- Welcome Message and select excerpts of our first year blog
- Our New Blog
- Contact us
- Travel Advice
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Flying-all you need to know before you book your next plane ticket>
- Cruising-planning the perfect cruise>
- Car Travel
- Traveling by bus...in style
- Hotels-Creating the ideal autistic friendly hotel room>
- Packing -101>
- Ask away -Autistic Globetrotting Free advice service>
- Tid bits-travel advice from our readers in 100 words or less
- Autistic Travels' Golden Rules
- Guidelines for travel agents
- Autisticals-a personal view of autistic travel
- US 10 best in
- The 10 best of Boston
- The best 10 of Hilton Head,South Carolina
- The 10 best of New York
- The 10 best of Alaska
- The 10 best of Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- The 10 best of Santa Fe and the surroundings
- The 10 best of Arizone-Grand Canyon
- The 10 best of Colonial Williamsburg,Jamestown and surroundinds
- The 10 best of Washington D.C.
- The 10 best of Las Vegas
- The 10 best of Boston
- International 10 best
- Mini autisticals- the darnest travel stories you'll hear
- The Sleeps-our biased and un biased hotel reviews
- The Eats-Tasty challenges from around the globe
- The Shops-what you can buy next
- Collector's Corner-How did these travel trinkets become a collection
- Recommended products
- Giveaways
- Monthly news roundup
- Interviews
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Q&A with Tal managing director of ALUTEVA-autistic hotel in Israel
- Eva Bronstein-Greenwald-special needs travel agent and founder of We Belong
- Q&A with Trip it's
- Q&A with David Intercontinental Tel Aviv
- Keri Bowers- film producer of 'Normal people scare me'
- Jamie Grover-Autism on the seas
- Peter Shears
- Clive-guide dog extraordinaire
- John Brown of 'Devyn and Dad' -an inspirational adventure across the United States
- Rose Niehaus Olsen Morris inventor of the safety sleeper bed
- Annette White,counselor for Camp Autism
- Colin Brennan-Canada's new singing sensation
- Dennis Debbaudt-autism safety expert
- Gisela Sedlmayer- author of 'Talon'
- Q&A with Jackie Longino founder of Aspietravel
- Inspirational travel stories by our guest writers
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- Brian R. King-Meltdown at the airport
- Joy's visit to the Aquarium
- Denise Klipsic-An incredible encounter with Princess Tiana
- Tanya Savko- Hope on a river
- Tiffany Robison-Great Wolf Lodge
- Fiona Westner Ramsay -Making-room-for-autism-in-your-canoe
- Laura Shumacher-Traveling with autism: a true story
- Phyllis Fanzo Lombardi-s -Vacation Time with Joey
- Kristina Chew-18 Miles On the Bikes At the Beach
- Jeff Katz-Chicago
- Margaret Ann Franklin's visit to the Great Northern Carousel in Helena Montana
- Claire Sarcone-Chessington the aspie way
- Elaine Hall-Tips for summer vacation
- Steve LHeureux -Autism "Outings" need to be planned and appropriate
- Kelly Green-The Gardens of Gilroy
- Wolfie Blue-Tips I learnt by traveling with my family
- Gluten free Disney cruise experience
- Danette Schott's-Revisiting family vacations
- North,Central and South America-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Alaska Cruise-USA and Canada
- Florida,Orlando-Universal Studios-looking for Harry Potter
- Florida,Orlando-Macy's mini parade in Universal Studios
- Florida-Everglades Park ,Miami,Key West
- Hawaii's big island with a glimpse of Pearl Harbor
- Louisiana,New Orleans-French Quarter,Christmas Parade,Nanchez Steamboat
- Louisiana,New Orleans-in the footsteps of Katrina,Garden district
- Massachussetts-Boston ,New England Coastal towns of NH and Maine
- New York-NYC
- New Mexico-Santa Fe and Bandoliers National Park
- Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
- Texas-San Antonio and Galveston
- Canada-Niagara Falls,Montreal,Quebec,Toronto
- Caribbean-Bahamas- the Atlantis resort
- Caribbean-Castaway Cay-Disney's bahamian paradise
- Caribbean-Roatan,Honduras>
- Caribbean-Grand Caymans-Hell,Turtles,Wild Hens and Stingrays>
- Mexico-Cabo San Lucas(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Puerta Vallarta (Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Acapulco and Manzanillo
- Mexico-Mazatlan(Mex Riviera)
- Mexico-Playa del Carmen's Xcaret eco park>
- Mexico-Tulum and XelHa Eco Park
- Yucatan,Mexico- Chichen Itza,Cozumel's Paradise Beach
- Arizona,The Grand Canyon
- Europe,Asia,Australia and New Zealand,Cruise ships-pictures,videos and AG's tips
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Austria-Salzburg
- Belgium-Antwerp ,Brussels
- Canary Islands-Lazarote
- Croatia-the walled town of Dubrovnik
- Denmark-Copenhagen
- France-Normandy's D day beaches>
- France- Cannes,Nice,Eze
- France-Paris
- Finland,Helsinki
- Germany-Munich,Dachau
- Germany-Romantic Road
- Ireland-Dublin
- Ireland -Cork,Blarney,Kinsale>
- N. Ireland-Belfast>
- N. Ireland's Giant Causeway
- N.Ireland-Carrick -a -Rede-rope bridge>
- Italy-Venice,Pompeii,Rome
- Italy-Florence,Messina and Taoramina
- Israel-Jerusalem>
- Israel-Masada and the Dead Sea>
- Israel-Tel Aviv>
- Morocco-Casablanca
- New Zealand-Rotarua
- New Zealand-Fjord Park,Dunedin,Christchurch
- New Zealand - Auckland and sheep farm
- The Netherlands-Amsterdam,Delft,The Hague,Rotterdam,Madurodam
- Sweden-Stockholm and the Archipelago
- Russia-St Petersburg's Palaces
- Scotland-Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
- Scotland-Edinburgh>
- Scotland-Inverness>
- Scotland-Loch Lommond,Luss,Sottish sheep show>
- Spain-Barcelona
- Spain-Cadiz and Seville
- Spain-The Alhambra Palace,view of Malaga
- Tasmania-Hobart
- UK-Liverpool and the Beatles>
- UK-London>
- UK-Stonehenge,Bath,Warwick Castle,Stratford on Avon,Oxford
- UK-Guernsey>
- Carnival -Legend
- Aboard the Carnival Legend
- Carnival -Ecstasy
- Carnival- Fascination
- Carnival Spirit
- Celebrity-Century
- Crown Princess>
- Sapphire Princess
- Royal Caribbean-Brilliance of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean-Mariner of the Seas (parades)
- Royal Caribbean- Mariner of the Seas
- Australia-Sydney and Melbourne
- Monthly guest's -Travel videos and pictures
- Web sites and blogs we follow
- Face Book discussions
- Guest Book
Five great reasons to hop on a cruise ship
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/4/8/4448415/7140771.jpg)
At first, many families with autistic kids tend to shy away from cruising, thinking that spending multiple days confined in a 'swim box' is simply horrifying. All they can imagine for their vacation days are endless stares and nasty comments from fellow passengers, dramatic meltdowns, and incessant whining from their own household members.
As I see it, cruises are not only a great value for the budgeted family,but present autistic travelers with many opportunities that may not be available in their daily lives,hence providing the perfect learning platform for some.
Some of the hidden'perks' of cruising people are not aware of are:
Exposure to an incredible variety of foods:
Between the main dining room and the buffet, your autistic traveler can sample many dishes that he or she were never exposed to (or liked before). Since tastes change, you never know if you might return home with a kid who is absolutely in love with mushrooms and asparagus!
Participation in group activities or games:
My son was always never waited for his turn and was always the sore loser in board games, which caused quite a scene when we played board games at home. However, the same kid didn't seem to mind waiting patiently and losing in bingo or trivia to other passengers!
A passion for collecting:
Cruising is the golden opportunity to collect both ship and port memorabilia. Ship memorabilia includes anything with the ship's name or logo on it, including the free daily newsletters. Port memorabilia is anything from the corny t-shirt/pen/cap souvenirs, to maps, napkins, or anything you decide to collect. I personally know of a person that collects soda caps from everywhere he goes, and has over a thousand so far, many in different languages.
Thrill seeking adventures:
Not everyday do you get to parasail the Caribbean, zip line a tropical forest, rock climb or ice-skate on-board, pet dolphins, manatees, or sea lions—now imagine doing that everyday for a week!
Socializing, socializing, and socializing:
Since autistic people are not going away, we should try to understand and include them in our everyday lives. Yes, while some kids are badly behaved, I have met some older folks I could swear were also on the spectrum. We all need to learn to be courteous to each other, so what better place than on a nice, relaxing cruise!
In conclusion, the more your children travel and are exposed to rules and regulations, the better they will function as future members of our society.
As I see it, cruises are not only a great value for the budgeted family,but present autistic travelers with many opportunities that may not be available in their daily lives,hence providing the perfect learning platform for some.
Some of the hidden'perks' of cruising people are not aware of are:
Exposure to an incredible variety of foods:
Between the main dining room and the buffet, your autistic traveler can sample many dishes that he or she were never exposed to (or liked before). Since tastes change, you never know if you might return home with a kid who is absolutely in love with mushrooms and asparagus!
Participation in group activities or games:
My son was always never waited for his turn and was always the sore loser in board games, which caused quite a scene when we played board games at home. However, the same kid didn't seem to mind waiting patiently and losing in bingo or trivia to other passengers!
A passion for collecting:
Cruising is the golden opportunity to collect both ship and port memorabilia. Ship memorabilia includes anything with the ship's name or logo on it, including the free daily newsletters. Port memorabilia is anything from the corny t-shirt/pen/cap souvenirs, to maps, napkins, or anything you decide to collect. I personally know of a person that collects soda caps from everywhere he goes, and has over a thousand so far, many in different languages.
Thrill seeking adventures:
Not everyday do you get to parasail the Caribbean, zip line a tropical forest, rock climb or ice-skate on-board, pet dolphins, manatees, or sea lions—now imagine doing that everyday for a week!
Socializing, socializing, and socializing:
Since autistic people are not going away, we should try to understand and include them in our everyday lives. Yes, while some kids are badly behaved, I have met some older folks I could swear were also on the spectrum. We all need to learn to be courteous to each other, so what better place than on a nice, relaxing cruise!
In conclusion, the more your children travel and are exposed to rules and regulations, the better they will function as future members of our society.