"Real" Service Dog on Eastern Caribbean cruise

[Corgidogs]

We are hoping to take an Eastern Caribbean cruise this fall. Our daughter has a wonderful Golden Retriever service dog. I have heard that the Eastern Caribbean cruise paperwork is easy to complete for a service dog. Has anyone done this recently? I'm not sure about St. Maarten, since it isn't a US territory. I had read about people just not getting off the ship on other cruise sites, and wonder if their post are genuine. You cannot be on the ship with a serivce dog unless it has the papers to disembark at ALL of your ports, even if you do not get off the ship, you are still in their waters. I understand this is why the Western Caribbean cruise is difficult. Cayman Island being the biggest paperwork issue, with months to complete. Would love to hear from anyone that has taken their serivce dog on a Disney Cruise. Thanks!

 

[truck1]

Let me get with a friend of mine to help answer that question. She has a service dog and was with us when we did the eastern in 2013. Im also interested as my wife and I are in the process of getting a diabetic alert service dog for her so this would help us out also.

 

[Corgidogs]

Thanks

 

[Corgidogs]

Let me get with a friend of mine to help answer that question. She has a service dog and was with us when we did the eastern in 2013. Im also interested as my wife and I are in the process of getting a diabetic alert service dog for her so this would help us out also.

Thanks, I know I can call Disney, but thought I might get some info from someone that has been. My daughter received her dog last September. We attended camp for two weeks at the farm where the dogs are raised and trained, before bringing him home. A couple of the dogs had been trained as diabetic alert dogs. I was so amazed at what they could do. Rachel's dog helps in many ways, but he is mainly a seizure alert dog. Good luck with you dog!

 

[C6PT7]

@Paragd911 should be able to offer some advice!
He and his newest service dog Banjo made YouTube celebrity fame!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

All I can contribute is this from the DCL website:

SERVICE ANIMAL
Guests who are traveling with a service animal must obtain the required import permits per each country’s regulations. Please be aware that some of this process may take weeks or months to complete. Additionally, some countries may not allow animals to enter. Permits for each port of call must be sent to Disney Cruise Line Special Services Department prior to sailing. Guests must bring the original documents with them and have these available at all times. Guests traveling with a service animal should contact Special Services as soon as possible to discuss required documentation, animal relief areas, and availability of Port Adventures.

If you're planning a cruise this fall, I'd suggest you need to start finding out about what paperwork you need to complete ASAP.

 

[bumbershoot]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/help-service-dog-procedures-advice-needed-asap.3214573/

http://www.disboards.com/threads/service-dogs-and-dcl.3376696/

And more if you do a search for "disboards cruise service dog".

 

[Andasibe]

I know this does not solve your immediate needs, but I highly recommend that you do the legwork to get the dog a Pet Passport if you plan on traveling/ cruising often. I know, that sounds weird but they do exist! I have one for my dog that has traveled extensively through Canada, EU and the Caribbean. The passport documents all vaccinations as well as microchip and physical description. Each year my domestic vet updates the required vaccination area and off we go! I have found that it minimizes the time it takes to get special permitting from various countries as well it serves as the health record for most countries/ organizations.

 

[truck1]

Thanks

When you get a chance, bump up your post count to 10. I have a pm for you that I cant send until you have at least 10 posts.

 

[Corgidogs]

Thanks for the post info. I didn't know you had to have a certain amount of post.

 

[Corgidogs]

I know this does not solve your immediate needs, but I highly recommend that you do the legwork to get the dog a Pet Passport if you plan on traveling/ cruising often. I know, that sounds weird but they do exist! I have one for my dog that has traveled extensively through Canada, EU and the Caribbean. The passport documents all vaccinations as well as microchip and physical description. Each year my domestic vet updates the required vaccination area and off we go! I have found that it minimizes the time it takes to get special permitting from various countries as well it serves as the health record for most countries/ organizations.

Is your dog a service dog?

 

[Corgidogs]

Is your dog a service dog?

I spoke to someone at Disney Cruise Line last Spring. And he told me that an Eastern cruise was easy because the ports were either U.S. or had the same requirements, and a couple of weeks was all it took for your paperwork. He said Grand Cayman on the Western cruise was terrible, they required a titer blood test for your dog and all the papers could take up to 6mos. I was hoping the rules had not changed for the Eastern, and that was why I was asking if anyone had cruised recently. My daughter's dog wears a pic of himself with her, on a State of Georiga I.D. for a trained service dog, from the Service Dog non-profit he was breed and trained. I will look into getting him a dog passport too. Sounds like it keeps all the paperwork in easy reach.
Thanks for the tip.

 

[Corgidogs]

I also asked about "not getting off the ship"... I have seen this in a lot of post on other cruise lines, where the person said they took a service dog and just did not get off the ship. I am not sure how these people managed this... unless the ship is really lax and no one knew the dog was on the ship??? You have to have the paperwork for every port, even if you stay on the ship... you are in their waters, and if for some reason you had to leave the ship they would not allow your dog to leave with you! May would even impound it with out the correct papers. yikes!

 

[Andasibe]

Is your dog a service dog?

Corgidogs, she is now, but wasn't at the time her passport was done.

 

[truck1]

Thanks for the post info. I didn't know you had to have a certain amount of post.

Your welcome. There's a 10 post min to be able to pm.

 

[truck1]

Pm sent.

 

[Paragd911]

For Eastern Caribbean cruises with the service dog, you only half to get a International Health certificate for your dog, and your permit for the Bahamas. And enjoy the Cruise!

 

[Paragd911]

For the Western Caribbean, International Health certificate, if you are not going to get off in the Caymans, you will have to sign a waiver. And not get off the ship! Also at Cozumel they want to see the dog while they are inspecting the paperwork at 7 AM. And lastly you have to get a permit for the Bahamas

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Where does your dog go to the bathroom of its on the ship the whole time?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Where does your dog go to the bathroom of its on the ship the whole time?

It varies. If the owner has a verandah room, a small wading pool will be set up on their verandah with sand/chips in it. For the others (who don't have a verandah) they set up a relief station on deck. This was on our transatlantic cruise on the Magic (it was set up on deck 4 aft, just as the covered area over the deck on the port side starts)