Extra liveboat drill?

[Mjflowers]

Ok, help me out. Sailing on the Riv TA, Barcelona to Maimi. Today we had another life boat drill. Middle of the Atlantic, 10 days into our cruise. Has any body out there experienced anything like this before. Having sailed on numerous cruises this is the first time for me. This was an unannounced drill until this morning. Usually crew has drills during cruise and mostly in port. This was all guests and crew. We had to again report to our evac station, go thru life vest procedure, and then, station by station, an escorted trip on deck for a walk by of the life boats, most strange. As rumors go, word was that there were some complaints that on the initial drill in Barcelona we were not shown our lifeboats. Guess some people didn't trust the experience of the crew to be able to direct us in case of an emergency. Can you see them running around not knowing where go. As was in the original drill we were told that in the event of an actual evacuation we would be escorted to our lifeboat station. Guess some people didn't quite get this and needed to know where to go by themselves. Well all in all it was a minor incident but something out of the ordinary, two life boat drills on the same segment. If FDR happens to read this, help me out with why.

 

 

Otherwise one of the best cruises ever.

[Kamloops50]

On our first Panama Canal cruise we had a second lifeboat drill after 7 days leaving San Diego.

[LHT28]

Maybe something to do with new regulations or as you say just some people were not paying attention the first time

 

I find some people too busy chatting to hear what the crew are telling them :eek:

 

Always a good thing to have an extra drill if it means saving your life

 

Lyn

[vaitape]

Have noticed that some people take the Muster Drill as a Meet and Greet.

 

Rude to say the least and also defeating the purpose of the drill and a distraction for the rest of us who want to listen...even those of us who have done more than several drills on O ships, or any ship for that matter.

 

A 2nd muster drill is just fine by us. Think of the 30+ souls lost on the Costa Concordia...Safety First!

[durante]

On our Riviera cruise in August, we spent ages waiting for the drill to commence, then we heard from a member of staff there was more than 30 passengers who had not turned up.

[KirkNC]

On our Riviera cruise in August, we spent ages waiting for the drill to commence, then we heard from a member of staff there was more than 30 passengers who had not turned up.[/quote]

 

They should be removed from the ship.

[willidc]

As rumors go, word was that there were some complaints that on the initial drill in Barcelona we were not shown our lifeboats. Guess some people didn't trust the experience of the crew to be able to direct us in case of an emergency. Can you see them running around not knowing where go. As was in the original drill we were told that in the event of an actual evacuation we would be escorted to our lifeboat station. Guess some people didn't quite get this and needed to know where to go by themselves.

 

Let's hope that this WAS just a rumor. Because if some guests "needed to know where to go by themselves", the entire safety process would be put in some level of turmoil if these people wanted to go directly to 'their' lifeboat while the rest of us are waiting for them at the designated muster station. I suppose some people just have to be first or want control.

 

I am relieved to hear that in the second muster, all were told that they would be escorted to the lifeboats.

 

In an actual evacuation, the trained and professional crew would already be under some level of stress and would not need additional concerns created by some people going directly to the lifeboats or otherwise wanting to be 'first'.

 

I am speaking up because at this point, the people who "needed to know where to go by themselves" would be endangering other guests. They do not need this information, thus the 'security need-to-know' rules should apply.

 

And...what if the emergency just happened to be in the area of 'their' lifeboat that they went to directly?

[globevest]

"And...what if the emergency just happened to be in the area of 'their' lifeboat that they went to directly?"

 

And what happens if you are NOT able to get to your muster point due to the emergency 'say' to fire? Which I believe happens to be the highest emergency risk on a ship (although a very low risk).:rolleyes:

[hondorner]

"And...what if the emergency just happened to be in the area of 'their' lifeboat that they went to directly?"

 

And what happens if you are NOT able to get to your muster point due to the emergency 'say' to fire? Which I believe happens to be the highest emergency risk on a ship (although a very low risk).:rolleyes:

There are crew members stationed in all the hallways and stairways. If a muster station location had to be changed, they would know, and direct you to the new location.

[MightyQuinn]

We were also surprised by the additional at-sea muster drill mid-way through the recent Riviera crossing. No info was given as to why this was scheduled, but this time we were escorted to our lifeboat stations. That didn't happen on the initial drill and it was good to know, since we were unfamiliar with the layout of Riviera. We have a deep appreciation of the value of muster drills and the requirement for passengers to be well informed. We were on Azamara Quest earlier this year when there was an engine fire at sea, which resulted in the Captain sounding the general emergency alarm and passengers having to muster at their stations for upwards of 3 hours while crew battled the fire. Staff preparation and passenger compliance make all the difference in a real emergency.

[LHT28]

We were also surprised by the additional at-sea muster drill mid-way through the recent Riviera crossing. No info was given as to why this was scheduled, but this time we were escorted to our lifeboat stations.

Did you go outside to the lifeboats or just in the area near them???

 

Lyn

[Love.II.Cruise]

Did you go outside to the lifeboats or just in the area near them???

 

Lyn

 

We were on that cruise. We actually walked outside right next to the lift boats.

[LHT28]

We were on that cruise. We actually walked outside right next to the lift boats.

Thanks

I did not think there was enough room for that many people on the walkway beside the life boats

 

Lyn

[Love.II.Cruise]

Thanks

I did not think there was enough room for that many people on the walkway beside the life boats

 

Lyn

 

It took over an hour for all the muster stations to be called and walked by their lifeboat! In a real emergency it makes you think about how long it would take.

[Jacqueline]

I am on a TA and will not be able to swim to shore!

Having followed the Costa debacle in detail, there is nothing like preparation,most of which relies on the crew and officers.

Depending on the nature of the problem, for example fire, the muster will change, and it is the crew that needs to be on top of its game to calmly direct the passengers appropriate to the circumstances.

Franky, a lot of the pax do not know up from down and starboard from aft despite the drill. Given any degree of panic, it all comes down to the crews professionalism.

[LHT28]

It took over an hour for all the muster stations to be called and walked by their lifeboat! In a real emergency it makes you think about how long it would take.

Yikes

That is a long time to sit in the muster station waiting

 

I always go check where my life boat is except on Marina where you can only see then through the window from the Grand Bar hall

I guess they want to make sure people know where the life boats are because in an emergency people will probably running willy nilly about the ship :eek:

 

Lyn

[fdnycruiser]

I was on that Riviera cruise. My understanding was that the 2nd life boat drill was in anticipation of the Coast Guard inspection when the ship reached Miami. As it was the ships first trip to the US,all types of inspections were required while in port.

[Hawaiidan]

On our Riviera cruise in August, we spent ages waiting for the drill to commence, then we heard from a member of staff there was more than 30 passengers who had not turned up.[/quote]

 

They should be removed from the ship.

 

Last year, as I remember, on Regent. there was an older couple that the wife refused to attend. After being asksd three times. they were put off at the next port, without compensation.

 

As it should be.

 

I dont mind don't it every week... if they want. Safety is no accident and the reason they call them accidents is no one planned on them.

[john2003]

We were aboard and appreciated the drill and going out to the lifeboats. I agree with the concern that it takes a long time to get from the muster station to the boats but I am thinking it might be quicker in a real emergency. We walked past our lifeboat and then out at the far end. I am thinking that in a real situation they would feed passsengers from both ends as they would board a boat not having to exit. It should take half the time or at least that is what I would believe.

 

I suggested on the survey that they should survey a sampling of passengers about the drill so as to get some feedback. I am afraid that I doubt this will happen, but there was certainly some confused communication which could be improved.

[nana541]

 

Last year, as I remember, on Regent. there was an older couple that the wife refused to attend. After being asksd three times. they were put off at the next port, without compensation.

 

As it should be.

 

I dont mind don't it every week... if they want. Safety is no accident and the reason they call them accidents is no one planned on them.

 

Excuse the intrusion but the couple put off was on the second leg of their B2B and it was NOT on Regent but I believe it was Seabourn and they were indeed put off the ship some where in South America if I remember the story. This happened sometime shortly after the Concordia went down.

 

I remember wondering what the heck these folks were thinking!!

[LHT28]

 

Excuse the intrusion but the couple put off was on the second leg of their B2B and it was NOT on Regent but I believe it was Seabourn and they were indeed put off the ship some where in South America if I remember the story. This happened sometime shortly after the Concordia went down.

 

Lisbon maybe;)

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4837

[Hawaiidan]

For the correction... My mistake about their mistake

 

A comment from experience, the first walk by the life boats or in any first time drill anywhere, it will always take longer. Also to consider that each time you repeat the drill it gets shorter and shorter and shorter Repetetive is good you get more efficien the more you do.

 

In real emergencies... with out this practice 99% of the people are lost in space and panic to an extent. It isnt pretty It will take much longer than the casual first drill. Hence, I am for doing it weekly. Ok so you know what to do, but that can get canceled out by someone else who panics.. Everyone from the sharpest to the least, needs to be on the same page and to the same level of performance.

 

I have been through a lot of emergency and high stress incidents in my life,from participant to CO. Practice make perfect.. and there is no such thing as too much. Ask the folks on the Concordia.

There was a saying " You suffer in peace so you wont bleed in action"

It is 200% true.

[nana541]

Lisbon maybe;)

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4837

 

Thanks LHT28 :) geography was never my strong point.....I just go where the wind takes me!