What if dd needs to nap during drill???

[iggbees]

One more thought...some posters seem to think that the CM's aren't checking everyone off because they aren't calling names or staterooms, but I seem to recall that the life vests had the stateroom numbers on them and the CM's could check off the guests without saying a word.

you're right about the staterooms on the life vests. i distinctly remember seeing a number on my sister's. they did call our stateroom as well as look at the number on her vest.

 

[zeldacruiser]

Maybe I'm the only one who's ever experienced this, but some kids actually think the lifeboat drill is fun! On our first cruise, when the drill was over, one little girl was crying - because she wanted to ride in the little boat NOW!

For the record, we've been on Deck 2 and stood outside, Deck 5 and stood outside, and Deck 2 again and been in the Walt Disney Theatre, which was a big relief because we had just stood out in the parking lot for an hour and a half for the bomb scare. Loved being inside, but did occur to me that in the event of a real emergency, I'd rather be right in front of our lifeboat!

 

[flexsmom]

i've been on 2 cruises before (one disney, one princess) and both times they have said that you are "required" to be at the station, but if there is an emergency that you are able to make up the drill at a later point.

Not sure I understand this. Isn't the horse kind of out the barn at that point? AFTER the emergency happens, you're not "making up the drill at a later date"....you're actually having to DO what you're supposed to do since there's a real emergency?!

 

[iggbees]

Not sure I understand this. Isn't the horse kind of out the barn at that point? AFTER the emergency happens, you're not "making up the drill at a later date"....you're actually having to DO what you're supposed to do since there's a real emergency?!

hey! i'm just telling you what they said on our cruises. don't take this out on me. i have nothing to do with their rules. i go to the drills regardless of how i feel about them because i know that some day it might be a real emergency (and my mother loves taking those stupid pictures of us in our lifevests). from what they say on the cruises you get a VERY nasty note from the captain saying that you have to make the drill up (exactly for the saftey purposes you are stating). i'm not condoning missing the drill for a nap (and consequently holding everyone up), just stating the facts.

i also mean by emergency you fall sick while the drill is going on. if that is what you are confused about?

 

[flexsmom]

Iggbees - whoa - sorry if you mistook what I said - it was seeking clarification about what you said? Not "lashing out at you", but rather asking a question because I simply didn't understand it and it didn't make sense to me?! My point was, how can you "make up a drill" AFTER an emergency happens? That's what I didn't get?

And thank you for the edit - yes, that kind of "emergency", I can understand! Without the clarification, it sounded like the make-ups would start once some "real emergency" occurred, as in, a "ship emergency" vice an "illness emergency"! The dangers of the rapidly written word....(on both of our parts, so for my part, I apologize.....)

 

[iggbees]

sorry, i was confused by your reply... i changed my previous post to show what i meant.

man, no more of these boards EVER for me... i can't reply properly to anyone...

 

[Mickeyhugger]

sorry, i was confused by your reply... i changed my previous post to show what i meant.

man, no more of these boards EVER for me... i can't reply properly to anyone...

___________________________________________________

I think on any message boards (I visit several) peoples comments are sometimes misunderstood, taken out of context or misread. If we were all sitting in one room chatting amongst ourselves, we'd probably react differently just hearing the tones of voices and genuine curiosity. (And everyone once in a while, we'd still meet someone we'd want to pounce on. LOL!)

 

[mrsnesbit]

Actually Julie, you did the right thing. If everyone does not show up, they have to hold up the drill until everyone is tracked down. Not showing up means that you drag out the drill for everyone else.

Think about how much worse it would have been with your crying son, if the drill were prolonged an extra 20 minutes because someone had decided that they did not need to attend the mandatory drill.

The drill is the one and only mandatory event in the entire cruise. Start your cruise schedule with the drill written in ink and then pencil in everything else around it.

They only wait to hear an answer when the room number is called. No one checks off if each person is there. I've been through it 5 times. The fourth time I did stay in the room with my napping daughter and no one missed us. My husband and son went. When they call your room number just make sure one of you answers. They absolutely do not "drag out the drill" if someone is missing.

 

[jlima]

I've been there!

On my cruise in July 01 DS16mos had been asleep for 30 mins when the alarms sounded. I didn't understand that the little packet in the closet was for him; there were no directions on it nor was there anything printed on the outside of it that indicated the contents was an infant flotation device. DH & DS7 put on their live vests, and I carried DS 16mos & my live vest. When we reached our muster station I was told I had to put mine on. They asked where was the one for DS and I said the cabin didn't have one. DS16mos woke up when DH held him as I put my life vest on. He then squalled and screamed during the rest of the drill and I got PLENTY of dirty looks. It was difficult to hold him with the life vest on. I would have LOVED for a CM to let me go back to the cabin but no luck. Also no luck on him getting back to sleep when we got back to the cabin. I was SO glad we got a spot a Flounder's that night! We needed a break from each other after that nightmare. Someone brought us a second little packet after the drill was over. I asked what was it and they said the life vest for DS. I put it in the closet with the first one. To this day I have no idea what was in it or what I would have done with it if there had been an emergency. That definately could have been explained better.

 

[2timecruiser]

I have to share my story. Our first 2 cruises, the drill went basically the same for our family. The first cruise, our 2 ds were 5mo & 7 years. Our 7 year old wasn't a problem. He was actually pretty interested in the whole experience. The 5mo old, was not. He was very hard to hold with a life vest on, & was not comfortable, therefore, let everyone know it. We arrived at our location, screaming child & everything. We stood in our spots, & when our room # was called, they counted us & went to the next. After everyone was called & proven to be in attendance, they pulled myself & ds5mo out of the crowd & told us we could leave. My Dh & other ds remained for the rest of the drill, another 5 to 10 minutes. Not too long. I barely made it back to the cabin & put our stuff away & got ds calmed down & happy, before they were back & ready to continue with the cruise experience.

My opinion is go to the drill, & be on time! Do not make all those other kids stand in the hot when they too could be in the cabin taking a nap if it wasn't for the ones who want to be late.

Enjoy your cruise. This drill does not last that long!

 

[dwkwootton]

After trying really hard to come up with any redeeming feature to this thread, I'm optimistic that there may be one.

Controversy seems to be the order of the day on these boards and sometimes I marvel at how any disagreement can be justified on the simplest of posts. (A friendly post asking about veggie burgers turned into an opportunity for some to be deliberately unkind and insulting to others recently.) And even when there is some question and one feels quite sure that their opinion is the way to fly, there is usually at least a little something to be found in the other opinions, whether you agree or not.

In this case, there isn't even a weak argument to be had. Its a no brainer.

In my 8 Disney Cruises, I've seen varying degrees of strict enforcement, but luckily for my safety, I've never seen a flat out instance of the CM's letting people do whatever they darn well please.

In an emergency, panic and confusion are the enemy. Parents, ignorant to the lifeboat procedure along with their frightened children creating chaos jeapordize everyone's safety, crew and fellow passengers. Imagine dealing with an emergency the best you can and having random people running around clueless (probably bordering on hysterical and annoying other people to find out what to do). Imagine your lifeboat is being held up because one or more parents and their children can't report to the station since they don't know where it is or the procedure to get there. Somehow I doubt the fellow passengers will be thinking, oh its ok, we'll wait, little so-and-so was probably sleepy during the lifeboat drill.

Word is that DCL reads these boards. If there have been instances in the past where a CM has been negligent in their duty as suggested by the posts from the people who got away with breaking the rules by risking their children's safety (and everyone else's) to avoid the hassle of the mandatory lifeboat drill, DCL will tighten up on this for the safety of everyone on the ship. And that will make this thread redeemable.

 

[jkfreeman33]

This is my second post on this thread...
I originally asked if the ship was sinking and your child was sleeping, would you wake him up to get to the life boat? What is more important.... the nap or the life of your child? Only the parent can answer that question...
Why would going to the drill be any different? Going to the drill is a practice run so when/if the real thing happens, you aren't standing in your cabin reading the back of the door trying to figure out what and where to go.
We have been on 14 cruises, (Princess, RCCL & NCL) and still go to the life boat drill. I have sat thru 14 drills and we are going on 2 cruises this year and will sit thru 2 more. Every ship is a little different, I want to know where I am supposed to be BEFORE something happens. Remember, when the ship leaves the dock, the fire station stays behind. The ship and all her passengers are on their own. Knowing the proper proceedures can and will save your life if something happens.
I find it hard to believe that any parent would think a nap is more important than knowing the proceedures for saving his life in an emergency.

 

[jclark3]

On our very first cruise in '94 (Carnival) my son (then 4) fell asleep as soon as we hit our stateroom. I tried my best to wake him up, but couldn't. I took the easy way out and we stayed in the room during the drill. No one ever said anything (but remember it was Carnival 10 years ago.) I agree I should have found a way to get him to the drill but I was alone with him and at that time, inexperienced with cruising.

 

[inkkognito]

dwkwootton, there may be another redeeming quality. If this thread convinces even one person who was considering skipping the safety drill to attend, it's worth it...after all, think what a different that might make if (God forbid) there was an emergency and they had not attended? It's like the "should I buy my under-two child a plane seat or keep them on my lap?" threads that crop up from time to time on Transportation. Some people will never, ever be convinced, no matter what. Others may pick up some wisdom; hopefully, it will never make a difference, but someday it could potentially save their life.

And the other good factor is that even though there is disagreement, this thread has remained relatively civil. Nice to see that people can have conflicting opinions without personal attacks. That's what discussion is all about!

Barb

 

[debster]

I have re-read through this thread and are still amazed how people are missing it.

Think about the importance of this for the "what if".....

Geez, would hate to "inconvience" you during an emergency.

Remember the bottom line of these muster drills and the importance. Enough said.

And BTW, I have 3 children under the age of 6 so I know the importance of naptime, and yes, one of mine "used" to be an only child.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I've been there!

On my cruise in July 01 DS16mos had been asleep for 30 mins when the alarms sounded. I didn't understand that the little packet in the closet was for him; there were no directions on it nor was there anything printed on the outside of it that indicated the contents was an infant flotation device. DH & DS7 put on their live vests, and I carried DS 16mos & my live vest. When we reached our muster station I was told I had to put mine on. They asked where was the one for DS and I said the cabin didn't have one. DS16mos woke up when DH held him as I put my life vest on. He then squalled and screamed during the rest of the drill and I got PLENTY of dirty looks. It was difficult to hold him with the life vest on. I would have LOVED for a CM to let me go back to the cabin but no luck. Also no luck on him getting back to sleep when we got back to the cabin. I was SO glad we got a spot a Flounder's that night! We needed a break from each other after that nightmare. Someone brought us a second little packet after the drill was over. I asked what was it and they said the life vest for DS. I put it in the closet with the first one. To this day I have no idea what was in it or what I would have done with it if there had been an emergency. That definately could have been explained better.

This situation explains the reason these drills are important! jlima didn't know where infant's life vest was until they went through the drill. Had a serious emergancy occured, this drill MIGHT have been the difference between life and death for their infant.

 

[dwkwootton]

Good point, inkkognito. If only one person who was on the fence on this issue decides to attend without exception, it is so very worth it.

I've told my (now adult) kids that I would give almost anything to never witness the likes of 9-11 ever again. Saving the drama, my life will never be the same nor will the life of possibly any human being. If we must err, let us err on the side of safety.

Take the opportunity to teach your children that safety is serious and rules are to be abided by. That alone may pay off when your toddler becomes a teenager. Go to the drill. Pray that when you disembark you feel like you might have wasted your time. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[debster]

Good point, inkkognito. If only one person who was on the fence on this issue decides to attend without exception, it is so very worth it.

I've told my (now adult) kids that I would give almost anything to never witness the likes of 9-11 ever again. Saving the drama, my life will never be the same nor will the life of possibly any human being. If we must err, let us err on the side of safety.

Take the opportunity to teach your children that safety is serious and rules are to be abided by. That alone may pay off when your toddler becomes a teenager. Go to the drill. Pray that when you disembark you feel like you might have wasted your time. It doesn't get any better than that.

Amen!!

 

[HappyLawyer]

I guess the issue is the situation, if a child is sick and they are throwing up some things cannot be helped. but if a child is just taking a nap, i know naps are important to our kids, but there have been times where i had to wake my daughter up, how many of us have ever had to wake our kids up from a nap at one point or another, the best thing to do is ask a cm on board and see what they say

 

[rejobako]

I don't see what the big deal about the emergency drill is anyway. When's the last time a cruise ship went down in the Caribbean, much less a boat owned by Disney? Sounds like the drill's a good time to go take a nap. That way, everyone else will know what to do in the astronomically-rare chance of an emergency, and all I'll have to do is grab someone else by the arm to find out what's going on and where to go. From what I hear, those life-vests are cumbersome and ugly anyway; seems a shame to have to put one on before it's necessary in a real emergency. The whole drill procedure just sounds like an antiquated and irrelevant waste of time, and I'm planning on lodging my protest by snoozing soundly in my stateroom while everyone else is scurrying around for the amusement of the Captain.