Safety Drill Still Outside?

[Mike Bartenhagen]

We just returned from Orlando, one of the things we did was a 3 day Carnival cruise. We have been on both the Magic and the Wonder and decided to try something different. We have been on several cruises over the past 10 years on many different lines and have always hated the muster drill, putting on the flotation devices and standing outside. Carnival is now just having everyone report to their muster station, ours was in a lounge with AC, we didn't have to bring our life preserver we just sat in a chair and watched them show us how to put it on. The Wonder was in dock when we were and we saw what looked like everyone on deck with their life preservers on. Has Disney updated their procedure? I wonder if Carnival did as a result of changes in laws and if so why Disney hasn't followed?

Mike

[kcashner]

On DCL, you will report to your muster station with your life vest on...and then see a demo of how to put it on. You are also asked to check that certain equipment is present on your vest.

Whether your station is inside or out depends on your station assignment. Many guests with aft cabins have assignments inside Animator's,

As to DCL "updating" their safety procedures, they have always taken the process to the most safe degree, not the least...both in the muster drill and the crew training for emergencies. You might want to review what happened in September when a drunk guest jumped off a Carnival ship.

The bottom line is that he was rescued by the crew of the Disney Wonder. However, there are guest reports and video showing that the Carnival crew was unable to properly launch their lifeboat, that their search lights were inadequate (one account says they illuminated about 30 feet while the Wonder's worked for about 500 feet), etc. The eye witness accounts are really quite amazing.

[mmouse37]

As convenient as it may seem to not have to put on your lifevest for the drill.....I, for one would prefer to put it on and walk to the actual lifeboat station. I feel going through the motions will better prepare you for a real life emergency.

Even on DCL....our last few cruises we had our muster station in Animator's Palate. I would have preferred to have it outdoors, where the lifeboats are!

MJ

[disneylove69]

I don't think I would feel comfortable on a cruise line that wants to save a few extra minutes and short cut safety. I also thought these drills were mandated by the Coast Guard. Like it was said. Many people have been jumping off Carnival cruises. Hmmmm?

[Candy Apple]

It has been proven repeatedly that drills do save lives because once you have done something if there is an emergency you will be more likely to remember how to do it correctly than if you just watched how to do it. That is why you need to put your life jacket on during the drill and go to your muster station. Much easier to learn how to do it during the drill instead of trying to figure it out during the stress of an actual emergency. For some staterooms, you use staff only stairwells to get to your muster station and this also familiarizes you with the route. Although oftentimes hot and annoying, I'd rather be prepared and I am grateful that Disney takes them seriously.

[Mike Bartenhagen]

Originally Posted by disneylove69

I don't think I would feel comfortable on a cruise line that wants to save a few extra minutes and short cut safety. I also thought these drills were mandated by the Coast Guard. Like it was said. Many people have been jumping off Carnival cruises. Hmmmm?

I'm not sure what jumping off of a ship has to do with the safety drill but one could argue that we were safer on the Carnival ship than on the Monorail at the park.

Mike

[jilljill]

Sounds like Carnival has updated their safety procedures and made the change so you didn't have to wear your lifevest. We were on 2 Carnival cruises in 2008 and both times we had to wear our lifevest when we reported to our muster station.

[llkoolj40]

I was on an Alaskan cruise on Carnival in Sep '08 and we reported on deck at the muster station. The crew did not check or count to make sure all were present and a lot of my group didn't bother to attend. On DCL they check off all parties and cabin numbers at the drill. I like the idea that they count and are awre of who did not show for the safety drill.

[kcashner]

Failure to show up on DCL will result in a nasty letter from the captain. The really sad part is when you WERE there and they didn't get you checked off!

[monetnj]

We cruised Carnival for our first-ever cruise this past July. We were still required to report to our muster station in life-vests and then we walked out to the deck. If there has been a change, it must be fairly recent. Looking forward to our first ever DCL cruise in March!

[Mickey4me!]

We were on Deck 6 Aft on both of our last two cruises and each time our muster station was in Animator's. I think it's a good idea to require passengers to put the vest on during the drill so you know how to use it in case of a real emergency. DD said she put hers on incorrectly at first until her fiance showed her how it should be worn. Plus, if you don't put them on, you miss a fantastic group photo opportunity like the one below.