As a dog lover and service dog user myself, I know how hard it is to sometimes leave our canine companions at home when we cruise.
Recently, one Carnival guest encountered a service dog who did not behave appropriately onboard – leading to debate on if the dog was really a working animal after all and if animals should be allowed on cruise ships in general.
“Personal opinion…. if a service dog isn’t potty trained and craps in front of my daughter’s room and the owner think it’s funny, the owner is classless. The owner only picked up the actual hard turd, but squashed the rest down in the carpet,” the Carnival cruise guest shared in a forum.
I could maybe understand if the dog was feeling seasick and behaved out of character because of it, but I would have been mortified if my dog had an accident like that. Instead of making the mess worse, I would have done my best to clean it up immediately.
“I called housekeeping because my daughter’s entire floor smelled so bad we almost puked. The owner of the dog didn’t clean it, they sent our room steward to clean crap that was soaked in the hall carpet like diarrhea from a so called service dog,” she continued.
“Come at me if you want, but that’s not his job. He works hard enough and cleaning dogs crap shouldn’t be on his list to do,” the guest affirmed.
Cruise Hive Discussion Boards: Dogs / Cats Allowed Onboard and Non-Pet-Owner Rights
While there is no standardized service dog training in America, working dogs are supposed to undergo public access training to ensure they behave appropriately in public and know when and where they can relieve themselves.
On cruise ships, this is typically a small patch of grass or sod that is usually just inside of a crew only area to avoid disturbing other guests. Many dogs, including mine, are actually taught to use the bathroom on command for situations like this.
But unfortunately, there is a growing problem of people falsely claiming their dogs are service dogs so they don’t have to stay home – on land as well as at sea.
This has led California (where I live) to implement stricter laws – where handlers who fake having a service dog can be punished with a $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail – in addition to other federal laws already in place.
Should Dogs be Allowed on Cruise Ships?
As a service dog user, I understand how important it is for legitimate service dog handlers to keep their dog with them. These dogs aren’t just pets, but rather complete tasks that are medically necessary.
It’s true that legitimate service dogs must be permitted by law, while emotional support dogs that don’t perform specific tasks are seen as pets and do not get the same public access.
“Carnival only permits service dogs on board. A service dog is legally defined and individually trained to meet the specific needs of a person with a disability,” reads Carnival’s website.
“Pets, or service dogs in training, are not allowed aboard. Emotional support dogs, which are not recognized by the US Department of Justice, are also not permitted on Carnival ships,” the policy continues.
In order to sail with a service dog, handlers must submit vaccination records, proof of microchipping, and a CDC Dog Import Form to Carnival in advance. Depending on the ports of call, other documentation or fees may also be required.
Read Also: 10 Reasons Why I Would Never Take a Dog-Friendly Cruise
On the other hand, fraudulent service dogs can be disruptive to other guests and legitimate service dog teams – and the actions of the duo on this Carnival ship suggest that it may not be a real working animal.
“That’s not a service dog. Service dogs are trained better than that. It’s sad that people can fake a service dog so easy because there’s no governing body to regulate them,” one cruise fan wrote in response to the post.
“They should have never been allowed to bring that dog onboard,” said another, taking a harsher stance.
But at the same time, there are enough people who would like to sail with their dog that Margaritaville at Sea is inviting 250 dogs to sail on a first-of-its-kind cruise in November 2025.
