Cruise Curmudgeons of the World Unite

[dylan'smom]

I will definitely be checking. On my last cruise we still had to wear them to the drill and my vest was broken/missing a strap, they delivered another one to our cabin after the drill. Last thing I want to do is find out in an emergency that we don't have enough or that they are not usable.

They were all new on the Magic in May/June.

....
However there are numerous lockers located around deck 4 (and other places on the ship) full of additional life jackets of all sizes and cot's for just such a situation and incase you aren't able to make it back to your stateroom for whatever reason in the event of an emergency.
Just like the life boat assignments and their actual capacity, there is a large redundancy of additional life jacket's available if necessary....

Yep, in a real emergency, no one is expected to make it back to their room for their jacket...unless it is handy....that would be a bit much to ask if one is no where near his/her room.

I always thought it was funny that we were supposed to put it on, then wear the life vest to a drill where we were to observe how to put it on!! It makes far more sense to me now - the safety drill still addresses what to do in an emergency and people may be far more likely to listen now that it isn't mostly about the vest...imho


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[dahuffy]

I call it "Maude face" (thanks to Rants from Mommyland, makes me laugh) and employ it regularly, not only on my own children, but even on other people's kids, yep <gasp> I'm the mom who has no problem tell your sweet little Sydny that if she hits my kid again with anything, I'll yank her out of the pool and take her to a lifeguard, regardless of the threat from Mom of assault charges. I also trip kids running through the halls at 2:00am screaming, and tell teenagers to watch their language in the elevators when they thing they should channel sailors (or how they THINK sailors talk). It makes me happy!

I know "The Look" very well. I am a Lunch Lady afterall!

 

[iankh]

Again, self-centered adults, it's not all about you. Weather conditions can cause interruptions and changes to your cruise. You do not want to be on the beach at Castaway when a hurricane is in the area.

Ok, back to my Sunday routine - coffee and the newspaper.

Jan

Just speculating, but perhaps what with 7/24/365 service levels we are out of touch with the forces of nature and that there are some things that are just not in our control.

In any event one should always practice the art of keeping one's tantrums in check and private. Mastering the art of a graceful exit into the ladies' room or men's room and screaming into one's handbag or backpack is a skill to be practiced.






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[iankh]

I don't care for the souffle (or rich chocolate, in general) either, and hate that I have to apologize to some of the Palo servers because they assumed I wanted it & ordered it for me....! I must remember that dining at Palo is all about *them* and not me...lol
.

Neither of us wanted the chocolate souffle our last time at Palo. The server kept trying to talk us into ordering it "just in case."

I think that they have come to expect that for many guest the chocolate souffle is is the highlight of the meal, and are a little unprepared when a guest doesn't want one.

I have nothing against the chocolate souffle. The last time I had it I thought it was too heavy a finish to the meal and wanted something a bit fresher on the palette.

But they did come back and ask up 3 times if we were sure about our choice.





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[dahuffy]

It only took me a minute to come up with it. I'm so pleased you like it that I grant you full and eternal title to the phrase. So long as I get to use it myself....

So how about the cheerleading by cast preppies in white shorts while we wait to be loaded on the bus for excursions. "Is everyone having fun?" "Hello?" (tap, tap) "Testing, one two. Hey, who's excited to ride a minivan 40 miles with whining 8-year-olds to a salsa tasting? I can't HEAR you!"

You really should hire yourself out as a standup in Rockin BarD!

 

[dahuffy]

I get frustrated when people assume I'm immature because I cruise on Disney without children. I used to work for Disney and have come to associate it with quality and attention to detail. It only makes sense that I'd book a cruise through a company I trust.

We usually get the "Why are you cruising Disney? You have no kids!"

 

[iankh]

We usually get the "Why are you cruising Disney? You have no kids!"

Yes, I know that question well. I like to say, "We left them home so we could enjoy ourselves for a change."







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[jdb in AZ]

I realize that crew members aren't perfect, but on a recent DCL cruise we were directed the wrong way to our muster station. If the crew members don't know where to go, how are we supposed to know? Yes, we got there eventually.

I wonder how many people tripped over the waist-strap on their life jacket (or someone else's) before the maritime law people decided it's safer not to bring the life jackets to the drill?

On ships that direct people to muster stations via the casino, shouldn't they put curtains over the paintings of the nekked women on the casino walls so the little kids walking past aren't scarred for life? So glad DCL doesn't have casinos. And no, I'm not enough of a prude to complain about Donald Duck being nekked from the waist down.

On our last muster drill (not DCL) they told us in nine, count 'em (I did) nine languages to watch a video about the muster drill in our staterooms. There must be an easier way.

 

[LadyDre]

I'm no expert on boards. By my post count you can tell I'm still a newbie. Being "new at boards" is honestly no excuse to not use the search function, look in a FAQ thread, or I don't know read the titles of posts on that same page to see if it may pertain to what you are trying to locate! I swear. If I see one more "Cruise newbie", "New to cruising", or "1st time need all the information I could have well looked at the post under me" thread I'm going to go crazy!!! And then they wonder why they are directed to FAQ's or *gasp* google to find the answer to their absolutly ridiculous question. "Will I be able to eat on board?" "Can someone tell me the names of the restaurants on board?", "How will I know when I'm allowed to eat?", "I'm having a mental breakdown because I don't understand WHY I CAN'T SAVE SEATS for my party of 60" Geesh! I feel like people just don't want to find anything out for themselves.

 

[PaceFamily]

LOL! I was just ranting the same thing last night to my wife and MIL. People need to actually do some homework on their own. I too am new to this forum and have only posted a few questions. We took our very first "non-military" cruise in June. I amazed me that we know more information about the cruise and activities than some of the "experienced" cruisers that we met on board.

Lurk a little and the answers are there. Maybe this is why we are in the classification that we are "CURMUDGEONS" because we take the time to figure things out instead of demanding others to do our home work for us or watch our children when we choose to do other things.

 

[smootenloopers]

I agree completely. Our 5-year-old has Asperger's and we have always worked with him to get him through the drill. It's a lot of work for us, but that is what parents do. We get that there are some kids who really have a difficult time with the sounds, crowds, etc. at the drill. But God forbid something happen where we had to abandon ship, I could not live with myself if I lost my son because he did not know what to do.

Wish more parents were like you. I used to teach 4th grade and one year there was a child in 1st grade with "noise issues". So what did the administration and counselor decide was the best solution to the fire drill dilema (required number of drills each year)? The counselor would go down the the classroom in advance of each drill to "prepare" him.

Now the rule was, if the alarm went off, you got up, went to the door and walked quickly and quietly to your assigned gathering point outside (no stopping for coats, bathroom stops, etc.). So, one day it is about 35 degrees (F) with a 10-15 mph wind blowing. Off goes the alarm and everyone exits the building. Looking around, you see 19 classes lined up (including 2 classes of special ed), hands in pockets, shivering a bit and one entire first grade class (including teacher) bundled up in their winter coats! Try explaining that to the other children.

So, I told my class straight up when they asked. One of the students in that classroom is really bothered by loud, sudden noises so they let him known in advance when there is a drill. One of those 9-year-olds asked the perfect question, "What happens when there is a real fire and there isn't time to warn him?" Hmmm...wonder how my students could figure that out but the administrators (who were ALSO wearing winter coats) couldn't grasp the inherent safety issue.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Yep, in a real emergency, no one is expected to make it back to their room for their jacket...unless it is handy....that would be a bit much to ask if one is no where near his/her room.

AFAIK Guest's are asked to return to their staterooms in the unlikely event of an emergency.
The probability of asking every Guest to immediately go to their Life Boat Station in the event of an accident or disaster is pretty much nil to none.
It would cause mass hysteria (and theres enough of that on here about safety on the ships )

Some Guest's may have heard about "parties" on the ships or maybe a "Bright Star" announcement over the P.A?

Blue Parties, CM's that deal with non life threatening emergencies. (Water pipe break's/flooding in general area's, black out's/loss of power etc)

Red Parties, CM's that are trained Firefighters. Enough said.

Bright Star, CM's that are the Medical team and also CM's that are trained in recovering people that have a medical emergency and need to either be moved to the Infirmary or medically debarked of the ship.


The General Alarm (7 short blast's, and 1 long blast on the ships whistle/P/A system) would only occur when the Captain (not Mickey BTW ) would have no choice as it would scare everyone and cause a panic.

The Captain or Duty Officer would make the decision to ask all Guest's to go back to their stateroom via the ship's P.A and Crew, and then wait there, and then if necessary tell them to go to their life boat station and await further instructions with their life jackets from the staterooms if possible.

Only then if the situation was worsening and the ship's emergency was non-recoverable would he make the decision that it is more dangerous to stay on the ship, than send thousands of Guest's into the lifeboat's to abandon the ship into the ocean.
(obviously not a decision made lightly, nor a phone call I would like to make to Bob to tell him his Multi Million ship was sinking! )

But there are enough redundant life jackets for every Guest and CM aboard and then some!

Anyway's, a slight diversion from the thread's OP's topic, but don't worry.
They have it all in hand


Ex Techie

 

[jitsb]

I apologize for going off topic for a moment, but I've nowhere else to turn.

I received an email from Disney that when glanced at on my iPhone began with, "Ian, sweeten your Pooh collection."

Please dear lord don't let me be the only person who sees something just plain wrong with that.

Erm, yes, quite so for me, especially since my son's name is Ian and I would be more than a little concerned if anyone offered to "sweeten his pooh collection." Apologies for the randomness, this lurker just felt the need to speak up on that one.

Oh, and Ex Techie, thank you for that bit of info... might you be able to confirm the seriousness of a call of "zero-zero to the bridge" over the in-room PA system at 5 a.m.? I felt, coupled with the fact there was NO power at all, this might be cause to silently panic and review the evacuation drills in my head (so as not to alarm the children), but my husband still rolls his eyes at me for trying desperately not to hyperventilate. Any support of the validity of my panic attack would be appreciated.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Oh, and Ex Techie, thank you for that bit of info... might you be able to confirm the seriousness of a call of "zero-zero to the bridge" over the in-room PA system at 5 a.m.?

That's not a call sign I am aware of for general CM's, nor one that I had any general training for that informed me of what it meant.
It does sound like a call for the Captain to me, but as his berth is close to the bridge maybe not?

Sorry I can't help more than that.

Maybe another ex or current DCL CM on here may know what it mean's, or any ex Sailors/Captains/Mariner's out there?

Ex Techie

 

[Weedy]

My Curmudgeon rant for today ..... Are the pools on the dream crowded? No there are only 4000 people on board the ship, 2 pools for families on one deck a beautiful sea day AND your family will be the only ones who want to use the pool.

 

[SLK1]

I get so sad when I find a shirt/shorts/kitchen utensil that I really like in the shops and it has EARS all over it!!! Disney makes nice merchandise...why must they put EARS all over EVERYTHING????

 

[dylan'smom]

AFAIK Guest's are asked to return to their staterooms in the unlikely event of an emergency.
The probability of asking every Guest to immediately go to their Life Boat Station in the event of an accident or disaster is pretty much nil to none.
It would cause mass hysteria (and theres enough of that on here about safety on the ships )

Some Guest's may have heard about "parties" on the ships or maybe a "Bright Star" announcement over the P.A?

Blue Parties, CM's that deal with non life threatening emergencies. (Water pipe break's/flooding in general area's, black out's/loss of power etc)

Red Parties, CM's that are trained Firefighters. Enough said.

Bright Star, CM's that are the Medical team and also CM's that are trained in recovering people that have a medical emergency and need to either be moved to the Infirmary or medically debarked of the ship.


The General Alarm (7 short blast's, and 1 long blast on the ships whistle/P/A system) would only occur when the Captain (not Mickey BTW ) would have no choice as it would scare everyone and cause a panic.

The Captain or Duty Officer would make the decision to ask all Guest's to go back to their stateroom via the ship's P.A and Crew, and then wait there, and then if necessary tell them to go to their life boat station and await further instructions with their life jackets from the staterooms if possible.

Only then if the situation was worsening and the ship's emergency was non-recoverable would he make the decision that it is more dangerous to stay on the ship, than send thousands of Guest's into the lifeboat's to abandon the ship into the ocean.
(obviously not a decision made lightly, nor a phone call I would like to make to Bob to tell him his Multi Million ship was sinking! )

But there are enough redundant life jackets for every Guest and CM aboard and then some!
Anyway's, a slight diversion from the thread's OP's topic, but don't worry.
They have it all in hand
Ex Techie

Hmmmm...good to know... I was actually just quoting a couple CMs when I made the statement about reporting directly to the station as assigned. Oh well.

Just curious...do you enjoy sitting at the bar in the Cove? JK


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[flexsmom]

Ex Techie - thanks for the more detailed info on the emergency calls. I'm always fascinated to watch the crew and what they are REALLY doing to operate and maintain the ship.

Personally, it drives me nuts that people don't realize that the crew is there primarily to do just that - operate the ship. (And the "cruise staff" is there to make the passengers happy.) The Captains aren't hired for their sparkling personalities, but because they have experience in and are responsible for the lives of over 4000 people at any given time. These ships are bigger than some of our smaller aircraft carriers - and the new ones even moreso. They aren't glorified cab drivers. (Just read any of the accounts of what the navigation up and back through Tracy Arm is entailing for proof of that.) I laugh when I hear people complain about what goes on while underway to maintain the ship such that it mars their view or cruise experience somehow, or that the Captain didn't mingle enough. I know the crew has jobs (or at least, THESE jobs) only because of the paying passengers and they chose to be on a pleasure cruise ship, but still - they have to just roll their eyes often at the attitudes of some of their guests.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Thank you flexsmom,

I just want to add, however anxious/distraught or frightened you may or might feel is you ever hear any of those call signs, please do not overreact to them.

It could be a sink or toilet overflowing. Or a Toaster in a galley has a couple of piece's of toast stuck in it burning.

Listen to the announcement, and if it instruct's YOU to do something, then just do it.
No questions asked, no strollers, no can I just..... Just do it!

If it is a really emergency it will be repeated several times. And then over and over again by the crew members.

DO NOT PANIC IF YOU HEAR BRIGHTSTAR, BLUE PARTIES OR RED PARTIES.

I cannot explain how important it is, but try to not PANIC IF YOU HEAR BRIGHTSTAR, BLUE PARTIES OR RED PARTIES.

It is nothing to worry about until you get told to go somewhere or do something!

Stuff on ship's happens and 99.9% of the time it's all OK

One lady Guest even complained about not being invited to a Blue Parties "event" as it wasn't on the Navigator....... DCL Legend has it!

Ex Techie

 

[RileyRoo]

I love the people who insist their child needs a nap during the safety drill. And their child needs first dining because second is way too late.

This. You are on VACATION! Why on earth are you so concerned about your children getting to bed by 7pm??? What are you going to do when they're asleep - hang out in your room all night?!

My goodness people, let your kids have some fun! They are not going to become criminals if you go off schedule for ONE WEEK. Do these people leave WDW at 6pm to ensure their kids are asleep by 7pm?