Aedan, a 17-year-old from Millis, Massachusetts, is an avid fan of maritime history and ocean travel. His fascination began at the age of 3 when he first learned about the Titanic.
But at 15, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent chemotherapy. Following a bone marrow transplant in early 2024, he lived a year of isolation, with countless hospital trips, because of complications with the transplant.
Today, he is doing better and is back in school and able to enjoy all the activities he had to give up for almost two years. One of his dreams was to visit the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
So in a partnership with Make-A-Wish, the Queen Mary helped make Aedan’s dream come true with an unforgettable stay aboard the legendary ship.
As part of the Queen Mary Cares program, Aedan and his family, whose last name was not disclosed, were treated to an exclusive three-day, two-night stay curated especially for him, complete with one-of-a-kind experiences and behind-the-scenes access to the historic ship not typically granted to the public, according to a Monday, Dec. 22, press release.
“When we learned about Aedan’s wish to visit the Queen Mary, our entire team knew we had to go above and beyond,” Steve Caloca, managing director of the historic ship, said in a statement. “His passion for ocean liner history is inspiring, and it was our absolute honor to create an experience that matched his enthusiasm. This is exactly what the Queen Mary Cares program is all about: making meaningful memories and sharing the magic of this ship with the next generation.”
The Queen Mary Cares program is dedicated to creating community impact and supporting meaningful partnerships that inspire and uplift, according to the press release.
This special wish marks one of the most memorable highlights since the program’s launch, officials said.
After traveling from Massachusetts for his wish, Aedan and his family were greeted with a grand welcome by Queen Mary officers and crew, who lined the entrance to applaud his arrival. Capt. James Sanders personally shook Aedan’s hand and presented him with his very own captain’s hat, the press release said.
Following a private ship tour, the teen ocean liner enthusiast and his family enjoyed a first-time experience on the Queen Mary – a private, four-course dinner in the ship’s historic Wheelhouse, hosted by the captain.
Aedan and his family received a private ship tour as part of their experience, a trip made possible through the partnership between the Queen Mary and Make-A-Wish. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
Aedan and his family enjoyed a first-time experience on the Queen Mary – a private, four-course dinner in the ship’s historic Wheelhouse, hosted by Captain James Sanders. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
The Queen Mary officers and crew greeted 17-year-old Aedan aboard the historic ship for a one-of-a-kind experience in partnership with Make-A-Wish. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
The Queen Mary officers and crew greeted 17-year-old Aedan aboard the historic ship for a one-of-a-kind experience in partnership with Make-A-Wish. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
Aedan, a 17-year-old ocean liner enthusiast whose biggest wish was to visit the Queen Mary, wears a captain’s hat that was gifted to him by Captain James Sanders. Aedan and his family enjoyed a one-of-a-kind experience on the historic ship, thanks to the Queen Mary and Make-A-Wish. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
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Aedan and his family received a private ship tour as part of their experience, a trip made possible through the partnership between the Queen Mary and Make-A-Wish. (Photo courtesy of the Queen Mary)
“Aedan wanted to wait until he was feeling better before deciding on his wish,” Dawn, Aedan’s mother, said in a statement. “When he finally decided his wish would be to visit the Queen Mary, we had no idea the lengths the ship and Make-A-Wish would go to make this a truly magical adventure for him. Thank you is not enough to cover the amount of gratitude we have for Make-A-Wish and the Queen Mary.”
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and relies on community support to make them come true, according to the press release.
“Wishes provide resilience, hope and joy to wish recipients and their families who are navigating very difficult journeys,” Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran said in a statement. “Aedan’s unique wish sparked such an outpouring of support and thoughtful creativity from the Queen Mary team and is a testament to the power of a wish to deeply impact everyone involved. We are so grateful to the Queen Mary and to Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles for collaborating with us to create an incredible experience for Aedan and his family.”
Throughout their stay, Aedan and his family enjoyed a full itinerary of custom experiences designed to bring his maritime passions to life, officials said. Highlights included a private behind-the-scenes “Journey to the Boiler Room” tour through the ship’s historic lower decks, a private screening of “Titanic: The Digital Resurrection” in the Queen Mary Theater, and a heartfelt farewell breakfast with the captain and crew in the Queen’s Salon.
“This trip was an experience I’ll never forget,” Aedan said in a statement. “The Queen Mary and her staff welcomed me aboard with open arms, and I got one of the coolest opportunities to see the ship that anyone has ever gotten. So much of what we did was either a first for the museum or very exclusive. The food was fantastic, too.
“The best part, however, was the staff and crew,” he added. “It was obvious they loved their jobs and loved that I was so interested. I felt very connected with everyone and the ship itself. Overall, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will look back on happily for the rest of my life.”