moving by boat with dogs

I would assume you are talking about thousands, and thousands of $$. We are a long way from Florida.

well i guess it would probably make more sense to ship the truck seperately.

but if you add up airfare for two people, plus the charges for dogs, plus the posssibility of having to make two flights because of the size of the dogs, that would already be in the thousands there.... so paying a bit more would make sense to me

how many days over the water is florida to the usvi? is there a closer place to leave from?

You can start here and maybe they can lead you in the right direction. http://content.onlineagency.com/index.asp?site=23357&tide=2695046

RL

thanks for the lead... looks like im outta luck unless i can find a private boat or somehing.

Lots of people moving boats down here looking for crew as well.

RL

If you're talking flying private, when we checked a year ago it was $11K from STX to Miami - at least, I think it was Miami, maybe it was somewhere else. It was $1200 from St. Croix to Puerto Rico for 2 passengers and 6 dogs....then add in the flight to Houston and driving two vans to Arkansas. Fun.

When we moved to STX in 2005, we actually went in off season and paid people's fares to fly down with our dogs. I don't know where you're coming from, but the trip was a killer.....it was easier to lure people with plane tickets than try to make all the round trips ourselves, but we didn't want them flying unaccompanied. If you look you can get some decent bargains right now. It wasn't my favorite thing to fly the dogs cargo on the airlines, but but they had to get to STX and then come back stateside somehow. Unfortunately, the air transport rules have really changed in the last couple of years. My mantra is - whatever the airline pet transport people tell you, get a name, get an i.d. number, write down the time of day you called and any other information....and sometimes you have to call several times to get the "right" answer - don't talk to the reservationists, talk to the people who actually book the cargo flights. You'll get nine different stories - when you find the one you like, ask that person to please fax you some sort of synopsis of your conversation, or email it to you from the company. It may save you a headache in the long run.

If you fly them down commercial, please tell everyone at every stop you make you have dogs on board - and make sure the flight attendants on the connecting flights know - they will call down to cargo and make sure the crates get loaded.

Every airline has different rules, and getting to STX in off season is a trick because they don't take the big planes in that have room for the Series 500 crates. Good luck. It's a headache....but worth it.

homerjoker,
Check out animaltransportation.com

The poster is trying to move a truck, 4 large dogs and two people from Florida to the USVI. I know that's not possible by air and I don't think it is by boat, unless price is really NO problem.

homerjoker,
You should speak with the commercial shipping companies by phone, they will give you a world of information and facts. At times independent contractors are available and might be able to service all your needs. The commercial shipping companies know who these contractors are, and refer them to you. This information is free, it might be disappointing, but it's better than being in the club of "should have, would have, and could have".

Since the price of shipping or I should say cost is expensive, I'll give you a little tax tip. Your pet moving moving expenses are tax deductible! IRS PUBLICATION #521 "Moving Expenses" states that pet moving is a tax deductible relocation expense when relocation and moving is for the purpose of change of employment. A good tax consultant could advise on equipment shipped to the islands to support the wellbeing of the animals.

having 3 large dogs on a boat for the week or so (or possibly much longer depending on the boat) to travel the thousand miles from Miami to the USVI might not be all that much fun. People looking for crew to help move a boat aren't likely to be OK with 3 large dogs as part of the deal.

hey thanks for all the info everyone.... please keep it coming if you can.... its great to hear stories of people who have done it .... i am checking out all the tips and hungry for more.... we'll get there somehow