I have cruised on several lines and find all are very short on accommodating my acute hearing loss which makes hearing virtually impossible when the speaker's lips are not visible. I have hearing aids which are valuable assistants, however, speech is still unclear without visual clues.
Accordingly, I have wondered what it would have been like to experience one of the recent ship emergencies without any knowledge of what was occurring. Consequently, I have recommended in the available comment cards on-board, that all messages be at least repeated in text on the room TV's. When my wife and I are not accompanied by a hearing friend/relative, she is left to enjoy any movies or shows alone as I cannot understand even the loudest comments being made in the movie or on-stage. And, incidentally, what is not commonly known, is that louder is not usually better. With the aids, I get plenty of volume in my hearing range, but the clarity is always a problem at all volume levels.
In general, I am healthy and capable physcally to care for myself at age 73. However, without the knowledge of an on-going emergency situation, I am relatively helpless. There are many assists available for individuals like myself (and I know there are many-most of whom do not readily admit it) who have severe hearing loss, especially in the high frequencies, where clarity of speech is determined. The obvious repercussions for us in not receiving vital and/or recreational information are not always pleasant and are usually avoidable.
Warren A. Woodrow