Traveling with hearing loss on the high seas is easy with these tips.
Cruises are one of the most effortless ways to travel, and one of the most fun when the weather gets colder. Most of your activities and destinations are planned for you, there’s no shortage of things to do on the ship, and delicious food and drinks are always close at hand.
If you’re traveling with hearing loss, we recommend taking a few extra steps as you plan your cruise to make sure everything is smooth sailing once you’re on your trip.
Our tips for planning a cruise with hearing loss include:
- Research the accommodations offered by different cruise lines
- Introduce yourself to a crew member
- Ask to be seated in less noisy parts of the dining room
- Pack everything you need for your hearing health situation
Ready to set sail on your next cruise adventure? Keep reading to learn more about these tips for traveling with hearing loss on a cruise ship!
Research the accommodations offered by different cruise lines
As with any travel experience, a bit of research ahead of time can go a long way when traveling with hearing loss. Before you book your cruise, take the time to research the different cruise lines and ships, and find out what types of accommodations they have available for guests with hearing loss.
For example, Royal Caribbean has a variety of assistive devices available for guest staterooms, as well as sign-language interpretation services and closed captioning on the TVs. You can learn more about the accommodations available on different cruise lines here.
Introduce yourself to a crew member
As you get settled in your stateroom, take the time to introduce yourself to your steward or another crew member, and let them know about your hearing loss and any communication preferences you have. This isn’t just an important tip to make communication easier — in the event of an emergency drill or actual issue on board, letting staff know that you experience hearing loss is essential to making sure you’re safe and always in the know.
Ask to be seated in less noisy parts of the dining room
Chances are, if you’re going on a cruise, you’ll attend at least one seated dinner. If that’s on the itinerary for your trip, ask a server or steward if it’s possible for you to be seated in a quieter area of the dining room. This will allow you to hear your travel companions easier and strike up a conversation with anyone new seated with you.
Pack everything you need for your hearing health situation
This tip applies to anyone traveling with hearing loss, regardless of their destination. Before you depart, make sure you’ve packed everything you need for hearing protection and any assistive devices you use. This could include ear plugs for the pool, a sweatband for a day spent hiking on shore, a hearing aid drying kit, extra batteries, and more. It’s always better to overpack a bit than risk being caught without your essential hearing loss supplies!
You can find our tips on packing for traveling with hearing loss here.
Looking for more helpful information on traveling with hearing loss? Check out these hearing loss-friendly vacation destinations and tips for traveling to warm-weather destinations with hearing loss!
