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

[rpclmc]

My daughter struggled, a little, with reading.  For her home reading time, she read to her lab; they both looked forward to that time.  

 

We have had our tree up since Thanksgiving.  It is a new one for us.  Since I thought we would be at our house in Florida for Christmases, I sold the other tree.  This one fits the house so much better than the old one; it is not to tall for the room and not as wide.  And we have a couple other decorations that my daughter had kept.

 

Went back to the orthopedic about my knee instability and it holding me back from walking.  He thinks I may have a torn ACL and ordered a brace and MRI.  I most likely will not have surgery for it as I was having mobility issues in my legs before the injuries in August.  Sure hope the brace helps enough that I can walk a little.  I have had this kind of brace before and it worked great.

 

We are just having a small Christmas with myself, daughter daughter's boyfriend and husband.  My daughter has to work that day, hopefully not a long day.  Fed Ex delivers on Christmas, those packages cost the sender more money, so hopefully not many.  Lately she has been working 12 hour days, she just got in for the night and it is 9 pm.  She said one of the delivery guys expect he will be out till midnight.  She already helped him with some of his route.

 

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

Linda and Halo

[S.S. Cruisers]

Fairbourne, 

The school that I worked at had the reading program with dogs.  It was nice to see the kids that were shy or withdrawn  perk up when the dogs got there. And you are  right about the pups cuddled up sleeping through the reading session!  So content.  

 

I miss Roz  and was also wondering how Horton is doing.  😥🐾💕

 

Linda, I hope your knee gets better and that the brace works.  I am so bummed.  Medicare and my Workers Comp are fighting g about who would pay for my back stimulator.  Well actually Workers Com won't pay for it at all because they think it has not been proven to help.  Medicare is saying it's a Workers Comp thing although it is my leg that still hurts from the back surgery and it was not included in the original Workers Comp claim.  Well duh because it didn't hurt until after they did surgery!  Hubby wants to find out how much it would cost if we pay for it! 😮  If it's not one thing it another.

 

[Caribbean Chris]

Hi everyone. We are also planning a quiet Christmas, mostly likely just the two of us plus Raylene, of course. Fairbourne, it was interesting to hear what's going on in your neck of the woods.

 

I am very encouraged about the vaccines now arriving at our hospitals for the medical staff people who have endured so much since March. We are hearing that by springtime, all the over-65 crowd should have had an opportunity to be vaccinated. 

 

If that proves true, perhaps we will make a trip of some sort by car in the summer or fall. Otherwise, we are looking forward to the potential reality of our January 2022 Hawaii cruise, postponed from March of this year. It will be a belated 40th anniversary celebration, and we'll find get to use Raylene's blood titer test before it expires!

 

Happy Christmas to all and a very bright new year!

[denversees4me]

Hi all 

been a very very long time - days like today I wish I could  pick up the phone and call Roz and ask .. miss her 

does anyone know what the deal is with princess and relief boxes ? I remember Roz saying a while ago .... ok let’s face it years ago. That they won’t put the box on the balcony anymore Sony question is where is it generally located ? We sail Disney and haven’t been on princess since 2008 where they put the box in an elevator  space/ hallway. Behind a closed door open to staff only.  Just down the hall from us 

also what materials are they using these days? When we took our cruise we got cat litter 

thanks

sapphire toalaska if that helps

Edited December 17, 2020 by denversees4me

[S.S. Cruisers]

Hi Carrie, 

I don't know the answer to your question, just wanted to say  hi.  Hope you and furbabies are all well and ready for Christmas.  Looking forward to a cruise is very exciting.  Almost like the first time we cruised!  

Take Care, 

Nancy

[Algebralovr]

Greetings all - long time no posting.

DH, Scooter and I drove over Thanksgiving from mid-Missouri to Savannah to see my son and his wife who are stationed there.  We started in STL on Monday morning for me to see a new Neuro, and finally got on the road at 3pm.  Drive wouldn't have nearly so bad if we could have started earlier.  Ah, well.  It was good to see that Scooter hasn't lost as much ground in public behavior as I was afraid.  We've not been out much.  

Well, I've been teaching a class, so we go to campus a couple of times a week, but just for an hour and he is so used to that, I don't even really consider it PA.  We go at 8am, he lays on the floor for an hour, and head back home by 9am.  So few people on campus this year!

 

Anyway, he did well.  But that was a long drive.  

 

We were supposed to leave for Tampa today, and were to have boarded a ship tomorrow.  Sigh.  It is not helping me.  Then our annual February cruise was also cancelled.  I've booked a little cabin at the beach in the keys for February, but DH doesn't want to take Scooter.  The place is absolutely no pets (I know, a SD isn't a pet, but I'm not sure I want to fight that fight), and honestly, all I plan to do is lay on the beach and soak up the sun.  I'll probably leave Scooter here with a doggy pal for that week.  Easier traveling that way as well.  One less creature to manage. 

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays if you celebrate other holidays,  and lets hope that vaccine gets to us soon!

 

 

[rangeley]

On 12/17/2020 at 2:23 PM, denversees4me said:

Hi all 

been a very very long time - days like today I wish I could  pick up the phone and call Roz and ask .. miss her 

does anyone know what the deal is with princess and relief boxes ? I remember Roz saying a while ago .... ok let’s face it years ago. That they won’t put the box on the balcony anymore Sony question is where is it generally located ? We sail Disney and haven’t been on princess since 2008 where they put the box in an elevator  space/ hallway. Behind a closed door open to staff only.  Just down the hall from us 

also what materials are they using these days? When we took our cruise we got cat litter 

thanks

sapphire toalaska if that helps

On our Princess cruise with Roz last year the box was in a crew area and had the biggest bark mulch I've ever seen.

[rangeley]

We stayed home for Thanksgiving and probably will for Xmas. Last weekend we went down to see our granddaughter. It was only the 4 of us and the 2 dogs. 

 

Our cruise for 2022 is all paid for. Hal sent an email saying if we paid in full we would get 10% off the cruise and 250 obc. So we went for it. We also get "free" drinks, prepaid gratuities and a few dinners at the specialty restaurants.  Still get our money back if we need to cancel for some reason. 

 

Been thinking alot about Roz, especially when we wrote out our xmas cards. 😢.   Here's our card and a few other cuties!!

[fairbourne]

Rangeley - cute doesn't even start to describe these adorables!  😄  and they certainly put a smile on my face.

 

Well I hope as we head into another year we will be on here again talking about Cruising with our (well all of your) Service Dogs.  We thought our biggest challenge this year would be Brexit!  

 

Nevermind, we are safe, well and it was snowing today, so maybe a white Christmas for tomorrow!  

 

Sending you all and your wonderful dogs our very best wishes from our home to yours wherever you are in the world for this festive season and may we all have a healthy and peaceful 2021.  We will raise a glass in memory of our much missed dear friend Roz at Hogmanay. She would no doubt ask,  "what, only one?!" 

 

On 12/22/2020 at 2:53 PM, Algebralovr said:

  I'll probably leave Scooter here with a doggy pal for that week.  Easier traveling that way as well.  One less creature to manage.  

 

Algebralovr - I did laugh at this statement as only a wife could! 😂

 

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by fairbourne

[DUTRAVEL]

On 12/23/2020 at 10:42 AM, rangeley said:

We stayed home for Thanksgiving and probably will for Xmas. Last weekend we went down to see our granddaughter. It was only the 4 of us and the 2 dogs. 

 

Our cruise for 2022 is all paid for. Hal sent an email saying if we paid in full we would get 10% off the cruise and 250 obc. So we went for it. We also get "free" drinks, prepaid gratuities and a few dinners at the specialty restaurants.  Still get our money back if we need to cancel for some reason. 

 

Been thinking alot about Roz, especially when we wrote out our xmas cards. 😢.   Here's our card and a few other cuties!!

Very cute!

[Caribbean Chris]

Cindy, the photos were wonderful!
 

I took this photo of Raylene on a chilly day (for Florida) recently.  Merry Christmas & happy holidays to all - with wishes for a bright new year in 2021!
Chris, Bob & Hearing Dog Raylene

 

[puppycanducruise]

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Stay safe.

[rangeley]

On 12/25/2020 at 6:48 AM, Caribbean Chris said:

Cindy, the photos were wonderful!
 

I took this photo of Raylene on a chilly day (for Florida) recently.  Merry Christmas & happy holidays to all - with wishes for a bright new year in 2021!
Chris, Bob & Hearing Dog Raylene

 

 

Love this pic! You can see her "sugar face" as Roz would call it. 

[S.S. Cruisers]

Mornin' All,

Another, almost year on the books.  Quite the year on top of that.  All the pictures surely bring smiles to my face.  I miss seeing Mr. Horty pants all decked out for Christmas.  The three

of us had a nice quiet Thanksgiving and Christmas.  

Jezzy Lou is loving the landscaping all being done in the yard.  She runs more than she ever has in her life.  From one end to the other.  It is keeping her nice and trim.  She can become a little sausage easily.  

Cindy, isn't that a nice feeling at least having a cruise booked.  And all the perks? Score.  

Hope everyone has a nice week, coming up. 

Love to all 😻❣️🦮

[denversees4me]

On 12/23/2020 at 10:33 AM, rangeley said:

On our Princess cruise with Roz last year the box was in a crew area and had the biggest bark mulch I've ever seen.

Was it close to your room ?  My first cruise was cat litter I’ll never forget it hahaha

[rangeley]

12 hours ago, denversees4me said:

Was it close to your room ?  My first cruise was cat litter I’ll never forget it hahaha

 

It was not close to our cabin. We complained that it was at the opposite end of the ship but they said they weren't moving it. Same with Roz, she was on a different deck and hers was at the opposite end. With the cleaning carts in the halls 24 hours a day, John couldn't even take his own dog to the box. 

[denversees4me]

12 hours ago, rangeley said:

 

It was not close to our cabin. We complained that it was at the opposite end of the ship but they said they weren't moving it. Same with Roz, she was on a different deck and hers was at the opposite end. With the cleaning carts in the halls 24 hours a day, John couldn't even take his own dog to the box. 

what ship ? And when you say at the other end was it at the other end on your deck or another deck completely? I am a Disney cruiser and they only put theirs on one deck deck 4 -  its forward if you’re on the bigger ships and asked if you’re on the smaller ships and my room is usually on deck seven it’s a big ordeal it sucks 

we’re your rooms fed aft or mid 

Edited December 31, 2020 by denversees4me

[rangeley]

10 hours ago, denversees4me said:

what ship ? And when you say at the other end was it at the other end on your deck or another deck completely? I am a Disney cruiser and they only put theirs on one deck deck 4 -  its forward if you’re on the bigger ships and asked if you’re on the smaller ships and my room is usually on deck seven it’s a big ordeal it sucks 

we’re your rooms fed aft or mid 

 

We were on the Royal Princess. Beautiful ship and one of the bigger ones. Our cabin was forward and the potty box was aft on the same deck. It was in a crew area with a big heavy door I could barely open. 

[denversees4me]

9 hours ago, rangeley said:

 

We were on the Royal Princess. Beautiful ship and one of the bigger ones. Our cabin was forward and the potty box was aft on the same deck. It was in a crew area with a big heavy door I could barely open. 

 

ok perfect good to know at least it’s on the same deck . On Disney it’s on deck 4 and you have to go down the elevator out and to the front or back of the ship sometimes a ten min to 20 min ordeal depending on time of day a real pain ! I will pick your brain more as we get closer thanks

[M0rrie]

Hello,  I have received my SD since we last cruised a year ago and just booked back to back 7 day cruises on the NCL Sky for September 2022.... it’s a ways away but I am so excited as it’ll be my 60th birthday on the cruise and the Sky was the first ship we ever cruised on so feels very right to be the first ship to take Rory my SD on (although if I have my way we will cruise soon as COVID clears up LOL)

 

I was wondering if anyone has advice or tips cruising with a small SD?  
Rory is a Biewer Terrier and is only 3.2 lbs, he is either held or carried in a sling while he is working as his  tasks require him being close to my wrists and/or heart.  Because he is so tiny most people think he is a ‘fake’ SD so it does prompt a fair bit of conversation (not always friendly unfortunately) but he is highly trained and well behaved on and off leash. 
 

Thanks .. and Happy New Year to everyone 🎉🎊

[Mabbiez]

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

 

Let's hope this year can be a much better, safer year!

 

We have changed our cruise to April of 2022. Hopefully we will be able to sail by then.

 

My family and I are considering taking a trip to visit my brother in Amsterdam later this year, if it is safe. If we do this it will be Mila's first trip in an airplane. We would be able to get her European passport ahead of time and then we wouldn't have to stress about it for the cruise in April '22. I'm just excited at the possibility!

 

I hope everyone had a safe holiday!

[Algebralovr]

On 12/24/2020 at 1:49 PM, fairbourne said:

One less creature to manage.  

 

Algebralovr - I did laugh at this statement as only a wife could! 😂

 

I'm glad to give you a giggle!!

The funny part is that it is a toss up whether DH is managing me and the dog or I'm managing him and the dog.  After 2 hours in the car, I am so stiff I can barely walk, so DH has to help me out, then I have to lean on the cane while trying to manage the dog (who hates the cane).  Meanwhile, Scooter is SO HAPPY to be out of the car, even for a few minutes - he is ready to potty and take a short break, and there isn't always a good place to do that.  Plus, the trip is apparently over 20 hours by car each way from mid-Missouri to the south Florida Keys. 

 

I'm so spoiled!  I'm used to a cruise ship during my February vacation.  3 hour flight (after 2 hour drive to the airport) and I'm in FL the night before.  Then a couple of weeks of someone else doing all the cooking and cleaning and such.  This year, we have a kitchenette, a grocery store, etc.  I'm looking forward to the break and the sun and the beach, but I'm not looking forward to cooking and cleaning up from cooking and such.  You know?

[DUTRAVEL]

On 12/31/2020 at 4:12 PM, M0rrie said:

I was wondering if anyone has advice or tips cruising with a small SD?  
Rory is a Biewer Terrier and is only 3.2 lbs, he is either held or carried in a sling while he is working as his  tasks require him being close to my wrists and/or heart.  Because he is so tiny most people think he is a ‘fake’ SD so it does prompt a fair bit of conversation (not always friendly unfortunately) but he is highly trained and well behaved on and off leash. 
 

Thanks .. and Happy New Year to everyone 🎉🎊

Congratulations on your new Service Dog. I don't have any tips for you since I have a 65lb Lab. Since your dog is task trained, I would just ignore any negativity. Enjoy your cruise!

[Caribbean Chris]

Barb, what’s the name of the place where you staying in the Keys? I’ll be interested to hear how you like it. I’ve looked online at a lot of cottage-type places with kitchenettes and thought about booking a Keys getaway later this year.

We drove down to the Keys from NC for several years each winter before moving to Florida, but were always in an RV (which we sold in 2019). It’s around 300 miles now from SW Florida, so just five or six hours....which does beat 20 hours each way!

 

Fingers crossed that Florida has sunshine & warm weather for you whenever you come. One December we were in Key West on a cruise ship and it was in the 40s.

[S.S. Cruisers]

Morning all,

Hope everyone is well and just busy.  I know we are about tired of this sickness.  Being in Arizona is no fun since we have the highest number of cases in the world! 😵  Being a resort town and the weather being mild this year, we have had lots of visitors to our state.  I'm sure that doesn't help.  It seems people are getting more and more lax and I'm sure it is why the surge in cases.  

 

Enough of that.  I'm wondering if the cruise industry will ever get back to normal?  We will just have to wait and see.