Royal Caribbean is the first cruise line to be certified as “Autism Friendly” by Autism on the Seas, an organization catering to vacationers with autism and other developmental disabilities. In order to receive the certification, Royal Caribbean had to meet a variety of requirements put forth in the newly released Autism Friendly Certification Standard and Training Program. The certification program has four levels, each requiring increased levels of staff training. A bronze level certification indicates a ship is ready to accommodate passengers with autism and other developmental disabilities through equal access to onboard services and amenities. Some of the services that must be provided to passengers are sensory related toys, autism friendly modifications to youth activities and autism friendly movies, as well as priority boarding. The silver, gold and diamond levels focus on increased staff training. Silver level ensures that all youth staff have received basic awareness training in autism. Gold level requires advance training for youth staff and basic training for other shipboard crew. To reach diamond level, all youth staff must go through a hands-on training program. Royal Caribbean enters the program at the bronze level, but is expected to reach silver level certification by year’s end.