Autism, excursions and a VERY picky eater

[cmwade77]

It's agricultural importation laws that dictate foods coming into a foreign port. Even if the DCL CMs don't say anything (they usually catch food going out), there are often officers and sometimes dogs patrolling piers and the general port area. No doctor's note. There is nothing DCL can do to waive the laws.

Pre-packaged, factory-sealed, non-perishables is the general rule. Will he eat any snack type food? Bags of Chex mix, or little boxes of cereal? The little cereal boxes are available at Cabanas in the morning, and you can grab a few extra to toss into your excursion bag.

How long is the excursion? Could you make sure he eats a really good breakfast and then be back for a late lunch? Since this is his first cruise and (I'm assuming) first time in a foreign country, I would go with short excursions rather than full-day. If he ends up having trouble coping, you would be stuck waiting for transportation to get you back to the ship.

Enjoy your cruise!

Word of caution, some ports in Mexico and Canada do not even allow you to bring prepackaged goods or restrict what prepackaged goods you can bring based on ingredients and where they come from and they can be fines and/or jail time if you do bring them. I seriously wouldn't bring ANY food into Mexican or Canadian ports.

That being said, I am truly amazed that Disney is still sailing to Mexico, even the ports they go to don't really feel safe anymore and with the current political climate, I have to imagine that has only gotten worse since I last went. I seriously would not be getting off the ship in Mexico.

I have been reading a bit about some new issues with cruising lately and here is a new wrinkle that has started occurring on cruises to Mexico on all cruise lines recently:
If you have any sort of medication, make sure it is allowed in Mexico, even if you aren't going to get off the ship. Authorities can now demand access to your cabin and if they find drugs (prescription or otherwise) that are not allowed in Mexico, they can and will arrest or fine you. Now what are the chances they will do this to you? I don't know, but they can. Additionally, legitimate prescription medication needs to be in their original bottles with the note of what the pills should look like from the pharmacy and you need a copy of your prescription.

So be very cautious when it comes to cruises to Mexico, especially with any medical needs and if you do get off the ship, do not wear clothes that make you look like a tourist or that you have a lot of money, that will also make you a target.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In MEXICO...yes. I stand by that. My husband is a military officer and he isn't ALLOWED to go to any of those Mexican Riviera or Yucatan ports.

I seriously would not be getting off the ship in Mexico.

It seems the OP has already booked this cruise, so there would would be a hefty cancellation fee. She says they're "about to" go, so it could be half the fare. If she's within ten days, she forfeits everything. I just want to be clear - you are both advising her not to get off the ship at all, except back in the United States?

 

[Lilsia]

It seems the OP has already booked this cruise, so there would would be a hefty cancellation fee. She says they're "about to" go, so it could be half the fare. If she's within ten days, she forfeits everything. I just want to be clear - you are both advising her not to get off the ship at all, except back in the United States?

We cruise DCL and stay on the ship at most ports. We get off at Castaway Cay, but as I said earlier, it is just my daughters and I so we do not feel safe getting off on our own at most places. We did do the dolphin swim in Grand Cayman and booked through DCL. We got on the bus at the port and went right to the dolphin place and they took us right back to the port again when done. For us, the experience is actually being on the ship.

 

[OurBigTrip]

It seems the OP has already booked this cruise, so there would would be a hefty cancellation fee. She says they're "about to" go, so it could be half the fare. If she's within ten days, she forfeits everything. I just want to be clear - you are both advising her not to get off the ship at all, except back in the United States?

Crazy, huh?

 

[Lilsia]

Crazy, huh?

Not crazy. Personal safety should always come before sightseeing. We actually like being on the ship when others get off at port. There are actually chairs available at the pool, spa appointments available, less of a line at Cabanas. There is nothing wrong with staying on the ship.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Not crazy. Personal safety should always come before sightseeing. We actually like being on the ship when others get off at port. There are actually chairs available at the pool, spa appointments available, less of a line at Cabanas. There is nothing wrong with staying on the ship.

I agree there is nothing wrong with staying on the ship, and yes, personal safety is important. But a quick visit to the State Dept website shows that most of Mexico is not above a “2” threat level. Additionally, cruise lines don’t hesitate to cancel excursions based on credible State Dept warnings.

 

[cmwade77]

It seems the OP has already booked this cruise, so there would would be a hefty cancellation fee. She says they're "about to" go, so it could be half the fare. If she's within ten days, she forfeits everything. I just want to be clear - you are both advising her not to get off the ship at all, except back in the United States?

At this point in time that would be my choice, she could be just fine, but I wouldn't risk it, way too many issues these days. And definitely double check all medications, there have been some horror stories lately.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My company has a large presence in Mexico and we are no longer allowed to go anywhere in country unless it is business critical, and if it is critical we must have an armed escort. Our global security team is also advising against personal travel to the tourist areas, as those are no longer considered sheltered from the crime either.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Caution is fine, but telling someone to not get off a cruise ship in any port? https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2618156-excursions-safety-in-ports/
Cruise Critic would probably be a really good place for the OP to search, and ask questions. Remember, these changes offs aren't exclusive to Disney.

Mexico? yup. its been off limits to military personnel for years.. and yes that includes many touristy spots. Costa Maya I believe is still considered 'safe' although you certainly are not safe from pushy vendors.

and DL Gal is correct.. my husband( ex Navy cyber warfare Officer ) had to deny permission many times for his kids to go visit family across the border.

 

[DLgal]

It seems the OP has already booked this cruise, so there would would be a hefty cancellation fee. She says they're "about to" go, so it could be half the fare. If she's within ten days, she forfeits everything. I just want to be clear - you are both advising her not to get off the ship at all, except back in the United States?

Yeah. Stay on the ship. Its not that unusual. You are paying an arm and a leg to be on that ship. If all someone cared about was the ports, there are several WAY cheaper Mexican Riviera cruises to go on. Enjoy the lower crowds at the pool area, especially. I'm sure the OPs son would prefer a nice, relaxing, quiet afternoon on the ship than in a hot, unfamiliar place with pushy vendors and questionable food options. I've been on several cruises and haven't visited most ports of call. I skipped Falmouth, Jamaica; Nassau (twice), and Mazatlan, Mexico.

I would still go on the cruise and just enjoy the ship the whole time. Nothing in Mexico is worth the elevated risk.

 

[DLgal]

and DL Gal is correct.. my husband( ex Navy cyber warfare Officer ) had to deny permission many times for his kids to go visit family across the border.

Mine had to jump through several layers of hoops to allow one of his marines to travel to Mexico FOR HIS OWN FATHER'S FUNERAL. The kid was almost denied. It had to be escalated to the HQ USMC level. It is crazy. They know more than they publish on the State Dept website...

 

[OurBigTrip]

Mexico? yup. its been off limits to military personnel for years.. and yes that includes many touristy spots. Costa Maya I believe is still considered 'safe' although you certainly are not safe from pushy vendors.

Parts of Mexico are off-limits to military personnel, but not all of it. We approve travel to Mexico for military personnel all the time, provided they complete the counter-intel training and provide a complete itinerary and contact info.

my husband( ex Navy cyber warfare Officer ) had to deny permission many times for his kids to go visit family across the border.

I truly hope that when you say “his kids”, you are referring to his own actual children, and not the adult men and women serving under him in the Armed Forces.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Mine had to jump through several layers of hoops to allow one of his marines to travel to Mexico FOR HIS OWN FATHER'S FUNERAL. The kid was almost denied. It had to be escalated to the HQ USMC level. It is crazy. They know more than they publish on the State Dept website...

As a senior intel officer with one of the Big 5, I can assure you that the State Dept has more info about the safety of travel destinations than any other single agency in the US government. Their travel status/advisories are based on intel from all 17 elements of the IC and foreign allies. The fact that they can’t give specifics due to the average person not having a TS/SCI clearance is reflected in the different levels of warning, from standard precautions to do not travel.

If someone wants to stay on the ship because they feel safer, that’s fine. But if they want to leave for an excursion, they shouldn’t be scared out of it by strangers on a discussion board. Instead, they should take the time to visit the State Dept site, read up on their destination, and then make their decision based on what they learn there, what the State Dept advises, and their own risk comfort level.

 

[ElyseInWonderland]

Echoing what others have said above, OP your best bet is to stay on the ship. It will ease your mind and allow you and your son to focus on relaxation instead of logistics.

Anecdotally, my husband and I booked our Honeymoon at a 5-star all-inclusive resort on Riviera Maya. The resort was gated and the beach was private, but there were no physical barriers preventing guests at other resorts from walking on the beach. After the travel advisory came out we almost cancelled but decided since it was just the 2 of us at a very upscale resort with its own transportation, we'd be fine. The trip was wonderful, but the day before we came home there was a shooting on the beach about 20 yards from our villa. People running and screaming, pandemonium, confusion...we were on lockdown for 2 hours in our room while police investigated. Turns out it was a cartel hit & 2 people were killed. They closed the beach to shovel more sand in to cover up the blood. It was scary to say the least. Ain't nobody got time for that, especially when traveling with kids/teens.

Stay on the ship & enjoy your vacation!

 

[DLgal]

Parts of Mexico are off-limits to military personnel, but not all of it. We approve travel to Mexico for military personnel all the time, provided they complete the counter-intel training and provide a complete itinerary and contact info.



I truly hope that when you say “his kids”, you are referring to his own actual children, and not the adult men and women serving under him in the Armed Forces.

This particular Marine needed to go to a border town with a very high incidence of violence and it (at the time) was off limits regardless. This particular Marine only got clearance to go because it was a funeral for an immediate family member.

And it is not at all unusual for military to refer to their younger charges as their "kids." My husband has several that he calls his kids, and he has a couple superiors that he calls his "Marine Corps dads." It's a sign of affection.

 

[OurBigTrip]

And it is not at all unusual for military to refer to their younger charges as their "kids." My husband has several that he calls his kids, and he has a couple superiors that he calls his "Marine Corps dads." It's a sign of affection.

To each their own. In 25 years in the military, I never heard anyone use “my kids” to refer to the highly trained men and women serving under them. Had anyone referred to me that way, I would have immediately, albeit respectfully, corrected them. I had lots of young people serving under me - some needed some guidance, some needed additional challenges, some needed training, some needed a shoulder to cry on, and a few needed discipline. But none of them needed to be treated like children nor referred to as such. What some might see as a term of affection, I see as insulting. JMO.

 

[DisneyOma]

I agree. There is no way we step foot in Mexico. The government repeatedly warns us that it is not safe. And especially now in this volatile political times. Too many tourists are being robbed and killed.

Are you talking about the US or Mexico, LOL? Family members of mine travel to Mexico all the time - no issues, ever. Lots of issues here in the US though.

We cruise DCL and stay on the ship at most ports. We get off at Castaway Cay, but as I said earlier, it is just my daughters and I so we do not feel safe getting off on our own at most places. We did do the dolphin swim in Grand Cayman and booked through DCL. We got on the bus at the port and went right to the dolphin place and they took us right back to the port again when done. For us, the experience is actually being on the ship.

Why do you even bother cruising then? Just stay in the US in a fancy hotel if you are afraid of being a foreigner.

My company has a large presence in Mexico and we are no longer allowed to go anywhere in country unless it is business critical, and if it is critical we must have an armed escort. Our global security team is also advising against personal travel to the tourist areas, as those are no longer considered sheltered from the crime either.

What does yor company do that would be considered such a threat in Mexico to need a guard?

To each their own. In 25 years in the military, I never heard anyone use “my kids” to refer to the highly trained men and women serving under them. Had anyone referred to me that way, I would have immediately, albeit respectfully, corrected them. I had lots of young people serving under me - some needed some guidance, some needed additional challenges, some needed training, some needed a shoulder to cry on, and a few needed discipline. But none of them needed to be treated like children nor referred to as such. What some might see as a term of affection, I see as insulting. JMO.

I agree - they are not children, and should be given the respect their service deserves. They also have to make some hard decisions and should not be in the service if they need a 'dad', IMO.

 

[DLgal]

To each their own. In 25 years in the military, I never heard anyone use “my kids” to refer to the highly trained men and women serving under them. Had anyone referred to me that way, I would have immediately, albeit respectfully, corrected them. I had lots of young people serving under me - some needed some guidance, some needed additional challenges, some needed training, some needed a shoulder to cry on, and a few needed discipline. But none of them needed to be treated like children nor referred to as such. What some might see as a term of affection, I see as insulting. JMO.

Okay, that's your opinion. This happens among officers, primarily. My husband doesn't refer to the enlisted Marines in this way. Maybe it's a Marine Corps thing. It's a small community. There is a very strong bond there, and from my experience, being referred to as someone's "Marine Corps son/daughter" or being able to call a mentor your "Marine Corps dad/mother" is a highly desired thing.

It implies no disrespect. In fact it is the oposite...the highest regard you can get/give.

 

[DLgal]

I agree - they are not children, and should be given the respect their service deserves. They also have to make some hard decisions and should not be in the service if they need a 'dad', IMO.

Many of them don't have real dads. Or present ones. Or good ones. This is a mentor type relationship.

You're right though. MANY of them should not be in the service.

 

[Lilsia]

Why do you even bother cruising then? Just stay in the US in a fancy hotel if you are afraid of being a foreigner.

Mexico is one of the few places that I will not get off of the ship. I just don't feel safe. And cruising is not JUST going to other countries, what do I need the ship for if I can just fly there. We love being on the ship, I don't see anything wrong with that. I have traveled many places including Europe and several countries in the Caribbean and I will say it again. I don't think Mexico is safe for American tourists. Not to mention that they harass you as you are walking down the street, even in a place like Cozumel which was pretty much made for cruise ship tourists. Having men follow my daughters and me around swearing at us because we did not buy something is not my idea of a fun vacation. There are many, many people who will not get off of the ship in Mexico.