If you’re wondering whether pets can travel internationally by ship, train, or bus instead of flying, here’s the surprising part: the federal government mostly allows it — it’s the carriers themselves that don’t. Among the carriers researched, only a handful of specific routes actually accept ordinary pets.
Current as of 2026: Carrier policies can change without notice. This guide reflects official government and carrier sources at research time — always confirm directly before booking a non-air option.
The Federal Rules Don’t Actually Block This
Most dogs can legally enter the US by sea or land, not just by air. Dogs that have only been in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries in the last 6 months can enter at any airport, seaport, or land border crossing. Dogs vaccinated in the US that later visited a high-risk country can also use any of those entry points, as long as it matches the port on their CDC Dog Import Form. CDC’s own travel checklist even tells travelers to be ready to show documents “to airlines, cruise ships, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection” — cruise ships are explicitly anticipated.
The one real federal restriction: foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries must arrive by air, at the specific airport where their CDC-registered Animal Care Facility reservation is located — all 6 current facilities are at airports only, with no seaport or land-crossing equivalent. The only sea-arrival exception is for qualifying service dogs. See Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel for the full pathway breakdown.
Cruise Ships: One Confirmed Option Among the Major Lines Reviewed
Of the cruise lines checked, only Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 confirmed accepting ordinary pets — in dedicated onboard kennels, and only on Transatlantic Crossings between Southampton, New York, or Hamburg. Pets stay in the kennels for the whole voyage, with scheduled visiting times and a dedicated Kennel Master; they can’t come into cabins or public areas. Exact current fees and size limits aren’t consistently published, so confirm directly with Cunard before booking.
By contrast, both Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises explicitly restrict onboard animals to service dogs only — Holland America states plainly that personal pets aren’t permitted to sail at all.
International Rail: It Depends Entirely on the Route
Eurostar bans pets outright on every route to or from London — only guide and assistance dogs are allowed there. But on Eurostar’s continental European routes (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany), ordinary pets are welcome: small pets under 6kg travel free in a carrier, and larger dogs can travel on a leash and muzzle for a small fee.
The most pet-friendly option found anywhere in this research is Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, the vehicle shuttle train running under the English Channel between Folkestone and Calais. Your pet simply rides in your own car for the 35-minute crossing — no kennels, no separation — for a published fee of £24 each way, with dedicated pet-reception facilities at both terminals.
Amtrak, meanwhile, doesn’t help here at all for international travel: its only routes that cross into Canada (the Adirondack, Maple Leaf, and Amtrak Cascades) explicitly exclude pet travel, even though Amtrak allows small pets on its regular domestic routes.
International Bus: Not an Option on Any Route Checked
Neither Greyhound (serving US, Canada, and Mexico routes) nor FlixBus (Europe and US, including cross-border routes) allows ordinary pets. Both restrict animal transport to trained service animals only, with no exception for carriers or small pets.
The Practical Reality
Put together, ship, train, and bus travel is a narrow, route-specific option, not a general alternative to flying. It’s realistic mainly if you’re moving between the UK/Europe and the US via a Cunard transatlantic crossing, or making a short hop within continental Europe. For nearly every other international pet move, especially anything involving the US/Canada or US/Mexico border by land or a domestic bus route, air travel remains the only real option carriers actually offer.
Related Guides
Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel
Choosing Cabin vs. Cargo for International Pet Travel
International Pet Travel Timeline
Pet Travel Glossary
