AIBU to be in two minds about wearing a sunflower lanyard lanyard

[Ineedaholidayagain]

I have an invisible health issue, if I stand up for too long I get vasavagal syncope and I can collapse.
My friend and I are going on a cruise and I'm worried about queuing for the meals, theatres etc. My friend says I should get a sunflower lanyard so people are aware I've got a invisible illness but I think that although they were set up for that people tend to associate them with ASD, ADHD etc and so make the wrong assumption which wouldn't help.
AIBU to think the general perception of sunflower lanyards has changed?

I have the same condition and I wouldn’t wear a lanyard. I also thought they were for ND kids.

In queues I usually pace up and down while the person I’m with is queuing. I’m okay if I keep moving, I just pass out when I’m standing still.

I have the same thing and wouldn’t even consider wearing a lanyard, I’m not sure why your friend got the idea. I don’t consider it a disability and since I was diagnosed have managed it well with the techniques my consultant, who also has it, gave me.

I think taking a wheelchair or small fold up stick chair that hangs lightly on your arm, might be more effective in this case.

I work at an attraction and there are hundreds of sunflower lanyard wearers over the course of a year.

Whether they help or not is always dependent on who you come across at the time.

No they are supposed to for everyone with additional needs or hidden disabilities.

Op they are not enforceable but wear one if you like. Maybe the cruise company has a system in place for accessibility contact them. Wearing a lanyard won't always get you first in the queue for food not everyone will know what it is.

www.disabilityid.co.uk/ there is this which we got for ds after everyone and their dog started wearing the sunflower to avoid masking in covid

Ah my last line about the queue for food looks snippy wasn't my intention sorry.

Rather than other posters telling you that they have the same condition and they are ok 🤯, you do what works for you. You could wear one and it would make people aware that there is something going on when you're going to the front of queues. I dont see an issue with wearing one in this case, who cares what people think.

You don’t always have to queue for food on a cruise. There are usually restaurant options, certainly for lunch and dinner. Would that help?

I think covid did them no good too, but I wouldn't really know anyway that you were wearing specifically for queuing or what you were hoping to happen becuase of it.

If you need specific help you're much better off just asking the staff for it.

You'll probably find most people in a public setting will not have a clue what a sunflower lanyard means or requires of them and completely ignore it. A bit like these please offer me a seat badges that nobody takes any notice of.

Thanks for all the comments, I'm going to try and avoid the buffet completely but the meals in the restaurants are at set times so their will be some queuing, I don't want to draw attention to myself but I also don't want to miss some of the holiday as I'm too exhausted from coping with standing.

I'd contact the cruise line, explain about your needs, possible solutions that would work for you and they may have a set process they can put into action for you.
A stick chair is a good alternative too.
Taking a sunflower lanyard and having it in your pocket as a back up is a cheap alternative too.

To me the sunflower lanyard just says "Be mindful, I have additional needs" I don't associate it with autism specifically and I think less people will complain at perceived queue jumping if you wear it.

Could your friend queue for you? Or would a walking stick give the impression to others you cannot stand for long?

I agree about the assumptions people make of lanyards.

What makes you think the OP will be going to the front of queues?

Because the reason she will wear it is she can't stand for long. Where else do you think she will stand?

I would enquire if there's a disability service on the cruise ship. You might be able to register and get a pass or something to ensure you can get a seat

You could buy one of these OP.

Would that help?

I wonder how small that goes and it if it would fit in a loungefly bag?
I've read the cruise website and couldn't see anything specific for my condition or needs.

I'm not sure but it's pretty doubtful she'll be able to go to the top of every queue, just because she's bought a lanyard?

I mean it would probably depend on how many other lanyard wearers there are at the time.

Much better to help herself and bring a light, portable chair.

I agree with you Covid did the meaning of them no favours and I think people don't see them as intended sometimes.

Look at the bloke's hand when you click the link.

It's about the size of an umbrella.

There doesn't have to be specifics though. So you have an illness that affects x y z it's fine to contact them and say that.

Suggest that you take a collapsible walking stick with you
This sometimes helps employees to offer assistance to move you to the front of queues via a visual queue
Or to offer you a seat

You can wear the landward as well

Well as a customer, I'd be more than happy for however many lanyard wearers that needed to go in front of me, to go in front of me. A lot of places recognise this and allow people to skip the queue, you know because they actually need it.

I wouldn't wear a lanyard in the circumstances, it wouldn't achieve anything. People won't want to ask why you're wearing it so you won't get other guests telling you to go ahead of them.

You'll need to contact the cruise company and ask what they do for guests who can't stand for extended periods. I'm pretty sure this is something they have to consider for multiple people on every single ship that goes out, so there'll be something they put in place if you let them know in advance.