An Inside Look at Travelmation’s First Accessibility Group Cruise

Jordana Izzo, travel advisor and director of accessible travel for Travelmation, is always thinking about how to meet the needs of her clients — and as the mother of a child with autism, she understands that having a sense of community, even when traveling, can be key to making accessible travel successful.

To help groups with varying needs travel together, Izzo started small. In 2022, she helmed an accessible group trip with four families total (including her own). When that proved a hit, she opened the idea up to fellow Travelmation agents. Then, this past October, the inaugural Travelmation Accessibility Group Cruise took place on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas; Izzo helped book 20 cabins for the event, plus a private meeting space in which guests could gather for quiet time or play. She also personally acted as a group leader while clients were onboard the ship.

“Overall, the trip was phenomenal,” Izzo said. “We had four kids with autism, a traveler with stage four cancer, two grandparents who needed scooters and mobility equipment, travelers with dietary restrictions and a traveler with diabetes. We were able to address their accommodations ahead of time. And being there together created a sense of comfortability — you are part of a community, and you know you’re going to be taken care of.”

Building an Accessible Cruise

Izzo began building the inaugural cruise by qualifying interested travelers just as she would any other booking. After noting their needs and expectations for the cruise, she connected with Royal Caribbean’s guest special needs team. Special Needs at Sea was also part of the planning crew — they work with more than 40 cruise lines, ensuring passengers get the tools and support they require for a smooth trip.

“Anytime I call Royal’s special needs department or email them, they’re very understanding,” Izzo said. “They try to make as many accommodations as possible — truly, that’s the reason I chose Royal Caribbean [for this cruise]. The support behind its special needs department is vast.”

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For example, for some children with autism, dining in a sprawling space while surrounded by lots of other people can be overstimulating. To accommodate that sensitivity, Royal Caribbean helped the group secure seating adjacent to walls or windows, which allowed for a sense of separation and quietude.

Reserving the private meeting space was also key to the cruise’s success. To illustrate this, Izzo explained that her non-verbal son can’t go to the kids’ club. As a solution for kids like him, she helped turn a typical onboard conference room into a play area appropriate for them.

She set up a semi-circle gathering space in the room, and the kids could run around and play with sensory toys Izzo provided. This also gave all the clients a private place to be outside of their own cabins. Additionally, the room acted as the venue for a music-therapy session led by fellow Travelmation advisor — and parent to children on the autism spectrum — Brittany Taylor.

Utilizing a private space is something Izzo plans to repeat — and expand on — for the next accessibility trip.

The Next Travelmation Accessibility Group Cruise

Having booked 20 cabins on this year’s cruise, Izzo has her sights set on doubling that number for the second annual Travelmation Accessibility Group Cruise, which is set to take place on Oasis of the Seas, March 19-22, 2027, departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bookings are open now, and the itinerary includes stops in Nassau, Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

We want people to be comfortable, and to be around people who ‘get it’. You don’t have to explain yourself when you travel with us.

“Our first cruise was very, very successful overall, with a lot of great feedback,” Izzo said. “So, growing it is next, and highlighting the community aspect is so important. We want people to be comfortable, and to be around people who ‘get it’. You don’t have to explain yourself when you travel with us.”

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Izzo imagines that additional Travelmation agents will join her on the second group cruise, as more hands will be needed to support guests. Those guiding advisors will be available to help clients navigate security and act as a resource for onboard and onshore activity options and ideas. They will plan group meet-ups throughout the cruise, too.

“That way, you never feel lost,” Izzo said. “If anything comes up, we can help. Rather than them talking to customer service, we can do that.”

The end goal remains the same, Izzo says: to help families who have long thought they could not travel see that it is possible. 

“This cruise was so eye-opening for some of these families,” she said. “They left with a sense of relief, and are ready for the next one.”