Courtesy photo
Aedan and his family were treated to an exclusive three-day, two-night stay curated especially for him.
The Queen Mary, in partnership with Make-A-Wish®, made a dream come true for Aedan, a teen ocean liner enthusiast whose biggest wish was to visit the historic ship. As part of the Queen Mary Cares program, Aedan and his family were treated to an exclusive three-day, two-night stay curated especially for him, complete with once-in-a-lifetime moments and behind-the-scenes access not typically granted to the public.
“When we learned about Aedan’s wish to visit the Queen Mary, our entire team knew we had to go above and beyond,” said Steve Caloca, Managing Director of the Queen Mary. “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.”Aedan is an avid fan of maritime history and ocean travel and has been since the age of 3 when he first started learning about the Titanic. At 15, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent chemotherapy. Following a bone marrow transplant in early 2024, Aedan lived a year of isolation with countless hospital trips due to complications with the transplant. He is now back in school and able to enjoy all the activities he had to give up for almost two years.
Traveling from Millis, Massachusetts, for his wish, Aedan was greeted in true royal fashion. Upon arriving in a limo, he and his family were met with a grand welcome by the Queen Mary Officers and Crew, who lined the entrance to applaud his arrival. Captain James personally shook Aedan’s hand and presented him with his very own captain’s hat.
Following a private ship tour, Aedan enjoyed something no one has ever experienced: a private, four-course dinner in the ship’s historic Wheelhouse, hosted by the captain himself.
“Aedan wanted to wait until he was feeling better before deciding on his wish,” shared Aedan’s mother, Dawn. “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.”
Throughout his stay, Aedan and his family enjoyed a full itinerary of custom experiences designed to bring his maritime passions to life. 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 stunning Queen’s Salon.
“This trip was an experience I’ll never forget,” Aedan shared. “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. 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.”
“Wishes provide resilience, hope, and joy to wish recipients and their families who are navigating very difficult journeys,” said Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran. “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.”
“Aedan’s wish exemplifies the extraordinary experiences we can create when LA’s iconic institutions and our mission come together,” said Aparna Pande, CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. “The Queen Mary team brought their full heart and imagination to this wish, and it reflects our chapter’s commitment to crafting once-in-a-lifetime moments rooted in the spirit of our great city. We were honored to collaborate with the Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapter to bring Aedan’s dream to life.”
The Queen Mary Cares program is dedicated to creating community impact and supporting meaningful partnerships that inspire and uplift. This special wish marks one of the most memorable highlights since the program’s launch.
For more information, upcoming events, programming, Queen Mary Cares, and more visit www.queenmary.com/seasonal-events.htm and queenmary.com/whatsondeck, or connect with us on social @TheQueenMary.
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses and relies on community support to make wishes come true. To learn more and get involved as an individual, family, or business, visit www.wish.org to connect with your local Make-A-Wish chapter.