Cruising with Down Syndrome Children

[Wennfred]

I have a friend that wants to cruise next year with his family, one of his children is a 23 year old down syndrome girl. The question he had asked was, if his girl can join one of the Camp Carnival club events?

 

If anyone has any experience with this matter, please post, any info would be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Fred

[Tbay-eh]

I have a friend that wants to cruise next year with his family, one of his children is a 23 year old down syndrome girl. The question he had asked was, if his girl can join one of the Camp Carnival club events?

 

If anyone has any experience with this matter, please post, any info would be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Fred

 

I know someone will have a definite answer to your question but also make sure to contact special needs department and check out the family board - it has a wealth of information and I believe this particular issue is dealt with. It has been years since I have gone to it.

[jimbo5544]

I agree, check the site and I would call Carnival as well and talk to someone in guest services. Let us know how you make out.

[Tantra1]

I hope it all works out for them and their daughter can enjoy the cruise.

 

When I first met my exwife's 6 year old brother who has Down's Syndrome we became best buddys. I would have enjoyed being with him on a cruise to see all the fun he would have had. Unfortunately when my ex and I parted 10 years later it was the last time I got to see him again.

 

Best of luck to them.

 

Cheers!

[firefly333]

Iv read that you have to go to the program and its up to them to decide on a case by case basis if the adult downs person can stay or not. Might depend on how busy they are too?

 

Im doubting there is a policy to allow it, but I know its been done.

[mapleleafmama]

My DH and I travelled with our daughter Beth this past summer on the Freedom. She is 28 and has Down Syndrome. We did not approach Carnival about Camp Carnival but we certainly made contact with the special needs department. She had an awesome time and everyone was wonderful to her which makes our holiday enjoyable.

Cathy

[CruisinManiac]

I have doubts that this can be done. No matter what the disability, an adult child - in size, mixed in with smaller children may cause problems. I know that in our city schools, a disabled child is no longer able to attend elementary school after turning the age of 18. It's more of a safety reason.

 

Does your friends daughter currently attend a Camp Carnival type of environment?

 

I think you have brought up an excellent question, though. When we cruised on another line, there was what I believe to be a group home of Down Syndrome young men cruising with us. They had the best time at the parties out on the decks at night. :D Boy, could they dance! I noticed that there were at least two or three care providers with the men. Perhaps your friend could look into bringing a care giver along for child sitting.

[c&d]

I travel with my sister who has a Developmental disability due to illness as a toddler.

 

On several of our cruises we have spoke with a adult persons with developmnetal disabilites many of these passengers are travelling with family members or Some passengers are from group homes cruising with a care givers.

 

We have also cruised with children with developmental disabilities. These children attend camp carnival with their age approiate group. Participate in all the activities as the children without developmental disabilites do. Thanks to Camp Carnival the parents of a child with a disability are given free time as are the parents of children without a disability.

 

I am a strong advocate for persons withe developmental disabiliites. However I guess what I am saying is camp carnival is intended for children regardless if have any disability or not.

 

A adult child regardless if they have a developmental disability or not is a adult not a child. Regardless if they are a child age 23 or 50 travelling with a parent age 50 to 75.

[Wennfred]

My DH and I travelled with our daughter Beth this past summer on the Freedom. She is 28 and has Down Syndrome. We did not approach Carnival about Camp Carnival but we certainly made contact with the special needs department. She had an awesome time and everyone was wonderful to her which makes our holiday enjoyable.

Cathy

 

 

Does your friends daughter currently attend a Camp Carnival type of environment?

 

 

it's their very first cruise, Thank you all for great responses.

 

 

Fred

[donaldsc]

I understand the difficulty of traveling with someone with a mental disability. However, if I had a child in Camp Carnival, I would be very uncomfortable if there was someone who was 23 in the same class with my child.

 

DON

[Cruzman]

I have been cruising with my 26 year old daughter who has DS since 1999. Her appearance would suggest that she is much younger, but since cruise lines have computerised everything, she is no longer allowed to participate in Camp Carnival activities. Recently, I have found that she loves to play the penny slots. Problem is that no one believes she is old enough to be in the casino, so I have to stand there with her ID in hand in order to avoid being harassed by the staff. Having a handicapped child has it's challenges.

[pe4all]

Fred - while I highly doubt Carnival will allow a 23 year old into the Camps, or Club 02, there is plenty for a disabled person to do on board. DD22 is high functioning special needs - not Down Syndrome or Autistic- and loves to cruise. 90% of the time she hangs with us, as we are uneasy sending her off on her own, (she has a minor uncontrollable seizure disorder) as we don't want anyone to take advantage of her in any way. She plays bingo, swims, sunbathes, goes to the piano bar, casino, shows, comedy clubs, disco, etc. She has language processing problems, (besides other issues - none behavioral) and the staff is very patient with her in the dining room, and anywhere else on the ship. (much more so than we are) We get about 1 hour of "down" time a day, when she wants to be alone in the cabin to listen to her ipod, read her magazines, etc. She loves to sit on the balcony with us and relax. If or when we leave her in the cabin, it is with a walkie talkie, and we get some adult time. (no balcony allowed without us there) We are lucky, as she is a great traveler. She looks around 16 years old and is petite, and she loves being "proofed" in the casino when she orders her virgin pina colada!:D She actually talked dh into being in the hairy chest contest on our last cruise, and laughed her butt off the whole time!:eek: If you contact LHP, she may be able to help your friend with who to contact in the special needs dept. (she may stumble upon this thread herself) What I am saying is this - there are plenty of opportunities for disabled people to enjoy themselves on the cruise. DD22 can't wait till our Dream cruise, when she will turn "Platinum!!"

[c&d]

Fred - while I highly doubt Carnival will allow a 23 year old into the Camps, or Club 02, there is plenty for a disabled person to do on board. DD22 is high functioning special needs - not Down Syndrome or Autistic- and loves to cruise. 90% of the time she hangs with us, as we are uneasy sending her off on her own, (she has a minor uncontrollable seizure disorder) as we don't want anyone to take advantage of her in any way. She plays bingo, swims, sunbathes, goes to the piano bar, casino, shows, comedy clubs, disco, etc. She has language processing problems, (besides other issues - none behavioral) and the staff is very patient with her in the dining room, and anywhere else on the ship. (much more so than we are) We get about 1 hour of "down" time a day, when she wants to be alone in the cabin to listen to her ipod, read her magazines, etc. She loves to sit on the balcony with us and relax. If or when we leave her in the cabin, it is with a walkie talkie, and we get some adult time. (no balcony allowed without us there) We are lucky, as she is a great traveler. She looks around 16 years old and is petite, and she loves being "proofed" in the casino when she orders her virgin pina colada! She actually talked dh into being in the hairy chest contest on our last cruise, and laughed her butt off the whole time! If you contact LHP, she may be able to help your friend with who to contact in the special needs dept. (she may stumble upon this thread herself) What I am saying is this - there are plenty of opportunities for disabled people to enjoy themselves on the cruise. DD22 can't wait till our Dream cruise, when she will turn "Platinum!!"

 

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Last edited by pe4all; Today at 10:39 AM.

 

 

pe4all

 

Your comments about your daughter are extremely similiar to my sister and her cruise experience. She also has a minor seizure disorder due to her disability. My DH and I always make sure one of us is with her in the common areas as people do not understand a seizure and tend to over react.

 

Crusises are a excellent choice for a vacation for a family and a person with a disability. I have not yet met a crewmember who has not treated my sister with the same respect they show me.

[im4clowns]

I have been cruising with my 26 year old daughter who has DS since 1999. Her appearance would suggest that she is much younger, but since cruise lines have computerised everything, she is no longer allowed to participate in Camp Carnival activities. Recently, I have found that she loves to play the penny slots. Problem is that no one believes she is old enough to be in the casino, so I have to stand there with her ID in hand in order to avoid being harassed by the staff. Having a handicapped child has it's challenges.

 

My sister has DS and we too have been cruising with her since 1998 and she looks so much younger than her age that when we go to restaurants they bring her kids menus and she hates that. Like your daughter she loves the slots machine and we always have to show her id...we are cruising Nov 7th this year and she is turning 40 on Nov 12. she has the best times.

[CruisinManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruisinManiac

 

Does your friends daughter currently attend a Camp Carnival type of environment?

 

 

Answer:

it's their very first cruise, Thank you all for great responses.

 

Hey Fred,

 

No, I meant does the daughter attend something in her hometown that is like a Camp Carnival environment, such as a day care for children? Is she already mixed in with younger children at home? Was just wondering why your friends would want their daughter to go in a group of younger children, unless she is used to playing in that type environment. If it's so they can have some alone time without their daughter, then they would need to take a sitter, or hired a sitter onboard for nights out. ;)

[lillian marie]

I have a friend with a 20 yr old mentally disabled son and he was not allowed to go to Camp Carnival on their cruise. I would call CCL and discuss this with customer service=special needs before she books her cruise.

[pe4all]

Fred - while I highly doubt Carnival will allow a 23 year old into the Camps, or Club 02, there is plenty for a disabled person to do on board. DD22 is high functioning special needs - not Down Syndrome or Autistic- and loves to cruise. 90% of the time she hangs with us, as we are uneasy sending her off on her own, (she has a minor uncontrollable seizure disorder) as we don't want anyone to take advantage of her in any way. She plays bingo, swims, sunbathes, goes to the piano bar, casino, shows, comedy clubs, disco, etc. She has language processing problems, (besides other issues - none behavioral) and the staff is very patient with her in the dining room, and anywhere else on the ship. (much more so than we are) We get about 1 hour of "down" time a day, when she wants to be alone in the cabin to listen to her ipod, read her magazines, etc. She loves to sit on the balcony with us and relax. If or when we leave her in the cabin, it is with a walkie talkie, and we get some adult time. (no balcony allowed without us there) We are lucky, as she is a great traveler. She looks around 16 years old and is petite, and she loves being "proofed" in the casino when she orders her virgin pina colada! She actually talked dh into being in the hairy chest contest on our last cruise, and laughed her butt off the whole time! If you contact LHP, she may be able to help your friend with who to contact in the special needs dept. (she may stumble upon this thread herself) What I am saying is this - there are plenty of opportunities for disabled people to enjoy themselves on the cruise. DD22 can't wait till our Dream cruise, when she will turn "Platinum!!"

 

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Last edited by pe4all; Today at 10:39 AM.

 

 

pe4all

 

Your comments about your daughter are extremely similiar to my sister and her cruise experience. She also has a minor seizure disorder due to her disability. My DH and I always make sure one of us is with her in the common areas as people do not understand a seizure and tend to over react.

 

Crusises are a excellent choice for a vacation for a family and a person with a disability. I have not yet met a crewmember who has not treated my sister with the same respect they show me.

 

We try to give our daughter every possible chance in life to go forward and have a better life. We don't know what the future may bring for her or us - but we do know that, as long as she is with us, she will have every opportunity to enjoy herself!