I think a big factor is that so many of us here have been cruising for years and we now like the new arrangements because nothing interrupts our first afternoon onboard. We also know our way around a cruise ship. But yes, I definitely think that the old drill was useful, how useful I hope we never find out! Not necessarily wearing the lifejacket, just the memory of making your way to the muster station and actually reinforcing the idea that we are on a vessel, and that we have to be vigilant. Even better, on Marco Polo, we had to form a giant ‘crocodile’ and walk out on deck.
You only have to read these boards to see that some cruisers can’t wait for their first few drinks after embarkation and I doubt very much whether everyone watches the safety video. We’ve also read reports of high numbers of first time cruisers. We were hopelessly disorientated for a good day and a half on our first cruise!