Emergency drill

[Scriv]

I like the reassurance of putting on and fastening my life jacket as I would want to know exactly how that works in an emergency.

[1160451]

I think the poster you are replying to was talking about P&O. (This thread is on the P&O board.) And on P&O, you don't have to attend lifeboat drill twice if you're on back to back cruises.

 

I've never quite understood why people think lifeboat drill is going to make such a difference. The first time I travelled by P&O was in 1993, and I've been with them many times since. The lifeboat drill has never changed - it involves going to your muster station and being told the following essentiasl facts:

 

1. The emergency bell is 7 short and 1 long.

2. When it rings, go to your muster station.

3. Take your lifejacket if you can, but if you don't take it, it doesn't matter.

4. Do as you're told by the crew.

 

Now, obviously it's vital to attend every time , just in case the system has changed (eg. the new recommendation might be to run to the ship's rail and be ready to leap off - who knows?) But I can't really see how missing this vital information is going to endanger anyone else, in the unlikely event of me missing it.

 

(PS - I do learn other stuff, such as that it's not a good idea to sit on the rails, and that I haven't to throw cigarettes, any other live flames, or anything else over the side. But as I wasn't going to anyway, it's not really vital information. I also learned that if you're charging a tablet or any other electrical device, you must sit there and watch it while it charges. No charging it up and going away. Charging it at night and sleeping through it isn't allowed either. I ignored that one.)

 

 

Sorry i stand corrected about the back to back drill.

I have to agree with you about the drills.

I think in an emergancy it is all down to luck.

At any point in time if you asked me where my muster point was in relation to where I was on the ship I would struggle. I wonder how I would react at midnight, in darkness, a rolling ship, panic stricken passengers, a couple of bottles of wine dulling my senses. Just hope it never happens.

Edited August 10, 2014 by 1160451

[jeanlyon]

So do I. Shocking. And painting a terrible picture of her current work colleagues.

 

I simply meant if you are so foolish as to state that you are oblivious to the safety briefing, then you are probably going to get in the way of others getting out in an emergency. Same thing applies to the ship.

 

Also, even if your senses might have a couple of bottles of wine dulling them, I suspect you would be sober very quickly if something happened.

Edited August 10, 2014 by jeanlyon

[AchileLauro]

I think the poster you are replying to was talking about P&O. (This thread is on the P&O board.) And on P&O, you don't have to attend lifeboat drill twice if you're on back to back cruises.

 

I've never quite understood why people think lifeboat drill is going to make such a difference. The first time I travelled by P&O was in 1993, and I've been with them many times since. The lifeboat drill has never changed - it involves going to your muster station and being told the following essentiasl facts:

 

1. The emergency bell is 7 short and 1 long.

2. When it rings, go to your muster station.

3. Take your lifejacket if you can, but if you don't take it, it doesn't matter.

4. Do as you're told by the crew.

 

Now, obviously it's vital to attend every time , just in case the system has changed (eg. the new recommendation might be to run to the ship's rail and be ready to leap off - who knows?) But I can't really see how missing this vital information is going to endanger anyone else, in the unlikely event of me missing it.

 

(PS - I do learn other stuff, such as that it's not a good idea to sit on the rails, and that I haven't to throw cigarettes, any other live flames, or anything else over the side. But as I wasn't going to anyway, it's not really vital information. I also learned that if you're charging a tablet or any other electrical device, you must sit there and watch it while it charges. No charging it up and going away. Charging it at night and sleeping through it isn't allowed either. I ignored that one.)

 

You miss the main point which is to make you familiar with YOUR muster station and the route or routes to it. How many people never bother to read the safety notice on the door to your cabin or on the wall adjacent to the entrance door to their hotel room.

 

I was talking to one old couple who though it was funny on one cruise to hide in their cabin when the muster drill was called. Two or three days into the cruise they asked me where did I think their muster station may be and was it the same as mine. As I was in an entirely different part of the ship I very much doubted it. And this is a couple who have cruised numerous times- I ask you! You simply can't save some people from themselves can you.

Edited August 10, 2014 by AchileLauro

[jeanlyon]

Achile - exactly - I have no patience with people who cannot be bothered to go to a muster or to listen to safety briefings. they will be the ones that panic if there is a problem.

[Scriv]

You miss the main point which is to make you familiar with YOUR muster station and the route or routes to it.

 

For me that is very important. I am unashamedly scared of an emergency at sea and I do feel a lot better having been made familiar about the procedure and my muster station and how to get to it.

[Host Sharon]

Never ever having done over 30+ cruises with different cruise lines have I had a sales talk at the end of the Safety Drill.

 

 

Me neither.

 

Things have certainly changed - for example you are now not told to step off the ship (not jump) holding your nose as they do not want pax in the water. And the issue over chargers is new as well.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Host Sharon

[kathsmum]

We have done 30+ cruises only with P&O and attended all safety musters except once when we did a back to back and stayed in the same cabin. We were told you only had to attend when you first board the ship. Over the years the instructions have changed slightly e.g. you are no longer told that in the event of being told to abandon ship you should hold your nose and STEP NOT JUMP into the water. What always amazes me is that you are told to WATCH the demo of how to put on your life jacket before doing it yourself, but you always get at least one idiot who tries to put it on before instructed.

[richleeds]

I simply meant if you are so foolish as to state that you are oblivious to the safety briefing, then you are probably going to get in the way of others getting out in an emergency. Same thing applies to the ship.

 

Also, even if your senses might have a couple of bottles of wine dulling them, I suspect you would be sober very quickly if something happened.

 

You seem to be mistaking the fact that my knowledge of the rules surrounding an airline safety demo and what I personally would do are one and the same?

 

Lets hope you never had to take part in an airline NITS briefing during your time, as misunderstanding the information given could put many lives at additional risk.

[richleeds]

Me neither.

 

Things have certainly changed - for example you are now not told to step off the ship (not jump) holding your nose as they do not want pax in the water. And the issue over chargers is new as well.

 

Maybe its not happened for you or maybe it has been subtle and you didnt pick up on it - we only pick up on it now as the first time we realised it was happening it wasnt at all subtle.

 

But to give you an idea at the end of the muster info while everyone is still sat in the venue/area, it goes something like this.....

 

"While we have your attention let me tell you of some of the wonderful things going on, on this beautiful ship, tonight our speciality dining venue is open with a half price offer, we visit some amazing ports and Sharon from the excursion desk tells us most are nearly sold out, dont forget in the casino we have an accumulator jackpot and if you visit the spa now there is 10% off all treatments booked today, so whatever you choose to do this evening on ......" - Or words to that effect.

 

We just feel that the drill should only discuss the actual drill and nothing else and when they do mention other activities its usually ones that incur a fee/charge.

[insanemagnet]

If there is an issue that would allow you to get to a muster point, then it isn't that urgent. If the issue is serious, then you have need to be off, NOW. Not trying to make your way down 10 flights of stairs with hundreds of others. Look at the details of the actions taken by the survivors of fast moving incidents like the MS Estonia and why they lived and many others didn't.

 

But back to the topic, there was no check on my recent P&O cruise of who attended and who didn't.

[Aloonie]

If there is an issue that would allow you to get to a muster point, then it isn't that urgent. If the issue is serious, then you have need to be off, NOW. Not trying to make your way down 10 flights of stairs with hundreds of others. Look at the details of the actions taken by the survivors of fast moving incidents like the MS Estonia and why they lived and many others didn't.

 

But back to the topic, there was no check on my recent P&O cruise of who attended and who didn't.

 

 

Hi

I think the cabin stewards check cabins.

[insanemagnet]

So I am in the bar, having a drink.

[richleeds]

Hi

I think the cabin stewards check cabins.

 

Yeah they do and on some lines they put a "clear" card in the key slot of each checked cabin.

 

But as Ive seen if you are sunbathing on deck or in the gym etc then you tend to be left alone and not asked why you are not attending.

[tfg]

Not really. For example on BA now you can be on your iPad with sound isolating headphones on watching a movie, oblivious to the whole briefing.

 

 

Hi

With BA you can use ipad phones and all hand held electronic equipment throughout the flight as long as flight mode is used

For the safety demo all headphones must be removed

[richleeds]

Hi

With BA you can use ipad phones and all hand held electronic equipment throughout the flight as long as flight mode is used

For the safety demo all headphones must be removed

 

 

That used to be the case but the wording has now changed and is below, crew will not ask passengers to remove headphones any more as its no longer a mandatory requirement, though obviously the preference is that you watch and listen to the safety briefing.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to [interrupt the Highlife Entertainment to] brief you on the safety procedures of this aircraft. We ask that you remove your personal headphones until the end of the video.

All hand held devices, including mobile phones, must now be in ‘flight safe’ mode or switched off and held securely or placed into a pocket.

[davecttr]

Me neither.

 

Things have certainly changed - for example you are now not told to step off the ship (not jump) holding your nose as they do not want pax in the water. And the issue over chargers is new as well.

Apparently someone had so many devices on charge from the same socket that it overloaded the wiring and caused a small fire?

 

doing what they say is inconvenient though, even when i only want to recharge my camera battery and kindle.

[richleeds]

Apparently someone had so many devices on charge from the same socket that it overloaded the wiring and caused a small fire?

 

doing what they say is inconvenient though, even when i only want to recharge my camera battery and kindle.

 

The problem with a lot of chargers is people are buying additional ones for 99p incl postage off ebay and amazon etc as spares and to travel with and they are badly/cheaply made or not suitable voltage for the item you are trying to charge thus risking an electrical fault/fire.

 

Quite a few horror stories in the press recently on these USB chargers.

[Host Sharon]

Maybe its not happened for you or maybe it has been subtle and you didnt pick up on it - we only pick up on it now as the first time we realised it was happening it wasnt at all subtle.

 

But to give you an idea at the end of the muster info while everyone is still sat in the venue/area, it goes something like this.....

 

"While we have your attention let me tell you of some of the wonderful things going on, on this beautiful ship, tonight our speciality dining venue is open with a half price offer, we visit some amazing ports and Sharon from the excursion desk tells us most are nearly sold out, dont forget in the casino we have an accumulator jackpot and if you visit the spa now there is 10% off all treatments booked today, so whatever you choose to do this evening on ......" - Or words to that effect.

 

We just feel that the drill should only discuss the actual drill and nothing else and when they do mention other activities its usually ones that incur a fee/charge.

 

No - never had that at all, not on any of the lines I have travelled with - perhaps it's an American thing?

[richleeds]

No - never had that at all, not on any of the lines I have travelled with - perhaps it's an American thing?

 

The worst offender was the semi all inclusive Azamara.

[bluemug]

Does the information change from trip to trip on the same ship?

Cruised on Aurora two months ago and of course attended the muster drill. First thing that struck me was ,like the Korean disaster, we would have to assemble and wait indoors. Secondly, I noticed on the boat deck P/S a chute type

escape system. No mention of this system was made during the muster drill unless it is for crew only.

[insanemagnet]

Cruised on Aurora two months ago and of course attended the muster drill. First thing that struck me was ,like the Korean disaster, we would have to assemble and wait indoors.

 

Hence my point about the MS Estonia. The vast majority of the few survivors were fit young men, who when it all kicked off did what they needed to do to get off the ship as fast as they could.

 

I recall reading an interview from one survivor who said that the only reason that they were alive was running in the opposite direction to their muster point, as their muster point was inside, and they chose to get outside asap.

[richleeds]

Hence my point about the MS Estonia. The vast majority of the few survivors were fit young men, who when it all kicked off did what they needed to do to get off the ship as fast as they could.

 

I recall reading an interview from one survivor who said that the only reason that they were alive was running in the opposite direction to their muster point, as their muster point was inside, and they chose to get outside asap.

 

 

In a ship disaster I would certainly weigh up any available options rather than be a sheep and follow everyone if I thought better options were available, though I appreciate I could make a wrong choice.

[Host Sharon]

Cruised on Aurora two months ago and of course attended the muster drill. First thing that struck me was ,like the Korean disaster, we would have to assemble and wait indoors. Secondly, I noticed on the boat deck P/S a chute type

escape system. No mention of this system was made during the muster drill unless it is for crew only.

 

 

It is a Marin Ark pax evacuation system - Aurora had the first installed on a passenger vessel - the advantage is that it can be launched from inside the ship. There is no need to mention specific systems at muster as not everyone will have this muster station and it could confuse people. You slide down a spiral slope directly into a life raft so little instruction is needed beyond removing your shoes as on an aircraft style slide.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Host Sharon

[bluemug]

It is a Marin Ark pax evacuation system - Aurora had the first installed on a passenger vessel - the advantage is that it can be launched from inside the ship. There is no need to mention specific systems at muster as not everyone will have this muster station and it could confuse people. You slide down a spiral slope directly into a life raft so little instruction is needed beyond removing your shoes as on an aircraft style slide.

What is the capacity of this Marin Ark system. What is the life expectancy of a person in Arctic waters. isn't it better to go quickly.