For Those Who DON'T Go to the Lifeboat Drill

[Chattyaholic]

DH and I have been on 3 Disney cruises, and we did the dreaded lifeboat drill each time. We do not have another Disney cruise planned, and won't for quite some time so it's not like I'm asking this question because WE won't be doing the drill...I'm just curious....what happens to families that DON'T show up for the lifeboat drill? Do they come to your stateroom and reprimand you? I know each time at our drill there have been some who didn't show up, and I just was wondering what happens to them.

And for those who DIDN'T go to their drill, WHY didn't you?

 

[amtmommy]

I head you get a stern sounding letter telling you you have to go to another drill.

 

[dtheboys]

YES!! I would also like to know........

We went on the 4 night cruise last year..........

OK>>>before I get a soap box speech........I didn't say I wasn't going to attend..just curious what happens if you don't attend?

 

[amtmommy]

I honestly don't know what would happen if you just didn't go to any safety drills. I have been reading the boards for awhile and haven't heard.

I haven't received my documents yet, so I don't know if there is small print saying in order to sail on the ship you need to attend a safety drill.

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

We didn't go on our second carnival cruise drill since we already knew where and what we were supposed to do. No one said anything or did anything. Don't know if Disney is more strict.

 

[mmouse37]

You most definately have to attend and those who do not are foolish and rude.....every shipboard activity, bar, food station, etc. closes down during lifeboat drill. Every person on board must attend and I think it was Barb who said you get a very stern letter if you do not show up....but wouldn't you.....it is for your own safety???

It is a total of about 20 minutes out of your cruise...I could never understand everyone's distate of the life boat drill....it is there for our protection and yes, it is a hassle, but it also can be a great op for a photo and ice breaker (very hard not to notice someone crammed up against you!!!! LOL)

Let's all make the best of it...it is a necessary part of cruising!!!

MJ

 

[Michelemouse]

Also, if you don't show up all of those who did show up have to stand there longer while they try to find you or wait for you to show up. Please go, if only for that reason.

 

[PADVCmember@OKW]

As I recall during our cruise, one member of a group was in their cabin during the drill. The drill was held until another family member went to retreive the "missing person".

Only then was the drill concluded.

 

[The4OfUs]

That's like the folks that don't show up for the early morning immigration call, and then everyone else has to wait longer until it's sorted out. It shouldn't matter "what would happen"...what would happen if your kids didn't want to bother standing outside in the sun during the school fire drills? Wouldn't that upset you, and strike you as irresponsible on their part? It would me...and I would hope that the teachers, like the crew members on board, would do everything in their power to enforce that one extremely important rule.

 

[prymsu]

I believe the two times i went, that folks got letters about this, and i thought a long time ago, i had read a thread about this as well.

 

[Regina]

Okay, before this turns into something ugly, the OP is only asking what happens to those who don't show up.

From my take on it, it's more out of curiosity, not that it's being considered as an option.

I've often wondered what they do as well, and I'd never, ever consider not going to the drill.

 

[CRB#33]

If I remember correctly, on one of Barb and Tony's last cruises, they were mistakenly marked that they did not show up. She had pictures on her digital that proved she was there. I think she said they got quite a stern letter the next day.

Did she say that the drill took quite a while and they weren't sure why? It was a while ago.

 

[Zandy595]

It is a total of about 20 minutes out of your cruise...I could never understand everyone's distate of the life boat drill....it is there for our protection and yes, it is a hassle, but it also can be a great op for a photo and ice breaker (very hard not to notice someone crammed up against you!!!! LOL)

I'm not saying that I will ever skip the drill, but it was WAY more than 20 minutes and more than just a hassle. The cast member in charge of our group was REALLY rude. The whole time we stood there (in the HOT sun) we were not allowed to move or even whisper (let alone take pictures). DS (6 at the time) was yelled at because he turned around to see me (like to make sure I was still there). It took me a while to get over the whole thing and start enjoying my cruise after the drill was finally over. I was even thinking about going down to guest services and complaining about the cast member, who made my son cry. DH talked me out of it though.

I'm dreading the safety drill on our upcoming cruise.

 

[Tiggeriffic]

I've only been on one cruise and we did the drill. It certainly wasn't fun, but they were not that strict and they didn't yell at the people who were talking. I would think that a child turning around to look at/for their parent would be a natural reaction for a child who might be nervous given the situation. If a cast member yelled at my child in this situation, I would certainly be upset and I would probably have reported the situation. It is actions like this that make people want to not take part.

 

[Lynda Silk]

We've been on 2 cruises on the Wonder and the lifeboat drill has never been that bad for us. The CMs were always polite and were very friendly. My kids would turn and look at us and they weren't reprimanded. Just wanted to reassure the previous poster that the lifeboat drill is not always that grim and that it shouldn't be something to be dreaded.

Actually I felt very reassured by the drill. If something, God forbid, were to happen, I felt quite confident that we would be able to load those lifeboats in an organized and efficient manner and very quickly! I felt that my safety and that of my family's was well taken care of.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

I wish they did not have to pack everyone in like sardines. On our last cruise about an hour after the drill I tried to run my fingers through my hair and was not able to. I then remembered the small child who was being held by her father next to me in the drill area had a lollipop she was eating. Needless to say, I had to wash my hair earlier than planned.

 

[mickeyboat]

We did not attend the life boat drill two weeks ago on the Magic because we had not arrived at the ship. We boarded moments before the ship left port. We received a note (but not a stern one) asking us to take a moment to find out where we were to go and how we would get there. I think they tailored the note knowing that we were unable to attend the drill. I assume if you purposely skipped the drill, you would get a much more stern note.

Denae

 

[brack]

My DW and I have been on 4 DCL cruises. The last two were back-to-back. We have never missed a lifeboat drill. None of the drills were a hassle and we would not think of missing one (even when we had just done one the week before). We consider it part of the fun cruise experience.

Our first cruise was when the Magic caught fire at 3AM and the drill was for real! Even that was a good experience because we saw first hand that the crew really was prepared.

I know that the original post was just a question and this post was not meant to flame them. These drills are for our protection. Also it is very rude to all of us to miss these, and any other "required" meeting such as immigration, just because someone feels that they are being inconvenienced.

 

[ericamanda01]

This is my first post here so please forgive me if sound like someones mother with a warning. However, but my husband-2-be and I were stationed on several aircraft carriers in the Navy and we have also been on a Disney cruise, and we would never dream of missing a safety drill. We know all to well that a ship can be unsafe and we enjoy ourselves more knowing that we knew what to do in an emergency. I remember all too well how much everyone wanted to run from the drill and throw those silly orange vests in our rooms and get down to the fun. Just the same, the drill is to help not hender. If you start to consider not attending just think back to Titanic, i'm sure there are some lost souls who would not have minded a similar drill.

P.S. I have to say how much I enjoy this forum. Everyone seems so nice and it's great to find others who have the same Disney addiction as me!

 

[mickeyboat]

ericamanda01 - welcome to the DIS!

We hope you stay. It's addicting!

Denae