No more life jackets at the muster drills?

[lovethedream]

In another thread, the muster drill came up. I was doing some research on this subject and stumbled across some information stating that Royal Caribbean has discontinued the practice of making the passengers bring their life preservers with them during the drill. And that other Cruise Lines are following suit. Apparently, the life preserver requirement (according to some) was something the cruise lines did on their own and was not an actual coast guard requirement.

I dug a little deeper and found what appeared to be the coast guard document/regulations that covers the muster drill. One part I found interesting was the part that covered those that miss the drill because they have not boarded the ship yet.

Anyway, has anybody been on a recent cruise where they did not have to wear or bring the life preserver during the muster drill? And apparently, again to some, they say that they call it a safety drill and the procedures they followed also seemed to differ.

 

[CruznLexi]

I was on Carnival Dream in Jan and wexmwr in the dinning room and it was a safety drill. They stated people were callling and tripping over the long black tie.

 

[Super*Mum]

Last cruise on NCL, not Disney, we did not need to bring our life jackets. This was in April/May.

Not sure how long this has been going on but I thought it was strange too. A much more comfy experience though.

Also, the last time I had sailed on NCL prior to the 2010 trip we were forced into the theater to listen to a spiel. This time no life jacket and no spiel. Thought about it...then got a drink and didn't think about it again

 

[lovethedream]

Last cruise on NCL, not Disney, we did not need to bring our life jackets. This was in April/May.

Not sure how long this has been going on but I thought it was strange too. A much more comfy experience though.

Also, the last time I had sailed on NCL prior to the 2010 trip we were forced into the theater to listen to a spiel. This time no life jacket and no spiel. Thought about it...then got a drink and didn't think about it again

So far, the earliest date someone mentioned was November or December of 2009. I believe RCCL may have been first, Carnival? and Princess seemed to adopt this starting sometime in 2010. Just Wonder if DCL will make a Dream come true and Magic-ly do away with the life preservers too! Sorry!!

 

[Tink rules]

That's all well and good until someone actually forgets that they actually NEED their life jackets in case of an emergency and doesn't remember to go get it like they are supposed to and shows up at the muster station unprepared...

 

[WilliamK99]

That's all well and good until someone actually forgets that they actually NEED their life jackets in case of an emergency and doesn't remember to go get it like they are supposed to and shows up at the muster station unprepared...

Which is why ships keep backups near the muster points.....

 

[iloverags2]

My mom was just on a HAL cruise to Alaska, and they did not need to bring their jackets to the muster drill. She wasn't thrilled with that...thinks it does not give people the proper training on how to use them (and trust me, she is not a fan of wearing those life jackets during the drills!).

 

[eskimoinparadise]

We were on Freedom of the Seas in May, and life jackets were definitely still required. Not sure how to do a drill without them - it's the only way crew has to quickly check off passengers/cabins as being there.

 

[JRose48]

So far, the earliest date someone mentioned was November or December of 2009. I believe RCCL may have been first, Carnival? and Princess seemed to adopt this starting sometime in 2010. Just Wonder if DCL will make a Dream come true and Magic-ly do away with the life preservers too! Sorry!!

That would be a Fantasy!

 

[ldalvarado]

We were on the July 12 Wonder 5 day and they definitely made us wear our life jackets to the drill.

 

[Edd]

I cruised the Freedom in December, 2009, my last cruise, and we did not have to wear them. Cruised the Monarch in September, 2009 and were required to have them.

 

[SuperStar94]

If I'm honest I would feel a lot better in a real emergancy if I had already practiced beforehand. Yes it is an annoyance but better safe than sorry, eh?

 

[SplashMountainManiac]

RCI has stopped storing life jackets in cabins on Oasis and Allure only. Given the size of the ships, they felt that they could speed up muster more by storing life jackets at the muster stations. The maritime requirements haven't changed, only the way RCI stores and distributes life jackets.

 

[Tower]

We're sailing Carnival this December and I read on their website that life jackets will not be required, but rather stay on deck after the drill and participate on the castaway party on deck

 

[bbn1122]

I don't know. I think they should. You need to know where they are, now take them out of the closet, put it on, secure it and now you are ready.

I think in an emergency you would have a lot of people panicking, not remembering where the jacket is locatd etc.

I understand the tie thing, but people are funny. Some need all the instruction they can get, especially if you are travelling with children

 

[maria-fan-22]

I agree. The whole reason the drill is held is so people can practice what to do in an emergency. If they do not practice going to their staterooms getting their jackets and going to their stations and putting on their jackets then there is a higher risk of people not knowing what to do. Even if they do store extras at each station what if someone for gets how to get to their station. If Disney is smart, they will continue requiring passengers to wear jackets. Besides, when people arrive at their stations and their stateroom only had enough for most but not all of them then the crew gives them another one that will stay in their room. It is a safety drill to keep people safe. sorry if I started to ramble on but these are my thoughts.

 

[LD NURSE]

Cruised NCL Sky this May--not required. It was kind of nice. I didn't miss the sail away party. In Dec 2009 on the Wonder--by the time I put away the life vests--there was no where to stand for the sail away. I'll have a better plan next year. Family will get us a spot--and I'll run to put away life vests.

 

[Homemom]

On our Jan. Wonder cruise we didn't have to put the life jacket on our DD1. We put it on her, went out into the hall, she was SCREAMING , a CM saw us and told us it was okay and we could take it off of her. I'm glad we went through the process though, we were all able to practice putting them on and get them adjusted properly. Better safe than sorry. Besides it only took a few minutes.

 

[taswira]

In a REAL emergency, every second counts! I want a life jacket accessible in my room, so if there is an emergency in the middle of the night I can put it on myself and be prepared. I don't want to be there having a scene from Titanic - - Hoping there is an available life jacket, figuring out how to put it on, trying to do so in a crowded area while someone yells instructions . . No - I HOPE that DCL will have the good sense to keep their safety drill requirements as is.

Regarding guests tripping over the straps: That's because some people don't have the good sense to put them on in their stateroom (and fasten them!) before heading to the drill. That is what DCL requests that you do. With the newer life jackets it's not difficult at all. Even after the drill, they ask you NOT to remove your life jackets until back in your room. THAT is for safety - so guests will not trip. But too many people can't follow that simple instruction either!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Ok, what's the greater chance of happening?

Someone actually needing a life jacket during an actual emergency or someone standing in the sun, during a muster drill, in a wicked hot life jacket, sweating like a pig, waiting for stragglers to show up, bumper-to-bumper in a tight crowd of people, and suffer heat-related illness like fainting and nausea? And then being required to wear their vests back to the room, fully strapped in so no one trips over the straps? Honest question: actually needing the jacket or heat-related illness?

You are told where your life jacket is. They demonstrate how to put it on. If you want to practice with your life jacket and have a 5-minute life jacket drill with your family in the privacy of your air-conditioned cabin, go for it. No one is holding you back from doing that. During an actual emergency, you are responsible for you and your family. Not for anyone else who didn't pay attention.

Just my humble opinion, but I honestly don't see what the big deal is.