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

[rangeley]

Is there a web page, or somewhere I can find out exactly point by point, down to every detail what paperwork I will need to take my Service Dog to Nassau and Coco Cay Bahamas (Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, May 2019)? I have been reading and looking for information and finding bits and pieces here and there but I am scared to death of missing something. I would love to find some sort of list of easy to understand, step by step, hold my hand if necessary, instructions!

You will need the international health certificate from your vet and the Bahamas permit. Depending on when you are going, faxing the permit is the best and fastest way to go. Regular mail takes a long time. Write "service dog" on the top of the application and it will be free. They will fax the permit back to you.

 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/pettravel-bahamas

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Forums mobile app

[HenryKisor]

If you're going to the Bahamas, I'd encourage you to ask your veterinarian to fax the import permit application to the Bahamas number. My vet did mine, and we had the signed permit back in about a week. I suspect the Bahamians look upon veterinarian letterheads as "official" in some way and are more likely to respond quickly.

[HenryKisor]

In some ways it would be nice to have Trooper's relief box on the balcony, but that might not be the best solution for us. He is used to walking a block or so from our condo to his morning pee spot, and later in the day we walk about two blocks before he is ready to poop. (Gives us both a little exercise, too.) We could try and see how it goes. Important thing is that I do not have a mobility disability so am more flexible in my needs than others might be.

[Karyn RN]

In some ways it would be nice to have Trooper's relief box on the balcony, but that might not be the best solution for us. He is used to walking a block or so from our condo to his morning pee spot, and later in the day we walk about two blocks before he is ready to poop. (Gives us both a little exercise, too.) We could try and see how it goes. Important thing is that I do not have a mobility disability so am more flexible in my needs than others might be.

 

 

 

On a 2 week cruise Carnival placed a potty box on our balcony and up on a deck. It was nice to have options, although my friends dog didn’t like the one up on deck. He refused to use it, so it was good we had the one on our balcony. If your dog has never been on a cruise , you may want to have both just in case.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Caribbean Chris]

Hi, All. We’re sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon on a 10-day New England/Canada cruise on HAL’s Veendam. Raylene’s 8th Cruise.

 

Nice to have minimal paperwork since all ports this time are US or Canada. Just the 7001 Health Certificate and her rabies certificate.

 

We’re trying one of their “Lanai” staterooms this time that have a big sliding door leading directly onto the lower promenade deck. Convenient for long walks around the deck.

[HenryKisor]

I presume those sliding doors have one-way glass so other dogs can't look in and spot Raylene?

[HenryKisor]

Karyn RN, two pee spots would be cool! Was the balcony on your Carnival ship separated fully from its neighbors, or were there side panels with 4 or 5 inches of space between them and the floor, as on HAL ships? I wonder about the neighbors' reaction to moisture sluicing under those panels. Meanwhile, Trooper has now been on three cruises (Alaska, Caribbean, Panama Canal) and is used to hiking to the potty box.

[HenryKisor]

Speaking of paperwork for travel, a few days ago I blogged about the subject at https://henrykisor.blogspot.com/. You might find it amusing.

[Caribbean Chris]

I presume those sliding doors have one-way glass so other dogs can't look in and spot Raylene?

 

Correct, from what I’ve read, no one can see in until night time if lights are on in the room. By then, the steward has closed the drapes anyway. I think Raylene will enjoy watching all the passenger traffic on the promenade. Won’t be surprised if there are other service dogs on board - there were three on our Alaska cruise.

[HenryKisor]

When there are other service dogs on the cruises you take, do you try to get together with the other partners and exchange stories? Are all the dogs really aloof from one another, as the standards say they are supposed to be?

[alexspepa]

Hi, All. We’re sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon on a 10-day New England/Canada cruise on HAL’s Veendam. Raylene’s 8th Cruise.

 

Nice to have minimal paperwork since all ports this time are US or Canada. Just the 7001 Health Certificate and her rabies certificate.

 

We’re trying one of their “Lanai” staterooms this time that have a big sliding door leading directly onto the lower promenade deck. Convenient for long walks around the deck.

Have a great cruise Chris!

[DUTRAVEL]

Hi, All. We’re sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon on a 10-day New England/Canada cruise on HAL’s Veendam. Raylene’s 8th Cruise.

 

Nice to have minimal paperwork since all ports this time are US or Canada. Just the 7001 Health Certificate and her rabies certificate.

 

Have a fabulous time Chris! I do love the cruises when the paperwork is easy.

 

Dianne

[alexspepa]

Speaking of paperwork for travel, a few days ago I blogged about the subject at https://henrykisor.blogspot.com/. You might find it amusing.

Hey Henry - I read some of your blog and it is very entertaining and informative...thanks

 

Keith

[DUTRAVEL]

Karyn RN, two pee spots would be cool! Was the balcony on your Carnival ship separated fully from its neighbors, or were there side panels with 4 or 5 inches of space between them and the floor, as on HAL ships? I wonder about the neighbors' reaction to moisture sluicing under those panels. Meanwhile, Trooper has now been on three cruises (Alaska, Caribbean, Panama Canal) and is used to hiking to the potty box.

 

On Celebrity we have had the box on our balcony. The side panels do not go all the way to the floor - there is a gap of a few inches. We had no problems with the box on the balcony, I doubt if our neighbors even knew it was there.

 

Dianne

[DUTRAVEL]

We are also off to our cruise of the Hawaiian islands. We have seven days around the islands and then five days across the Pacific to Vancouver. I faxed everything to the Hawaiian Department of Agriculture last week and they have pre-cleared her arrival. We are flying to Honolulu so all we have left to do is have her inspected in the airport.

 

Dianne

[Algebralovr]

On Celebrity we have had the box on our balcony. The side panels do not go all the way to the floor - there is a gap of a few inches. We had no problems with the box on the balcony, I doubt if our neighbors even knew it was there.

 

Dianne

 

Dianne,

Which ship and When? We will be on Solstice 4 weeks from Friday. We have a standard balcony, but it would sure be helpful!

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[DUTRAVEL]

Dianne,

Which ship and When? We will be on Solstice 4 weeks from Friday. We have a standard balcony, but it would sure be helpful!

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

Barb - on the Infinity in 2016 and the Solstice in 2017. We had a huge Concierge aft balcony on the Infinity, but on the Solstice we had a standard Veranda. Celebrity is very reluctant to move the box, but I was able to convince them it was a necessity for me.

 

Dianne

[rangeley]

Hi, All. We’re sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon on a 10-day New England/Canada cruise on HAL’s Veendam. Raylene’s 8th Cruise.

 

Nice to have minimal paperwork since all ports this time are US or Canada. Just the 7001 Health Certificate and her rabies certificate.

 

We’re trying one of their “Lanai” staterooms this time that have a big sliding door leading directly onto the lower promenade deck. Convenient for long walks around the deck.

Have a great cruise!! Cant wait to hear how the ship is for accessibility. Is is a hc lanai? John and i actually looked at those cruises but we were chicken to try such an old ship.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Forums mobile app

[wizard-of-roz]

Potty box training with Scooter is gong decently. Just picked up mulch for the box. He will pee there, no issue. He has been willing to poop in the box on grass, now to move to mulch.

 

Once we have mulch down, I’ll also work up to fake grass and potty pads. Lots of work, but getting there!

 

Less than 4weeks from now we will be on Celebrity Solstice!

 

Barb, so smart to practice. Horton is a genius at using any kind of box and any type of filler. Practice truly makes perfect, especially when it comes to the potty box!

[wizard-of-roz]

Hi, All. We’re sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon on a 10-day New England/Canada cruise on HAL’s Veendam. Raylene’s 8th Cruise.

 

Nice to have minimal paperwork since all ports this time are US or Canada. Just the 7001 Health Certificate and her rabies certificate.

 

We’re trying one of their “Lanai” staterooms this time that have a big sliding door leading directly onto the lower promenade deck. Convenient for long walks around the deck.

 

Bon-Voyage Chris your stateroom sounds wonderful. Have fun and come back and tell us all about it.

 

I love it when the paperwork is simple!

[wizard-of-roz]

Karyn RN, two pee spots would be cool! Was the balcony on your Carnival ship separated fully from its neighbors, or were there side panels with 4 or 5 inches of space between them and the floor, as on HAL ships? I wonder about the neighbors' reaction to moisture sluicing under those panels. Meanwhile, Trooper has now been on three cruises (Alaska, Caribbean, Panama Canal) and is used to hiking to the potty box.

 

Carnival has become the "winner", as far as I'm concerned when it comes to the potty box construction and placing it where we like best!

 

Carnival does a great job of making our dogs feel welcome and comfortable!

[rangeley]

Well we are bringing our own sod. Our neighbor has some that they are not using. I figured roll it up and put it in a plastic bag. Ive got a granny cart that i can put it in. They can take it at the dock and put it in the box. Im hoping it works out.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Forums mobile app

[wizard-of-roz]

To all who are cruising soon, fair winds and blue seas........have a wonderful time!

 

Joyful, happy weekend everyone!

[wizard-of-roz]

Well we are bringing our own sod. Our neighbor has some that they are not using. I figured roll it up and put it in a plastic bag. Ive got a granny cart that i can put it in. They can take it at the dock and put it in the box. Im hoping it works out.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Forums mobile app

 

Brilliant! As long as you can handle it being put up on the TSA scanner yourself, that's about the worst of it. The granny cart is so helpful!

[wizard-of-roz]

Barb - on the Infinity in 2016 and the Solstice in 2017. We had a huge Concierge aft balcony on the Infinity, but on the Solstice we had a standard Veranda. Celebrity is very reluctant to move the box, but I was able to convince them it was a necessity for me.

 

Dianne

 

That's exactly how Celebrity was with me. Very reluctant in the beginning but slowly they became more helpful and accommodating. I would cruise them again, easily.