PHOTO: Royal Caribbean's fleet is certified as autism-friendly. Pictured is Allure of the Seas. (courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)
Royal Caribbean International is the first cruise line to undergo training and be certified by an organization called Autism on the Seas, which caters to vacationers with autism and other developmental disabilities. Effective immediately, Royal Caribbean's entire fleet has been certified Bronze Level "Autism Friendly" and is expected to achieve Silver Level certification by the end of 2014.
"We are honored to be the first cruise line to achieve Autism Friendly certification," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, executive vice president of operations for Royal Caribbean International. "We have worked with Autism on the Seas for more than seven years to better provide accessible cruise vacation options for families with autism."
Bronze certification confirms the ship's readiness to accommodate guests with autism and other developmental disabilities and to provide equal access to onboard services and amenities. This can include providing sensory-related toys, autism-friendly modifications to youth activities, autism-friendly movies, priority boarding, and dietary offerings including gluten-free and dairy-free.
Higher levels of certification focus on staff training. The Silver level ensures that all youth staff received basic awareness training in autism and other developmental disabilities.
Founded in 2006, Autism on the Seas (AotS) is a niche travel company that organizes and staffs cruise and resort vacations for families and adult guests with special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other cognitive and intellectual developmental impairments.
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