Dasha Boards the Queen Mary 2
After our short overnight stay in Hamburg, it was time to check out and head to the ship. We didn't know what to expect about the kennels, the other dogs, the kennel man and so on. Our taxi dropped us off with our luggage which was whisked quickly away and directed to enter the main passenger terminal with the dog about 100 yards away. As we were heading to the terminal, we saw a Jack Russell terrier wearing a jewel studded bow tie. Apparently we were just meeting the only other dog boarding in Hamburg. The others will be embarking in Southampton.
No one might think so, but traveling on the QM2 with a pet has its privileges. We were allowed to cut the line--past hundreds of embarking passengers are snaking their way through a queue resembling a popular ride at Disneyland. We stood there at the front, getting checked in whilst the rest of the horde had to wait their turn. While waiting for the kennel master, we were told that a reporter would be boarding in South Hampton to do a story on travel with pets. We were asked to sign a release so the reporter could use photos with Dasha in them. I had to sign a release as a parent would of a child being photographed...haha. Jules was reluctant--wanting either final approval and/or copies of the publication. He finally relented as I had observed all sorts of people taking her photo without our permission.
The Jack Russell named JJ caught up to us--along with his humans and our kennel master Dennis led us all up to the kennels. Along the way we stopped and posed with Dasha as this would be the only time to walk with her in the ship and take pictures. I think Dennis wanted to get the dogs as quickly as possible, but between the photos, all the staff and guests who wanted to pet her, we did not get far very fast. We were getting to know JJ's people. They traveled with JJ on the ship before and were a font of knowledge as to how the kennel works and general information about the ship. We left our dogs in Dennis' capable hands and would return for the sailaway celebration.
Dasha has really been an asset to us to date on this trip. Not only did we get to jump the line because we were traveling with her, but we also had our own private deck with chairs (the poop deck if you will) avoiding the crush of people at the sailaway. She isn't taking to travel well. She will not poop, she whines when we leave and when we return and, as evidenced in our photos, has a sad face. :-(
After the sailaway, we went back to see her before the kennel closed for the evening--from 8-8:30 where we were all dressed up to go to the late dinner seating. Although we risked having dog hair on our clothes, I really want to spend as much time as we can with her on board! We know she was in capable hands as Dennis was prepared with freshly baked dog biscuits and is a sort of dog whisperer himself. She really seems to like him and we are very grateful for that.
No one might think so, but traveling on the QM2 with a pet has its privileges. We were allowed to cut the line--past hundreds of embarking passengers are snaking their way through a queue resembling a popular ride at Disneyland. We stood there at the front, getting checked in whilst the rest of the horde had to wait their turn. While waiting for the kennel master, we were told that a reporter would be boarding in South Hampton to do a story on travel with pets. We were asked to sign a release so the reporter could use photos with Dasha in them. I had to sign a release as a parent would of a child being photographed...haha. Jules was reluctant--wanting either final approval and/or copies of the publication. He finally relented as I had observed all sorts of people taking her photo without our permission.
The Jack Russell named JJ caught up to us--along with his humans and our kennel master Dennis led us all up to the kennels. Along the way we stopped and posed with Dasha as this would be the only time to walk with her in the ship and take pictures. I think Dennis wanted to get the dogs as quickly as possible, but between the photos, all the staff and guests who wanted to pet her, we did not get far very fast. We were getting to know JJ's people. They traveled with JJ on the ship before and were a font of knowledge as to how the kennel works and general information about the ship. We left our dogs in Dennis' capable hands and would return for the sailaway celebration.
Dasha has really been an asset to us to date on this trip. Not only did we get to jump the line because we were traveling with her, but we also had our own private deck with chairs (the poop deck if you will) avoiding the crush of people at the sailaway. She isn't taking to travel well. She will not poop, she whines when we leave and when we return and, as evidenced in our photos, has a sad face. :-(
After the sailaway, we went back to see her before the kennel closed for the evening--from 8-8:30 where we were all dressed up to go to the late dinner seating. Although we risked having dog hair on our clothes, I really want to spend as much time as we can with her on board! We know she was in capable hands as Dennis was prepared with freshly baked dog biscuits and is a sort of dog whisperer himself. She really seems to like him and we are very grateful for that.