Thank you for generously taking us with you.
I am really looking forward to this. I have been lurking on your trip reports for a couple of years. Love, love, love your reports - lots of good info and fun pictures.
I haven't cruised since the 90s (some very fun, wild girls cruises when I lived in Long Beach). Taking the husband, mom, and auntie next April. If they like it, we'll go more often.
Gotta say this: every child is different and I'm sad you even have to address the "elephant in the room." You as the parent know your child best and you should NEVER have to justify a well-thought out action you take on behalf of your child. People that jump to conclusions or judgement really wrinkle my shorts. They may base their judgement on what they have seen or heard but that does not necessarily apply to you.
My oldest is autistic and on vacation wears long sleeve shirts, pants, and a hat (didn't like the breeze on body hairs) as well as noise cancelling headphones. Once we got that sorted when he was about 4, we had no worries about meltdowns and a sedate cruise would have been perfect. (Even with the DAS, Disney was a no-no😥).
The middle one is a cancer survivor who is an old soul. He would have loved a Celebrity or Holland cruise. Before he got sick, he hiked with his grandma's hiking group and would regale the seniors - he could discuss Hope & Crosby movies, recite Jeff Foxworthy's redneck bits, or sing (badly) 50s and 60s tunes while doing 8-10 miles in the desert (at 8!!)
The youngest, well, he would be bored stiff on a Celebrity cruise. He loves the action (until he collapses - at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA we had to take a two hour time-out at Independence Hall and he had a docent all to himself. It calmed him down and he learned some cool history - win, win!)
Sorry about the rant.
Also, just so you know, I read your reports out loud to my mother who has only cruised once in 2006 on HAL to Alaska and she LOVES them. I have to show her the pics and she can't wait to go to the Caribbean next year. Now she'll want to go to Mexico too!😄
Thanks again for sharing your trip...