Hello,

To those who have sailed New York to Southampton on QM2 with a dog, did you stay in NYC before the cruise? We have a lab so fairly big and we will need a motel/hotel who will accept him for a night or 2 before we sail.

We will be travelling from Nova Scotia, eastern Canada and it will take about 16 hours to drive. Do we get de-worming shots done in NS or NYC? I believe you have to do it 5 days before travel?

Any help and advice will be much appreciated as I am already apprehensive about this and not travelling until next year!

Hi Lorry1,

I don't know the answer to your question, but maybe Cunard could make a recommendation as perhaps they have run into this before. Maybe you have already explored that avenue. Good luck.

I was poking around on their website today and had a look at the kennel facilties, play area and exercise area. It all looks very nice. I don't have dogs at the moment, but if I did, I would want to do what you are doing.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...light=dogs+QM2

Lorry1 - try this thread. I should be mopping my floors at the moment, but I think it is more important to be assisting fellow returnees.

aww thanks I have book marked the website suggested from that thread

Lorry1 - try this thread. I should be mopping my floors at the moment, but I think it is more important to be assisting fellow returnees.[/QUOTE]

When we're travelling the US with our 80lb collie we always stay at the La Quinta chain..............they all allow dogs with no additional surcharge, they ask that you don't leave them alone in the room, but they're very relaxed and dog friendly!

Thank you, I have noted this

Hi Lorry1

Maybe its best to speak to CFIA directly and see what they advise. We have to get the dog's de-worming done on a Saturday, then rush to the CFIA to get the paperwork stamped on the Monday before traveling on the Wednesday. That is going to be very stressful for us so I can only imagine it is going to be worst running around New York.
Here is a link for all the offices.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/.../1300462438912

Lets us know how you get on.

I wish I could remember who, but I know about a year or two ago someone recommended a specific hotel, that was very close to a vet's practice that will do the final tick/worm treatment ... maybe do an advanced search in the US forum for hotel and dog and QM2 (or QMII or QM II)?

Hi Lorry1 - just wanted to let you know something. After dealing with this for the past 2 days I have found out two things.

1) DEFRA and USDA give me migraines.

2) If you're leaving from NYC the paperwork HAS to be done in NYC. I don't know if this is a new things that DEFRA are insisting on (which I wouldn't be surprised!!!) I was told by Cunard to go to an office in NJ but when I called they said because I am leaving from NY I have to get all the work done there.

Seeing as I will be driving from LA I will obviously get the microchips and rabies done here BUT they CANNOT fill out the paperwork. They just have to give me the certificates for the rabies and a letter about the microchip dates/seriel number etc.

Once I get to NYC (the day before we sail) I will go to a vet near JFK, get the tapeworm treatment and have THEM fill out the paperwork and get a health cert. Then I head over to the USDA offices at JFK and get everything stamped.

The next morning we head to the QM2 and pray everything is ok.

After we're on board? lots of beer!!!!!

Phew!!!! Does any of that help?!?!?!

Hello,

Oh thank you so much that really is a great help!

I have just called hubby to relay all this info

So you have to go to vet in NYC and then the USDA office too the day prior to the cruise!? WOW stress!

Can you let us know where you are staying in NYC, please? somewhere dog friendly close to cruise pier?
I figure we'll have to book 2 nights then to get all this done.

Thanks again

I think we'll probably stay near JFK to get the paperwork done and then drop off the rental car at the airport the morning we leave, jump in a minivan cab (we'd need a big car!!) and then head down to the dock in Brooklyn.

Otherwise if we stay in Brooklyn we'd have to keep driving up to JFK area to do paperwork and if we don't manage to get USDA to sign docs the day before we'd have to do it the morning we sail and that would involve ANOTHER trek over to JFK.

AH yes good idea. Let us know how it all goes

I'm glad I just have the 4 humans to sort out, although saying that, a dog might be easier than a teen and tween (only joking, they are great, honestly!)

I have a dog, a tween & a teen so triple whammy for me

OK, you win!