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Royal Caribbean Apologizes After Autistic Passenger Was Ordered Off Celebrity Ship in Mexico

The New Jersey mother seeks reimbursement, vowing to monitor the cruise line’s promised staff training.

Overview

  • Carolyn Piro says her 31-year-old son, Sean Curran, was told to disembark in Cozumel on Christmas Eve after an incident she contends was mishandled due to a lack of understanding of his autism.
  • Royal Caribbean, which owns Celebrity Cruises, reviewed the case and acknowledged staff were not sufficiently sensitive during the debarkation, saying employees will receive additional training.
  • According to Curran and Piro, security questioned him, had him write a brief statement, and gave him 90 minutes to pack before escorting the family off the ship.
  • Piro says they were told the FBI and Homeland Security would be notified, that she could not speak with the girl’s family, and that no charges were filed.
  • Piro accepted the apology but is seeking more than $20,000 in reimbursement and is pressing for better disability awareness and use of onboard advocates, noting she informed the line of her sons’ needs before the trip.