Those traveling on Royal Caribbean ships with children, especially those with autism, can look forward to several new autism friendly services. The company has a pre-cruise planning guide for parents, one-on-one care for children with special needs, and more.
Pre-cruise planning guide for parents
Those with autism and other special needs can now enjoy cruises aboard Royal Caribbean ships. The company has partnered with Autism on the Seas to provide a range of special needs services and accommodations.
This program offers a variety of sensory-friendly activities and programs. It is designed to ensure that children with disabilities and their caregivers have a fun and relaxing vacation. The cruise line will also offer dietary offerings and specially-marked gluten-free and dairy-free menu options.
The Adventure Ocean youth program is designed for kids ages three to eleven. It offers flexible age grouping, as well as individualized services and support. The staff will work with families to develop personalized plans and activities that meet their child’s unique needs.
The Adventure Ocean youth program provides children with the opportunity to make friends, interact with other kids and engage in activities. It is a great way for kids to enjoy their time on board a ship and allow their parents to have some alone time. The program also allows families to discuss their special needs with the staff.
The center for autism and related disabilities has partnered with the company to train its staff to better accommodate guests with autism. The program’s goal is to ensure that families with autistic children receive the highest level of service and support.
For those looking for a family-friendly experience, Royal Caribbean International has teamed up with the Autism on the Seas program to provide cruises with specially trained staff and a wide range of special needs accommodations. The company is also the first in the hospitality industry to offer complimentary special needs programming.
On-demand access to exclusive content from the Autism Channel
Having worked with Autism on the Seas for seven years, Royal Caribbean has learned a thing or two about the Autism community. One of the most obvious examples of this was their “Autumn of the Art” event, whereby all shipboard passengers were treated to a day of fun and games. The autism friendly variant of this special day had a plethora of sensory and novelty themed activities to enjoy in a controlled environment.
The Autism on the Seas program is no longer limited to the oceans; the line has expanded its offerings to include a variety of activities and events that cater to the autistic community. The aforementioned swab is a good place to start, but be sure to check out the entire lineup of autism friendly programs. This particular cruise line has been on the ball since the start and has been the first to bring the Autism on the Seas marquee into the mainstream lexicon. Those on the West Coast can look forward to a slew of Alaska cruises in 2018. This year will mark the cruise’s tenth anniversary. With more than a dozen ships on the horizon, there is plenty of room to celebrate. Among the festivities is the Autism on the Seas’s award-winning A Taste of Alaska, a nightly event featuring a mix of musical acts, art, interactive storytelling and, oh yes, autism friendly dining options.
One-on-one care
Until recently, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line had not been Autism Friendly. However, they have now launched new services to help families with autistic children enjoy a safe and enjoyable experience onboard.
The Autism Friendly Program offers passengers with autism a variety of special services, including specially trained staff and products. Additionally, the Autism Channel will be available on select ships, providing a safe and educational environment for children and their families. The channel will include TV shows for children, medical professionals, and other resources.
In addition, the Adventure Ocean youth program is for children three to 11 years of age. This program is designed to meet the individual needs of each child. It provides an opportunity for kids to make friends, while giving parents a chance to have a break.
Another service is the Autism Friendly Films. These movies feature low light environments, low noise, and appropriate behaviors. These videos are available on Radiance, Freedom, Oasis, and Voyager class ships.
Royal Caribbean also offers an Autism Friendly Toy Lending Program. Parents can request a tote bag full of autism-friendly toys to play with in their staterooms. Other toys include building blocks, dominoes, and non-toxic crayons and markers.
In addition, Royal Caribbean has launched a Cruising Social Story. This tool teaches families about the social expectations of their cruise vacation, including how to interact with other passengers. It is also an introduction to concepts such as the muster drill.
Volunteers
During the month of April, World Autism Awareness Month, Royal Caribbean has been making it easier for guests with autism to enjoy a cruise vacation. This includes launching new Autism Friendly Services. Designed to help families with special needs experience a stress-free cruise, Royal Caribbean’s newly enhanced amenities will include autism-friendly modifications to youth activities and sensory-related toys.
One of the first Autism Friendly Services launched by Royal Caribbean is a video channel called The Autism Channel. Available in all staterooms on the Voyager and Quantum classes, this on-demand television show will provide information and resources to people with autism and their families. It will also serve as a valuable tool for educators and professionals.
The video channel features interviews with medical experts and other special needs professionals. It will also feature episodes ranging from four to thirty minutes in length. The videos will be free to watch on LED flat-panel smart televisions. They will also be available in English.
Other features of the Royal Caribbean’s new Autism Friendly Services are specially designed in-room alert systems, specially marked dairy-free menu options, and sensory-related toys. These items will make a difference in helping guests with autism enjoy their trip.
Getting to board can be a daunting and stressful experience. Aside from assisting passengers with their luggage, the Volunteers program provides an array of other assistance to make boarding easier for everyone. It also includes priority check-in and a boarding guide.
Cruise ships with wider doors, grab bars and turning spaces
Guests with special needs are welcome to experience Royal Caribbean cruise ships. They are equipped with a number of innovative features, including wide doors, grab bars and turning spaces.
Guests with autism, for example, can enjoy Autism on the Seas programs on select cruises. On these cruises, volunteers are onboard to help families with children on the autism spectrum make lifelong memories. They also offer assistance with luggage and disembarkation.
Autism on the Seas volunteers receive three hours of training before a trip. They are then assigned a family to assist and spend time with onboard. They normally cruise with one other volunteer. This program is open to any disability, including those with autism.
The organization has a long-standing relationship with Royal Caribbean. They have been able to help Royal Caribbean implement their autism friendly initiative. They have now added all of their accessible Royal Caribbean cruise ships to their web portal. Guests with disabilities should research the ship’s offerings and advise their agent.
The Quantum of the Seas, for example, has 34 accessible staterooms. It features braille/tactile public room signage, amplified phones and raised door thresholds. There is also a hearing loop installed in the show lounge.
Other ships are equipped with wheelchair ramps and pool lifts. They are available to those with dialysis and oxygen needs.
Guests with hearing impairments can also rent a portable room kit. These kits are available from guest services.
Toy lending program
Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean launched a number of new autism friendly services. The goal of these programs is to offer an inclusive cruise vacation experience to families with developmental disabilities. The company will also provide free onboard access to The Autism Channel, a network that provides information to families with children with autism.
The Autism Channel features a variety of shows, including short programs for parents, educational programming, and interviews with medical professionals. The network will be offered onboard most of the line’s ships, and will be offered in closed captions for deaf guests. The channel will also feature a selection of autism-focused films. These films will be available on all staterooms on Voyager, Oasis, Radiance, and Freedom class ships.
The Adventure Ocean youth program is designed to meet the individual needs of kids ages three to eleven. These groups are a great way for kids to make new friends and enjoy cruising. The program is run by a team of professionally trained staff. The sessions last two hours on sea days. They are hosted in a safe, kid-friendly space on the ship.
The Autism Channel will also be offered onboard the cruise line’s new Quantum-class and Freedom-class ships. These ships will have on-demand content, which means that families can select the shows they want to watch. Guests will be able to choose from shows that are about four to 30 minutes in length.