Dogs are well-known for his or her loyalty, and one distinctive service canine has been exceptionally loyal – to Holland America Line.
In truth, Joska the service canine was awarded the cruise line’s highest loyalty recognition on October 26, 2022, for having spent 700 days aboard Holland America ships.
Service Dog Earns Elite Status
Sailing on Rotterdam‘s current 150th Anniversary Transatlantic Crossing from Amsterdam to New York, Joska, a black Labrador retriever and service dog for Cornelia Marinussen, reached 700 days aboard Holland America Line ships and has been awarded the Platinum Medallion, the cruise line’s highest past-guest award for cruising days.
A particular ceremony was held onboard Holland America Line’s latest vessel to commemorate the 10-year-old service canine’s achievement, full with the medallion presentation by Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha and Rotterdam’s Captain Werner Timmers.
“Joska is the first service animal to achieve this lofty status and we wanted to honor her with an event that shows her how special she is to everyone in our company,” stated Antorcha.
“Registered service animals are always welcome aboard Holland America Line ships, and Joska has become a member of our family. She not only brightens the spirits of everyone on board, but she also allows Connie to do what she loves most, which is to cruise and explore the world.”
Joska was additionally given a number of dog-friendly Holland America Line items and is now acknowledged as 5-Star Mariner standing, the best degree within the cruise line’s Mariner Society loyalty program.
Joska’s house owners, Cornelia and Cornelis Marinussen, have beforehand earned their very own Platinum Medallions, have been cruising with Holland America Line since 2013, and have taken practically 60 cruises. Joska joined the Dutch couple to help Cornelia, who’s legally blind, in 2014, and has been on greater than 50 cruises.
Joska’s first cruise was only a week after becoming a member of Cornelia, when the couple – and the service canine – took a 14-night Alaskan cruise roundtrip from Seattle. Joska has additionally been on cruise itineraries across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Canada and New England, and extra.
This in depth touring places Joska as some of the well-traveled canine on the earth, notably aboard the 25-night historic crossing the ship is crusing. According to PrimeDogSuggestions.com, Labrador retrievers are some of the travel-friendly canine breeds, being fairly energetic, pleasant, and extremely smart.
Rotterdam will full the voyage on Friday, October 27, 2022, when the ship arrives in New York.
Service Dogs on Cruise Ships
Holland America Line welcomes service animals, outlined as these animals particularly skilled to supply help to a person with a incapacity.
While all pet house owners consider their animals present service to enhance their private high quality of life and well-being, it have to be famous that, based on Holland America Line’s coverage, “We do not permit our guests to bring pets, therapy/companion animals, and other animals that do not meet the definition of service animals.”
Different ports of name in several international locations might also have particular necessities for service animals to disembark, together with official documentation and acceptable immunizations, and friends are accountable to grasp and adjust to these necessities.
Service animals on Holland America Line have to be present on their vaccinations, and that documentation have to be offered to the cruise line upfront.
Guests with service animals can contact the cruise line for particulars about learn how to prepare a cruise trip with their service animal, together with what behavioral expectations and care preparations there are on board.
Other cruise strains have comparable tips for service animals, and vacationers ought to contact their most popular cruise line for particulars about journey necessities and repair animal lodging.