Like us, our dogs need a vacation too. While they go on daily walks outside or in the parks every day, the scenery of a different place unfamiliar to them is different. It’s nice that we bring them on our trips once in a while, and since we’re on it, there’s a doggy cruise sailing the seas of Tampa in 2025. That’s right, our furry members of the family get to join the whole family for a cruise getaway.
The cruise will sail aboard Florida-based Margaretville at Sea’s Islander ship from Tampa. It is organized by Cruise Tails and Orlando-based travel agency Expedia Cruises. Feeling excited? That’s great, but the itinerary dates, details, and prizes have yet to be released. The cruise is expected to set sail in 2025.
The ship carries a capacity of 2,650 passengers, but there is no record of how many rooms are available on the cruise.
Guests who are interested will need to apply and be approved by the Cruise Tails team before they can join their families. There are 260 available spaces for dogs. Requirements needed for application are up-to-date vaccination and signed off healthily by their veterinarian. If approved, each family will be assigned butlers for their dogs.
Your dog will have the vacation of their life as they can enjoy grooming and massage, as well as private relief sessions on each room balcony. There will also be dog shows and training sessions for your dogs to stay in shape and get action even when they’re not on land. There will also be costume contests and parades.
While the cruise is dog-friendly, your furry family members still need to follow house rules, such as being kept on lead in public places and staying out of dining venues. Other dog-free zones in the ship are the casino, pool decks, entertainment areas, and spa.
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Dogs On Cruise
Speaking of dogs on cruises, another ship that allows pets on board is Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, sailing on transatlantic. It features 24 kennels and an owner’s lounge. Pets are also not allowed in public places and must remain in their kennel and exercise areas. The crew will be the ones who will look after your dog and walk them. But you can also visit them throughout the cruise and take them off during port stops.
Guests can also meet Royal Caribbean’s resident chief dog officer, Rover, who lives on the Icon of the Seas.
Other major cruise lines that allow service or assistance dogs to support deaf or blind passengers are the following:
Cruise blogger and dog owner Jenni Fielding, also known as Cruise Mommy online, said that she is excited but warned that there are hurdles that owners need to overcome, such as hygiene, particularly in swimming pools. Dogs may not know that it is not a suitable place for doing their business.
Phil Evans, the Managing Director, said that a dog-friendly cruise is an alternative to those who don’t want to fly. Introducing more dog-friendly cruises, according to Evans, is the perfect way to allow families and their dogs to enjoy the cruise together.
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From The Club
Dog cruise? Count me in! It’s actually my dream to go on vacation on a cruise ship. However, one thing that I worry about is leaving my dog, who is anxious. Leaving her in a pet hotel is not an option since I value her comfort. The Cruise Tails is the perfect choice for me to go on a cruise together with my dog.Â
