My review of the BSoA cruise with Autism Adventure Travel on RC Navigator of the Seas

[Texas4808]

Let me start by saying that if you have an Autistic child and are afraid of taking a cruise, just know that there are a couple of companies out there that can help your family make the best of the situation. Here’s my experience with one of those companies, Autism Adventure Travel (AAT) and with Royal Caribbean (RC).

 

On to the review…

 

The board of our group, Blue Skyes over Autism, decided on Royal Caribbean this year mostly because of the ports but also because they seem to have more activities that are applicable to our kids than other cruise lines. I don’t necessarily think they are any more “Autism Friendly” than the other companies but that they do have more kid related activities. My kid likes to walk, so the Promenade is a good thing especially during inclement weather.

 

We are based out of the Houston area, so to save money, we go out of Galveston. RC has 2 runs out of Galveston, those are Cozumel, Belize Honduras and Cozumel, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. We chose the latter and found the Montego Bay Autism Center online and made plans to meet the families who have children who go to that school.

 

After discovering that AAT was a sponsor of SNAP and the owner soon to run a SNAP chapter, we booked our cruise on the Navigator of the Seas with AAT and are proud to say that we were their first group cruise. The guy who co-founded and served as Group Director for many years at AAT's competitor recently founded SNAP. I figured that he wouldn't have them on his website if AAT wasn't a competent organization. That assumption proved to be correct.

 

The booking process was extremely smooth. We had 16 cabins booked with them and AAT had 9 staff members at our disposal. AAT did a wonderful job of accommodating each request we made of them and actually proactively asked suggested other things that we wound up doing.

 

The ship has been remodeled and looks great. I love the Flowrider that was added. The RC group coordinator, Luciana Trejo, whom I had met last year, was fantastic. Luciana went out of her way to work with Ashley Berg at AAT to maximize the experience for our families. Luciana was extremely professional and complimentary of the work we do at BSoA.

 

At the end of the cruise, Luciana and I both agreed that this cruise was much better than last year’s mostly because of the stellar job AAT did communicating with RC. No complaints were lodged by anyone in our group. Our group owes a big thank you to Luciana and Ashley as well as their talented staff members.

 

Boarding the ship was flawless. AAT had actually picked up 1 BSoA family and brought them to their hotel in Galveston. We were met by smiling AAT faces and escorted to a private check in spot with chairs and staff to help with the kids as we checked in. We also had a great deal of boxes of stuff for the school in Jamaica that Ashley’s staff made sure it made it to the conference room where it was stored under lock and key until we departed the ship in Jamaica. AAT also had reserved seating for us for lunch that day so that our group could all sit together as we waited for our rooms to be ready.

 

During the group muster drill, we handed out the gift bags for the BSoA families which consisted of things BSoA purchased for the families and things the families purchased and or made for each other. We also received from AAT backpacks for every kid (not just the Autistic ones) and shirts for everyone. It was a perfect day. We also ran across a family on an individual cruise with the AAT competitor that we invited to the muster drill. They were an extremely nice family that we had the pleasure of talking to a few times throughout the cruise.

 

As far as dining goes, another great job of planning. AAT had staff seated at all our tables to help out if needed. We had the dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we wanted so that was nice too. For individuals who were on gluten free casein free diets, RC was made aware and was so helpful. A few times at Dinner, RC allowed my wife or me to order food for our son (and whichever one was with him) and deliver it to our cabin. That was so very kind and considerate of the Head Waiter. Gotta say that RC did well by our group.

 

As is with their competitor, AAT had a host of private events for those sailing with them. Based on past experience, AAT covered all the usual events. They also added a couples night retreat which I thought was genius. Mostly because of the reasons that we go on the ship, Mom and Dad get to do something together. AAT swooped up the kids and paid for a private venue complete with food and drinks for the Mom’s and Dad’s to have a social night. Best night of the cruise. Arm around the wife while laughing and smiling with our friends and our son being watched by a trained professional (whom Kevin loved).

 

When we were in Grand Cayman, we got on buses and headed to the beach with AAT in tow (at no charge). Our family was lucky enough to get on the bus to get an Arnold Kids Concert experience. We loved it. Both buses pulled up, a great time was had by all and we were back to the ship on time. Sure Autism meltdowns happened but AAT staff ran to help calm the situation and redirect the kid.

 

The next day was the big day. So much work had happened before that day to ensure it went as smooth as possible. Adama at the Montego Bay Autism Center and I talked about what the day would look like. I talked to Ashley. Ashley talked to Luciana and to Adama. Things went very well because we were all on the same page. Jamaican Customs were tough to deal with but AAT helped us tremendously with them because AAT made sure we had all the right forms filled out correctly before we ever boarded the ship. AAT was on the phone with Jamaican customes before we ever boarded e ship.

 

AAT carried all the items down, stood with me as the were inspected by customs, got the buses inside the compound, helped with the kids who were waiting while this was all going down, loaded the buses , brought the families to the buses and went with us.

 

We went to a park where we met several families from the MBAC. There was food and drink there. We mingled with these awesome families, who had no idea how excited we were to meet with them. There was a formal presentation to the crowd of which I was a part of. There was a question and answer session with the families from Jamaica where we shared experiences as families living with Autism. AAT staff also took part answering questions that were aimed toward education and therapy. BSoA family members also took the mic to share there experiences as well.

BSoA and AAT had backpacks filled with goodies for every kid from MBAC. I’d call the name of the kid and looking for the smiling bundle of frenetic joy that I would soon be giving a hug and a backpack too. That was so heartwarming, as to all of us this was about so much more than just going on a family cruise. It was about plugging in another piece of the Autism puzzle. We gave the school a computer, a printer, 2 iPads, 2 Galaxy tablets, a therapy swing, a laminator and a whole bunch of other stuff. We gave as much as we got that day because those families we met were so genuine and sweet.

 

I had a tear running down my face as they handed these 3 engraved silver Autism puzzle pieces to me. On one side they read “It Takes Teamwork” and the other it said “Mobay Autism Center”. It sits on my desk at work as a reminder of those new friends in Jamaica and also of the families from Belize last year. My family and the BSoA treasurer rode back with Adama and her husband in their car to the port. They have no children with Autism but saw a need to give back to what Adama refers to as “her babies”. Those precious kids in Jamaica are in good hands.

 

The next day, we went to Cozumel where we did a beach excursion similar to Grand Cayman. AAT went with us, a great time was had and everyone got back safe and sound.

 

The group picture for BSoA and AAT went as well as gathering a group of Autistic kids together and asking them to stand in 1 spot can go. AAT also arranged for our BSoA board picture and that went well too.

 

One BSoA family had requested to renew their vows on the ship after 10 years of marriage. RC was going to charge $650 for us to reserve the chapel and for a minister to officiate. We figured it was a no go until AAT went to bat for us. We got the chapel at no-charge and were able to get one of our Autism Dad’s now lovingly known as Rev to officiate. It was absolutely perfect. AAT watched our kids while we witnessed a heartwarming event.

 

I got nothing but compliments from our families on not only the amount of respite time that we got as compared to years past but of the excellent service that was provided to us. To a person, every AAT staff member said they were , humbled by not only our families but by the love our families showed to strangers in another country bound together by the love and dedication for their children. I almost felt guilty at the amount of time those volunteer staff members gave to our families. It was amazing.

 

For me, as the leader of the group, I can honestly say because of the work that AAT and RC did in coordinating this wonderful event that it was the very first time it was a stress free cruise. I owe them both a huge debt of gratitude as do our families for making this a wonderful time in our lives.

 

May God continue to bless and look over every individual with Autism as well as their family and those who love, educate and provide therapy to them.

 

Happy cruising!

Edited May 19, 2014 by Texas4808

[The Mister]

Thank you for this more detailed review, 4808. While I still feel perfectly comfortable doing our individual cruise with AOTS this fall, I am happy to know that I have options for next year, since my family is thinking about doing a group cruise next time.

 

(Also, I see what you did there. You have an amazing way with words. :) )

Edited May 20, 2014 by The Mister

[autismail]

Mr Texas, you are AMAZING, LOL!!!!