Wondering if there are any dog-friendly cruises out there?
I love cruise vacations and think it would be SO neat to take my dog with me!
Unfortunately, we discovered that only one major cruise line allows dogs.
No worries, though!
There are a bunch of smaller companies that welcome them!
Let’s check them out!
Dog-Friendly Cruises to Take
This post contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Traveling during the summer, or anytime really, is about getting away from it all for a while. However, you know that taking your dog along for the ride makes it even more special, right?
So, we already know that we can bring our pets aboard airlines, like Southwest Airlines and trains, such as Amtrak, but what about cruises?
Well, as mentioned above, only one major company lets you bring your pup, and even then, they only allow them on one of their ships.
Bummer, eh? Well, not really! Why, you ask?
Because there are some smaller boat companies that welcome dogs! Some allow dogs on all their cruises, while others only allow them on certain or specialized cruises.
Here’s what you need to know to get cruising with your dog!
Related: Top 31 REAL Dog-Friendly Beaches in the U.S.
-
Cunard’s Queen Mary 2- Southampton, England
- Cunard Cruise Line’s Queen Mary 2 is their only ship that is dog-friendly and travels to and from Southampton, England and New York City, New York.
- The cruise line offers their “Pets on Deck Program.”
- Dogs receive a gift pack along with other amenities, like comfy dog beds, dog toys, fleece blankets and healthy gourmet dog treats.
-
Catalina Express- Long Beach, California
- The Catalina Express travels between the city of Avalon and the village of Two Harbors, located on Santa Catalina Island and the city of Dana Point, the city of Long Beach and the community of San Pedro, located on the state’s mainland.
- The Catalina Express, which launched in 1994, features 30 daily round-trip excursions, each one lasting about 1 hour.
- This 97-foot vessel can accommodate up to 149 passengers.
- Dogs are allowed onboard as long as they are in a crate
, on a leash
or muzzled.
Related: Top Dog-Friendly Stores In The US
-
Bow Wow Brunch Cruise- San Diego, California
- Hornblower Cruises offers their Bow Wow Brunch Cruise, the only dog-friendly champagne brunch cruise in California.
- This year will be their 10th year and it will be held on October 21, 2018.
- The cruise, sponsored by Petco, helps to raise money for the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego.
- The Bow Wow Brunch Cruise offers an array of cool perks, including 2 all-you-can-eat buffets, one for dogs and one for humans.
- This 2-hour cruise around San Diego Bay, allows one dog per person and dogs must be on a non-retractable leash.
-
Augustine Scenic Cruises- St. Augustine, Florida
- St. Augustine Scenic Cruises’ Victory III offers their Scenic Cruises, which departs from Downtown’s Municipal Marina, 4 or 5 times daily, depending on the season.
- This 60-foot tour boat has narrated sightseeing tours- lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes- of Matanzas Bay, passing historical landmarks and sites of interest.
- Dogs are allowed on the cruises as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash.
-
Mercury’s Canine Cruise- Chicago, Illinois
- The Mercury Skyline Cruise Line offers their Canine Cruise, which departs from Michigan Avenue Bridges’ Southeast corner.
- Mercury’s Canine Cruises departs at 10:15 am on Saturdays and Sundays, from July 7, 2018 through October 7, 2018.
- The 90-minute narrated tour cruises around the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, highlighting dog friendly hotels, dog friendly restaurants, dog parks and of course, fire hydrants.
- Dogs must be on a leash and are pampered with newspaper-lined bathrooms and fresh water bowls.
-
Acadian Sightseeing & Nature Cruises- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Acadian Boat Tours allows dogs on their Sightseeing & Nature Cruise.
- This 2-hour narrated tour cruises the Frenchman Bay and provides awesome views of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay’s Islands.
- The 60.8-foot tour boat features a heated cabin, restrooms and a snack bar. These cruises are offered from May 11, 2018 through October 31, 2018.
-
Hy-Line Cruises- Hyannis, Massachusetts
- Hy-Line Cruises travel between Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket.
- It was founded in 1962 and is family owned & operated.
- Dogs are allowed on all island-bound cruises, including Cape Cod Canal Cruises, Hyannis Harbor Cruises, Martha’s Vineyard Ferries and Nantucket Cruises.
- Dogs must be on a leash or in a crate.
- Dogs are not allowed, however, in the Captain’s View seating area of the Nantucket Ferry- Grey Lady IV.
-
Uncle Sam Boat Tours- Alexandria Bay, New York
- Uncle Sam Boat Tours has been providing sightseeing cruises of the Thousand Islands for more than 85 years.
- Their most popular cruise is their 2 Nation Tour, which is a 2-hour cruise through the heart of the Thousand Islands.
- Dogs are not allowed on cruises where food is served- Luncheon Cruise, Dinner Cruise and Craft Beer & Wine Cruise.
- However, dogs are allowed on all their other cruises, as long as they are leashed and under your control.
-
BayWatch Dolphin Tours- Galveston, Texas
- BayWatch Dolphin Tours is family owned & operated and have been providing fun and informative tours since 2005.
- The 2-hour tours depart every hour on the hour, from Pier 21 in Downtown Galveston and get you up close with dolphins, in their natural habitat.
- Their 34-foot tour boat doesn’t use propellers, so there’s no harm to the dolphins.
- Dogs are allowed on all of their dolphin cruises.
-
Potomac River’s Canine Cruise- Alexandra, Virginia
- The Potomac River Boat Company offers their Canine Cruise, a seasonal cruise that’s just for dogs, available every Thursday, from April 28, 2018 through October 26, 2018.
- The 45-minute cruise departs once a day from the Alexandria City Marina and waltzes around Alexandria’s Seaport.
- Dogs are required to be on a leash that is not longer than 6 feet.
With this amazing list of dog-friendly cruises, you are sure to find one, or two, that you and your dog will enjoy! Heck why not spend the summer checking them all out!
