By Ron Hurtibise | [email protected] | South Florida Sun Sentinel
Ever wanted to bring your dog with you aboard a cruise ship? Do you have a business focused on dogs and their families?
If you answered yes to either question, you'll be excited to learn that what's being called the first-ever dog-friendly cruise is being planned aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander out of the Port of Tampa in November 2025.
And business opportunities await.
Cruise ships famously don't allow dogs other than service animals.
Organizers of this cruise anticipate selecting from a long line of hopefuls.
A "waitlist for all dog parents who have dreamt of bringing their furry friends along for their vacations will open soon," a news release says.
Organizers are calling for 250 dogs, "their owners and their closest humans" to become "inaugural ambassadors" for the cruise, which they promise will offer "unique experiences and activities including gifts and samples from top vendors, dog shows and trainings, guest speakers, costume contests, parades, and more."
The event is being staged by two organizations -- Cruise Tails and Expedia Cruises of West Orlando. The website cruisetails.com seeks sponsors and investors in hopes of turning the cruise into a recurring event.
Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for companies seeking brand visibility "across a passionate pet-loving audience," the site says.
And participants must sign photo waivers, the website says, adding, "We anticipate the fun will be all over social media and even in the press. In fact, the 250 chosen will undoubtedly be asked by sponsors to try products and post about them."
Cruise Tails was formed by Steve Matzke, a Bradenton-based entrepreneur listed on LinkedIn as beginning his career this month as an "independent consultant."
Matzke spent four years prior to that as senior director of external relations for the American Accounting Association, and 12 years before that as director of faculty and university initiatives for the American Institute of CPAs, his LinkedIn profile shows.
Expedia Cruises of West Orlando was founded in 2019 by Dawn von Graff, an avid traveler who has taken more than 75 cruises and visited more than 80 countries, and her husband. She owned a computer networking firm, worked as an international tour manager, and was a top salesperson for Marriott before forming Expedia Cruises of West Orlando as a full-service travel agency.
Details including dates, prices and itineraries have not yet been released. According to the website, organizers hope to select the inaugural 250 dogs based partly on how the dogs perform in a "video talent singing contest" as well as "a variety of criteria" to be announced "over the next few weeks."
The bigger the dog's entourage, the better chance it will have to be chosen, the website says. "Preference will be given to dogs in a group which includes one dog cabin traveling with two or more associated cabins of friends or family without dogs," it says.
A spokeswoman for Margaritaville at Sea says the organizers are chartering the Islander, and the cruise will not be available for booking to the general public.
Each dog will have "private relief stations" on their cabin balconies, and when dogs don't make it to the relief station, each will have its own "pet butler" to ensure "their cabin and the boat remain in top condition," a Cruise Tails spokeswoman said.
Participants must agree to follow protocols on board, including keeping their dogs in permitted areas and making sure they are up to date with appropriate vaccinations. Dogs will not be allowed in dining areas, the ship's casino, pool decks, lounges or music venues, according to the news release.
Organizers will also be looking for workers and vendors. "We're going to need dog walkers, pet butlers, and so much more," the website says.
And "if you have a proven skill like pet massage, grooming and pet walking or if you make custom dog costumes, have a unique dog product you would like to promote or are a well-known dog expert, we would love to chat with you."
Calls for pet handlers and vendors will be posted "in the next few months," the site says.
Whether the event turns into the profitable industry that its organizers hope for will undoubtedly depend on how the first one unfolds.
A spokeswoman did not immediately have answers to such questions of what will happen to dogs that get aggressive with humans or other dogs? Will owners be required to purchase additional insurance to cover any possibilities? Will food be provided and how will feedings be handled?
Contributors on Reddit.com posted mixed reactions to the announcement on Monday.
"Cruises are already floating petri dishes. This doesn't seem like a very good idea," said one.
"Now all decks are poop decks," said another.
A couple of posters worried about dogs going overboard.
One said, "sounds awesome if you like dogs," while another chimed in, "Better than a gorilla-friendly cruise, I suppose."