“Emotional support dogs do not belong on a cruise ship” – Reddit cruisers call for clearer rules

Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters. 

An interesting debate between cruisers is whether, and in what circumstances, service dogs should be allowed to come on cruise ships.

Generally, cruisers are in agreement that service dogs that are necessary for serious conditions should be allowed onboard, but cruisers rather view the problem as that sometimes the lines become blurred on what counts as a service dog, and ‘emotional support animals’ often end up onboard. 

Most cruise lines, in both Australia and the USA, have the same rule of only allowing service dogs that are medically approved.

The problem many cruisers have is feeling that too many service dogs are approved for people who they believe don’t really need them, at least on a cruise ship. In these cases the situation falls a bit out of the hands of cruise lines, who can’t deny someone their condition, which is why cruisers themselves are calling for people not to bring service dogs they don’t need. 

Some cruisers are even calling for bans for those who falsely claim service dogs.

What do Facebook and Reddit cruisers say?

Olive Corgi said: “If they falsely claim dog is a true service dog, who is professionally trained, then they should be banned from cruise line for not following the rules.”

Beth Rich added: “Emotional support dogs do NOT belong on a cruise ship! A trained service dog is fine.”

Jo-Anne Emille said the same: “Real service dogs are more than welcomed. Pets on the other is a different story, pets should not be allowed on cruises. There was a pet on our cruise a big friggen dog sitting on a chair in the MDR, services dogs don’t sit on MDR chairs.”

Gina Edmondson added the same point: “If it is an actual trained licensed service dog It should be allowed. An emotional support animal is not a licensed or trained service dog and should not be allowed. 

“Emotional support animal that are not licensed service animals should not be allowed on the cruise.

“I hate to be that person but if you need an emotional support animal with you at all times but not a licensed service animal, a cruise is not a good place for you.”

In fact some cruisers pointed out that that too many people bringing unnecessary service dogs makes it more difficult for those who really need them

Steve Sokulski said: “Pretending that an emotional support animal is a service animal does serious harm to the experience of those guests who actually rely on properly trained service animals.

“The kind of selfishness that turns “I like my dog” into “I’m going to make this other people’s problem” is so insanely frustrating to me.”

Kim Haskell added: “I have a service dog who helps me in so many ways. We have run into a number of pretend service dogs on ships. This makes it more difficult for people with real service dogs. As an owner I would welcome more screening.”

Sue Claxton says she’s seen dogs onboard who shouldn’t have been there.

“I have sailed with REAL service dogs and never knew they were onboard. I have also sailed with “service dogs” who SHOULD have been left at home. Leave your damn fake ‘service dogs’ at home! Especially those who ‘need’ a stroller. We all love our animals but a cruise ship isn’t the place to be.”

Denise Basti said the same: “I  knew of someone who had 2 yorkies and said they were service dogs , even had the vest for them. They clearly were not. Definitely need stricter laws and they do not belong on a cruise ship unless they are indeed a service animal. A dog begging for food at a table is not a service animal.”

Pam Hilton does make the point that cruise passengers shouldn’t rush to judgement.

“Sometimes, hard to tell whether it’s a service dog and it’s not up to the passengers to determine that.

“Not all service dogs are for the blind or obviously impaired. Some are trained to “alert” to medical conditions.

“Years ago, a friend cruised with a service dog and because she wasn’t blind or looked impaired, people complained behind her back that she’d brought her pet and that shouldn’t be allowed.

“Her dog was trained to be alert for seizures. She was fortunate to be able to cruise and live a relatively normal life thanks to her dog.”

Mark Flynn also emphasised the importance of some dogs being allowed onboard: “A trained medical alert canine is basically a vital medical appliance on four legs. Would you restrict someone’s oxygen bottles? Blood glucose monitor? CPAP machine?

“Of course not. If it is a legitimately trained service dog, the cruise line should make whatever reasonable accommodations are necessary.”

Em Williamson acknowledged the difficulties of regulating it in a fair way.

“I wish they would be stricter. However, I’m not sure how to do it in a fair manner.

“As a disabled individual who had to retire a service dog after a fake attacked it in a store, I have personal knowledge of the damage fakes can do both physically to our SDs and to the reputation of the SD community.

“On the other side, many of the offered solutions can lead to gatekeeping that keeps disabled individuals away from businesses and activities. They can also lead to financial and other barriers blocking a disabled individual’s ability to utilize helpful accommodation.”

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