A dog sails to Alaska!

[grantclaire]

Hi all! Just got back from sailing on the Wonder to Alaska. Great cruise and lots of fun! Wanted to share this story. On the first sea day I was sitting in Cabanas when a woman walked by with a small dog on a leash, cute little pug. A few days later we were on a whale watching excursion and the women and dog were on the boat with us, I made a joke about the dog paying full fare! The woman did not seem to want to talk about her pet. Never seen a pet on a cruise before.

 

[happycamper47]

We've encountered numerous service/support dogs while cruising.

 

[insureman]

Comfort or service dog is my guess. See them on almost every cruise.

 

[grantclaire]

Thats whats I thought as well, he was a cute little guy and well behaved!

 

[DCLMP]

Thats whats I thought as well, he was a cute little guy and well behaved!

I've noticed people with service dogs never want to talk about their dogs. I talk about my dog all the time, but she's crazy hyper.

 

[lanejudy]

Never seen a pet on a cruise before.

Comfort or service dog is my guess. See them on almost every cruise.

Service dog. I don't believe emotional support/comfort animals are allowed. Definitely not a pet. It is a very involved process to get a service animal approved to board a cruise ship.

I made a joke about the dog paying full fare! The woman did not seem to want to talk about her pet.

I've noticed people with service dogs never want to talk about their dogs.

Service dogs are considered like a piece of medical equipment. But discussion almost always leads to questions about the disability. No wonder why they may not want to chat.

 

[brent02139]

I was on the Alaska 8/22 sailing. There as a Great Dane on board…

 

[KGmomoftwins]

I was on the Alaska 8/22 sailing. There as a Great Dane on board…

With the poop bag! The dog also happened to be on our plane home in first class with us!

 

[bcwife76]

I was on the Alaska 8/22 sailing. There as a Great Dane on board…

I had friends on that cruise and they mentioned the Great Dane as well!

 

[LionKingCPA]

I was on the Alaska 8/22 sailing. There as a Great Dane on board…

We saw him (her?) all over! In the lounge, in the hallways, and at the restaurants. It was giant. But always well behaved and worked really well with it's owner.

 

[facepalm]

It's because it's not a pet, for all intents and purposes it's a piece of medical equipment like a wheelchair and should be ignored and not cooed at, petted, touched, etc.

Please realize that people with service dogs are just trying to live their lives, and while it's novel to you to see one on a cruise, you're probably not even the 50th person to approach them about their dog that day. My best friend has a service dog and it is absolutely exhausting the amount of attention it causes, people cooing or trying to sneak pets despite the giant "Working - Do Not Pet" or wanting to ask intrusive questions about her disabilities or talking loudly so she'll overhear to try to force an interaction.