Did You Know….You Can Take Your Pet Dog On A Cunard Cruise?

Over the years I’ve organised many trips for many different clients to a host of places all over the world but only once have I ever been asked how much it would cost to take a dog on a cruise.

Clients of mine were relocating to the USA and of course they want to take their beloved pet with them, so intrigued as much as anything I decided to look into it for them and I must say it’s been the most interesting experience.

I discovered Cunard Lines’ Queen Mary 2 allows passengers to take pet dogs on transatlantic crossings to New York, and well looked after they are too. Dogs have their own quarters where they can hang out with other dogs in an indoor playroom, play with toys provided by Cunard (or provide your own if you wish), enjoy a designated walking area, enjoy food prepared by the staff and receive daily visits from their owners. Dogs are also provided with their own life jackets should the need arise! At night they sleep in cages appropriately sized.

Kennel service is offered on board Queen Mary 2 and is available on all crossings between New York and Southampton in either direction at $700 per kennel.  The kennel is overseen by a full-time Kennel Master who takes care of responsibilities such as feeding, walking and cleaning. I’ve since discovered that this service typically books up 18 months in advance due to the fact that maximum capacity is 12 kennels and depending on the length of your dog (nose to base), if over 30 inches will require 2 kennels converted into 1 larger kennel in order to provide sufficient space.

Animals must be ID micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies, with supporting paperwork. Also, owners must provide a USDA-approved Vet Certificate EU 2011/874. Dogs will also require tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours prior to boarding.

Cunard even provide designated visiting hours typically between 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and a quick evening night night between 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

So now you know!

Bye for now.