Man’s best friend enjoys luxury comforts in the kennels on Cunard Line

Those of us with dogs (and you know who you are) will actually give pause to the idea of taking a vacation if it means leaving behind the family dog. However, if a trans-Atlantic journey is on the bucket list, consider booking passage on a Cunard Line voyage.

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only passenger ship that provides regular kennel service for dogs

Cunard  has been welcoming animals onboard for most of the line’s history; three cats sailed on the maiden voyage of the Britannia in 1840 and since then the line has welcomed dogs, cars, circus elephants, horses, birds, a monkey and even a boa constrictor.

Kennel service is offered on board Queen Mary 2 and is available on all crossings between New York and Southampton in either direction.  Since space is limited, make initial inquiries early in the book process to avoid disappointment.

Meet your kennel master

The person in charge of your dog is called the kennel master who walks, feeds and oversees up to 12 pets per cruise. The kennels are air-conditioned and dogs can exercise in the indoor and outdoor walking areas designated for their use.

The kennel master makes sure that dogs have a comfortable pet bed, healthy meals and snacks, and plenty of toys to keep dogs occupied for the long days at sea. In the uneventful case of an emergency, the kennel master is responsible for outfitting canine (and feline) guests  into life jackets and ushering pets to lifeboats.

Dog owners can visit their pets from 8:00 am to 10:00 am;  from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm; 
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
; 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Ready to book a kennel?

The kennel dimensions and prices:

• 6 upper kennels (27″ H, 30″ W, 35.5″ D) = Weight Restriction 25 lbs or less USD $500
• 6 lower kennels  (36″ H, 30″ W, 35.5″ D) = Weight Restriction 26 lbs or more USD $700

Animals must be ID micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies, with supporting paperwork. Owners must provide a USDA-approved Vet Certificate EU 2011/874. Dogs will also require tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours prior to boarding.

The following is a list of dogs considered too big to fit in the kennels:

• Afghan
• Bloodhound
• Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound)
• Briard
• Irish Wolfhound
• Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• Curly Coated Retriever
• Gordon Setter
• Great Dane
• Greyhound
• Irish Setter
• Deerhound
• Doberman
• Pyrenees
• Saluki
• Bull Mastiff
• St. Bernard
• Weimaraner
• Malamute

Want to learn more?

Read this article A Dog Aboard the Queen Mary 2 written by a dog trainer who took her dog on a trans-Atlantic voyage.