What is Edge Really Like (Dream)?

[Debonna]

My 13 year old son has mild autism spectrum disorder. He is not very social with other kids, but will talk a blue streak with adults. He enjoys reading and video games. Very low key and keeps to himself. I am wondering if Edge will be too much for him, noise and activity wise. He typically would not be interested in any group participation. When we stay in hotels, he is happy to just hang out in the room with his books or tablet. I would love to be able to leave him somewhere with check in / check out while my husband and I have adult time, but of course, he is too old. (He really wants to do the Oceaneer Club/Lab, but I'm betting they won't make an exception for him, given what I've read.) If I do leave him at Edge, he will be given clear instructions to stay put until I return to get him. He is small for his age (3rd percentile), and looks like he's 10-11. I worry about him getting lost. Anyone have experiences they can share?

 

[JamieDCA]

The mornings tend to be more quiet in my experience, so that could be a good time to test the waters. They also have some open houses if you want to try going with him and first and figure out where would be good places for him to chill and what he might like to do. A lot of the boys there play video games together on a large screen (super smash brothers was a big one on our last cruise). Would he be interested in that sort of group activity that involves limited involvement with other kids? He could certainly find a seat somewhere with his tablet and do his own thing as well. There is usually music or other noise going on, so he might want to bring head phones.

 

[Quellman]

Some of the activities in the oceaneer club/lab are repeated during open houses. That would be something everyone could do together.

 

[KT2038]

Unfortunately he definitely won’t be able to come to secured programming at the Club/Lab. It can sometimes be noisy at Edge, how does he react to noise? Will he listen to instructions not to leave? We cannot stop him leaving if he decides to go.

 

[Tasmen]

My kid isn't much of a joiner and she enjoyed Edge a great deal. From what I saw the couple times I popped in there to grab her for dinner or something else, a good number of the kids were all sitting around one of the video game consoles watching others play. They were either waiting their turn to play or were content just to watch. There were some kids doing arts & crafts, but I didn't see a whole lot of interaction outside a random 'cool' spoken when someone Mario'd their cart well.

They do group activities, but it's optional. If your kid doesn't want to go or participate, they won't force the issue.

 

[Debonna]

Unfortunately he definitely won’t be able to come to secured programming at the Club/Lab. It can sometimes be noisy at Edge, how does he react to noise? Will he listen to instructions not to leave? We cannot stop him leaving if he decides to go.

Thank you, good questions. He is sometimes bothered by noise. What tends to be the busiest times/least busiest times? He will listen to instructions not to leave, as he is very much a rule follower. If a CM invites him to leave the area for say, a scavenger hunt or something, can he explain he's not to leave? Also, are there CMs in Edge at all times in case he needs assistance with reaching us on our Wave phone or if he just has questions? Thanks again.

 

[Debonna]

The mornings tend to be more quiet in my experience, so that could be a good time to test the waters. They also have some open houses if you want to try going with him and first and figure out where would be good places for him to chill and what he might like to do. A lot of the boys there play video games together on a large screen (super smash brothers was a big one on our last cruise). Would he be interested in that sort of group activity that involves limited involvement with other kids? He could certainly find a seat somewhere with his tablet and do his own thing as well. There is usually music or other noise going on, so he might want to bring head phones.

Thank you, good idea for the headphones.

 

[Debonna]

The mornings tend to be more quiet in my experience, so that could be a good time to test the waters. They also have some open houses if you want to try going with him and first and figure out where would be good places for him to chill and what he might like to do. A lot of the boys there play video games together on a large screen (super smash brothers was a big one on our last cruise). Would he be interested in that sort of group activity that involves limited involvement with other kids? He could certainly find a seat somewhere with his tablet and do his own thing as well. There is usually music or other noise going on, so he might want to bring head phones.

He is fine playing video games in a small group, but can get quite frustrated if he's not getting a turn. I'll just have to warn him, like everywhere else with kids his age, if someone isn't treating you fairly, move on to something else. Don't make an issue of it.

 

[lklgoodman]

Thank you, good questions. He is sometimes bothered by noise. What tends to be the busiest times/least busiest times? He will listen to instructions not to leave, as he is very much a rule follower. If a CM invites him to leave the area for say, a scavenger hunt or something, can he explain he's not to leave? Also, are there CMs in Edge at all times in case he needs assistance with reaching us on our Wave phone or if he just has questions? Thanks again.

My dd went to Edge for the first time on the Fantasy last month. Whenever we'd go to get her, it almost always was a lot quieter than the club/lab. There were always 2-3 cms in the club. The cms don't go with the kids when they do a scavenger hunt. They tell whoever wants to do it the info and the kids go out on their own(with a partner or 3-4 kids per group, depending on how many are doing it). The cms stay in the club with the kids who want to stay there and do other things. I'm sure they will help with a wave phone or with any other help he may need.

 

[Debonna]

My dd went to Edge for the first time on the Fantasy last month. Whenever we'd go to get her, it almost always was a lot quieter than the club/lab. There were always 2-3 cms in the club. The cms don't go with the kids when they do a scavenger hunt. They tell whoever wants to do it the info and the kids go out on their own(with a partner or 3-4 kids per group, depending on how many are doing it). The cms stay in the club with the kids who want to stay there and do other things. I'm sure they will help with a wave phone or with any other help he may need.

Awesome, thank you for this info!

 

[Rob1872]

My youngest is on the spectrum; previously diagnosed with Asperger's before they stopped using that term.
We were a little nervous when he moved up to Edge last year since he could check himself out; it turned out to go very well. He liked when he could play video games; he pretty much ignored any of the other programming. When they started to do activities he either ignored it and played games, or if the activity was too distracting he came back to the room and watched Disney/Pixar/Marvel movies on the TV. I was initially worried about him going through the ship on his own; however, we had our stateroom number written on his lanyard holder as a reminder to him and he knew what our stateroom magnets looked like.

 

[Debonna]

My youngest is on the spectrum; previously diagnosed with Asperger's before they stopped using that term.
We were a little nervous when he moved up to Edge last year since he could check himself out; it turned out to go very well. He liked when he could play video games; he pretty much ignored any of the other programming. When they started to do activities he either ignored it and played games, or if the activity was too distracting he came back to the room and watched Disney/Pixar/Marvel movies on the TV. I was initially worried about him going through the ship on his own; however, we had our stateroom number written on his lanyard holder as a reminder to him and he knew what our stateroom magnets looked like.

Thank you! You all are making me feel more at ease. My son was termed Asperger's as well but then changed to ASD when the term became defunct.

 

[KT2038]

Thank you, good questions. He is sometimes bothered by noise. What tends to be the busiest times/least busiest times? He will listen to instructions not to leave, as he is very much a rule follower. If a CM invites him to leave the area for say, a scavenger hunt or something, can he explain he's not to leave? Also, are there CMs in Edge at all times in case he needs assistance with reaching us on our Wave phone or if he just has questions? Thanks again.

Thank you, good questions. He is sometimes bothered by noise. What tends to be the busiest times/least busiest times? He will listen to instructions not to leave, as he is very much a rule follower. If a CM invites him to leave the area for say, a scavenger hunt or something, can he explain he's not to leave? Also, are there CMs in Edge at all times in case he needs assistance with reaching us on our Wave phone or if he just has questions? Thanks again.
Quite and loud times really depends on the number and mix of kids on each cruise. There’s always at least two of us in Edge at any time and we can absolutely help him contact you! He doesn’t have to participate in any activities if he can’t/doesn’t want to and we cannot and will not force him to. Just make sure to let the CMs know that he may need some assistance the first time you go.

 

[Debonna]

Thank you KT2038!!