Guest pass to tour ship while in port?

Crazy random question: other than TAs, has anyone heard of guest passes to tour a ship while it’s in port?

We are fortunate to live close enough to Boston to take a ride in to see the Summit over July 4th. We’ll be on her 2 weeks later. My autistic son is super anxious about the trip. I doubt they ever allow this for safety reasons, but figured I’d ask. But at minimum we’ll take him in, park at my cousin’s and walk over so he can see the ship.

Not even his first cruise but then autism always keeps us hopping!

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Crazy random question: other than TAs, has anyone heard of guest passes to tour a ship while it’s in port?

 

We are fortunate to live close enough to Boston to take a ride in to see the Summit over July 4th. We’ll be on her 2 weeks later. My autistic son is super anxious about the trip. I doubt they ever allow this for safety reasons, but figured I’d ask. But at minimum we’ll take him in, park at my cousin’s and walk over so he can see the ship.

 

Not even his first cruise but then autism always keeps us hopping!

 

 

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You would need to get advance clearance from the Miami Office. Can be done, but quite rare since 9/11.

Did you try contacting X's Special Needs Department? Worth a try.

I also suggest contacting the special needs department. The worst they can say is no. Also, have you tried doing a "social story" with your child to help prepare for your cruise such as this: http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/Autism_Social_Story_Booklet.pdf

FYI, there are also special cruises with a program called Autism at Sea. Good luck and enjoy your cruise.

Procedures in Southampton are different than procedures in the US. Generally visits like yours are not allowed, and your only chance is that the Special Needs Department can pull some strings for you.

But in the meantime, there are literally hundreds of video tours out there on the web, start with a search on youTube and you'll find many there.

I did a ship tour last month when in Cartagena Spain on the Reflection. I'd noticed a few weeks earlier that the SeaDream1 would also be in port, so sent a query to them. There was an e-form I needed to complete, but everything was pretty straight forward. My traveling companion and I got a champagne welcome and tour. I ended up booking a Spring TA. ( am a little weary of the big ship experience so will see how it goes on something much smaller!)

Thanks everyone. We’ve been doing social stories, watching videos on the ship itself and on how cruise ships work (he was afraid it would tip over). I’ll try the Special Needs Department again. They were incredibly unhelpful the last time we spoke. The woman I spoke to was rude and never followed up on an accommodation we asked for that she wasn’t sure they could provide (flexible age grouping for my teen - who is also autistic).

At minimum we’ll drive to Boston and show him the ship. Figured it was likely a long shot.

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They are pretty strict about the age groupings of the Fun Factory & Teen Club. I would not look for them to make any change for your child. I am sure they have their reasons, but it never hurts to ask.

The rules for non-passengers visiting ships are completely different when you are in the US as opposed to elsewhere. Also the rules vary with other cruise lines. Crystal, for instance, lets current passengers invite a guest to join them for a day for a fee. They need to fill out forms, surrender their passport, check in and check out. All logical procedures but nothing Celebrity has ever been interested in offering within the US.

On the other hand, day passes are available in European ports. Friends got married on a Celebrity ship in Southampton, with all their family in attendance for the ceremony and reception, and everyone but the bride and groom left the ship about an hour before it sailed. This would not have been possible in a US port.

Crystal, for instance, lets current passengers invite a guest to join them for a day for a fee. They need to fill out forms, surrender their passport, check in and check out. All logical procedures

Azamara also in Montreal after the TA in 2016.

They are pretty strict about the age groupings of the Fun Factory & Teen Club. I would not look for them to make any change for your child. I am sure they have their reasons, but it never hurts to ask.

 

The rules for non-passengers visiting ships are completely different when you are in the US as opposed to elsewhere. Also the rules vary with other cruise lines. Crystal, for instance, lets current passengers invite a guest to join them for a day for a fee. They need to fill out forms, surrender their passport, check in and check out. All logical procedures but nothing Celebrity has ever been interested in offering within the US.

 

On the other hand, day passes are available in European ports. Friends got married on a Celebrity ship in Southampton, with all their family in attendance for the ceremony and reception, and everyone but the bride and groom left the ship about an hour before it sailed. This would not have been possible in a US port.

Actually, Celebrity advertises age group flexibility in their kids clubs for their autistic passengers. They promote their autism training but this woman couldn’t answer a single question about accommodations listed on their website.

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Crazy random question: other than TAs, has anyone heard of guest passes to tour a ship while it’s in port?

 

We are fortunate to live close enough to Boston to take a ride in to see the Summit over July 4th. We’ll be on her 2 weeks later. My autistic son is super anxious about the trip. I doubt they ever allow this for safety reasons, but figured I’d ask. But at minimum we’ll take him in, park at my cousin’s and walk over so he can see the ship.

 

Not even his first cruise but then autism always keeps us hopping!

 

 

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Whilst I appreciate that autism is a spectrum and manifests itself differently in different people, I hope that I can reassure you a little about your son's autism and cruising. We took a family cruise to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday and my autistic nephew was included in our party.

The cruise was not on a well designed Celebrity ship and was challenging to navigate. Within a few hours, my nephew knew his way round the ship and was able to direct us when we became lost. He also learned the opening times of every bar and restaurant. We needed no other guide. At the end of the cruise, we asked what he had like about cruising and his answer was "everything".

The only issue we had was that he kept losing his seapass card.

Whilst I appreciate that autism is a spectrum and manifests itself differently in different people, I hope that I can reassure you a little about your son's autism and cruising. We took a family cruise to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday and my autistic nephew was included in our party.

 

The cruise was not on a well designed Celebrity ship and was challenging to navigate. Within a few hours, my nephew knew his way round the ship and was able to direct us when we became lost. He also learned the opening times of every bar and restaurant. We needed no other guide. At the end of the cruise, we asked what he had like about cruising and his answer was "everything".

 

The only issue we had was that he kept losing his seapass card.

Remember to use a lanyard on his next trip.

OP family could still take a ride to see the outside of the ship...if it can be viewed from a spot outside of the secured port area. Not familiar with Boston but there might be a spot.

Concept worked great for our local airport with a toddler before air travel...just a look around, see the planes beyond the fence...but of course could not go thru sec lines. helpful anyhow,