Deaf and hearing impaired individuals are no different from
anyone else except they cannot hear or hear well. Because
the deaf culture consists of mainly deaf people who hang around
each other simply because of communication, finding a cruise that
caters to the deaf is a true blessing. A deaf cruise provides deaf
people with an opportunity to enjoy the same things as a hearing person
but in an environment where they feel comfortable and safe. Many
times, you will discover deaf people appearing shy when in
fact they are merely protective over themselves and other
deaf people. Because a deaf cruise is designed
specifically for deaf people, there is a sense of security.
With a deaf cruise, many things are modified to
accommodate. For
example, there are certified interpreters onboard who can
guide the
passengers through the cruise, answering questions and
just being
there to provide service. In addition, the ships are equipped
with TDDs
or TTYs (telephone/computer systems used by the deaf),
flashing
doorbells and wakeup alarms, and so on.
The one thing deaf people agree on is that these types of
cruises provide
a wonderful opportunity to meet other deaf friends from
around the
country, if not world. The staff is very helpful and goes out of
their way
to make the cruise a pleasant experience. With such
demand for deaf
cruises, you now find many of the top cruise lines meeting
this demand
head on.
For example, a wonderful cruise to Alaska can be booked
through
Hibiscus Travel. The Princess Cruise Line has some
amazing
opportunities for the deaf, providing ASL interpreters to
make every
passenger's experience top notch. In addition, this deaf
cruise is
affordable, costing around $1,400 for 10 full nights, which
includes
fabulous meals, entertainment, the interpreter service, and
fees and
taxes.
Another incredible deaf cruise is through Carnival Cruise
Lines where
every fall, a special cruise sails to the Western Caribbean
islands.
This five-day cruise also includes interpreter services and
all the
fantastic amenities you would expect from a top cruise line.
Royal
Caribbean also has an incredible four-night/five-day cruise
that
takes off from Miami. This cruise is a little more affordable,
starting
around $300. In addition, Royal Caribbean has the largest
cruise ship
in the world called the "Freedom of the Seas." This ship is
used for the
Deaf Freedom Cruise whereby people come to have an
incredible time. For
this cruise, not only does the price include all the meals but
also
entertainers and performers who are themselves deaf.
Southern Caribbean Deaf Group Cruise is a deaf cruise
enjoyed by
hundreds of people. For around $800, you can enjoy seven
full days
traveling the Caribbean islands. Finally, the Carnival Spirit,
which
is operated by Sunset Cruise Agency has a wonderful deaf
cruise called
"The Deaf Awareness Cruise."
The great thing about deaf cruises is that they are not
limited to
destinations. Therefore, if you are deaf and want to enjoy
taking a deaf
cruise, you will discover that you have a multitude of choices
such as
Tahiti, London, Copenhagen, eastern Mediterranean,
Alaska, Hawaii,
the Caribbean, Bahamas, Panama Canal, and more. If you
have avoided
taking a cruise simply because you did not feel comfortable,
know that
these unique cruises are geared toward your lifestyle and
special
needs. You will not feel like an outcast but as just another
passenger
having the time of your life while visiting amazing places.
Jake Kelly is a writer for MyCruiseTips.com.
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