Sailors Traveling With
Service Animals Virgin Voyages welcomes service dogs trained to do work and/or perform a specific task for a Sailor with a disability. Service animals are ordinarily defined as dogs individually trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability including but not limited to guiding someone who is blind, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person to take prescribed medication, etc.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service dogs and will not be allowed on board.
Generally, Sailors with disabilities are permitted to access the ship’s public spaces accompanied by their service animals. While in public areas, service animals must be under control of their handlers. Due to health regulations, service animals are not permitted in pools, whirlpools, or spas. They are not allowed on ship furniture unless actively performing a trained task.
Care and Supervision:
Care and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. Our ships are not required to provide food or care for the service animal. While onboard Service Animals are not allowed to be left unattended inside the cabin.
All ships have a designated Service Animal Relief Area Forward on Deck 7.
Documentation:
Sailors who are traveling with a service animal must obtain the required import permits per the regulations of each country we visit. Please be aware that this process may take weeks or months to complete. Additionally, some countries may not allow the service animal to enter.
Sailors are responsible for knowing what documentation each Port of Call requires for the animal to enter the country, requires for Service Animals to reenter the United States and what documentation must bring the original documents required by each port with them and have these available at all times.These documents should be submitted to Virgin Voyages at least 14 days prior to the Sail date, failure to do so could lead to travel complications outside of Virgin Voyages control.
On August 1st 2024 the CDC will require additional documentation and requirements for Animals to reenter the United States. Service Dogs must meet all requirements the CDC has established for Bringing Animals & Animal Products into the United States and Provide different documentation depending on where the Animal has traveled in the past 6 months. Sailors can visit the CDC’s Cruise Ship Travel FAQs for further information.
For more information on document requirements, visit:
USDA’s Pet Travel Website
CDC Animal Importation
CDC Cruise Ship Travel FAQ
U.S Department of Agriculture
UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
European Union - Traveling with pets and other animals in the EU
Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Ministry for Primary Industries Manatū Ahu Matua Bringing Dogs to New Zealand
UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Singapore Animal & Veterinary Service - Assistance dogs
Care and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. The service animal must be in the company of its owner at all times, both shipboard and ashore. Virgin Voyages reserves the right to remove or exclude the service animal if it is out of control and the animal's handler does not take effective action to control it, it is not housebroken, it poses a direct threat to the health, safety of others, or it is disruptive while on board. Damage to cabins caused by a service animal will be charged to the handler/occupant's account.
Generally, Sailors with disabilities are permitted to access the ship’s public spaces accompanied by their service animals. While in public areas, service animals must be under control of their handlers. Due to health regulations, service animals are not permitted in pools, whirlpools, or spas. They are not allowed on ship furniture unless actively performing a trained task.
Care and Supervision:
Care and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. Our ships are not required to provide food or care for the service animal. While onboard Service Animals are not allowed to be left unattended inside the cabin.
All ships have a designated Service Animal Relief Area Forward on Deck 7.
Documentation:
Sailors who are traveling with a service animal must obtain the required import permits per the regulations of each country we visit. Please be aware that this process may take weeks or months to complete. Additionally, some countries may not allow the service animal to enter.
Sailors are responsible for knowing what documentation each Port of Call requires for the animal to enter the country, requires for Service Animals to reenter the United States and what documentation must bring the original documents required by each port with them and have these available at all times.These documents should be submitted to Virgin Voyages at least 14 days prior to the Sail date, failure to do so could lead to travel complications outside of Virgin Voyages control.
On August 1st 2024 the CDC will require additional documentation and requirements for Animals to reenter the United States. Service Dogs must meet all requirements the CDC has established for Bringing Animals & Animal Products into the United States and Provide different documentation depending on where the Animal has traveled in the past 6 months. Sailors can visit the CDC’s Cruise Ship Travel FAQs for further information.
For more information on document requirements, visit:
USDA’s Pet Travel Website
CDC Animal Importation
CDC Cruise Ship Travel FAQ
U.S Department of Agriculture
UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
European Union - Traveling with pets and other animals in the EU
Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Ministry for Primary Industries Manatū Ahu Matua Bringing Dogs to New Zealand
UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Singapore Animal & Veterinary Service - Assistance dogs
Care and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. The service animal must be in the company of its owner at all times, both shipboard and ashore. Virgin Voyages reserves the right to remove or exclude the service animal if it is out of control and the animal's handler does not take effective action to control it, it is not housebroken, it poses a direct threat to the health, safety of others, or it is disruptive while on board. Damage to cabins caused by a service animal will be charged to the handler/occupant's account.
