But don't worry, animal lovers! There are plenty of ways to combine cruising with your love for your four-legged friends. Let's find out which cruises offer the opportunity to take pets, what exceptions there are to the "no pets" rule, and how to have fun without your pet.
When it comes to cruising with pets, there's only one ship that comes to mind: Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (QM2). On select transatlantic sailings between New York and Southampton, you can bring your dog or cat with you.
But here's the catch: your pet won't be able to snuggle up with you in your cabin. They'll be in a special kennel on deck 12 of QM2, where caring staff will feed them, walk them, clean up after them, and pamper them with treats and toys.
Pets are provided with bowls and beds, and food is available upon request. They will have structured playtime, and you can visit them at certain times each day.
If you want to reserve a place for your pet, it is best to do so well in advance as there are only 24 places for animals on board. Cunard recommends booking 12 months in advance to guarantee a place for your pet.
Keep in mind that you'll pay almost as much as you would for your own cruise. Prices start at $1,000 for a dog and range from $1,000 to $1,600 for a cat (cats need two spaces — one for the litter box and one for themselves). Small dogs and up to two cats can share one space, but larger pets will need their own.
While most cruise lines prohibit dogs on board, there are exceptions for service dogs (but that doesn't make the ship completely "pet-friendly"). Requirements for traveling with a service dog may vary by cruise line, so be sure to check your ship's policy if you plan to bring an assistant.
It is recommended that you contact your cruise line's accessibility department in advance. It is also worth asking where your pet will be able to relieve themselves and whether they will need to bring their own bed or food.
If service dogs are allowed to travel, the inevitable question arises: can you bring an emotional support dog? Cruise lines are required to accept animals that genuinely assist people with disabilities, but in most cases, emotional support dogs are not welcome on board. However, the topic of dogs on cruise ships (regardless of their role) is controversial, as cruise lines do not require proof that animals listed as service dogs are, in fact, service dogs.
While we all dream of a cruise with lots of dogs on board, how else can you enjoy animals on a cruise without bringing your pet? Try booking a cruise that is themed around all things animal-related, like the Meow Meow Cruise (a cruise for people who love cats).
You won’t be able to bring your cat along on this sea adventure, but there will be plenty of other cat lovers around who share your passion for these furry creatures. Alternatively, consider an animal-related shore excursion, such as horseback riding in Mexico or the Caribbean, or a trip to a sled dog camp to play with husky puppies in Alaska.
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