Mandatory life boat drill

[ahain]

I thought a lot about the lifeboat arrangements during muster...my station was in AP in a back corner of the room. Very comfy for the drill; I got to sit down in the air conditioning for the whole thing. But it made me think...did that mean I was going to be one of the last people to get put on a lifeboat if the worst happened? I asked around about lifeboat assignments and learned that my station was assigned to an inflatable raft. My assumption is that procedures would have them clear the outside deck of people (and traditional lifeboats) first, then pull all the people out of the indoor muster stations to put them in the inflatable rafts. Granted, that's an assumption...but it has me think that for all the discomfort at the drill, I'd kind of rather be assigned one of the tight-packed outdoor muster stations.

In general terms, I also believe this would be the case. From a purely practical perspective, it's only common sense that not everyone can be queued to lifeboats at the same time, But I also believe that loading lifeboats can be a very quick and efficient process if everyone follows the instructions, so I'm not overly concerned (I also end up in AP for my muster, generally speaking)

 

[Starwind]

In general terms, I also believe this would be the case. From a purely practical perspective, it's only common sense that not everyone can be queued to lifeboats at the same time, But I also believe that loading lifeboats can be a very quick and efficient process if everyone follows the instructions, so I'm not overly concerned (I also end up in AP for my muster, generally speaking)

We spend a lot of time walking the outdoor promendade of deck 4. And spending time reading the various signage, which includes lifeboat and life raft instructions. Quite interesting. Somewhere I may have some pictures of them, will see if I can find them.

SW

 

[vegs1]

In general terms, I also believe this would be the case. From a purely practical perspective, it's only common sense that not everyone can be queued to lifeboats at the same time, But I also believe that loading lifeboats can be a very quick and efficient process if everyone follows the instructions, so I'm not overly concerned (I also end up in AP for my muster, generally speaking)

If watching the video clips of what happens after the alarm sounds, I question whether loading lifeboats would be quick and efficient. Certainly does make you think about the whole procedure.

 

[Dug720]

If watching the video clips of what happens after the alarm sounds, I question whether loading lifeboats would be quick and efficient. Certainly does make you think about the whole procedure.

The crew will do all in their power to keep it organized and efficient. They drill multiple times a month for evacuations this includes positioning and lowering life boats AND the rafts. If you're off doing excursions (or enjoying Castaway which is where the raft drills often happen as well as the MANDATORY crew certification and recertification tests (they have to be water evac certified every 5 years) you're probably not aware that these drills happen.

The x-factor is the people on board - as clearly many don't bother paying ANY attention at the muster drill.

 

[kiford]

The one key ingredient in any emergency management plan is practice. There's no point in designing an emergency plan and then putting it up on the shelf to collect dust. There's a lot of evidence that drills (of any kind) done over and over help to reinforce what to do when you're actually in an emergency situation. When you're in a bit of a panic, previous repetition will help instinct to kick in and mitigate some of the panic. I fly all the time but I still read through the emergency card information, look for my exit, look to see where the lights are on the floor, and look up to see where the oxygen masks would drop from. I even look for the emergency exit instructions in a hotel room when I first get in.

As I laid in bed before we got the all clear, all I could think of was, how did they say to put on the vest???" Since then I pay attention! A 10 minute reminder can't hurt.

When we first cruised, you had to put on your life jacket to show up to the drill. Now because you don't need to, one of the first things I do when we get into our room is check the life jackets to make sure there's no damage and I put one on to remind myself how to do it. I look for our muster station number in the hallway around our room and I do watch the broadcast that's playing when you first get into your room. I make sure that our good walking shoes and fleece/jacket are put in the same place every night in the closet on the same side as where our life jackets are so that we can grab everything quickly at once. In a real emergency, you don't want to have to think, you just want to react (appropriately).

 

[vegs1]

I understand fully the immense training involved by the Captain and crew of a ship. However, in a true life threatening emergency, it’s hard for them to control what others do and we all know how people can behave as we’ve seen first hand the Costa Concordia as well as the recent Viking issue in the North Sea.

My point was merely that it makes you think of what your own actions should be.....listen carefully at all drills, and when the alarm sounds move calmly and swiftly and say a prayer that others do also. Seconds matter. Videotaping costs lives.

 

[YawningDodo]

There are other ways to get off beyond the rafts. Odds are high those stations going to rafts (they are heavy-duty things with tent-like covers - not beach floats) would be led down corridors to the rafts.

Ah--I should clarify, I wasn't worried about the inflatable raft not being as good as a hard-sided lifeboat. I did see a picture of one and I know it's a lot different than the classic image of a little emergency raft. The thought of being in either on the open ocean terrifies me, but I wouldn't have gone on the cruise if I didn't have faith that the safety and emergency systems in place were adequate to keep me alive.

On that note, I appreciated that they'd lowered one of the lifeboats before muster and opened the cover so you could come by and see what it actually looked like. My dark little thought process was all about whether it meant I was at the back of the line to get off the ship. Granted, I don't know what back corridors they might use to get guests out quickly in an emergency, but there's only so much deck space for loading boats and rafts. And if the people who are supposed to go before you are gumming up the works because they stood around making videos in the atrium instead of getting their vests and going to their stations...well. You've got a problem. Which also makes me wonder how strict they'd be in an emergency about who gets loaded to which boat in which order, but there has to be a procedure to the whole thing or it would instantly fall apart.

 

[hrhdhd]

Which also makes me wonder how strict they'd be in an emergency about who gets loaded to which boat in which order, but there has to be a procedure to the whole thing or it would instantly fall apart.

Some of the arrangements will depend on the condition of the ship. The Costa Concordia was on its side, so that rendered half of its lifeboats unusable anyway. Or if there's a fire in a certain part of the ship, some lifeboats may be inaccessible.

The thing to remember is that abandoning ship is the last resort, and many muster incidents don't get to that stage. Mustering doesn't mean that the next step is abandoning ship.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Mustering doesn't mean that the next step is abandoning ship.

It just means that it might be the next step.

 

[diznymom]

It is like a Fire Drill in school. Everyone Must attend. Thus the name "Mandatory". No exceptions.

Also, please be on time. The faster everyone is there, the faster it is over with.

 

[Spotthecat]

One thing they never tell you in the muster drill is that if your kids are in the kids club what do you do. You go pick them up first, go back to your cabin, get all the vests? In the event of a true emergency what happens if you can't get to your kid - do they wait a specific time in the kids club, and if you don't show up, escort those kids to their respective muster points and grab extra vests there? I've got 3 kids - not sure which club I would head to first, but the mind boggles at all the what ifs...a corridor blocked, etc.

 

[Dug720]

One thing they never tell you in the muster drill is that if your kids are in the kids club what do you do. You go pick them up first, go back to your cabin, get all the vests? In the event of a true emergency what happens if you can't get to your kid - do they wait a specific time in the kids club, and if you don't show up, escort those kids to their respective muster points and grab extra vests there? I've got 3 kids - not sure which club I would head to first, but the mind boggles at all the what ifs...a corridor blocked, etc.

I have seen them telling families before. I don't have kids, so I've not paid attention. But you can certainly ask - either arrive early or stay after and ask. Since it doesn't apply to all passengers, they won't include that in the general information. But they should certainly be able to answer your question on an individual basis. (Or worst case, ask at the clubs themselves when you go the first time to drop your kids off.)

 

[FigmentSpark]

They should tell everyone what that procedure is. I may not be gathering a child from Oceaneer's Club, but if I see a parent heading that way, I'll know he's not just lost or worse, not to follow, thinking he knows something I don't.

 

[Alex Nieto]

I can't believe someone is asking if it is "mandatory" when is there in the title...

Following up on lowering the life boats, during our last cruise, we stayed on the ship when we docked in Nassau, they did a crew fire drill, all the non essential crew and cast members participated and lined up on the starboard side, you can see servers, cooks, cast members as well crew members, they were right down our verandah, as we were getting ready to go for breakfast and to the pool, I started hearing banging noises and some kind of motor running, I opened the verandah and watched the show, they did the horn blasts and then watched how they lowered four of the lifeboats and also how they assign different roles to each crew member. What I noticed, it is not as fast or as easy as you think. There are a lot of cables and tethers that need to be removed etc...it took easily 15-20 minutes to just get the boat ready to start boarding and they were working as fast as they could, the muster station leader was with a horn adding pressure and taking time with a stopwatch. Once they finally lowered them, they turned on the engines and moved them towards the Aft, did some sailing and then came back and put them back.

 

[YawningDodo]

They should tell everyone what that procedure is. I may not be gathering a child from Oceaneer's Club, but if I see a parent heading that way, I'll know he's not just lost or worse, not to follow, thinking he knows something I don't.

Agreed, though I get why they don't--if they overload people with too much information that's not relevant to their specific situation it's more likely that all of it will get tuned out. But with Disney being so family-focused I'd think the default would be to assume that the average party includes kids and needs to know.

 

[bbel]

At least a couple of years back when I was there, in the event of a true emergency, the cruise director will make an announcement for parent to go and pick up the kids, they're then separated by last name between the club/lab, but it's a one way system through the club and then lab (using crew doors) that you'll be guided through.
If parents dont come, once to the call to go comes, kids are taken to the nearest lifeboat, not necessarily the one they're assigned to.

Like I said, this is a few years old now and could have changed.

 

[bbel]

As for lifejackets, I know some ships (not Disney ships) that dont even put them in guest cabins any more because they dont want guests to be encouraged to go back to their cabins and through potentially dangerous situations or get lost, going back for them. They keep all the life jackets in big containers all over the outside deck and other storage areas (e.g. the theatre) to be handed out if/when needed, which when I think about it makes a lot more sense.

 

[braysmommy]

One thing they never tell you in the muster drill is that if your kids are in the kids club what do you do. You go pick them up first, go back to your cabin, get all the vests? In the event of a true emergency what happens if you can't get to your kid - do they wait a specific time in the kids club, and if you don't show up, escort those kids to their respective muster points and grab extra vests there? I've got 3 kids - not sure which club I would head to first, but the mind boggles at all the what ifs...a corridor blocked, etc.

We sailed just after the Concordia ship disaster and I asked. Counselors will bring kids the their assigned muster stations where parents should go to meet them. I would be a hot mess waiting for my child to get to me but this was the answer I was given.

 

[FigmentSpark]

As for lifejackets, I know some ships (not Disney ships) that dont even put them in guest cabins any more because they dont want guests to be encouraged to go back to their cabins and through potentially dangerous situations or get lost, going back for them. They keep all the life jackets in big containers all over the outside deck and other storage areas (e.g. the theatre) to be handed out if/when needed, which when I think about it makes a lot more sense.

This makes a lot more sense and would free up room in the stateroom. Also, no chance that people will be messing with them and might accidentally damage one, and then just put it back.

 

[kiford]

Also, no chance that people will be messing with them and might accidentally damage one, and then just put it back.

This is why they no longer want you to put them on before the drill. People damaged them when doing this. I definitely saw people dragging them along the ground by the strap and basically mishandling them when you were supposed to be wearing them during the drill.

As for lifejackets, I know some ships (not Disney ships) that dont even put them in guest cabins any more

Disney has them in the cabins and a great many also in cabinets and other locations around the ship near the lifeboats should you not be able to go to your cabin. There's usually a decent bit of time between the decision to get everyone ready for evacuation and the actual need for evacuation (assuming you have a Captain who calls for it when it's necessary). But, if there isn't time, there is a Plan B. There are far more life jackets than are required for the number of people.