Skipping the safety drill...

[wwcruisers]

[quote name=DarthGrady;41219045 When I go to party' date=' I ride that strange torpedo all the way out to the end (with a nod to Hunter Thompson).

 

If it makes all the preachy types in this thread feel better, I do go to nearly all the muster drills. The vast majority of my cruises are clean and sober and in line with your social norms. /quote]

 

LOL Darth -- we all have to GO GONZO, once in a while! :p

But, I am glad to hear that you are reforming and changing your ways. As others have noted, in this post-Concordia world, the cruise-lines are focusing more on the muster drills and guest safety. I would just hate for a photographer as talented as you to get put off a cruise -- before it even started! :eek: BTW -- folks on the X boards are still pulling up your photo-blog from your cruise on Century, several years ago. Fabulous photos, man -- you should do that on every new ship you cruise on! :cool:

Edited January 9, 2014 by wwcruisers

[citygirl62]

My mom doesn't have a basement, we live in Florida. And unfortunately I'm paying my own mortgage now. But there are a couple of upshots to living here; I'm currently not an ice cube, and local cruise ports which have provided 40+ cruises over my 31 years.

 

Back to the topic, an open bar package will occasionally cause this sort of thing. You're inferring an elicit agenda where none existed. We boarded the ship around noon and found a bar. One drink led to another and it went downhill. This sometimes happens with a bunch of boozy guys having fun on a cruise ship. When I go to party, I ride that strange torpedo all the way out to the end (with a nod to Hunter Thompson).

 

If we had shown up at muster the complaint would've been that we were too loud. And no one could hear about the intricate process of putting a life vest over one's head and fastening a buckle. Plus, this most recent drill-skip I mentioned was on a Fantasy class ship, of which I could find my way around blindfolded AND drunk.

 

If it makes all the preachy types in this thread feel better, I do go to nearly all the muster drills. The vast majority of my cruises are clean and sober and in line with your social norms.

 

But it is funny reading all these holier-than-thou posts. How's the view from those shiny ivory towers folks? The one about the evil hedonists trampling the children was just priceless! I immediately had a vision of Reverend Lovejoy's wife from The Simpson's giving her "oh won't someone PLEASE think of the children!" line.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

You asked a question, we answered it. Just because you weren't regaled with stories of drunk a**holes telling us of their wild (in their minds) hilarious adventures doesn't make us preachy. Have you ever been sober around really drunk people and thought "wow, they are such jerks"? Probably not.;)

 

I guess you mean me (with the children comment) but FYI I was in a crisis situation once where the resident drunk endangered an orderly evacuation from a building by panicking.

[leaveitallbehind]

Well, I learned something new today -- not having sailed on Oasis or Allure. ;)

That's the way X handles their muster drills -- inside venues. No lining up in the hot sun, but there's not always a place to sit. It's amazing how few seats there really are in the Casino, for example (I hopped up and sat on the bar :p).

 

Several RCI ships include inside venues for their muster drills (Freedom class for one), but others still use outside locations either exclusively or in combination with inside venues. Not sure if they are rolling over to all inside venues or not, but our last several cruises have been a mix of both. (Oasis / Independence: inside, Explorer / Grandeur: outside)

Edited January 9, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[hamgela]

I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would think anyone else skipping the muster would result in a "humorous story."

 

I assumed and am happy I assumed correctly that most reactions would be "YAY they put that person off the ship."

 

Making a joke out of people skipping safety drills just doesn't make sense to me.

 

There are plenty of people who think watching someone get hit in the groin isn't humorous yet America's Funniest Videos has made tons of money featuring just that for the past 25 years. Personally, I find lots of things humorous that others may not find funny but I chalk it up to my twisted sense of humor. :cool:

 

 

While I am blessed to have no mobility problems, I am aware that for many of us over 60 something year olds (and some a lot younger) standing for 20 minutes can be tortuous. Walkling stairs may be very hard. I try to have empathy for others who are not as blessed as me.

 

 

Thank you for saying what I was thinking. My mother in law is a prime example of what you posted. She cannot stand for very long and walking up or down a flight of stairs isn't something she does easily. Additionally, my husband has a friend with an artificial hip who looks perfectly normal but suffers in tremendous pain after standing for long periods or taking the stairs. Are their lazy people out there who could use the exercise? Sure, but there are also people who genuinely can't stand those conditions. Personally, I try not to look with judgement as I'm sure there are plenty of things they could point out about me. ;)

[papcx]

 

Back to the topic, an open bar package will occasionally cause this sort of thing. You're inferring an elicit agenda where none existed. We boarded the ship around noon and found a bar. One drink led to another and it went downhill. This sometimes happens with a bunch of boozy guys having fun on a cruise ship. When I go to party, I ride that strange torpedo all the way out to the end (with a nod to Hunter Thompson).

 

If we had shown up at muster the complaint would've been that we were too loud.

 

Maybe you were too loud for other passengers in the bar as well?

[geoherb]

We skipped the muster drill last month on the Ruby Princess. We had a received a letter in our cabin letting us know we could since we were doing back-to-back cruises and had mustered just four days beforehand. We enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the spa pool without any other guests.

 

On one of our HAL cruises, the person checking off names missed checking off ours. We received a notice in our cabin to report to the makeup drill on the first day at sea. I was able to avoid doing so by explaining that we had been to the drill, describing the different staff members who had been present at our station.

 

The new way Princess does the drill--scanning in each passenger's cruise card at muster stations inside--is much better than HAL's system of yelling out cabin numbers on the Promenade Deck.

[boogs]

While I am blessed to have no mobility problems, I am aware that for many of us over 60 something year olds (and some a lot younger) standing for 20 minutes can be tortuous. Walkling stairs may be very hard. I try to have empathy for others who are not as blessed as me.

 

 

I agree. I have had back problems since my teens, and now that I am in my sixties, standing still for even a few minutes can get painful. 20 minutes would be very difficult. Fortunately, walking up or down stairs is not a problem, as the movement is helpful. It's the standing in one place with little opportunity to move my hips and legs that is painful.

 

It's a shame that some people would make fun of such a thing. :rolleyes:

Edited January 9, 2014 by boogs

[jwm51]

My mom doesn't have a basement, we live in Florida. And unfortunately I'm paying my own mortgage now. But there are a couple of upshots to living here; I'm currently not an ice cube, and local cruise ports which have provided 40+ cruises over my 31 years.

 

Back to the topic, an open bar package will occasionally cause this sort of thing. You're inferring an elicit agenda where none existed. We boarded the ship around noon and found a bar. One drink led to another and it went downhill. This sometimes happens with a bunch of boozy guys having fun on a cruise ship. When I go to party, I ride that strange torpedo all the way out to the end (with a nod to Hunter Thompson).

 

If we had shown up at muster the complaint would've been that we were too loud. And no one could hear about the intricate process of putting a life vest over one's head and fastening a buckle. Plus, this most recent drill-skip I mentioned was on a Fantasy class ship, of which I could find my way around blindfolded AND drunk.

 

If it makes all the preachy types in this thread feel better, I do go to nearly all the muster drills. The vast majority of my cruises are clean and sober and in line with your social norms.

 

But it is funny reading all these holier-than-thou posts. How's the view from those shiny ivory towers folks? The one about the evil hedonists trampling the children was just priceless! I immediately had a vision of Reverend Lovejoy's wife from The Simpson's giving her "oh won't someone PLEASE think of the children!" line.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

Just a thought.

 

The cruise lines have this meeting called The Friends of Bill W.

 

Maybe you should look into this...:(

[BonnieJB]

We cruise on Royal Caribbean and we have always gone to the muster drill. They check off your sea pass when you arrive and if a cabin number isn't there they call it out. They seem to be very concerned about missing cabin numbers, but I don't know what the consequence is if you are among the missing. Last time one side of the ship had to stand in the blazing sun and one gal was beet red and afraid she was going to faint. Luckily we were in the shade. I do feel sorry for those who have to stand for a long period if it is difficult for them. Usually it takes about 20 minutes.

[sloopsailor]

I've missed it a few times, it's usually been alcohol related. Me and some buddies do an open bar cruise each year. We generally get destroyed before we even leave port. This past year we just stayed at our table outside the buffet drinking, laughing and being stereotypical boozy fools.

 

......We boarded the ship around noon and found a bar. One drink led to another and it went downhill. This sometimes happens with a bunch of boozy guys having fun on a cruise ship. .......this most recent drill-skip I mentioned was on a Fantasy class ship, of which I could find my way around blindfolded AND drunk......

 

A Carnival cruiser. That explains everything about such immature behavior. :rolleyes:

 

Too bad the cruise line didn't had the cojones to throw you permanently off their ships. :mad:

Edited January 9, 2014 by sloopsailor

[Sherlock43031]

My mom doesn't have a basement, we live in Florida. And unfortunately I'm paying my own mortgage now. But there are a couple of upshots to living here; I'm currently not an ice cube, and local cruise ports which have provided 40+ cruises over my 31 years.

 

Back to the topic, an open bar package will occasionally cause this sort of thing. You're inferring an elicit agenda where none existed. We boarded the ship around noon and found a bar. One drink led to another and it went downhill. This sometimes happens with a bunch of boozy guys having fun on a cruise ship. When I go to party, I ride that strange torpedo all the way out to the end (with a nod to Hunter Thompson).

 

If we had shown up at muster the complaint would've been that we were too loud. And no one could hear about the intricate process of putting a life vest over one's head and fastening a buckle. Plus, this most recent drill-skip I mentioned was on a Fantasy class ship, of which I could find my way around blindfolded AND drunk.

 

If it makes all the preachy types in this thread feel better, I do go to nearly all the muster drills. The vast majority of my cruises are clean and sober and in line with your social norms.

 

But it is funny reading all these holier-than-thou posts. How's the view from those shiny ivory towers folks? The one about the evil hedonists trampling the children was just priceless! I immediately had a vision of Reverend Lovejoy's wife from The Simpson's giving her "oh won't someone PLEASE think of the children!" line.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

stupid is as stupid does.. (Forrest - 1994)

 

all you folks who can't stand for a couple of minutes should really evaluate if are fit to be cruising or take your wheelchair.

Edited January 9, 2014 by Sherlock43031

[DarthGrady]

 

LOL Darth -- we all have to GO GONZO, once in a while! :p

But, I am glad to hear that you are reforming and changing your ways. As others have noted, in this post-Concordia world, the cruise-lines are focusing more on the muster drills and guest safety. I would just hate for a photographer as talented as you to get put off a cruise -- before it even started! :eek: BTW -- folks on the X boards are still pulling up your photo-blog from your cruise on Century, several years ago. Fabulous photos, man -- you should do that on every new ship you cruise on!

 

 

 

Thanks for that, I really enjoy doing the photo reviews. I'd like to get onboard another X ship soon, that was a great cruise.

 

And I do get the whole safety aspect of this conversation. I don't recommend that anyone skip a safety drill. I'm just reliving a few occasions where things went totally sideways and I missed it due to devil rum.

 

You asked a question, we answered it. Just because you weren't regaled with stories of drunk a**holes telling us of their wild (in their minds) hilarious adventures doesn't make us preachy. Have you ever been sober around really drunk people and thought "wow, they are such jerks"? Probably not.;)

 

I guess you mean me (with the children comment) but FYI I was in a crisis situation once where the resident drunk endangered an orderly evacuation from a building by panicking.

 

I think you've confused me with the OP. I'm not him/her.

 

To your question, yes I've been sober around dunks many times. Sometimes it's fun (and I join them), sometimes it's not (and I avoid them). Such is life.

 

 

Maybe you were too loud for other passengers in the bar as well?

 

Probably not, they were all at the muster drill.

 

 

Just a thought.

 

The cruise lines have this meeting called The Friends of Bill W.

 

Maybe you should look into this...:(

 

That'd be fine if I were an alcoholic, but alas, I'm currently not. Just the occasional heavy bender.

 

 

A Carnival cruiser. That explains everything about such immature behavior. :rolleyes:

 

Too bad the cruise line didn't had the cojones to throw you permanently off their ships. :mad:

 

"Ah yes, they'd never act that way on ________. That's a high class cruise line. Lowly Carnivores and their booze!"

 

Come on. I've seen boozy types on many ships. It's certainly not limited to Carnival. The cruise lines work just like Vegas, they love a drunk. Fresh meat for the grinder (another nod to Hunter). Drinkers and smokers make them more money, just look at the history of the Carnival Paradise and why she's no longer a non smoking ship. They'd sooner keep me onboard drunk than a dozen uptight teetotalers.

 

 

stupid is as stupid does.. (Forrest - 1994)

 

all you folks who can't stand for a couple of minutes should really evaluate if are fit to be cruising or take your wheelchair.

 

Yeah well, you know, that's just like, your opinion, man. ~ The Dude

 

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Edited January 10, 2014 by DarthGrady

[Sherlock43031]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwm51 View Post

Just a thought.

 

The cruise lines have this meeting called The Friends of Bill W.

 

Maybe you should look into this...

That'd be fine if I were an alcoholic, but alas, I'm currently not. Just the occasional heavy bender.

 

 

I think 'currently' is the key word in your reply. you might want to make reservations.

[lifes-a-beach]

A Carnival cruiser. That explains everything about such immature behavior. :rolleyes:

 

Too bad the cruise line didn't had the cojones to throw you permanently off their ships. :mad:

 

you know, its just that kind of attitude that screams "overinflated sense of importance!" my wife and i cruise carnival pretty regularly and neither of us drink alcohol. what your comment really explains is that you're the immature person in this conversation.

Edited January 10, 2014 by lifes-a-beach

[PTMary]

"Ah yes, they'd never act that way on ________. That's a high class cruise line. Lowly Carnivores and their booze!"

 

Come on. I've seen boozy types on many ships. It's certainly not limited to Carnival. The cruise lines work just like Vegas, they love a drunk. Fresh meat for the grinder (another nod to Hunter). Drinkers and smokers make them more money, just look at the history of the Carnival Paradise and why she's no longer a non smoking ship. They'd sooner keep me onboard drunk than a dozen uptight teetotalers.

 

On the cruises I have taken - none of them on Carnival, BTW - I have never seen public drunkenness like you describe. Perhaps it only happens when you and your friends are on board? In fact, on the cruise lines that I favor, they will cut a person off BEFORE they reach the level of drunkenness you seem to enjoy.

 

As to your antiquated views on smoking, one cruise line has pretty much banned all smoking on their ships, with no indoor smoking anywhere, and only a few designated areas outdoors. This line has been doing quite well - certainly better than Carnival, based on the financial reports they publish. Doing so well, in fact, that most of their competition is following their smoking restrictions lead. Based on a very visible trend, there is no money to be made off smokers on more and more ships every year - because there aren't very many.

 

And you criticized other people for being "holier than thou". :rolleyes: How ironic that you can't even see how foolish you are appearing to the majority of people on this thread. Just reading all the replies to your posts clearly show most of us don't think very highly of your actions, and your defense of them. I guess being an outcast is why you feel you must drink so excessive and so often?

Edited January 10, 2014 by PTMary

[DarthGrady]

Yes, i go to them. No, I'm not condoning anyone skipping them...

 

That said, I am curious how many of you skip them and what you do not get caught...

 

No, im not looking for ways to skip it.. Lol... Just some humorous stories...

 

On the cruises I have taken - none of them on Carnival, BTW - I have never seen public drunkenness like you describe. Perhaps it only happens when you and your friends are on board? In fact, on the cruise lines that I favor, they will cut a person off BEFORE they reach the level of drunkenness you seem to enjoy.

 

As to your antiquated views on smoking, one cruise line has pretty much banned all smoking on their ships, with no indoor smoking anywhere, and only a few designated areas outdoors. This line has been doing quite well - certainly better than Carnival, based on the financial reports they publish. Doing so well, in fact, that most of their competition is following their smoking restrictions lead. Based on a very visible trend, there is no money to be made off smokers on more and more ships every year - because there aren't very many.

 

And you criticized other people for being "holier than thou". :rolleyes: How ironic that you can't even see how foolish you are appearing to the majority of people on this thread. Just reading all the replies to your posts clearly show most of us don't think very highly of your actions, and your defense of them. I guess being an outcast is why you feel you must drink so excessive and so often?

 

You know, I think you're right. Our little group must be the only one that has ever gotten into such a state. Luckily for you there would never be such riff-raff on your line of choice.

 

My critique of all the straights comes from having actually read the original post (quoted above) that intended for this to be a humorous, tongue-in-cheek thread. My first post here was just that.

 

As to being a deliberate outcast, no, I'm far from that. I'm just a guy who always enjoyed stirring up ant mounds.

[ducklite]

I have an idea. When you attend muster, you get a special wristband. If there is an emergency where you have to abandon ship, those with wristbands have seats in lifeboats. Those without them need to be good swimmers. :D

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

[sail7seas]

I have an idea. When you attend muster, you get a special wristband. If there is an emergency where you have to abandon ship, those with wristbands have seats in lifeboats. Those without them need to be good swimmers. :D

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

 

 

I get your point but I would not wear that wristband throughout my cruise. I really, really dislike those plastic bands and the only time I will wear one is in a hospital.

 

[cruisemom42]

While I am blessed to have no mobility problems, I am aware that for many of us over 60 something year olds (and some a lot younger) standing for 20 minutes can be tortuous. Walkling stairs may be very hard. I try to have empathy for others who are not as blessed as me.

 

 

 

While I have elderly parents who still enjoy cruising, I would not hesitate to recommend that they should stop cruising if they could not stand for 20 minutes or walk up or down stairs unassisted (albeit not quickly).

 

What would happen in the case of a true emergency if they could not do so? I certainly wouldn't want to find out and after watching some of the amateur footage shot on the Costa Concordia, I am under no illusion that crew (or passengers for that matter) would offer them any assistance.

Edited January 10, 2014 by cruisemom42

[ducklite]

While I have elderly parents who still enjoy cruising, I would not hesitate to recommend that they should stop cruising if they could not stand for 20 minutes or walk up or down stairs unassisted (albeit not quickly).

 

 

 

What would happen in the case of a true emergency if they could not do so? I certainly wouldn't want to find out and after watching some of the amateur footage shot on the Costa Concordia, I am under no illusion that crew (or passengers for that matter) would offer them any assistance.

 

 

I agree 100%. In an emergency situation, most people are going to be too busy saving their own skins and those of their families to render ant assistance to others. My husband and I would try to help someone who needed assistance, but if it came down to everyone going down or saving ourselves, sorry, but the person/people we are trying to help are on their own. The first thing they teach you in advanced first aid or rescue is to never seriously compromise your own safety to try to save others. The last thing a rescuer should do is become another casualty.

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

[SantaFeFan]

Oh, brother. *insert eye rolling smiley thingy here*

 

As for the original question, I always go to the safety drill. I also pay attention to it on airplanes. It's the Navy do-as-you're-told discipline drilled into me.

 

And good for you for doing so. But for the poster who bragged about missing muster drills because he and his buddies were too busy getting drunk, he certainly should have been booted off the ship. Having fun is one thing and hurts no one. Being irresponsible is quite different, potentially causing harm to himself in an emergency, or to any of the crew that must make an extra effort to save him from his own stupidity. Any cruise line that ignores such poor behavior is morally bankrupt, thinking of only the revenue from the alcohol sales rather than the safety issues of such behavior.

 

And yes, I'll *insert eye rolling smiley thingy here* :rolleyes:

Edited January 10, 2014 by SantaFeFan

[ducklite]

Oh, brother. *insert eye rolling smiley thingy here*

 

 

 

As for the original question, I always go to the safety drill. I also pay attention to it on airplanes. It's the Navy do-as-you're-told discipline drilled into me.

 

 

I have to admit I don't pay much attention on airplanes anymore, as I can deliver the speech by heart. I do however, take note of all the exits and count rows to the closest ones in front of and behind me. I check to be sure there is a life jacket under my seat where applicable, and know better than to inflate it before I get on the wing or slide. I know which doors have slides and which ones you would exit onto the wing, and know enough to find a different exit if there is fire outside the one I am at. Etc. Etc. Etc.

 

I also know where the emergency flashlights, oxygen, first aid it, and other safety equipment is located, and what is about to happen when the bell chimes, the chief purser answers the phone, a male FA comes to the front of the plane and the drink cart is conveniently moved to block the aisle between row one and the front lav... And if you look around, you might see a gentleman wearing a sports coat who has suddenly become hyper aware of who is moving about the plane. He will be in an aisle seat, almost always in the first 5-10 rows.

 

I also take note of any passengers who I think could be an issue due to their behavior as they board. The people who can't move fast enough to get out if the way of a sloth, the woman with three kids aged five and under, those who are so confused that they can't even figure out where row 17 seat C is, the ones with too much crap that they would probably try to drag along, the beauty queens in high heels who would most likely spontaneously combust if near a flame due to the eight gallons of hairspray and perfume they are wearing, the self entitled businessman who can't understand why they can't give him a Bloody Mary at 7:10 am in Orlando (no alcohol on the ground in Orlando, state law), should I keep going? :D

 

 

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

Edited January 10, 2014 by ducklite

[dsrdsrdsr]

While I have elderly parents who still enjoy cruising, I would not hesitate to recommend that they should stop cruising if they could not stand for 20 minutes or walk up or down stairs unassisted (albeit not quickly).

 

What would happen in the case of a true emergency if they could not do so? I certainly wouldn't want to find out and after watching some of the amateur footage shot on the Costa Concordia, I am under no illusion that crew (or passengers for that matter) would offer them any assistance.

In a true emergency, they would probably die. But that's no reason to stop them travelling, because a true emergency is very unlikely to happen.

 

Parallel case - what would happen to you if you left the house and a truck hit you? You would die. But that's no reason not to leave the house, because it's very unlikely to happen.

 

A cruise is ideal for someone who can't walk far and can't stand for long - because they don't need to walk far, they don't need to stand for long, and they can watch the scenery go by. And by that time of life, maybe they're more concerned with the quality of their life than the length of it.

[ldubs]

I have an idea. When you attend muster, you get a special wristband. If there is an emergency where you have to abandon ship, those with wristbands have seats in lifeboats. Those without them need to be good swimmers. :D

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

 

Better yet, chain them to the oars!:)

[SaskAries]

On RCCL, they scan your seapass card, so they know exactly who had not attended. If you do not attend, I would guess there would be consequences.

 

I always have gone, and will continue to go. I do not get the "I am too important to attend such a mundane event" attitude of some people.

 

I even still watch the safety briefing on planes even though I can quote it verbatim anyways. I really like the part of how a seat belt buckle works!

 

 

We did a 3 night on RC Enchantment this past Dec, we had to show our SeaPass as well as confirm our attendance, there were a few no shows and they sent crew members to check their cabins, they did escort the ones they found to the muster station.

 

On Disney we had to scan our Key To The World cards, so they do keep track of who attended and who did not.

 

It's at the most 30 mins out of your cruise, no reason to miss it. I love the idea of wristbands for the one who attended lol

 

Off topic: I am the same way on the plane! Even my 6 yr old daughter loves to watch the safety briefing and seat belt demo, she even asked the attendant if she could borrow it for her doll lol

Edited January 11, 2014 by SaskAries