South Jersey mother advocates for autism awareness after her adult son was removed from a cruise ship.
In December, a family that had been looking forward to a long-awaited Caribbean cruise experienced an abrupt and distressing end to their vacation. Carolyn Piro, a trauma therapist, prepared extensively for the trip with her four sons, ensuring that accommodations were suitable for each child, particularly her oldest son, Sean Curran, who has autism. Despite their careful planning, the family encountered a significant and troubling incident while on board a Celebrity Cruise ship.
On Christmas Eve, Curran, 31, was removed from the ship in Cozumel after an interaction with a teenage girl, which the family claims was mishandled by cruise officials. Curran participated in a poolside lounge when he was asked by the girl to buy her a Long Island iced tea. Unaware of the drink’s alcohol content, he complied. Soon after, Curran found himself embroiled in a situation that led to undue attention and ultimately his expulsion from the cruise.
According to his mother, Piro, Curran was attempting to be friendly rather than engaging in any inappropriate behavior. The incident escalated when the girl’s parents became involved, leading to Curran being escorted to a security office, where he was questioned by staff. Piro asserts that team members failed to grasp the nuances of Curran’s autism and instead treated him as a fully capable adult. She believes there were alternative responses that could have been taken by cruise officials, such as confining Curran to his room temporarily or restricting his access to alcohol.
Following the incident, the family was permitted only a brief window of time to pack their belongings before being disembarked. Piro described the experience as deeply humiliating, noting that fellow passengers watched as security escorted her son and the family off the ship. She later accepted an apology from Royal Caribbean but expressed her dissatisfaction with the way the situation was handled, indicating that there were missed opportunities to provide appropriate support for her son.
Royal Caribbean, which manages Celebrity Cruises, acknowledged the incident and stated that it would provide further training to staff in an effort to ensure a more sensitive approach when dealing with guests with disabilities in the future. Piro’s family had chosen Royal Caribbean primarily due to its advertised efforts to create an autism-friendly environment, reinforcing a commitment to inclusivity for those with special needs.
As awareness around autism continues to grow, advocates like Piro are calling for increased understanding and training in various sectors, particularly in the travel and hospitality industries. Curran hopes to share his experiences to foster compassion and respect for individuals with disabilities. His family plans to monitor the promised changes to ensure such an incident does not happen again, emphasizing the need for systemic changes to protect and accommodate individuals with developmental disabilities.
