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.

Carnival Cruise Line homeports from coastal cities around the world, but the entire fleet relies on one global corporate headquarters.

For more than 50 years, that location has been in Miami, Florida, and in the current office space in Doral, Florida, west of Miami International Airport and about 12 miles from PortMiami, since 1983.

Now, the cruise line has announced the purchase of a property in the nearby Waterford Business District, south of the airport, for a brand new state-of-the-art headquarters for Carnival Corporation & plc.

While the two locations are just three miles apart, the new facility will be a dramatic improvement in efficiency and convenience for all Carnival-owned cruise brands.

The building will be built from the ground up especially for the entire corporation’s needs, including more than 2,000 shoreside team members for different cruise lines working from the same location for the first time.

Carnival Corporation owns not only Carnival Cruise Line, but also Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and several other lines. When the building is complete, the teams will be working side-by-side.

“Co-locating our North America shoreside team members on a shared campus – designed from the ground up to support how we work and what we do – will foster even greater knowledge sharing, innovation, efficiency and career growth,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

At the moment, Princess Cruises is headquartered in Santa Clarita, California, while Holland America Line’s headquarters are in Seattle, Washington.

Together, the cruise lines offer vacations to more than 13 million guests each year. By working more closely together, collaboration will be easier and transitions smoother.

The new campus is slated for completion in 2028 and will include 600,000-700,000 square feet of workspace. Not only will office staff be part of the campus, but it will also include entertainment training and rehearsal space, meeting rooms, and technical infrastructure to meet evolving needs.

Furthermore, Carnival Corporation is emphasizing its commitment to environmental friendliness by ensuring the new campus will have generous green space and will coordinate with the adjacent lagoon.

This relocation is not a surprise, as Carnival Cruise Line listed its current 470,000-square foot office space for sale in April 2024 as real estate prices have skyrocketed. The company has not disclosed whether the current space has been sold, and no details of the purchase of the new property have been released.

Committed to Miami

Carnival Cruise Line – before there was even a Carnival Corporation – got its start in Miami in 1972, and ever since, that commitment to the region has not wavered.

Now, that commitment has been reinforced and is sure to continue for further decades.

“As the world’s largest cruise company, there is no better place for us to be based than Miami—the cruise capital of the world,” said Weinstein. “Plus, with decades of history here, this move enables us to seamlessly build on our success here to continue growing our global operations and deepening our community ties.”

Favorable pro-business leadership in Florida, not to mention the Sunshine State’s booming tourism industry and multiple Florida cruise homeports, make it a natural choice for the cruise corporation’s global headquarters.

“I’m proud to celebrate Carnival Corporation’s decision to expand their headquarters right here in Miami-Dade County. This significant investment deepens their decades-long commitment to our community and reinforces their role as one of our largest private sector employers,” said Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Mayor.

“We’re honored to be Carnival Corporation’s home port and proud to stand behind their continued success.”

Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise

Not only will the new headquarters bring together Carnival Corporation’s multiple cruise lines, but will also support local small businesses and provide expanded employment opportunities for Miami-Dade residents.

The diversity of the region, as well as the existing and expanding infrastructure, ensure that the new business campus will be a resounding success.

This will be exciting news for cruise travelers. While they may not visit the shoreside office themselves (though it’s a fun pilgrimage to make!), increased collaboration and communication between the cruise lines ensures new plans and policies all guests will love, no matter which line they prefer.

Every guest knows that cruise ship crew members will often go out of their way to do that something extra to make a vacation special. The crew members who frequently get recognized for this are bartenders, cabin attendants, wait staff, youth services members, and of course, cruise directors.

It is important to understand, however, that the essence of “Carnival family” extends to every single crew member onboard, no matter what their rank or position, and they are all willing to help out when need be.

One exemplary example happened to a recent cruiser on Carnival Breeze. Their situation was so unique and heartwarming, they reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, to be sure the crew member was recognized.

“We’re waiting to debark Breeze in Galveston after a wonderful short cruise,” the guest began. “I have a huge praise for one of your wonderful engineers. I walk with a rollator/wheeled walker. A wheel was coming off and I was trying to fix it myself and failing. This young engineer walked by and came to my aid.”

A wheeled walker is a helpful aid for those who may have mobility challenges. Debarkation can be especially challenging with long, weaving lines, crowded elevators, and lengthy waits to get off the ship.

Depending on the walker design, it may include a seat that can alleviate a guest’s difficulties without losing their place or requiring them to wait somewhere else until they can be accommodated.

“He opened his tool bag and completely fixed my bad wheel and even made sure it would not come loose again,” the guest described. “All with a smile and a refusal of a tip of thanks. He exemplified all we love about CCL. I just wanted him recognized.”

The guest kindly included a photo of the young engineer – Jemuel – at work as he focused on repairing the wheel so it would be safe and sturdy. This allows Heald to ensure the proper crew member gets the recognition he deserves.

Heald regularly passes along compliments about various crew members to the appropriate supervisors, managers, and department heads so praise is offered where it has been earned.

“We were talking earlier today about making sure praise and recognition is given to the crew and here’s another shining example … this is my favorite part of my job,” he said. “Being able to highlight to the ship those crewmembers that exceed expectations really makes me continuingly proud.”

Not the Only Example of Carnival’s Fantastic Crew

Other Carnival guests happily chimed in on this story to share their own experiences with behind-the-scenes crew members doing extraordinary things for travelers.

One guest recalled an upholsterer who fixed a tear in their luggage, damage that had happened between the airport and the cruise port and was therefore not related in any way to the cruise line.

Another remembered a cruise years ago when their mother lost a stone from a ring and a plumber was able to arrive very quickly to retrieve the missing gem.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Director Schedule for 2025-2026

Fixing children’s sandals, being a shoulder to cry on after receiving bad news, and other stories of fixing wheelchairs and scooters were all shared with praise and thanks.

One guest summed it up very well with a sentiment many travelers can agree with.

“These are the unsung heroes on a cruise,” they said.

To best recognize these and other crew members who go out of their way with excellent service, caring, and compassion, guests should note the crew members’ names and mention them as part of their post-cruise email survey.

Not all travelers are invited to submit a survey, and contacting John Heald is another way to ensure such great crew members get the recognition they deserve.

“I will always make sure that comments made here to me are shared with the right people,” Heald confirmed. “It really does make a big difference to their careers and makes them feel so very proud.”

Have you had a great customer service experience with a Carnival crew member? Share your stories on the Cruise Hive Boards!