Guide dogs on cruise ships

Ever wondered which cruise lines allow guide dogs onboard? Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about service dogs on cruise ships: 

Ambassador Cruise Line notes assistance dogs are subject to relevant legislation regarding travel. It is your responsibility to check that the assistance dog can be carried to the ports of embarkation and disembarkation and that the dog is not prohibited from going ashore at the various ports of call. Assistance dogs must have all necessary papers and comply with the relevant legislation regarding health, inoculations, training and travel. 

Azamara gladly welcomes guide dogs onboard their ships but does not accept pets. They define a guide dog as, “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.” 

The cruise line provides 4-foot by 4-foot relief areas with cypress mulch, which are shared with other guide dogs onboard. They don’t require evidence (such as identification cards or written documentation) that the dog is a guide dog but it might be helpful to take it, just in case. Guide dogs can accompany owners to all public areas, including dining venues. But while in public, Azamara asks that guide dogs are kept on leads or harnesses. 

Guide dogs are welcome aboard Celebrity Cruises' fleet of ships but much like Azamara, pets are not accepted. 4-foot by 4-foot relief areas with cypress mulch are provided to accommodate service dogs. Celebrity Cruises’ Access Department must be notified when booking if a service dog relief area is needed. 

Care and supervision of the service dog are the sole responsibility of the owner. If the owner chooses to disembark the ship at a port where the service dog must remain onboard, they must make arrangements to ensure that the dog is cared for. 

Celestyal Cruises welcomes service dogs onboard but asks guests to keep in mind that guide or aid dogs need to be fully certified, need to have received all necessary vaccinations and should have up-to-date travel documents. All documents must be presented to Celestyal Cruises at the time of booking. 

Cunard welcomes guide dogs onboard free of charge, as long as they have been certified by an organisation that is a full member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF). The cruise line advises all owners to carry their dog's identification card with them and when not in their cabin, they ask that dogs wear a lead or harness. 

Guide dogs are warmly welcomed onboard all Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ships. The cruise line kindly requests you complete their Assistance Dog Travel Application Form, which can be obtained by contacting their Guest Services Department. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines requests that guests advise them before travelling that they wish to bring an assistance dog onboard and that all relevant application forms are completed. 

Holland America Line allows qualified service animals for guests with disabilities. They advise notifying their Access & Compliance Department prior to departure so that all health certificate documentation can be provided for relevant ports. 

P&O Cruises accepts registered assistance dogs onboard that have been specifically trained to assist a person with a disability and have been certified by an organisation that is a full member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), the accrediting bodies for assistance dog organisations worldwide. 

P&O Cruises' fleet of ships is only permitted to carry assistance dogs on itineraries that start and finish in Southampton and are therefore unable to accept assistance dogs on fly cruises or world cruise sectors. 

Guide dogs are welcomed aboard Princess Cruises’ fleet of ships. The cruise line advises all guests to note entry regulations for service animals as rules vary by port. Passengers are also advised to consult authorities at each port prior to departure for more information. 

Royal Caribbean International welcomes service dogs on all ships. Evidence that a dog is a service dog is helpful but not required. Relief areas are provided on a shared basis with other service dogs onboard. Royal Caribbean International requests that guests notify their Access Department at the time of booking if a service dog relief area is needed. 

Service dogs are permitted to accompany the person with a disability in all public areas, including dining venues. While in public areas, service dogs must be on a lead, harness or another restraining device. Due to health regulations, service dogs are not permitted in pools, whirlpools or spas. 

Seabourn only permits service animals. To board their ships, they must have current vaccinations and records of the vaccinations must be provided to their Access & Compliance Department. They advise some itineraries may include ports of call with specific and strict requirements that must be met prior to departure.