Autistic Children on Cruise Lines - Not Bad Ideas For Vacations

People go on cruises for a reason – they sail on the high seas on a ship with all the makings of a resort to bond with like-minded (those who share the same hobby) people, see the world in their own eyes, bond with family and friends, and merely get away from the stresses of the home shores.

On a typical but good cruise ship, travelers can taste cuisine from the casual (pizzas and hamburgers) to the elegant (foie gras and Angus prime rib roast au jus with tourneed potatoes). The ship might include a theater, where shows the magnitude of Broadway or the West End delight the senses.

The excursions range from challenging (such as hikes on the Mediterranean coast) to utter paradise (like the private islands on the Caribbean). The staterooms go above and beyond in the comfort field, with fluffy pillows and windows overlooking the sea. As an autistic woman who sailed on numerous vessels in her life (even in childhood), I am one of those types of travelers who just love going on a cruise.

Speaking of autism, most of you who have children on the spectrum fear that many a meltdown can derail your vacation enjoyment, thus blocking your dreams of, say, your cruise with Carnival. The reason why you are too hesitant on cruising is because there are many factors that can incite stare-inducing, rant-causing episodes from your child.

Besides fears of having them missing, I think that most parents with autistic children fear cruising because of the many amenities and activities that can rattle their nerves. From the constant slot machine bells to the cavernous atrium, most elements and times on a cruise ship can induce bouts of screaming and stimming.

Change in Routine

Many autistic children resist change, often with meltdowns. Transitions can range from going to church before going to the park to going on a vacation. A cruise is definitely a vacation. When unplanned, your travel will be a wreck with you watching over a melting-down child on a ship thousands of miles from home.That is also true even if your child lives near a cruise port because even hundreds of miles can set a child off. .

Crowds

Even on peak seasons some autistic children can manage through high crowd levels, but most others generally can’t handle them. I think that the closeness of strangers in one single area – either the dining room or the main showlounge – can really set them off. Most of them cannot process multiple sensory information as well as most unaffected children.

Factor in the chatting and bustle in the area from their mouths and many a sensory-sensitive child can scream and flail. If their families cruise during the holidays or in the hurricane-filled summertime, the situation will get worse.

Production Shows

I believe that the largest sources of sensory overload in autistic children on a cruise are the production shows, where there are a lot of dancers, singers, and props. The reason why I think they can induce a meltdown is not only because there are bright lighting, flashy costumes, glittery props, and sound effects (like explosions). The supposed culprit is the music that accompanies them.

With the exception of Disney and a few others (to name a few who offer equally loud shows), large liners generally provide semi-live music accompaniment. To define this in my own words, it’s a cocktail of prerecorded and click tracks mixed with a seven to even a twelve-piece orchestra (think keyboards, guitars, basses, drums, saxes, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones) off to the side, in a pit, or on the rear end of the stage.

To me, I’m not bothered by them because the shows are my favorite part of any cruise ship and because I love the fact that the music is semi-live. (I don't mind Disney's production shows because despite the accompaniment having 100% click and backing track. I love the costumed characters and the magic anyway.) With large vessels, parents with autistic children are set back by the loudness of the shows.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of cruise packages designed for families traveling with autism. Autism on the Seas, by travel agent Alumni Cruises, is a great example. But with great packages like this, you should still plan your cruise trip.

Book Early and in the Off-Season

Travel agents and experts touted the value of booking a cruise at least 3 months (my preferred time range) ahead of embarkation, but I think there’s more to that. From my experiences with cruises in the season, the summer months are very popular. Chances are that the ship will be crowded with families with children, autistic or neuro-typical, and it will be burdensome for most autistic children sensitive to crowds.

Booking in the off-season offers more than good weather, lower rates, and less port cancellations – it’s respite for them. Cruise Critic has an article on the whens of cruising by destination. For example, cruising in the Caribbean (which is, in my opinion, a popular destination for such vacations) on early October generally means less crowds since many children are still suffering from classroom fever in their public schools.

Speaking of which, consult with the school administration if they have flexibility in school absence policy and school holidays.

Make Arrangements for Special Considerations

Are your children on a GFCF diet? Consult the cruise ahead of time to make special arrangements for dining to satiate their needs. You don’t have to worry about doing so if you book with Autism on the Seas – they’ll let them know for you. If you fear about them being disruptive to their table, arrange for a private one.

Prepare Your Children

Again, one of the hurdles families with autistic children face are the changes in routine. To overcome this, involve them in the planning. One way is to provide them visuals of the airports, home port, ship, and ports of call. If you don’t have a printer or just don’t want to waste paper by printing pictures, have your children go online with you and have them look at the photo galleries on the websites.

Also, share social stories with them to let them know what’s expected. Autism on the Seas includes one on the package to ease the pain of making up one, but I suggest that you consult their therapist(s) to write additional ones. Tailor visual schedules (and use PECS, or the Picture Exchange Communication System, if your child is nonverbal) to let them know what’s coming up next.

Let Everyone Onboard Know About Your Child

Nothing ruins a vacation with many an autistic child’s meltdowns that has people staring at you and wishing that you should smack him. Autism on the Seas offers autism awareness cards for the cruise staff. But you should also print out or buy similar ones for fellow passengers as well so that you will face much less embarrassment for the trip. Also, bring your children's doctor's diagnosis reports with you to also let them be aware of them.

Pack Sensory Diffusers

Sensory diffusers range from weighted vests to noise-canceling headphones. If you can, don't be afraid to pack them in your luggage. Also, pack acupressure bracelets to ease seasickness.

Stay Overnight on or Near Port Before Embarkation

Arriving dead on embarkation day means grabbing your bags from the baggage claim, getting on a shuttle to port, and heading straight for the ship. Ditto with driving a hundred or so miles from port (unless your port is at most 2 hours away). With all that stimulation going on, both ways can mean a lot of grief (as well as your children's meltdowns) to you.

You may want to consider booking an overnight stay at a nearby hotel to help them recuperate. It's not required if the child lives at most 2 hours from port - for example, if my cruise departs from Tampa if I live near it, driving there is much less burdensome.

Plan Your Own Excursions

Not only it saves money in the long run, but it gives your children more freedom to roam the port of call. Also, they will not be in a group all the time, where it always bustles with others who book the same excursions as you. Again, many autistic children find crowds toilsome.

If you have not sailed on a cruise with an autistic child before, don’t be afraid. Prepare yourself, your family, and them and head out to the port as fast as you can say, “Bon voyage!”