffees like lattes. Sometimes promo also includes a shipboard credit.
- they have a policy to reduce your cruise fare if they institute a price drop before your final payment date, which saved us about $500 if I recall correctly, and did not affect the promo.

(We like Holland America for other reasons - excellent room stewards, the wrap-around full promenade deck, and the lovely library-internet-coffee lounges, some with views of the sea. I miss those three things, but have to say the food and dining room/wine steward service has been better on our Celebrity trips in recent years.)

Happy to answer questions.[/QUOTE]

I am looking forward to hearing about Raylene's first cruise! (LOL, autocorrect corrected her name to "Ray Leno"! She must be a musical and comedic dog!)

Do you have to submit a form when you find a lower price or do they automatically reduce your fare? On Carnival, I booked with the Early Saver fare that meant if you found a lower fare for your room category, you could submit a form to get the price for your cabin lowered. It did save me some money when I got to submit forms twice on one cruise!

I will have to sign up for their e-mails to know about such promotions; thanks for the tip on looking for those!

I love no-smoking policies on cruises and in hotels. :D