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A Father-Son Experience of a Lifetime, Cole Carey calls Icon’s bridge “very wow”

Wed, Feb 21st 2024, 09:35 AM
About Bahamians

From the time he was old enough to dream, Cole Carey dreamed big. On a plane, he wanted to see where the pilots sat. By the time he was 10, he was a pre-flight regular on an aircraft serving The Bahamas, walking onboard with pilot and crew before taking his seat in the passenger cabin next to Dad, real estate executive, Mario Carey.

Being on the autism spectrum has never held the adventuresome 27-year-old back. He’s made wine at Graycliff, fed the hungry during COVID and played Santa Claus at the Centre for the Deaf three Christmases straight.

On January 22, he had the biggest thrill of his life, taking a seat in captain’s chair on the bridge of Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, making her inaugural call at Nassau. Carey survey surrounding waters through binoculars and walked the bridge, checking instruments, firing away, asking Captain Henrik Loy a dozen questions about how Icon of the Seas is powered, how it maneuvers and how he, as a captain, got his start.  

“It was very exciting, very wow. I felt like I was in charge of the ship and driving it,” said Carey who was fascinated by Captain Loy’s story of growing up in the gateway for the Norwegian fjords, working for Royal Caribbean for more than 25 years and dreaming one day he would captain a ship like Icon.  

“Cole was over the moon,” said Dad Carey, whose role on the board of directors of the Bahamas Feeding Network landed him on the list of invitees for the 3-day cruise.

“We at Royal Caribbean want to show support and appreciation for the Bahamas Feeding Network which does such an incredible job fighting hunger in The Bahamas,” said Russell Benford, Vice President Government Affairs, The Americas. “It was our pleasure to include directors, including Mario, on this inaugural cruise and when Mario’s son, Cole, requested to see the bridge, we were delighted to create an opportunity for him to do so.”   

For successful businessman Mario Carey, taking a back seat to Cole is nothing new.

“Everybody else is oohing and aahing over everything on the ship, the Pearl, seven swimming pools, 40 restaurants, the world’s largest water park and slide at sea, all the artwork, amazing design and innovation, Cole just wanted to see how it runs,” said Dad Carey. “He kept asking what the technology is that drives the ship. He was fascinated by the different screens that provide views and information for the bridge engineers and captain.” 

The ship was dockside at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International’s private island in The Bahamas, when Cole climbed into the large metal and leather chair, picked up the binoculars and created a moment neither he nor his dad will ever forget.

From the time he was old enough to dream, Cole Carey dreamed big. On a plane, he wanted to see where the pilots sat. By the time he was 10, he was a pre-flight regular on an aircraft serving The Bahamas, walking onboard with pilot and crew before taking his seat in the passenger cabin next to Dad, real estate executive, Mario Carey.
Being on the autism spectrum has never held the adventuresome 27-year-old back. He’s made wine at Graycliff, fed the hungry during COVID and played Santa Claus at the Centre for the Deaf three Christmases straight.
On January 22, he had the biggest thrill of his life, taking a seat in captain’s chair on the bridge of Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, making her inaugural call at Nassau. Carey survey surrounding waters through binoculars and walked the bridge, checking instruments, firing away, asking Captain Henrik Loy a dozen questions about how Icon of the Seas is powered, how it maneuvers and how he, as a captain, got his start.  
“It was very exciting, very wow. I felt like I was in charge of the ship and driving it,” said Carey who was fascinated by Captain Loy’s story of growing up in the gateway for the Norwegian fjords, working for Royal Caribbean for more than 25 years and dreaming one day he would captain a ship like Icon.  
“Cole was over the moon,” said Dad Carey, whose role on the board of directors of the Bahamas Feeding Network landed him on the list of invitees for the 3-day cruise.
“We at Royal Caribbean want to show support and appreciation for the Bahamas Feeding Network which does such an incredible job fighting hunger in The Bahamas,” said Russell Benford, Vice President Government Affairs, The Americas. “It was our pleasure to include directors, including Mario, on this inaugural cruise and when Mario’s son, Cole, requested to see the bridge, we were delighted to create an opportunity for him to do so.”   
For successful businessman Mario Carey, taking a back seat to Cole is nothing new.
“Everybody else is oohing and aahing over everything on the ship, the Pearl, seven swimming pools, 40 restaurants, the world’s largest water park and slide at sea, all the artwork, amazing design and innovation, Cole just wanted to see how it runs,” said Dad Carey. “He kept asking what the technology is that drives the ship. He was fascinated by the different screens that provide views and information for the bridge engineers and captain.” 
The ship was dockside at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International’s private island in The Bahamas, when Cole climbed into the large metal and leather chair, picked up the binoculars and created a moment neither he nor his dad will ever forget.      
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