Royal Caribbean becomes first ‘autism friendly’ cruise line
Royal Caribbean International has become the first cruise line to gain ‘autism friendly’ certification for its entire fleet of ships.
Bronze level certification has been awarded by Autism On the Seas, a cruise vacation services organisation for families with children with special needs.
RCI’s fleet will achieve silver level accreditation by the end of 2014.
The certification process requires a ship to conform to certain standards of care, availability of amenities and best practice including staff training and awareness, adapted cabin accommodations and special dietary options.
It also includes priority boarding and dedicated services for special needs groups, and equal access to amenities, with appropriate autism friendly modifications for children’s activities.
According to the cruise line’s executive vice president of operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Royal Caribbean has been working with Autism On the Seas for more than seven years.
The organisation said it is also working on certifying other cruise lines including Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line.
There are four levels in the certification process – bronze, silver, gold and diamond.
Report by TravelMole US
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025