Safety at sea now

[Edward Reece]

It seem a lot of you have concern about cruise life boat drills I am ex British merchant navy did most of it with Blue Flu
I have done quite a bit of cruising, And have 3 booked for the next few years. I was on deck and have done a few life boat drills that has saved life's and always been proud to be part the British merchant fleet have to have my life boat certificate.
The Royal Caribbean Did do there drills at the life boats stations but when I went to the station that was poster on the back of the state room door I was told it had been change and to go to another life boat On expressing my concerns to the crew member allegedly in charge that was checking names all I got was a blank stair Done a few Cruise with Princess line Where I found my self and wife in the comfort of the lounges out of the elements and in the air condition It was bad enough being herded like sheep into their Muster stations as they call it and get electronically recorder in ( but keep this in mind they do the same recording at every port of call, as you get off and on the ship. At least once a trip we get a call for so an so to report to reception before we leave )I may be wrong has the computer made a mistake? Now Princess fly under the red duster but are regressed in a port of conveyance. I have all ways been proud to sail under that flag I last cruise I have just did, Was the first time I have sailed under the red duster and UK registered ship the P&O for over 40 Years But I was ashamed at what they called a life boat muster NO checking of of names No head count When had the British navy that I was so proud to be part of lower there standards. When I went to complain about it at the reception desk
All I was told the crew go round and check cabins On Princess You only have to attend life boat drill once (when you first get on )so you could do back to back trips and only attend 1 Muster in the years you spend on the ship Now going back to P&O the wife was talking to an other woman about how upset I was about the Muster and was told "I have never been to 1 in 4 years I just don't go"
I make it a point of going on the boat deck and seeing what they have to offer . I have never heard at the muster stations telling you to check out where you life boat is As when they take you it is the quickest way which most time is through the doors that read crew only and as have been mentions in other letters there are a lot of us that are past our use by date and hard to keep up I do have my concerns that some thing will happen.
I have all way told people to cruise British ships as the crew training and stranded are so high but that has changed after sailing with P&O It hurts me to say it but they are 3rd rate
regards Eddie

[Peter F Chard]

#6 Reading through this post again there is a comment about diesel electric propulsion -- P&O used this method and turbo electric propulsion in the 1930's on their passenger ships. The great thing about this method is that the propeller shaft speed is constant, there is no racing even if the propeller comes out of the water. It makes for a very comfortable ride for the passengers. The Azipods pods are the same if electric powered, not too sure about the hydraulic shaft driven types. Cheers Peter in NZ.

[happy daze john in oz]

Edward #31 we have cruised with Royal Caribbean and found their lifeboat drill to be the best. Muster at the life boat or else. On one cruiose two passengers were refused cruise and put off in Sydney before sailing as they had not attended muster.

With Princess we have always had to go the the alloted muster point which varies depending on which deck you are on. But in general find their muster to be satisfactory.

Only once with P&O, and never again, there all passengers had to muster in the theatre and very little information forthcoming.

[John Pruden]

only a matter of time before a major disaster on a cruise liner hope not but cant help thinking that way... jp

[Peter F Chard]

Whilst Inter Second Engineer on the " NORTHERN STAR '' we used to anchor shortly after leaving Southampton at the start of our Round the World Service and have a lifeboat drill. It was amazing how many passengers came to the drill with all their luggage thinking it was the real thing and had to get off the ship. Things got better as the trip progressed when they all realised that these were drills and not the real thing. We even launched some of the boats on the Davits down to deck level and remove the covers over the boats -- we even caught some stowaways at times !! Cheers Peter in NZ.

[Captain Kong]

On the Queens of Cunard, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, they have the first and last boat muster in the theatre, three decks below the boat deck.
Then a little shop girl will take the passengers one group at a time to a life boat, none are designated.
Cunard have British Masters and British Officers, so? where did they do their training?
I thought it was great that someone in the once mighty Cunard could think that 2000 passengers sat in a theatre ,
scenario, 1, filling with smoke. 2. filling with water and a list that is increasing. could be evacuated safely and without the fat blue rinse American matrons panicking.
I do not sail with Cunard anymore. I now sail with Holland America, next is my fourth voyage with them. they have a mix of British and Dutch Masters, Mates and Engineers. They are all also members of Numast, the same association as we belonged to, with the associated standards.
They have before sailing, a designated lifeboat for every passenger posted in the cabin. You must go to that boat, The Lifeboatman reads out everyone's name. If you do not turn up you and your luggage are taken ashore and you are left behind. On this years world cruise on the `Amsterdam`, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. two passengers were told to get off the ship pronto and left behind. No refund.
Far more safety conscious than Cunard will ever be.
I will be sailing the Pacific from San Diego again in February on the `Statendam` and will feel confident that I am in safe hands, also only 960 passengers.
Would never ever sail above that figure.
Cheers
Brian.

[happy daze john in oz]

rror at sea, Costa Concordia comes to mind. But there have been two P&O ships sailing out of Oz over the past few years that had a fire on board. Both engine room but not severe.
A spokesman at the time said modern fire fighting equipment on modern cruisae ships is now state of the art and it was this that kept the fires to a minimum.

[j.sabourn]

Not even if it falls on a bouncy castle John.

[robpage]

for many years people in the ferry industry predicted gloom too , they were proven right one night at Zeebrugge

[Captain Kong]

That could easily happen again Rob,
All these mozzie "asylum" seekers, with a few suicide vests on, Hi jack a ferry mid channel, and a total disaster.

They should have a few Royal Marines or Gurkhas on board searching for them before sailing.
There is No Security.
They are still crossing to Dover everyday from Calais if froggy france..
Cheers
Brian