When most people prepare for their cruise trip, they have to place their pets in a kennel. This is because the majority of commercial cruise ships won’t allow pets, for two reasons. The first is due to health concerns, since it can be difficult getting an animal to relieve itself on a cruise ship in a sanitary manner. The second is in regards to the legalities that arise in allowing animals to enter the ports at which a cruise ship docks.
And yet, despite these concerns, there is one commercial cruise ship that is considered to be pet-friendly. It is Cunard’s QE2, (also known as Queen Elizabeth II). Basically, you have to agree that your pet will stay in the kennel that is on the Sun Deck of the cruise ship. A kennel attendant makes sure the animal gets fed, exercised and properly relieved when it has to go to the bathroom. Animals are not allowed anywhere else on the cruise ship. This includes the passenger’s stateroom.
Indeed, many may think that this offer is not really much different than putting one’s pet in an official kennel. And in many ways it isn’t, though you are free to see your pet any time you want during the cruise. For many people that factor is what will prompt them to strongly consider sailing on QE2 or any other pet-friendly cruise ships that may arise in the future.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Regina Polo // May 3, 2008 at 4:57 pm
More cruiseships should allow pets, especially for long voyages. And I don’t think that there is no difference beteween the ships kennel and a kennel back home. You might not be able to get them out of the kennel but the time you can spend with your pet is invaluable. Much prosperity to the curise line that allows your companion onboard.
2 vad // Dec 22, 2008 at 8:21 pm
though i think that is great to have your pets close by..i with my animals who are use to being with me 99% of the time it would be hard on my dogs each time i leave them in the kennel.
i think this is great big step in being pet friendly…but having a few rooms that allow the pet in there with their humans would be a bigger step…i look forward to that
3 Love 2 Cruise // Jan 3, 2009 at 8:53 am
Why should they have to stay in kennels ? Our dog is quite the child. She has manners, well trained, doesn’t go outside her ordered place to potty. Pets should be able to stay with their owners in their suites !
4 Lynda Jo // Feb 17, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I am relocating, and I do not fly, from USA to EU. Also for other than small dogs, flying is hard on animals, resulting in deaths and nervous disorders. One ship out of all those that go trans-Atlantic is missing out on a large population. Many pet owners might rather send them via ship anyhow to avoid the possible injury. What a gap in the market 8D some one is leaving.
5 Alexis // Mar 17, 2009 at 5:31 pm
I agree with the above poster. I thought when the USAirways jet went down, what on Earth would have happened to a dog in the hold? I would never treat my dogs like cargo and ship them. Pets are like family and if I ever needed to move I would only take a means that would enable my dogs to not be traumatized!
6 Jacquelyn English // Mar 25, 2009 at 8:19 am
A hugh population is being completely missed. Why would anyone take their dog and leave it locked up. The reason for taking them is so they can be with you. A section of the ship could be set aside for pets the same way smoking sections were for so many years. As for relieving themselves an area for this could also be set aside like a yard. Everything else is adapted to ships these days like rock climbing and ice skating-why not a dog park area with owners cleaning up after their dog?
7 patricia b arrett // Apr 29, 2009 at 9:01 am
l agree with the above, l belive leaving them in a kennel on board is not good enough,they ahould be allowed to stay with thier owners who would happily pay extra for any cleaning etc.afterall children stay with thier parents and some of them are not as well behaved. we are sopposed to be a dog loving country, but it certainly isint apparant here.the titanic allowed dogs with thier owners in thier cabins have we not advanced since then,that was a brand new ship.
8 Wondrnthru // May 15, 2009 at 7:07 am
Having had both, I’d take bringing my dog with me over a whiney, self-involved teenager any day! But, I understand the health and quarantine concerns. It is a huge market opportunity and I was really hoping when I ran a Google search that I’d find more-promising results. Thanks for the info, but the QE2 is a tad pricey and, like one poster stated, my dog would probably be more upset with me popping in and out than just leaving her with her landlubber “grandma.”
9 ella // Jun 19, 2009 at 6:32 pm
My entire family is so allergic to ALL animals that we require hospitalization. Sorry, fido, etc needs to stay home. I am guessing that pet allergies are not the allergy of the year. If you had a peanut allergy, you would not want someone around you with a peanut, same with latex allergies. Leave your pet with a friend at home. I shouldn’t have to think about this when I travel and spend $$$$ on a vacation!
10 Uzume // Jun 23, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I am in the same position as Lynda Jo. I am moving back to the UK and I hate flying. The only option because I have my dog is the Queen Mary 2. I have contacted other cruise operators and none of them have kennels. I have to add though that 1) I would hate to leave my dog in the hold of a plane whether i flew or not and 2) it costs almost the same for myself, my husband and the dog to go on the QM2 as the flight alone for my dog (I have had 2 quotes for over $2000 so far and we got a great deal on the QM2 which costs $2500 for all 3 of us).
11 Juanetta // Jul 3, 2009 at 10:40 am
We are a country that loves our pets, which actually are our kids. I would never leave our girls in a kennel anywhere!! It would be better to allow those animals that are trained with potty pads in thier rooms. We have traveled alot and our room is always cleaner when we left even with our potty pad kids!!!! Forget the kennels on board, wouldn’t work for us.
12 Carol // Jul 12, 2009 at 2:35 pm
In this day and age - yes it would be completely possible to have a pet friendly ship! In fact I’m sure it would be impossible to get a ticket!
13 Norma Dawson // Aug 8, 2009 at 11:41 am
I agree that it would be a huge advantage to those of us who travel with small pets. Our dog is extremely well behaved and I would be willing to have her placed in a kennel when the ship was docked. This would eliminate the concern about multiple countries. I would also be willing to pay a premium to have a cruise line allow this privilege.
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