Celebrity Cruises Receives "Autism Friendly" Certification From Autism On The Seas

Hi all,

Sharing this announcement:

“Autism Friendly” Designation Certifies and Ensures Celebrity Cruises’ Services, Venues and Amenities are Accessible to Guests with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities

In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Autism on the Seas™ (AotS), the leading travel organization catering to vacationers with autism and other developmental disabilities, today announced that Celebrity Cruises has received the Silver Level “Autism Friendly” certification from AotS. The important designation qualifies the modern luxury cruise line’s efforts to accommodate guests with autism and developmental disabilities for inclusion and participation in its cruise vacation experience. Effective immediately, the Celebrity Cruises fleet* is Silver Level certified “Autism Friendly”, with dedicated onboard youth staff specially trained in autism awareness by AotS.

As a Silver Level-certified cruise line, Celebrity has implemented best practices to accommodate vacationers with special needs, along with the introduction of new Autism Friendly products and services. Celebrity’s Fun Factory youth program for ages 3 – 11 also will offer families the option to participate in the onboard autism friendly toy-lending program, which includes the opportunity to enjoy the borrowed products in the comfort of the guest’s stateroom or around the ship.

Autism on the Seas supports the unique autism friendly toy lending catalog offered by Celebrity Cruises and Fat Brain Toys. Providing top-rated products with both play and educational value, Fat Brain Toys is one of the most highly regarded toy companies by occupational, physical and play therapists.

About Autism on the Seas Cruise Line “Autism Friendly” Certification Standard & TrainingAutism on the Seas Cruise Line Autism Friendly Certification Standard is designed as a guideline for cruise lines to ensure their pre-cruise and onboard services, venues and amenities are accessible for inclusion and participation by the autism and developmental disability community. The reasonable accommodations to comply with this Standard are, and can be, customized to each cruise line’s policies, procedures and ships, to ensure sustainability and effectiveness in retaining the scope and intent of the certification.

Certifications are awarded by individual ship. Depending on the certification level, ships may be required to conform to seven categories, including:

1. Cruise Staff Training
   
2. Youth Program
   
3. Pre-Vacation Planning & Services
   
4. Dining/Dietary
   
5. Disability Accommodations
   
6. Guest Satisfaction & Feedback
   
7. Support for “Cruises with Autism on the Seas Staff”
   

Four Autism Friendly Certification Levels

There are four levels of certification, each progressing with increased levels of staff training.

Bronze Certification: Confirms the ship’s readiness to accommodate guests with autism and other developmental disabilities to provide equal access onboard services and amenities. Some of the reasonable accommodations include providing sensory related toys and cruise social story, autism friendly modification to youth activities (where appropriate), autism friendly movies, priority boarding, dietary offerings (including gluten free and dairy free), and several modifications to services for groups of guests with disabilities. See AutismontheSeas.com for a full list.·

Silver, Gold and Diamond Level: Focuses on increased staff training. Silver Level ensures that all Youth Staff have received basic awareness training in autism and other developmental disabilities. Gold Level ensures that all Youth Staff have received advanced training, and we provide other shipboard staff with basic awareness training. Diamond Level ensures that we provide “hands-on” training for our Youth Staff.

Visit AutismOnTheSeas.com for a list of Certified Ships and details on the Certification Standard Criteria.

Congrats to Celebrity!

Well Done Celebrity!

Thanks for sharing with us. Kudos !

As someone with an autistic loved one, I say congratulations, and thanks.

Fabulous Celebrity! :)