Ok here's my thoughts.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, IMO unless the vessel was involved in a direct head on collision with another vessel or dock and in obvious danger of sinking immediately, the general alarm would not be sounded straight away.
Emergency teams would be sent to assess or deal with what ever emergency it was.
Do not panic and respond to any emergency pages made for crew.
Guest's would be instructed (most likely via the emergency paging system, speaker's in all Stateroom's, venues, general area's and deck's) to either return to their Stateroom or just stay put where ever they are.
Once whatever situation has been assessed and only then if necessary would the general alarm be sounded. In addition I would expect several message's instructing you to do certain thing's, walk don't run, go immediately to your assigned lifeboat station and the like.
Try to keep as calm as possible and even stop and listen to the announcements if necessary. They maybe telling you NOT to go to a certain area!
Do not go in search of other family members or people within your party. Go to the assigned lifeboat station and meet there.
If you are instructed to return to your Stateroom or are already in there, bring flat soled shoes, any medication and warm clothing along with your lifejacket.
Once at your lifeboat station, keep as quiet as possible and listen to the CM's instructions.
You may not ever actually need to board the lifeboat as the situation may change and be brought under control.
If instructed to board the lifeboat, do so in an orderly manor. The boat need's to be loaded evenly, Stateroom number checked off so listen to the CM's and do as they say.
Unless you are on a TA crossing, you are only a few hours away from other ship's and vessels.
The lifeboats are emergency equipment and rations onboard, water and energy food bar's along with flashlight's, flares, mirrors for signalling etc.
As someone else mentioned about knowing how many seats between your's and the emergency exit on a plane, know where the nearest staircase is to your Stateroom.
In regard's to jumping.....
It really should be a last last resort. If you do decide to jump in the water, as posted above slide as much as possible.
DO NOT wear you lifejacket if jumping more than 12 feet or so. It could break your neck as the bottom of the jacket hit's the water. Instead have it done up, and put one arm thru the head hole and on your shoulder. Cross your arms across your chest and pinch your nose with one hand, and cross your leg's whilst jumping.
Once in the water, then put your life jack on and try to find anything to help you float. The light on the lifejacket will come on once exposed to salt water. Use your whistle to attract attention if necessary.
Having a flashlight in the cabin is a good idea. I wouldn't carry one around the ship personally unless it was on a keyring.
The ship has emergency lighting that run's on batteries (locally and remotely) in the event of power failure. As I mentioned in a previous thread, there is low level led lighting on all Guest staircases, emergency exits along with the exit signs. Fluorescent strip's will be found in some of the crew area's you may be directed to use in an emergency.
The most important advice I can offer is that although it would be very very scary, try to keep calm, and listen to announcements over the P.A, loudhailer and from the CM's.
Ex Techie
