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Cruising has gone to the dogs: This voyage will let you bring your canine on a cruise

Nov. 21, 2024
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3 min read
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Cruising has gone to the dogs: This voyage will let you bring your canine on a cruise
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If you can’t bear the thought of a cruise vacation without your furbaby, take heart: An upcoming sailing will welcome all passengers — including the four-legged ones.

Some 250 dogs (and their humans) will set sail in November 2025 aboard Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander, departing from Tampa Bay, Florida.

The dog-friendly cruise is a partnership between Expedia Cruises and Cruise Tails, which was specifically created to offer an annual dog-themed cruise for dog lovers.

“I consider my Yorkie, Louis, to be part of my family, and for years, I missed out on the 'family reunion' cruise because I will not travel without him,” Steve Matzke of Cruise Tails said. “I want to change that for myself and other dog lovers.”

Each family will be assigned “Pet Butlers” to help clean and maintain cabins and public spaces. Canine guests will also have access to private relief stations on their balconies.

Passengers will be required to provide a passport and a pet health certificate approved and signed by a licensed veterinarian. It's also important to note that the Cruise Tails team must approve all participants. As such, applicants must agree to onboard protocols, such as keeping dogs in permitted areas and ensuring their pets' vaccinations are up to date.

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Onboard activities will include dog shows, parades, costume contests and even an '80s-night soiree. Additionally, passengers will have the chance to score gifts and samples from vendors and take advantage of onboard training sessions. Cruisers and their pets can indulge in some pampering; humans can book a spa appointment for themselves and a session with a dog groomer or a puppy massage for their pets. When it gets hot, everyone can jump around in dog-friendly splash stations.

No dog? No problem. You can take the cruise sans Fido, but you must love dogs. Additionally, some spaces on the ship will be dog-free zones.

According to Cruise Tails, applications for the cruise will open in early 2025. To increase your chances of snagging a spot, visit the Cruise Tails website and sign up for updates. Itinerary specifics have yet to be released.

The 2,650-passenger Islander is the second ship in the Margaritaville at Sea fleet. The company is the Jimmy Buffett-affiliated oceangoing branch of the popular Margaritaville Resort brand. The ship features three pools, 12 bars and lounges, 12 dining venues, and a casino.

Typically, only service dogs are allowed on cruise ships, with the exception of Cunard, which welcomes (and pampers) both cats and dogs on its luxury 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2 ocean liner.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by CHRISTOPHER ISON/CUNARD LINE
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.