Air, cruise lines restrict pet riders

Emotional support animals will not be allowed on Royal Caribbean cruises, the line said last week. Cruise passengers who have existing reservations that include support animals will be allowed to take them aboard, but no new reservations will be accepted. The new rules don’t affect service animals. “We are updating the policy to differentiate emotional support animals from service animals that are trained to perform a function for a person with a disability,” the line said in an email statement. “It is important to us that all our guests enjoy their vacation, which is why we put into practice this new policy.”

The move comes at a time when U.S. air carriers have tightened their rules on emotional support animals.

Last week, Southwest became the most recent carrier to revise its rules, which go into effect Sept. 17. The new rules restrict emotional support animals to cats and dogs, impose a limit of one animal per passenger and require passengers to keep it on a leash or in a carrier at all times.

Unlike other airlines, Southwest doesn’t require written documentation about the behavior or health of a service or support animal.

By contrast, United Airlines requires passengers traveling with psychiatric or emotional support animals to sign an Animal Behavior Form and provide a Veterinary Health Form signed by a licensed veterinarian at least 48 hours in advance of travel, according to its website.

Southwest requires passengers with emotional support animals to provide a current letter from a medical doctor or licensed mental health professional that attests to the need to travel with the animal.

United also requires such letters for passengers who want to travel with support animals.

When it comes to trained service animals — such as guide dogs for blind fliers and psychiatric support animals that perform tasks for a person — Southwest will accept “credible verbal assurance” from the passenger.