Service dog on cruise

[MushuHill]

Has anyone ever brought a service dog on Disney Cruise line? What kind of paperwork was needed including from the ports visited? Were there any additional fees?

 

[lanejudy]

I do not have first-hand experience but I understand it can be quite an endeavor to get everything you need. Start working on it several months before the cruise. I’ll see if I can find some older threads about it.

 

[bdrex28]

I have had a few friends do this/try to do this. One was an emotional support animal and it was denied and denied again upon appeal. The other group (my cousin) is a disabled Veteran with a service dog (trained, licensed, etc) and it was approved. I can't recall which excursion or port of call, but they were not allowed to bring Bucky (dog) on the excursion due to regulations.

 

[SteveMouse]

Yes, service dogs go on cruises. No, the cruises out of the US cannot by law charge extra for a service animal.
Yes, there is paperwork involved. The animal will need to be permitted as required by any country the ship visits while the animal is on board. It doesn't matter if the plan is for the animal to stay aboard ship. The permit is still required. This includes private islands in The Bahamas. The same permit, however, can usually be used for Nassau and other islands in the chain. Please confirm no extra permitting is needed for your particular voyage.

 

[MushuHill]

Yes, service dogs go on cruises. No, the cruises out of the US cannot by law charge extra for a service animal.
Yes, there is paperwork involved. The animal will need to be permitted as required by any country the ship visits while the animal is on board. It doesn't matter if the plan is for the animal to stay aboard ship. The permit is still required. This includes private islands in The Bahamas. The same permit, however, can usually be used for Nassau and other islands in the chain. Please confirm no extra permitting is needed for your particular voyage.

I saw a website for the Bahamas that does require a fee to register dogs for entry along with shot records and microchip number. She does have all of these things, but you never know if you are looking at a legit website

 

[lanejudy]

There may be fees/costs involved for the vet or documentation. I believe @SteveMouse meant that DCL doesn’t (cannot) charge anything additional.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Here is a link to the service animal info from the Disney website -

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/guests-with-disabilities/service-animals/

No first hand experience but recently heard some folks with a service animal chatting on board about what they needed to do to bring their service animal to Alaska.

Specific things I can recall them mentioning, this is by no means a complete list -

Lots of paperwork for Disney, the US, and Canada
They had a binder with all of their animal paperwork that they carried with them at all times.
Regarding food for their dog, it had to be in original sealed packaging, ie no Ziplocs, etc,
They were required to bring a life vest for their dog, among other required things
They chose to carry on all of their dog’s required things on their flights and at port to be sure none of it got lost or delayed

Probably best to reach out to Disney as noted on the link, as each situation will be different, to start your conversation and research.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sorry I can't help with getting you information but there was a service dog on our WBPC cruise in 2023. If you walk along the jogging path of the Wonder/Magic, there is a spot with artificial grass for service animals to relieve themselves. The area was kept spotless.
He/she was a beautiful black lab that had these cute sunshades that fit like ski goggles. He was very well behaved.

 

[SteveMouse]

There may be fees/costs involved for the vet or documentation. I believe @SteveMouse meant that DCL doesn’t (cannot) charge anything additional.

Correct! Disney doesn't charge., however any permits or other costs are the responsibility of the animal's handler or owner.

Cruisecritic has an active thread specifically on service animals. Folks in the group are happy to share experiences and resources. Please visit https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/114-disabled-cruise-travel/

 

[lanejudy]

Cruisecritic has an active thread specifically on service animals. Folks in the group are happy to share experiences and resources. Please visit https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/114-disabled-cruise-travel/

Thank you for sharing that link! It sounds like a very experienced knowledgeable poster there. Any links I found here are older and may be outdated.

 

[NightGuardianAngel]

I would recommend contacting the cruise line to see what procedures need to be followed for a service dog. The dog must be fully trained to perform tasks to mitigate a disability as defined by ADA and must meet all ADA requirements. Emotional support animals are not service animals and can be denied access. However, the laws and procedures at ports of call are different since they are outside the USA and are different countries and are subject to that country’s laws (ADA only applies in the United States). However, private islands, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay, are the same as the ship since they are owned by the cruise line. As for flights, ADA does not apply and the Air Carrier Access Act applies there, this does require filling out a form so in addition, contact the airline as well to see how to get that form and what their procedures are also. This is something to be aware of if you are flying to the cruise terminal and flying back home.Airports and flying is a whole different ballgame than the cruise terminal and the cruise ship.

 

[Lewisc]

private islands, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay, are the same as the ship since they are owned by the cruise line.

Don't Private islands follow whatever rules apply to the applicable country? Bahamas?
Don't the same rules apply even if you keep your dog on the ship?

 

[NightGuardianAngel]

Don't Private islands follow whatever rules apply to the applicable country? Bahamas?
Don't the same rules apply even if you keep your dog on the ship?

I would check with the cruise line for these procedures, but to my knowledge, even a passport is not required for cruises to a private island and back to USA. Example: In some countries, especially in the Caribbean, it is a crime to wear camouflage and many passengers have been arrested for it after disembarking the ship in these ports, unlike the USA, Canada, and very likely in Mexico, it is legal to do the same thing.

 

[Lewisc]

I would check with the cruise line for these procedures, but to my knowledge, even a passport is not required for cruises to a private island and back to USA.

Passports are not required to cruises to the Bahamas. Nothing special about a private island.

 

[lanejudy]

I would check with the cruise line for these procedures

Always a good idea to check with the cruise line — if nothing else to inform them you will have a service animal onboard.

However, most regulations are set by the countries in which the ship will port — and generally pertain whether or not one plans to debark in that port. “Private islands” follow the rules of their country, not the ship. Each port may have different regulations.

 

[lanejudy]

a passport is not required for cruises to a private island and back to USA

Passports are not required to cruises to the Bahamas. Nothing special about a private island.

Point of clarification… passports are not required of US citizens on a closed loop cruise out of a US port to the Bahamas. If the private island is in a country that requires a passport, it is necessary for the cruise, regardless if one plans to leave the ship or not.

 

[MushuHill]

Don't Private islands follow whatever rules apply to the applicable country? Bahamas?
Don't the same rules apply even if you keep your dog on the ship?

I have read reports of people being told even if they don’t get off the ship that country can come on and confiscate their dog and have them put down if proper paperwork isn’t filled out for them.

 

[Lewisc]

I have read reports of people being told even if they don’t get off the ship that country can come on and confiscate their dog and have them put down if proper paperwork isn’t filled out for them.

I'm surprised people without the correct paperwork were allowed to embark.

Getting off the ship is irrelevant. You have to comply with the countries entry rules as a requirement for entering the countries territorial waters.

 

[SteveMouse]

Even if you plan to stay aboard ship, you must complete the paperwork and have the correct permit. Usually, the ship will require copies of all paperwork at original embarkation.

The permit process usually includes proof of certain vaccinations and a timely health certification from an approved veterinarian. The vet visit has to be within a very narrow window prior to visiting the country. There are vets in Lauderdale or Miami that can provide necessary services.

For US domestic air travel, one or two US Department of Transportation forms are needed. One is a health, behavior, and training form. The other is an attestation form regarding relief. The forms and other critical information are available at https://www.transportation.gov/resources/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/service-animals.

While in the US, service animals are regulated by US and state laws. While visiting other countries, service animals are governed by the laws of those countries, which may vary significantly from US law. Some countries may not recognize service animals at all.

Aboard ship, ships' staff are usually very accommodating. You may, however need to reinforce with other guests and staff that the dog is working and should not be interfered with.

Follow the captain and staff's instructions regarding rest areas and whether you may leave the service animal unattended.

If on a Disney cruise in particular, have a plan for any fireworks.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If on a Disney cruise in particular, have a plan for any fireworks.

Just wanted to clairfy...
On Alaskan cruises, there are no fireworks for environmental/wildlife reasons. We had them everywhere else though. (Caribbean, Med, Northern Europe)