Tips, Tricks, & Hints for Cruising on the Spectrum

[Gisclair Disney]

We are planning our first ever cruise. We're traveling to Alaska on the Wonder. I'm hoping there are others out there who can tell me what I need to know about cruising with a 13yo with HFA. TIA for your wisdom and advice!

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

Get them to first night in Edge. Let them meet people and get comfortable there.

 

[lanejudy]

Prepare the teen. Talk about plans. Watch videos. If this is a first time flying, prepare for TSA and airport experience.

Be aware that the muster drill is LOUD-LOUD-LOUD and does not stop until it is over; you may want to use hearing protection/earmuffs if you have them. And it's crowded; you might try arriving a little early rather than be in the crush of people once the alarms start.

At 13, s/he will be in Edge, which is the kids' space for those ages 11-14. You can find pictures and videos online. Stop by the first afternoon and introduce yourselves to the CMs, discuss any concerns you may have. The do some activities "out and about" the ship -- scavenger hunt, sports deck, etc. -- so there is no actual "secured" check-in and the kids have free ability to come and go as they please. Depending on your child, you may want to have family rules in place such as you must contact mom/dad when you leave, you may not go into anyone else's stateroom and nobody is allowed into our stateroom, etc. Check out some past Navigators for ideas of activities offered.

Food issues can be discussed with the head server in the MDR. They can prepare many items plain (leaving off sauces, etc.); you can order off either the child or adult menu, and mix-and-match as desired (i.e., appetizer from adult menu with entree from kids menu).

What are some of your concerns? Or what types of issues does your child deal with regularly?

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lorenni]

So, as an adult who is only now being diagnosed with ASD (formerly aspergers - and it seems late diagnoses are quite comment with women of a certain age) here would be my two cents based on my experience.

1. Downtime is possible and recommended - you do not have to do it all. There Jan nothing wrong with just watching a movie in your stateroom or in the theater.

2. Consider asking for a table for just your party. Strangers are my kryptonite. And along those same lines - no one has to be social. Stick to yourselves if you want to.

3. There are some crowded areas on the ship. The pools, the theaters right before shows, the buffet restaurants during peak times. You can grab food and take it back to your room to eat, or order room service.

4. MDR servers are almost trained to be super extroverted and engaging. It's ok to ask them to tone it down if it's too much for your kiddo.

5. Lots of people won't/don't follow rules. If this is a trigger for your kid, you may want to prep her/him for that.

6. She/he doesn't have to go to the clubs, if they don't appeal. There are plenty of things to do as a family.

Have fun!

 

[Gisclair Disney]

Prepare the teen. Talk about plans. Watch videos. If this is a first time flying, prepare for TSA and airport experience.

Be aware that the muster drill is LOUD-LOUD-LOUD and does not stop until it is over; you may want to use hearing protection/earmuffs if you have them. And it's crowded; you might try arriving a little early rather than be in the crush of people once the alarms start.

At 13, s/he will be in Edge, which is the kids' space for those ages 11-14. You can find pictures and videos online. Stop by the first afternoon and introduce yourselves to the CMs, discuss any concerns you may have. The do some activities "out and about" the ship -- scavenger hunt, sports deck, etc. -- so there is no actual "secured" check-in and the kids have free ability to come and go as they please. Depending on your child, you may want to have family rules in place such as you must contact mom/dad when you leave, you may not go into anyone else's stateroom and nobody is allowed into our stateroom, etc. Check out some past Navigators for ideas of activities offered.

Food issues can be discussed with the head server in the MDR. They can prepare many items plain (leaving off sauces, etc.); you can order off either the child or adult menu, and mix-and-match as desired (i.e., appetizer from adult menu with entree from kids menu).

What are some of your concerns? Or what types of issues does your child deal with regularly?

Enjoy your cruise!

Very good advice here. Thank you!

Specifically, I would like to be able to discuss with him how to get in touch with us if he is in Edge and wants/needs to leave. Do cell phones work? (Sorry if that's a silly question, but there is so much I don't know!)
What are our options if we are out on an excursion and something puts him into defense mode or he just needs a quiet time out?
I'm hoping there might be other HFA kids that may be on the same cruise who he could "hang out" with.
Food is not really an issue, thank goodness. However, he is also hearing impaired. I'd like to be able to offer him as much freedom as possible (although he is just beginning to want to do things alone or just with friends), while feeling as confident as possible that he is safe.

 

[Gisclair Disney]

So, as an adult who is only now being diagnosed with ASD (formerly aspergers - and it seems late diagnoses are quite comment with women of a certain age) here would be my two cents based on my experience.

1. Downtime is possible and recommended - you do not have to do it all. There Jan nothing wrong with just watching a movie in your stateroom or in the theater.

2. Consider asking for a table for just your party. Strangers are my kryptonite. And along those same lines - no one has to be social. Stick to yourselves if you want to.

3. There are some crowded areas on the ship. The pools, the theaters right before shows, the buffet restaurants during peak times. You can grab food and take it back to your room to eat, or order room service.

4. MDR servers are almost trained to be super extroverted and engaging. It's ok to ask them to tone it down if it's too much for your kiddo.

5. Lots of people won't/don't follow rules. If this is a trigger for your kid, you may want to prep her/him for that.

6. She/he doesn't have to go to the clubs, if they don't appeal. There are plenty of things to do as a family.

Have fun!

Excellent advice. Thank you!

Should I request a private or smaller table now, through our TA, or wait until we are onboard?

 

[Quellman]

Very good advice here. Thank you!

Specifically, I would like to be able to discuss with him how to get in touch with us if he is in Edge and wants/needs to leave. Do cell phones work? (Sorry if that's a silly question, but there is so much I don't know!)
What are our options if we are out on an excursion and something puts him into defense mode or he just needs a quiet time out?
I'm hoping there might be other HFA kids that may be on the same cruise who he could "hang out" with.
Food is not really an issue, thank goodness. However, he is also hearing impaired. I'd like to be able to offer him as much freedom as possible (although he is just beginning to want to do things alone or just with friends), while feeling as confident as possible that he is safe.

The room comes with 2 WavePhones, which work like land based phones and also include text messaging (old school style). You can get another one for your use at guest services. It works on the ship and at Disney's island.

You can also use a cellphone or tablet and the DCL app. The app lets you use onboard wifi to communicate with others via the app. This can be much more efficient in terms of typing, and it also gives you dining room menus, and event schedules. This works on the ship and most all areas of Disney's island. There are reports of delayed or unreceived messages.

 

[Gisclair Disney]

The room comes with 2 WavePhones, which work like land based phones and also include text messaging (old school style). You can get another one for your use at guest services. It works on the ship and at Disney's island.

You can also use a cellphone or tablet and the DCL app. The app lets you use onboard wifi to communicate with others via the app. This can be much more efficient in terms of typing, and it also gives you dining room menus, and event schedules. This works on the ship and most all areas of Disney's island. There are reports of delayed or unreceived messages.

Thank you!

 

[dcassetta]

I have no personal experience with this organization, but they do have a message board https://autismontheseas.com/

 

[lanejudy]

Very good advice here. Thank you!

Specifically, I would like to be able to discuss with him how to get in touch with us if he is in Edge and wants/needs to leave. Do cell phones work? (Sorry if that's a silly question, but there is so much I don't know!)
What are our options if we are out on an excursion and something puts him into defense mode or he just needs a quiet time out?
I'm hoping there might be other HFA kids that may be on the same cruise who he could "hang out" with.
Food is not really an issue, thank goodness. However, he is also hearing impaired. I'd like to be able to offer him as much freedom as possible (although he is just beginning to want to do things alone or just with friends), while feeling as confident as possible that he is safe.

On the ship, and I believe on Castaway Cay, the wavephones work like old-style cell phones with calling and (antiquated) texting capabilities for free. I've read reports that the texting may be delayed, though. If he has a cell phone, you can text each other using the DCL app, which works via ships wifi for free. Calls will not be free.

If you are on an excursion off the ship and he remains behind onboard -- cell phone is going to be your own mode of communication. I suppose reception could be an issue depending on where you are. Plus you'll have whatever charges might be incurred based on your cell plan.

I would suggest you talk with him about strategies for giving himself a "time-out" if that type of situation might be expected. Is he able to recognize the need? He can certainly head back to your stateroom for a break, or he can just remove himself from the other kids to a quieter corner of Edge if there is one.

I suggest you join your cruise meet thread, maybe ask if there are other HFA kids around his age. They can "meet" online before the cruise and feel like old friends when they finally meet in person. I don't believe CMs will actually be able to tell you "Johnny over there in the red shirt is also HFA, or Susie in the blue skirt." (Just like you wouldn't necessarily want your own child pointed out and labeled.)

Does he wear a hearing aid, or simply accommodate by with other techniques? This is something you might mention to the CMs at Open House the first afternoon. My DD's speech can be garbled at times and we have to remind her to speak slowly (especially when she's excited) -- so if there is anything like that to share with the CMs it would help.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[trevorsmom2002]

Very good advice here. Thank you!

Specifically, I would like to be able to discuss with him how to get in touch with us if he is in Edge and wants/needs to leave. Do cell phones work? (Sorry if that's a silly question, but there is so much I don't know!)
What are our options if we are out on an excursion and something puts him into defense mode or he just needs a quiet time out?
I'm hoping there might be other HFA kids that may be on the same cruise who he could "hang out" with.
Food is not really an issue, thank goodness. However, he is also hearing impaired. I'd like to be able to offer him as much freedom as possible (although he is just beginning to want to do things alone or just with friends), while feeling as confident as possible that he is safe.

I have a 14 year old with HFA, and he loves cruising! We did Alaska last summer on the Wonder. You guys are going to love it! My son loves the Edge. I cannot say enough good things about the youth counselors. I usually let them know when we check in the first day that he has autism. On our first few cruises, I would just ask them to give me a call on our wave phone if he wanted to leave. He usually never wants to leave! On our last couple of cruises, he has been able to get himself to the Edge from the MDR and get himself back to the room each night. He likes the night life! A couple of things that have worked for him - he likes to take his DS to the Edge. I think it is more of a comfort object than anything. It is also an icebreaker as other kids will want to watch him. Second, he does like a little down time. Usually while we are showering and getting ready for dinner, he will watch a movie. Third, I plan our own excursions (not through DCL). I know what he likes and can handle, and no one, including me and my husband, likes waiting around and being herded together with a large group of people. On a side note, look into Harv and Marv's whale watching in Junea (fantastic)! Last, my son loves eating with another family in the MDRs. We have been blessed with some great tablemates, and I still keep in touch with two of the families from past cruises. I am sure I have forgotten something, but if you have any specific questions, let me know!

 

[Gisclair Disney]

I have a 14 year old with HFA, and he loves cruising! We did Alaska last summer on the Wonder. You guys are going to love it! My son loves the Edge. I cannot say enough good things about the youth counselors. I usually let them know when we check in the first day that he has autism. On our first few cruises, I would just ask them to give me a call on our wave phone if he wanted to leave. He usually never wants to leave! On our last couple of cruises, he has been able to get himself to the Edge from the MDR and get himself back to the room each night. He likes the night life! A couple of things that have worked for him - he likes to take his DS to the Edge. I think it is more of a comfort object than anything. It is also an icebreaker as other kids will want to watch him. Second, he does like a little down time. Usually while we are showering and getting ready for dinner, he will watch a movie. Third, I plan our own excursions (not through DCL). I know what he likes and can handle, and no one, including me and my husband, likes waiting around and being herded together with a large group of people. On a side note, look into Harv and Marv's whale watching in Junea (fantastic)! Last, my son loves eating with another family in the MDRs. We have been blessed with some great tablemates, and I still keep in touch with two of the families from past cruises. I am sure I have forgotten something, but if you have any specific questions, let me know!

Thank you so much! Your experience has eased some of my anxiety for him! Can you tell me more about planning your own excursions? I didn't know that was an option, but it sounds like something I should look into.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD is on the high functioning end of the spectrum. I concur with planning your own excursions. I like to plan things so we have flexibility in case things aren't going well. We haven't done Alaska yet so I'm can't help with specific excursions for your cruise, but on our Caribbean cruises, I used tripadvisor.com to research activities that we could do on our own and companies that offer private tours. It's a bit more expensive to hire a private tour guide, but the peace of mind it gave me was well worth the extra cost. We were able to tailor our day to best accommodate DD, and when she reached her limit, we just had the guide take us back to the port. That way, we weren't impacting anyone else's experience.

 

[hanscarlet]

Hi! I have an 8 yo who is HFA and she loves the Mickey Boat! We call the SN line ahead of time and ask our questions and get any special notes on file, including dietary restrictions. We often feed our 8 yo in the room prior to going to the MDR because she's so picky and then we allow her strawberries and french fries during the MDR so we can relax knowing she's gotten what she needs health wise. We explain this to the servers the first night and by night 2 the bowl of strawberries is already sitting there at Emma's spot!

Muster Drill - this can be very noisy because it's like a beacon alarm and so you can take your child to muster 15 min ahead of time and explain your situation, check him in and then go back to the stateroom with him so long as other members of your party stay for the drill. I wish I had known about this because my poor little one suffered through lengthy musters because you're beholden to others showing up on time in order for the drill to conclude. We're going to try this on our next cruise though.

Non DCL excursions - Like PP, I too book outside DCL excursions just because I like the extra privacy it allows us along with the freedom to manage the clock more and going back to the boat and not having to travel in groups.... often non DCL excursions are less pricey than DCL excursions too but do your research so you know you are going with a reputable company.

You will love it! Book a placeholder so you can go again at a discount!

 

[trevorsmom2002]

Thank you so much! Your experience has eased some of my anxiety for him! Can you tell me more about planning your own excursions? I didn't know that was an option, but it sounds like something I should look into.

Yes! I like the freedom to get off the ship when I want and get back on when I want. One of my son's triggers is waiting around, so I like to be in control. Get on trip advisor and search each port. You will get an idea of what appeals to your family, and most of the time you can set up a tour with an independent company. We used Beyond Skagway Tours in Skagway. Becky was awesome. I talked to her on the phone before our trip and told her what we wanted to do. She designed a tour specifically for us. If my son was bored with something, we moved on. If he was having fun, we stayed longer. We did Harv and Marv's in Juneau. They have small boats, and it was just our family and another couple on our boat. They provided binoculars and snacks. They also took us to Mendenhall Glacier after our whale watching and then took us back to the ship. In Ketchikan, we just walked around Creek Street, shopped, and ate lunch. It is a cute little town! It is very easy to plan your own excursions! Have fun!

 

[lorenni]

I think your travel agent makes the request now and they should be specific about why - Disney may be more likely to grant the request if they know it's not just a preference.

 

[Gisclair Disney]

Hi! I have an 8 yo who is HFA and she loves the Mickey Boat! We call the SN line ahead of time and ask our questions and get any special notes on file, including dietary restrictions. We often feed our 8 yo in the room prior to going to the MDR because she's so picky and then we allow her strawberries and french fries during the MDR so we can relax knowing she's gotten what she needs health wise. We explain this to the servers the first night and by night 2 the bowl of strawberries is already sitting there at Emma's spot!

Muster Drill - this can be very noisy because it's like a beacon alarm and so you can take your child to muster 15 min ahead of time and explain your situation, check him in and then go back to the stateroom with him so long as other members of your party stay for the drill. I wish I had known about this because my poor little one suffered through lengthy musters because you're beholden to others showing up on time in order for the drill to conclude. We're going to try this on our next cruise though.

Non DCL excursions - Like PP, I too book outside DCL excursions just because I like the extra privacy it allows us along with the freedom to manage the clock more and going back to the boat and not having to travel in groups.... often non DCL excursions are less pricey than DCL excursions too but do your research so you know you are going with a reputable company.

You will love it! Book a placeholder so you can go again at a discount!

Thank you!

 

[Gisclair Disney]

Yes! I like the freedom to get off the ship when I want and get back on when I want. One of my son's triggers is waiting around, so I like to be in control. Get on trip advisor and search each port. You will get an idea of what appeals to your family, and most of the time you can set up a tour with an independent company. We used Beyond Skagway Tours in Skagway. Becky was awesome. I talked to her on the phone before our trip and told her what we wanted to do. She designed a tour specifically for us. If my son was bored with something, we moved on. If he was having fun, we stayed longer. We did Harv and Marv's in Juneau. They have small boats, and it was just our family and another couple on our boat. They provided binoculars and snacks. They also took us to Mendenhall Glacier after our whale watching and then took us back to the ship. In Ketchikan, we just walked around Creek Street, shopped, and ate lunch. It is a cute little town! It is very easy to plan your own excursions! Have fun!

Thank you!

 

[monkeybird]

When are you cruising? We're going to be on the Wonder August 14-21. My 10 yo son has severe ADHD (double exceptional) and his new psychiatrist suspects HFA -we're on a looooong waitlist to be tested...

 

[Gisclair Disney]

Yes! I like the freedom to get off the ship when I want and get back on when I want. One of my son's triggers is waiting around, so I like to be in control. Get on trip advisor and search each port. You will get an idea of what appeals to your family, and most of the time you can set up a tour with an independent company. We used Beyond Skagway Tours in Skagway. Becky was awesome. I talked to her on the phone before our trip and told her what we wanted to do. She designed a tour specifically for us. If my son was bored with something, we moved on. If he was having fun, we stayed longer. We did Harv and Marv's in Juneau. They have small boats, and it was just our family and another couple on our boat. They provided binoculars and snacks. They also took us to Mendenhall Glacier after our whale watching and then took us back to the ship. In Ketchikan, we just walked around Creek Street, shopped, and ate lunch. It is a cute little town! It is very easy to plan your own excursions! Have fun!

Thank you! I will definitely look into this. My DS's triggers include excessive waiting and the unknown (not knowing exactly what will happen, in what order things will occur, and when). This way, I may be able to alleviate some of that stress for him.