Does anyone have a social story for cruising?

[persimmondeb]

We are taking DS15 (HFA diagnosis) on his first cruise on Carnival in June. He's generally sunny and easy-going, all things considered, and he doesn't need much in the way of accomodations, but I wish I could find some material to prepare him for the cruise, particularly embarkations and the muster drill, which I can see being somewhat confusing and frustrating for him. I've googled various social story things, but I can't really find anything.

I'm also trying to figure out if it's worth trying him on the teen club, or if we should ask Carnival if he can attend Circle C instead. Regardless, he is likely to want to spend a fair amount of time with us, so I don't know how much it matters.

 

[persimmondeb]

Even if someone could tell me the rough order of events, so I could make him a print out. Autism on the Seas includes one if you book through them, but we didn't since it is the only thing they offer that I thought we needed at all (he likes to eat late, he'll be fine at a table with strangers, he eats everything, and he's beside himself with joy at the prospect of wearing a suit and tie on formal nights).

There shouldn't be anything about the process that he won't really take in stride, but experience has taught me, that the more he knows about whats going on and will happen next, the happier everyone will be. I'm particularly afraid of having to go to muster drill right around the time he decides he really, really needs food now since he hasn't eaten since breakfast. He gets very stressed when he's hungry, and more hungry when he's stressed, and can start to fall apart. Stuffed animals help when he's stressed, and he loves getting new ones, so that might help, but I'm not sure how well that bodes for the teen club if he strolls on board with a large fuzzy friend under his arm.

How well the teen club works is going to depend a lot on the mix of other kids and the planned activities, and I'm not married to the idea of it, but I'm thinking it might be easier if he's not instantly known as the "kid with the big stuffed shark".

 

[Piper]

Have you called Carnival? They might have brochures or a DVD that might be some help. Also they could probably give you an idea of the schedule on your ship.

 

[persimmondeb]

That's a thought. I'm always reluctant go through official channels before it's absolutely necessary, but I bet they have DVD's. I think I may actually have had them send my dad one last fall and I can see if he can find it. We have a brochure, but it's pretty general. I kind of thinking that they do feed you before muster drill (based on online research), but I'm not completely sure.

 

[brat]

My DS has a stuffed bear wearing the type of life jacket worn on drills, I will ask the friends who gave it to him where she got it.

Maybe you can get a copy of the Travel channel show Sammantha Brown on the Cannaval Cruise, that shows her wear the life vest and doing other things on the ship.

I wish we kept a copy of "The cruise ship coloring book" my MIL gave our kids.I passed it on to a woman I met at a disabled parenting group without even knowing her name.Maybe someone else has one. It had coloring pictures of all sorts of ship activities and things like tendering ashore.It had sea names and games as well.

 

[persimmondeb]

He would like the stuffed bear (he likes stuffed anything), and that will help to remind him that we will have to go to the drill. I don't think the drill will make him anxious, although crowds are sometimes problematic (and sometimes not, since it seems to depend a lot on his mood and the noise level), but I can see him being difficult about having to go and do it round about the time he's ready to kick back with some room service. And almost anything he's not prepared for can throw him for a loop if he's stressed.

He's seen the Samantha Brown episode, but that's an excellent suggestion. I'm going to see if either he or I can find it online and have him watch it a couple of times. It'll be more on his level than most social stories are too. Last night in H&M he fell madly in love with one of those natty straw hats that hipsters wear and I bought it for him to wear on the cruise, so that solves the issue of having a comfort object to board with. I'm sure he'll eventually lose or squash it, but it was love at first sight, and being known as "the kid with the hat" is a lot less of an issue. I'll put some kind of fuzzy friend in the luggage for bedtime, but I think it's better if he doesn't walk on board holding it.

 

[brat]

I asked where cruise bear came from and friends got it at a gift shop before boarding for one of the cruises she took a few years ago.I will see if I can find on online.

 

[brat]

I did not find any out there on the web.

 

[peemagg]

As soon as you board the ship, you can go and eat. Most likely you will be on board before your room is ready. Your room does become ready before the muster drill so that you can drop off your carry on items.

In your room will be instructions about where you are to go to start the muster drill. You do NOT take or where your life jacket with you to the drill. When we went last year, we had to meet in one of the theaters first, then they escorted us to where we would board the life boats if necessary. We just stand there until we are given the all clear and given instructions while there. This is where it is going to get crowded, but you aren't there for very long, maybe about 10 minutes top.

 

[persimmondeb]

Doesn't sound too bad. Everything is always better when he's not hungry. And hopefully he'll think it's interesting (and not regale other passengers with shipwreck stories).