Cruise vacations are luxurious and full of adventure, allowing you to travel broadly and experience other cultures while still relaxing poolside and enjoying good food and live entertainment. They’re especially great options for people with hearing loss, as they provide ADA-compliant hearing accommodations and have the crew nearby and ready to help. If you have a cruise vacation planned for this summer, we’ve compiled this guide for you.
Take Your Hearing Aids
This is probably obvious, but it’s worth emphasizing. Your hearing aids are essential devices for hearing well and staying connected, and they’ll greatly enhance your vacation. Along with your hearing aids, don’t forget any of your hearing essentials:
- Hearing aid storage case (we recommend a hard shell)
- Device sleeves, covers, lanyards or other protective gear
- Full cleaning kit
- Dehumidifier or hearing aid dryer
- Extra batteries or a charger and a charge cord
- Power adapter (if traveling to a location with different outlets than the U.S.)
Protecting Your Hearing Aids
There are some hearing aid hazards to be aware of while on a cruise. Between the on-ship pool, the beaches at the destination cities and the humidity, moisture is a major consideration. Stay on top of your daily cleaning regimen (yes, even on vacation) and use a dehumidifier or dryer daily to prevent moisture buildup inside your devices.
The hustle and bustle of a cruise ship can also give rise to the risk of damage or loss to your devices. To protect yourself against this, bring a hearing aid case with you and keep it in your pocket or purse at all times, so you always have a reliable, safe place to stash your devices. You may also consider wearing a lanyard or other hearing aid accessory that keeps your hearing aids safely attached to your person.
Accessibility Options
When you’re booking your cruise, make it a priority to confirm what accommodations for hearing loss your cruise line of choice offers. Many cruise lines have a dedicated accessibility department just for this purpose, so give them a ring and ask any questions you may have. You can request visual-tactile alert systems (e.g., bed shaking when your alarm goes off or a light flashing when someone knocks on your cabin door), closed captioning, assistive listening devices (ALDs), and priority or reserved seating in busy areas.
Planning Off-Ship Visits
One of the most exciting aspects of cruise vacations is the off-ship visits to exotic locations, allowing you to sample food, culture and nature in beautiful new places. Plan these off-ship visits in advance of the trip; check the ship’s itinerary and where you’ll be docking, and plan your on-shore excursions with hearing loss-friendly tour guides and attractions.
Bon Voyage!
Cruises offer such a rich listening experience: from the calm of the wind and waves to the fun, boisterous on-ship entertainment to the colorful sounds of each off-ship locale. Don’t miss a moment of it.
If you need your hearing aids cleaned and tuned up before you go, don’t hesitate to call us at The Hearing & Speech Center to schedule a maintenance appointment. We’ll ensure your hearing aids are in top condition for an enjoyable vacation.
