transatlantic boat travel with dog

Questions about traveling with a pet?

Contact | email | facebook, queen mary 2 pet policy.

For forms, instructions and information for taking a pet aboard a Queen Mary 2 (QM2) Queen Mary 2 Pet Policy

• New York, United States to Southampton, England
• Southampton, England to New York, United States

The Queen Mary 2 operated by Cunard Lines is an approved carrier in connection with the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) on Transatlantic Crossings. Passage in the kennels is subject to size restrictions, availability and the requirements of the Pet Scheme. Pets are accepted on all Transatlantic crossings, except the first and last crossings of the year.

Availability is limited, so plan to book your cruise well in advance. The cost of transportation will be given to you at the time you make your own booking but will likely range between $800 and $1,000 USD.

Cunard's "Pets on Deck" program, includes adding a range of pet-friendly services and amenities such as fresh-baked biscuits at turn-down, a choice of beds and blankets, and even a coat with a QM2 logo. As part of the enhanced program, traveling dogs and cats also receive a complimentary gift pack featuring a frisbee, name tag, food dish and scoop, a complimentary portrait with pet owners, a crossing certificate and personalized cruise card.

Kennel Information

The ship provides 12 deluxe kennels (they are adding more during their renovation) and a full time "pet master" to provide care for your pet. Be sure to book early as kennel space is limited.

Pets must remain in the kennels or in the adjacent exercise area. Frequent times are available for owners to visit their pet.

Cunard's "Pets on Deck" program, including adding a range of pet-friendly services and amenities such as fresh-baked biscuits at turn-down; a choice of beds and blankets; and even a QM2-logoed coat. As part of the enhanced program, traveling dogs and cats also receive a complimentary gift pack featuring a QM2-logoed coat, Frisbee, name tag, food dish and scoop; a complimentary portrait with pet owners; a crossing certificate and personalized cruise card.

Kennels are located on Sun Deck, midships There are 12 kennels (2 levels of 6) Top level - Small - 33" X 33" X 27 " high Floor level - Large - 33" X 33" X 39" high The pet's measurements from tip of tail to tip of nose, or feet to head cannot exceed the sizes listed above.

Kennels can be used for cats, dogs and other small animals. It is not normal procedure to put more than one pet in a kennel, but this can be done if the guest requests it. Guests may provide own bed/bedding for their pets.

Sizing your pet

Pet Size Guide: Small breeds: poodle, terrier, bulldog, etc. Large breeds: Labradors, Alaskans require multi kennel accommodations

Measuring your pet: From the tip of nose to end of tail Floor to chest Twice the width of the dog shoulder to shoulder Floor to top of head for height

Food is provided and any special requirements can be prepared by the kennel attendant upon your request.

The shielded, open-deck area, fitted with a lamppost and fire hydrant is available to exercise pets. Animals are not permitted on any other open deck, public area or staterooms.

Visiting Hours

The visiting hours are as follows, however with prior arrangement, it is possible for the attendant to be in the kennels outside of these hours to open the cage: 7:30am - 9:30am 11:00am - 12:00pm 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Documentation

Prior to sailing, necessary documentation must be presented to the ship before your pet can travel. Please note that pets cannot travel unaccompanied on the QM2.

Eastbound QM2 Pets entering the United Kingdom must have clearance prior to arrival through the following government agency:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Pets and Quarantine Branch Area 211 1A Page Street London SW1P 4PQ Click here for requirements to enter the United Kingdom with a pet .

When making an eastbound QM2 crossing where pets whose final destination is Le Havre, passengers must complete form ID - 7, which is an application for a license to land a dog or cat for transit through Great Britain.

No animal will be permitted to board the QM2 without the necessary transit license.

It is best to contact a government authorized carrying agent who can transport the pet within the United Kingdom. The carrying agent will be able to expedite the paperwork required before a transit license is granted. A list of government authorized carrying agents is available on the DEFRA website and it is updated regularly with any changes in relevant legislation. For additional information, call 1 800 7-Cunard.

Pets entering the UK must comply with the rules of the Pet Scheme. If you are traveling on to Le Havre then different rules apply.

Service Animals

Only trained service dogs such as guide or seeing eye dogs can sail on the Queen Mary 2. Requests must be reviewed and approved by Cunard at least 60 days prior to sailing. Emotional support animals are not recognized.

Banned Breeds:

Cunard does limit the size of dogs they can accept. Dog breeds that will be denied travel due to size include: Afghan, Curly Coated Retriever, Bloodhound, Gordon Setter, Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound), Great Dane, Briard, Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, Irish Setter, Mastiff, Deerhound, New Foundland, Doberman, Pyrenees, St. Bernard, Saluki, Weimaraner, Bull Mastiff and Malamute.

Also banned are breeds and their crosses that are not permitted to enter the UK: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero.

Helpful Tips -Traveling with a pet on a cruise ship or a ferry health certificate

A certificate of good health is required indicating that your pet is healthy enough for travel, is free of diseases communicable to humans, and has been properly vaccinated. We have helpful forms, instructions and information for taking your pet aboard the Queen Mary 2

International Travel

You must have all documentation necessary for entering the United Kingdom when boarding the QM2 in New York. This includes an Annex IV form, proof of microchip and rabies vaccination, Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport and Tapeworm Certificate.

More Tips for Cruise Line Travel

1. Never give your pet a medical (prescription) sedative prior to traveling on the QM2. If you have a hyper or nervous pet, then give it a natural pet calmer . 2. Always purchase your pet carrier well in advance of your trip so that the pet can get used to it. 3. Be sure to tell the cruise line you will be traveling with a pet as they impose restrictions on the number of pets on a specific sailing. 4. Even though sea travel may be stressful both you and your pet, both of you will be happier if your pet gets to travel with you on your trip.

Don't forget to get your forms, instructions and information for taking a pet aboard Queen Mary 2

Need More Information?

We have current and accurate information on traveling with your pet by air, sea or ground. Find more Pet Travel Information

If you have questions, you can post them directly to our Facebook page , blog , forum . We will answer them as soon as we can.

• Work with Us
• Destinations

How to Cruise with Your Dog Aboard Queen Mary 2

What if your employer wants you to relocate to London. Or you’re lucky enough to spend a summer vacation in the pastoral English countryside.

An apartment in Paris with your poodle? It would be wonderful to visit your relatives in England or America without the need to board your pet at home.

There’s only one cruise ship in the world that has dog and cat kennels. Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 has been transporting dogs and cats pampered in style across the Atlantic for decades.

Cruise with Your Cat or Dog using Queen Mary 2 Kennels

Transatlantic crossings are the only time you can reserve a Queen Mary 2 kennel.

You can cruise with your pet on either an eastbound or westbound transatlantic cruise between New York City and Southampton, England. 

Cunard doesn’t allow back-to-back cruises. However, you could disembark in Southampton, stay a few days or weeks and then return to New York.

READ NEXT: What It’s Like on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing

Why Queen Mary 2 Kennels Are So Special

Remember, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only ship in the world that permits pets to cruise with their owners between the two countries. 

The only option to cruise with your dog on other cruise lines would be if it is a bona fide service animal.

All you need to do is to book your personal Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing. Then if space is available, book the kennel for your pet. There’s paperwork to complete, too.

How Will My Dog or Cat Be Treated in the Kennel?

People aren’t the only creatures that receive Cunard’s legendary White Glove Service. In charge of the Queen Mary 2 kennels is the Kennel Master and assistant. 

They will pamper, feed and exercises the dogs outside on their own deck space. Cats are tended to as well.

If that’s not enough, each canine or feline also receives a special welcome aboard gift.

Following the Queen Mary 2 remastering in 2018, there are now a total of 24 kennels; 12 upper and 12 lower. Larger dogs may reserve two kennels. Two lower kennels combine to accommodate bigger breeds.

Cats are required to be on the upper level with two kennels, one for the litter box and one for the living area.

What are the Requirements to Travel with Pets? 

For many years, England required a six-month quarantine, despite proof of vaccination. Now it’s easy to cross the Atlantic with your dog and the Queen Mary 2  kennels. 

There is a stack of paperwork to complete prior to boarding, no matter which direction you will cruise.

Eastbound crossings from New York to Southampton:

• Microchips are required for every pet
• Had a rabies vaccine 21 days or more before the cruise
• Issued with an official Veterinary Certificate within 10 days of the cruise
• Dogs must be treated against heartworm, 1-5 days prior to boarding

Westbound crossings from Southampton to New York:

• Issued a current Health Certificate within 30 days before entry into New York
• Rabies vaccine – check for the most recent update from the United States CDC

Note:  If pet owners have an EU pet passport, the passport cannot be updated by a US or Canadian vet. A U.K. or EU veterinarian is the only person who can update a pet passport.

Clearly, it’s easier to bring your pet into the United States than into England. Today, the British quarantine period has been removed, provided the owner has fulfilled all of the requirements for cats or dogs.

How to Reserve a Queen Mary 2 Kennel

It’s important for you to reserve your Queen Mary 2 kennel as soon as possible. You can reserve a kennel up to two years before the sailing.

If you request a particular sailing date and the kennels are already reserved, ask to be put on a waitlist.

People tend to reserve the kennels way ahead of time in the hopes of taking their cruise.

Plans change and people cancel their reservation so there’s a chance you’ll get a kennel.

Is There Visitation Time During the Cruise? 

Of course! Guest staterooms or public areas are off-limits to pets. Service dogs are the only exception. 

Owners may visit their pets at the kennels during the scheduled times every day of the voyage.

In addition to the outdoor, off-leash doggie area, there is also an indoor play space where the dogs can romp around off-leash, too, should inclement weather prevail.

Visiting hours have changed since the pandemic. They now are:

• 8:00am to 12:00pm
• 3:00pm to 6:00pm
• 7:30pm to 8:30pm
• *Guests should check onboard for specific hours

How Much Does a Queen Mary 2 Kennel Cost?

If you’re wondering how much Queen Mary 2 kennels cost, it isn’t cheap. But it’s worth the cost to transport your beloved pet and know they are well cared for onboard.

• Upper kennel $800.00 each – Dimensions: 27″ high, 35 1/2″ deep, 30″ wide.
• Lower kennel $1,000.00 each – 36″ high, 35 1/2″ deep, 30″ wide.

Prices Updated:  July 2022.

Queen Mary 2 Kennel Rules 

• Only dogs and cats and ferrets are allowed.
• There is no veterinarian onboard.
• Dogs may be walked onto the ship or in a kennel.
• Cats must be brought onboard in a kennel.
• Pets in the upper kennels must weight 26 lbs. or less
• Lower kennels occupants are 26 lbs. and more

It’s easy to arrange for you to travel with your pet between England and the United States.

It’s extremely important to follow Cunard’s instructions exactly as stated or your pet may not be allowed to even board the ship.

Prices may change over time so consult Cunard for the most up-to-date kennel prices.

Why stress out your pet (and you!) when Fido or Fluffy can travel aboard the Queen Mary 2 and be a four-legged, pampered passenger for a week.

You can email Cunard about Queen Mary 2 dog kennels at:  [email protected]

You’ll Also Love

Complete Guide to Cruise Line Room Service Fees

Top 10 Totally Underrated Cruise Ports to Visit Soon

Best Things to Do in Cozumel on a Cruise Day in Port

Eight ways to pamper yourself on a cruise.

On the Narrow Road to Mount St. Helens

New Holland America Promotion with Pre-Paid Gratuities Plus Onboard $$

115 comments.

Hi Maria, Thank you for reading my article! Dogs with meds are allowed at this time but the owner has to administer them, to the best of my knowledge. And yes, all the dogs get along…but there could be one or two that have socialization issues and the owner needs to keep that dog on a leash. The kennel department has more details. Don’t wait too long to reserve your kennels…especially if you want to try to get two next to each other. Good luck and have fun!

Hi! We may try to take our 2 small dogs in 2 years. Can anyone tell me if dogs are allowed with treated medical conditions? One of mine has epilepsy that’s well controlled with meds. Also do all the dogs usually get along and mingle together like in the pictures? Looks like quite an adventure! Thanks…

Hi, you’ll have to contact the kennel department at Cunard. Reach out to their reservations and ask for the kennel info. Usually the kennels are booked a year in advance. Good luck!

what are the available dates for traveling with my pet on the QEII please. Are repeat passengers.

LOL. Maybe we’ll be on the same crossings.

I’m actually booked for my fifth and sixth TA with the dog in autumn 2024. He won’t be at all pleased when he finds out.

Hi Ian, Thanks again for contributing to this on-going post. And yes, the paperwork from the US to the UK is extensive and a last-minute visit to a vet in NYC for any missing paperwork isn’t too uncommon. Hope all is well.

Yes, the kennel places sell out and then waitlist very quickly – for 2024 some of the crossings were full on the day the bookings opened.

But I’ve done four TAs and there are always people who have managed to get on with their pets at short notice. Cancellations are quite common, especially as the sailing date approaches, and if you are able to book at short notice it is always worth checking with Cunard whether there is any late availability; a lot of people aren’t able to take up places that become available late because they don’t have the flexibility to make the arrangements quickly and/or can’t get the cabin they would want for themselves. Indeed three of my four crossings sailed with at least one empty kennel.

I’m not an expert on the US paperwork but know that the Americans travelling on the ship all had tales of last minute rushes and drives and express couriers back and forth and the like to get their paperwork to and back from the USDA ready for the crossing.

Hi Shane, Thank you for reading my article and I’m glad you found it helpful. I just had this same conversation today about the 48-hour vet visit prior to boarding and finding a vet in NYC! Yes, the kennels are sold out for this year (as you probably already know, sorry for my late reply). But there’s always a waiting list…however, I think they will require two kennels for your larger dogs.

The downside is that if the kennel doesn’t clear, you’re stuck with the stateroom for the crossing, unless you cancel before final payment is due and check for any cancellation penalties.

Ten thousand dollars for flying your two Goldens?? That’s insane!

About having a Canadian vet sign off on the dogs’ paperwork…I’m not sure about that one. You’ll need to confirm with the Kennel department. I thought it had to be a U.S. vet…even though Canada is in the Commonwealth…doesn’t make sense.

I hope you can figure out how to do your relocation this year and that space opens up for two kennels. Thank you again for reading my article.

We’re late to the party here but thank you so much for the hugely helpful article!

We’re relocating from Vancouver, Canada to the UK some point in the near future (ideally August) and due to the obscene cost of pet travel on a flight (over $10,000 not including our own flights) to London, for our two Golden Retrievers, someone suggested this option.

I’m going to contact Cunard right now about availability but I’m assuming we’ll be sweet out of luck to even attempt to get on the August eastbound sailing, this close to departure (only 4 months away).

Because we’ll be coming from Canada, I’m assuming we’ll need to see a veterinarian in NYC and have them complete the forms within the timeframe. The other option is for us to make our way to Toronto, and have everything signed off there, and then drive in 1-2 days to NYC or fly the dogs from there on the short hop. Any input on that?

In any case, thank you for the article! What an amazing thing and what a start to our fresh start this would be.

Thanks, Ian. I have been in contact with the new kennel person – so I had better reach out again for the latest booking list. Hopefully something will open for me and Poppy. Thanks again for your updates!

The kennel booking system has now returned to the previous arrangement, but in the rush for 2024 bookings quite a few prospective travellers have ended up waitlisted for the kennels – all for the lower (dog weights 26 lbs and above) – despite making their cabin bookings during the first few days. I got my 2024 places because I was very early in the queue.

People wanting to book their dogs onto the QM2 can be reassured by knowing that places do come available as people cancel once the payment deadline arrives three months in advance of the departure date, but those on already long waitlists (almost all for the eastbound crossings, which are clearly much more popular) will have a nerve wracking year waiting for cancellations to come through.

Hi Ian, Thanks for your response, too, to the question about jumping the gate. I was just informed about 2024 and I’m trying to get Poppy and me booked…finally! I’ll let you know what happens.

I’m not sure what you mean by ‘partition’ – there’s the gate at the entrance; once I saw a dog slip through it, but it only took seconds to fetch back. Jumping the gate would be a challenge, and it’s not obvious why they would bother. If they jumped the back fence of the kennel deck, they’d land on the Grills sundeck with broken legs, and would a dogs really be that dumb?

Yes, most owners stay with their dogs during the opening hours – those that don’t aren’t doing their dog any favours, nor the other owners who have to sit and listen to it barking all day. Although dogs vary by breed and there are some that are more relaxed about being left on their own than others.

The 2024 kennel spaces are now released, but the new booking arrangements – where you now have to book by telephone and, instead of contacting the kennels directly afterwards, you ask for the kennel when making the cabin booking – supposedly mean that we’ll be told whether we have been lucky or not (on a first come first served basis) by the end of this week!

Hi Barbara, Thank you for reading my article and the attached comments. They are very helpful! To the best of my knowledge and experience up at the kennel, I haven’t heard of any dog jumping the partition. Yes, almost everyone stays for the entire visitation time. It becomes sort of a social club, really. If you are concerned about your dog jumping over the rail, then by all means keep him on a leash. Oliver is the kennel master with years of experience and would be your best source of information once you and your dog are on board. I’ve seen all sorts of dogs in the kennel but I don’t want to guarantee anything. Better safe than sorry and see how your dog acts in that narrow walking area. Don’t wait too long to make your kennel reservation. They sell out quickly! Thank you again for your question.

Thanks so much for this article and for the extremely helpful comment section! I would consider it but I wonder, have any dogs nearly jumped over the partition? It looks to be only four feet in some spots around that narrow off leash area. I’m worried my hound could jump it and I’d have to have him on a leash the whole time. I would probably want to be there for the entire visiting time, do people do that? Thinking of moving overseas and this is the only way.

Hi Ian, Thanks so much for your update! I’m amazed that Oliver remembered me. I’ll find out more about the autumn refit and let you know! Maybe I’ll be able to get a kennel for Poppy, too. Enjoy your and your pet’s cruise!

Oliver was remembering his interview with you today.

Half way through the crossing home, and the fifteen dogs are mostly coping very well.

The QM2 is scheduled for a refit in the autumn of 2023, and we are hoping for some modest enhancements for the kennels – watch this space!

I mis-converted your 20:30. I don’t have the need to use a 24-hour clock very often. Will correct.

The evening kennel slot is 7.30pm to 8.30pm – not until 10.30pm!

That last hour gives owners having an 1800 dinner time to rush up after the meal and have half an hour with the dog before it gets put to bed for the night, and those on the 2030 sitting time to do the same before heading off to dinner,

At 8.30pk, Oliver and John get a well earned rest and the kennels are closed for the night!

I would be happy to pay a heck of a lot more if the dogs have a mock forest or woodland, with grass and trees. I have travelled on many ships where this is provided for humans, what about the dogs? And suites for dogs and humans, only dog owners would use them, keep up with the times Cunnard. I love travelling with you but please think of these options. I am sure you would profit as many of us think more of our animals than ourselves. I am Autistic and my service dog is my VIP. You have a huge deck with lots of space, please use it.

Hello. I had a question concerning entry requirements from NYC to Southampton. I am taking my two labradors from NYC to Southampton and then directly onto France as a final destination. I have reserved 4 kennels for May crossing. I have read many articles and contacted many offices but still am a little unclear with the paperwork. I wanted to ask people who already made this journey either their dogs. I know the USDA endorsement of the health certificate has to be done 10 days before the dogs embark. But what about the health certificate itself, I read it could be done during 30 days before and then the endorsement 10 days before. Since I am driving from California to NYC which will take about 5 days, I am a little stressed with time. I wouldn’t want the health certificate to arrive sooner that 10 days or later from the USDA office. Or I could do it in NYC but I don’t really want to stay in a hotel there with two dogs for days waiting for the certificates. If anyone would have any tips that would be great. Thank you.

Hi James, Thank for your reading my article and leaving your comment. You will need to contact Cunard for the latest info on reserving a kennel. The crossings are 7-days between New York and Southampton. Don’t wait too long to reserve your kennel as they quickly fill.

Morning Just wondering on your next available date to trave to England

I have a mid size dog fully vaccinated and paperwork and chipped

And how long is the crossing !

Thanks, Ian. I totally agree with you.

@Sherry The CDC ban runs until November and hence they are taking bookings thereafter. The comment yesterday that the 2021 (and probably Jan 2022) sailings won’t happen was a private one and a guess rather than hard information, but I reckon it may well turn out to be on the money. Things remain in the balance in the US, which is the critical place as far as resuming TAs is concerned.

If they cancel the cruise, they have to refund your deposit (or offer you an enhancement to take FCC instead), under both UK and US consumer law.

I know all 2022 kennel places are booked and there is a significant waitlist for all crossings, such that they aren’t taking new bookings now (except possibly for the bottom of the waitlist for a handful of eastbounds – which would be a long shot). I don’t know about 2023.

Hi Ian, You must have read my mind. I was thinking of you and all of your super-helpful comments…thank you again. Also, now that I have a small dog, it was on my to-do list to make a kennel reservation for 2022. I guess I just need to call and get the bad news from the source, as well. Maybe there will be a kennel wait-list for the kennel wait-list!

Here in the U.S., Cunard is accepting transatlantic reservations starting this November 2021, in both directions (sans kennel), at least on their U.S. booking site. In fact, Queens Grill is sold out for November and December, West and East. Whether or not they will actually sail certainly remains to be seen. Plus, as I proceeded with the mock booking, this popped up: “The deposit of the fare you have selected is 100% Non-refundable and Non-Transferable.” There is no mention of cancellations due to suspended cruises and if they will refund or credit you should that happen.

Next, thanks for the greatly detailed advice for a crossing with a large dog. All the times that I’ve interviewed Oliver or took photos up there, I never saw a really large dog..nothing bigger than a small yellow lab, really.

I hope all is well. And again, thanks for your comments on this very long and popular post! Sherry

p.s. I should have added that for 2022 crossings the kennels are so over-booked that they aren’t now even taking people for the waitlist.

@ Sherry I spoke to Cunard yesterday, and it looks likely there won’t be any Transatlantics now until 2022, which given the timetable means late April at the earliest.

@ Judy For a large dog, the dog obviously needs to be able to stand up in its kennel, and the lower kennels are in a block (row) all three feet high. So a standing height (top of head) at three feet represents a hard upper limit.

Beyond that, you need to consider how you’ll (and s/he’ll) manage with a very large dog in accommodation that is already very cramped. Much of the time you will be sitting in the kennels room with lots of other owners and their dogs; the very large dog that made the crossing with us spent most of its time standing on a very short lead by its owner’s legs, being pulled this way and that as people wanted to step by. The challenges of the crossing (covered in some of the comments below) are magnified for a larger dog, which it is impossible to exercise properly on the small amount of open deck space available; you know your dog best and will need to think about how she or he might cope with the experience.

Hi Judy, Thanks for reading the article. I’ve seen Golden Retrievers in Queen Mary’s kennels…but not a giant breed, like Great Dane. While two side-by-side kennels can adjoin, there’s not a way to raise the roof on them, so to speak. I would suggest giving Cunard a call and see what the rules are for 2021 and if maybe they might add new kennels for bigger dogs. Good luck. Sherry

Interesting info. When I checked on sailing with dog before, was told only smaller dogs. Mine is giant breed., about 36″ tall. So, this is still an option ?

• Pingback: How to Move to the UK: Ultimate FAQ - The Portable Wife

You have the dimensions above in the article.

Hi Ian, Thank you again for your contribution. Yes, I’ve seen where two kennels were opened together for a collie, I think. Next time, I’ll measure the height of the bottom kennels. It would be helpful. I think that the person in California who would know the answer to dimensions is unfortunately not in the office very often right now. Again, thanks! Sherry

@Roz on my return crossing there was a big dog (bigger than a Lab) and his owners had paid for two kennels and these were opened up together to make one larger space. The dimensions of the kennels are easily available and you are the best person to judge whether or not the space will be sufficient.

Hi Roz, Thanks for taking the time to write. I wish I had an answer to your question. The largest dogs I’ve seen in the kennels were labs. You might want to contact Cunard’s Kennel Master in their California office and someone there could address your questions. Interesting bit of info about Ben the Borzoi. They are such beautiful animals. Thank you again. Sherry

How do you travel if you have a giant breed? I have a borzoi who is 34″ at the shoulder and want to move to England and take him with me and I can’t see flying with him. I don’t know if he’d even fit in the largest kennel standing up. Also, since the Captain of the Titanic had a borzoi named Ben I hope this isn’t a bad sign (he didn’t bring his borzoi aboard that fateful day thank goodness!)

Hi Tony, I’m amazed at everyone’s helpful comments and contributions to this post. To the best of my knowledge (and things can always change) the pet owner is able to give the meds to their pet as needed. One of the kennel masters must of course be able to admit you to the kennel. This question should be addressed directly to Cunard for an exact answer but IMO it shouldn’t be an issue as long as there’s a workaround solution compatible with the kennel hours and the kennel master. Thank you for reading the article and taking the time to write. Much appreciated. I hope you and your pet have a wonderful cruise…whenever that may happen. Sherry

We love these accounts of everyone’s experiences and understand all the requirements which need to be met with regards to documentation and certification of pets. Naturally we would bring with us our travel pack of meds and digestive remedies and so on. We can’t seem to find any information as to how folks work with a pet which needs its meds at regular times each day or whether in fact the kennels have restrictions on taking animals with pre-existing health conditions?

Hi Kristen, Thank you very much for reading the article and sending a question. Yes, all the animals can hear each other. It’s not like the cages/kennels are dog, cat, dog, cat etc. The cats are in a slightly separated section but definitely can hear the dogs. I’d like to say that it’s only seven days to cross, but for jittery cats, that can seem like a very long time. I hope it works out for you and your pal. Thank you again for your question. Sherry

Hi! Thanks for all the great info. Do you know if the cats are kept in the same area as the dogs or if their kennels are separate? I’m concerned about the cats being nervous from dogs barking all around them.

Once again, thank you Ian, for sharing your actual experience using the kennels. Oliver is a gem. Stay safe.

To Lisa M – cats can’t be let out in the kennel rooms or open deck, lest they provide excessive excitement for the dogs. And, of course, cats have a habit of disappearing into inaccessible places, which is the last thing you would want on a ship. On my crossings, some of the (very few) cats stayed in their kennels the whole time. For a couple, their owners used their carry cage to bring the cat out into the kennel room, and sat there with it with a towel over the cage so that it wasn’t disturbed by the surrounding dogs. This at least allowed the owners to share some time with their cat and open the cage door to give it a stroke. On my return crossing Oliver was good enough to banish all the dog owners onto deck (in good weather!) for an hour, to allow the cat to have at least a little taste of freedom inside the room, but this was just once during the seven days.

During the Brexit transition period, at least, the easiest way to get certification is to get an EU pet passport, which includes proof of rabies vaccination and makes it easier to travel with a pet. Otherwise, I am guessing that a vet’s vaccination certificate would be sufficient. On my westbound, there weren’t any checks whatsoever on arriving pets at the New York terminal, and on the eastbound DEFRA now do spot checks on random crossings only. I am sure there will (eventually) be some sort of UK equivalent process after the Brexit transition period ends (which may well now be before cruising fully resumes)

Thank you for reading the Queen Mary 2 article and taking the time to write.

I love how informative this is. I’ve never considered taking my pups on a cruise or boat, but I have some air travel experience. It’s never easy, but I’m very happy to see the details here!

H Ian, Thank you again for your ongoing contributions to helping with this topic. Your first line – the part in parenthesis – is spot-on. Please stay safe and healthy. And thanks again for your ongoing comments. Once this crisis is past and cruise lines start up again, I’ll revisit this topic for more clarification.

To Ashley (and somewhat academic for the foreseeable, but anyhow), everything about dogs on the QM2 is confined. The dog deck is narrow and gets crowded when all 20-ish dogs are out with their owners. When is is windy and wet (often!) the two small rooms get very crowded and claustrophobic. But your dog won’t be wandering around when you aren’t there – you’ll (hopefully) be around for most of the opening hours to keep an eye on your dog and intervene to sort out any incidents.

One of the reasons why, for the dog owners, a QM2 crossing is not really a relaxing experience.

By the way, there’s a small mistake in the article in that US vets are allowed to update the pet passport (only) as far as the tapeworm treatment is concerned. I had this confirmed by UK DEFRA before my trip and this is what I did when in the US.

Hello~ I am traveling from the UK to the US on the QM2. (We are American Expats). I am traveling with my cat and dog. I have read so much on the topic of paperwork for their exportation. I have come to realize that they need the Rabies vaccination and a health certificate. However, the UK does not have “Health Certificates” and “Rabies Certificates” . Can anyone tell me what they have done to provide this information once we get to NY customs? Also…side question. Is there a place for my cat to get out and stretch his legs? I realize it has to be a confined room. I have read that dogs can go out on the deck and they have their own room but what about my kitty? I appreciate any information you can give. Thanks so much

Hi Linda, Thanks for your comment. That’s interesting that you asked about it. You can bring your pet’s bed and they will furnish towels if needed. Unless something’s changed, there’s an area of deck just outside the entrance to the kennel where dogs do their business. I hope this helps. Sherry

Thanks for your question. Dog owners must also book passage. Pets cannot travel alone. I hope this helps.

Can you put your dog on the Queen Mary 2 alone or do you have to book passage on the ship as well?

Do dogs and cats bring own beds and towels to get dried off if wet outside and do they poop on the deck or grass area?

Ian – thanks for all the information!

You mention “if your dog may not cope well in a confined space with other dogs, think carefully.”

Can you expand on that? When are the dogs in a confined space together with other dogs? My dog will be fine alone her own kennel (even if it’s in a room with other kenneled dogs). She likes her space though when it comes to “open play” with other dogs. She’ll start fights with dogs that play too rough for her. I would prefer if she’s only at “open play” when I’m around. Is this situation going to work?

Hi Diana, Thank you for this interesting question. I couldn’t begin to give you an accurate answer in case I was way off base. I would definitely contact Cunard’s Kennel department as soon as possible and get everything in writing. It would seem like you’d need something from the US, too, but being that you are coming from a Commonwealth and going to the U.K. logic would tell me that all would be good. Again, please reach out to Cunard. Have a wonderful crossing and I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you a definitive answer.

Hi, I’m from Canada, booked for the May US to UK crossing, so the vet and tapeworm and health certificate 10 days before will be done and stamped by a Canadian vet and the Canadian ministry. Once I enter the US (since I plan on getting in US one or two days before we embark), do I need another vet visit and health certificate issued and stamped from a US vet and US ministry or will Cunard accept the Canadian one, even though I cross the border into US? Thank you.

Hi Amy, Thanks for asking…yes, you have to call. It’s somewhat complicated and you will have contact with the Kennel department, too. And the kennels can quickly sell out, so don’t wait too long. Good Luck and thank you for your question. Sherry

Is there a link to book a Queen Mary 2 kennel or do you have to call?

Hi Jean, Thank you for your question. The coats are complimentary when you reserve a kennel for your dog. As far as I know, that’s the only way to get one for your pet.

How can we purchase the red dog coats for our dogs with the queen mary 2 embroidered on them

Oops I made a small mistake in my last post – it was the return leg that I was waitlisted for, and the cancellation came through just over three months before we sailed. This was likely due to the 90-day cancellation cutoff date. That’s therefore a good time to be asking about cancellations (remembering that there will already be a waitlist and you can’t get on the wait list unless you have already booked a cabin for yourself).

@Alexandra – it s very hard to give firm advice on the waitlist, other than booking as early as you can if you want to be sure. I booked more than eighteen months ahead, and was very surprised to be waitlisted for a large kennel on one leg even back then. I went ahead with booking a small kennel (my dog is borderline) and the large kennel came through on the wait list six weeks before we sailed.

On the other hand I met one couple who had booked for themselves and the dog only a few weeks earlier and managed to get space. And another couple who had booked and paid deposits on three different crossings, because they didn’t know when their relocation would come through, and then Cunard had let them roll up all the deposits towards the crossing they actually made.

So my impression is that the kennels book out VERY early, but because a lot of the users are people relocating for work reasons, cancellations during the last few months are quite common.

However booking for yourself and waitlisting for the dog is a risk since if the kennel doesn’t come through you either can’t take the dog or lose your own deposit if you don’t travel. So the realistic choices are either to book very early, or leave everything until quite late.

Hi Ian, Crossings can be rough…or a millpond. It’s so unpredictable these days. Traveling during hurricane season can be especially risky for having calm seas. Same for winter. But you just never know. I hope your dog is feeling better. Thank you again for your comments and updates. Hopefully it will help others. Sherry

One further update – Cunard tell me today that they have abandoned the facility for owners to order a particular food, and now stock a range of about twelve foods (they will provide a list on request) and owners can either choose one of these, or bring their own supply of their usual food instead.

Does anyone know the typical process with the waitlist? Is it common for people to cancel? When do people have to cancel by?

Hi Sherry – yes it went well in the sense that we all arrived alive, and Oliver did a great job in charge of the kennel.

Before we left I read pretty much every blog about the crossing, and my main takeaway is that they don’t really spell out how tough it was for many of the dogs, and hence how stressful it is for most of the owners. We had the full range of digestive and behavioural problems, and a few of the dogs could barely bark at all (my own dog hasn’t fully recovered his voice two days later). Because of the wind and rain we spent most of the time sitting in a very confined space with up to eighteen restless dogs pacing around the floor.

It may be an adventure but it isn’t a walk in the park!

Hi Ian, Thank you for taking the time to follow up after you and your dog’s crossing. Much appreciated! Great tips to share. I hope it went well and that maybe Oliver was the kennel master! Sherry

Having now done my crossing, I hope some extra tips might be useful:

– Take some old clothes that are wind- and waterproof (even in summer). – Expect to spend most of the 8 hours daily kennel time with your dog; almost everyone did. If you’re not there, your dog will mostly be locked up and likely barking his head off; don’t be the owner that everyone else mutters about. – So don’t expect to be enjoying many of the ship activities. With two you can share stints in the kennels, but you won’t be doing much together, other than meals. – Take lots of whatever calming remedies you have for your dog. Only a few dogs don’t have some problems with the experience, and some do suffer. – Get ready to spend seven days talking about dog poop. – Bring a favourite toy for the cage, but otherwise don’t bother; there’s now a ‘no toy’ rule to avoid sparking an incident. Similarly you’ll have to be discreet with giving treats. – Phone Cunard ten days or so before sailing to make sure they have ordered your food, or take it yourself. The food requests don’t always reach the ship. – Only take food and treats that you will use during the crossing; you can’t take it off the ship afterwards. – Make up your own canine first aid kit; there is neither vet nor medical materials on board. – You’re going to spend a lot of time calling your dog away from things, so brush up on the training! – Toward the end of the crossing there’s a doggie parade and photoshoot when the dogs come out on the open deck (on lead); if your travelling or dining companions want to see and meet your dog, this is their best chance. – go grab a book from the library after you embark; you’re going to spend a lot of time sitting in a small room (with one eye on your dog). – note that most owners give US $ cash tips to the kennelmaster and assistant. – if your dog may not cope well in a confined space with other dogs, think carefully. – make what allowances you can for having a dog who will be stressed, tired, under-exercised and dirty on disembarkation day. If you are travelling on, plan to buy dog food that day.

@ Lisa, Yes you need to book a cabin before you can make a kennel booking. The best bet is to talk to kennels first, to establish that there is availability on the crossing you are looking for, then make the booking ASAP, then go back to kennels to reserve the kennel place. For obvious reasons the kennels won’t allow you to book a kennel place without a Cunard booking numbe.

The blog states – incorrectly – that US vets aren’t able to make entries in a UK pet passport. I raised this with UK Defra directly, and have it in writing that US vets are able to complete the part of the pet passport that confirms that the pre-travel tapeworm treatment has been given, to meet Uk arrival requirements (but cannot complete other sections of the passport).

Hi Gabby, Thank you for your question. You will need to contact Cunard Line for booking information for you and your dog. The phone number in the US is 1-800-728-6273. I do not know what requirements are necessary to have your dog enter the United Kingdom from Argentina. Also, there should be a Cunard office in Buenos Aires as well, and someone there should be able to get a list of all the requirements needed. Good luck and thank you again for your question. Sherry

Hi do you have place for a kennel November, or December 2019? I am flying from Argentina with my dog as an Emotional Support Animal, do you have any polices regarding this situation as I need the pet with me. Also once we arrive to SOU hw is the process into the customs with the dog? Many thanks, Gabby

HI, I am going to be traveling back home to Ireland in the summer of 2020 and I will be bring my 3 dogs and cat with me. Boxer, American bulldog boxer dachshund mix and shihtzu. I don’t want to fly with that as it will be very hard on them as they have never been in a kennel/ crate before. I would like to get as much feedback as possible before I book anything. They all have their 3 yr rabies vaccine and are also microchipped.

Thank you for your questions. Yes, I would first call Cunard at their regular number (1-800-7-CUNARD) and see what dates are available for the kennels since there are so few. Then you can book your own accommodation. Deposits will be required. Check the cancellation penalty dates, too.

Sounds like a fun trip for you! Happy cruising. Sherry

Hello, do I book my room before calling to reserve a kennel for my dog? Or should I call first and see which dates have available kennels? And do I simply call the Cunard number to reserve the kennel?

And yes, they had the 3 year vaccine

We brought our dogs with us on the 2nd November crossing 2018. The only thing they did at Brooklyn was to check they had a rabies vaccination. They didn’t look at our health certificates or anything else. Took 5 minutes. the dogs loved it. Only trouble is we want to move back to the UK and I am not sure I will get a space for the dogs this autumn!

Hi Jenna, That’s a very good question. I strongly suggest that you contact Cunard’s California office. There seems to be conflicting information going around that needs to be clarified by the source. I don’t want to accidentally give out incorrect information. Sorry to not be able to answer your question. Cunard will be able to do so. Requirements for entering the USA differs slightly from that required by the UK. Sherry

How do they handle the tapeworm treatment required for entry into the UK. Do you know if the pets should get it prior to boarding in the USA? You mention something about heartworm treatment but that’s something different.

I’ve removed the 12-month mention and added a link directly to the CDC. Keep in mind that there are different rules depending upon from which country the dog is transported.

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html

Also, it is advisable to contact Cunard’s Customer Service and their Kennel department before purchasing your ticket and kennel.

Sherry – Thanks. Note that you’ve still got the 12 month requirement incorrectly on the site.

Phoebe – Cunard should have emailed you all the forms and requirements. On one of them it gives the mailing address in NY for sending a copy of your health certificate before you go. Otherwise I think you have everything covered.

Hi Phoebe, First, thank you for your questions. When you arrive into Brooklyn Terminal, you will be directed to Customs and Immigration. Because you have a dog in the kennels, you’ll have an escort (maybe Oliver from the kennel!) to get you to the proper area. Regarding the proper requirements to bring your dog into the US, please contact Cunard over here. There has been some discussion with this article about what’s correct and/or out of date. I’ve spoken with the person at Cunard in the US in charge of the dogs. You might reach out also to the UK Cunard office, too. Kudos to you for not transporting your dog in an airplane.

Happy cruising, Sherry

Can anyone share experience of after arriving New York? Is there a border control in the Brooklyn Terminal? If so, what should we be expecting?

We booked a crossing from Southampton to New York December 2019. We are actually relocating ourselves (and our dogs) to the US. Instead of air-transport the dogs to the US, we decided to take them on QM2 with us.

I understand they will need a health certificate from their UK vet and also up-to-date rabies vaccination. Is there anything else we will need to fulfil before set sail?

Thanks a lot!

Hi Ian, We must have both spoken with the same person at Cunard. I’m glad it’s settled and you have the correct information. Sherry

I spoke to Cunard yesterday – they confirmed that a valid Rabies vaccination is what is needed; the 12 months is no longer specific – it depends on the vaccine.

That the 3-year vaccine is accepted is confirmed on the official NYS website.

I’ll go back to the source with your information and see what he says. Thanks! Sherry

Thanks for the update! The 2016 prices are still current for 2019.

One point that may still need updating – many dogs nowadays get the rabies injection that lasts for three years before needing a booster. Checking the official New York sites about entry with pets, it looks to me as if the three year vaccination is now accepted – i.e. the requirement is that the dog has a valid rabies vaccination at time of entry – NOT necessarily within twelve months as stated in the article.

Hi Autumn, That’s a good question. I’m fairly certain that for one cat, you need to purchase two kennels…one for the cat and one for the litter box. I’m putting together an update to this article so please check back. Thank you! Sherry

Do I need one kennel per cat? I have 2 cats that are brother and sister so they get along and are used to being with each other. Thanks!

It’s not just about the size of the dog – the smaller kennels require the dog to be lifted up into them, and the lifting limit for health and safety is 26 pounds. There won’t be much leeway on this,

This article really needs an update – there is sufficient misleading information on it that it is now positively unhelpful.

Hi Janet, Good for you to plan ahead. The kennels always sell out way in advance. I’ve seen the kennel sizes but I can’t say if your Lab would fit. I’m pretty sure weight is also taken into consideration. I would advise you to call Cunard and get the phone number for the Kennel department or the land-based Kennel Master. Hopefully, the waitlist for the second kennel will come through for you. Most big dogs that I’ve seen have a double size kennel. Good luck. Sherry

Hi, I have reserved 1 lower kennel on a 2020 crossing and am waitlisted for a second one. we have two reserved for the return trip My dog is a very small purebred Labrador Retreiver, only 53 pounds. She is so small that people often ask me what kind of dog she is. As the entire summer plans depend on whether we get a second kennel, I wonder if she will be allowed in one kennel? Anyone else have experience with a VERY small lab being allowed in one kennel? She curls up small to sleep so Im sure she would be comfy. I dont want to make all these plans and then be turned away on boarding the ship.

21 days or more before the start of the cruise! Rather a big difference. See Gov.uk under “pet passports”

Thank you for your update. I noticed on the Gov.UK site that this was revised last week. I’ll have to do a little more research and update my information. Much appreciated. Sherry

The point about the rabies vaccination having to be given 21 days or less is incorrect. This should be corrected to 21 days or more (see https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/rabies-vaccination-boosters-and-blood-tests ). This states:

“You must wait 21 days after the vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) before bringing your pet to the UK from the EU or a listed country.”

Fingers crossed you’ll get the space for your pups. Even with the newly added 12 kennels, it’s amazing how fast they sell out. I’m very glad to learn that the person with whom you spoke had the correct information to give to you.

Have a wonderful crossing!

I’ve just spoken with Cunard about 1/3/2019 crossing and was waitlisted for my 2 dogs (lower kennels – 1/each but will be opened up so dogs are together. as we were waitlisted, I asked if there was anywhere else in Europe Cunard could take me and my dogs to – such as Hamburg. rep told me only nyc to Southampton takes dogs. rep was very good about the waitlist procedure – she will let me know by next week, whether we are in or not. very helpful in planning. you are absolutely right about booking early!

Hi Beverley, Cats remain in their carriers when checking in. Maybe if they are leashed, it might be allowed? But I’m sure with seven cats, they’d need to be in their carriers. Your friend needs to contact Cunard for accurate information. Seven cats will require multiple kennels and it could get quite expensive. Sherry

Hello Wendy, When travelling with cats do they have to be taken out of their cat basket when checking in? My friend is travelling from Brookland to England with 7 cats and is trying to find out this information. Obviously it’s not as easy as walking a dog onto the ship

Hi Wendy, The procedure for boarding with your dog is usually quite the processional. The kennel master greets the dog owners and everyone boards in a parade of sorts. The dogs are truly celebrities onboard. Triple-check that you have the proper paperwork and have a wonderful crossing! Sherry

I have booked to travel with our dog to New York April 14th 2019, I am really looking forward to this trip, we will be leaving from Spain, driving to UK taking the train in Calais to Folkstone. Do the dogs need to be in a carrier boarding or can you walk them on to the Queen Mary 2? Will be staying in Southampton for a few days to visit vet to get everything updated are there any you can reccommend? I am excited already and i am a year out

Dear Nicoletta, You’ve raised a good question about early disembarkation. You will need to check with the Kennel Reservations department at Cunard. I will guess that there might be additional/different paperwork to complete. Regarding the size of the kennels. Yes, each of your dogs would need its own kennel. The dogs are outside quite a bit during the day plus owners may visit their dogs and play in the indoor playroom as certain hours as well. You will most likely need to reserve (pay) for your cruise and kennels as soon as possible. The kennels fill up quite quickly…but there are also cancellations, too. Best of luck in your summer home! Sherry

Dear Sherry I’m planning to spend summer in Nova Scotia for the next years as I bought a house there (leaving from Hamburg or Southampton). I have two large dogs that I need to bring with me. I’m a bit concerned for the size of the kennels. the dogs will be cramped there most of the time. Even reserving two spaces for each dog (I bet it’ll be quite difficult to do). Cunard should have been a bit more generous with space. Cunard also does Canada cruises I wonder if it’ll be possible to disembark in St. John with the dogs instead of in New York

Hi Scott, Sounds like a life-adventure, for sure. First, make your kennel reservation as soon as possible. Second, learn about all the necessary paperwork. It’s crucial to have it perfectly completed. The spaces are limited and fill up fast.

About the check-in process with your dogs on Queen Mary 2, it is indeed quite a process. You and your dogs will feel very special. You’ll have a separate area to wait for boarding. Then you’ll be escorted by the kennel master himself in a sort of procession to board the ship and to the kennels. It’s hilarious to watch. You and your dogs will also have a wonderful time onboard as you meet others with their pets, too.

Best of luck on your move abroad. Be sure to get your kennels booked soon.

Can you comment on the check-in process with animals? We are looking to move to England and we are considering this as an option. We would fly from Seattle to New York so we would have to figure out how to get from the airport to the dock where the Queen Mary picks up which also may include a night stay in a hotel depending on time frames.

I was just curious, once we get to the dock with the dogs, what is the process from then to when they are in the kennels?

Hi Laura, Great question about Hamburg. Off the top of my head, I’d say, yes. But I do not know 100% for sure. I would suggest that you contact Cunard and tell the reservationist that you need to speak with the person in charge of kennel reservations. To the best of my knowledge, the kennel person is in a totally separate department from “people” reservations and can email the list of requirements to you.

I hope this is helpful. Thank you for reading. Sherry

What about traveling to Hamburg with a dog? Do the cruises going to Hamburg also permit dogs aboard? I may be looking into relocating for work for six months and flying isn’t exactly ideal.

Hi Julie, Sorry I don’t have a good answer to your question. There is a direct phone number to land-based kennel operations. I would suggest calling Cunard reservations at 1-800-7-CUNARD and tell whomever you speak with that you need to contact kennel operations. If you need to go to the next level, ask the reservationist to please speak with a supervisor. I’ve met dog owners onboard, and that is why I am aware of a land-based kennel operations department. I hope this is somewhat helpful for you.

I can tell you that once you and your dog are onboard, you’ll find that the kennel masters are fabulous guys that really love taking care of their dogs (and cats!) onboard. Sherry

Hi, I’m trying to find out ASAP what cleaning products are used in the kennel area on the QM2 cruises. Do you know the best way to quickly get in touch with someone who could answer that? It’s very important. Thanks

Only in New York? What about people who comes from other states? They have gone to their own vets and USDA. I never hear of this kind of thing, that it MUST BE DONE only in New York , and only within 30 days .

Hi Georgina, I just spoke with the kennel department at Cunard. Here is the follow-up statement that was sent to me:

Pet Travel Requirements for sailing: Eastbound Requirements: NYC – SOU:

The cat or dog must have been: IN THIS ORDER

Fitted with a microchip Vaccinated against rabies Issued with an official Veterinary Certificate (Regulation (EC) No 2013/576) or official PET Passport

THIS CERTIFICATE IS ONLY VALID FOR 10 DAYS FROM THE DAY IT IS SIGNED AND STAMPED BY THE USDA AND NEEDS TO BE VALID WHEN YOU EMBARK IN NEW YORK Treated against tapeworm not less than 24 hours or more than 120 hours before check-in and issued with an official certificate of treatment

FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER, WILL RESULT IN YOUR PET BEING DENIED BOARDING. Westbound Requirements: SOU – NYC: The cat or dog must have been:

Issued a current Health Certificate (The health certificate shall show that the dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian within 30 days of entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York.) Rabies Vaccination within 12 months to 14 days prior to Entry into the State of New York.

I will update this info to the article. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Hi Pat, After checking with Cunard, I was told that the same cancellation requirements apply to potential passengers with or without a kennel waitlisted reservation. Basically, if you were to put a deposit on a Queen Mary 2 stateroom and then have to wait-list your cat, it would be very important that you mark the cancel before penalty date on your calendar. If your kennel space has not been cleared by that date, then it is up to you to cancel your booking before the penalty period begins.

I hope this helps. Thank you very much. Safe and happy travels to you! Sherry

I understand that the first and last cruise on any year; – the kennels are closed – as in, not in use? This information I received from another QM2 web site/blog etc.. (I’m talking transatlantic..) Thank you very much for the above information. Also, if we (husband and I ) book a passage but can only place our cat on a waiting list – will we lose all our money if we /Cunard cannot find a place/kennel for Charlie our cat – obviously, we can’t travel without him =^ ^=

Hi Georgina, thank you for your comment. The info in the article came straightaway from Cunard. I will do some fact checking with them today to clarify. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Sherry

Can you review the information for travel to Southampton. Rabies information is incorrect. eg a 1 year certificate or a 3 year certificate is valid. Worming treatment is required. Vet will not sign exit papers until this is done.

Hi Sandy, Right below the prices, it stated that the prices were effective at the time of the writing. However, I have updated the prices today and also include the kennel dimensions. The disclaimer now states that the prices are effective as of July 2016. Thank you.

If your article is from July 2016, those prices are not accurate.

Comments are closed.

What are you looking for?

Updated on August 24, 2022 by Sherry Laskin

How to travel to Europe by boat with a dog (dog friendly cruises to Europe)

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, at no cost to you.

Do you plan to travel to Europe and take your furry friend along? In this case you basically have 2 options: flying or going by boat. For some people, flying isn’t an option, either because they’re afraid or because their dog has health issues and can’t fly . Or maybe because they don’t want their dog to fly in cargo. If this is you, there’s finally another option for you: you can also go by boat!

First and foremost, I have to tell you that there’s currently only one option to travel to Europe by boat with a dog from the US and that is on Cunard Queen Mary 2 . If you choose to take your dog on this cruise ship, both you and your dog will be spoilt! But that comes at quite some cost: the crossing will set you back about $ 2’000 for you and your four-legged friend! But I’ll show you everything you need to know about it.

In case you’re just wondering about the options, I’ll also give you an overview about flying to Europe, the other possibility.

Table of Contents

Preparation

Before you travel to Europe by boat with a dog you need to get some things organized in order for your dog to be allowed to come along. Plus your dog will spend a lot of time in a crate on board of the boat, so you wanna prepare him for this as well.

Also keep in mind that there’s no vet on board , so make sure you visit one in advance. If you’ve ever noticed that your dog gets motion sick, ask your vet about that as well.

Health requirements

Luckily, it’s really easy nowadays to take your dog into Europe. These are the only requirements :

• Pet passport or EU health certificate 
• Rabies vaccination. It only counts after the implementation of the microchip and has to be done at least 21 days before you enter the EU.

You’ll arrive in the UK, so let’s first look at their health requirements for a dog to enter. This means that you also need to have a tapeworm treatment done on your dog, between 24h and 120 h before you enter the UK . And you need to get the health certificate for the UK . It’s also possible to add an extra 2 nights and go to Hamburg, Germany .

Making a reservation

It’s recommended to book your cruise experience at least a year in advance , as there are only 24 kennels per boat (they expanded in 2016) . Call them well in advance to make sure that there’s space for Fido before you make your own booking.

Crate training

In my opinion, crate training is essential for all kinds of traveling with your dog. Whether it’s in the car, on a plane or on a boat, there are so many occasions where a dog has to be in a crate, so you wanna make it comfortable for him. And the best way to achieve this is to teach your doggo to love his crate. Check out my guide on crate training in my post about the question if a dog can have fear of flying .

On the boat

So as I’ve mentioned before, there’s really only one option to travel to Europe by boat with a dog, and that is on Queen Mary 2 .

You’ll basically be a VIP, you and your dog are allowed to board and disembark the boat first. Once on board, you’ll surely receive lots of questions from interested fellow travelers. Here you can get a glimpse of what life is like for your dog on board of Queen Mary 2. Here’s  another article about the life on board.

Queen Mary 2  has a dedicated pets only area on deck 12 where only the pets and their owners are allowed. There are 2 indoor rooms, one is the sleeping room with the kennels in them. The other one is an indoor play area. Plus there’s an outside area for the dogs to play.

This cruise ship crosses the ocean from New York to Southhampton (UK) or to Hamburg (Germany). The ocean crossing takes 7 nights from New York to Southhampton (UK). If you wanna go Hamburg (Germany), it takes 9 nights.

His “cabin”, aka crate

There are two sizes:

Upper kennels’ dimensions: 27″ high, 35 1/2″ deep, 30″ wide.

Lower kennels’ dimensions: 36″ high, 35 1/2″ deep, 30″ wide.

The smaller ones cost $ 800, the bigger ones cost $ 1’000 . It’s also possible to book 2 kennels for your dog to have more space. You can take the separation walls out so you can make one giant kennel box.

Daily routine

While dogs are not allowed in guest staterooms or public areas, there are visiting hours, during which you can visit your pupper. These are:

• 8:00am to 10:00am
• 11:00am to 12:00pm
• 3:00pm to 6:00pm
• 8:00pm to 8:30pm

In order for you to spend the time on the cruise as a real holiday where you don’t have to take care of anything, the staff will look after your doggo. Pets will be walked, fed, played with, cleaned after and even receive a welcome gift! Pettravel  says: “Cunard’s “Pets on Deck” program, including adding a range of pet-friendly services and amenities such as fresh-baked biscuits at turn-down; a choice of beds and blankets; and even a QM2-logoed coat. As part of the enhanced program, traveling dogs and cats also receive a complimentary gift pack featuring a QM2-logoed coat, Frisbee, name tag, food dish and scoop; a complimentary portrait with pet owners; a crossing certificate and personalized cruise card.”

Michy Binkley has actually taken a video tour on the pets area of the boat. Make sure to check it out, it’s a great way to know what to be expected.

Dog friendly cruises in Europe

Once you’ve arrived in Europe, it’s not that difficult anymore to find boats that allow dogs. Here’s   an overview of pet friendly ferry crossings from the UK to mainland Europe.

Alternative

The only alternative would be to go by plane. In my post about how to manage a long flight with a dog in cabin you’ll find everything you need to know if you’re flying with a small dog. In case your dog has to fly in cargo, here are some things to look out for. Also make sure to check out my article about safety when flying with a dog in cabin .

Be aware that your dog is only allowed to enter the UK in cargo of an airplane . Dogs aren’t allowed to enter the UK on a plane in cabin .

For me personally, I’d always prefer to take a plane over a boat for long distance traveling with my dog. I’m a frequent flyer, though and I have a small dog who can fly in cabin. So for Baloo it’s really comfy, he can just sleep at my feet, absolutely nothing to worry about. While on a boat he’d have to be alone and around other dogs which is double stressful for him. So flying is the cheaper, more comfortable and faster way for us.

If you suffer from fear of flying, though, going by boat might be the better option for you. Given that you have the time, an ocean crossing on a boat can be a really cool experience. Also, it’s more of a luxury feeling, spending 7 nights on a gigantic cruise ship.

For your dog it can either be just as luxurious as for you or really stressful. If he likes being around other dogs and is crate trained, he’ll probably have a blast. But make sure that you start planning and training early so that he’s definitely ready for it.

Another thing to concern is that you’ll land in a specific port if you’re traveling by boat. From there you’ll have to take a car or public transport to get to other countries. This can be lovely if you have the time. If you only have limited time, flying allows you to immediately go to you final destination which is generally easier.

Recent Posts

Your Comprehensive Guide to Taking Your Dog to Europe

Being a pet parent means creating countless beautiful memories with your furry companion. One way to add more of these moments to your treasure trove is by traveling together! Whether you'replanning...

Do puppies misbehave when hungry?

Having a puppy is fun and exciting! But it gets a lot less fun when he starts acting out. Sometimes, puppies start to misbehave when they’re hungry. So what can you do about it? Here’s...

• Cruise Tips

Pet Friendly Cruises. 6 Ways You Can Cruise With Your Pet!

by Gary Bembridge · May 10, 2022

Pet friendly cruises. Six ways you can cruise with your pets!

I’m asked a surprisingly large amount of times how – or if – you can cruise with your pet. If it’s something you want to do, you have six options. I’m going to talk you through six pet friendly cruises and which may be best for you and your fluffy friend.

Queen Mary 2

The easiest way to go cruising with your pet is on a Cunard Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing. It’s the only ship in the world today that has kennels onboard. The ship has 22 kennels, and can take dogs and cats. But no birds or any other type of animals.

However, there is quite a cost associated with it. If you want to hire a lower kennel, it costs $1,000 for a seven-day crossing, and an upper kennel costs $800. Dogs aren’t allowed to share the kennels, so you’d have to buy one for each dog. Cats can share kennels, however, if you take a cat, you actually have to buy two kennels next to each other. Because one has to house the litter tray, the other the cat.

There is a kennel master who makes sure that the animals are walked and cared for. At set times of the day, you can go up and interact with your dog or your cats. There are a few restrictions on the areas where you can take them for fresh air.

It’s extremely popular, and you have to book at least 12 to 18 months in advance. The kennels only operate on the transatlantic service between Hamburg, Southampton, and New York; New York, Southampton, and Hamburg. You can’t travel with pets any other time on Queen Mary 2.

River and Canal

Your second key option is in Europe, where there are a certain number of cruises on which you’re allowed to take pets. You can generally take pets on canal cruises, particularly in the UK and in France. For example, if you hire a canal longboat in the UK you can normally take dogs on those. The same is true in France. If you’re chartering or hiring your own canal boat. So, that’s a key option if you’re in Europe, or perhaps you brought your dog over on the Queen Mary 2?

There’s also a river cruise ship called the MS Normandie, and at certain times of the year, they do cruises where they allow pets. They do some Rhine cruises, and some on the Moselle, so you can cruise and see some of the beautiful sights on the Rhine: the castles, etc. And experience some parts of Amsterdam.

Service Animals

The third easiest way to take a dog with you is if it’s a service animal. There are some key restrictions, though: a service animal has to be one that has been specifically trained to perform a task.

So, for example, a guide dog for people who are visually impaired. It has to be a physical disability – emotional support animals are no longer allowed. Royal Caribbean was one of the very last, but last year they banned emotional support animals because it felt like people were using it as an excuse to bring pets on board.

There are slightly different rules and regulations for service animals by cruise line. So, once you’ve chosen your cruise, you will need to double check. They all have varying degrees of notice that you’ll have to give. Normally you’ll have to provide some sort of documentation to show that they’re a service animal. Plus, obviously, they’ll need all the correct inoculations, and all of the various port clearances to enable them to come on board. Also, very importantly, many of the cruise lines will only allow service animals that will embark and disembark at the same port.

In Europe, there is capacity to bring on service animals, but it’s slightly more complicated. However, you can get what’s known as a pet passport, which will enable you to move your pets around. The cruise lines vary in what they will provide. For example, on Holland America and Royal Caribbean, they create specific areas where you can go and walk your dog. Many of them have regulations: they have to stay on the lead and there are constraints on when they’re allowed out. And which parts of the ship they’re allowed to visit.

Ship’s Captain

Another way that you can cruise with pets is to be the captain of a cruise ship.

There are two well-known examples! One of the best documented is Captain Kate who works for Celebrity Cruises and has a very unusual-looking cat called Bug Naked. This cat has become famous in the cruise industry. In fact, she even has her own Instagram account. People get very excited if Captain Kate is on board with Bug Naked.

On Saga Cruises, Captain Kim Tanner has a parrot called Perla, who normally stays up in the bridge. Occasionally, she will enter public areas to meet and greet guests. It’s not very common. You need a very forgiving and open-minded head office. But it certainly proves that if you are the captain of a cruise ship, you can probably find a way to bring your pet on board.

Regional ferry

Another pet friendly cruise option is to look at regional ferry services. This applies more in Europe, but many of the big regional ferry lines are pet-friendly. Particularly for overnight services they offer pet-friendly cabins.

As an alternative to a day crossing, you could go on a mini-cruise. Spend the day somewhere and then re-board the ferry and head back. You could also do two or three adjoining nights. A couple of examples of those are in the Baltic. There’s the Tallink Silja Line, and they cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki, to Tallinn, and Riga. I’ve seen many examples online of people that have booked back-to-back ferry trips and created a little cruise. A cruise where they can take their pets onboard. They do have a certain number of pet-friendly cabins, and there are various restrictions. Booking these in advance is important.

A couple of other examples are the Viking Line – not to be confused with Viking Cruises – which is another regional ferry service that operates between Finland and Sweden, and Finland and Estonia. They also have a number of pet-friendly cabins, so again, you can create little cruises.

If you want to go between the UK and the Continent, there are many examples. With Brittany Ferries, you could go from Portsmouth in the UK to Bilbao in Spain. From Portsmouth to Le Havre, in France. Or Portsmouth to other parts of Spain, like Santander. It’s more of a ferry service, but many of these overnight ferries operate like a cruise. They have restaurants, shows, entertainment and lots going on. You could create a little cruise around your pet, if that’s what you wanted to do. Combine that with a land-based tour where you could take your pet with you and it’s perfect.

Celebrity pets

Another way that you could embark on a pet friendly cruise without breaking all those rules is to be a celebrity or to have a celebrity pet. One of the winners of “Britain’s Got Talent” was a dog called Pudsey. Pudsey was renowned for heading off on a tour of the United States on Cunard Queen Mary 2. The dog was seen all around the ship, and even performed shows on board. Clearly if you are a celebrity and you have a pet, you’re probably going to find a way of getting your pet onboard.

So, can you cruise with a pet? It’s very difficult. The only traditional way of doing it is on the Queen Mary 2 on a Transatlantic voyage, or if you have some kind of service dog.

If you found this helpful and interesting, why don’t you watch one of my many cruising videos full of tips and advice right now?

Subscribe to Tips For Travellers YouTube Channel (click image):

Follow Tips For Travellers:

• Follow Tips For Travellers on:  YouTube ,  Instagram ,  Facebook ,  Twitter  and  Pinterest .
• Sign up for the monthly newsletter . includes a free eBook to download every month.
• Never miss a post by signing up below and every new post will be sent direct to you.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Tags: animals cruise holiday cruise tips cruise vacation holiday pet friendly pet friendly cruises pets tips for travelers tips for travellers travel tips vacation

Gary Bembridge

I grew up in Zimbabwe, but I have been based in London since 1987. My travel life spans more than three decades and that includes more than 95 cruises. In 2005, I launched Tips for Travellers to make it easy and fun for people to discover, plan and enjoy incredible cruise vacations. And the rest, as they say, is history. I have the largest cruise vlogger channel currently on YouTube, with more than 3 million video views per month.

You may also like...

Cruise Cabin No-Nos

December 6, 2019

What I Found Celebrity Cruises Does Well and Badly Right Now

December 16, 2022

Too Many Repositioning Cruisers Get These 5 Things Wrong

February 20, 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

• Next story  9 Things That Drive Frequent Cruisers Crazy
• Previous story  10 Best Ports For Greek Islands And Eastern Mediterranean Cruises

Search Tips For Travellers

Most popular articles:.

Subscribe to my Tips For Travellers Newsletter for latest news, offers and bonus content

View previous campaigns

MOST POPULAR PAGES

Are dogs allowed on cruise ships? These are the cruises that allow pets

We know it can be difficult to be away from your four-legged friends when you travel, especially if you're on a family vacation. After all, they're part of the family, too. So, can you bring pets on a cruise? There's good news and bad news.

Generally, the answer is no, but there are exceptions. One cruise line has a dedicated kennel on board its most iconic vessel, and there's space for both dogs and cats. However, you'll have to leave your bird, hamster and ferret at home.

On all cruise ships, service animals who are trained in specific tasks are typically allowed, with rules varying by cruise line. (Note that "emotional support" pets are generally banned from the high seas.)

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Even if you don't bring your pet, there are ways to cuddle with puppies on cruise ships and admire dogs and kittens at ports of call.

Here are the details about pet-friendly cruises.

Can you bring a dog or cat on a cruise?

The number of cruise ships that allow pets is extremely limited. In fact, the only cruise line with facilities for your dog or cat is Cunard Line , and the only ship in its fleet equipped to carry Fluffy and Fido is the posh 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2 ocean liner. The vessel single-handedly upholds the line's longstanding tradition of being pet-friendly.

Back in the 1800s, cats were "employed" on Cunard ships to take care of vermin. In the 1900s, the rich and famous — including actress Elizabeth Taylor — set sail with their pets. The ship's list of famous past guests includes the dancing dog Pudsey, a winner of "Britain's Got Talent" who sailed with human partner Ashleigh Jade Butler in 2012.

On select transatlantic sailings between New York and Southampton in the United Kingdom, Cunard makes two dozen kennels located in a private area aft on Deck 12 available to pet owners. In addition to the cages, there is the Owner's Lounge, where guests may spend quality time with their pets, and a large, gated outdoor exercise area equipped with an antique lamppost from Liverpool and a fire hydrant from New York City.

Your pet must stay in the kennel and not your stateroom, and that rule applies even if you book the ship's 2,249-square-foot Grand Duplex or other fancy Queens Grill digs . But rest assured, your pet will be properly pampered. Cunard provides toys, fresh-baked treats, feeding bowls and beds, as well as pet life jackets, should they be needed. If you want to go all-out, you can order treats such as liver or a steak for your pet for an additional fee. Those who want a fun memento may have their pet pose for a photo wearing a red Cunard uniform or a Queen Mary 2 life ring.

Seafaring pets also have plenty of playtime. Dogs are regularly walked (and cleaned up after) by a team that includes a "kennel master" and an assistant. You can hang out with your furry friend during set visiting hours.

Be aware that space is extremely limited. Cunard recommends booking pet accommodations at least a year in advance – and it isn't cheap. The price tags vary by pet type and size but start from $800 for a small dog, $1,000 for a large dog and $1,600 for a cat (since cats are required to have two cages: one for sleeping and another for a litter box). There are also regulations regarding vaccinations, microchipping and more.

Those not traveling with their pet but wanting a glimpse of the pampered dogs should head to the outdoor area on Deck 12 in the late afternoon when the dogs get free time.

Are service animals allowed on cruises?

Each cruise line has its own rules for service dogs. On Royal Caribbean , for instance, only pets that are "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability" are allowed. Royal Caribbean provides a specific 16-square-foot relief area covered in cypress mulch that's shared with any other service dogs on board. The cruise line notes on its website that your dog may not relieve him or herself among the live trees in Central Park on the Oasis-class ships.

Pet owners are required to bring food and bowls, and the dog must remain on a leash or harness in public areas and may not be left unattended in your cabin. Here's more information about bringing pets on board Royal Caribbean ships .

On Carnival ships , any dogs on board need to be "working service dogs, which are legally defined as individually trained to meet disability-related needs by performing tasks like guiding a blind person, alerting a deaf person, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks." Here's more information about bringing pets on board Carnival ships .

Norwegian Cruise Line accepts service dogs "trained to perform a specific task" and specifies on its website it "does NOT accept 'Emotional Support' dogs as service dogs, they CANNOT sail." You need to bring all your pet's food, medication and a special dog life jacket. A relief sandbox is provided. Here's more information about Norwegian Cruise Line's pet policy .

In all cases, service dog owners need to make reservations for their canines in advance and are responsible for researching and understanding rules for disembarking with a dog at each port of call. (Canine companions may not be allowed off the ship at some ports.) Additionally, there might be specific immunization requirements.

If your dog makes a mess on board, you could be charged a cleaning fee. If your dog misbehaves, you could be kicked off the ship. With no veterinarian on board, you may also want to bring along doggy seasickness pills just in case.

Puppies on Princess

For cruisers who need a puppy-cuddle fix during their sailing, Princess Cruises brings professional sled dog racing humans and their husky puppies on board ships in Skagway, Alaska, as part of the line's North to Alaska immersion program.

Called Puppies on Princess (formerly Puppies in the Piazza), the program offers an opportunity for you to pose for a photo with a lovable canine while also hearing from the owner about training the animal for winter sled dog races such as the annual 1,100-mile Iditarod. You'll also learn how dogs played an important part in Alaska history – before snowmobiles (known in Alaska as snow machines), teams of dog teams carried mail, medical supplies and other materials to remote communities.

On Alaska sailings , cruise lines also typically have dogsled shore excursions where passengers are pulled by a team of sled dogs on the snowy top of a glacier (you get there via helicopter) or in a cart on a dirt training trail. The experiences are available in ports such as Juneau and Seward.

If you're on a pre- or post-cruise land tour to Denali National Park & Preserve, you may want to visit the park's resident sled dogs. Known affectionately as "bark rangers," they are tasked with hauling supplies around the park in winter (motorized vehicles are banned in much of the 2 million-acre park).

For cat lovers

Cat fans will find plenty of opportunities to snap photos of felines in such places as Istanbul or the Old Town area of Dubrovnik, Croatia, where furry wanderers are as famous an attraction as sites that appeared as filming locations in HBO's "Game of Thrones."

If you are sailing on one of Celebrity Cruises' new Edge-class ships, you might spot Bug Naked, a hairless Sphynx owned by Capt. Kate McCue, who dresses Bug in a miniature captain's uniform and pushes her around the ship in a stroller.

Or, if you want to show off photos of your own cats while wearing cat ears and sipping cocktails, or participate in themed events such as cat trivia and a cat scavenger hunt, book a Meow Meow cruise , an annual at-sea gathering of cat fans.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

Additional reporting by Ashley Kosciolek.

5 of the Best Dog-Friendly Cruises

Last Updated on February 1, 2023

If you’re traveling the world, you need unique ways to get from points A to B.

And for some, cruises are the perfect option! But what if you’re with your dog? Are there dog-friendly cruises you can take Fido on?

Today, we explore five incredible dog-friendly cruises that will pamper both you and your pooch

Table of Contents

Top Dog-Friendly Cruises Around the World

1. cunard cruise lines.

Bring your dog on a pet-friendly vacation onboard the Cunard Cruise Lines . They have a long history of 180 years, and Cunard Cruise Lines are popular due to their transatlantic cruises. They do offer a pet-friendly cruise onboard the Queen Mary 2, and the experience is limited to just cats and dogs. Owners will have time daily to visit their dogs while onboard this pet-friendly cruise.

Key features : Dedicated kennel and play area, welcome gift pack, and experienced Kennel Master.

2. Dolly Steamboat

Are you thinking of visiting the Arizona flats with your dog? Bring them on board the Dolly Steamboat . It allows you to bring your dog on board while taking a peaceful cruise around the majestic National Forest.

Key features : Dinner with your dog, stunning and picturesque, Instagram-worthy scenes.

3. Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruise

The Mercury, Chicago’s Skyline Cruise is a famous cruise line that offers 90-minute canine cruises that brings you and your dog to places such as the Chicago Harbor as well as the popular lakes nearby. It is worthwhile to note that they are the only cruise line in Chicago that allows dogs on board.

Key features : 90-minute cruises, water bowls provided, paper-lined restroom for dogs, the only pet-friendly cruise in Chicago.

4. Acadian Nature Cruises

The Acadian Nature Cruises offers a pet-friendly vacation onboard the Acadian. The 2-hour scenic route will bring you to places like the Egg Rock Lighthouse as well as the islands of Frenchman Bay. You can also view the breathtaking scenery of the Acadia National Park too.

Key features: Short 2-hour cruises, heated cabin in case it gets too cold, able to view marine life as well as eagles that soar through the area.

5. Argosy Cruises

The Argosy Cruises does offer a limited time only cruise during the festive season, but it is worthwhile to note that the experience it provides is truly amazing. Dogs and their owners can get to enjoy buffet gourmet meals that is specially catered by The Dining Dog Café. This is the ultimate way to celebrate the festive season with your dogs!

Key features : Dog-friendly gourmet buffet. Enough said!

As you can see, vacations can be less boring with these pet-friendly cruises. It can be fun for you and your dog. But always remember that you will need to be responsible for the dog’s safety. Bring along their leash, medications (if any) as well as food items just in case the dog gets hungry while onboard the cruise.

About the Author:

Mira is a dog lover and writer. She has two dogs of her own and loves taking them camping and hiking.

• Cruise Advice

Pet Cruises on Queen Mary 2: Pet Policy and Bookings

Erica Silverstein

• March 11, 2021

Cunard is the only major cruise line that allows passengers to bring a pet dog or cat on their cruise vacation — and only aboard one ship: Queen Mary 2 .

But you can’t just bring Fluffy onboard QM2 and plunk her down on a travel bed in your cabin. Cats and dogs on cruises must be booked and paying passengers, and Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 has plenty of pet policies and restrictions that must be followed.

Will you be able to cruise with your pet? Find out how to get your four-legged friend onboard.

Can I take my cat or dog on the Queen Mary 2 ?

Yes. Dogs and cats are the only animals allowed to cruise with Cunard. Your pet hamster, parakeet, and snake need to stay home while you vacation.

But you can’t take your pet on just any Cunard cruise. Cats and dogs are restricted to transatlantic cruises between Southampton (near London) or Hamburg and New York City; due to UK restrictions, pets cannot sail on back-to-back cruises departing from and returning to Southampton.

In order to bring your dog or cat on the cruise ship, you will need to book them a spot in The Kennels, the ship’s pet residences.

Queen Mary 2’s pet policies include size restrictions on animals. Pets cruising in one of The Kennels’ smaller cages must weigh 25 pounds or less; animals in the larger, lower cages must weigh at least 26 pounds.

For one kennel, the maximum pet length is 35 inches from nose to base of the tail; for a double kennel, the maximum length is 60 inches. For any kennel, the maximum pet height is 27 inches from the top of the shoulder to the floor.

Travelers with disabilities are allowed to bring service animals, but they stay with their owner and cannot use The Kennels facilities. Emotional support animals are not allowed on Cunard. For more about traveling with service dogs, see our story on pet cruises .

What are Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Kennels like?

The Kennels feature 24 individual kennel spaces, an outside walking area and indoor playroom for pets, and an owners’ lounge for their humans. (The space is decorated with a British lamppost and New York fire hydrant — the equivalent of a spa bathroom for dogs.) 

There are 12 upper and 12 lower kennels. The lower kennels are 36 inches high, 30 inches wide, and either 35 or 35.5 inches deep. The upper kennels are 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and either 35 or 35.5 inches deep. Two kennels can be opened up to make room for a larger animal.

It is a Queen Mary 2 pet policy that only one dog can stay in each kennel, but a cat can share with another cat.

Pet owners do not have round-the-clock access to Queen Mary 2’s Kennels. While passengers should check specific visiting hours when they come aboard, a typical visiting schedule might be 8 to 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon, 3 to 6 p.m., and 8 to 8:30 p.m .

What should I pack for my pet on a QM2 cruise?

Pet cruisers are treated to Cunard’s high levels of service. The ship will provide them with food and bowls, toys, and treats. Queen Mary 2 carries life jackets in small and large animal sizes. The pets even receive gifts, including a coat with the ship’s logo, a photo portrait, a fleece blanket, and dog biscuits. 

If owners would like to request a specific brand of dog or cat food for the cruise, you can fax a request to Cunard or bring your own.

You might want to pack your dog’s favorite toys, treats, and a leash and carrying case for off-ship travel. Note that any leftover treats will not be returned, so only give the Kennel Master enough for your pet for the duration of the cruise.

How much does taking a dog on the Queen Mary 2 cost?

Don’t think Fluffy cruises for free. Owners pay per kennel. The shorter upper kennels cost $800 and are meant for cats or animals weighing 25 pounds or less.

While each cat requires two kennels, one for Kitty and the other for the litter box, two cat siblings can share a double kennel at no extra charge. The taller lower kennels cost $1,000 each, so a large dog requiring two will be charged double.

What else do I need to know about pet cruises on Cunard?

Even with cats and dogs on cruises regularly, Queen Mary 2 does not carry a veterinarian onboard. Pet owners cruise with their animal friends at their own risk.

Another Queen Mary 2 pet policy is that animals cannot visit their owners in their cabins or public areas of the ship. They must stay in The Kennels area the entire time they’re onboard.

As transatlantic cruises do not have port stops (with the exception of cruises from Hamburg that may stop in Southampton), you will not be exploring in port with your pet.

What do I need to know about traveling with my pet?

Passengers traveling with pets will need to make their own flight and transfer arrangements; Cunard’s travel department will not handle those requests.

At check-in, the passenger should ask for the Kennel Master, who will come to bring the animal onboard and take it to The Kennels.

Cruising cats and dogs must adhere to the entry regulations set out by the US , UK, and EU. That means showing proof of specific vaccinations, tapeworm treatments, or even a PET passport. The UK has restrictions on bringing pets back into the country and might require a six-month probation.

Pets cruising from New York to Southampton need the following:

• Proof of rabies and tapeworm vaccinations
• PETS certificate, official PET passport, or third-country certificate
• Tapeworm treatment (dogs only) given one to five days before sailing

Pets cruising from Southampton to New York need the following:

• Current health certificate stating that the dog or cat was examined by a vet sometime in the past 30 days
• Proof of rabies vaccination given 14 days to 6 months prior to the arrival date in New York

How do I make a Queen Mary 2 pet booking?

You need to book and pay the deposit on a cabin for the humans in your travel party before you can request a spot in Queen Mary 2’s Kennels for your cruising cat or dog.

That means you do run the risk that by the time you book, The Kennels will be sold out. You can check Kennel’s availability with Cunard before you book.

Once you’ve booked the humans, call Cunard’s contact center to make your pet booking for The Kennels. At the time of booking, you will need to provide the following information for dogs:

• Dog’s name
• Length in inches
• Weight in pounds
• Age at the time of sailing

The QM2 can carry 2,691 passengers, so it’s no surprise that the 24 kennels are popular and book up quickly. There’s usually a waitlist.

To get on the Cunard kennel waitlist, you must have a confirmed cruise booking. However, if Fifi or Fido do not get off the waitlist and you can’t bear to sail without them, you will have to pay the regular cancelation penalties.

READ MORE:  How Much Does It Cost for Kids to Go on a Cruise?

Pin it for later!

Recent Posts

New airline compensation rules mandate ‘prompt’ cash refunds for travelers, carnival jubilee 2024 review + cruise news [podcast], cruise passenger could face 12 years in prison after arrest in grand turk, royal caribbean cancels alaska cruise, guests must vacate by sunday afternoon, share this post, related posts.

Sun Princess’ New Godmother, Hannah Waddingham, Has One Very Important Tip to Share With Cruisers

Florida Man Faces Staggering $143,000 Phone Bill Following Vacation

Bringing you 15 years of cruise industry experience. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips.   

Quick links

Cruise Radio, LLC © Copyright 2009-2024 | Website Designed By   Insider Perks, Inc

• UK and Ireland
• Northern Europe
• Western Mediterranean and Atlantic
• Eastern Mediterranean
• North America
• South America
• Australasia
• South Pacific
• Middle East
• Panama Canal
• Adults-Only Cruises
• All-inclusive Cruising
• Boutique Cruising
• Classic Cruising
• Cruise from the UK
• Expedition Cruising
• Family Cruises
• Fly Cruising
• Luxury Cruising
• Mini Cruises
• Ocean Cruising
• River Cruises
• Small Ship and Yacht Cruising
• Solo Cruising
• Ultra-Luxury Cruising
• World Cruises
• Ambassador Cruise Line
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Emerald Cruises
• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
• Holland America Line
• HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
• Marella Cruises
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Oceania Cruises
• P&O Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International
• Saga Cruises
• Silversea Cruises
• Viking - Ocean Cruises
• Virgin Voyages
• Amadeus River Cruises
• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• CroisiEurope
• Hurtigruten
• Riviera Travel
• TUI river cruises
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
• Top 10 Ocean Cruise Deals
• Top 10 Luxury Cruise Deals
• Top 10 River Cruise Deals
• Top 20 Cruise Deals
• Cruise Package Deals
• Partner Deals & Offers
• Offers & Deals
• Competitions
• Fashion and lifestyle
• Culture and history
• Entertainment
• Recommendation
• Ship Reviews
• Food & Drink
• River Cruising
• First cruise advice
• Heroes & Villains
• Captain Profiles
• Godmother Profiles
• Our Opinion
• Ship Visits
• Ship Launches

What to expect from a Cunard Queen Mary 2 transatlantic cruise... with your dog

Author: Rebecca Deurlein

Published on: 04 June 2022

Can't bear to part with your pooch? Cunard's Queen Mary 2 understands and caters for all your pet needs! Here's what you and your furry friend can expect onboard.

I love my dog and I’m not ashamed to admit it. So imagine my consternation when I realized that dog-friendly cruises have yet to catch on among the cruise lines, save one.

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only cruise line to date that permits dogs and cats (sorry reptile, pot-bellied pig, and hedgehog lovers, your time hasn’t quite arrived) to travel on their transatlantic sail between New York and Southampton .

This is a huge selling point and a perfect solution for travellers who can’t imagine going weeks without seeing their pets.

Cunard has welcomed pets for – get ready – 180 years, so they know what they are doing when it comes to making dogs and cats happy.

Top five Caribbean cruises for 2024 & 2025

The best winter sun cruise destinations, the best cruise ports to shop till you dock, newly launched: take the whole family to the balearics with ambassador cruise line, there’s so much choice with norwegian cruise line’s global itineraries, the world awaits: ambassador cruise line launches its first ever world cruise, dublin city guide: 10 things to see and do in ireland's craicing capital, havila voyages uk boss matthew valentine: ‘zero emissions is the ultimate goal’, caviar nights, live music & free-flowing champagne – hapag-lloyd cruises reveals all, cunard's first female captain on new queen anne ship, equality & romance of the role.

The QM2 Kennel Master has played host to famous dogs and their owners, including Elizabeth Taylor’s pup, three aristocrat champion Afghan hounds, and even the most expensive dog on record, a chow who enjoyed a special diet of raw eggs.

Luckily, you don’t have to be rich or famous to share a cruise with your pet.

So what can you expect from this dog-friendly cruise ship? For starters you should know that your pets will be housed in deluxe kennels in a designated area of the ship, so they will not be roaming the decks with you.

- READ MORE: Can you take a dog on a cruise? Guide to dog cruise holidays -

This is a courtesy to other passengers and ensures they will not be bothered by barking, shedding, and other nuisances we ignore because we love our dogs.

But no worries! The pet accommodations provide for just as much pampering as you will receive on the QM2. Only 24 kennels are available, the top 12 smaller in size to accommodate cats and small dogs, and the lower 12 housing bigger dogs and litter boxes for the cats perched above.

This means each pet gets a lot of attention on top of their regular feedings, including exercise and play time, especially important since there are no ports of call, so no chances to disembark on the transatlantic voyage.

Find your ideal cruise

Search cruises with Cunard

Aside from the private kennels presided over by the white-gloved Kennel Master, the QM2 has a designated outdoor walking deck for dogs and an indoor play area where they can mix and mingle with their canine friends.

Pets are further pampered through the "Pets on Deck" program, which Cunard describes as “a range of pet-friendly services and amenities such as fresh-baked biscuits at turn-down, a choice of beds and blankets, and even a coat with a QM2 logo.

As part of the enhanced program, travelling dogs and cats also receive a complimentary gift pack featuring a frisbee, name tag, food dish and scoop, a complimentary portrait with pet owners, a crossing certificate and a personalized cruise card.”

- READ MORE: Cunard Queen Mary 2: What it's like on the world's only ocean liner -

Speaking of pet owners, you are free to visit and lounge with your pets at any of several scheduled times offered throughout the day.

When you do, you’ll smile at the touches Cunard adds to honour both the U.S. and the UK – both a New York fire hydrant and a British lamppost where dogs can relieve themselves in the style to which they’ve become accustomed.

And over there in that trunk? Why those are specially made life jackets for pets of various sizes.

So how do you book a spot for Spot? It is advisable to do so as soon as you know you’re interested in sailing. The QM2 carries 2691 passengers, and at least 90 percent of their kennels are in use at any time, so the competition for kennel space is real.

You may reserve a kennel up to two years in advance, but if you are more of a last-minute planner, all hope is not lost. Many cruisers reserve a kennel in anticipation of a sail they never take, so be sure to get on the waitlist if nothing is available when you book.

- READ MORE: Cunard: Everything you need to know about luxury cruise line -

Expect to pay £600-£800 to house your precious pet cargo. All of that deluxe treatment doesn’t come cheaply, but the peace of mind is priceless.

Just knowing your pet is one deck away is a huge comfort, and being able to see and interact with your best friend during your sail is well worth the cost of travel.

When you’re ready to book your cruise, be sure to check the kennel availability first by calling the cruise line. You will need to book your own accommodations, then arrange for a kennel once you are confirmed, so you need to move quickly to secure both.

You will be asked to provide information about your dog, so be prepared before you make the call. Make sure you have the numbers on your dog’s length, height, and weight (in inches and pounds), along with breed and age.

- READ MORE: 6 of the best no-fly cruises from Fred. Olsen to Cunard -

Ahead of sailing, you will be expected to produce documentation for your dog or cat. The Eastbound sail to Southampton requires that each dog be microchipped, show a recent rabies shot, be up to date on Heartworm treatments, and have a letter of good health from a veterinarian.

Westbound into New York, your pet must have a current health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination.

Your four-legged friend will thank you for all that effort, and you’ll enjoy your cruise all the more knowing that your pet is travelling with you in style.

The big interview: Holland America Line’s Karen Farndell and Nico Bleichrodt

Gloria Gaynor to join Crystal Serenity cruise

Competition: win a seven-night mediterranean cruise with princess cruises, riviera travel unveils new 2024 themed river cruises, carnival firenze christened in long beach, first celebrity cruises passengers visit perfect day at cococay, ncl marks milestone with float out of norwegian aqua, hannah waddingham christens sun princess, heaven on the high seas: tom parker bowles on his p&o cruises' voyage, atlas ocean voyages announces 2025-26 antarctica season.

Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing

• 7 nights, departs on the 03 Dec 2024
• Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2
• New York, New York, Southampton + -1 more
• nights, departs on the 03 May 2024

New England and Canada

• 5 nights, departs on the 29 Sep 2024
• Quebec City, Québec, Quebec City, Québec, Sydney, Nova Scotia, + 1 more

Transatlantic Crossing And Eastern Caribbean, 21 Nights

• 21 nights, departs on the 17 Nov 2025
• Hamburg, Southampton, New York, New York, + 6 more

How to Take Your Dog on a European Cruise Ship

Travel tips.

(Photo: Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images )

Related Articles

• How to Travel With Pets to Europe
• How to Take a Dog With You on a Cruise
• How to Help Your Dog Travel Internationally
• What Can I Do to Prepare My Pet for Travel?

Service dogs are allowed on all cruise lines. However, the Queen Mary 2, which travels between New York and Southampton, England, is the only transatlantic cruise ship that lets owners bring pets aboard. Restrictions apply: Dogs must be kept in the kennel area at all times, where they are cared for by a full-time kennel master; and owners have access to pets only during designated visiting hours.

Call the Cunard reservation line (cunard.com/Voyage-Search) to book passage for yourself and your pet on the Queen Mary 2. Plan to do this at least one year in advance of your planned cruise to allow time to gather the necessary paperwork.

Request the Pet Passport packet of information. The packet includes instructions for obtaining a pet passport and international rules for pet travel. All dogs entering the United Kingdom must meet specific criteria.

Take your dog to the vet and have it micro-chipped. Have your vet sign off on the paperwork and include the microchip number.

Get a rabies titer test. Your vet must sign off on the paperwork certifying your dog has been vaccinated for rabies and has had a rabies titer test. This must be done within one to four months of your departure date.

Give your dog a flea and tick treatment and tapeworm treatment 24 to 48 hours before you sail. Have your vet administer both treatments and sign off on the paperwork.

Have your vet complete and sign off on the Veterinary Certificate. Your vet will also need to complete EU Form 998 for dogs traveling between the United States and the United Kingdom.

• Queen Mary 2: Pet Policy
• Cunard: Voyage Search & Reservations
• Cunard: Queen Mary 2
• Read and understand the pet policies for countries you are traveling to. Each country has different rules and regulations that you must follow when traveling with a pet.

R. Lynne has been writing professionally since 1980. Her work has appeared in "Springfield Business Journal," "The Illinois Times," "The State Journal-Register" and "The Hillsboro Journal." She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology from Illinois State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in legal studies from Sangamon State University. She writes about business, real estate and health and wellness topics.

More Articles

• Vaccination & Travel With a Dog
• How to Travel With a Pomeranian
• Peru Pet Travel Requirements
• Does My Dog Need a Passport?
• How to Take My Dog to China

• New from the airline industry
• Flight Reports
• Flights Reports by airline
• Flights reports by travel class
• Flights reports by origin / destination
• News from the hotel industry
• Hotel reviews
• Hotel reviews by brand
• Hotels by city
• Restaurant reviews
• Restaurants reviews by city
• Michelin 1-star restaurants
• Michelin 2-star restaurants
• Michelin 3-star restaurants
• Loyalty programs
• Did you know ?
• Travel Tips
• Editorial policy and ethical charter

SAS will leave Star Alliance to join Skyteam on September 1,…

Loyalty programs: my assessment for 2023 and plans for 2024

ITA customers can now credit their flights on Flying Blue

It’s going to hurt: Flying Blue limits XP rollover!

Is Delta Airlines foreshadowing the future of loyalty programs?

Why are there different ways of measuring an aircraft’s speed?

What is an open skies agreement?

Why do planes need de-icing and how is it done?

What happens when an aircraft is struck by lightning?

What is an aircraft stall?

The essential applications for preparing and managing my travels

What to do if you miss your flight ?

What’s the difference between a direct flight and a non-stop flight?

What does SSSS mean on your boarding pass?

What you need to know to choose your airline loyalty program

How to deal with transatlantic travel with a dog.

• american airlines
• british airways
• Virgin Atlantic

Transporting a pet from Paris to London is not an easy task … You could see the extent of the task in one of my previous reports about my cross-Channel move.

But crossing the Atlantic is much less simple . My wife and I looked for all the possible options to move with our dog, a Golden Retriever of 25kg, 2 years and a half, named Muffin.

Pet in cabin

Traveling with a pet in the cabin is not an easy task . In any case, with a dog like a Golden Retriever, it was not possible.

The regulations do not specify anything regarding the transport of animals in the cabin, and it is a matter of regulations that are specific to each airline .

A simple search on the Internet will allow you to find out if the airlines you wish to fly with allow pets in the cabin or not.

The British airlines, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic , do not allow the transport of animals in the cabin, except for service animals , i.e. accompanying travelers with disabilities and having a particular action to help them during their trip.

Continental European and American airlines do allow small animals to be carried in the cabin . In general, these animals must fit into small bags and weigh less than 8 or 10 kg . This is true with Air France , Lufthansa and American Airlines .

Pet in the hold

Traveling with a pet in the hold is now even less common than traveling in the cabin, but for us it was one of the only possibilities given the size of our dog.

Here again, the regulations do not specify anything regarding the transport of pets in the hold , and the decision depends solely on the airline and the health regulations of the country of origin and destination of the flight . Again, neither British Airways nor Virgin Atlantic allow pets to be carried in the hold.

But this time, American airlines do not allow it either , unless they are active military personnel.

Therefore, only continental European airlines, such as KLM, Air France or Lufthansa , allow it.

This is the solution we will choose, since we absolutely wanted to be on the same flight as Muffin.

Air Freight / Air Cargo

Air freight is the third and final option for fast & commercial transportation . This is the solution that is recommended by British airlines, but also proposed by all European or American airlines.

At the beginning, we had considered this solution which allowed us to take a direct flight from London. But the timeframes proposed by the carrier recommended by British Airways were too long, leaving us separated from our dog for a period of time that seemed unacceptable.

Finally, the proposed quote is absolutely insane : here is for example the estimate which was sent to us for the transport of our dog:

Private Jet

More surprising, now, the solution of the private jet. If the personal private jet seems out of reach, for an amount between 60k€ and 100k€ for the transatlantic crossing, some carriers offer special flights for pet owners, allowing the transport of pets in the cabin without any restriction.

Some advertisements are pushed on the Internet to promote this type of flight. The ticket price is about 10 000 € per passenger , including the dog. The scheduling of these flights did not allow us to choose this option, and in any case it was outside our moving budget.

Transatlantic Cruise

Another surprising option is the transatlantic cruise . The choice is very limited, since only Cunard operates routes between Europe or the United Kingdom and New York.

Here, pets are allowed, but there is a catch: these animals are not allowed in the public areas or in the cabins of the ship, in this case, the Queen Mary II, but only in crates, located in one of the lower decks of the ship.

While this option is convenient for many people, it is not for us, and I find it slightly inhumane to have pets traveling alone for 23 hours a day , while their owners are in cabins a few feet above.

If dogs can be allowed in hotel rooms, I don’t understand why they couldn’t be allowed in boat cabins…

Moreover, even if we had chosen this option, the waiting list for the crates can sometimes reach one year , at least that’s what Cunard told us when we inquired.

Finally, my wife and I suffer from seasickness, and I am not at all sure that a transatlantic crossing in February is calm.

Bottom line

We finally opted for the pet in hold with Air France . This required us to take a Pet Taxi from London to Paris. Not ideal, but the only acceptable option for us.

Articles similaires

Follow us on instagram !

Trending posts, recent posts, sas gold lounge, oslo gardermoen: excellent, restaurant kuruya gothenburg: a small and friendly izakaya bar, moxy oslo x: so isolated, clarion draken hotel gothenburg: premium and lively…but not yet fully operational, sas plus, paris charles-de-gaulle – oslo gardermoen, boeing 737-700: what a difference with the long-haul experience.

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 Kennels and How to Book Them for Your Next Cruise

Unless you've got a service animal, it's not typical to be able to cruise with your dog or cat -- but it can be done. If you're traveling with Cunard, kennels are a unique offering on Queen Mary 2.

In keeping with the line's classic ocean liner image, the QM2 kennels are reminiscent of a bygone era that saw passengers moving between Europe and North America, sometimes with their pets in tow. Below, we'll tell you all you need to know about the kennel offerings and how you can go about reserving a spot for your furry friend.

How to Book

To snag a spot for your pet, you'll need to book at least a year in advance. You can do this by contacting Cunard or your travel agent.

When you book, you'll have to provide a full profile of information on each pet, including any medical conditions and corresponding medications (which you'll have to bring onboard with you), feeding requirements and dietary restrictions.

Be aware that the maximum number of animals accepted per voyage is 24, and the kennel master tells us that capacity is generally at 90 percent on each sailing, so space is extremely limited.

Prices charged are per cage, and only one animal is allowed in each. Large cages (for large breed dogs, such as golden retrievers) are $1,000 each, while small ones (for small dogs) are $800 each. Note that cats can be accommodated, but they require two cages -- one for the cat and one for its litter box -- so the cost is $1,600.

Who's in Charge

Oliver is Queen Mary 2 's kennel master, responsible for making sure all animals are properly cared for. He's held the position for nearly a decade, and before coming to Cunard, he served as a zoo guide at the largest zoo in the Philippines.

Because the kennels are a division of the onboard housekeeping department, Oliver and his assistant report to the head of housekeeping.

What's Included

In addition to a cage with bedding and regular feedings (bowls provided), each dog -- cats stay inside -- is allotted outdoor exercise time in a gated area on Deck 12 aft. In a nod to the ship's classic transatlantic sailings between England and the United States, the area is outfitted with both a lamp post and a bright red fire hydrant, so dogs can choose the type of "toilet" that's most familiar. (Generally they're let out between 3 and 6 p.m. daily for anyone hoping to catch a glimpse.)

Additionally, there are set visiting hours four times each day -- 8 to 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon, 3 to 6 p.m. and 8 to 8:30 p.m. -- so owners can spend time cuddling and playing with their fur kids. Owners can choose to feed and "walk" their own pets during those times or have the kennel master lend a hand.

On one morning during each sailing, a professional photographer offers pet parents the chance to do a photoshoot with their pet(s). Various props are available, including dog-sized QM2 jackets and a giant life ring with Queen Mary 2's name printed on it. The kennel master and his assistant dress in Cunard's signature red bellhop uniforms for the occasion, and miniature versions of the bellhop hats are on hand for pooch use.

In terms of food, Cunard is able to provide some varieties onboard, but owners are advised to check during booking. If a specific food cannot be provided, owners are responsible for bringing enough onboard for the duration of the sailing. And, as if these pets weren't already pampered enough, their parents can order them special treats from room service -- including chicken and steak -- to be delivered to the kennels.

We hate to mention it, but in the event of an emergency, pets have their own life jackets and muster stations, and the kennel master is in charge of making sure all protocols are properly followed.

Things to Note

Although passengers can see the dogs when they're let out to roam from 3 to 6 p.m. daily on the public sun deck on Deck 12, gates prevent passengers from mingling directly with the animals. Following each voyage's photo shoot, owners often parade their dogs around in the public area outside the gates on Deck 12. If you're hoping to pet and play with the dogs, that's your best opportunity, but be sure to get owner permission first.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

Content Creation | Sailing | Travel | Industry | Manufacturing

Navigate Sailing Adventure Blog

How to Get Your Sea Legs

This blog chronicles the good, the bad, and the ugly about living on a boat and sailing the world. Named one of Feedspot’s BEST SAILING BLOGS of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

This page contains affiliate links. If you click on the product links and make a purchase, it allows me to make a small commission at no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support and I hope you find value in this content!

14 Tips for Traveling Internationally With a Dog on an Airplane

Learn expert tips about traveling with a dog on an airplane internationally, the products you need, and how to navigate the airline requirements for traveling with dogs..

By Michelle Segrest — How to Get Your Sea Legs

The challenge of traveling across the Atlantic with dogs by sea was easy when compared with the challenge and stress of putting them an airplane and transporting them internationally.

A cross-Atlantic voyage had been in the works for several years—intensely for more than a year. In May 2018, the decision was made to take our two beagles—Cap’n Jack and Scout—with us on our year-long worldwide sailing voyage. This was about three months before we set sail. We just couldn’t imagine not being with them during the time it would take to sail from North Germany to South Alabama. There was a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.

While also planning what it would take to have them on board a 43-foot sailing yacht at sea, a journey across the Atlantic with them by air needed to be carefully planned. I originally thought we could just call an airline and book a couple of puppy tickets. Easy, right? People do it all the time.

That bubble was burst very quickly.

Based on months of research and many lessons learned, here are some tips:

14 TIPS for TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY WITH DOGS ON AN AIRPLANE

      Research and plan early—at least two months before the flight.

      Locate an IPATA-approved pet carrier if flying from or to the U.S.

      Order the pre-approved airline safety travel crates and other supplies early.

      Help your dog adapt to the crate well in advance of the flight.

      Work closely with your veterinarian to get all shots and necessary paperwork taken care of early.

      Create and invest in a first-aid kit for your pet .

      Carefully research the regulations of your departure and arrival countries.

      Be prepared for long customs procedures at the sites of departure and arrival.

      Book a direct flight, if possible.

      Avoid giving your dog a sedative for the flight. Our veterinarian strongly urged us to resist this temptation as it could cause other medical issues for your pet.

      Visit a local veterinarian at the arrival country to secure a European Pet Passport and other required documents.

      Have plenty of water and extra food available for the flight.

      Pack your pet’s favorite blanket and toys in the travel crate.

      Give your dog a chance to run and play unleashed upon arrival.

If traveling by car with your dog and family, here are some tips.

Finding the Perfect Pet Carrier for Traveling on an Airplane with a Dog

Airlines don’t let you just book a ticket for your pet online or by phone anymore—at least not from the U.S. to Europe. Trust me. I called all of them. I learned quickly that for a dog to travel overseas on any airline, you must employ the services of an IPATA-approved pet carrier service. IPATA stands for the International Pet and Transportation Association . Working with them is now a requirement for ALL airlines flying internationally from the U.S.

There are many capable carriers. Trying to be thorough, I interviewed five of them. The prices were similar, so I decided to go with a pet carrier that was local to Atlanta, Georgia, which is where we would make our departure. We found a fantastic one— Pet Air Carrier , of Alpharetta, Georgia.

Finding the Perfect Airline-Approved Crate for Traveling on an Airplane with a Dog

I found a direct flight from Atlanta, Georgia, USA to Frankfurt, Germany that was nine hours long. The professionals at Pet Air Carrier helped us with every detail. They secured all the appropriate paperwork and even helped us correctly measure the size of our airline-approved pet carriers. You can learn more about what I think is the perfect safe dog crates for airline travel .

Pet Air Carrier gave us the logical advice to order the crates early, put them in our apartment, and help the beagles to get comfortable with them many weeks before time for the flight. It’s not a good idea to wait until the day of the flight to have the dogs go into the crates for the first time. This could add to their anxiety of the air travel, so it is highly recommended to get them acquainted with the crates weeks before the flight.

Because of the size of our dogs, we used an airline-approved cargo crate from PetMate.

Some smaller dogs may be able to fly with you in the cabin, but you still need an airline-approved travel carrier.

Requirements to Travel Internationally by Airline for U.S.-Based Dogs

To travel by airline with U.S.-based dogs (and to enter most countries), the dogs must have these three things:

USDA-stamped health certificate. This must be approved by a licensed veterinarian, then shipped to the state’s health department for signature and seal. This must happen within 10 days of the flight. For us, we had to ship overnight to Montgomery, Alabama and have it returned to us before we left for our flight to Frankfurt.

International microchip

Rabies vaccination AFTER the microchip has been implanted

Some countries also require:

Rabies titer

Flea and tick treatment

Heartworm treatment

De-worming treatment

Check out our eBook , How to Sail with Dogs—100 Tips for a Pet-Friendly Voyage for all of our research of the requirements for each country we visited and/or planned to visit during our sailing voyage. You can find more updated information and information about other countries not listed here by referencing these helpful websites: BringFido , Noon Site , and Pet Travel and by researching the individual country’s tourism website.

Watch the video for everything you need to know about First Aid at Sea for Dogs who Sail

I worked closely with our regular veterinarian, Dr. Niesje Langston, in Gulf Shores, Alabama, to secure the proper USDA-stamped health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccination, rabies titer, flea and tick treatment, heartworm treatment, and all the other appropriate pup requirements. She also helped me create the perfect doggie first-aid kit.

Pet Air Carrier met the beagles and me at the airport in Atlanta and made sure the pups were checked in and secured correctly. They also arranged to have a pet customs broker help us out when we arrived in Frankfurt to handle all the customs paperwork on that end. We were much more nervous about transporting the seadogs by air than by sea, although the sea details are also long and laborious.

How to Get a European Pet Passport for Traveling Internationally with a Dog

We used Lufthansa as our airline. They have a pet lounge and a lot of experience transporting animals of all kinds. They are famous for making safe and comfortable transports for canine family members. We made an early appointment with a veterinarian in Nidderau, Germany so we could easily get the appropriate European shots and European Pet Passports ( European Pet Passport ) for Cap’n Jack and Scout. The passport became our major document for checking them in and out of most countries, including some countries outside the European Union.

For more information on the how and why of European Pet Passports, consider reading this post: How and Why to Get an EU Pet Passport .

All of this planning and preparation requires hours and hours of work. Some countries, like Barbados and The Bahamas, have extraordinarily strict entry requirements for pets and require pre-approved import permits. We decided to enlist the help of customs brokers for those two destinations, even though we re-routed to Brazil from Cape Verde and actually have not gone to either of those destinations yet.

We also learned that it is impossible to take a U.S. dog into the United Kingdom on a private vessel, so we re-routed our journey to avoid the U.K. altogether. There are some other countries that prohibit dog entry if the host country is the United States.

Flying with the Dogs to Frankfurt, Germany

Watch the video about how to travel internationally on an airplane with dogs

We chose the flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt for a few strategic reasons. First, Atlanta has the largest international airport that is close to our home in Gulf Shores, Alabama. We needed to fly the beagles to Germany because this is where our sailing vessel, Seefalke, was moored (in Stralsund, which is in the northeastern region of the country ). It was important to us to have a direct flight so we would not have to worry about the extra hassle of a layover.

Also, we have a relative who lives close to Frankfurt (in Nidderau), so we could make arrangements to stay with her one or two nights before taking the eight-hour train journey to Stralsund. Furthermore, we could make an appointment with a local veterinarian in Nidderau to secure the European Pet Passport.

The beagles and I left Gulf Shores on July 30, 2018 and drove in a rental van (we needed a van to transport the huge airline crates) to my parents’ house on Lake Guntersville in northeast Alabama. The next morning, I drove the rest of the way to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It was worth all the extra driving to ensure a direct flight to Frankfurt. We did not want to have to deal with a layover.

We needed to be at the airport three hours before departure. We met with the great folks at Pet Air Carrier and then went to the cargo area of the airport to check in Cap’n Jack and Scout. All our paperwork was in order, so this was a relatively easy process.

The hard part was leaving the pups in those crates in the warehouse of the airport cargo area while I went to the main terminal to wait for my flight.

Watch the video for highlights about how to sail with a dog

We were advised not to give our dogs a sedative for the flight, and we highly recommend that you avoid doing this. Your pet may have other medical issues that could be complicated by taking a sedative.

After nine hours in the air, the dogs and I arrived at the Lufthansa Pet Lounge in Frankfurt. Because of all the customs paperwork required, including a mandatory visit with a veterinarian in Frankfurt, it was another six hours before we could see the pups and take them far, far away from the airport.

When we finally were able to see them, they looked pitiful. Their cages were covered in pee and poo and they looked even more jet-lagged than me. They couldn’t wait to get out of those crates! It was a huge milestone and relief to have the flight to Germany out of the way. We still believe it was more nerve-wracking and difficult to transport them by air than it has ever been to transport them by sea.

We loaded them into a rental car and drove to Nidderau—about a 30-minute drive. The pups were tired and slept for a while before settling in nicely. We stayed the night and took them to the veterinarian in Nidderau the next day to secure the European Pet Passport.

We took Cap’n Jack and Scout on several long walks and unleashed them to let them run and play in open fields. They loved the exercise and freedom and all the new smells of Germany. We stayed one more night in Nidderau and the next day took the train to Stralsund, Germany (about an eight-hour journey). This is where Seefalke was waiting for us.

Cap’n Jack and Scout struggled a little with jet lag and some digestive issues, but they recovered from air travel quickly. We had originally planned to set sail on August 1, 2018, but repairs and upgrades to Seefalke delayed our departure until August 19, 2018. This became a very good thing for us. It allowed the pups and me to get settled into a routine of living on Seefalke . We had to practice a process of getting the beagles on and off the boat safely, and of course, we began the potty training experiment.

We highly advise including a period of time before departure to let your dog adjust to living on a sailboat. Even though the routine changes depending on where you are moored, if you are at anchorage, or when you are at sea, it’s important to give them a “settling in” period to make a comfortable adjustment.

How Much Does It Cost to Travel Internationally with Dogs on an Airplane?

  NOTE: This is what we paid to transport two medium-sized dogs from Atlanta, Georgia, USA to Frankfurt, Germany. Prices may vary for you, but this will give you an idea of what to expect.

Airline-Approved Crates (two)                                 $170 USD

Pet Air Carrier Services (for two dogs)          

     Research/Booking/Documentation/Tracking $675 USD

            Airline Fees                                                                $995 USD

            Ground Transportation                                              $250 USD

            Customs Clearance in Frankfurt                                $575 USD

Veterinary Services (for two dogs)

            Shots/Paperwork/First-Aid Kit                                 $1,870 USD

European Pet Passports (two dogs)                              $160 USD       

How to Sail with Dogs Survival Kit – Traveling by Airplane

Airline-approved crate for dogs.

These must be IPATA-approved dog crates for airline travel , and they must be the correct size for your dog. This kennel is ready to travel! It includes a top handle for convenient carrying plus clip-on food & water bowls & "Live Animal" & ID stickers. We chose the size that is 32" long & ideal for pets 30-50 pounds. This carrier features a heavy-duty plastic shell, non-corrodible wing-nuts, extra strong steel wire & a secure interlocking door. Ventilation openings provide fresh air & visibility from all sides.

Water Bowls with Handles

Especially for long flights, be sure to buy extra bowls for fresh water for your dog’s flight. The small water bowls that come with the crates are not big enough. This is important! Your dog will need good hydration for the flight. These durable pails are perfect for hanging on fences, cages, crates, or kennels and is designed to hang without tipping over. The contoured handles feature a snag-free design for added safety. It’s made of durable, heavy-duty stainless steel that will not rust, chip or crack and is easy to clean. Also available in 1-, 2-, 6-, and 9-quart sizes

For the complete SURVIVAL KIT FOR SAILING WITH DOGS with all the specific brands of products we use, please FOLLOW THIS LINK .

Download these helpful pdfs for traveling with dogs by airplane.

Crate Prep (Courtesy of Pet Air Carrier) PAC Measuring Guidelines (Courtesy of Pet Air Carrier) Michelle’s Checklist - Cruising with Dogs 

More articles about sailing with dogs:

If you like this article about traveling with dogs on an airplane, please PIN IT!

This article contains affiliate links. If you click on the product links and make a purchase, it allows me to make a small commission at no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support and I hope you find value in this content!

Helpful References for Traveling Internationally with Dogs on an Airplane TEN TIPS FOR FLYING WITH FIDO AIRLINE POLICIES PET TRAVEL IN THE U.S . INTERNATIONAL PET TRAVEL

NAVIGATE CONTENT, Inc. | [email protected]

Navigate Sailing Adventures

Living Life Sideways

Cap’n Jack & Scout Travel Adventures

Sailing with Dogs

Navigate Travel Adventures

Navigate Industry & Manufacturing

Factory of the Future Podcast

Navigate Content Marketing

Navigate Content Books

Jobs on Jooble

Work with Us

Navigate Content is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in Google Ad Sense and other affiliate programs. Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these but it doesn’t cost you anything! Thanks for your support, and we hope you find value in this content.

Copyright © 2015—2024 Navigate Content, Inc.

All content on this website was created by Michelle Segrest, Navigate Content, Inc., including articles, photography, videos, and all other content.  Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including files downloadable from this website, without the written permission of Navigate Content, Inc.  You may use content on this website as a reference as long as it includes a link back to the Navigate Content, Inc. website and proper reference is clearly cited. READ FULL DISCLOSURE

See inside the only cruise line in the world that offers pet-friendly sailings across the Atlantic

• British cruise line Cunard operates the world's only pet-friendly ship, sailing between New York and England.
• The company's dedicated pet kennel, complete with a play area and attendants, costs owners $800-$1000 per voyage.
• Cunard is an option for people who want to travel overseas with their pets but are hesitant to put them in airline cargo.

Traveling with pets can be stressful, especially when you have to take an international flight. Some animals are small enough to fit under the seat in the cabin, but many are too large and must be placed in cargo.

Source: Insider

Checking your animal as a cargo-passenger may sometimes be your only option, but if you truly hate the idea of putting your pet in the belly of a plane, there is one other way to get your pet safely across the Atlantic.

Read more: See how pets are transported on commercial airlines as animals increasingly accompany customers on vacation

Cunard, a British-based cruise line, is the only passenger vessel worldwide that offers pet-friendly sailings onboard its Queen Mary 2 ship.

Source: Cunard Line

The ocean liner travels between New York and Southhampton, England, and the journey takes a total of seven nights.

According to Cunard's website, a Britannia inside stateroom for an eastbound trip in July 2023 will cost $1,279 per person.

For deep-pocket travelers, the ship's most luxurious cabin — the Queens Grill Suite — will cost each passenger about $,5000 for a December 2023 eastbound transatlantic cruise.

Passengers who want to bring a pet will need to call in the request to Cunard or your travel agent. You'll need to provide dietary restrictions and any health concerns, among other pet information.

Source: Cruise Critic

The company's animal service has been in operation for over 100 years. The pet-friendly policy dates back to 1840 when the Britannia's maiden voyage carried a cow to provide milk for passengers.

The Britannia was Cunard's first ocean liner. Successor ships like the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, and the Aquitania joined the fleet throughout the 1900s.

According to Cunard historian Michael Gallagher, the ships carried many famous pets across the Atlantic, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's dog in the 1950s...

Source: Cunard

…Canadian surgeon Dr. Byson M. Unkary's three Afghan hounds that were valued at over $2,800…

…and even actress Elizabeth Taylor's french poodle, Teeny, in 1947. Gallagher told Insider the ships have also welcomed pigeons and eagles that were fed and cared for onboard.

Today, the Queen Mary 2 ship operates the transatlantic pet voyage, which is the successor to the first Queen Mary that debuted in 1934. The oceanliner was 137 feet longer than the Titanic.

Source: Queen Mary

The original is now a floating hotel anchored in Long Beach, California, but it was closed due to COVID-19. It is now undergoing $5 million worth of repairs before it can reopen.

Source: Queen Mary , Long Beach Post

The new and improved luxury Queen Mary 2 was first unveiled in 2004 and remastered for $132 million in 2016.

The multi-million dollar investment not only upgraded the passenger areas of the ship, which can accommodate up to 2,691 people, but also expanded the pet kennels.

Upgrades include the addition of 12 more kennels — bringing the total to 24 — and the development of an owner's lounge, a new pet playground, and an expanded outdoor area.

To make the animals feel more at home whether from England or the US, the company added an English lamppost and an American fire hydrant to the space.

Prior to the pandemic, the kennels were in high demand and had to be booked far in advance, with passengers ponying up $800-$1000 per sailing.

Source: Pet Travel , Cruise Radio

The demand is still a reality post-COVID, especially since the ship only has 24 kennels, and cats and larger dogs require two, costing double. Though, it never hurts to ask — you could get lucky and snag a spot.

Source: Cruise Maven

The cruise employs Oliver Cruz, its dedicated "Kennel Master," and assistants to care for the dogs and cats on board. Cunard told Insider that Cruz is responsible for feeding, walking, and cuddling the pampered pets.

Source: LinkedIn

He is also in charge of cleaning the kennels and disposing of pet waste. According to Cunard, all areas of the kennel are deep-cleaned between each sailing.

Source: The Associated Press

"It is just logic that I can now enjoy the best of both worlds ... working with animals whilst working at sea," Cruz said in an email shared with Insider.

According to Cunard, owners can visit their pets during certain hours of the day, but animals cannot stay in the passenger cabins and are boarded separately from human travelers.

Source: The Road Unleashed

A professional photographer will even do a photoshoot with passengers and their pets during the cruise, complete with a bellhop hat and jacket for the animals.

• Main content

Are There Any Dog-Friendly Cruises in 2024?

It’s becoming increasingly popular for people to travel with their dogs, so what about cruises? Are there any pet-friendly cruises now? And I’m not talking mere day cruises here, but multi-night cruises, ideally with the option for some sightseeing.

Find out more about whether dogs are allowed on cruises, plus a few pet-friendly cruise options to consider.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commission if you make a purchase using the links. See my full disclaimer .

Can Pet Dogs Go on Cruises?

Unfortunately, if you’re picturing taking a typical Mediterranean or Caribbean multi-night cruise operated by major cruise lines, or cruises to Indonesia , along with your dog anytime soon, you’re out of luck. I’ve checked the rules for countless cruises, and unless you have an assistance dog, animals are strictly forbidden on nearly all cruises.

There are probably two main reasons for this. Firstly, there are the additional pet amenities required by dogs, plus the likelihood of mishaps in a ship environment. If your dog insists on doing their business on grass, you’re out of luck on a cruise ship. Additionally, there probably hasn’t yet been enough demand, with cruises being very popular without being pet-friendly.

However, there are a few options available if you’d like to cruise with your dog. There are a small number of overnight cruises (or at least multi-night ferries) that allow dogs on board, whether in pet-friendly cabins or in an onboard kennel. Check out these pet-friendly cruise options…

Cross the Atlantic with Your Dog on the Queen Mary 2

One of the most well-known cruises that welcomes pet dogs on board is the Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 on its Transatlantic crossings between New York City in the United States and Southhampton in England .

This crossing is also useful for pet owners heading to Europe or the USA with their pup, but who don’t want to fly them in the hold (if they are too large to fit in the cabin).

Onboard the Queen Mary 2

While pets are not allowed in your cabin onboard the Queen Mary II, there are 24 kennels on the ship, accommodating both dogs and cats. Cats need to reserve two kennels, one for general use and one for their litter box.

Pets need to remain in the kennel area; they are not permitted into the other public areas of the ship. The kennel area on Deck 12 (spot it on the deck plans ) includes an outdoor area, a small enclosed playroom for stormy Atlantic crosses and an owner’s lounge.

Access is provided to the kennels multiple times per day. Looking at reports from people who have travelled with dogs on the ship, they tend to spend a large part of each day sitting on the chairs on this deck. There is also a full-time kennel master, who will walk your dog when you can’t, naturally!

Booking a Kennel

The kennels on the Queen Mary 2 are amongst the fastest option to sell out on the Transatlantic voyages, generally at least a year in advance, thanks to their popularity as a way to cross the Atlantic for those with larger dogs that can’t fit in the cabin.

However, a wait list does operate and sometimes last minute spaces become available. It’s worthwhile putting your name down and seeing if a spot comes up.

As of 2021, small kennels were $800 USD for the seven-night crossing, while large kennels were $1000 USD. Contact Cunard directly to find out the latest prices.

For more information on the Queen Mary 2, check out Man in Seat 61 . Alternatively, read the review on  The Road Unleashed .

Take a European River Cruise with Your Dog

In Europe itself, one of the most popular cruising options is to take a river cruise. These cruises are available on many rivers, including the Rhine, Danube and Moselle Rivers.

Given how dog-friendly most of the countries are that these river cruises pass through, and that a river cruise doesn’t have the same logistical issues when it comes to “doggie business” as a cruise on the open ocean, it’s a surprise that dogs aren’t welcome on more of these cruises. I have only come across one dog-friendly river cruise in Europe so far.

Dog-Friendly River Cruises with 1AVista Reisen

The only dog-friendly European river cruises I have come across are run by 1AVista Reisen, a German company based in Cologne.

They operate multiple cruises per year for dogs and their owners aboard the MS Normandie and MS Junker Jörg. There are multiple itineraries in Germany and the Netherlands, with each cruise generally lasting seven or eight days. The cruises are majority German-language, but the crew can provide assistance in English.

Onboard the River Cruises

Dogs on these cruises aren’t relegated to kennels, but are permitted to stay with you in your cabin. Generally only one dog with a maximum shoulder height of 50cm is permitted per booked cabin, but you can also request permission to bring along two smaller dogs, with a maximum shoulder height of 30cm each.

On the dog-friendly cruises, a section of the sun deck is converted to a “dog meadow”, covered in grass and plants so that dogs can relieve themselves any time of day. There’s plenty of walks each day, plus a dog trainer on board.

For more information, check out the 1AVista Reisen website (Germany only). Or read this review from Louie Vuitton the Frenchie (complete with photos).

Enjoy a Baltic Mini-Cruise with Your Dog

Another pet-friendly cruise option in Europe is to take advantage of some of the pet-friendly ferry crossings, particularly ones that allow foot passengers also to take pets. Then turn the ferry trip into a mini-cruise by taking two crossings back-to-back! Many ferry companies specifically sell this as an option.

This is what I discovered when I was taking a ferry crossing on the Baltic from Stockholm to Helsinki , with Tallink Silja Line. We were just taking the ship one-way, but on board we discovered that many of the passengers were doing a two-night cruise, with a full day to explore Helsinki and two fun-filled nights on board the ship.

Baltic Mini-Cruises with Tallink Silja Line

Tallink Silja Line offers multiple Baltic mini-cruise options. Ships sail regularly from Stockholm to Helsinki and Tallinn , with the option to do a mini-cruise in either direction. To book, head to their website and search for cruises on your preferred departure date and route, then on the next page selected the “Day In Cruise” option.

Onboard the Tallink Silja Ships

Tallink Silja Line operates multiple cruise ships on these routes, each with multiple dog-friendly cabins, in addition to kennels on some routes. I recommend booking early to make sure you can book a dog-friendly cabin. (Scroll to the bottom and expand “Traveling with Pets” to view these cabins.)

We travelled in a B-class cabin but I recommend splurging for an A-class cabin with windows if available, as you’ll probably spend longer than usual in your cabin while travelling with a dog. (Cheaper C-class cabins are also available.) The pet-friendly cabins are slightly more expensive than regular cabins, plus there is a fee of €32 per dog for the round-trip.

Onboard, on our ship there was a designated dog exercise area on the upper deck, with a gravel filled sandpit for dogs to do their business. If the weather is fine, it’s great to chill out on the upper deck and enjoy a drink from the open-air Promenade bar with your pup by your side.

Pet dogs aren’t allowed inside the other bars and restaurants, located indoors on the ship. However, we entered through the main promenade area with our dog, and had no issues walking him back through the area while we explored.

Find out more about this pet-friendly cruise, including the facilities for humans on board the ships and sightseeing recommendations, in my review .

Take a Short Cruise to the Netherlands with Your Dog

If you’re located in the UK , there are also dog-friendly mini-cruise options closer to home. Fancy a day or two in the Netherlands ? There’s two ferry options available that can offer you a Dutch mini-cruise, both with dog-friendly cabins available.

DFDS Mini-Cruise from Newcastle to Amsterdam

Onboard they have multiple pet-friendly cabins . Up to two medium-sized dogs are allowed in each cabin, which accommodates four humans in bunk beds. There are also kennels available on board – these were previously only available to those bringing a vehicle onboard, but DFDS now states they can be used by foot passengers.

To book a pet-friendly cabin or kennel as a foot passenger (without a vehicle), you’ll need to call the call centre. Be sure to book well in advance, as there are limited numbers available. There is a charge of £30 per pet each way (likely charged twice for the mini-cruise).

Your dog will be restricted to your cabin (or kennel), as well as the nearby dog toilet area (featuring fake grass, gravel beds and a post). Unfortunately, pet dogs are not allowed on the other outdoor decks or inside the public spaces, but it is fine to leave them unattended in your cabin, as long as you trust them.

Dogs are permitted on the coach into Amsterdam, as long as they don’t sit on a seat. 

DIY Stena Line Cruise from Harwich to Hook of Holland

The other possible cruise option from England to the Netherlands is the Stena Line ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland . While they don’t advertise a mini-cruise option on their website, it’s still easy to book, including the addition of a hotel for a one or two-night stay in the Netherlands.

There are both overnight and day crossings available. Overnight cruises are either 8hr or 9 1/2 hr in duration, with the day cruises starting from 6 1/2 hours.

Hook of Holland is located not far away from Rotterdam, plus the beaches near The Hague. It’s also not far from Amsterdam on the quick and dog-friendly trains in the Netherlands .

Recently Stena Lina has added a variety of pet-friendly cabins to this route. Choose between two-berth inside and outside cabins, both with bunk beds. There are also five-berth cabins that can accommodate up to four adults and one child, with a window.

These cabins can accommodate up to three small pets, up to 15kg each, two medium-size dogs up to 30kg, or one larger dog over 30kg. There are no additional fees for pets, but the cabins are marginally more expensive. Pets are only permitted inside the cabin, plus the nearby designated pet area out on deck.

If the pet-friendly cabins are already booked out, there is also the option of booking a kennel for your pet. We used these kennels when previously on the ferry and found them more pet-friendly than most. It was possible to freely visit the kennels and there was a CCTV display of the kennel area among the TV channels. The set charge for dogs using the kennels is £21 per trip.

You May Also Like

• Dog-Friendly Baltic Cruise
• Stena Line Ferry with a Dog: Harwich to Hook of Holland
• Dog-Friendly Boat Cruises in Australia

About the Author

Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.

Inspired? Pin this to your Pinterest board!

14 thoughts on “Are There Any Dog-Friendly Cruises in 2024?”

What about US cruises?

Sorry Barbara, but I haven’t come across any multi-day US cruises that allow dogs. If anyone knows of any, let me know!

Need a pet friendly cruise from UK to Turkey, any suggestions please?

Sorry, but I don’t believe any exist. There are pet friendly ferries across to the continent, and then you could either take trains (probably, the services aren’t as good the further east you go) or fly to Istanbul.

Greg.. pls let me know what you find. I’m still in process of finding a transatlantic to UK or Hamburg to then go to Turkey (no spaces on transatlantic ships at this time but I’m crossing fingers), but then i will be in your same situation. I’d appreciate if you could let me know your findings. Thanks. sammyjones777 @ yahoo . ca

What you find with the QM2 is that the kennel places go very early (12-18 months in advance), but then at the three month (90-day) point when the deposit becomes forfeit, they get a fair few cancellations. I did the TA both ways this year with my dog, and we booked 18 months ahead, but both times we met people who had got on at short notice.

Ian – Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

How about the bullet trains UK to continent, and within continental EU? Are dogs allowed on the bullet trains? I know that they’re not really tours because you can reach your destination in less than 24 hours, but I was just wondering. How about a tour train like the Orient express? Do they allow dogs? I am moving to Portugal so it’s a one-way trip but I won’t put my dog in the stowaway cabin only in the passenger cabin and it’s getting more and more difficult to do that. Even the ones that do only guarantee it until you land in Europe and then from there if you want to continue on air travel you have to put the dog in steerage. So I thought I would just get off at wherever the plane lands, and from there take trains or Rent-A-Car . I am moving there for at least a year so I’m also interested in these pet friendly European cruises and luxury train tours because I’ll be spending much of the time traveling all over Europe. Lastly, is anyone aware if the European countries have different entrance policies for dogs? I believe they do and that the UK is quite restrictive and Iceland as well (they’re both islands), but I wasn’t sure about other countries

Hi Patrick – You’ll find answers to a lot of your questions in different articles. Firstly, the Eurostar train doesn’t allow pet dogs onboard. The best option is to take one of the few ferries that allow foot passengers to bring pets, or use a pet taxi. Some of the overnight trains allow pets, as long as you reserve an entire berth. Check with individual companies, but Austria’s ÖBB is one that allows pets. Some European countries do have different policies. I suggest you check my article on travelling between European countries. As well as the UK, Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway all require a worming treatment. You need to book in advance an inspection appointment on arrival in Malta. Plus, some non-EU countries may have different requirements, plus you might need a rabies titre test result to return to the EU.

I am retired and am ready to move back to the UK. I would be taking 7 Standard Poodles. 6 are pets the other is my service dog. There’s absolutely no question of leaving any of them and 2 are under 6 months. What is my best strategy?

Elizabeth – There’s restrictions on taking more than 5 dogs. If you have more than 5 dogs, you’ll need to follow the commercial rules, that I’m not familiar with. See this UK website: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/5-pets-other-animals

Thanks everyone for sharing your helpful travel experiencs and tips. My husband and me live in the Netherlands and interested to know what travel or tour or river or sea cruise options for a week or twos vacation including other European countries? (We want our 2 small/medium dogs with us in my berth or cabin). Any ideas please? Many thanks Mirium

Mirium – Your best bet is to check out 1AVista Reisen, who offer some river cruises for dogs and their owners.

This article was very informative. It’s so nice to read that things are getting more pet friendly all the time.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The Man in Seat 61

The transatlantic ferry

Cunard's queen mary 2.

• Buy train tickets
• Buy ferry tickets
• Book a hotel
• Privacy & cookies
•   Home

Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, london to new york without flying.

This is a guide to travel between Europe & the United States using Cunard's Queen Mary 2. 

Cunard maintain a scheduled transatlantic passenger service between Europe and the United States, usually one sailing a month in each direction between Southampton & New York from April to December taking 7 nights.

You travel aboard the greatest ocean liner in the world, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (QM2).  It's a crossing , not a cruise , and many people use the QM2 as their preferred mode of transport between Europe & the United States.  The Queen Mary 2 is a proper ocean liner, built with the extra structural strength & power to withstand the rigours of the North Atlantic in all weathers.  The QM2 took over the transatlantic service from Cunard's 1967-built QE2 in 2004.

You can forget being bored, it's a week of relaxation, with cinema, theatre, interesting lectures, spa treatments, swimming pools, cocktail bars, restaurants, an excellent library, shops and even the world's only sea-going planetarium.  Plus the cold grey Atlantic which I never tire of watching.  You can also forget seasickness, the 150,000 ton QM2 is rock-steady in most weather amidships, you'll need to walk forward towards the bows to feel any up and down movement.  Westbound, the crossing is rounded off by an awe-inspiring early-morning arrival into New York City, in my opinion the best way to arrive in the Big Apple. 

Crossing the Atlantic by ocean liner needn't cost much more than a business-class flight, fares for two people sharing the cheapest Britannia stateroom start from £1,099 per person each way, for 7 nights accommodation, all meals & entertainment.

The Man in Seat Sixty-One says:   "From personal experience, staggering round a transatlantic liner in a dinner jacket with a martini is the normal, rational, reasonable way to cross the Atlantic.  Heading for an airport and strapping yourself to a flimsy aluminium tube is an unfortunate and eccentric aberration."

Transatlantic sailing dates

Southampton ► new york.

2024 transatlantic sailings:   28 April, 16 May, 9 June (6 night), 23 June (6 night), 21 July (6 night), 16 August, 15 September, 17 October (8 night), 13 November, 14 December.

2025 transatlantic sailings:   9 January (9 nights, Queen Anne), 8 March, 27 April (8 nights), 16 May, 6 June, 24 June, 27 August, 26 September, 24 October, 19 November, 15 December.

All crossings are now 7 nights except where shown.  The Queen Mary 2 usually sails from Southampton at 17:00, arriving in New York 7 nights later at 06:30-07:00.  The terminal she uses in Southampton varies.  In New York she arrives at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

New York ► Southampton

2024 transatlantic sailings:   3 January (8 nights), 5 May, 23 May, 15 June (8 nights), 6 July (8 nights), 27 July (8 nights), 23 August, 4 October (9 nights), 25 October, 3 December.

2025 transatlantic sailings:   3 January (8 nights), 6 April (8 nights), 5 may, 23 may, 13 June, 8 July, 8 august, 3 September, 17 October, 31 October, 8 December then 3 January 2026 (8 nights).

The QM2 usually sails from New York Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at 17:00, with check-in opening at 13:00 and closing at 15:45.  She arrives in Southampton at 06:30 seven nights later.

How to check sailing dates, times, prices & availability

Back to top

How much does it cost?

Typical Cunard one-way fares for transatlantic crossings.  Late bookings in late season can often be cheaper than this!

Inside = without window, oceanview = with porthole, see the cabin accommodation guide .  All other staterooms & suites have a balcony, except the two Q3 Royal Suites.

Britannia = allocated to the Britannia restaurant for meals.  Princess or Queen's Grill = allocated to the superior Princess or Queen's Grill restaurants for meals.

How to find cheaper tickets:   You'll often find cheaper fares if you buy your tickets from a cruise specialist such as www.cruisenation.com (UK-based) or www.cruisedirect.com (in the USA or Canada), both of which have online booking for transatlantic crossings and cruises.  Agencies like these can save perhaps £100 per person or more off the official Cunard price, and you'll also find cheaper fares if you shop for last minute deals and late-season crossings, as low as £799 or better, for example.  However, be aware that in high summer transatlantic sailings can get full many months in advance.

Round trip fares:   There are special round trip fares covering two back-to-back crossings with just 1 day in New York, but if you plan to spend more than a day at your destination you'll need to pay one-way fares each way.  In other words, for all practical purposes a round trip on the QM2 means buying two one-way tickets.

Cunard Fare & Saver fare:   The Cunard fare lets you choose a specific cabin & dinner sitting up front.  The Saver fares are several hundred pounds or dollars cheaper and guarantee a cabin in the booked grade or higher, but the cabin and dinner sitting time are allocated for you.  You can log in to Cunard's voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login a couple of weeks before departure to see what cabin & sitting you have been allocated.

Child fares:   See here .

What does the fare include?   All Queen Mary 2 transatlantic fares include your cabin accommodation, all meals & afternoon tea, on-board entertainment such as shows, lectures, films, access to the swimming pools & library, plus the tea, coffee & juices available in the Kings Court self-service.  The fare does not include alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks served in bars or at meals, Canyon Ranch Spa access & treatments, or internet access .  Also, a 'discretionary' fee of around $11-$14 per person per day will be added to your on board account each day as a gratuity for staff.

How to buy tickets

  if you live in uk & europe,   if you live in the usa or canada, how does the ticketing work , westbound transatlantic guide.

Here is a typical transatlantic timetable, port transfer, embarkation arrangements & journey information for a typical westbound transatlantic sailing on the QM2.  Although they normally follow this same pattern, always check the sailing time & check-in times for your specific date.  If you find that something has changed, please let me know .  If you're sailing eastbound, see the eastbound information .  Are  westbound or eastbound crossings better?

Take the train from London Waterloo

Fast air-conditioned trains run from London Waterloo to Southampton Central every 30 minutes taking around 1h17.  No reservation is necessary, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

London to Southampton costs £43.10 adult one-way Super Off-Peak in standard class or £86.80 one-way Off-Peak in 1st class.

These tickets have unlimited availability, you can buy them on the day, the price doesn't change.  Children under 16 half price, children under 5 free.

If you book in advance and commit to a specific train, cheaper Advance fares are available from around £10 in standard class or £16 in 1st class.  These tickets have limited availability at each price level.

Check train times & fares from London Waterloo or anywhere in Britain to Southampton at www.thetrainline.com .  Direct trains run from Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Reading, Bristol & Cardiff to Southampton, so you won't have to cross London.  See a beginner's guide to UK train travel .

For train connections from Paris or any other European city to London, see here .  I'd recommend a night in London before taking the train to Southampton on sailing day.

Transfer by taxi in Southampton

Make sure you know which of the four possible terminals the QM2 is sailing from, the QEII terminal (dock gate 4), City Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), Mayflower Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), or the new Ocean Terminal (dock gate 4).  Map of Southampton, showing all cruise terminals, Southampton Central Station & the historic Ocean Terminal .

A taxi from Southampton Central station takes 10 minutes and costs around £10 to the Mayflower or City cruise terminals, around £13 to the QEII terminal or Ocean Terminal.  You'll find plenty of taxis waiting at the station, the taxi rank is on the same side of the station where most trains from London arrive, so no bridges or subways to negotiate., level access from platform to booking hall to forecourt.

QM2 check-in procedures

Check-in typically opens at 13:00 and closes around 15:45.  Cunard will give you a specific check-in time on your e-ticket to stagger people arriving, but you can arrive earlier if you like, it's not a problem.

Visitors are not allowed on board, so anyone seeing you off will have to leave you at the terminal.   Cunard either send you or allow you to download labels showing your departure date & cabin number, remember to put one on each bag before arriving at the terminal.

When you get out of the taxi at the terminal drop-off point your large bags are immediately taken from you and whisked away, they will magically reappear later in your stateroom.  No bag should exceed 23Kg (50lb) but you can take as many bags as you like as long as they will all fit into your stateroom.

You then walk into the check-in hall and go to the first available check-in desk, this usually doesn't take long.  At the check-in desk, you show your e-ticket, your passport & your credit card for on-board purchases, and a webcam photo is taken of each passenger for security purposes.  You may be asked to fill out a brief health form to notify the ship of any fever you have or any diarrhoea you've had in the last 48 hours.  Each passenger is given a credit-card sized plastic card which is your embarkation card, your cabin key and your charge card for buying drinks & souvenirs on board. 

After check-in there's an airline-style X-ray & metal detector security check, then straight onto the gangway onto the QM2, entering the Grand Lobby on deck 3.  It's a painless process compared to airports.  If you feel like a late lunch, or just a tea, coffee or juice when you board, you'll find the King's Court self-service restaurant on deck 7 open for business and offering all of these.

What's an Atlantic crossing like?

The Queen Mary 2 is usually due to sail from Southampton at 17:00.  This is the most usual time, but please check for your sailing date.  Once on board and settled into your stateroom, listen for announcements about emergency drill.  This is held at 16:00 and takes about 20 minutes.  You listen for the alarm bells, fetch your lifejackets from your stateroom and go to your allocated muster station where staff will brief you on emergency procedures and you'll listen to an announcement by the captain.  When it's over, return your lifejackets to your stateroom and head up on deck for departure...

Soon after 17:00 the QM2 sails, with a band playing on her aft decks and glasses of champagne available (around $17).  She is sometimes moored facing upstream, sometimes downstream, and if she's moored facing upstream at the City or Mayflower terminals, she'll first head further upstream before turning around, somehow managing to turn her 1,130 foot length without hitting the far bank of the river or the small boats moored there.

Southampton's historic Ocean Terminal:  Cunard no longer use the traditional and historic Ocean Terminal dock, from which the original Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and even Titanic would have sailed.  Indeed, the old 1950 terminal building was demolished in 1983 and this hugely historic location now looks totally unremarkable, a freight dock with a couple of multi-storey car parks next to it for vehicle exports.  You won't know that you're looking at it unless you know where it is, so see this map .  It's just north of the QEII terminal, just south of the City & Mayflower terminals.  About the old Ocean Terminal .

The Queen Mary 2 heads downstream into the Solent, heading directly towards Cowes on the Isle of Wight before making a tight turn to port (left) in the deep water channel, passing Ryde to starboard (right) and Portsmouth to port.  The QM2 rounds the Isle of Wight using the deep water route to the east (although this looks like the long way round on a map) and heads out into the English Channel.  By breakfast next morning, you're well past Bishop Rock lighthouse and out in the Atlantic...

Seven nights at sea on the Atlantic.  Cunard slowed down their crossings from 6 nights to 7 nights from 2011 onwards, although an occasional crossing may take 6 or 8 nights.  This is two days slower than it used to be, as the weekly service operated from 1946 to 1967 by the original Queen Mary and her consort Queen Elizabeth took just 5 nights for the 3,150 nautical miles (3,625 miles). 

There may be no coastline or islands to see in mid-Atlantic (or even other ships, usually), but I never tire of gazing at the brooding waters of the North Atlantic.  It changes from day to day, sometimes smooth and glassy, sometimes choppy and sombre, sometimes sunny, sometimes foggy with the Queen Mary 2's fog horn blaring at regular intervals.

You may get rough crossings especially in October, November or December, but my summer crossings on the 150,000 ton Queen Mary 2 or 70,000 ton QE2 have been rock steady all the way.  You could be in a 5 star hotel rather than on board a ship!

The QM2's clocks are put back an hour at 2am on 5 of the 7 nights because of the time difference, giving you a welcome extra hour's sleep in this direction.  You will pass within a few miles of the resting place of the Titanic (within 38 nautical miles on one of my westbound crossings) and an announcement may well be made on board.  Naturally, you'll find a whole programme of entertainment & activities on board every day, and if you really want to be bored you'll have to work hard at it.

The QM2 arrives in New York at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at 06:30.  This is the highlight!  Whether you're a natural early riser or not, make sure you're up and on deck by 04:45 on the morning of arrival in New York, as the arrival into New York by ocean liner is something you will remember all you life.  There's a forward-facing observation deck on deck 11,  immediately below the bridge, accessed from 'A' stairway.  You'll see the lights of Long Island to starboard (the right-hand side), Staten Island to port, and the Verrazano suspension bridge dead ahead at the entrance to New York harbour.  The Queen Mary 2 passes under the bridge with just a few precious feet of clearance above her funnel, and as she does so the fabulous Manhattan skyline comes into view.  The QM2 no longer uses Cunard's traditional terminal at Pier 90 on Manhattan itself, so she no longer steams right past the Statue of Liberty, but instead she turns to starboard (to the right) opposite the statue and heads into the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, berthing within sight of the famous Statue and Manhattan skyline.

QM2 disembarkation in New York

A note explaining QM2 disembarkation procedures appears outside your stateroom a day or two before arrival, and each deck is allocated a disembarkation time.  Disembarkation takes place between 08:00 & 11:00.  The upper decks with the more expensive cabins disembark first (e.g. decks 9, 10, 11, 12), other decks such as 4, 5 or 6 later.

Labels for your bags appear outside your stateroom the day before arrival.  You put a label on each of your bags and place them in the corridor outside your stateroom between 20:00 & midnight before arrival.  Your bags will disappear and will be waiting for you in the terminal hall next morning, in an area marked with the same colour as your labels.

It's then just a matter of going through the U.S. immigration check, a slowish process but no worse than any airport.  They you walk out of the terminal.

Express disembarkation:   If you want to get off sooner and are happy managing all your own bags, you can register for Express disembarkation at the purser's desk on deck 2 the day before arrival.  You are given an express disembarkation card.  Express disembarkation passengers gather in the Queens Room from 06:45 onwards with all their luggage, and at around 07:00 when the gangway opens you simply walk off the ship with your bags, straight into the terminal.  With a Deck 4 cabin we were allocated an 11:00 disembarkation time, which would have meant half a day in New York wasted, so I'd go for express disembarkation every time!

Transfer by taxi to Manhattan

The Tour Office on deck 2 offers private transfers by minivan from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to any Manhattan hotel for a ridiculous $429, or they can sell you tickets for a transfer bus for $59 per person. 

However, both options are crazy, because a normal yellow cab from the terminal taxi rank to anywhere in Manhattan costs only $40 for up to 4 people and all your bags, and you'll find plenty of taxis waiting right outside the terminal building.  Enjoy the drive across the famous Brooklyn Bridge in a New York Yellow Cab!

You'll also find plenty of black private hire vehicles outside the terminal with a fixed price of around $55 to a Manhattan hotel, also a good relaxed option.  The ride takes 20 minutes.

Alternatively, the cheapest option (just $4) is to take the frequent ferry from Brooklyn's Red Hook ferry terminal to Pier 11 on Wall Street at the southern end of Manhattan.  Red Hook ferry quay is only 100m from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and it'll take you to Manhattan in a matter of minutes, see www.ferry.nyc .  It's aimed at locals, but taking a suitcase isn't usually a problem.  See walking map cruise terminal to Red Hook ferry .

By train from New York to other U.S. cities

You can be at Penn Station by 11:30 or earlier, for onward train connections.  Washington DC is only 3 hours away by train, Boston 4 hours or less.  The Lake Shore Limited train to Chicago leaves Penn Station around 15:45 arriving in Chicago next morning, with connections for all points west including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Seattle.  You'll also make the afternoon Crescent overnight train to Atlanta & New Orleans, or the afternoon Silver Meteor overnight to Florida.

You can book any of these trains online in advance at www.amtrak.com , collecting your ticket from the self-service machines at Penn Station.  Note that between New York & Washington or New York & Boston you'll be offered two different types of train:  The premium-fare Acela Express 150mph high-speed train with business class and first class, but no coach class, and the slower but cheaper Northeast Regional trains with coach class and business class. 

You can book Amtrak trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from New York to other US cities, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office).  Beginner's guide to train travel in the USA .

By train from New York to Toronto, Montreal & Canada

Two daily trains link New York with Canada, the Maple Leaf to Toronto and the Adirondack to Montreal.  Both trains leave New York in the morning, so you'll need to spend the night in New York.  It's a very scenic run along the Hudson River valley, past West Point Military Academy, Storm King Mountain and Bannerman's Island.  As it's name suggests, the train to Montreal also passes through the scenic Adirondack Mountains and past Lake Champlain.  Information on trains from New York to Canada .  Change in Toronto for the famous Canadian trans-continental train 2-3 times a week to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Jasper & Vancouver. 

You can book Amtrak & VIA Rail trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from New York to major Canadian cities, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office), 1-888-829-4775 (US office, toll-free) or 1-855-882-2910 (Canada, toll-free).  Beginner's guide to train travel in Canada .

Eastbound transatlantic guide

Here is a typical timetable, transfer & journey information for most eastbound trans-Atlantic crossings.  Although they usually follow this pattern, please check sailing & check-in times for your specific date when you book in case they are different.  If you find that anything has changed, do let me know .  If you plan to travel westbound, click here .  Are  westbound or eastbound crossings better?

By train from Washington DC & other US cities to New York

Amtrak trains link Washington DC & New York in less than 3 hours, Boston to New York in under 4 hours.  The daily Lake Shore Limited links Chicago & New York overnight, with connections in Chicago from LA, San Francisco, Seattle, etc.  However, the Lake Shore arrives at New York's Penn station in the early evening, too late for same-day connections with the 'Mary, so you'll need to leave Chicago two nights before the 'Mary sails and spend a night in New York before sailing day.  You can check schedules and fares and buy tickets for any of these trains online at www.amtrak.com .  Note that between New York & Washington or New York & Boston you'll be offered two different types of train:  The premium-fare Acela Express 150mph high-speed train with business class and first class, but no coach class, and the slower but cheaper Northeast Regional trains with coach class and business class.  You can book Amtrak trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from other US cities to New York for you, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office.  Beginner's guide to train travel in the USA .

By train from Toronto, Montreal & Canada to New York

Two daily trains link Canada with New York, the Maple Leaf from Toronto and Adirondack from Montreal.  Both trains arrive in New York in the evening, so you'll need to spend a night in New York before sailing day - Check hotels in New York .  It's a very scenic run down the Hudson River valley, past West Point Military Academy, Storm King Mountain and Bannerman's Island.  As it's name suggests, the train from Montreal also passes through the scenic Adirondack Mountains and past Lake Champlain.  Information on trains between Canada & New York .  The famous Canadian trans-continental train links Vancouver & Toronto three times a week, via Jasper, Edmonton & Winnipeg.  You can book Amtrak & VIA Rail trains yourself, but if you want an agency to sort a package of train connections and hotels from a Canadian city to New York for you, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK office) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office, toll-free) or 1-855-882-2910 (Canada, toll-free). Beginner's guide to train travel in Canada .

By taxi from Manhattan to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

A normal yellow cab from New York Penn Station or any hotel in Manhattan to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal costs around $40 for up to 4 people and all your bags.  Enjoy the drive across the famous Brooklyn Bridge in a traditional New York Yellow Cab!  The taxi ride takes 20 minutes.

Alternatively, a frequent ferry operates from Pier 11 at the end of Wall Street in Manhattan to Red Hook ferry terminal in Brooklyn, this is just 100m from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, fare $4, see www.ferry.nyc .  See walking map from Red Hook ferry terminal to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal .

QM2 check-in procedures in New York

Check-in usually opens around 13:00 and closes around 15:45.  Cunard will give you a specific check-in time on your e-ticket to try and stagger people arriving, but you can arrive earlier if you like.  Visitors are not allowed on board, so anyone seeing you off will have to leave you at the terminal then wave from the shore.

Cunard will have sent you adhesive labels showing your departure date & cabin number, remember to put one on each bag before arriving at the terminal, as when you get there your larger bags are immediately taken from you.  They will magically reappear later in your stateroom.  No one bag should exceed 23Kg (50lb) but you can take as many bags as you like as long as they will all fit into your stateroom.

You then walk into the terminal and join the short queue for a ticket check, then another short queue for the X-ray and metal detector security check, then you join a long zig-zag queue for check-in proper.

At the check-in desk, you show your e-ticket, your passport & your credit card for on-board purchases, and a webcam photo is taken of each passenger for security purposes.  You also hand in a brief health form notifying the ship of any fever you have or any diarrhoea you've had in the last 48 hours. Each passenger is given a credit-card sized plastic card which acts as your embarkation card, cabin key and charge card for buying drinks & souvenirs on board.  You then go up the gangway onto the QM2, entering the Grand Lobby on deck 3.

Apart from the time spent in the main queue (have a reading book and some refreshments to hand), it's a painless process compared to airports.  If you feel like a late lunch, or just a tea, coffee or juice when you board, you'll find the King's Court self-service restaurant on deck 7 open for business and offering all of these.

What's an eastbound Atlantic crossing like?

The ship normally sails from New York at 17:00.  This is the usual time, but please check for your specific departure date.  Once on board and settled into your stateroom, listen for announcements about emergency drill.  This is held at 16:00 and takes about 20 minutes.  You listen for the alarm bells, fetch your lifejackets from your stateroom and go to your allocated muster station where staff will brief you on emergency procedures and you'll listen to an announcement by the captain.  After this you're free to go up on deck and admire the Manhattan skyline astern and the Statue of Liberty to starboard (right-hand side).  At 17:00 she casts off, and with a band playing on her aft decks and glasses of champagne available (around $17) she heads out to sea.  Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty slowly disappear astern, and the QM2 heads toward and then underneath the huge Verrazano suspension bridge out into the Atlantic.  There is just a few precious feet of clearance above her red funnel!  An NYPD police boat follows behind (seeing you off the premises?), and a police helicopter buzzes overhead.

Seven nights at sea on the Atlantic.  Cunard slowed down their crossings to from 6 to 7 nights from 2011 onwards, although an occasional crossing still takes 6 nights.  Naturally, you'll find a whole programme of entertainment & activities on board every day, and if you really want to be bored you'll have to work hard at it!  There are no islands or coastline to see in mid-Atlantic (or even other ships, usually), but personally I never tire of gazing at the brooding waters of the North Atlantic.  It changes from day to day, sometimes smooth and glassy, sometimes choppy and sombre, sometimes foggy, sometimes sunny.  You may get rough crossings especially in October, November or December, but my own transatlantic crossings on the 150,000 ton Queen Mary 2 or 70,000 ton QE2 have been rock steady all the way.  You could be in a 5 star hotel rather than on board a ship!  The QM2's clocks are put forward an hour at 2am on five of the seven eastbound nights because of the time difference, giving you an hour's less sleep in this direction - if there's one reason why a westbound crossing can be nicer than an eastbound one, this is it!  (update 2013:  Cunard has tried the crazy idea of putting the clocks forward at midday on recent crossings, much to passengers dismay, as it can be confusing and means dinner is too soon after lunch!)  You will pass within a few miles of the resting place of the Titanic and an announcement may well be made on board.  On the last evening at dinner you may catch site of the Isles of Scilly in the distance (about 35 miles west of Land's End), and later the lights of Cornwall twinkling to port.  A first view of Great Britain!  You're now past the Bishop Rock lighthouse an in the English Channel.  Incidentally, a modern transatlantic crossing is now two days slower than it used to be, as the weekly service operated by the first Queen Mary and her consort Queen Elizabeth from 1946 to 1967 took just 5 nights.

The ship arrives in Southampton at 06:30.  You'll need to be up early, at around 04:30, if you want to see the ship round the Isle of Wight and head past Portsmouth & Ryde and into Southampton Water, although this hardly lives up to the spectacular arrival in New York on a westbound transatlantic.  There's a forward-facing observation deck on deck 10, immediately below the bridge, accessed from 'A' stairway.  Otherwise, you'll find the ship docked at the Southampton Terminal when you awake, and the Kings Court & Britannia restaurants serving a welcome cooked breakfast to send you on your way.

QM2 disembarkation in Southampton

It's then just a matter of going through the UK immigration check.  They you walk out of the terminal.

Express disembarkation:   If you want to get off sooner and are happy managing all your own bags, you can register for Express disembarkation at the purser's desk on deck 2 the day before arrival.  You are given an express disembarkation card.  Express disembarkation passengers gather in the Queens Room from 06:45 onwards with all their luggage, and at around 07:00 when the gangway opens you simply walk off the ship with your bags, straight into the terminal.

Transfer by taxi to Southampton Central station

The Queen Mary 2 can use any one of four different terminals in Southampton, either the QEII terminal (dock gate 4), City Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), Mayflower Cruise Terminal (dock gate 10), or the new Ocean Terminal (dock gate 4).  Map of Southampton, showing all cruise terminals, Southampton Central Station & the original historic Ocean Terminal .  A taxi to Southampton Central station costs around £10 from the Mayflower or City cruise terminals, or around £13 from the QEII terminal or Ocean Terminal.  You'll find plenty of taxis waiting at the terminal, although there can be a long wait as there are so many other passengers.  The taxi ride takes just 10 minutes.

Take the train to London Waterloo

Cunard no longer organise a special 'boat train' in connection with QM2 sailings.  However, fast air-conditioned trains link Southampton Central with London Waterloo every 30 minutes taking around 1h17.  No reservation is necessary or even possible for Southampton-London trains, you just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train.

Southampton to London costs £43.10 adult one-way Super Off-Peak in standard class or £86.80 one-way Off-Peak in 1st class.

I would not buy a cheaper advance-purchase Advance fare because this commits you to a specific train and you are not in control of exactly when you arrive and disembark.  Super Off-Peak, Off-Peak and Anytime fares can be bought on the day and used flexibly, so you can catch the next train.

You can check train times & fares from Southampton to London Waterloo or anywhere in Britain using www.thetrainline.com .  Direct trains run from Southampton to Reading, Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol & Cardiff, so you won't have to cross London.  Beginner's guide to UK train travel .  Find a hotel in London .

Onward trains from London to Paris & beyond

Onwards to Paris:   Allow plenty of time for onward connections, certainly several hours, and maybe stay in London overnight.  For Paris, take a UK domestic train from Southampton central to London Waterloo (no reservation necessary, see the section above), then take a taxi or Underground across London to St Pancras Station.  Eurostar runs every hour or so from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in central Paris, journey time 2 hours 20 minutes.   For a beginner's guide to Eurostar travel, see the London to Paris by Eurostar page .  You can book tickets online in advance at www.eurostar.com , and you should indeed pre-book, as London-Paris prices start from £52 in advance but up to £200+ if you wait and buy on the day of travel.

Onwards to other countries:   See this page for information on getting from London to any country in Europe .  Having crossed the Atlantic on the luxurious Queen Mary 2, how about taking the Venice Simplon Orient Express vintage luxury train to Italy ?  This runs on most Thursdays from April to October, and takes 24 hours from London to Venice, a real treat.  You can book European trains yourself, but if you want an agency to put together a package of train connections and hotels from anywhere in Europe to Southampton for you, call Railbookers on 0207 864 4600 (UK) or 1-888-829-4775 (US office).

Which cabin to choose?

There are a bewildering range of staterooms on the Queen Mary 2 at varying prices, but they basically fall into these categories, in ascending order of cost:

Britannia Inside:   An Inside cabin means it has no window, but even though this is the cheapest option, these staterooms are spacious, beautifully designed and have all the facilities mentioned above.  They have double or twin beds for 2 people, although some rooms are fitted with an additional two drop-down upper berths making a 3 or 4-berth room.  Some cabins are wheelchair-accessible.  Allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  Typically 155 sq ft.

Britannia Atrium View:   There are a handful of standard inside cabins on decks 4, 5 & 6 which have a small window opening onto the atrium above the Grand Lobby.  They have double or twin beds for 2 people, but none of these rooms are fitted with additional berths.  Also allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  Typically 161 sq ft.

Britannia Oceanview:   These are outside cabins meaning they have a small non-opening porthole for sea views.  Some seasoned travellers will tell you that with no coastline or islands to see on a 6 day transatlantic crossing, a window is unnecessary.  However, I enjoy seeing where I am and love gazing at the vast and always-changing waters of the North Atlantic.  Paying the extra for a Standard Oceanview is well worth it, both for the views and the natural light.  These staterooms have double or twin beds for two people, but some rooms are fitted with an additional two drop-down upper berths making a 3- or 4-berth room.  Some are wheelchair-accessible.  Also allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  Typically 194 sq ft.

I've crossed with an inside cabin and with an outside cabin, and I think it's well worth the extra for a porthole.  It lets natural light into the cabin and it gives you a much greater sense of place - not to mention sunsets over the Isle of Wight and views of the Statue of Liberty as you pack up on arrival!

Britannia Balcony (Obstructed View) :  The cheapest cabin type to have its own balcony, allocated to the Britannia restaurant.  These are all on Deck 8 above the promenade deck, but with their view heavily obstructed by the ship's lifeboats.  They have a double or twin beds for 2 people, and a few cabins have a 3rd berth in the form of a pull-out sofa bed.

I'd definitely pay a little more for an sheltered balcony, without any obstruction.

Britannia Sheltered Balcony:   The next cheapest cabin type to have its own balcony, allocated to the Britannia restaurant, also with a double or twin beds for 2 people, a few cabins have a pull-out sofa bed as well.  Sheltered balcony cabins are on decks 4, 5 & 6 below the promenade deck with a small balcony cut into the hull.  Typically 269 sq ft, including balcony.

This is my own first choice (unless you can afford a megabucks suite, of course), arguably a better choice for a transatlantic crossing than a more expensive cabin with a more windswept balcony in the ship's superstructure.  See the photos below.

Britannia Balcony:   Also allocated to the Britannia restaurant, these are slightly smaller than the Sheltered Balcony rooms, but have a glass-fronted balcony higher up in the ship's superstructure, on deck 8 and above.

The open glass-fronted balcony lets even more natural light into the cabin than a sheltered balcony, but it'll be more windswept than a sheltered balcony on a transatlantic crossing!   Typically 248 sq ft, including balcony.

Britannia Club Balcony:   Similar to a Britannia Balcony, but allocated to the single-sitting 'Britannia Club' restaurant, a separate off-shoot of the main Britannia restaurant.  Typically 248 sq ft, including balcony.

Princess Balcony Suites:   Suites with balcony, all allocated to the Princess Grill restaurant.  Typically 381 sq ft, including balcony.

Queens Balcony Suites:   Various types of suite, up to and including the extravagant Grand Duplex suites, all allocated to the Queen's Grill restaurant.  All have balconies, except the two Q3 grade Royal Suites.  Size varies from 506 sq ft to 2,249 sq ft.

QM2 deck plans in PDF format

If you pay the more expensive Cunard fare so you can choose a specific cabin, here are some things to consider.

You can feel a slight up & down movement of the ship towards at the bows, but will feel hardly any movement at all amidships.  For this reason mid-ships cabins are higher-graded and cost more (Even if you pay the cheaper Saver fare, you can select a higher grade to ensure a mid-ships cabin).

Some people have reported noise from below when occupying sheltered balcony cabins on 4 deck directly above the Illuminations or Royal Court Theatre, so 5 or 6 Deck may be preferable.  However, we had 4101 & 4105 over the Chart Room bar and these were perfect.

Adjacent cabins with connecting doors are marked on the QM2 deck plan .  Choose these if four of you are going to book two cabins.  But don't choose these if you're only booking one cabin, as a wall with connecting door is never as totally soundproofed as a wall without.

Facilities in all cabins

Even the cheapest QM2 cabin (or stateroom as Cunard calls them) features comfortable beds, a private bathroom with shower, sink & toilet, a dressing table, flatscreen TV, a small coffee table & chair, 240v UK & 110v US style power sockets, pay-per-minute internet access , soap, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, bathrobes, hairdryer, plenty of wardrobe space, room service menu and a solid electronic safe for your valuables that's large enough for a 14" laptop.  A bedtime chocolate is delivered to your stateroom when the steward turns down your bed.

Where cabins can be configured with either twin beds or a double, you can select your preference in advance using the online voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login the same online system where you download and print your luggage labels and e-ticket.  You log on with your Cunard booking reference and personal details.

Britannia sheltered balcony  See 360º image

This is cabin 4101 on 4 Deck.   The Man in Seat 61 says , "This is my own preferred cabin for a transatlantic crossing.  Even at 20 knots in mid-Atlantic the balcony remains wind-free just as the word sheltered suggests.  Some people say you won't get much use out of a balcony on the Atlantic, but I loved being able to stroll outside at any time and stand at the rail watching the Atlantic drift past.  On a sunny summer crossing off Newfoundland we did indeed sit outside, and even when inside, the French windows let in lots of natural light, making it a far nicer room than an inside or outside cabin, so upgrade if you can.  I have yet to travel with a more expensive full-balcony cabin, but I expect those are a lot more windswept!".  Click the photos for larger images.

Britannia inside & oceanview

Qm2 restaurants, which restaurant.

The fare includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea in the Queen's Room or King's Court.  It does not include drinks, other than the basic water, tea, coffee & juice available at the drink stations in the Kings Court buffet restaurant.  Bottles of wine start at around $30 and real ale lovers can choose Old Speckled Hen or Spitfire for around $6 a bottle.

Your allocated restaurant:   Each stateroom is allocated a restaurant.  Most cabins, including the Inside, Oceanview & Sheltered Balcony, are allocated to the Britannia restaurant on decks 2 & 3. The more expensive staterooms are allocated to the more intimate Princess Grill on deck 7, and the very best staterooms to the Queen's Grill , also on deck 7.  The food is excellent, and you choose from a menu of half a dozen different starters, main courses and desserts, which changes every day.

Optional dining venues:   You can also choose to eat any given meal in the informal King's Court buffet on deck 7, or pub grub in the Golden Lion pub on deck 2, instead of your allocated restaurant.  It's entirely up to you, you can decide on a day by day basis.

There is also the Veranda Restaurant aft on deck 8.  This does seafood and steaks, and is an extra-cost option - you reserve a table and pay extra to dine there instead of your allocated restaurant.

Room service:   If you'd rather eat in your cabin, every cabin has free room service from a simple menu including burgers, pasta, cheese & crackers.  You can order by phone at any time, it's all included in your fare.  However, if you order any drinks from room service, including soft drinks, these are charged at bar prices.  You can also choose to have breakfast delivered to your stateroom, except on the morning of arrival.  Just hang the breakfast order form on your cabin door before retiring.

Britannia restaurant

Most staterooms are allocated to the Britannia restaurant , a magnificent two-storey 1,300 seat restaurant spanning decks 2 & 3 and reminiscent of the grand dining saloons of the great ocean liners of the past.  There are two sittings for dinner, 6pm & 8.30pm.  If you pay the Cunard fare you can choose a sitting when you book, if you pay the cheaper Saver fare you will be allocated a sitting, perhaps the less popular 8.30pm one.  If you log onto your online voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login with your booking reference and personal details it will confirm your sitting before you travel.  Evening entertainment is arranged so that both sittings can enjoy it, although the 6pm sitting gives you the rest of the evening free, and is arguably more relaxed than the later one.  If you've young children, see the section below .  There are no specific sittings or allocated tables for lunch or breakfast, you are allocated a table when you walk in, choosing your own table for 2, table for 4 or if you prefer, seats at a shared table so you get to meet other passengers.

Princess Grill & Queen's Grill

More expensive staterooms are allocated to the Princess Grill , the most expensive suites to the Queens Grill .  Both are aft on deck 7, served by the same galley.  There are no sittings, you can dine any time you choose when the restaurant is open.  If you want a drink before dinner, the Grill Lounge is a lounge and bar exclusively for Princess & Queens Grill passengers, on 7 deck aft, directly opposite the entrance to the Queens Grill.

Kings Court

The Kings Court buffet restaurant takes up most of the centre section of deck 7, and it's open almost continuously from early until late, with only half an hour here and there were breakfast dishes are swapped for lunch or lunch for dinner.  There's a wide variety of food, all good quality, including a carvery.  The window tables with sea views cross the promenade deck are the nicest.  Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, water & juices can be had for free from the drinks stations in several locations around the Kings Court area.  Stewards will take your order for wine, beer, cocktails, mocktails or fizzy soft drinks and deliver them to your table, these drinks must be paid for, added to your on board account.

The Man in Seat 61 says , "If you fancy a first breakfast in the Britannia restaurant then a second breakfast in the Kings Court, why not?  After all, Second Breakfast is the most important meal of the day..."

The Verandah restaurant

The Verandah restaurant aft on deck 8 is an extra-cost option, specialising in steaks and seafood.  You can make a reservation at the Verandah restaurant whilst you are on board, or you can book a table for one or more nights at your desired time before you travel, by logging into your voyage personaliser at my.cunard.com/en-gb/mycruise/login booking the table and paying the extra.

The Man in Seat 61 says , "With our normal Britannia sitting not until 8.30pm, we booked a table at the Verandah for 6pm on our last evening before getting up early to see the arrival into New York.  I wished we'd dined there on more than just one occasion, the steaks were top class."

QM2 bars & lounges

There is no shortage of watering holes on the Queen Mary 2.  Personally, the Chart Room works for cocktails before or after dinner as it's near the social centre of the ship on deck 3, but for quiet reading, working on a laptop and generally getting away from it all, the Commodore Club with its forward view over the bows is my top choice.  Drinks are not too expensive:  A tea is $2, a glass of wine perhaps $6, a cocktail $10.  Although I'm a non-smoker 99.9% of the time, one of Havana's Montecristo number 2 cigars and a 1979 Armagnac were sound recommendations from the barman on the last night of a return crossing from New York.

Champagne bar

Sponsored by Veuve Cliquot, the Champagne Bar is on 3 Deck, on the upper level of the Grand Lobby in the centre of the ship.

Commodore Club

Located on deck 9 on 'A' stairway at the forward end of the superstructure.  It's away from the hustle and bustle, a quiet and relaxing place for a cocktail and a read or chat.  You get a great forward view over the bows, although blinds are drawn at dusk so the light does not interfere with the view from the bridge above.  This is my favourite place on QM2 - it does a great range of cocktails and other drinks, the Churchill Cigar Lounge opens off the Commodore Club, the library is one deck down also on 'A' stairway, and the open-air observation deck below the bridge is two decks up on 'A' stairway.  There's a huge illuminated model of the QM2 behind the bar.

Chart room bar

Located on deck 3 near the Britannia restaurant, this is the largest and busiest of the QM2's bars.  Click the photo for larger image.

Golden Lion Pub

Located on deck 2 near the Britannia restaurant, this is not only a good place for a pint of London Pride, you can take meals here too, with pub-style food such as fish and chips or sausages and mash.  Click the photo for larger image.

Carinthia Lounge

Located on deck 7 next to the Kings Court buffet with doors opening onto the promenade deck.  This is a good place to sit, read, and have a tea or coffee.  You may also find some complimentary snacks or soup here too, at the kitchen counter.  Click the photo for larger image.

Afternoon tea in the Queen's Room

Every day at around 3.30pm, afternoon tea is served in the Queen's Room, on 2 Deck aft.  A choice of teas comes with daintily-cut sandwiches, scones and cakes, served by stewards in white gloves.  Afternoon tea is included in the fare, but a glass of champagne is extra.

Grill Lounge

The Grill Lounge is a lounge and bar exclusively for passengers travelling in the upmarket staterooms and suites allocated to the Princess and Queen's Grill restaurants.  It's located on 7 Deck aft, directly opposite the entrance to the Queen's Grill and the ship's width away from the entrance to the Princess Grill.  It seemed to be empty most of the time even with the ship sailing full, it's main purpose seems to be drinks before dinner.

Churchill's Cigar Lounge

This is a sealed and specially-ventilated room opening off the starboard side of the Commodore Club.  Here you can order a whisky or cognac and choose from a cigar menu.  The rest of the ship's accommodation is of course non-smoking!

QM2 activities & entertainment

A daily programme for the following day is delivered to your stateroom each evening.  It shows details of the entertainment and activities on board, along with navigational & itinerary information and the opening and closing times of all restaurants, bars and other facilities.  There's an ongoing programme of shows, plays & lectures.  For example, recent crossings featured talks by John Cleese about his work on Monty Python & Fawlty Towers, excellent lectures by an expert on New York skyscrapers, an edited version of Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of being Earnest'.  The QM2 also features the world's only sea-going planetarium, called the 'Illuminations'.  And of course there are several live bands on board, with dancing every evening, sometimes themed such as the 'Black & White Ball' and 'Ascot Ball'.  If it's disco you prefer, you'll find that in the G32 nightclub.  You'll also find the Canyon Ranch spa on deck 7, offering a wide range of treatments from manicures to massages, Jacuzzis to saunas.  If you want to be bored, you'll have to really work at it.

Library & bookshop

The QM2 has an excellent library - for me, one of its best features - located on 8 deck forward on 'A' stairway directly below the Commodore Club.  You can take out books using your cabin key, or read them in the library, with comfy seats, some with a forward-facing view over the QM2's bows.  The library is open during office hours every day, outside these times the bookshelves are locked but the library itself remains accessible.  As you'd expect, the QM2's library has a particularly good section of books about ocean liners.  Next to the library is a bookshop selling travel guides, QM2 souvenirs & ocean liner/QM2 books.  Click the left-hand photo for larger image .

Swimming pools

The QM2 has several swimming pools.  The most popular (certainly on a transatlantic crossing) is the Pavilion Pool on 12 deck, with sun loungers, two hot tubs, see the photo below.  The roof can slide away when the QM2 visits warmer climates, but it remains closed on the Atlantic.  Towels are provided, there are toilets (visible below behind the two hot tubs) which you can use as changing rooms, or you can change in your cabin and use your bathrobe.  You can see the funnel from the pool through the glass roof, towering above you.  Don't jump when the ship's horns are tested at midday!  There's also a bar here, open at certain times of day.  In addition to this indoor pool there are two outdoor pools on the open decks aft (7 & 8 Deck), one of which is only shallow for kids, the other designated as adults-only.  Click the photo for larger image .

Illuminations

The QM2's Illuminations towards the forward end of Deck 2 can be used as a lecture theatre, cinema or (with an ingenious dome lowered from the ceiling) the world's only ocean-going planetarium.  You'll usually find varying recently-released films shown most evenings, and planetarium sessions at various times on most days.  There's also usually a lecture series or two during each crossing with subjects varying from New York Skyscrapers to pirates on the high seas to the design and build of the QM2.  Click the photo for larger image .

Royal Court Theatre

The QM2's Royal Court Theatre is used for various shows and performances, for example I have seen an interview with John Cleese here, and some stand-up comedy.  Click the photo for larger image .

Spa & gymnasium

The QM2's Canyon Ranch Spa is at the forward end of Deck 7, with with treatment rooms and pool, plus a small beauty salon above on Deck 8.  You can make appointments at the reception desk, treatments & massages are billed to your on-board account.  There's a free-to-use gymnasium at the forward end of Deck 7, pictured below right.

The Cunard heritage trail

The Queen Mary 2 is filled with paintings, information panels and even interactive screens telling the history of Cunard Line, its ships, and the famous people who crossed the Atlantic aboard them.

Travelling with children

You won't be the only family on the QM2, especially on a transatlantic run!  You'll find plenty of entertainment for children in the Play Zone at the aft end of 6 deck.

Arrangements for children & pregnant women on the Queen Mary 2

The play zone & child care.

The Zone is aft on deck 6, staffed by a team of friendly young British-trained nannies.  It has a toddler zone for ages 1-3, a Play Zone for ages 4-6 and The Zone with various computer games and other activities for older kids up to 17.  There's plenty to do, and activities such as treasure hunts or ship tours are organised by the Play Zone team.

Children from 2 to 7 inclusive can be left free of charge with the nannies in the Play Zone during its opening hours, 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00, 18:00-24:00 (shorter hours apply on the first and last nights).  In other words, you can sign them into the Play Zone at 9am, pick them up at noon and take them to lunch, sign them back in at 2pm and enjoy an afternoon show, pick them up at 5pm and take them to the children's tea provided in the King's Court 'Chef's Galley' area between 16:30 & 17:30.  Then you can check them back into the Zone at 6pm until midnight, leaving you free to enjoy a formal dinner and evening entertainment while the kids play happily in the Zone and later settle down and fall asleep in front of some cartoons.  Outside the Play Zone, children 1 to 7 must always be accompanied by an adult around the ship.

Children 8 and up to 17 can also use the Zone, signing themselves in and out.  They are free to wander the ship solo.

I suggest calling Cunard to check current childcare arrangements as they tweak them from time to time, but they don't properly explain them on their website - indeed, we didn't know how extensive their childcare facilities were until we we actually on board!

Cabins & dinner sittings

If you have young children, it's worth asking for a cabin towards the stern of the ship.  We were given a stateroom at the extreme forward end of deck 6, whereas the Play Zone is at the extreme aft end of deck 6.  That meant we had to walk a sixth of a mile from cabin to Play Zone to sign the kids in, then a sixth of a mile back again to get changed.  It proved impossible sign the kids in at 6pm when the Zone opens, walk all the way back to the cabin, get changed into formal dress, then walk forward again to the Britannia restaurant for a 6pm sitting. 

From this experience on our outward crossing, we changed our sitting for the return crossing to 8.30pm.  The evening then worked better, although some after-dinner films or shows finished after midnight so could not be attended without leaving early to collect the kids.  The dinner tended to take up much of the evening.  A stateroom near the Zone, and dressing for the 6pm dinner sitting before taking the kids to the Zone, might be the ideal solution, but my wife's and my opinion is divided!

If you've small children, remember to take your folding buggy (stroller).  It's a big ship!

Other useful information

There is no baggage limit on the Queen Mary 2, either in terms of total weight or the number of bags.  You can bring what you like, as long as it all fits in your stateroom.  However, for safe lifting by staff, no one item may exceed 23Kg (50lb).  Bags are taken from you on arrival at the terminal and they reappear in your stateroom on board.  At the end of the crossing, they are transported ashore for you.  See the embarkation & disembarkation arrangements above.  If you plan to go one way by ship, the other by air, one advantage of taking the ship on the return leg is that you can take as much shopping as you like!

Cunard sometimes have to fight off a stuffy image, and it didn't help that until 2013 they had a three-tier dress code as complicated as a Virgin Trains Saver Ticket restriction.  However, they now have just two codes, formal and informal.  One of two dress codes will apply each evening after 6pm in all the main restaurants and bars, although not in the Kings Court buffet restaurant.  You'll be told which dress code applies on which night in if you log on to your voyage personaliser and it's also stated in the daily programme delivered to your stateroom.

Payment on board

Everything on board, including drinks in the bar, books from the bookshop, massages in the spa, purchases in the shops or internet access, is billed to your on board account.  You simply show your cabin card and sign for the payment.  At the end of the crossing, the total is automatically deducted from the credit card you gave them at check-in and you'll get a summary of your account delivered to your stateroom half-way across and at the end of the voyage.  Just be aware that Cunard follow the American practice of quoting you one price but charging you a slightly higher price, as all bar prices shown on the drinks menu have 15% service fee added to them automatically.  As service is then included, there is no need to add a gratuity unless the service has been particularly special. 

Internet & mobile phone access

Internet access is available for a fee throughout the QM2, both in your cabin and in all the public areas including bars but excluding the theatres & restaurants.  It generally works well with good download speeds.  You pre-pay for a bundle of minutes and this is added to your normal on-board account.

2019 prices:  $15 for 30 minutes (= $0.50 per minute), $45 for 120 minutes (= $0.38 per minute) or $80 for 240 minutes (= $0.33 per minute).

You can spend these minutes individually, so for example you can buy 120 minutes and spend them over the course of the whole voyage, logging on to download emails, logging off again to compose replies offline, then logging on again to send, and so only using a few minutes at a time.

To use your own laptop, simply click on the 'Qm2_Guest_internet' internet connection and open a web browser to see the log-in screen.  Register with your name & cabin number on this log-in page and the cost will be billed to your QM2 stateroom account.  If you don't have your own laptop, the Cunard Connexions rooms on deck 2 or the library on deck 8 have self-service internet PCs which you can use for the same rates.  You'll find power sockets for laptops (both British 3-pin and US 110v) in your cabin, and (if you hunt for them) British 3-pin sockets in certain areas of most bars including the Commodore Club on deck 9 forward and the Chart Room on deck 3.  Tip:  I found that the Commodore Lounge on 9 deck was the quietest and nicest place to work, there's a 3-pin power socket near the skirting in the 'bridge wing' far side of the lounge.  Mobile phone access is available on board throughout the crossing, although it isn't cheap, you'll need to ask your phone network for their rates.

The QM2 is entirely non-smoking apart from the open decks and the Churchill Cigar Lounge forward on deck 9 next to the Commodore Club.

As well as a hotel-style pay-per-item laundry service for laundry collected from your stateroom, you'll find a small free-of-charge self-service laundrette on cabin decks 4, 5, 6 & 8, see the photo below.  These have washers, driers, free detergent sachets, iron & ironing board.  This came in very handy on both our outward and return crossings on a 7-week trip to the States, as we arrived in the US with bags full of clean clothes and arrived back in Blighty without a huge laundry backlog.  Also useful for ironing dress shirts that have become creased in the baggage.

Taking your dog

Yes, you can take your dog across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, but they will be kept in the ship's kennels on 12 Deck during the crossing and (except for guide dogs) are not allowed in the public areas.  Contact Cunard for details.  There's an exercise area next to the kennels.

Visiting the QM2's bridge

There are no official bridge visits, but there is a viewing room behind the bridge with two large soundproofed windows so you can see what's going on.  It's normally open 09:00-16:00 on sea days, although it's closed in bad weather.  The entrance is on the port (left-hand) side of the ship on deck 12, accessed via 'A' stairway.  No photography is allowed now - the photos below were taken in 2010 although little has changed here.

Which is better, a westbound or an eastbound transatlantic crossing ?

If you really haven't got the time or money to go both ways by sea, you might want to go one-way by sea and the other by air.  You can often find one-way QM2 fares with a 'free' air fare in the other direction.  If you're British and a shopaholic, the obvious advantage of going out westbound by air and back eastbound by sea is that you can shop in New York and bring back as much as you like, as there are no baggage limits on the Queen Mary 2.  And you'll have the leisurely voyage back home to look forward to at the end of your trip.  However, for my money (not being a great shopper), westbound is much better.  There's the growing anticipation as you near America at the end of an outward westbound crossing, there's the significant advantage of 25-hour days as the clocks are put back on 5 of the 7 nights due to the time difference, and best of all the spectacular arrival into New York harbour in the early morning, with that Manhattan skyline lit by the rising sun.  When you're enjoying your evenings on the town (or rather, the ship) until late at night, the 23-hour days on an eastbound crossing as the clocks are put forward can be a killer!  On the other hand, if I were an American heading for Europe, I might well be tempted to head out by sea eastbound, returning west by air.

Forum for cruise reviews, questions & the latest advice

A good place to find advice & reviews about the Queen Mary 2 and other ships, and to post your own questions and reviews of your trip, is the online cruise forum at www.cruise.co.uk .

About Queen Mary 2

The QM2 was built in 2003 at St Nazaire in France, by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, the same shipyard that built the famous French Line ships Ile de France , Normandie and France .  The Queen Mary 2 is no longer the biggest passenger ship in the world in terms of Gross Tonnage, as the Queen Mary 2's 148,528 tons have now been exceeded, first by Royal Caribbean's 154,000-ton Freedom of the Seas in 2006, and then by the 225,000-ton Oasis of the Seas in 2009.  However, the QM2 remains the tallest, longest and widest ship ever built, at 1,132 feet long and 148 feet wide.  For comparison, the original Queen Mary is just 81,237 tons, 1019 feet long, 118 feet wide, and the Titanic was only 46,000 tons, 883 feet long, 93 feet wide.  Queen Mary 2 uses an unconventional propulsion system:  Four large diesel engines and two gas turbines generate electricity, and this powers four electrically-powered propellers each housed in a 'pod' attached under her stern.  The rear two pods swivel to steer the ship, so the QM2 does not have a conventional rudder.  The propellers face forwards rather than backwards, and give her a top speed of around 30 knots (1 knot = 1.1 mph), although she normally crosses the Atlantic at 20 to 25 knots.  See Queen Mary 2 Wikipedia entry .

Souvenirs & books about the QM2

Buy a superb model of the Queen Mary 2:   The souvenir shop on board QM2 on deck 3 has a couple of models of the Queen Mary 2, but neither (in my opinion) are particularly well detailed, and yet they aren't cheap, either.  If you become a QM2 aficionado during your crossing (highly likely!) and want a top-quality model of the QM2 to sit on your shelves or desk, I highly recommend the 1:1250 Queen Mary 2 model at www.galerie-maritim.de .  It is hand painted in die-cast metal.  You can buy either a full hull version in a glass case, or a waterline model without a case.  The models are small enough not to take up too much room, yet are superbly detailed.  They are very expensive, but you won't be disappointed!

Books about the Queen Mary 2:

The book by John Maxtone-Graham is beautifully written and illustrated, a great souvenir, search for it at Amazon.com (USA) or Amazon.co.uk (UK).  It's also available in the bookshop on board the QM2.

But by far the best book about the design, construction and operation of the QM2 is written by its designer, Stephen Payne, "RMS Queen Mary 2 Manual: An Insight into the Design, Construction and Operation of the World's Largest Ocean Liner", buy it at www.amazon.co.uk (UK) or www.amazon.com (USA).  Highly recommended!

QM2 video guide

Alternatives to the queen mary 2, passenger-carrying freighters, hotels & accommodation, hotels in new york.

New York has hundreds of hotels, the two most famous being the New York Plaza Hotel opposite Central Park and the Waldorf-Astoria on 4th Avenue.  I've never stayed at the Plaza, but have to say I was not impressed by the rooms at the Waldorf, on either occasion I stayed there.  Here's my top tip for New York:

The Algonquin Hotel

The Algonquin is New York's oldest operating hotel, opened in 1902, and a designated New York City Historic Landmark.  Perfectly located in mid-town Manhattan, a block or two from Times Square one way and Grand Central the other, with a lovely wood-panelled lobby and even its own hotel cat, which you may find wandering the corridors or sitting on the reception desk.  To check prices & book, click here .  For the Algonquin's history see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin_Hotel .

In Los Angeles:  Hotel Queen Mary, Long Beach

If you get as far as Los Angeles after your transatlantic crossing, it has to be the Hotel Queen Mary , doesn't it?  She makes a good base to explore the Los Angeles - Hollywood - Disneyland area.  The original Queen Mary of 1936 has been permanently moored at Long Beach in California since the late 1960s, some 25 miles from Los Angeles Union Station (about a $90 taxi ride), and it's undoubtedly the most fascinating place to stay in LA.  The hotel consists of most of the Queen Mary's original first class cabins, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars available on board, too.  Hotel guests can more or less wander the ship at will, and even sign up for ghost hunts at night on board (and yes, from my own experience there is definitely something going on aboard that beautiful but ageing ship!).  Wood panelled art deco interiors have been preserved, although a few modern items have been installed such as televisions, and (as we worked out from a historic deck plan) in some cases two of the Queen Mary's original cabins have been knocked into one hotel suite by turning one of the en suite bathrooms into a connecting corridor.  She is one of the most atmospheric places I have ever stayed.

Back to home page

• Cunard Line

Transatlantic with pets

By NinaandGus , October 29, 2014 in Cunard Line

Recommended Posts

Does anyone have experience in taking the transatlantic trip with pets? We will be moving to Europe in the future and have a dog, who would get very anxious in a plane cargo (he has broken a steel crate before when alone, but is calm when with other dogs as he came from a shelter). We are looking to take the transatlantic, but would love to hear people's experiences. We have a Boxer/Mastiff mix (smaller than a retriever, 70lbs). Our one concern is that he sometimes gets mistaken for a pittbull and I know this breed is banned in the UK. We are looking to cross all the way to Germany, but not sure if a stop in Southampton prevents us from taking the dog onboard as mixed breeds even with a tiny amount of pittbull are banned in the UK. Obviously there is no way of knowing all of the dogs breeds. Do the breeds need to get verified by a vet? Anyway, would love to hear some experiences :)

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Delete comment--just verified that dogs are allowed to disembark in Hamburg.

(Was tempted to say "debark" but that was just too obvious :rolleyes:)

FURTHER EDIT: I presume you have seen the Cunard FAQ regarding permissible breeds and maximum size of your dog.

If this is the case, anyone know how strict the UK is with letting dogs off the ship if they resemble a pittbull?

Hello! Does anyone have experience in taking the transatlantic trip with pets? We will be moving to Europe in the future and have a dog, who would get very anxious in a plane cargo (he has broken a steel crate before when alone, but is calm when with other dogs as he came from a shelter). We are looking to take the transatlantic, but would love to hear people's experiences. We have a Boxer/Mastiff mix (smaller than a retriever, 70lbs). Our one concern is that he sometimes gets mistaken for a pittbull and I know this breed is banned in the UK. We are looking to cross all the way to Germany, but not sure if a stop in Southampton prevents us from taking the dog onboard as mixed breeds even with a tiny amount of pittbull are banned in the UK. Obviously there is no way of knowing all of the dogs breeds. Do the breeds need to get verified by a vet? Anyway, would love to hear some experiences :)

May I suggest that you see

https://www.gov.uk/pet-travel-information-for-pet-owners#countries-and-territories

Also email any questions you have to the email address shown at the bottom of the link.

You dog must have a pet passport to enter the UK. So what ever you do do not take it off the ship in the uk unless you have one. I do not know the rules for Germany. But see this link

http://www.germany.info/pets

For Booking the kennels there sometimes can be a long waiting list for crossings.

Cruise_Christy

Your dog will need a pet passport. As long as it doesn't say pitbull on the passport or look exactly like a pitbull you should be fine in the UK. Boxer/Mastiff mix is fine here. If your dog was a dangerous dogs list you could still get an exception in the UK with a special license and the dog being kept muzzled at all times, but you shouldn't need it.

Germany however actually has a much stricter listed of banned dogs than the UK so you may have some trouble there

Germany restricts the import of the following breeds and their mixes: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bandogs and Tosa Inu. Transit or export of these breeds is permitted. Additionally, the following dogs can enter Germany only with prior authorization from local customs officials and must be evaluated at the owner's expense: Alano, American Bulldog, Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Dogo Argintino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, Mastino Napolitano, Mastin Espanol, Dogo Canerio, Rottweiler, and Perro de Presa Mallorquin.

We would be driving and taking ferries to Northern Europe. Germany would be closer, but if the ship does not take the pets there, then Southampton would be our only choice. The issue with our dog is that he resembles a pittbull, is mostly mixed with mastiff and boxer as far as we know, but as he came from a shelter, there is no way of knowing if there is a hint of pittie in him. I would be more than happy to keep him muzzled (he is so dangerous that he "attacks" people by trying to give them hugs and kisses haha). Anyone here have experience cruising with a pet on QM2? I have read some blog posts, but would love to hear more.

Sauer-kraut

The kennels book up very quickly!

The dogs are walked daily and have their own steward. :D There are also cats kenneled on board. Pet owners get time on a roped off section of deck where you will be bombarded by passengers wanting to have a look and asking questions.

On our crossing there was a French Bulldog travelling and he had his own little Burberry tweed coat......too cute!

mariposa777

The kennels book up very quickly! The dogs are walked daily and have their own steward.

Curious about "walked" .. we checked out the kennels on a TA in June - Kennel guy was lovely and the setup was good - but the roped off area is very small. I had the impression the dogs never leave the kennel/roped off area, which would be not enough space to consider a walk by any stretch, except perhaps for a teacup chi.

Do they take them further for walks?

I had the pleasure of taking my two dogs on the QM2 this summer (May 16, 2014 NYC to SOU and Jun 5 SOU to NYZ).

My advice: book very early and educate your vet. After that no worries.

The biggest stress I had was getting the paper work in order simply because I had vet problems and government vet problems DESPITE the fact I spoke to them months and months in advance. There is a strict protocol when it comes to getting the paperwork completed and administering the tape worm pill and then getting the paper work stamped...that caused the vet confusion. Plus they could not understand the whole travelling by ship concept. After a few desperate calls to Cunard (Robert in their Kennel Department--who was fantastic) all was sorted and off we went.

I could write volumes----but I will try to keep it relatively short.

Check-in was painless....had to move wait over to the side while the purser checked all the paper work and micro chip. Then the Kennel Master came down and escorted us to the kennels on deck 12. The kennels were much bigger than I thought and it was fully booked. I have two small dogs so there was lots of space.

The kennel area had a great outdoor space and two indoor spaces. The indoor space was composed of an area for the actually kennels and an indoor play area. The outdoor area is deck space and there was plenty of room. Indoor play area was great for some inclement weather days. The outdoor deck areas is were the dogs played and did their "business".

I was worried about the dogs adjusting to their new "hotel room" as I called it but they settled in perfectly. Over the seven days the weather was great, then rainy, then stormy--we had a force 9 gale. All in all the dogs never seemed to notice the rocking of the ship....they were having a blast. One note--I thought there was less movement up in the kennels which is near the back of the ship (maybe my imagination)

You can visit your dog between 8 to 12 noon, then 3pm to 6pm and finally from 8pm to 8:30pm. At first I did not think this was alot of time but it worked perfectly.

I have nothing but praise for Oliver - the kennel master. He took absolutely stellar care of all the dogs and kept the whole kennel area immaculate. I am not one to trust my dogs to anyone but Oliver was an exception. All the fellow dogs and the dog owners all loved Oliver.

Arriving in England there was no inspection of the dog paper work. Simply walked off they ship (escorted by Oliver) and grabbed a train and then on to Ireland (via ferry). On that note went by Irish Ferries...their Dublin Swift fast ferry has horrible kennels and their Ulysses cruise ferry has excellent kennels.

Coming back---same process and same care. The dogs immediately recognized Oliver and they were so excited. On boarding they seemed to know the way to the kennels and they settled in happily for the next 8 days(stopped in Halifax).

On arrival in NYC Oliver escorted us off and through to immigration. After immigration we were referred to another officer who quickly checked the dog's rabies certificates and we were on our way. Total time going through the whole arrive process was maybe 3 minutes.

In my experience it was a perfect way to travel pets. The care was above excellent --- and the dogs had a blast! They truly did. It was also a blast for me seeing them having so much fun and not having to worry about them being locked up in a kennel back home. People may think it is crazy to travel with dogs--but it was really no hassle.

It has been a long day--so sorry for any typos and grammar problems.

I am happy to answer any question anyone might have.

(I tried to upload some photos..would not work!)

I was just about to respond about the strict protocol for paperwork but fortunately Tag100 has told you just about everything that you need to know.

My son flew with his pug dog to the UK in August. I offered to take the dog on the Queen Mary 2 as I was worried the dog would be tramatised in Cargo but he flew. I didn't sleep all night worried about him in cargo.

Regardless whether you fly or sail into the UK the statement that there is a strict protocol for paperwork is an understatement.

You do not necessarily need a pet passport but if you do not have one you need

A Health Certificate issued by your vet. You also want to ensure that your pets microchip number is on all documents.

The microchip scanners cannot read all foreign microchips.

My son found out at the last minute that the scanners do not read the type of chip that his dog had administered in Florida. However he contacted the Animal Reception office in the UK who said they had one scanner for Avid microchips. Also make sure the microchip is registered. Some vets leave the registration to the owner.

Your dog will also require flea, tapeworm and tick treatments

within 24-120 hours of departures. Plus the requisite vaccinations such as Rabies not less than 21 days prior to departure.

There is also a C5 customs form that needs completing.

I am sure that If you contact the person at Cunard as suggested above, the person will be able to guide you through all of the steps.

You may want to enquire whether you need to meet the uk requirements if your dog stays aboard until Hamburg.

Please heed the words of earlier posters...the kennels are extremely popular and usually sell out early on the transatlantic. I believe all the slots are reserved for the 2015 summer transatlantic.

Good luck with your new fur baby! He sounds adorable!

• 1 year later...

If you're unsure as to your dog's breed mix there are a number of commercial DNA test kits available.

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=dog+dna+test+kit+mixed+breed

Tag1000 used the kennels just before the refit, which added 10 more kennels. There are some positive and opposing views on the subject here.

Solent Richard

Not personally but I became friends with this gentleman who was relocating to Europe from the Caribbean with his dog on a crossing I was on.

The picture of course was prior to the refit.

I shall make every effort to capture the new set-up on my next crossing in the near future.

northcoastcat

You can find the US requirements for taking your pet abroad here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/take-pet-to-foreign-country

I am taking my cat to the UK via QM2 next May. It's important to create a timeline checklist for all the steps you need to take to get your pet ready.

Please note that the US requirements and the requirements of the country you're traveling to may not be the same. So you'll need to find out both sets of info.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 21 hours ago

LauraS · Started Wednesday at 08:11 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 07:43 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 01:14 AM

LauraS · Started April 26

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• AFRICA CARGO TRAVEL
• AMERICA CARGO TRAVEL
• MIDDLE EAST CARGO TRAVEL
• AUSTRALIA CARGO TRAVEL
• BAHAMAS CARGO TRAVEL
• BARBADOS CARGO TRAVEL
• BELGIUM CARGO TRAVEL
• BOLIVIA CARGO TRAVEL
• BRAZIL CARGO TRAVEL
• CANADA CARGO TRAVEL
• CHILE CARGO TRAVEL
• CHINA CARGO TRAVEL
• COLOMBIA CARGO TRAVEL
• COSTARICA CARGO TRAVEL
• CUBA CARGO TRAVEL
• CYPRUS CARGO TRAVEL
• DENMARK CARGO TRAVEL
• AUSTRALASIA CARGO TRAVEL
• CARIBBEAN CARGO TRAVEL
• CENTRAL AMERICA CARGO TRAVEL
• DUBAI CARGO TRAVEL
• ECUADOR CARGO TRAVEL
• EGYPT CARGO TRAVEL
• FIJI CARGO TRAVEL
• FINLAND CARGO TRAVEL
• FRANCE CARGO TRAVEL
• GERMANY CARGO TRAVEL
• GREECE CARGO TRAVEL
• HAITI CARGO TRAVEL
• ICELAND CARGO TRAVEL
• INDIA CARGO TRAVEL
• INDONESIA CARGO TRAVEL
• ISRAEL CARGO TRAVEL
• ITALY CARGO TRAVEL
• JAMAICA CARGO TRAVEL
• EUROPE CARGO TRAVEL
• FAR EAST CARGO TRAVEL
• JAPAN CARGO TRAVEL
• KUWAIT CARGO TRAVEL
• MALAYSIA CARGO TRAVEL
• MEXICO CARGO TRAVEL
• MOROCCO CARGO TRAVEL
• NEW-ZEALAND CARGO TRAVEL
• NORWAY CARGO TRAVEL
• PANAMA CARGO TRAVEL
• PARAGUAY CARGO TRAVEL
• PERU CARGO TRAVEL
• PHILIPPINES CARGO TRAVEL
• RUSSIA CARGO TRAVEL
• SAOUDI ARABIA CARGO TRAVEL
• SINGAPORE CARGO TRAVEL
• SOUTH AFRICA CARGO TRAVEL
• NORTH AMERICA CARGO TRAVEL
• SOUTH AMERICA CARGO TRAVEL
• SOUTH KOREA CARGO TRAVEL
• SPAIN CARGO TRAVEL
• SWEDEN CARGO TRAVEL
• THAILAND CARGO TRAVEL
• TURKEY CARGO TRAVEL
• UAE CARGO TRAVEL
• UK CARGO TRAVEL
• URUGUAY CARGO TRAVEL
• USA CARGO TRAVEL
• VENEZUELA CARGO TRAVEL
• VIETAM CARGO TRAVEL
• BUSINESS CARGO TRAVEL
• COUPLES CARGO TRAVEL
• EXPEDITION CARGO TRAVEL
• AFRICA CARGO CRUISE
• ANTARTICA CARGO CRUISE
• ASIA CARGO CRUISE
• LONG TERM CARGO TRAVEL
• SENIOR CARGO TRAVEL
• STUDENT CARGO TRAVEL
• AUSTRALIA CARGO CRUISE
• EUROPE CARGO CRUISE
• NORTH AMERICA CARGO CRUISE
• SOUTH AMERICA CARGO CRUISE
• SINGLE TRAVELLER CARGO TRAVEL
• CARGO SHIP VIDEOS

HOW TO BOOK

• CARGOHOLIDAYS FREIGHTER AGENCY
• PASSENGER CABINS
• PEAK SEASON CARGO SHIP CRUISES
• LIFE ON A CONTAINER SHIP
• CARGO SHIP VESSEL LIST
• LAST MINUTE CARGO SHIP
• FREIGHTER CRUISES CABINS
• FREIGHTER CRUISES TO EUROPE
• CRUISE AROUND THE WORLD
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FROM USA
• CARGO TRAVEL PORTS LIST
• TRAVEL BY CARGO SHIP FOR FREE
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FARES
• TRAVEL FROM SOUTHAMPTON
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL CHEAP
• CHEAP CARGO CRUISE
• GRIMALDI FREIGHTER CRUISES
• CARGO TRAVEL TO ANY DESTINATION
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FROM UK TO ASIA
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FROM EUROPE
• CARGO SHIP ACCOMODATION

Travel by cargo ship with dog with cargoholidays

Travel by cargo ship with dog with cargoholidays. No. However, you can ship your four or five favorite polo ponies from here to there in a container! Of course, the owner is required to have them accompanied by a trainer/keeper, and they will be subject to quarantine regulations See More . Freighter travel is not a more casual form of cruising. Freight ships don’t have elevators – a serious consideration for anybody with mobility issues. Nor do they have entertainment. Meals reflect the ethnic dietary preferences of the crew. Crews are friendly but they have jobs to do and providing conversation for lonely passengers isn’t one of them to Travel by cargo ship with dog with cargoholidays. Only Cunard’s “Pets on Deck” program, including adding a range of pet-friendly services and amenities such as fresh-baked biscuits at turn-down to Travel by cargo; a choice of beds and blankets; and even a QM2-logoed coat . As part of the enhanced program, traveling dogs and cats also receive a complimentary gift pack featuring a QM2-logoed coat, Frisbee, name tag, food dish and scoop about Cargo ship with dog See More ; a complimentary portrait with pet owners; a crossing certificate and personalized cruise card.

Another option would be to arrange for a private boat charter. Although these are more expensive methods of traveling with a pet, they provide the least amount of stress for both you and your pet. Remember that any pet must comply with a country’s entry regulations as soon as the pet is off the boat and Travel by cargo ship with dog. No. Usually, the upper age limit is 79 to Travel by cargo ship , the lower is about 5 years. These upper and lower limits may vary from one shipping company to another. If you are over 65, you will generally be required to get a medical certificate from your physician certifying you are fit to travel. Pregnant women are usually not permitted to Travel by cargo ship with dog. If you have difficulty negotiating stairs, this will also preclude you from travel on a freighter . Since all of the passenger-carrying containerships are sailing under a foreign flag they are not subject to American laws requiring accommodation of disabled individuals See More

CGMA CGM CARGO

GRIMALDI CARGO

MAERSK CARGO TRAVEL

HAPAG LLOYDS

HAMBURG SUD

LANGSAMREISEIN TRAVEL

MOWGLI ADVENTURE

FREIGHT EXPEDITIONS

RAIL EUROPE

CARGO INSIDER TRAVEL

TEN BIGGEST CARGO

10 LARGEST SHIPING COMPANY

DISCOVER INDIA

DISCOVER INDIA 2

DISCOVER AUSTRALIA

LONELY PLANET

VISIT NEWZEALAND

VISIT BERMUDA

VISIT MELBOURNE

VISIT BRUSSELS

VISIT BRISBANE

VISIT NAMIBIA

VISIT CHILE

VISIT CANADA

SEARCH CARGOHOLIDAYS

AS THE CAPTAIN

AMERICA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

SOUTH AMERICA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

AFRICA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

AUSTRALASIA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

CENTRAL AMERICA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

CARRIBEAN CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

NORTH AMERICA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL

Recent Posts

Steve Joury

Latest posts by steve joury ( see all ).

• Salalah cargo cruises travel - December 12, 2022
• Guangxi Beibu cargo cruises travel - December 12, 2022
• Dongguan cargo cruises travel - December 12, 2022

Customer/Login

Login To Our Booking System!

Forum / Discussion

Find Travel Advice from Travellers and Cargo Enthousiasts

FIND A NEW HORIZON

CARGO CRUISE AT THE BEST RATE

• Search for:

Guangxi Beibu cargo cruises travel

Dongguan cargo cruises travel, salalah cargo cruises travel, santos cargo cruises travel, colon cargo cruises travel.

• CARGO CRUISE
• CARGO SHIP ACCOMMODATION
• CARGO SHIP CABINS
• CARGO SHIP FOOD
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL AUSTRALIA
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL BOOKING
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL DEALS
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FRANCE
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL INDIA
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL NEW YORK
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL SOUTH AMERICA
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL TO AFRICA
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL UK
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL USA
• CARGO SHIP TRAVEL VISAS
• CHEAP CARGO SHIP TRAVEL
• FREIGHTER TRAVEL
• LAST MINUTE CARGO SHIP TRAVEL
• LIVING ON A CONTAINER SHIP
• TRAVEL BY CARGO SHIP FREE
• Uncategorized

Jeddah cargo cruises travel

Foshan cargo cruises travel

Rizhao cargo cruises travel

Tokyo cargo cruises travel

Savannah cargo cruises travel

FIND BEST UK CARGO PORT THAT SUIT YOU

Travelling by cargo ship is a fascinating way to see the world. SEE MORE DESTINATIONS LIVE CHAT FIND HOLIDAYS CALL US +44 020 8032 6945 DESTINATIONS ASK THE CAPTAIN ABOUT US HOW TO BOOK ENQUIRE BLOG CONTACT US CARGO EXPEDITIONS GRIMALDI TRAVEL CLASSIC SAILLING CARGOHOLIDAYS FREIGHTER AGENCY PASSENGER CABINS PEAK SEASON CARGO SHIP CRUISES LIFE ON A CONTAINER SHIP GRIMALDI FREIGHTER CRUISES CARGO TRAVEL TO ANY DESTINATION CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FROM UK TO ASIA CARGO SHIP TRAVEL FROM EUROPE CARGO SHIP ACCOMODATION CARGO VESSEL LIST CARGO SHIP TRAVEL PORT LIST CHARTER A YACHT CHARTER A JET CARGO SEA LOGISTICS CAR SHIPPING LOGISTIC CAR SHIPPING USA ONIJET PARTNERSHIP FORUM / HELP LIVE CHAT VIMEO

CARGOHOLIDAYS

• STAY CONNECTED

© 2020 All rights reserved CARGOHOLIDAYS a Mlkcorporate Group : development Muovi and Cybermetrix .

Thank you for your Enquiry, we will contact you very Shortly!

The Adventures of Django and Arya

7 transatlantic pet friendly airlines.

Pet Travel >> Latest Posts >> Pet Travel >> 7 Transatlantic Pet Friendly Airlines

• Last Updated December 30, 2023

Does your next international pet vacation or relocation in 2024 involve an international transatlantic flight with your cat or dog? If yes, you’ll be happy to hear that transatlantic pet flights are a possibility from the United Kingdom (UK) as well as many EU countries such as Portugal, Spain, France and Germany. In addition, you can jet over the Atlantic with your cat or dog to the USA or Canada from Holland, Greece Finland and Italy. But, it’s not always possible to have a small cat or dog in the cabin on transatlantic pet flights, and the international flight duration has an impact on where pets are permitted to travel on the plane. Read on for full details of a magnificent 7 transatlantic pet friendly airlines in 2024, for cats and dogs flying between the UK & Europe and the USA & Canada.

If sailing floats your boat, the world’s only pet-friendly cruise ship , The Cunard Queen Mary 2 , offers crossings between Southampton, England and New York, USA.

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Table of contents

Will i have to quarantine my cat or dog, what type of pet carrier or crate do i need for a transatlantic flight, connecting international pet flights, are any dog breeds banned from planes, cost of flying a cat or dog between the usa & canada and the uk & eu, flying across the atlantic with an assistance or service dog, 1. klm & air france, 2. lufthansa, 3. british airways (ba), 5. tap air portugal, 6. aegean airlines, 7. air canada, related pages.

When flying with your pet internationally between Europe and North America, provided that you meet the requirements of the appropriate Pet Travel Scheme, your cat or dog won’t have to be quarantined. However, be aware that if you’re taking your pet to Hawaii , quarantine may be required.

Otherwise, as long as you have prepared your pet with the necessary documentation and treatments stipulated in your destination’s Pet Travel Scheme, the dreaded quarantine is avoided.

Check out the following pages for more information on the pet travel requirements in the UK, EU, USA and Canada:

• England, UK
• European Union (eg. France , Germany , Greece , Italy , Spain , Portugal )
• Northern Ireland, UK
• Scotland, UK

Can I take my Pet in the Cabin on a Transatlantic Flight?

There’s good news and bad news about whether your cat or dog can fly internationally in the cabin on a transatlantic pet flight:

Pets can fly to EU countries, as well as Canada and the USA in the cabin of a plane. We’ve listed some of the pet friendly airlines that allow cats and dogs to fly in the cabin, although others only allow pets to travel as checked baggage or cargo .

In general, if an airline accepts pets in the cabin on a transatlantic flight, your cat or dog’s weight combined with their travel carrier can’t exceed 8kg. However, some airlines allow a maximum weight of 10kg for your cat or dog inside their airline pet carrier.

As mentioned, only small cats and dogs can fly in the cabin with pet friendly airlines, and this is the case on both domestic and international flights. But, when flying your pet on a transatlantic crossing between the USA or Canada and the UK ( England , Northern Ireland , Wales ), be aware that you CAN’T enter the UK with a pet in the cabin of a commercial aircraft . Subsequently, all cats and dogs flying to the UK must be transported in the hold as cargo. You can enter Ireland with a pet in the cabin though.

Your preferred pet friendly airline may have their own cargo arm to handle the transport of your cat or dog, or an independent pet cargo courier may be required. When flying a cat or dog to the UK, IAG Cargo is a popular choice by airlines, and is the cargo arm for Aer Lingus , British Airways , Iberia and Vueling .

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets Live Animal Regulations (LAR) for all animals, including humans, flying on a plane.

So, both pet friendly airlines and pet owners must adhere to the IATA LAR, to ensure your cat or dog is transported safely. This means that you must purchase an IATA compliant pet carrier to fly your cat or dog in the cabin or the hold. The IATA LAR stipulates the types of accepted pet carriers and crates , whether they are soft or hard, so you must always ensure your cat or dog’s airline carrier is IATA compliant.

Be aware that the IATA doesn’t approve or endorse any pet carriers, crates or kennels , therefore if a manufacturer claims their product is IATA approved , this is false. Airline pet crates can only be IATA compliant .

In order to transport your pet on a transatlantic flight, you need to calculate the minimum inner crate dimensions permitted by the IATA . You can then check these dimensions against the maximums allowed by each pet friendly airline for cats and dogs flying in the cabin or hold. So, the pet travel crate must have the minimum inner space defined by the IATA calculation , and it then must fit the maximum allowed on board in the cabin or hold by our chosen airline

In the USA, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) also stipulates requirements for flying with pets, and these rules are followed by American based airlines. Also note that some American airlines have agreements with certain pet carrier manufacturers to guarantee your cat or dog will be accepted on board.

For the pros and cons of selected airline pet carriers and kennels, check out 4 IATA Compliant Pet in Hold Crates and 8 Purr-fect Pet in Cabin Carriers .

Will My Pet Be Safe on a Long Flight?

Rightly so, many pet owners fret about the safety of their cat, dog or other animal when flying on a plane, particularly in the aircraft hold. In recent years, due to increased airline incidents with snub-nosed cats and dogs, such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Persian Cats, ethical pet friendly airlines don’t fly snub-nosed breeds in the hold . This is the case for domestic, international and transatlantic pet flights.

But, most pets travel safely on planes , whether in the cabin or in the hold as checked baggage or cargo. To safeguard your pet’s wellbeing, if they’re flying in the hold, most airlines will stipulate the maximum length of time your cat or dog can travel on one flight. This might be if :

• The first leg of the route is seven hours or more and includes a connection
• The connection time between connection flights on the same day is three hours or more, and no airport pet reception centre is available
• A same day connection isn’t possible
• The itinerary is longer than 24 hours

If your transatlantic pet flight includes a connection of more than the time permitted by your chosen airline, a cat or dog flying in the hold will usually have to spend time at the connecting airport’s pet reception centre.

Airport Pet Reception Centres allow comfort breaks for cats and dogs in transit in the hold. Dogs will usually be walked before the get their next flight, and most pets will be given water and food. Each Airport Pet Reception Centre also handle pets arriving in the hold at their final destination country, ensuring pet import requirements are met and that your cat or dog is healthy.

The maximum time permitted between connecting flights, before your pet must visit the airport centre, varies across pet friendly airlines, and can be anywhere from 2 hours – 7 hours.

Also, it’s important to be aware that if any connecting flights are operated by different airlines, your cat or dog will be subject to the individual travel policy of each airline.

As well as snub-nosed cat and dog being unable to fly in the hold for safety reasons, some dog breeds defined as dangerous by either an airline, or country, may not be permitted to travel. For example, Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is in place in the UK, and many European countries.

Due to BSL, you can’t enter a UK country with the following dog breeds:

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Braziliero
• Japanese Tosa
• Pit Bull Terrier

Many European countries, and airlines also have specific policies for flying with dangerous or fighting dogs. Check out our post that covers everything you need to know when Flying with A Dangerous Dog Breed .

Of course, the cost of flying your cat or dog on a transatlantic pet friendly flight varies by airline. In addition, the price quoted by each airline is per leg of the trip . Therefore, if you have a couple of connecting flights, you’ll pay the pet in cabin or hold fee for each individual flight. So it’s best to aim for a direct flight if possible when travelling between the Europe and North America. In fact, this is the case for all pet flights across the globe, as airlines charge the pet rate for each segment of the flight itinerary.

With connecting flights, as mentioned, a fee may also be charged if the layover exceeds the time stated by each airline, and your cat or dog has to spend time at the Airport Pet Reception Centre .

In general, pet flights for cats and dogs travelling across the Atlantic in the hold costs between €190-300 per flight, while pets in the cabin is usually around €50-110.

Be aware that flying a pet as cargo is always more expensive that transporting your cat or dog in the cabin, or in the hold as checked baggage. However, this can’t be avoided in many cases, such as if:

• your destination only accepts pets arriving as cargo (eg. the United Kingdom ( Scotland , England , Wales & Northern Ireland )
• your dog weighs more than the airline allows to fly as checked baggage in the hold
• you’re travelling on a different flight from your pet
• your dog is classified as a dangerous breed by your chosen airline

Which Airlines Don’t Allow Pets on Flights between Europe & North America?

While there are plenty of airlines that welcome pets on board flights across the Atlantic Ocean, unfortunately, some airlines don’t provide this option. Airlines that don’t allow pets to travel either in the cabin, or in the hold as checked baggage or cargo, include:

• American Airlines

United Airlines

• Virgin Atlantic (pet flights currently on hold following COVID-19 pandemic)

While there are restrictions in airline pet policies for flying pets between the US & Canada and the EU & UK, registered and trained Assistance & Service Dogs can travel in the cabin free of charge.

However, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are no longer recognised by American and European airlines . In fact, ESAs have never been approved as service animals in the UK . Therefore, if you plan to travel between Europe and North America with an Emotional Support Animal , they’ll be subject to the airline’s standard pet policy.

Following the ruling about ESAs by the US Department of Transport (USDoT) in March 2021, a new regulation was introduced for Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSVDs) . If your PSVD is trained to perform a specific task, or tasks, for your mental wellbeing, and your dog meets the PSVD criteria, they can usually travel under an airline’s Assistance & Service Dog policy, free of charge in the cabin.

The Air France and KLM group offers international cat and dog friendly flights in Europe, and between the the UK, EU, USA and Canada. KLM and Air France permit cats and dogs weighing up to 8kg to fly in the cabin with you. On intercontinental pet flights, you can only take a pet in the cabin in Economy Class due to space underneath the seat. Therefore, pets aren’t allowed in the cabin with KLM and Air France on intercontinental flights if you travel Premium Comfort Class or Business Class . So, you’ll have to go basic!

Pets between 8kg-75kg are welcome to travel in the hold as ‘checked baggage’ . Each passenger is allowed up to three cats or dogs in the hold, and three animals of the same species can travel in the same crate, provided that they don’t weigh more than 14kg each.

The cost of flying a cat or dog with KLM and Air France on a transatlantic route will cost up to €200, depending on whether your cat or dog travels in the cabin or hold, and the planned itinerary. An additional €150 is payable if your pet is flying in the hold and there’s a layover of more than two hours at Amsterdam Airport, as they’ll visit the KLM/Air France Amsterdam Airport Pet Reception Centre between flights.

Lufthansa is a pet friendly airline from Germany and a member of the well-known Star Alliance group, along with 25 other airlines, including:

Aegean Airlines

Austrian Airlines

Singapore Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Brussels Airlines

SWISS International Airlines

Air New Zealand

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS )

Tap Air Portugal

Like the other airlines we’ve mentioned, pets of up to 8 kg, combined with their carrier, can fly in the Lufthansa cabin. However, Lufthansa differs from many other EU pet friendly airlines as they permit 2 pets per passenger ! Their prices are also quite low in comparison to other airlines, you’ll pay around €190 for pets in the hold on transatlantic flights.

So, Lufthansa is an excellent choice if you’re hoping to hop a transatlantic pet flight with more than one cat or dog!

View the pet travel policy for Lufthansa for 2023 .

If you’re travelling between the US and UK with a cat or dog, British Airways (BA) operates pet friendly flights over the Atlantic. However, BA doesn’t accept cats and dogs in the cabin on any flights, except of course Assistance & Service Dogs .

Your cat or dog will travel as cargo on BA operated pet flights, and for all flights to the UK, BA uses their sister company, IAG Cargo . Flights from the UK to the USA for cats and dogs are managed by Pet Air UK , which is managed and owned by licensed veterinarians.

Read the full British Airways (BA) pet policy .

Spanish airline Iberia also accepts cats and dogs weighing up to 8kg in their travel carrier (there’s a definite trend here!). If your pet weighs more than 8kg, and up to 45kg they can fly in the hold of the plane on a transatlantic cat and dog friendly flight.

Read the full Iberia pet policy

We’ve flown with Tap Air Portugal on a few occasions with Django and Arya in the cabin, and found them very pet friendly. An EU airline based in Portugal , Tap Air Portugal offers various options for flying with cats and dogs in the cabin or hold on international transatlantic flights. A fee of up to €300 is charged if your cat or dog is flying between North America and Europe in the hold.

Again, cats and dogs weighing up to 8kg may fly in the cabin, while pets of up to 45kg can travel in the hold of the aircraft.

Read the full Tap Air Portugal pet policy .

Now, over to Greece , where Aegean Airlines offers pet friendly travel in the cabin for cats and dogs up to 8kg, of course!

While a one pet per passenger rule is in place for the other EU pet friendly airlines listed, except Lufthansa, Aegean Airlines allows two pets of the same species to travel in the same travel carrier in the cabin, as long as their combined weight doesn’t exceed 8kg. But, if you’re flying with an infant, you can’t take a pet in the Aegean Airlines cabin.

If your feline or canine weighs more than 8kg, they must travel in the hold in accordance with the Aegean Airlines pet policy. Aegean Airlines accepts pets in the hold of Airbus 319, 320 and 321 aircraft only .

The cost of flying a cat or dog one way with Aegean Airlines is up to €190 in the hold on international routes.

Read the full Aegean Airlines pet travel policy .

From the other side of the Atlantic, Air Canada has an impressive pet friendly international travel policy. Air Canada is one of the few airlines that flies cats and dogs in the cabin from the UK on international flights. Pets may also travel in the hold as checked baggage or cargo. Of course, when entering the UK on an Air Canada flight, or with any other airline, your furry friendly is only accepted as cargo in the hold.

Pet carrier sizes permitted in the cabin vary depending on the aircraft model used for your flight. But, for those flying in the hold as checked baggage, a maximum linear pet crate (L + W + H) of 292 cm (115″) is allowed. For cats and dogs to be transported as checked baggage, the weight of your pet plus their carrier mustn’t exceed 45 kg (110 lb). However, larger pets, or those flying without their owner, are accepted to fly as cargo.

From 1 July to 31 August each year, your pet can’t fly as checked baggage with Air Canada to Greece or Italy due to high temperatures in the baggage hold.

Read the full Air Canada pet policy .

Always remember to protect your cat or dog against vector-borne diseases when travelling internationally on a transatlantic pet flight. And remember to leave us a review for your selected pet friendly airline!

Have a happy and safe transatlantic pet adventure!

• 10 Pet Friendly Airlines in the EU
• Flying from the UK to EU
• Pets on Planes in Europe
• Are you a Pooch-Pampering Champ or a Doggone Disgrace?!
• Paws on Planes

Taking a Dog to The Algarve

Are you spending the summer months, or planning a winter escape with your dog in the Algarve? Look no further as we’re going to fill

Fifteen Airlines that Permit Pets in Cabin 2024

When flying with a cat or dog, there’s no doubt that pet safety is paramount. They’re precious cargo after all! Many international airlines allow small

Pet Friendly Sleeper Trains in Europe 2024

With an increased demand for environmentally friendly travel options in 2024, you’ll be happy to hear that pet travel in the EU and UK is

8 Pet Friendly Hotels in UK for 2024

With the cost of living crisis, many cat and dog owners are opting for a staycation in the UK, and thankfully there’s an array of

7 Chilling Animal Myths for Halloween

Growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, superstitions were integrated into everyday life in our household, and they always related to avoiding bad luck! Spill the salt?

COVID-19 is STILL Affecting Pets on Planes

This summer, with worldwide airport chaos due to staff shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not just human holidays that are being cancelled –

Add a Pet Friendly Place to our Global Directory

Flying with pets.

Comprehensive guides to flying with cats and dogs in the cabin, and in the hold as checked baggage or cargo.

Pet Friendly Ferries

Prefer sailing the seas to soaring the skies? Then check out our selection of global pet friendly ferries.

Pet Friendly Trains

Read about rail routes and pet policies for worldwide train networks.

Pet Travel Schemes

Do you need a Pet Passport, Animal Health Certificate or Import Permit for your next trip? Discover the documentations and preparations required under each country’s pet travel scheme.

Protecting Cats & Dogs

Remember to keep your pet safe from vector-borne diseases when you travel to a foreign destination.

Pet Cargo & Couriers

Discover airline cargo companies, and pet couriers to transport your cat, dog, ferret, rabbit or bird by road.

Pet Friendly Destinations

Check out our directory of worldwide pet friendly destinations

Pet Friendly Hotels

Once you decide where you're heading for your next trip, find the paw-fect pet friendly accommodation, reviewed by other cat and dog owners..

Dog Friendly Beaches & Parks

Locate the best dog friendly beaches and parks to visit with your four-legged friend.

Transatlantic cruises

Your home from home at sea.

Life on board a Cunard Transatlantic Crossing is all about freedom. Every day presents myriad choices but how much, or how little, you do is entirely up to you. Visit the planetarium, join a yoga class, dance the night away, or simply bury yourself in a good book. It's your time, and you'll always be free to spend it however you please.

Our guide to a transatlantic crossing

Transatlantic cruise packing guide

Queen Mary 2 accommodation

Queen Mary 2 dining

Be inspired.

Browse our articles to find out more about the world's most iconic ship, making the most of your time on board, and the origins of the Transatlantic Crossing.

10 things to know about Queen Mary 2

The pleasures of a Cunard cruise

The history of the transatlantic cruise

Westbound, eastbound, or both.

Westbound transatlantic cruises from Southampton

Your transatlantic adventure starts the second you set foot inside Queen Mary 2. Enjoy the freedom to explore your on board world, and be carried away in the spirit of celebration, as you toast your departure from Southampton and the beginning of your week-long voyage to New York.

Eastbound transatlantic cruises from New York

Sailing from New York to Southampton takes you Eastbound across the Atlantic, passing beneath the Verrazano Bridge and alongside the Statue of Liberty. It’s an iconic image to behold, one that will stay with you long after the ocean replaces the view of Manhattan’s skyscrapers on the horizon.

Transatlantic round trip cruises

Completing both legs of your Transatlantic Crossing by ship means never having to wait at an airport or compromise on the amount of luggage you bring. Savour the unadulterated pleasure of two relaxing weeks at sea, with the freedom to do as you wish and nowhere to be but on board.

The world's only ocean liner

The transatlantic experience on Queen Mary 2

Come alive at night

Gala Evenings are a regular feature of sailing with Cunard and a magical way to round off an evening on board. Feel your inhibitions dissolve and be captivated by the wondrous sense of occasion as you join your fellow guests on the largest dance floor at sea.

Room to relax

Each stateroom is a personal oasis of calm, offering the very highest luxury at sea. Sumptuous bedding beckons, beautiful balconies celebrate the ocean view, and even a seven-pillow menu option awaits you.

Drink in the history

Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable, you. We've hosted the famous and fabulous on this iconic crossing for almost 180 years, and now invite you to share in that timeless sense of occasion and create your own history.

A dog's life

We lavish the same attention on all our guests. That's why your faithful friend is also invited on our transatlantic cruise. Our unique kennels even include a convenient lamp post from Liverpool and fire hydrant from New York.

More destinations to explore

USA and Canada

Email submitted

Thank you for signing up to receive Cunard news and offers.

Email not submitted

Enter valid email

Want to hear more from us?

Get the latest destination inspiration, Cunard news stories and exclusive offers straight to your inbox.

Please select a title from the list

Please enter your first name

Please enter your last name

Enter a valid email address

Privacy notice .