What’s included in an Alumni Cruise
price that’s not included in a regular cruise price?For those never before cruisers let’s cover what a regular cruise price covers. Accommodations,
gourmet meals in the dining rooms & cafes’ and snacks throughout the day. Even 24 hr room service. All
of your entertainment, use of the fitness center, sports equipment, ship sponsored activities and more
are included.
Alumni Cruises includes all of the above and more. Please go to our
What’s Included page for Alumni Cruises Exclusive Services
and Private Autism Group
Activities.
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Will Alumni Cruises Staff members be onboard with us?
Yes, there will be at least one Autism Group
Specialist (with more as required), as well as Cruise
Concierges from Alumni Cruises. Please visit our
Staff
page.
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What do the Alumni Cruises Staff members do onboard?
We are onboard to ensure your cruise meets and exceeds your expectations. We will be there as your personal concierges, providing you with assistance in any matters or requests you may have. We will be available 24 hours a day and just a phone call away. We will also be coordinating all group activities.
See the
What's Included
page for details of the
activities.
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Can I book this cruise through another travel agent or Royal Caribbean?
Yes you can. BUT IF YOU purchase a cabin through an outside source (another Travel Agent, Royal Caribbean, etc.), you will be EXCLUDED from all
Autism Family Cruise related events and activities.
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Can we book this cruise
even if no one has autism in our immediate family or in the same cabin on the cruise?
Yes, everyone is welcome to join us, and there are no
restrictions or special criteria to book this cruise!!!
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PASSPORT INFO: What Travel Documents and identification do I need?
Passports
will be required for all U.S. citizens traveling by sea
(on a cruise), as of
June 1, 2009
including children and infants.
Click here to find out more on what you will need.
Click here to find out
WHERE to get your Passport
Click here to find out
HOW
to get your Passport
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How early do I need to arrive if I make my own travel arrangements?
You should plan to arrive at the pier at least two hours before the ship is scheduled to depart. Boarding times varies by itinerary. Please check your cruise ticket booklet for confirmed boarding time. It is your responsibility to arrive on time. In preparation for prompt departure, cruise check-in will close 30 minutes prior to sailing. Guests arriving after will not be permitted to board.
See
the
Transportation - Air / Ground
page for more info.
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What will I be charged if I cancel?
Please see our
Booking / Pricing Page
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Can I use my Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor numbers on this cruise?
Yes you can use your Crown & Anchor numbers to get credit for your cruise and receive your coupon booklets from RCCL, on all Alumni Cruises. Either give your C & A numbers when you register or you can make sure you fill them in, on the RCCL website when you do your pre-boarding information online, just before the cruise.
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Are there
Cruise Line sponsored children's programs onboard?
Yes, RCL's award winning Adventure Ocean Youth
Program is included in your price.
Fun isn't just for adults at Royal Caribbean,
as exciting programs for guests of all ages, starting at just 6 months old
are offered! And you can feel confident leaving your children, over three years of age, with
RCCL staff because every member of holds a college degree in education or other related field, or has qualified experience in working with children.
Please visit our
What's Included page
for information on Royal Caribbean's Staff Autism
Awareness program.
From 6-36 months of age, our tiniest guests and their parents are invited to participate in the Fisher-Price Aqua Babies and Aqua Tots Programs. Developed by Fisher-Price exclusively for Royal Caribbean International, these activities are hosted by trained youth staff. A parent or caregiver MUST accompany children during activity sessions.
Kids from 3-17 may take part in our complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program. Adventure Ocean was specially designed to blend educational activities with just plain fun.
See our
Special Potty Training Provisions.
Also visit our
What's Included page
to learn about our special Autism related
activities.
Click here to learn more about
RCCL’s Family Cruising.
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How will my child with
autism be grouped in the Adventure Ocean Youth Program?
Royal
Caribbean’s children program (Adventure Ocean), will
allow our families to choose which group their child
with autism will attend.
The regular rules, which we have exception to,
requires children to be grouped by their age.
Our children with autism will be put into the most
appropriate group based on their ability. Each
child's parents will have the opportunity to visit
each Adventure Ocean Group to decide which is the
most suitable for their child.
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Does
the ship cater to special Dietary and other Special needs?
Yes. Royal Caribbean makes
every effort to accommodate our guests' dietary and
disability requirements
whenever possible.
RCCL can accommodate special needs such as, Food
Allergies, Gluten-free, Vegetarian (except for
vegan/macrobiotic), Low-fat, Low-Sodium,
lactose-free/Soy Milk, Ensure, and
Kosher meals at no extra charge.
We also address the needs of people with
disabilities.
Click here to see our Access
on the Seas disability accommodations.
Alumni Cruises has
arranged specific services for our autism group.
Please visit our
What's
Included page to learn more.
Your choices can be selected on our
Booking
Form.
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What are the guidelines for Tipping (Gratuities)?
So that you can thank those who have made
your cruise vacation better than you could have
imagined, Royal Caribbean has developed these gratuity
guidelines:
|
Suite attendant: |
$5.75 USD |
a day per guest |
|
OR |
|
|
|
Stateroom attendant: |
$3.50 USD |
a day per guest |
| |
|
|
|
Dining Room Waiter: |
$3.50 USD |
a day per guest |
|
Assistant Waiter: |
$2.00 USD |
a day per guest |
|
Headwaiter: |
$.75 USD |
a day per guest |
Note: These gratuities apply to guests of
all ages and are at your discretion for the service you
receive. Gratuities for other service personnel
are at your discretion. A 15% gratuity will
automatically be added to your bar bill or wine check
when you are served.
Envelopes for gratuities will be provided
in your stateroom on the last night of the cruise.
Gratuities may be paid in the following ways:
1. Pre paid by having them added to your reservation by
Alumni Cruises.
2. Added to your onboard SeaPass account.
3. Paid in cash at the end of the cruise.
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Can an individual with autism
participate in activities if he or she is not potty
trained?
The guidelines for individuals with
autism who are not
potty trained are as follows:
If an individual is less than 3 years of age
by the cruise date, then:
- Participation
IS allowed in the Fisher-Price Aqua Babies
and Aqua Tots
Programs. This program requires parents to participate as well.
- Participation IS NOT allowed in the
Adventure Ocean Program. This
program is for individuals 3 years or older.
- Participation IS allowed in the "Autism on
the Seas" activities and
events.
If an individual is more than 3 years of age
by the cruise date, then:
- Participation
MAY BE allowed in the Fisher-Price Aqua
Babies and
Aqua Tots Programs, if the parent feels this is the appropriate grouping
for their child. This program requires parents to participate as
well.
Special restrictions may apply here, please contact Alumni Cruises if
you have any questions.
- Participation IS allowed in the Adventure
Ocean Program. A consent
form must be completed by a parent or guardian, and:
• A pager,
walkie-talkie or ship phone is required to allow the
counselors the ability to
reach a parent if necessary.
• One
Parent or guardian must be present on the ship
whenever
their child is in
the program.
- Participation IS allowed in the "Autism on
the Seas" activities and
events.
Please contact
Alumni Cruises if you have any questions.
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What are the dress
codes onboard?
There are three distinct
types of evenings onboard: casual, smart casual and
formal. Suggested guidelines for these nights in the
Main Dining Room
are:
Casual: Sport
shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women
Smart Casual:
Jackets and ties for men are suggested, but a collared
shirt (no tie)
is acceptable, dresses or pantsuits for women
Formal:
Suits/jackets and ties or tuxedos for men, cocktail
dresses for women
3 to 4 night cruises
include one formal night and the remainder nights are
casual.
5 night cruises
include one formal and the remainder nights casual.
6 night cruises
include two formal nights, one smart casual and the
remainder nights casual.
7 to 9 night cruises
include two formal nights, one smart casual night and
the remainder nights casual.
10 to 13 night cruises
include three formal nights, two smart casual nights,
and the remainder nights casual.
14+ night cruises
include three formal nights, four smart casual nights
and the remainder nights casual.
Please try to conform to these guidelines as close as
possible for your children, although the cruise line is
more lenient with them.
Exemption for Dinner Dress Code
People with
Autism have been granted a complete
exemption
to these
guidelines, so they may wear whatever they are most
comfortable wearing, when attending Dinner in the Main
Dining Rooms.
REMEMBER:
You always have the option of eating at the buffet
restaurant(s), where the dress code is always Casual.
Please note:
Ice skating on the Voyager and Freedom Class Ships
requires that all skaters wear long pants and socks (Capris
and long shorts are permitted).
Rock Climbing Wall and Trampolines require that all
participants wear socks.
