When I took my first cruise I was completely unprepared for what it would actually be like. I read and watched a lot about cruises but as most of the content was aimed at a general audience it didn’t cover what I needed to know as an autistic person.
I’ve written this article to try to provide the information autistic people need but as all autistic people are different, there may be questions you have that I haven’t answered. Please feel free to ask them and I will answer.
What should autistic people know before booking a cruise?
Itineraries can change with no notice. This can on rare occasions include a change of final port.
If you travel solo, some cruise lines will charge an extortionate solo supplement while some have rooms specifically for solos.
Cruise cabin walls can be thin which can be bad for autistic people who need quiet and those who need to be able to make noise.
Internet is extremely expensive on cruise lines and even with an international mobile phone plan, you can’t use your phone while at sea.
Some cruise ships allow smoking in open areas of the casino which means some ships smell of stale smoke.
Ships have accessibility officers who may be able to help make your cruise more accessible.
It’s often best to arrive in the city you’re cruising from the night before.
There is a ship wide tannoy and this includes in your cabin. Most announcements are limited to the public areas but if there’s an emergency it may be announced into your room.
What should I know when booking my cruise?
Cruise lines are all very different and you will find many cruisers have a specific line they prefer for different reasons. Personally, I tend to go with NCL because of their solo programme and because I can usually get the cruise at a good price. I would recommend reading around and choosing a cruise line that appeals to you, has the itinerary you want and works for your budget.
You may also want to think about the kind of ship you want to sail on. Small ships can feel calmer but bigger ships have more activities.
Next you need to choose your cabin type. The cheapest option is an inside room where you have no window or balcony. Personally, as an autistic person with line related sensory issues these cabins are pretty accessible for me. For others this can feel claustrophobic and you may want a window or balcony. It’s important to note that windows do not open so if you need fresh air in your cabin you will need a balcony.
After choosing your cabin you will have a choice of different fares with most cruise lines. Some of these fares will only include the basics (a room, meals and onboard entertainment) and some will include drinks packages, dining upgrades and more. Each cruise line will have an explanation for what’s included. When choosing your package you should be aware that internet on cruise ships is expensive, think around the £20-30 range per day. So it may be cheaper to book a more expensive fare if you are going to need internet.
Most cruise lines have an option where you can pay less but you don’t get to choose your cabin. If budget is your main priority this may be the option for you but it does mean you could be in loud areas of the ship.
If you take an option where you can choose your own cabin you may want to consider booking a cabin in quieter areas of the ship. You can check out the deck plans to make sure you’re not above or below the night club or restaurants. I am very sensitive to noise so I like to make sure I’m far from the lifts too. Cruise ships can be noisy, even in quieter areas and on some ships you can hear everything from the cabins surrounding you and they can hear you too.
If you choose a lower deck you can sometimes hear the waves against the ship.
What should I know before I cruise?
It’s best to check in online. You can do this as the port but it’s chaotic when you do.
You will choose a time to embark when you check in. You will still need to queue when you arrive. if you need additional support to embark you are expected to request this in advance. Some people like to book the earliest time to get more time on the ship but this also means being on the ship a long time before cabins are ready so every single public area will be busy.
You may be asked to print off luggage tags. Don’t worry if you forget, they’ll provide them for you at the port.
You can let the cruise line know you’re autistic and they’ll let the onboard accessibility officer know.
Think carefully about what you pack. I’ve been caught out with the wrong clothes for the weather when I’ve forgotten to check the forecast for every place we’re sailing to. Luckily there are shops on board but they only open when you’re at sea, they’re expensive and the things available to buy vary from ship to ship.
It’s good to check what kind of plug sockets your ship has so you can bring the right adapters.
You will not get your luggage for a couple of hours after you embark and while rare, sometimes bags get lost. Pack your essentials in a carry on bag.
What happens on embarkation day?
If you need to fly into your first port, it’s best to arrive the day before in case of flight delays.
I rarely use the cruise lines airport transfers because they’re usually expensive but when I have, they’ve taken my luggage before I boarded the bus and then I’ve not seen it again until it was delivered to my cabin.
If you don’t take the cruise lines transfer, when you arrive at the cruise terminal you will need to give your luggage to cruise lines. Sometimes if you drive, they take this directly from your car and if you come by public transport or you walk, you just need to find the luggage drop off point and give them your luggage. If you forgot your tags you will need to get some from cruise staff. You’ll need your cabin number.
You then need to go into the terminal. If you’re early they may make you wait outside until it’s your time.
The terminal can get crowded and wait times can be long, if this will make it inaccessible for you then it’s best to contact the cruise line in advance, as you would with an airline.
When you reach the desk they’ll check your passport and reservation. They may need to take a photo of you if you didn’t provide one or the one you provided wasn’t clear.
Then they print your cruise card. This card is important because it’s your room key, your way to get on and off the ship and how you pay for things on the ship.
As you go onto the ship the cruise line will probably try to take your photo. Don’t worry if you’re someone who can’t say no, you don’t have to pay just because they take your photo, you only pay if actively go and buy the photo.
When you get on the ship you’ll need to go to your muster point. This is the place you’ll need to go to if there’s an emergency on the ship. Your muster point will be on your cruise card. The purpose of going there is just for the cruise line to assured you know where to go in an emergency. If you need support and have someone with you for support but they’re in a different cabin, you may have a different muster point. I would recommend contacting the cruise line in advance to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Then it’s just about waiting around for cabins to be ready. The ship is likely to be very crowded during this time as no one has a cabin to go to. Some cruise lines will provide quiet spaces for autistic people during this time.
What should I expect when I get to my cabin?
There are lots of videos online of different cabin types on various ships and I would recommend watching them to prepare for your cabin.
In your cabin you may have a mini bar. This is not free on many lines, even with a drinks package.
You should have a schedule for the day, this will outline everything that’s happening on the ship.
What are my dining options?
Usually there will be a main dining room where you can have complimentary three course sit down dinners as well as breakfast and sometimes lunch. There will be a buffet for all meals and most ships will have a few other complimentary dining options too.
There is room service on every ship I’ve been on. The food is free but you pay a delivery charge.
There are also usually more fancy restaurants that you have to pay for.
Dietary needs are catered for but it’s safest to let the cruise line know in advance if you have them.
What is there to do on the ship?
This varies from ship to ship. There is usually a swimming pool, hot tub and gym as a minimum with a spa that you have to pay extra for. Some ships have water slides, climbing walls, mini golf, go karting, surfing… they really have just about anything on cruise ships! some things you have to pay extra for.
There will also be a schedule of things going on throughout the day. This can include quiz’s treasure hunts, dance classes, lectures… it really varies from ship to ship.
Cruise ships that allow children on usually have kids clubs.
There’s usually a club and bars. The casino can only open when at sea due to varying gambling laws in different countries and licensing.
There’s often an arcade.
In the evenings there’s usually a show in the main theatre, this can include west end musicals, comedians, magicians and more. There will often be other entertainment in other venues on the ship like singers or comedians. There’s nearly always at least one karaoke night!
What do I need to know about going ashore?
The one thing I can’t emphasise enough is that you must be on the ship by all aboard time. Make sure you know what time this is before you leave the ship. The ship won’t wait for you if you’re late, unless you’re on one of their excursions.
If you struggle with time keeping or you’re nervous being in a new place, an excursion through the cruise line may be right for you. They are more expensive than other options but you’re guaranteed not to be left behind!
You always have the option of exploring a port on your own. You will need to check if the ship is actually docked in the city that’s advertised. For example, some cruise lines will advertise Southampton as being London. Equally you need to see how close the dock is to the areas you want to visit or if there’s transport options. Rome’s port, for example, is far from the centre of Rome but New York’s is very central.
There are other companies that offer excursions that can be better value but it’s best to check carefully to make sure they’re legitimate and reliable.
What if I get sick on the cruise?
If you have something potentially contagious you may be confined to your cabin.
Ships have medical centres where you can get treatment for some things but if you are very unwell or injured they will either transfer you to a hospital at the next port or you may be air lifted off the ship.
Will I be safe on the ship?
I feel safer on ships than anywhere else but there are bad people on ships, the same as anywhere else and you still need to be careful. I’ve seen fights on ships, people being harassed, and someone was even killed on a ship recently. There are cameras everywhere and security on board, they can hold people in their onboard prison (I don’t know if that’s what’s it’s called but it’s basically what it is!). So there are things to keep you safe but you still need to be careful.
There are additional risks on ships of falling overboard. There are barriers, some higher than others, but you need to take precautions.
Are there hidden charges?
Some cruise lines have a service charge which is not always included in your fare.
Cruise ship will try to upsell you on everything. Be prepared that if you use the spa, or even take a tour of the spa, they will try to sell more to you and they are very pushy in their sales tactics.
Some activities come at an extra fee. This will usually be advertised as having an additional fee.
Excursions are usually not included in the fare.
What happens on the last day?
It’s best to keep an eye on your bill to make sure there are no extra charges so you can sort this before you leave the ship. Make sure you’ve either paid your bill in cash or you’ve got a card on file. You will be stopped from leaving the ship if your bill is not paid.
You will usually have to be out of your cabin early. The cruise lines I’ve sailed on have an 8am deadline for leaving your cabin. You can leave your luggage outside of your cabin the night before if you want your luggage taken ashore or you can carry your own luggage off.
Breakfast will be available on the last day.
You will usually be given a specific time to leave the ship and announcements will be made. These announcements will sometimes be made directly into cabins.
Sometimes immigration is done on the ship a couple of days before you disembark but if it’s not, you will need to go through immigration after getting off the ship. Sometimes you need to go through security too but not always
I hope this has been helpful! Happy cruising.
Travel Autistic 