Topic: Princess welcomes Guide Dogs for the Blind on board

Princess Cruises recently hosted a group of 25 new graduates from Guide Dogs for the Blind and their owners for the day in San Francisco, to familiarise them with how the line can accommodate visually impaired travellers and their canine companions.



The group enjoyed a lunch and tour aboard Sea Princess which included opportunities to test out many of the special features offered for the visually impaired. For the dogs, the ships provide special life jackets, bowls of water in the dining room, and relieving boxes with favored cedar chips. Passengers also have specially translated menus and can enjoy reserved seating in the Princess Theatre with room for their dogs. During a cruise, passengers and crew are also invited to meet the dogs during a designated play time.

"These dogs are canine heroes," said Brian Rademacher, Princess Cruises district sales manager. "It's truly a labour of love for us to work with this wonderful organisation."

How wonderful that at last a ship/line has thought out a way for blind people to travel with their dogs. I have met several blind people on cruises, but they have been with their husband/partner or carer.
EDNA

I have enourmous respect for the guide dogs and the people who train them,and I love dogs, but I can see too many problems that could arise, reliving boxes, how long would it be before they can find them to use, do you really want to see dog poo, urine, as you walk pass, ticks fleas, yes dogs can be treated of course, we all worry about norovirus, and there would be no way that the passenger and the dog could leave the ship when at port, is this fair to the dog.

There are also people that have phobia's about animals, some scared of dogs no matter what type they are,
I think its marvelous that the blind can take cruises and that all can help them enjoy there holiday but for taking a dog, sorry no way.

Great idea where do they put the dirt boxes when the sea is to rough to go out on deck?

QUOTE:

I have enourmous respect for the guide dogs and the people who train them,and I love dogs, but I can see too many problems that could arise, reliving boxes, how long would it be before they can find them to use, do you really want to see dog poo, urine, as you walk pass, ticks fleas, yes dogs can be treated of course, we all worry about norovirus, and there would be no way that the passenger and the dog could leave the ship when at port, is this fair to the dog.

There are also people that have phobia's about animals, some scared of dogs no matter what type they are,
I think its marvelous that the blind can take cruises and that all can help them enjoy there holiday but for taking a dog, sorry no way.

I understand your reluctance Brian. However, I am proud to say that we are 'boarders' the step between training and the dog going to a blind or partially sighted person. With regards to the 'toilets' the dogs are taught to toilet in a specific area and I am sure that this would not be a problem on the cruise ships - Sea Princess for example have an area by the funnels which would be ideal. From my observation of cruise ships I think that it is more likely for the 'upper deck' passsengers to spread Norovirus as some seem to ignore the basic hygiene requests! I applaud Sea Princess for taking this stance - when compared to some of the two legged 'dogs' and their off - spring boarding cruise ships I am sure that the four - legged variety would be a positive addition.

How long would it take a dog to learn where to go then on somewhere that is new to the dog, I also understand where you are coming from as well, but sorry I still can't agree with you, would i cruise with a line that has dogs on there, no I would choose another line, reason, my daughter is petrified of dogs and is allergic to animals hair, many people are, personally i prefer dogs to humans, i miss mine so much now, but i would still help blind, disabled people on a ship, but no dogs...

It's amazing in this day and age, that people are still so uneducated regarding Guide Dogs. Guide Dogs for the Blind are celebrating 80 years this year, and still people don't know anything about them. Guide Dogs are trained to 'spend' on command, anything 'spent' is cleaned immediately. It's a shame we cannot teach some Human males in society, where to 'spend', rather than see them urinating in doorways, on the side of the road, or anywhere else that takes their fancy . Blind people have lost their sight, not their brain, it wouldn't take them any longer to find the spending boxes, than anyone else. With regard to the people with phobia's about dogs, I bet they'd soon get over them if they went blind.

Congratulations to Princess Cruise line for being the first to consider accommodating visually impaired passengers and their dogs.
How sad in this day and age to read some negative comments, everyone whatever their disability should have the opportunity to access the same facilities as able bodied people. I would certainly have no problem cruising with guide doge on board.
Come on cruisers dont be so blinkered.

Don't forget that this may also cover hearing dogs and helping dogs and their charges to cruise as well. The dogs are also trained to go on command as well. Brian you will find that the dogs stay by the side of their charges at all times, except at play time, which on board ship is at a specific time. These dogs are very well looked after as they have a great responsibility in looking after their people. You know when they are working as they wear yellow coats.
EDNA

For many years I have travelled with Princess and wondered WHY Guide Dogs have never been allowed onboard their ships. As they seem to have welcomed comfort dogs onboard for several years, and YES they can be a massive problem, along with their owners. Who delight in taking them into venues where dogs are not suited or welcomed, especially the restaurants and eateries. It is not the animals that are the problem, it is the owners and I cannot see visually impaired people being that irresponsible. Maybe Princess should look at having a doggie zone, as they do with the children.