Service dogs on cruise

[tidefan]

I wonder what do they do for people with pet dander allergies? Do they get warned of a dog being on the ship?

Just wondering. I used to have a co-worker that couldn't be around them. Do they get notified? I know that the company used to have to give them notice if there was going to be a animal allowed in the building.

I bet that is a legal headache (as both parties could request accommodation)...

 

[dina444444]

I wonder what do they do for people with pet dander allergies? Do they get warned of a dog being on the ship?

Just wondering. I used to have a co-worker that couldn't be around them. Do they get notified? I know that the company used to have to give them notice if there was going to be a animal allowed in the building.

I bet that is a legal headache (as both parties could request accommodation)...

I was on the wbpc and there were at least 2 service dogs on board, no prior notice was given.

 

[lanejudy]

I wonder what do they do for people with pet dander allergies? Do they get warned of a dog being on the ship?

I don't believe there is any notice given. If someone were to find themselves in that situation, they can ask to be moved as far as possible for an MDR assigned table and they may be able to ask if the animal may be on any excursions. However, the guest with an allergy then needs to decide if they can manage their allergy and stay far enough away, or do they need to avoid/skip certain situations (excursions, shows, etc.).

 

[pjacobi]

Can I bring my emotional support peacock on board DCL?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42880690


-Paul

 

[SteveMouse]

For Mexico, the paperwork process has been simplified. You need an International Health Certificate form 7001, which no longer has to be endorsed by the USDA. You'll want to give a copy to the ship when boarding and carry a copy when you want to go ashore in Mexico.

Castaway Cay is part off The Bahamas.

There is a permit required.

If you are flying, you may also have paperwork to do with the airline.

Be sure to notify DCL in a timely fashion.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I wonder what do they do for people with pet dander allergies? Do they get warned of a dog being on the ship?

Just wondering. I used to have a co-worker that couldn't be around them. Do they get notified? I know that the company used to have to give them notice if there was going to be a animal allowed in the building.

I bet that is a legal headache (as both parties could request accommodation)...

So a few things on this I want to bring up. Service animals are protected by law. They can go pretty much anywhere anytime. Think about it this way, if your friend is in Walmart and a service animal walks in, does walmart have to announce over the loud speaker that there is a service dog in the building? Same with hotels, etc. Service animals are essentially considered a piece of equipment for those with a disability.

The only legal headache would be if DCL broke ADA guidelines, the coworkers allergies would not trump the disability service dog.

My recommendation for anyone who does happen to have a severe allergy to dogs is put that in your special requests area. Chances are slim you'll even see a service dog. I've been on 10+ cruises and have never seen one on the ship with me before. Not that they weren't there just that I never crossed paths with them. Putting it in your special requests will help accomodate any risk of being seated near a service animal at dinner or anything.

 

[pjacobi]

I suspect that a continuous glucose monitor would be much more accurate for monitoring blood sugar than a service animal. It seems like this would be a better option than bring along a service animal on a cruise.


-Paul

 

[dcassetta]

I suspect that a continuous glucose monitor would be much more accurate for monitoring blood sugar than a service animal. It seems like this would be a better option than bring along a service animal on a cruise.


-Paul

Glucose monitors cannot notify others if you are in need or get supplies.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I suspect that a continuous glucose monitor would be much more accurate for monitoring blood sugar than a service animal. It seems like this would be a better option than bring along a service animal on a cruise.


-Paul

There are many reasons people have service animals. Dogs can be trained for TONS of things. Seizures, heart problems, glucose, seeing/eye dogs, etc.

A service dog is "medical equipment" and the need is determined by the person and their medical professional team.

While not out of the option to have a monitor a dog can alert the owner to spikes and swings in their blood levels and such. Its not just oh they want to bring a dog around, most of them NEED a service animal for their medical needs.

 

[tidefan]

So a few things on this I want to bring up. Service animals are protected by law. They can go pretty much anywhere anytime. Think about it this way, if your friend is in Walmart and a service animal walks in, does walmart have to announce over the loud speaker that there is a service dog in the building? Same with hotels, etc. Service animals are essentially considered a piece of equipment for those with a disability.

The only legal headache would be if DCL broke ADA guidelines, the coworkers allergies would not trump the disability service dog.

My recommendation for anyone who does happen to have a severe allergy to dogs is put that in your special requests area. Chances are slim you'll even see a service dog. I've been on 10+ cruises and have never seen one on the ship with me before. Not that they weren't there just that I never crossed paths with them. Putting it in your special requests will help accomodate any risk of being seated near a service animal at dinner or anything.

The only problem with this line of thinking is that the people with severe allergies may have something like a 504 plan (which, granted would be in an educational or work setting) that also protects them by law. It brings up the interesting question, when two parties both have accommodations protected by law, but are in conflict, how does that resolve?

Something like this...

A court decision this month out of New York gives one example of conflicting rights of different members of the school community. The parents of a student with asthma and severe allergies filed a wide-ranging lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, arguing that a school district violated their child’s rights by not having a policy prohibiting service animals and by allowing a service animal on the school grounds several times in violation of their child’s 504 plan.

In this case, the parent of a different student required the use of a service animal and brought the animal to multiple school events in which the student with the allergy participated. The student with the allergy had a 504 plan that required the school to, among other things, ensure no animals come within 30 feet of the student, keep the student out of contact with service animals, implement a cleaning protocol after animals are within the school building, and communicate in advance with her parents when a service animal was anticipated to be within the school building.

Additionally, the parents had requested other accommodations that are not discussed in the court decision and had also requested a blanket policy banning service animals from school. The school district rejected the latter request, explaining that it had an obligation under federal disability law to allow service animals within the building.

The court dismissed most of the claims but will allow the disability discrimination claim to proceed. This relates to alleged violations of the 504 plan. The court recognized that the school is required under federal law to allow service animals but noted that this does not excuse a school district from fulfilling its obligations under a 504 plan to protect a student against allergies. This case shows how distinct legal rights can come into direct conflict.

While the public court filings do not provide sufficient detail to determine what, if anything, the school might reasonably have done differently (or even if it did, in fact, violate the student’s rights), one lesson is that in allowing a student, staff member, or school visitor to exercise her right to use a service animal, a school district must consider whether accommodations are necessary to ensure that the rights of students with allergies are protected. This is a difficult balance that will depend very much on the individual facts of each case.

– Doe v. United States, 118 LRP 49416 (S.D.N.Y. 2018).

Just a weird situation that could occur. Gotta love when the court says "well, you have to do A, but if you do that you are in violation of B and that means you are in violation! Not much the above school could have done, if you ask me...

 

[lanejudy]

It brings up the interesting question, when two parties both have accommodations protected by law, but are in conflict, how does that resolve?

First, a 504 has no direct bearing on a cruise ship, or pretty much any business where the holder chooses to engage.

My understanding (and I'm not a lawyer)... the business (in this case DCL) must accommodate both to the best of their operational ability. The service dog is allowed to accompany it's person. The individual with an allergy can ask to be moved to a different table, different MDR, maybe a different stateroom. It is then up to each of the disabled individuals to decide if the offered accommodation adequately meets their needs - if not they can ask about a different accommodation but ultimately may need to decide if they can/cannot participate. That may mean avoiding the MDR or not doing an excursion or onboard activity. There is no requirement that all trace of an allergen be removed, just that the allergic individual is not forced to be within range of the allergen.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This was set up on the Disney Wonder on the 4th floor (I think it was in the fore section) during our cruise to Alaska this past May.
View attachment 461678

We had a similar, but larger area, on the Magic for our 14-nt WBPC cruise. It was along the deck 4 jogging track, not out on the main promenade areas. It was off to the side, so never in the way of runners/walkers. I never thought to take a picture of it.

 

[happycamper47]

First, a 504 has no direct bearing on a cruise ship, or pretty much any business where the holder chooses to engage.

My understanding (and I'm not a lawyer)... the business (in this case DCL) must accommodate both to the best of their operational ability. The service dog is allowed to accompany it's person. The individual with an allergy can ask to be moved to a different table, different MDR, maybe a different stateroom. It is then up to each of the disabled individuals to decide if the offered accommodation adequately meets their needs - if not they can ask about a different accommodation but ultimately may need to decide if they can/cannot participate. That may mean avoiding the MDR or not doing an excursion or onboard activity. There is no requirement that all trace of an allergen be removed, just that the allergic individual is not forced to be within range of the allergen.

It would be the same as flying with a dog allergy and having a service dog board the plane. Who decides?

 

[lanejudy]

It would be the same as flying with a dog allergy and having a service dog board the plane. Who decides?

The service dog cannot be denied access, therefore it’s likely to be the person with the allergy who decides whether they can manage if seated far enough away from the service dog.

 

[OpieDoodle]

It would be the same as flying with a dog allergy and having a service dog board the plane. Who decides?

The service dog legally cannot be denied access. Period.

 

[happycamper47]

The service dog cannot be denied access, therefore it’s likely to be the person with the allergy who decides whether they can manage if seated far enough away from the service dog.

The service dog legally cannot be denied access. Period.

You both missed my point. Who decides who moves? The airline, the person with the service dog, or the person with the allergy?

 

[lanejudy]

You both missed my point. Who decides who moves? The airline, the person with the service dog, or the person with the allergy?

The service dog is allowed access, end of statement.
If the person with an allergy feels the dog is too close, they ask to be relocated. If they don't feel the move is far enough away, they make any further decision about flying or not.

ETA: asking for an accommodation means asking for yourself to be moved -- you don't get to request somebody else be relocated or denied. I haven't flown for a while, but I don't recall any airline asking all passengers if they have allergies. It's up to the passenger with an allergy to self-disclose and ask for accommodation if necessary.

 

[SteveMouse]

Accessibility under air travel (airports and commercial airplanes) is governed by the Air Carrier Access Act, not the ADA. Severe food allergies are explicitly recognized as a disability.

The regulations provide guidance regarding how service dogs and severe allergies are to be accommodated.

See https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-II/subchapter-D/part-382

 

[pjacobi]

Glucose monitors cannot notify others if you are in need or get supplies.

Yes, they can! Continuous glucose monitors can send alerts to any cell phone, even a care giver.

There was even a TV commercial about a mother being able to monitor a kid's glucose level while at school.


-Paul

 

[RedHead0186]

Yes, they can! Continuous glucose monitors can send alerts to any cell phone, even a care giver.

There was even a TV commercial about a mother being able to monitor a kid's glucose level while at school.


-Paul

What's your point? Two different people can have the exact same disability/diagnosis, and it can look very different in each person. There is no one-size fits all approach, and each person gets to determine what best suits their needs and how they manage it. I have no idea why one might choose a service dog over a glucose monitor, but it's really not any of my business anyway what choice they make.