Not Dog-Friendly
Not Dog-Friendly: A Disappointing Experience for Pet Owners
I recently travelled on the Color Line ferry from Norway to Denmark and was deeply disappointed with the lack of consideration for dog owners. This ferry line appears to prioritize smokers over pet owners, which was evident throughout the journey.
Dog Owners Beware
If you have a dog, avoid this ferry line. Unlike other ferries where you can keep your dog with you on the outdoor deck if you don't want to leave them in a cage or car, Color Line offers no such accommodations. There was no designated area for dogs to urinate and no sheltered places for owners to sit with their dogs. Meanwhile, there were plenty of shelters for smokers.
Compared to the Fjord Line
The ticket price for Color Line was almost twice as expensive as Fjord Line, yet the latter provided a far superior experience. Fjord Line offered heated areas with couches and special spots for dogs to relieve themselves. This stark contrast in service was quite disappointing.
Poor Customer Service
To address my concerns, I approached the reception to get an email address for customer service. The staff member, an older man with stars on his uniform, was incredibly rude. He told me to leave the area immediately because I had my dog with me. While I understand rules are rules, his manner was abrupt and unprofessional.
As I tried to explain my situation and apologize, he started petting my dog without permission. When I asked my dog to come to me, the staff member became visibly angry, cut me off mid-sentence, and stormed off without another word. Such stubborn and unprofessional behaviour is unacceptable, especially in a customer-facing role.
Conclusion
This experience was the worst I’ve had on a ferry, and I will never use Color Line again. Other dog owners I met on the ferry shared similar sentiments. If you are a dog owner, I strongly recommend avoiding Color Line and opting for more pet-friendly alternatives like Fjord Line.
Color Line needs to seriously reconsider their policies and training for dealing with pet owners to avoid such negative experiences in the future.
