Dogs at sea?

After working in the travel industry for over 20 years I have been asked some very bizarre and obscure questions including ‘If I lose weight, can I take more luggage on the plane’? ‘What kind of tea bags will they have in my hotel’? And my personal favourite ‘Can I request a sea view’? – This question posed by a customer booking a safari holiday to the Masai Mara.

However it seems that people’s bond with their pets is so strong that they don’t want to leave them at home when they go on holiday and I have been asked on more than one occasion ‘Can I take my dog on a cruise ship’? And once even a parrott!

The fact is, it is not impossible to take a pet abroad, however there is a whole lot of  vaccinations, paperwork and general hassle. If you are mentally and financially strong enough to overcome all the red tape, then the world’s your oyster. Or is it?

When it comes to a cruise holiday, unless your pet is a service dog it seems that the choice is narrowed down to one solitary offering which is cruising the Atlantic Ocean on Cunards Queen Mary 2.

Why is the choice so slim? Well the 2 main reasons for this are the strict health and hygiene laws in place on cruise ships. We humans carry enough viruses and diseases around without inviting those from the animal world on board. Also on most cruises there are different ports of call, often in multiple countries which will all have their own differing ,strict quarantine  and entry regulations.

So what can your pooch expect on board a modern classic ocean going liner?  The QM2 has 12 air conditioned kennels which your dog (or cat) can relax in when they are not out and about strolling on deck or  making new friends in the dedicated doggy area, or even playing with one of the toys they receive in their pooch pack which they receive on embarkation.

They will recieve their own coat with the QM2 logo (as modelled by Fido above) and also:-

A Frisbee
Name Tag
Food Dish & Scoop
Fleece Blankets
Selection of Premium Food 
Healthy Gourmet Cookies (freshly baked every day and offered at bed times)

And how much does it cost to take tour dog for a trip on the ocean waves?

Well it is currently between $500-$700 per trip, depending on whether your cat is in the upper or lower kennel (and no this is not a class issue, just the different size of kennel).

So are you tempted to take mans best friend on the holiday of a doggy lifetime?

Do you think it’s a good idea?

Should there be more options available for pet friendly holidays?

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.