Want to cruise with your dog? While service dogs are welcome on cruise ships, pets have few options–but can cruise about the Queen Mary 2, a luxury liner operated by Cunard. Dogs are restricted to the kennel area but it recently expanded. We have the details on the kennels–and how you can interact with your dog during the cruise itself.
From Elizabeth Taylor’s tail-wagging chums to The Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s regal Rover, historically pampered dogs and cats traveled in style aboard the original Queen Mary.
Today dog passengers are treated like the stars they are when they board the Queen Mary 2, the only pet-friendly cruise ship that welcomes pets (although they must remain in the kennel and designated pet areas, not in your stateroom). The luxury liner launched its expanded kennel service as part of the Cunard ship’s multi-million dollar renovation.
This service is only available on Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings that embark or disembark from Southampton, New York or Hamburg.
Expanded Kennel Offerings
The cruise ship has added 12 new pet kennels for a total of 24 kennels for dogs and cats.
The Queen Mary 2 also offers passengers with paws extras that add to the elegance of their cruising experience:
- An English lamppost and an American fire hydrant decorate the area of the deck reserved for pups promenading with their pet parent.
- Featuring Fidos enjoying the high life in London, New York and aboard the QM2, “Posing Pooches” illustrations by artist Karen Katon-Osprey (the daughter of Queen Mary 2 Captain Kevin Osprey) brighten the Pet Playground area and the owners’ lounge.
- ‘Pet Name Plaques’ adorn each kennel.
- Fashion forward Fidos can dress to the K-nines in jackets, collars and leashes by British sportswear brand Barbour.
Each four-legged passenger on the pet-friendly cruise will also receive:
- freshly baked biscuits at turn-down
- a choice of new beds, blankets and toys
- a stainless steel bowl and a coat complete with a QM2 logo
Because safety is the ship’s top priority, the QM2 has been equipped with dog and cat life preservers.
Onboard the pet-friendly cruise, the Kennel Master is responsible for feedings, walking dogs, cleaning the kennels, and compiling the companion animals’ likes and dislikes for reference during the journey.
All this luxury comes at a price: kennels start at $800 for upper kennels for smaller dogs. (Also, if you’re traveling with a cat, you’ll need to book two kennels to accommodate a litterbox.)
Breed Restrictions
Due to the size of the kennels, certain breeds are not permitted including: Afghan, Curly Coated Retriever, Bloodhound, Gordon Setter, Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound), Great Dane, Briard, Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, Irish Setter, Mastiff, Deerhound, Newfoundland, Doberman, Pyrenees, St. Bernard, Saluki, Weimaraner, Bull Mastiff and Malamute.
Interacting with Your Dog
Your dog is not permitted to accompany you to your stateroom on the voyage. The kennels are open for visitation at posted times throughout the day–so think of it more as a boarding situation that you can visit during your vacation that vacationing with your dog.
It’s also a way that dogs who are too large to fly in coach can travel to Europe without traveling in cargo.
For more information on the kennel service, call (800) 728-6273 from the US, 0345 355 3355 from the UK or 0044 808 234 3096 from Germany.
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Photo Credit: Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Cunard
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