Short Summary
Ahoy, fellow dog lovers! I'm Steve Matzke, Captain of Cruise Tails. After years of leaving my Yorkie, Louis, behind on family cruises, I set out to change the game. Cruise Tails was born from a bold dream: to create the first-ever pet-friendly cruise where dogs Celebrated, not just tolerated. Now, that dream is becoming a movement—and we want you on board!
This campaign is more than a cruise. We’re building a vibrant, pet-loving community that transforms how we travel with our furry family members of ALL SIZES. Your support helps us normalize pet travel and make every tail wag across oceans and communities alike.
What We Need & What You Get
We're raising funds to create a Cruise Tails beyond our upcoming inaugural voyage and bring our pet-celebratory vision to life through three community-focused initiatives:
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Goal: $500,000 to support web development, event planning, partnerships with pet organizations, and onboard safety protocols.
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Where It Goes: Creating local & travel events, launching hybrid education sessions, and building a platform for fun, charitable games that support rescue dogs.
- Even if we don’t reach the full goal, every dollar goes toward building the platform and launching events that keep our paws moving forward.
The Impact
- This campaign is about more than just one cruise—it's a movement to redefine pet-inclusive travel and public spaces.
- We're working to build a culture where dogs are embraced as true companions in every aspect of life, including vacations.
- 15,000+ potential cruisers have already expressed interest in joining this voyage.
- An estimated 11 million Americans refuse to travel without their pets, highlighting a massive underserved market.
- Your contribution helps us unlock this market while supporting rescues and shelters through every initiative.
Risks & Challenges
Launching the first cruise for dogs comes with its share of "ruff" challenges—logistics, safety protocols, and balancing fun with function. But we are doing it! With the help of veterinarians, pet professionals, and industry experts, we’ve built a solid foundation.
As we expand, we may face regulatory hurdles or vendor delays. But our experienced team is ready with contingency plans, expert partners, and paws-on solutions to keep things moving.
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you can't contribute financially, you can still make a huge difference:
- Share our campaign with your fellow dog lovers
- Follow Cruise Tails on social media
And that's all there is to it!
Bon Voyage!
