Dog-Friendly Cruising Around the World

Find out how you can take your dog on a cruise and begin your preparations

two dogs in a stroller getting ready to go on a cruise

The Queen Mary 2 has air-conditioned kennels for its canine passengers.

Mark Peterson/Redux

Reyna Gobel,

AARP

Published January 17, 2025

Cruising with your dogs has been common practice for some European cruises, such as Cunard, for decades, and overnight European ferries for nearly 130 years. Such a round-trip cruise hasn’t been an option in the U.S. But in November, the U.S. will allow dogs on cruises when Cruise Tails, a Caribbean cruise company that’s dog focused, starts dog-friendly cruises that brings the option to the U.S. The first voyage of Tails of the Sea by Cruise Tails will have 250 pups and families.

Twenty-four percent of adults 55 and over currently prefer to travel with their pets, according to 2024’s 16th Annual Vacation Confidence Index. Yet cruising options were largely off limits on big ships in the 50 states.

Whether you want to cruise across the Atlantic, take a European river cruise, a seven-day cruise to Mexico, or an overnight cruise in Europe, these cruises have paws on hand.

Cruise Tails’ first dog-friendly cruise is for small dogs that weigh 20 pounds or less.

Courtesy Cruise Tails

Tails of the Sea

This is the first dog-centric cruise where the people are the guests of the dog, says Dawn von Graff, travel partner at Cruise Tails. A typical at-sea day on the Margaritaville ship begins when the family pre-orders room service breakfast so their dog can enjoy breakfast with their family in the cabin, says von Graff. During the day, they’ll play in the supervised puppy play area, take a puppy Pilates class, or run through the splash area on the pool deck, she says.

Ports may change, as the cruise is relatively new, von Graff says. Key West is guaranteed and will have excursions such as a trolley ride around Key West with stops at dog-friendly beaches and shopping locations. There also will be a welcome dog parade. In Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico, port rules may determine whether the dogs get off the boat. If humans want to leave pets on board, the ship’s staff will ensure they are adequately pampered, she says.

Regarding pet waste disposal, there will be puppy packs with pads and such, as well as a special area where dogs can go to relieve themselves. A pet butler cleans up accidents around the ship, von Graff says.

“As long as you tell us if something happens, number one, hopefully, you can get your puppy pad out. That’ll help. Number two is to leave the yellow paw on top of it, call or text us, and tell us to come to that area,” von Graff says. Someone will clean it up within 10 minutes.

The first voyage in November is for small dogs that weigh 20 pounds or less, based on their weight at the vet, says von Graff. The company hopes to expand the next voyage and future cruises to accommodate more pet sizes, she says.

Passengers must contact their pet’s vet for a health certificate for Mexico and any other Caribbean ports that may be added beforehand, von Graff says. If the pup doesn’t have the required health documents, it can stay on the ship while the owners explore the port city, she says.

Brandon Roberts, who will be onboard the Tails of the Sea cruise, is finally able to include his chocolate dachshund, Drake, on a family trip. “I’ve missed a lot of the major longer cruises” because “I only trust one person to watch my dog,” and they aren’t always available, says Roberts.

“But cruising is [his mom’s] passion, and so I would like to be a part of that,” he says. “We only get so many vacations, so we want to spend them together.”

a dog running on deck with a fire hydrant

A New York City fire hydrant and a British lamppost are on the Queen Mary 2.

Courtesy Cunard

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2

Cunard is one of the original cruises for animals of all kinds. They’ve accepted dogs on specific voyages and even transported Jimmy the Hippo in 1963. The current canine journey is a seven-night cruise crossing the Atlantic from New York City to Southampton, England. Dogs and cats stay separately from their owners in air-conditioned kennels with blankets, coats, and beds. There’s a whole pet deck.

Food is provided on request through brands sold in the UK, says Oliver Cruz, the Queen Mary 2 kennel master. He adds that chicken, vegetables, and broth can be prepared on the ship. A typical day for the dogs starts before 8 a.m. with potty breaks, baths if needed, and breakfast before passengers see their pets. “There is a British lamppost and NYC fire hydrant for fun, a large grass turf area, and space to play,” Cruz says.

There are size limits and breed restrictions on the Queen Mary 2. You can’t bring a Great Dane, but you can travel with a beagle, golden retriever, or a border collie. The maximum canine height is 27 inches. This means dogs that wouldn’t meet size restrictions for airline in-cabin pets (generally 20 pounds or less) could still enjoy a European trip without going on the new dog-friendly airlines.

Jenna Emmons has traveled with Louie, a Frenchie, on European riverboat cruises.

Courtesy Jenna Emmons

Dog-Friendly Riverboat Cruises

Jenna Emmons, a 55-year-old dog mom who runs dogfriendlytravel.com, took her first cruise with her Frenchie, Tara, on a whim. “When I found out about the river cruises for dogs, I was in Cologne, Germany. I actually went into the 1Avista Reisen (cruise line) office there and inquired about booking in person,” Emmons says. The cruise was on the Rhine and Moselle rivers. She’s taken walking tours on shore excursions, and “there was also a fun wine tasting when Tara and I were on the Moselle River,” she says. On another tour, she took a bus excursion to Strasbourg, France.

Dogs were allowed everywhere on riverboat cruises, Emmons says. There wasn’t a public area or dining room where they weren’t welcome.

DFDS, a ferry company that sails several European seas, offers ferries with dog-friendly cabins for overnight trips across Europe, from England to Amsterdam, the Baltic Sea, and Copenhagen. Dogs are generally allowed to and from the room and in exercise areas/poop decks.

If you book a multi-day riverboat cruise through 1Avista Reisen’s website, Emmons recommends booking a year in advance. When the dog cruises are announced, they sell out fast.

Preparing your pet for travel

When traveling with your pet, especially on a cruise, getting health records together early is important. It’s also important to understand that there often isn’t a vet onboard. If your dog has a condition such as heart disease or diabetes, the cruises that don’t have vets may not be the best option. For Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, contact Cunard (Cunard also may contact you) five months ahead to prepare health records. Before you travel, you’ll want to check the USDA website for requirements regarding tests and certificates for every country you are visiting. The Tails of the Sea cruise is a rarity, with two vets and four assistants on the ship.

Then, there’s getting prepared for onboard and port health. “The last place you need diarrhea or vomiting is on a cruise,” says Nelva Bryant, a veterinarian and dog travel expert. Before traveling to another country, ensure your dog has tried and successfully digested foods they’ll have onboard without getting sick at home. Do not let it drink water off the street, she says.

However, while the doors open “a little bit” for cruise travel, “they can also be closed,” Bryant says. Make sure your dog is on its best behavior so future pups can set sail, she says.

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Reyna Gobel is a personal finance and wellness writer and author whose work has been published by The Atlantic, Reuters, Harvard health, WeightWatchers.com and Today.com.

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