Very highly functioning 18 yo daughter on RCCL??

[Jenzshoppin]

I have a 17 yo daughter with Asperger's. I believe she is more of a mild autism case in that she is very highly functioning (goes to a regular high school, gets A's in honors classes and has a high IQ) but she does not make friends and has some sensory issues.

We took her on a Carnival cruise and she didn't like the youth program because the kids all formed cliques. The staff were very kind but not very versed in autism.

On this cruise we also took my two older kids, 26 and 22. She was entertained by them but is very bored to hang out with just mom and dad. My older two will not be cruising with us for some time again so I need to find some other options.

I don't think Autism of the Seas would be appropriate because she is so highly functioning that she actually get along better with typical teens when she is prompted to socialize (she doesn't know how to socialize very well at all).

How is Royal with highly functioning young adults? She will be 18 the next time we cruise. Would she age down to the teen program? Does Royal have a teen program? Will the staff work to assign the teens to include her?

I'm worried that she will be bored to death cruising with just mom and dad. Oh, and she doesn't like hanging out with other people with ASD. Just to make it more difficult it seems! LOL

[harlekuin]

I thought I read on here that once you hit 18 you're no longer allowed in any of the teen programs. Is that correct?

[Jenzshoppin]

I thought I read on here that once you hit 18 you're no longer allowed in any of the teen programs. Is that correct?

 

I think that is true of a typical teen. I am wondering if they will age her down to the teen program since her maturity is a few years behind.

[xxoocruiser]

How is Royal with highly functioning young adults? She will be 18 the next time we cruise. Would she age down to the teen program? Does Royal have a teen program? Will the staff work to assign the teens to include her?

Regardless of medical condition your daughter ages out of the teen program being that she'll be 18 on the cruise. It presents a liability issue for RCCL having an adult in the teen program regardless of her having Aspergers .

[cb at sea]

Your daughter, if she's 18 when the cruise begins, will not be allowed in the clubs...she will have to do as others 18 and over do...simply do what adults do...but without the drinking! I know this might be difficult for her, but maybe not! Older kids are always seeking out others in their age groups...

 

If you could begin your cruise even a day prior to her 18th birthday, she would be allowed in the "teen" club for the duration. Not that the older kids actually USE the club, except as a way to meet others of their age.

[Jasukkie]

Eighteen is an adult. I would look at that as a positive. No more worries about cliques or questionable behavior. She can spend her time the way other adults do, minus alcohol. Read books, go to the gym, spa, shows, trivia etc. She may want to do a lot of that with you, or venture off on her own socially, which is the same as if you were sailing with any other friend or relative. Hopefully she will embrace the idea of being treated like an adult.

[ONECRUISER]

Teen kids on Royal usual group up and no real organized things like on the kids program, normally walk around not hanging in the teen room, So her being 18 really won't be missing much anyway. Autism at Sea is great program though for kids not Adults. Sorry but hopefully she enjoys the Cruise part of a Cruise, Dining, Ports and Shore excursions. Me a single parent had daughter 9-13 that didn't care for kids programs but enjoyed the typical Cruise stuff. We'd go to Ports, Eat Main Dining, shows and she loved watching Karaoke...

[lazydayz]

If you can manage it, maybe allow her to bring a friend. You might need two cabins, but each of you would then have your own space and someone to hang with.

[lbjen]

My then 13 year old daughter didn’t really enjoy the teen club for all the reasons you’re worried about, it’s not really structured and there weren’t any kids that were socially awkward like my daughter is. I don’t think she’ll bother with it on our next cruise tbh.

[Tee & Chilli]

Join your roll call. Your daughter may form a friendship prior to the sailing.

[Rala]

Your daughter, if she's 18 when the cruise begins, will not be allowed in the clubs...she will have to do as others 18 and over do...simply do what adults do...but without the drinking! I know this might be difficult for her, but maybe not! Older kids are always seeking out others in their age groups...

 

If you could begin your cruise even a day prior to her 18th birthday, she would be allowed in the "teen" club for the duration. Not that the older kids actually USE the club, except as a way to meet others of their age.

 

I agree that some older teens may not use the club, but there are those who DO use the club (some of MY grandchildren), for example. If NO older teens used the club, then it would cease to exist due to non-usage. Please stop posting this incorrect information. :mad:

[LadyBeBop]

If you can manage it, maybe allow her to bring a friend. You might need two cabins, but each of you would then have your own space and someone to hang with.

 

I’d make sure her friend is at least 18 first. You don’t want a situation in which she’d be allowed in some places and not her friend. And vice versa.

[Laurin612]

Check with Royal, but I don't think she will be allowed to participate because she will be 18.

 

When we cruised on Adventure of the Seas in 2015 my kids did not like Royal's teen club. They said it was very disorganized. They LOVED Carnival's clubs, but I get what your daughter is saying about the cliques/friend groups that form early on in the cruise. That probably happens in all ship's teen clubs, though. That said, there are a lot of other activities that she might like to participate in.

[theSHAH]

Ofc this does not acknowledge your concerns about your daughter with ASD, but I recall being in the 18-21 range on my first RC cruise and it sucked. I was too old to do any of the teen club stuff, too young to actually drink and do any of the real adult stuff. It's a unfortunate 3 year gap

[Cruisin'Kim]

I have a daughter with high functioning asbergers as well, it can be difficult for them, do you think you may find some fun things to do with her? Our daughter loves being with her family where she is comfortable.

 

 

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[sea shepherd]

If you sail out of Europe at 18 she can do all the adults stuff. That might be a new experience for her.

 

 

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[Iaminspired]

I have 2 daughters with ASD Aspergers, one very mild who was 17 on our last cruise and one more severe but still very high functioning who was 20 on our last cruise. Both have very significant issues with anxiety and sensory over stimulation.

 

My older DD stopped going to the Teen Club when she was about 17 because it was too disorganized and many events that she looked forward to ended up being cancelled at the last minute. My younger DD never liked the kids' programs.

 

That said, Royal does say that as part of their Autism-friendly designation children with ASD can be put into the kids' program for their developmental rather than chronological age. It does not mention people who have aged out of the kids' program. It would be best to check with them once you are aboard.

 

My older DD has always found many things to entertain herself onboard. The vestibular input (large arcing motion of a rocking ship) really helps to calm both my children but it is extremely obvious with my older DD who can do much more on a ship than she can on dry land. My younger DD needs more stimulation and we do a lot together on a cruise, but she also wanders the halls and looks at the art, walks a lot, goes ashore with me and find things to do. The days are longer for her.

 

Contact Royal Special Needs and have her reservation marked as Autism and that may help with the over age admission to the Teen Club. We also do early Special Needs boarding and make arrangements for last off to avoid the crowds plus I arrange with guest services for a private muster drill since my children cannot function with the loud noise. I also speak to the waitstaff and head waiter as my children have some idiosyncrasies with eating.

 

We are seriously considering Autism on the Seas for a future cruise but to help my older DD manage independent cruising. I agree that they cater to a need level which is more intense than ours in many ways. My DD has spoken with them and they also embrace special needs adults with various diagnoses and need levels.

 

Good luck! I have always found cruising on Royal with autistic teens to be a very positive experience.

[spookwife]

How is Royal with highly functioning young adults? She will be 18 the next time we cruise. Would she age down to the teen program? Does Royal have a teen program? Will the staff work to assign the teens to include her?

I'm worried that she will be bored to death cruising with just mom and dad. Oh, and she doesn't like hanging out with other people with ASD. Just to make it more difficult it seems! LOL

 

at 18 she is an adult. she will be on her own.

[waterbug123]

I’d make sure her friend is at least 18 first. You don’t want a situation in which she’d be allowed in some places and not her friend. And vice versa.

 

Unless I'm forgetting something, the only thing she can do at 18 that a 17 yo friend can't is go to the casino, and I'm guessing the 18 yo in question probably isn't a gambler. If that's true, it wouldn't really matter if a friend who goes with her is 17 or 18.

 

 

Ofc this does not acknowledge your concerns about your daughter with ASD, but I recall being in the 18-21 range on my first RC cruise and it sucked. I was too old to do any of the teen club stuff, too young to actually drink and do any of the real adult stuff. It's a unfortunate 3 year gap

 

Other than drinking, what other "real adult stuff" do you mean? At 18 all venues are open to you, including bars where you can have a club soda or virgin colada or whatever. You can go to shows, dance, gamble in the casino, enjoy the adults-only solarium etc. Am I missing something? Are there a bunch of other activities onboard that are restricted to those 21 and older?

[gerif]

Unless I'm forgetting something, the only thing she can do at 18 that a 17 yo friend can't is go to the casino, and I'm guessing the 18 yo in question probably isn't a gambler. If that's true, it wouldn't really matter if a friend who goes with her is 17 or 18.

 

You need to be 18 to be in the disco after 10:00.

 

 

Other than drinking, what other "real adult stuff" do you mean? At 18 all venues are open to you, including bars where you can have a club soda or virgin colada or whatever. You can go to shows, dance, gamble in the casino, enjoy the adults-only solarium etc. Am I missing something? Are there a bunch of other activities onboard that are restricted to those 21 and older?

This is something I always wonder about when people complain there is nothing for the 18-20 group. No one knows or cares if their glasses contain soda or a virgin cocktail. They can do absolutely anything else those over 21 can do. We don’t hear complaints from say the 21-23 group that there are no special activities for them. I’m in the over 70 group - no special activities for me either.

[motherof]

My daughter didn't take her first cruise until she was in her 20s, so her experience may not be applicable to your daughter. That said, she loves cruising. It offers her a level of independence that she would not otherwise experience. She traveled with a friend our first two cruises, though this time (12/10/18 on Anthem) it looks as if it will just be her and us in adjoining rooms. She went to as many activities as possible, and there were days that we didn't see her until dinner. This time she wants a bigger ship with more activities (previous cruises were on Enchantment and Grandeur), so she will have plenty to do. I found that the staff really looked out for her and her friend, which was nice. They had a blast. Sign up for the same cruise and your daughter may have a ready-made friend. :D