NOT NOW WE ARE ON VACATION!

CRUISE WITH THE SERVICE DOG

Team Goodee lovingly dedicates this blog to everyone who makes us possible. It takes a medical team, family, and friends to keep us going. We are grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be out and about functioning as a team.

We now continue our vacation series: Not Now We Are On Vacation! Previously we highlighted interactions with strangers. These are intense times on any outing. The human is trying to get from A to B, or do “X”, when suddenly a well-meaning total stranger inserts themselves into your life.

http://goodeeworks.blogspot.com/2017/03/ 

 After reading that blog, you might wonder why anyone with a Service Dog goes on vacation at all. We presented the ugly examples to show how difficult things can get. Besides, irritating, but, funny people who push their limits are fun to write about.

In this blog, we highlight the cruise experience for the Service Dog Team. If you are a Service Dog handler and you have thought about a cruise, here is our advice…

YES, DO IT! Once upon a time we were looking for a few days away. The cruise is economical and accessible. Food and entertainment in an inclusive package. So, we said: Bahamas here we come! About six months later when we were on the ship with all our documents in order we screamed and did a happy dance.

        “Hey mom time, to answer the most asked question.”

     “Oh, hello Goodee the Service Dog. Nice of you to check-in on the blog. Well the most asked question is your name and I think they already know you Goodee.”

     “Mom not that question: THE QUESTION for people who never thought about Service Dogs on cruises.”

     “Oh yes: THE QUESTION”

HOW DOES A SERVICE DOG “GO” ON A SHIP?

     “It’s a good question mom I was wondering that myself. It’s like a big hotel on a swimming pool. There’s no grass!”

     “Correct Goodee Several people made that observation before we entered the sea terminal.”

So, to the guy who mumbled for 45-minutes about how they don’t let dogs on ships, and the lady who asked everyone on the bus if they knew anything about how a dog gets to “go” on a ship. ---

THE ANSWER IS: The cruise line provides a 4x4 wooden box with sod or mulch material. The relief area is on an open deck with lots of cross-wind. Service Dog. handlers should bring supplies to keep the area clean.

YES, THEY REALLY ARE GOING TO LET THE SERVICE DOG ON THE SHIP!

The Department of Transportation describes cruise ships as a cross between transportation and public accommodations. Service Dogs must be allowed to accompany a passenger in all areas of public access on the ship, including lifeboats.

A Few points to help the Service Dog Team have a good time:

PICK YOUR PORTS CAREFULLY

Only you know how many days your Service Dog can handle. Decide how often you need to see land. I have a list of destinations. I am doing them in multiple trips instead of a long cruise, so the Service Dog can visit land more often.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

Each port of entry has their own dog import requirements. Consult the USDA for the latest requirements. Example: Some ports require yearly rabies vaccination, nearly all ports require a certificate of health from your vet.

GET INFORMATION FROM THE CORRECT END OF THE HORSE

Don’t try to “google it.” There’s lots of bad/out dated information about Service Dog travel out there. Don't listen to your mom's boyfriend's best friend who tried to go on a cruise several years ago. There’s also no shortage of companies that will try to sell you a pet passport that is used in Europe but not the U.S. 

I spent $60 in long distance calls to the Bahamas Dept. of Agriculture. The phone help was polite but, they were not addressing my exact question. A  wonderful person at the USDA suggested that I call back and ask to speak to a veterinarian.

 When I did it took me 10-minute to convince the person that I needed to speak directly to a vet, and 15-minutes on hold for the vet to take my call. However, I am so glad that I did that. The vet needed less than two minutes to tell me which vaccinations are actually required (out of the list of 20 on the permit). Only the Rabies vaccine is required, the others listed are simply recommendations. –My vet advised all items listed are done as puppy vaccines.

GET INFORMATION TO THE CRUISE LINE EARLY AND OFTEN

Some travel agents are more helpful than others. Service Dog accommodations are too important to be left to someone else. When you make a deposit on your cruise, notify the cruise line via e-mail that you are bringing a Service Animal. When you make your final payment, send another email confirming a relief area is planned for you.

OTHER RULES STILL APPLY

Before flying, notify TSA cares by email or phone https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support

Also, consult the airline about bulkhead space for the Service Dog. Remember, the Air Carrier Access Act allows impaired persons to be accompanied by a Service Animal at no additional cost.

EXPECT ANYTHING

Cruise ships are a mass of humanity.

THE BAD: More people = More questions/ interaction attempts with you and the dog. The first day it was like being in a big shopping center. “what’s your dog’s name,” how cute,” etc.

     “Don’t forget the guy who got right in my face and barked mom.”

     “Yes, he was unforgettable and alcoholic impaired Goodee.”

THE GOOD: The ship is BIG and you soon find little areas of escape away, away, away from people if you need to.

THE EXCELLENT: The sea and beach are right outside. —They are the only thing outside for a day or more.  Entertainment is included.  Your stateroom is a home away from home.

     “Better than home mom. I mean bed turned down twice a day, meals by a chef, who has all that at home?”

     “Correct Goodee, a cruise is better than home!”

DON'T SAY NO!

There are a number of well-meaning able-bodied "normal" people who will say:

"You shouldn't go," "We wouldn't go," and my favorite: "Are you sure you should go alone?" You are the only person who knows what you can do with your Service Dog. Cruising is accessible. If you need assistance just ask. Above-all DO NOT TRY to go without your Service Dog.  Don't try to substitute something for your Service Dog just because someone who has never had a disability or a Service Dog, suddenly wants to give you advice. You need your dog and you have a legal right to mitigate your disability and enjoy your vacation. 

Up-coming Service Dog Friendly Cruises:

PAWS WITH A CAUSE 2018 CRUISE January 21-18, 2018

PAWS provides Service Dogs to people who need them at no cost to the client. During this bi-annual fundraising event Royal Caribbean will make a generous cash donation to PAWS for every state-room purchased. 7-days in the Caribbean on the Allure of the Seas. For information contact: ddavis@pawswithacause.org.. 

HALLOWEEN AT SEA 2018!

October 27-November 3, 2018

Hosted by Your Travel Dime Dream Vacations & GoodeeWorks Productions

Join select group of travelers to celebrate Halloween at Sea 2018! We'll be sailing on the new MSC ship, Seaside, from the Port of Miami, through the Eastern Caribbean to St. Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Nassau Bahamas.

MSC Seaside rewrites the rule book of cruise ship design, blending indoor and outdoor areas to connect you with the sea like never before. Circling the entire ship as low as Deck 8 is a unique seafront promenade lined with places to eat, drink, shop, swim and sunbathe. And you can enjoy more superb views from the two-deck glass-walled atrium and panoramic elevators.

To celebrate Halloween, we're planning a private party with costume contest and entertainment.

Some cabins include unlimited drinks, onboard credit, spa services and priority boarding. Cabins start at $349 pp, double occupancy plus taxes and fees.

Our friends at Your Travel Dime put this together for us. Team Goodee is not receiving any compensation for promotion. We just want to check out the MSC SEASIDE and thought we would invite a few friends along.

For information contact: bmiller@dreamvacations.com

Visit on Facebook:

http://bmiller.dreamvacationsgroups.com/#/groups/8830479

https://www.facebook.com/events/113215115945800/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%223%22%2C%22ref_newsfeed_story_type%22%3A%22regular%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%22117%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D

NOT NOW WE ARE ON VACATION!

This blog is lovingly  dedicated to the memory of: 

Dr John C Schmidt, DO. (Doc)

Without whom I would not have the quality of life I do today. Doc had an ability to look for solutions, and find them where others would not even try to look. He is gone but never forgotten. He loved beaches. On the cruise, I thought of him and I feel like when I visit a beach a small part of him is there.  I am blessed with the friendship of his lovely wife Carol.

 I know he would enjoy the stories in this blog and he would tell people. —Well, maybe we shouldn’t say it in this blog.Okay, but only because Goodee the Service Dog says to tell you. —The PG version Dr. Schmidt would probably tell you to “leave the dog the ___ alone!”

Preface: Team Goodee took an AMAZING cruise to the Bahamas   this past month. Why? Because: How could you forget? (or be allowed to since I announced it every few months). I had not been anywhere, not even to travel for business in 6 years. I looked upon the vacay pics of friends not with envy but, a longing to go myself.

GO, YES, WE DID!

Thank you to family and friends without whom it would not have been possible.

There will be a separate blog about SERVICE DOG FRIENDLY CRUISING. —If you need information feel free to comment below.

In this blog, we will discuss: PUBLIC INTERACTION with the SERVICE DOG.

Sometimes when you go on vacation, you want to be away from people.

• ·         Have you ever been on vacation and had people STARE at you like you were an exhibit in a zoo?
• ·         Have you ever been on vacation and had people YELL your name, over, and over, and over again?
• ·         Have you ever been on vacation and had literally THOUSANDS of people want to touch and talk to your I-phone or other device you were using but, TOTALLY IGNORE YOU?
• ·         While on vacation have you ever had, someone insist upon doing something despite a posted sign, and polite request not to do it?
• ·         Have you ever been on vacation and had stranger after stranger insist upon asking you 20+ questions?
• ·         Have you ever had someone talk about you as if you were both blind and deaf?

Chances are good everyone can relate to some of these items. Some people are just more friendly than others. However, if you relate to ALL of them, you are probably a Service Dog handler.

With Spring Break upon us I offer this blog to educate the well-meaning public.I often hear: “I just didn’t know.”—After this blog I hope you will know, and I hope you will share.  These real- world examples make my points:

YES: THEY REALLY ALLOW “THE DOG”

     “They are not really going to let that lady on the ship with the DOG?” a man punches the lady next to him. I ignore the exchange because after all he isn’t talking to me, he is talking ABOUT me. —I’m on vacation and I don’t want to go into the paperwork required to bring a SERVICE DOG on a cruise ship. If this guy needs to know all that he can Google it.

     Team Goodee gets off the bus. Service Dog and human  tired but excited. Once inside the Sea Terminal we are taken directly to a special coordinator, who is tasked with taking care of Importation requirements for the SERVICE DOG.

     “I don’t know why they let that lady off the bus with the DOG. They are not going to let her on the ship with the DOG.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see this man who has been pre-occupied with the DOG idea for nearly an hour now (literally since the shuttle ride was 45 minutes). He punches the lady next to him again.

     “Look they even let her cut in line with the DOG while the rest of us wait. They will probably send her home there’s no way a DOG goes on the ship.”

What he didn’t realize, in addition to being uneducated about SERVICE DOGS is that I was not taking a “cut” in line. I was being directed to the one person who could assist me and make sure my paperwork was in order, thereby saving time for other people behind me who had 12 other representatives that could assist them in boarding ahead of me.

     “Everything is in order, thank you.”

The kind lady sends us on our way with Miguel who assisted us all the way to our stateroom. This was the accumulation of 6 months of research and preparation. The “happy dance” came later but first, I turned around to the man who was still mumbling “I know there’s no DOGS allowed on the ship.” I did thumbs up saying: 

“YES, THEY REALLY ARE GOING TO ALLOW THE SERVICE DOG ON THE SHIP!”

WHY CAN’T I PET?

Day one of cruise and here’s dinner time. Human tries to navigate her way to main dining room.—Can’t move at all until 40 people pass by and say “DOGGIE.”—literally, I counted. If you think I am exaggerating I invite you to shadow us on the next cruise. —Why is this a problem?  You could simulate it sometime including jet lag and migraine factor and see what you think. In addition, there’s a “wall” created by people who literally stop to STARE at the dog. I am trying to move; the dog is trying to help me move but there are people stopped in front of me and behind me. There is nowhere to go. I must wait until someone decides to move one direction or another. —I don’t mind waiting but, of course while I am trying to figure a way around traffic, 10 people who read the “DO NOT PET” sign ask: “May I pet your dog?” My universal reply must always be: “Not right now she’s working.” For me, it’s nearly always true the dog is working but, in public places, even if she’s not I can’t let one person pet. Why? Well I tried that one day and it became the “petting zoo.”—If I let one person pet I must let the 25 people behind them pet. —Then we all must listen to the 25 or so people who really don’t care to pet the dog they just need SPACE to do what they were there to do in the first place.

So, let’s see, people jammed in saying “doggie,” continually, me needing to move but people not wanting to move because they all want to STARE at the doggie, then they suddenly think they are the exception to the posted rule so they ask to pet, but wait, there’s more. People  will “fly-by” pet where they pet and walk fast as if they are just so cool. —These fly-bys nearly cause me to go to the ground but I must remain cheerful because after all I should understand these people can’t help themselves they MUST pet, even if it has serious medical consequences for me. Who am I to stand in their way?

Things finally smooth out and we wait for an elevator. An older gentleman comes over and informs me in a serious tone
      “you shouldn’t bring a dog if you are not going to let people pet it.”

By this time, I have had enough. I decide these elements will not ruin my vacation. Furthermore, I will not jeopardize my safety or that of my Service Dog. The exchange continues:

ME: “Sir the dog is a medical device not a toy. To tell me I should not bring her is like telling someone not to bring a cane or walker.”

(gentleman becomes red in the face as the lady traveling with him grabs his collar trying to pull him out of our space).

HIS REPLY: “Well the dog is cute and people like that.”

ME: “That’s nice but people are not totally dependent upon her for balance like I am she is a tool not a toy.”

Thankfully the elevator comes and he gets on. Team Goodee waits for the next one (or the one after that).

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SERVICE DOGS THEY ARE NOT JUST FOR BLIND OR DEAF PEOPLE
(We may see and hear what you are saying)

At several points in our trip:--airport, hotel, and on the ship people would STARE at me then STARE at the Service Dog. Some people would come “zero line” right up to the dog’s nose talk to the dog and then leave as if there was no HUMAN attached to the leash.

 Sometimes people would turn to someone with them and say “I wonder if the lady is blind?”

To their shock, I would say: “No, I’m not blind and I’m not deaf either, did you have a question for me?”

I would point out: There is nothing wrong with being both blind and deaf.--If a person is both, or either, it is still WRONG to talk ABOUT them as if they are not there.

It was a source of amusement to me to STARE right back at people and watch their reaction.

SERVICE DOG SEEN IT, MOVE ON

 60 people waiting for an elevator (yes, I counted).  I was seated tying a shoe while the mass of people were “talking at” the dog. One man got right in the dog’s face and said “bow-wow.”

     “I think he was intoxicated mom.”'

     “oh, hello Goodee the Service Dog. Yes, I think you are right. What about the other people that were talking about us like we were a stop on the all-access tour?”

     “Well I don’t know what their excuse was but you put them in their place"

     “Yes, Goodee I had to.”

     “So, are you going to tell our readers what happens next?”

     “OK drum roll…

I stood up and said:

“Please visit us in the American Express Travel Guide. Be sure to check us off your list. One Service Dog, seen it MOVE ON!”

After this there were fewer on-lookers.

WE DON’T KNOW YOU SO GIVE US A BREAK

Some people just love to tell their story and never meet a stranger. Others (like me) want to have a few close friends around but for the most part, like to be left ALONE.

At one point on the beach, Service Dog and human are enjoying the view. A stranger comes over and begins to tell her entire life story—two children, houses, dogs etc. without giving her name or asking mine. However, she did find time to ask “what’s your dog’s name.?”

I know it’s just something to talk about but, why not ask my name? Why does she care about the dog’s name but not a single other detail about me?

She looked at me oddly when I stuck my hand out saying, 

 “My name is DD.”

Apparently, this disrupted her thought pattern because she started talking about something else and never came back to the dog’s name. She went on, and on, and on some more…

     “So, I have seen you around the ship, and I notice how independent you are and that you do things for yourself. I asked my husband and my sister if they knew but they didn’t know, and I’ve been wondering to myself now for three days. "I wonder if that lady with the dog is traveling with someone? I wonder how it works that she and the dog can do things alone? I wonder how it is she got the dog on ship?"  So today I decide to ask you."

“Alone, we are alone. We prefer alone actually,” I said firmly as I moved further down the beach.

     “Oh, I see. I know about Service Dogs and how you shouldn’t pet them and all but I thought I would ask because I miss my dog so much. Can I pet your dog?”

     “Sorry not right now she’s working.”

     “Oh okay, I just wish I could bring my dog.”

     “I wish I didn’t have to.”

     “Oh, I didn’t mean (embarrassed look), well I will leave you be.”

FINALLY, she gets it. Most days I don’t mind giving out Service Dog information but by day three of this cruise I was worn thin. There were thousands on this ship, thousands of people in the airports, and hundreds of people in the hotel. Would you like to navigate that many people and be asked the same four questions about your dog, every 4ft?

IN CONCLUSION

Most of the time people with Service Dogs don’t mind being friendly but please don’t act like we ruined your whole vacation if we don’t want to sit and chat. The Service Dog and human you see are not set up to be public figures, goodwill ambassadors, or interactive toys to replace the dog you left at home. The human is simply a person trying to get things done just like you. Wanting to be on vacation and relax, just like you. By the way, the dog looks like your dog but it is a highly trained medical device. The dog is assisting the human to do something they would not otherwise be able to do, such as measure blood sugar level,  detect allergens - –  or maybe even something you do as a matter of course, without assistance such as: walk, sit, stand, hear, or see.

Would you sit and stare at someone in a wheelchair? Would you ask to pet a walker? – See the Service Dog, admire at a distance and go on. If you need information YCGI (You Can Google It).

Did I get a vacation? YES

Would I do it again? SOON AND OFTEN

Would I do it without my Service Dog? NEVER, it would not be physically possible without my Service Dog. Other medical devices are not effective for me. So, my choices are go with the Service Dog, or not at all.

Do I learn to take people’s outrageous behavior in stride?  YES

But let me ask you--- Should I have to do so? 

We would like to thank our friends and family who keep us going and our friends in the Service Dog Community who know the shoes we walk in and the struggle we face.

     Team Goodee appreciates communication by email and Facebook. When you see us out and about we will likely say: “Not Now We Are Working.

Come back next week when we address the popular question:

"How does a Service Dog do their business on a cruise ship?"

---DD & Goodee