The Cunard Flagship Queen Mary 2 has offered sailing to pampered pets since 1925. 

They currently only offer this service on QM2 and only on transatlantic crossings that start and end in Southampton or Southampton to New York. But not the first or last sailings of the year. 

Spaces are limited with only 24 kennels on board so you need to make requesting a kennel a priority when thinking of booking. Dogs are given one kennel each whereas cats are given two kennels so they have one for living, one for toileting. Dogs have access to an indoor lounge to enjoy some time with their owners and outdoor areas to enjoy a walk and also the chance to toilet. To aid with this Cunard provide a lamppost for the British canines on board and a fire hydrant for the Americans so that they feel at home while doing their business! These can be found on Deck 12 where the playing and walking area can also be found,the area is gated and access is restricted to owners only. Visiting by owners is allowed and encouraged and schedules of visiting times will be given to you upon booking confirmation.

In the price of your pets kennel all food and bedding is included and the kennel master and their assistants will be in charge of feeding and caring for your pets whilst onboard. 

The pets on board are restricted to cats and dogs only, there are further restrictions on breeds of dogs permitted to travel. 

Uk Banned breeds are not permitted to travel.

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentinio 
• Fila Braziliero 
• Or any crossbreed containing these breeds

Cunard also state that some large breeds cannot be accommodated due to their size compared to kennel sizes available. This can include breeds such as Great danes, Borzoi, Malamutes and St Bernards to name a few. 

 My dog can come cruising with me! There are a few things to consider before looking at booking one. 

It is your sole responsibility as the owner to make sure you have all the appropriate paperwork for your pet to board in one country and disembark in another. Depending on where you are travelling from and to you may require A health check, vaccinations and parasite treatments at certain intervals. This may require seeking a Veterinary professional at another port before your return to the Uk. 

The rules on coming into the United Kingdom can differ depending on the country you are arriving from. 

Information can be found on the DEFRA website (https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain). Esccap uk also provides some useful information for travelling with animals (https://www.esccapuk.org.uk/)  Also speak to your Veterinary Surgeon who may be able to advise on requirements. 

Failure to provide the correct paperwork and treatments at the correct time could lead to refused boarding or even quarantine upon return. Overall this could prove to be costly! Any cost incurred from the failure to comply will need to be covered by the owner. So do your research before booking!

So if you are just going on holiday for a short time, some people may just want to leave pets behind with a friend and enjoy themselves, whereas if you are relocating and the transatlantic visit is more long term, cruising could be a great alternative to flying with pets.

For some people travelling with a pet is not a luxury or a choice but a necessity to live their lives freely. 

If you require an assistance dog for everyday activities you will be pleased to know that it seems most cruise lines are able to accommodate this. 

The common description of what an assistance dog is amongst the cruise lines seems to be ‘A dog that performs a task, that links directly to the disability of the owner’ Examples given are Guide Dogs for the blind, and hearing dogs.

The dog must be registered with the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) or the Assistance dogs international (ADI) to be accepted. Cruise lines no longer accept a dog under the title of emotional support animal, Royal Caribbean being one of the last to stop accepting them.

As these dogs are there to help with everyday activities there are some different conditions to follow compared to having a pet.

Cunard provides a lifejacket for your assistance dog and this is placed alongside your own in your stateroom.

Identification – ADI/IGDF identification should be carried at all times whether on or off the ship so if needed it can be produced for local authorities.

Harness/Lead – This should be in place at all times when outside your cabin.

Access – Assistance dogs are allowed access to all areas except children’s play areas, swimming pools/whirlpools. Dogs are not permitted on any furniture unless specifically related to performing a task.

Foodhalls/buffet areas – Dogs are allowed into the buffet areas but must remain at the table, so if travelling alone a crew member can assist you.

As travelling with an assistance dog is free of charge you are expected to bring everything you need for the entirety of the cruise this includes all bedding, food, bowls etc. And feeding is only permitted within the cabin.

At no point should the assistance be left alone in the cabin. 

And in case anyone is wondering, where do they do their business? As these dogs are highly trained they will be trained to ‘Spend’ on command. Once you have boarded you will be shown your dogs ‘spending station which will be located near your cabin and sometimes could be in a crew only area. The ‘Spending station’ is a wooden box filled with an absorbent material that the crew will refresh daily. Although it is refreshed you are still expected to pick up after your dog. 

As previously mentioned when travelling with a dog this includes assistance dogs, it is your sole responsibility to have the correct paperwork and treatments in place for entry into different countries. As assistance dogs are allowed on a wider range of itineraries this could make the process more complex as there may be more ports of call. So research at the time of travel and speak to your Veterinary Surgeon in plenty of time prior to travelling and visit countries travel websites to get the latest rules and regulations to protect your dog. 

A point that all cruise providers researched make is that there is no Veterinary care on board. So making sure your animal companion is in full health before travelling is very important.

So whether you just fancy taking your family member along for a transatlantic holiday for comfort or travelling with an assistance dog to give you your independence. My best advice is to plan, research and then have a great time!