Skipping Lifeboat Drill?

[maoy_02]

I've been lurking here for a while and finally registered to post this question.

We've cruised several times on different cruiselines (twice on DCL). We always make sure we know our muster station location, but have always skipped the lifeboat drill. Just checking to see if this is common with others, or whether it causes problem/delay with the drill.

 

[Viking]

It will definitely cause problems, because Disney takes it very serious. You have to appear with your complete party and your names are checked against the manifest. The drill is not finished before ALL passengers are acounted for.

 

[Ashley24]

Did DCL ask you where your family was?

 

[WDWLVR]

Skipping the drill does cause delays because the lead at each muster station needs to account for all rooms and therefore has to call the numbers of staterooms that aren't accounted for. These numbers get repeated a number of times.

Nobody enjoys the drill but those who skip it to make it easier on themselves are just being selfish and making it harder on the others who follow the rule. IMHO.

 

[cjsmith]

On our 4 night DCL cruise in January, quite a few families in our section didn't show up. They kept calling their cabin number and then finally went ahead and proceeded with the drill basically on time. I never did hear what happens to those who miss the drill, now I guess it's nothing.
Carolyn

 

[rae519]

Not only is this a bad idea for your own safety and knowledge, but it causes delays for everyone else involved.

Same with people who are late for the ship when it is leaving a port - very inconsiderate when it's a non-emergency delay.

My two cents would be that if the "cabin" was not present, then the members would be escorted OFF the ship.


Rae

 

[tenna45]

My Mom and Aunt were on Princess and decided to skip. They got scollded by the Captain. So I wouldn't skip it.

 

[ducklite]

On my DCL cruise we ended up spending almost an extra half an hour standing ourside because some inconsiderate, selfish family decided they were above the drill. DCL won't release you until EVERYONE from EVERY cabin is accounted for. So while these jerks were sipping cool ones in their airconditioned cabin, the rest of us were on deck in the sweltering heat waiting for them.

What a bunch of rude, ignorant, boors.

DCL couldn't make it clearer that EVERYONE must attend, but I guess some people just think they are above everyone. Either that or they are just plain STUPID!

Personally if there ever was an emergency, I hope the people who keep everyone waiting are made to wait themselves...

Anne

 

[keith & co.]

Her is our story......... Last cruise WE WERE AT THE DRILL -- with a fussy 2yr old and an overly excited 8 yr old who was constantly chatting with Mama & Papa........ Needless to say we couldn't hear our name called and didn't respond . We did, however, take the required and hokey "Everyone in their vests" shot. So when we got a "Nasty Gram" from the safety officer(?) we had proof that we were there!
If for no other reason....... Go to take the hokey picture
Barbara

 

[Fay Ray]

Maoy_02

There is a good thread from a few weeks ago entitled "Playing the game by the rules". It might help you decide....

 

[cjsmith]

It's funny how for some people Disney wouldn't let the drill end until everyone showed up and on our last cruise, they went ahead with it anyway even though everyone wasn't accounted for. Personally, I would walk out if they made me stay because of some other inconsiderate, selfish family. As far as I'm concerned, they should start on time and for those who didn't show up when they were supposed to, maybe they should have a private safety drill for them that lasts twice as long!
Carolyn

 

[bffttsiu]

If I have to wait around in the sun and heat and wearing that uncomfortable life jacket because some lazy moron isn't there they will be receiving phone calls at 2:00 and 3:00 am every night.

It's a good thing they read out the cabin numbers during the drill.

 

[Bev J]

We have been on 8 cruises, 5 different lines, and have never missed the muster drill. Comeon it's a safety issue plus it is something everyone must do. I know it is usually hot, crowded and you would rather not be wearing that hot heavy life jacket, but when your done you can reward yourself with a nice cold tripical drink. Plus if you are traveling with kids you are showing them you care about safety and if they ever had to do the real thing maybe they would not be so scared since they have done it before.
I am sure the crew wish they could be somewhere else also but if you try to duck out then everyone pays for it.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Rules are rules. Go to the drill...it won't kill ya!

Besides, can you imagine if half the ship didn't show up for the safety drill and Disney couldn't enforce this rule due to people who think the rule doesn't apply to them? It would make Disney look bad. Do it for Captain Mickey!

 

[luvstiggertoo]

This will be our first cruise...so we will definitely attend the drill.
I can see why some frequent cruisers wouldn't want to attend, but it is required and I think that there should be some type of penalty for not attending.

I like the idea of calling the room in the wee hours! jk!!!

For me, being a picture nut, I think its a great opportunity to get a shot of the whole family in their lifevests.....what a great cover for a scrapbook!!!

 

[tecdavidt]

We are also frequent cruisers and have cruised on other lines. We still go to the safety drill because each line has different procedures. You just never know if you will need to go to you muster station, remember the fire cruise last year? That cruise was one week before our cruise in '02. Everyone, go to the drill. Kathy

 

[4cruisin]

Here is my .02 worth.

There are rules and regulations on board ship for a reason. If DCL "requests" my presence at a safety drill, I am more than happy to oblige. The last thing I want at 3 a.m. when the ship is sinking or on fire is to have to worry about people that "assume" they know all the answers scrambling for a life boat that did not have the decency to attend the drill. I am not trying to flame you, but I agree with rae 519, people that do not play by the rules should be escorted off the ship. The drill is a very serious matter for both the crew and passengers and should be viewed as such by everyone.

Nancy

 

[katerkat]

Ditto what kieth & co said -- we were inside at Lumerie's, and everyone was talking EXTREMELY loud. We barely heard our name called, and I'm sure they missed other people. Couldn't they just yell at everyone to hush up?
Anyhoo, we skipped a drill once, on our second Alaska cruise on RCI. Not our fault, due to some strange circumstances (crazy lady on the first leg of our flight) we barely made it to the ship for sailing, much less the lifeboat drill. We weren't reprimanded in any way, but that may have been because the ship people knew why we weren't there.

 

[Talking Hands]

Ok they read out the cabin numbers. Now how am I supposed to realize they are calling mine? Geez I hope the interpreter is there for that. I'm sure it is a noisy situation and I will miss them calling my number. Unless I can see the guy's face I'll have no clue. I hate it when they call out numbers. Just give me a list to check my name off on and I am a happy camper.

 

[Ashley24]

We have always told the CM in charge of the drill our room number so that they can check off our name. I believe they only read off the numbers for those who did not check in yet.