To return to the UK, your assistance dog is required to undertake tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours (1-5 days) prior to arrival in Southampton. This treatment will need to be carried out by an authorised veterinarian in a port of call that meets the above timescales. Owners are responsible for locating a vet and ensuring the correct treatment has been carried out and the pet's passport is updated correctly.
It is the responsibility of the owner to research the itinerary in full. On occasion, ports of call may be missed, replaced or cancelled for reasons beyond P&O Cruises’ control. We would therefore advise you to check your itinerary carefully to ensure the tapeworm treatment can be offered in more than one port and within DEFRA's timing guidelines to re-enter the UK.
Please note that if your last port falls on a weekend or bank holiday, or the tapeworm treatment cannot be administered within DEFRA guidelines at the penultimate port of call, we suggest planning for the treatment to be carried out prior to the last call if possible. Should your chosen itinerary be of 3 or 4 nights in duration, the tapeworm treatment can be carried out on the morning of embarkation by an authorised veterinarian and your dog is able to disembark at EU ports of call.
If the tapeworm treatment is not carried out, or the documentation is incorrect, your dog may be placed into quarantine on your return to Southampton.
We currently do not offer the service of a vet on board any of our ships, and the ships’ doctors are unable to assist should your dog be taken ill on board. Therefore, it is imperative that you consult your vet for advice prior to your cruise to ensure your dog is fit to travel. It may be a good idea to talk to your vet regarding motion sickness.