Lifeboat Drill.

As far as I know at the beginning of every cruise passengers must present
themselves at their lifeboat stations wearing their life jackets. This is
a good idea. At least one knows for sure where the lifeboat station is.
Who needs to go wandering around a sinking ship in the middle of the night
looking for Lifeboat #13?

The business of standing around in the hot sun, or being squeezed with 500
others into a ships lounge, to wait around for twenty minutes or half an
hour for no very good reason is not a very good idea IMO.

On three Princess cruises I have been on, we have been crowded into a
lounge. Better than standing in the sun. Here we were shown how to don a
life jacket properly.

On the last cruise, after the lifeboat drill had been announced, we
arrived early at the lounge. We picked a couple of comfortable chairs
near the door. At once we were told that we had to move to the back of
the room so that the other 500 or so passengers could squeeze in.

It occurred to me that if we were in an emergency situation, water was
coming in, and the ship was slowly sinking, I would not care to be
directed to the back of the room where I would be the last to leave.

In fact, I do not think that any sane person would put himself or herself
in such a position. There could well turn out to be a major confusion if
such a policy was to be enforced. That is the policy of first in, last out.

Instead of standing around in the hot sun, or sitting in a crowded lounge
wondering how long it would take to get out in a hurry, why not have
everybody show up at their lifeboat station with their life jacket
properly fastened. Report to a ships officer, get your name ticked off on
a list. Then go back to the cabin, get rid of the lifejacket, and start
the cruise in earnest. No unnecessary standing or sitting around.

Sounds like a good idea? Not really. How would the captain reach those
passengers who did not show up and who probably do not know where their
lifeboat station is or how to put on a life jacket?

Tudor Jones.

On Jun 14, 9:23*am, (Tudor Jones) wrote:
As far as I know at the beginning of every cruise passengers must present
themselves at their lifeboat stations wearing their life jackets. *This is
a good idea. *At least one knows for sure where the lifeboat station is..
Who needs to go wandering around a sinking ship in the middle of the night
looking for Lifeboat #13?

The business of standing around in the hot sun, or being squeezed with 500
others into a ships lounge, to wait around for twenty minutes or half an
hour for no very good reason is not a very good idea IMO.



There has to be a better way I am sure ... but it is interesting how
each line does it somewhat different ... I do think they need all
together so that the crew can gauge the crowd better ...
The Pacific Princess ... had us all in an air conditioned lounge ...
no standees ... all seated ... Quick but still complete ... and
pleasant enough none rushed off afterwards to their staterooms ... a
leisurely end of drill ...
Celebrity seemed to have the worst of both worlds ... first the
crowded lounge ... (casino actually last time) ... then out in the
hot sun ... easily twice as long as any other ... phase two seemed to
be part of a crew drill where we were just special effects ...
Other cruise lines were somewhere in between ... but still rather
uncomfortable and a chore to return to the stateroom with the mass of
people around ... but one would experience a similar crowd if there
were an emergency evacuation ...

Tudor Jones wrote:

Instead of standing around in the hot sun, or sitting in a crowded lounge
wondering how long it would take to get out in a hurry, why not have
everybody show up at their lifeboat station with their life jacket
properly fastened. Report to a ships officer, get your name ticked off on
a list. Then go back to the cabin, get rid of the lifejacket, and start
the cruise in earnest. No unnecessary standing or sitting around.

Sounds like a good idea? Not really. How would the captain reach those
passengers who did not show up and who probably do not know where their
lifeboat station is or how to put on a life jacket?


I suspect that besides USCG requirements, that there's a
ceremonial/historical component as well: "This is how we and the other
lines have always done it."

--
Nonny

You do not make a stupid kid smart by
handing him a diploma. Schools need standards
to measure the education actually absorbed
by children. Don’t sacrifice our smart kids to
make the dumb ones feel good about themselves.

On 14 Jun 2009 13:23:10 GMT, (Tudor Jones)
wrote:

The business of standing around in the hot sun, or being squeezed with 500
others into a ships lounge, to wait around for twenty minutes or half an
hour for no very good reason is not a very good idea IMO.

The secret is not to go until the *very last minute*. You're not
crammed in at the back with people on all sides, and you're there the
least amount of time but still get the necessary instruction.

--
"My initial thought was, "Who is this Dick Cheeny guy and why should I
give a flying purple goddamn what he thinks?" Do people believe he's
important? Because he sounds like someone who lives on the subway and
wears origami sailor hats made out of Soldier of Fortune magazines."
David Rees, Huffington Post, May 21, 2009

"Patricia Martin Steward" wrote in message
...
On 14 Jun 2009 13:23:10 GMT, (Tudor Jones)
wrote:

The business of standing around in the hot sun, or being squeezed with 500
others into a ships lounge, to wait around for twenty minutes or half an
hour for no very good reason is not a very good idea IMO.

The secret is not to go until the *very last minute*. You're not
crammed in at the back with people on all sides, and you're there the
least amount of time but still get the necessary instruction.

--
"My initial thought was, "Who is this Dick Cheeny guy and why should I
give a flying purple goddamn what he thinks?" Do people believe he's
important? Because he sounds like someone who lives on the subway and
wears origami sailor hats made out of Soldier of Fortune magazines."
David Rees, Huffington Post, May 21, 2009

I am sure that these "muster drills" as Princess calls them are a
requirement of some maritime organization.
My question is this - If the ship is taking on water do you really think
the passengers in your muster section will calmly and quitely wait around in
the lounge for instructions? LOL

On 6/15/09 1:56 PM, in article , "Jr"
wrote:


"Patricia Martin Steward" wrote in message
...
On 14 Jun 2009 13:23:10 GMT, (Tudor Jones)
wrote:

The business of standing around in the hot sun, or being squeezed with 500
others into a ships lounge, to wait around for twenty minutes or half an
hour for no very good reason is not a very good idea IMO.

The secret is not to go until the *very last minute*. You're not
crammed in at the back with people on all sides, and you're there the
least amount of time but still get the necessary instruction.



I am sure that these "muster drills" as Princess calls them are a
requirement of some maritime organization.

The announcements typically refer to requirements of "international law",
which presumbably refers to maritime treaties.
My question is this - If the ship is taking on water do you really think
the passengers in your muster section will calmly and quitely wait around in
the lounge for instructions?

What is the scenario you consider more likely? Total panic? Fighting?
Substantial cash payments to crew in charge of assignments?

On Jun 15, 8:12*am, peter wrote:


My question is this - If the ship is taking on water do you really think
the passengers in your muster section will calmly and quitely wait around in
the lounge for instructions?

What is the scenario you consider more likely? Total panic? Fighting?
Substantial cash payments to crew in charge of assignments?


Well make sure you have your sign and sail card for those charges ...
Personally I do think that the people will wait around calmly though
nervously for instructions ... Situations like these where survival is
in the hands of others make people listen to those others ...

number6 wrote:
..
Personally I do think that the people will wait around calmly though
nervously for instructions ... Situations like these where survival is
in the hands of others make people listen to those others ...



If you think back to the fire on the Princess ship, I think it was the
Star, people did listen to instruction and do what they were told to do.

sue

On Jun 15, 5:12*am, peter wrote:
On 6/15/09 1:56 PM, in article , "Jr"





wrote:

"Patricia Martin Steward" wrote in message
.. .
On 14 Jun 2009 13:23:10 GMT, (Tudor Jones)
wrote:

The business of standing around in the hot sun, or being squeezed with 500
others into a ships lounge, to wait around for twenty minutes or half an
hour for no very good reason is not a very good idea IMO.

The secret is not to go until the *very last minute*. *You're not
crammed in at the back with people on all sides, and you're there the
least amount of time but still get the necessary instruction.

I am sure that these "muster drills" as Princess calls them are a
requirement of some maritime organization.

The announcements typically refer to requirements of "international law",
which presumbably refers to maritime treaties.

My question is this - If the ship is taking on water do you really think
the passengers in your muster section will calmly and quitely wait around in
the lounge for instructions?

What is the scenario you consider more likely? Total panic? Fighting?
Substantial cash payments to crew in charge of assignments?



I expect a band will start playing "Nearer My God To Thee."

PeterL wrote:

I expect a band will start playing "Nearer My God To Thee."

Mrs. Nonny's first actions when the drill is called is to hide my life
jacket.

--
Nonny

You do not make a stupid kid smart by
handing him a diploma. Schools need standards
to measure the education actually absorbed
by children. Don’t sacrifice our smart kids to
make the dumb ones feel good about themselves.