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

[fairbourne]

Morning All! Just wanted to put in my two cents worth about booking flights. The major air carriers usually store cookies on your computer. So they know you were looking at particular flights, dates, etc.

 

Our experience has always been that the prices go up each time you go back to look again from the same computer. This has happened even within an hour or two of searching different websites to compare flights and prices. Seems like they want to create a sort of feeding frenzy where you buy quickly because the cost is going up and up. You might buy from another carrier if you have time to shop around...

 

I am not a travel expert, just a very annoyed consumer.

 

Have a great day! Beckie

 

Just clear your cookies and your history before you go back in to look at the same flights - take a screen shot or write down what you've looked at so you remember the prices. Always make sure you untick the "remember me" box as well if there is one - problem solved! Looking for flights at the weekend or evenings when everyone else is looking can throw up higher prices - try a mid-week afternoon. Supply and demand! I clear my cookies and history regularly, but it is surprising to see how many websites cookies "re-appear" in your cookie history even when you have removed them and you have not been back on the website!

[fairbourne]

Depth perception issue? Can be the result of very different focal lengths in the eyes - for example, one eye is long-sighted and the other is short-sighted.

 

Thanks for explaining :).

[celle]

Thanks for explaining :).

 

It was only a guess! But it made sense to me. I had depth perception problems to a minor degree, with left eye normal-sighted and right eye short-sighted.

 

Usually, it made no difference (the brain learns to adjust), except that it made it almost impossible for me to judge the distance or position of fast-moving objects. I was uselss at tennis and other ball sports. I would put out my tennis racquet, expecting to hit the ball, and then find that the ball went either under or over my racquet.

 

I guess it could make going down steps etc rather difficult, but I can't really understand how a dog could help - unless it's really big dog that you lean on, so that you don't fall.

[cjborne2]

Those were really cute photos in the costumes. We have several from Halloween through the years as well. Refresh my memory to upload. I need to add them to a site like photobucket the add the url after clicking the photo icon in the box above where I type comments? Ollie has been a pirate, a football, Roman chariot, and a prisoner. My husband has had a matching costume. He has also worn reindeer antlers and a Santa suit for Christmas.

[cruisin_cutie216]

Hello friends! Its been a while since I've posted on the board and wanted to stop by and say hello!

 

I am pleased to announce that Future Leader Dog #1 is now a working guide in Arizona! Since then, I have acquired puppy #2, a golden retriever named Disney and am hoping to cruise with her at some point. Wanting to do RCCI on Allure of the Seas next summer, Carnival, or Disney Cruise Line. Not sure what to go with and wanted to know if you all had any suggestions? Several of my puppy raiser friends have cruised with their FLDs but for the life of me I have either lost touch with them or they don't raise anymore. Any help/tips would be great!

 

Meredith and FLD Disney

[rangeley]

Morning All! Just wanted to put in my two cents worth about booking flights. The major air carriers usually store cookies on your computer. So they know you were looking at particular flights, dates, etc.

 

Our experience has always been that the prices go up each time you go back to look again from the same computer. This has happened even within an hour or two of searching different websites to compare flights and prices. Seems like they want to create a sort of feeding frenzy where you buy quickly because the cost is going up and up. You might buy from another carrier if you have time to shop around...

 

I am not a travel expert, just a very annoyed consumer.

 

Have a great day! Beckie

 

 

I always clear the cookies when I exit the computer.

[rangeley]

Hello friends! Its been a while since I've posted on the board and wanted to stop by and say hello!

 

I am pleased to announce that Future Leader Dog #1 is now a working guide in Arizona! Since then, I have acquired puppy #2, a golden retriever named Disney and am hoping to cruise with her at some point. Wanting to do RCCI on Allure of the Seas next summer, Carnival, or Disney Cruise Line. Not sure what to go with and wanted to know if you all had any suggestions? Several of my puppy raiser friends have cruised with their FLDs but for the life of me I have either lost touch with them or they don't raise anymore. Any help/tips would be great!

 

Meredith and FLD Disney

 

Don't quote me but I don't think puppies in training are allowed on cruise ships. Maybe one of the others can clarify that.

[rangeley]

Those were really cute photos in the costumes. We have several from Halloween through the years as well. Refresh my memory to upload. I need to add them to a site like photobucket the add the url after clicking the photo icon in the box above where I type comments? Ollie has been a pirate, a football, Roman chariot, and a prisoner. My husband has had a matching costume. He has also worn reindeer antlers and a Santa suit for Christmas.

 

I upload them from "my pictures" on our computer.

[S.S. Cruisers]

[/color Cindy, Remind this tech challenged individual how to clear the cookies? Please and thank you! :) Gotta get ready for church. Everyone have a great day. [/size]

[sunshine426]

Question for my seasoned bahamian travelers. For a service dog that is flying into Nassau do you know what documents they would need?

[fairbourne]

[/color Cindy, Remind this tech challenged individual how to clear the cookies? Please and thank you! :) Gotta get ready for church. Everyone have a great day. [/size]

 

Nancy - it depends on what laptop/pc you are using. On my iPad I go into settings, then there I go into Safari and it will then give me the option to clear history and cookies.

 

On my laptop (MacBook) I go into Safari and choose preferences which will then show you all the stored cookies, so you can then delete all, or select the ones you wish to delete. As I have absolutely no clue whatsoever what any of them actually mean, I just delete them all! Safari History usually shows above your browser on a laptop and you can choose to delete that as well from the drop down menu.

 

It just means you have to type in the website in full you want to log into next time, it doesn't come up automatically. But a little bit of typing to cut down on spam is worth it IMHO! But if you want to remember a website, bookmark it and it will still be there.

[S.S. Cruisers]

Thanks, Fairbourne! I was in a hurry and when I logged out, on my desktop was an icon CCLEANER. I was also looking to defrag my machine, so I looked at that one! Bingo, it is Cookie Cleaner. When I took my computer in to have its check-up (LOL) they put that on my desktop. So, I am good to go.

[dobiemom]

Have a great weekend everyone.

 

Next week my daughter is coming down from Oregon....I can't wait to see her. We're going to go through some of Morey's things. So tough!!!!

Roz, been thinking of you. Did your daughter's visit go as well as to be expected? Hugs!

[Quampapetet]

Through the DOJ [Department of Justice] we have such a law in place about protecting Service/Working Dogs from being kidnapped/harmed, etc. The fine is $10,000+. I hope there's jail time too!!!!

 

There is no such law. There is no federal law about protecting service dogs from any kind of harm. The ADA is a civil rights law, not a criminal law. A few states, such as Florida, do have laws against someone else and/or their dog harming a service dog, and the punishments vary from law to law. Some have a maximum of $500 in damages (vet bills, retraining, replacement, etc.) while some will award the coverage of all real damages, including pay for missed work due to having an injured service dog. Not all allow jail time as a punishment.

 

All states should have such laws, IMO!

[Quampapetet]

He's trying to create a stir with the Veteran's Administration. They do not want to allow any Service Dogs into Veteran Hospital's, offices, etc. unless they have been formally trained by an accredited organization and he's trying to get a petition to allow even "self-trained" dogs into public buildings. He believes they should have the same priviledges as formally trained dogs have through the DOJ and ADA.

 

Owner-trained and private trainer-trained service dogs are under the ADA exactly the same as program-trained dogs. (The ADA doesn't cover VA hospitals and such, which is how they are able to exclude certain kinds of service dogs.)

 

Besides the numerous poorly-behaved fake service dogs, most owner- and trainer-trained service dogs are the best-behaving service dogs, exceeding that of program dogs, around. This is due to the owners being more knowledgeable about keeping the dogs' training up, a well self-policed owner/trainer service dog community in regards to the level of training, and other factors. Not everyone has the ability or time or expenses to do it, but for those who do, it is very rewarding.

 

There are many reasons a person chooses to owner/trainer-train, including multiple disabilities (many programs won't accept someone with more than one type of disability, such as vision impairment and mobility impairment, including using a wheelchair); disabilities few to no programs train for; alert dogs (some need a long time of one-on-one training with the disabled person, not just a two-week boot camp at the end of training); to avoid the many-years-long waiting lists; to use their own dog; because they are a trainer or have trained before; wanting/needing a particular breed that programs don't use; needing a hypoallergenic breed; and more.

[Quampapetet]

As much as I'm all for managing your dog to behave well in public or at home......I'm not so sure how effective the "self-trained" dog really is! I've been witness to some very poor behavior from the self-trained dog! And, I've yet to see a CCI dog attack or lunge at another dog or person!!!!

 

Owner/trainer-trained service dogs (not including fakes, emotional support pets, etc.) are extremely effective, often moreso than program-trained dogs who sometimes get rarely used for their intended purpose or become untrained in ways.

 

I believe it was CCI who had to retire a graduate because it attacked a child/almost attacked a child if it weren't for the handler's actions. I've seen (as well as heard of) program dogs that were poorly behaved, including one that a friend of mine thought was still a puppy in training because it was so poorly behaved and one that attacked my dog (bit her down to the bone).

 

There are likely some misbehaving real owner/trainer dogs out there (again, excluding the fakes), but generally they are the exception. Most program dogs are good, too, of course.

[Quampapetet]

I don't recall what page it was on to go back and quote it, but someone asked about the current int'l health certificates not being carbon copy sets anymore. This is true, they are just a single sheet now, at least as of the last time I got one, which was in January. My guess is they're saving money not doing carbons because they can just be photocopied if need be, but most countries haven't taken a carbon copy sheet from the old ones in my experience, making them a waste.

[Quampapetet]

Hello friends! Its been a while since I've posted on the board and wanted to stop by and say hello!

 

I am pleased to announce that Future Leader Dog #1 is now a working guide in Arizona! Since then, I have acquired puppy #2, a golden retriever named Disney and am hoping to cruise with her at some point. Wanting to do RCCI on Allure of the Seas next summer, Carnival, or Disney Cruise Line. Not sure what to go with and wanted to know if you all had any suggestions? Several of my puppy raiser friends have cruised with their FLDs but for the life of me I have either lost touch with them or they don't raise anymore. Any help/tips would be great!

 

Meredith and FLD Disney

 

Like someone else said, you are not allowed to take an in-training dog on cruises. The right is for the disabled person, not the dog, and even a disabled person cannot take their in-training dog onboard. I am sure your program has a way you can send your dog to another puppy raiser or to them while you travel. I don't even know why you would WANT the hassle and expense and inconvenience (including having to skip getting off at certain ports and miss out on certain types of tours) of bringing the dog; the only reason those of us with trained dogs do it is because we NEED the dogs' help in order to go on the cruise! :)

[trinaM]

Hi Roz,

Do you have any pictures of you and your service dog on vacation?

thanks for the information.

 

Quam: We have not taken "Brenda" on RCCL (those trips were prior to my receiving her!) However, I do have the "Special Needs" Department phone number for RCCL: 800.722.5472 Ex:#34492.

The Potty Box is always a "variable" on different cruise lines.

Celebrity uses a 4x4 wooden box (sturdily built) and filled with cyprus mulch. They placed it on deck 4 (starboard, forward), where the public does not go (unless it's an Alaskan cruise.) It's right outside the Theatre so it was very convenient in the evening, after the shows.

Depending on where your cabin is, you must go through the casino, forward and then out the Starboard side. Once "Brenda" did it, I was able to remove her leash once we were out on deck and she would go to her box immediately! These service dogs are so smart!!!!

Princess uses a 4x4 cardboard box (disposable) filled with woodshavings. They placed the box in a stairwell, around the corner from our cabin. It was great! However, if you are in a wheelchair this would not work. The door is extremely heavy, leading to the stairwell and has a huge lip that you must cross. I asked for this placement, specifically. They originally had the box on a deck that was used by smokers and they would drop their cigarette butts in the box. I requested that it be moved.

NCL uses a 4x4 wooden box (sturdily built), with a plastic liner and wood chips (the kind you see in gardens). It was placed exactly 20 feet from our cabin, in a laundry room that the crew uses for washing their mops. It had the words "crew only" on the door and it was the most convenient. I could go there in my pajamas! I loved it!!!!

Holland America uses a 4x3 wood box (smaller than the rest), (sturdily built), with sod, (the kind used for lawns.) It was placed on deck 3, forward. The only problem with this is it was the "wrap around" deck, where people would do their jogging or walking and was a bit distracting for Brenda. Boy, were they shocked when they say her doing her thing! Their hotel manager was the most wonderful. He would check with me, frequently, to make sure we were happy!

Carnival uses a 4x4 wooden box filled with those damn paper pellets. Before the muster drill and when I should have been exploring the ship or having lunch; I was busy trying to get them to move her box and put something else in place of the pellets.

The box was initially placed on the deck where they have a golf simulator (so while pople were playing golf, Brenda was supposed to go potty?) It was also located on a deck where you had to climb two sets of stairs, (what were they thinking?)

The hotel manager had a crew member leave the ship with a bucket and a shovel.....he literally dug up dirt, under a tree, across the street from the dock (this was in San Diego!) Unblieveable, but true!!!!! Once the dirt was mixed with the pellets Brenda easily relieved herself!

The box was moved to deck 10, where passengers smoked (I was always retrieveing cigarette butts out of the dirt!) It was better than where it was and I met with the hotel manager, to explain my displeasure of his being so ill prepared for a service dog and was offered a 15% discount on a future cruise!

Brenda has been in Mazatlan; Puerto Vallarta; Cabo San Lucas; Acapulco; Ixtapa; Zihuatenajo; La Paz; Catalina and more. In Mexico, the only problem is loose dogs. Although my husband became the "look-out" and protector, to keep the stray animals away; Mexico really does not have a "leash/vaccination or license law." So, be careful and watchful.

Brenda has her favorite "travel dish" that we bring on all cruises. It's a regular double/type water & food dish. It's made of plastic and travels well! You really do not need to worry about spilage. It never happens. The stabilizers on these grand ships keep the water in it's place.

She's on Eukanuba kibble; I put each days feeding in a plastic bag, put it in her dish, twice a day & save the bags for recycling. I carry a "foldable" water dish, in my purse. I love it and have used it many times (usually while waiting to board the ship.) I purchased it online from CCI (Canine Companions for Independence.) It has a clip on it so it can attach to my belt or to her vest.

Always get to know the Hotel Manager (he/she will make sure that you're needs are met.) Upon boarding the ship immediately go to the Purser's (Information Desk), introduce yourself and inquire as to where the box has been placed. If you're not happy insist they move it.

I must tell you that they will not always have the "filling" that you requested.....they use a variety of "fillers" from: Paper pellets (Brenda hates these; they're hard, circular shaped and are unpleasant to step on); various kinds of mulch; dirt; wood chips or wood shavings.

I now bring a bag of mulch with me. I pack it in a large plastic bag and place it in my hanging bag. I will NEVER take the chance of her not having what she needs ever again! It's way too time consuming and I miss too much fun, in the beginning of the cruise. If I don't like the filling, I dump my bag on top....mix it around...and, waalah! We're cruising!!!!!!!!!!:p

My suggestion is to try and get a cabin mid-ship this way, depending on where they place the box, you're never too far away! Although my favorite Handicapped cabin, on Princess, is in the aft part of the ship (this is the one I use the stairwell for her potty box!)

When "tendering" into a port. Make sure that someone on the "tender" is prepared to take your dogs leash, until you get onboard. And, the same for when you are re-boarding the ship! It can be a bit "spooky" because the "tender" is always moving and it puts the dog a bit "off balance!"

From what you've written, it seems that you're a pretty saavy traveler. I hope that the above helps a little more....

....Have a wonderful cruise! :)

[Quampapetet]

Question for my seasoned bahamian travelers. For a service dog that is flying into Nassau do you know what documents they would need?

 

I go every year.

 

They are in the process of changing the requirements (I don't know when it will happen or what the changes will be - you may wish to call them), but the ones they've had for years are that (basically) you need to send for an import permit (free for service dogs) in advance*; then within 48 hours prior to your arrival in the Bahamas, you need to get the int'l health certificate from your vet (the papers with the import permit will tell you what items need to be stated on it) and have the vet fill out the microchip form that comes with the import permit; then within 48 hours after you arrived in the Bahamas, you need to see a vet** for them to examine the paperwork and basically just look at your dog. The three-year rabies vaccine is accepted (I recommend bringing the rabies certificate, just in case, as one year I didn't notice my vet forgot to state on the health certificate that it was the three-year vaccine, but since I had the rabies certificate with me, I had no problem). The dog must be immunized with the typical core vaccines (distemper, parvo, etc.), but it doesn't state when and I've never had an issue having the yearly titers accepted. The dog also needs to be immunized with the leptospirosis vaccine, which doesn't last longer than a year (according to the vaccine expert Dr. Dodds - I personally asked her about it years ago), so you'll have to get your dog that one (usually they like to see vaccinations done no closer to your travel date than thirty days).

 

*If you send for the permit to be mailed to you, it takes around three months to get it due to island time. If you ask for it to be faxed, it is a lot quicker.

 

**I highly recommend the Bahamian vet Dr. Basil Sands. The clinic is in the Nassau ghetto, but it is safe (we've both taken taxis and driven our rental car there). A lot of the taxi drivers and resort employees will recommend him because they use him for their animals. I can't recall the street name, but you should be able to find it on Google. I highly recommend NOT using the veterinary services of The Bahamas Humane Society, especially since it can take hours to wait to see the vet! Just look up Dr. Sands' hours ahead of time, as they do take a mid-day lunch break away from the clinic. Dr. Sands' clinic is an AAHA-approved one, BTW.

 

Oh, and just Google for the form for the Bahamas dog import permit to find it, as I don't have it bookmarked even though I just sent one in last week for my next trip. I think it is on the Bahamas.com site, first or second search result, not on the Bahamas gov't site (that just tells you they're changing things). When will you be going?

[fairbourne]

Roz, been thinking of you. Did your daughter's visit go as well as to be expected? Hugs!

 

 

I was thinking the same yesterday as well Dobiemom. I'm sure it's been a poignant week for them both, but I sincerely hope they both found some happy memories to share as well. :)

[cjborne2]

Question for my seasoned bahamian travelers. For a service dog that is flying into Nassau do you know what documents they would need?

 

We just went to the Bahamas on a cruise. I got the import permit from the Bahamas and they sent me back the stamped permit and another document that the vet needed to sign. It took about 6 weeks to get the forms returned. I included the $10 money order and they sent it back to me!

 

I did not have an international health certificate for the dog. The vet told us that we didn't need it per the online requirements. I would have preferred to have it just in case, but because, as we were told per the vet, that the form would have had to been certified and sent back and our flight was that same afternoon, it would not have gotten done in time.

 

We had problems in Nassau with the transportation company that Carnival partnered with and the would not let us on the bus to Atlantis with the dog. We ended up taking a cab back and forth without issue. We had no trouble in Freeport with the bus transportation.

 

Good luck. The international paperwork makes me very nervous.

Edited August 27, 2013 by cjborne2

[dlbutler5]

We never had to pay for The Bahama's permit. Service dogs are free. We also did it via fax/telephone and they faxed us a copy in advance of the actual permit.

[cjborne2]

I read that the fee was waived but since I didn't have a big time window to get the paperwork done, I sent it anyway. Didn't want to have problems or delays. I was impressed they sent it back.

[rangeley]

Roz, Please check in!