Listen Technologies Corporation, a provider of advanced wireless listening solutions, announced that Royal Caribbean International has installed Listen Technologies’ audio over Wi-Fi assistive listening system on the recently launched Icon of the Seas.
The solution is designed to provide guests with a better listening experience in venues onboard the Icon class ship. Royal Caribbean International, part of Royal Caribbean Group, has a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations around the world. The company plans to install Listen Technologies’ audio over Wi-Fi assistive listening solution across its fleet of ships.
Royal Caribbean sought a BYOD (bring your own device) assistive listening system for guests that would be easy to use and enhance their cruise experience in venues on its ships, according to the company.
How the Audio Over Wi-Fi Assistive Listening System Works
Listen EVERYWHERE from Listen Technologies is an audio over Wi-Fi assistive listening solution that lets users stream venue audio to their smartphones and smart devices. Guests in venues and settings on Icon of the Seas that offer Listen EVERYWHERE can download the free Listen EVERYWHERE app, access the ship’s network, stream ship audio to their smartphones, and listen to clear audio with headphones or earbuds.
Passengers with Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants can stream the audio directly from their smartphones to their hearing devices, the company says. The Listen Technologies system is not just for guests with hearing loss; all guests in onboard venues where the solution is offered can download the app and access audio as needed. With Listen EVERYWHERE, speech intelligibility is increased because audio is streamed directly from the source (e.g., a speaker, microphone, TV) without amplifying ambient noise.
Listen EVERYWHERE is available to Icon of the Seas guests in the ship’s main theater, Royal Theater.
Further reading: Ampetronic and Listen Technologies Develop Auracast-Based Assistive Listening Solution
Applications for Audio Over Wi-Fi Beyond Assistive Listening
Applications for audio over Wi-Fi systems include assistive listening, language interpretation, streaming audio from video or TV screens, and audio description.
For example, guests of the cruise ship visiting an onboard sports bar where an audio over Wi-Fi assistive listening system is offered could use their smartphone to access the audio for different screens in multiple languages. Guests at onboard silent dance parties where audio over Wi-Fi is available could select audio from different DJ channels and listen via headphones or earbuds.
Venues can install the Listen EVERYWHERE system on their existing Wi-Fi network and offer low latency, high-quality sound. Guests can use their smartphones to access venue audio and hear clearly despite background noise, distance, hearing loss, or language. Access to audio extends as far as a venue’s wireless network, the company says.
“Royal Caribbean is renowned for providing outstanding guest experiences with the latest technologies and services that raise the bar on travel and offer next-level vacations,” says Kasey Kaumans, regional sales manager, Listen Technologies. “Listen Technologies is proud to have Royal Caribbean select our audio over Wi-Fi assistive listening solution to offer guests exceptional hearing and engagement experiences onboard its ships.”
Photo: Listen Technologies Corporation
I am a long time cruiser on RC. I can tell you one of the most disappointing “features” of RC entertainment that has only gotten worse as technology has improved, is the VOLUME that is blasted with all RC events / shows / pools. We’ve found this to be somewhat unique to RC – as other cruise lines that we have taken have managed to temper their volume yet still produce an exciting venue! On RC, my apple watch is constantly alerting me that I am in a dangerous (noise level) environment. Now RC does offer ear plugs for free at their front desk, and that should tell you something – their actions acknowledge their volume is turned up to excessive loud by offering ear plugs – I’d suggest even harmful especially for young children. Hopeful with the addition of this new technology, they will turn the volume down to allow cruisers to volume adjust to their individual tastes / needs.