The dream of taking your dog on a cruise is finally becoming a reality as the fun American cruise line, Margaritaville At Sea, is partnering with new company, Cruise Tails, to offer pet-friendly cruises.
With 250 lucky dogs (and their humans!) invited aboard, this is your chance to create memories that’ll have tails wagging long after you disembark.
But, there are some caveats. Here’s everything you need to know before you and your furry friend set sail…
1. Your chance of getting a place is limited
With around 90 million pet dogs in the United States, and only space for 250 dogs on board, demand for the cruises is set to be huge.
You can’t just book a cabin for yourself and your dog. Instead, you’ll need to fill in an application form and hope that you’re chosen to be one of the lucky families that gets to set sail.
2. Group applications get priority
Margaritaville At Sea’s ship, Islander, has 1,100 staterooms. The hard limit of 250 dogs means that most staterooms won’t actaully have dogs inside.
To deal with this, Cruise Tails is giving priority to groups who book two or more cabins with only one dog. So if you want to bring a single dog and four or more humans, you’re much more likley to get a place on board.
3. Every dog gets a private bathroom
Each pet-friendly cabin is thoughtfully designed with your dog’s comfort in mind. One standout feature is the private relief station conveniently located on every balcony.
These stations are equipped with materials that make cleanup a breeze, ensuring a clean and hassle-free experience. You can relax knowing that in the early morning or late at night, your furry friend can take care of business without the need to trek across the ship.
4. Dogs won’t be allowed in dining rooms
It’s expected that health regulations require that dogs won’t be allowed in any of the places where humans eat meals. What that also means is that dogs will probably be required to be left in cabins for at least some part of the day. Of course, room service is also available.
5. Cruisers will be featured on social media
If you’re camera shy or in a witness protection program, this isn’t the cruise for you! All guests will be asked to sign a waiver which allows any photos of them and their dogs to be used on social media and other marketing channels.
You may also be expected to share your own photos. According to the Cruise Tails website, Guests may also be asked to try out pet products and post about them online as part of the deal.
6. There’s a packed schedule of activities
This cruise is packed with activities designed to keep tails wagging and spirits high!
From dazzling costume contests where your pup can strut their stuff in style to entertaining dog shows that highlight the unique talents of canine cruisers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
For those looking to learn, expert-led dog training seminars will offer valuable tips and tricks, making this not just a vacation but a bonding and learning experience for you and your pooch.
There are even rumours of an 80s night and a formal night, for both humans and dogs. So you’d better start shopping for outfits.
7. Not all dog breeds will be allowed
Cruise Tails hasn’t yet released information about which dogs specifically will be banned from the ship, but it’s expected that not all breeds will be welcomed.
Margaritaville already allows dogs at several of its land-based resorts in the United States. However, depending on the resort their are weight limites for dogs which vary between 30lbs and 100lbs.
It’s not yet known if Margaritaville At Sea will have size or weight limits for dogs. But 30lb is only the size of a French Bulldog, so this could limit a lot of dogs from applying.
It’s expected that breeds such as Boxers, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Akitas, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Mastiffs, Malamutes, Great Danes, Cane Corso, Chow Chows, Huskies and Wolf Hybrids may also not be allowed.
8. Dogs must remain on a leash
For everyone’s safety and comfort, all dogs must remain leashed while exploring the ship. This ensures that all canine guests can enjoy the cruise without any unexpected encounters or mishaps.
Of course, you can let your dog off the leash inside your cabin, but when strolling on the deck, visiting designated play areas, or heading to one of the many fun activities, a leash will ensures that your pet stays under control and everyone aboard has a stress-free experience.
9. Vaccinations are mandatory
You may be surprised to learn that most dog owners don’t keep up to date with their pets vaccinations. However, vaccinations will be required for dogs to board. These will likely include the core vaccines such as rabies, distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus. However, others may be required too.
There could also be a requirement for dogs to be up to date with worming and flea-prevention treatments. Fleas can be notiriously tricky to eradicate from carpets and furniture so the cruise line will almost certainly want protocols in place to keep them off the ship.
10. Dogs can’t go anywhere near the pool
While the idea of swimming with your dog may sound fun, it just wouldn’t be practical. The fur would likely clog the filter, and it wouldn’t take long for the pool to change colour from blue to something less enticing!
For hygiene reasons, dogs won’t be allowed on the pool deck at all. And they certainly won’t be allowed down the waterslide! If you want to enjoy a swim, you’ll be expected to leave your dog in the cabin or with a family member elsewhere on the ship.
However, there will be dog-friendly splash sessions that will allow your dog to cool off when they need to.
11. Two dates are planned for the cruise
The first cruise is set to depart in November 2025. If that is successful, then Cruise Tails hopes to organise a second dog-friendly cruise around March to May 2026.
There’s also a chance that the second cruise may be open to more than 250 dogs. So if your application isn’t successful the first time around, it’s definitely worth trying again.
12. The cruise will sail from Tampa, Florida
It’s not yet been announced where the cruise will set sail to or how long it will be. Looking at the itineraries for November 2025, we can see that Islander is sceduled to make 4- to 7-night round-trips from Tampa, Florida.
Restrictions may prevent dogs from disembarking the ship outside of the USA. However, the ship could potentially call at Key West, offering families the chance to visit one of the many dog-friendly beaches together.
13. There will be a vet onboard
The Islander will have a vet onboard as well as a doctor, so whether you or your dog needs medical attention, you don’t need to worry.
14. Service dogs are not allowed
Registered service dogs are already allowed on most cruise ships and so this cruise is only open to pet dogs, giving them a chance to have an experience that they wouldn’t usually be allowed to have.
15. Jobs are available for dog lovers
Do you love dogs? Perhaps you could work on the ship. Cruise Tails has said that they’re recruiting for dog walkers, groomers and even doggy butlers! You can join the mailing list to keep updated about any opportunities.
Are you excited for this cruise?
I love the idea of a dog-friendly cruise and would love nothing more than to cruise with my two dogs, Ernie and JoJo. However, as I live in the UK, the logistics of getting the dogs to Florida may prove a little too tricky for me.
But if you apply for a place then I’m crossing my fingers for you! Plenty of people hate the idea of a cruise with dogs. But as I always say, there’s a cruise for everyone. If this one isn’t for you, then there are plenty more that will be.
I’ll keep this article updated as more info is released, but if you have any comments or questions, please let us know below.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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