Can you bring a pet on a cruise?
No. All 9 cruise lines we cover ban it. Leave it at home.
Pick your cruise line
Pets can't sail. Only working service dogs are allowed onboard.
All 9 lines side by side
- Not allowed Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Disney, MSC, Holland America, Virgin Voyages
| Cruise line | Status | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | Not allowed | Pets can't sail. Only working service dogs are allowed onboard. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean | Not allowed | Pets aren't allowed onboard. Only service animals can sail. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Norwegian | Not allowed | Animals of any kind are banned, except service or guide animals. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Princess | Not allowed | No pets or other animals are allowed on Princess ships. Emotional support animals are not allowed either. Only approved service animals are an exception. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Celebrity | Not allowed | Celebrity does not accept pets or emotional support dogs. Only trained service dogs are allowed. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Disney | Not allowed | Pets are banned. Only service animals are allowed on board. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| MSC | Not allowed | No animals are allowed on board except recognized assistance dogs. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Holland America | Not allowed | Pets are not allowed on Holland America ships. Therapy and companion animals are not allowed either. Only qualified service animals are an exception. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | Not allowed | No pets or other animals are allowed on board, except service animals. | Official pageChecked Nov 6, 2026 |
Rules checked on Nov 6, 2026. Independent guide. Not affiliated with any cruise line. Rules change, so confirm with your cruise line before you sail. Security staff have the final say at the terminal.
No pets on any line we cover
You can't bring a pet dog, cat or any other pet on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Disney, MSC, Holland America or Virgin. Each line's rule is the same at heart: only trained service animals can sail.
Some lines go further. Norwegian bans animals of any kind except service or guide animals. Princess says no pets or other animals are allowed. MSC allows only recognized assistance dogs, so a service animal that isn't a dog won't qualify there.
Emotional support animals don't count
A letter from a doctor or therapist doesn't change the rule. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity and Virgin all say emotional support animals can't sail. Holland America says therapy and companion animals aren't allowed either.
Carnival also turns away service dogs that are still in training.
If your dog is a trained service dog
Trained service dogs can sail on every line we cover, but the paperwork starts well before you board. Deadlines run from one week (Carnival) to 60 days (MSC), and many ports need their own health papers. See our service dog page for each line's steps.
Questions people ask
Can I bring my dog on a cruise?
Only if it's a trained service dog. Pets are banned on all 9 lines we cover.
Can I bring an emotional support dog?
No. Of the lines that address them, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America and Virgin all say emotional support animals can't sail.
Can I bring a cat or other small pet?
No. No line we cover allows pets of any kind. Norwegian and Princess say no animals at all except service or guide animals.
Can a service dog in training come along?
Carnival says no. Other lines talk only about trained service animals, so plan on the same answer and ask the line if you're unsure.