First Ever Dog-Friendly Cruise Has a Change of Rules!

As you may know, I have a pet dog, Rolo. He is a rescue dog that was born on the streets of Romania. Although I love to cruise, I have never considered taking him along with me!

Recently, there has been lots of talk in the media about a new, dog-friendly cruise that will be taking place. It is a new idea designed for cruisers who want to take their dogs along to enjoy the experience.

The maiden voyage aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Islander (a collaboration between Cruise Tails, Expedia Cruises of West Orlando and Margaritaville at Sea) will take up to 250 dogs on its first voyage.

According to Cruise Tails, over 5,000 applications have been received already. Cabins that are suitable for dogs and their owners are expected to be booked up quickly.

There will be a waitlist system in place for those who have been unable to book the maiden voyage.

When Will The Cruises Begin?

The first cruise is scheduled for November 2025. There should then be further cruises as long as everything goes to plan.

About The Ship

Margaritaville at Sea Islander is 85,619 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 2,650. Only a small fraction of staterooms will be dedicated to pets and dog owners.

She has 12 decks and a top speed of 22 knots.

The ship was built in Helsinki in 2000 and originally sailed as Costa Atlantica for Costa Cruises. She entered service with Margaritaville at Sea in June 2024.

She undertook a four-month refit starting in January 2024 at the famous Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast before being named the Margaritaville at Sea “Islander”.

How Much Will The Cruises Cost?

Prices range from $1,325 per person for an inside cabin to $3,550 per person for a Premium Extended Balcony cabin.

Wi-Fi and gratuities will be included in the fare.

Which Rules Have Been Changed?

Weight and Size Restrictions have been altered to allow for heavier dogs to sail.

1. New Weight Limit: Increased from 20 to 28 Pounds
   • This allows for popular medium-sized breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs, Corgis and Beagles.
   • It aligns with the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard weights for these breeds.
     • For Example, French Bulldogs are the most popular breed in the U.S. They have a maximum expected weight of 28 pounds.

What Stays the Same?

1. The 18-inch height restriction still applies.
   • This is to “maintain safety standards”.
   • It appears that the cruise line thinks smaller dogs have less safety implications.
2. Vaccination and Health Requirements are unchanged.
   • There are no changes to the health certificate and vaccination policies required by the cruise line.
     • The cruise line needs to follow international travel regulations regarding dogs.

We wish every paw-some dog we’ve heard from could join us, but the ship just isn’t big enough. We totally understand your frustration – it’s a bit like keeping a pup on a leash when all they want to do is run free! Right now, we’re playing it extra safe with our “proof of concept” inaugural voyage, and our rules reflect that cautious approach.
But don’t worry, after this first cruise, we expect to loosen the leash a bit. We’re working hard to break through the industry’s strict no-pet-dogs rule, so we can open the way for more flexibility in the future. Thanks for your patience as we try to pave the way for more tail-wagging possibilities!

Margaritaville at Sea

Reasons for the Changes

Cruise Tails has not officially commented on the reasons for the change in the weight limit, but it seems that they may have had a lot of demand from dog owners who had dogs that were too heavy to travel.

As this is a new concept, there must be a certain amount of “trial and error” involved. Once they have successfully run a few cruises, they should be able to tweak their rules and regulations until they have a proven formula that works.

Onboard Rules and Restrictions Onboard

1. Limited Dog Spaces onboard.
   • Only 250 of the 2,114 staterooms are allocated for guests travelling with dogs, so dog owners will be in the minority. You would need to be a dog lover to book this cruise though, otherwise it could be a nightmare….
2. Designated Human-Only Zones
   • There will be areas onboard that you can escape to if you have had enough of people with dogs.
   • Restaurants, pools, and casinos will remain off-limits to pets.
3. Safety Considerations
   • Size and weight limits aim to reduce the risk of dogs jumping overboard.
   • Large dogs or dogs of certain breeds may be considered as more of a risk.
4. The first cruise will be somewhat of a “tester” cruise.
   • The cruise line has hinted that it may relax some rules in the future.

Dog-Friendly Events and Activities Onboard

The cruise line are offering:

1. Costume contests and parades.
2. Grooming workshops for owners and their pets.
3. Puppy picnics with gourmet pet treats.
4. Personalised “pet butlers” for every canine guest.

Activities are designed to make the cruise a memorable experience for all onboard. It should be a unique and enjoyable experience for pets and owners alike.

The Itinerary

The Itinerary for the first cruise is as follows:

1. It will depart from Port Tampa Bay on November 18, 2025.
2. They will visit Key West, Florida, and the Mexican ports of Progreso and Cozumel.
3. It will return to Tampa Bay on the 24th of November 2025.

This itinerary may change, though. Margaritaville at sea say:

This itinerary is our current one, but is subject to change. Due to the unique qualities of our cruise, we are attempting to find more ports which will allow dogs to disembark.

Margaritaville at Sea

You’ll Need to Sign A Media Waver

They are expecting so much publicity, particularly on the first cruise, that all guests will be asked to sign a “Media Waver” to say they don’t mind appearing in photos, videos or on social media, etc.

This is a truly game-changing cruise. It’s been an impossible dream of millions of dog lovers, many who’ve never been able to cruise or enjoy reunions at sea. Some of these dog parents are Instagram influencers; some are movie stars (out of love, a few created health-based dog products); and some are your neighbors, who if lucky enough to win a veritable lottery, will be excited to share these unprecedented new experiences online (queue up hundreds of adorable photos)! We literally have no way to offer anyone a guaranteed right of privacy. An ongoing joke in the office is this will not be a good idea if you are in witness protection!

Margaritaville at Sea

What the Rule Changes Mean for the Future of Dog-Friendly Cruising

The change in weight limits will allow more owners of popular dog breeds to book a cruise on Margaritaville at Sea’s Islander.

If it is a success, it could pave the way for more pet-friendly sailings in future.

Cruise Tails has said that rules may be relaxed or changed for future sailings. Until the first cruises have taken place, they will hopefully find they have a formula that works.

Before You Go

Find out about things that used to be allowed on cruise ships, but no longer are here:

6 Things Once Allowed on Cruise Ships But Are Now Banned (For Good Reason!)

Find out about the poor cat who was smuggled onto a cruise ship – and left there – here:

cat smuggled onto cruise ship