No more life jackets at the muster drills?

[KS929]

But Fantasy might be taking over Dream's itinerary...so that's cool!

Curtis

Yea i don't think so… i though the Fantasy will take over the Magic's for the 7-nights? meh, either way, they're the same!

 

[Curtis McCrea]

either way, they're the same!

Yeah, but the name Fantasy is no much cooler!

Curtis

 

[Subi WRX]

whoever said the lifeboat drill does not take that long and is not that hot obviously hasn't cruised in July on a full ship. I almost had an elderly pax faint on me. Had to alert the CM and said pax was escorted in and taken to the infirmary.

 

[Curtis McCrea]

whoever said the lifeboat drill does not take that long and is not that hot obviously hasn't cruised in July on a full ship. I almost had an elderly pax faint on me. Had to alert the CM and said pax was escorted in and taken to the infirmary.

By saying 'not that long' I was comparing it to people who think it takes hours and is a waste of time.

It saves lives, and it only take 10 - 30 minutes, usually. (I'm comparing it to my last trip)

Curtis

 

[Gigi22]

I hope that Disney still does the muster drill with lifejackets. Disney lifejackets are comparatively easy to put on, but using them is still a relatively infrequent experience for most of us--repetition jogs the memory!
I would be quite anxious if HAL were to quit requiring passengers to wear lifejackets to muster drill, HAL lifejackets are much trickier to fasten correctly--in the 25 HAL cruises we have been on, inevitably there are at least 6 adults at our lifeboat station who have their lifejackets improperly fastened.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Just back from the Wonder and concur with the prior posters to continue the drills with jackets.

Observations - One very tall man wearing a life jacket bearing the legend - for child persons. I'd prefer he get told off at a drill not while holding up the line to board (the very hypotethical life boat).

Child persons without life jackets due to them not being in the room. While we can say - folks should check, will they? Or will they rush off to sail away. (Yes, I know all of you will check...). This allows the child life jacket to be provided.

Small infants have yet another size - with additional instructions on donning. And yes, another forced practice. Have you seen the infant jackets - aren't they cute!

And an added benefit (perhaps) for the crew - an idea of how many of the folks in their station cannot follow directions - do NOT take your life jacket off until you get back in the room....how many ignore that one...and hence trip over the cords....

Plus, we get to met other cruisers - Hi Neighbor!

As for the poster who mentioned the elderly lady who fainted, that is a very real concern - perhaps some alternatives for those who need extra consideration.

 

[hrhdhd]

I would be quite anxious if HAL were to quit requiring passengers to wear lifejackets to muster drill, HAL lifejackets are much trickier to fasten correctly--in the 25 HAL cruises we have been on, inevitably there are at least 6 adults at our lifeboat station who have their lifejackets improperly fastened.

In fact, HAL no longer requires passengers to wear their life jackets to muster drill. We didn't bring ours for the drill in January 2010; this policy is fleetwide as far as I know.

 

[maria-fan-22]

So apparently, Disney is no longer requiring Life jackets at drills. Spread the word.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So apparently, Disney is no longer requiring Life jackets at drills. Spread the word.

When did this happen?

 

[maria-fan-22]

When did this happen?

Just this month. Someone said that because they do not want to have to have the jackets during the drill on the dream that they are now making fleet wide.

 

[mmouse37]

Just this month. Someone said that because they do not want to have to have the jackets during the drill on the dream that they are now making fleet wide.

I actually prefer to wear my lifejacket....sort of a practice run in case of a real emergency.....I feel repetition makes it more natural to do in case I really have to wear it. I also prefer to have my muster drill outside instead of sitting in a dining room or theatre. Ten minutes of my inconvenience is well worth saving my life.

MJ

 

[msbiscuit]

I bet the people on the Titanic said "What are the chances we will need those!" They said even worse "not even God Himself can sink this ship!" I will take the chances of getting heat stroke over the chances of drowning....better yet my CHILD drowning! No thank you. I will take the life vest muster drill any day of the week because I will guarantee you, you have a cruise that did the muster drill with the vest and a cruise that did the must drill without the vests, the cruise that did the drill with the vest will have less complications and save more lives. It's just common sense and I will take common sense over chances.

I have to agree with you, 100%! I'd much prefer going through the drill; putting the life jacket on; whatever the discomfort!

 

[lbgraves]

This started with the cruise before the 1/8/11. It was odd not having the jackets on and DS was quite concerned with it not being the right thing to do after so many drills with them on.

 

[woody73]

I'd much prefer going through the drill; putting the life jacket on; whatever the discomfort!

Does anyone remember the old DCL life vests? OUCH!

Woody

 

[maria-fan-22]

I actually prefer to wear my lifejacket....sort of a practice run in case of a real emergency.....I feel repetition makes it more natural to do in case I really have to wear it. I also prefer to have my muster drill outside instead of sitting in a dining room or theatre. Ten minutes of my inconvenience is well worth saving my life.

MJ

Ohh.. don't get me wrong. I am totally in favor of wearing the jackets at drills. Every time i imagine a real time emergency without the jacket drill, i see people running around not knowing how to put on their jacket and people pushing and shoving. If people would have listened to the CM's and left their jacket on until they return to their cabin, no one would trip over the straps. Yay. problem solved! but, no..the coast guard thinks that the reason is that the straps(of the coast guard approved) jackets are unsafe or something. Anyway, ya I wish Disney would have kept the Jackets going. Well also, how are they going to know if a room doesn't have enough. If I recall correctly, you would tell them at the drill AFTER going to the closet and getting them out. How will they keep track?

 

[Rogillio]

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.

Agree! Additionally, you are introducing more risk of someone tripping on the straps going up/down stairs and halls and in/our of doors than you are mitigating by donning the vests.

Can someone tell me out of the tens or hundreds of millions of cruisers, how many time a body actually went into the drink?

As this poster says, take responsibility for yourself and your family. If you think you need instruction or practice, feel free to do practice in your room.

~Mike

 

[lbgraves]

Does anyone remember the old DCL life vests? OUCH!

Woody

Oh yes! They were thick and very stiff. It didn't bother me so much as DD who was 3 at the time. We have a picture of her with the most pathetic eyes -- as that was all that we could see over the thick foam when she had the life jacket on. She could barely peek over the edge to see where she was going and it was very challenging to carry her when we were both wearing them. LOL!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

YAY!
Probably the only thing I can say that I HATE on the cruises is putting that darn lifejacket on and having to keep it on for what felt like forever. Detest it.... I only want to put that thing on if it's gonna save my life (ie: in case of a real emergency) LOL

This is awesome, this is awesome, this is awesome!

 

[Sir William]

I was mildly surprised that we didn't have to wear them to the muster. When I was in the Navy I used to have to wear a life jacket for hours on end as part of my duties so I was quite happy not to have to wear it during the muster.

On the other hand, I think actually putting them on would have been good for familiarization (the video on the TV suggested doing this in the room).

A good compromise might have been to bring the jacket to the muster and being instructed on how to wear it while there. It would have only taken a few minutes and added to the importance of the drill.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

When I cruised the Carnival Dream last summer, we were not required to wear or bring our life jackets to the muster drill.
Honestly, the chances of me being in my cabin during an emergency are slim, we barely use the cabin for more than sleeping. If I am at a show, or in a bar when an emergency happens, I'd be more likely to head right to the lifeboat area, so I was glad to know that lifejackets are stored there.
Attendance was taken by showing our room keys at the door when we entered the muster station, and every person was checked individually. We were shown a video with the instructions, and crew members walked around demonstrating how to use the life jackets, and answering questions. I liked this muster drill better than any I had ever been too, we were inside, in the air-conditioning, it went quickly, and afterward, we were able to head right up to deck for sailaway.