Disney crew would be much better had it happened to them.

[ddrongowski]

This is a quote from a news report at http://news.yahoo.com/survivors-tell-stories-cruise-ship-death-toll-rises-111351218.html

Meanwhile, those who were on board the Costa Concordia are recounting their tales of confusion and fright as the boat shudder aground in middle of evening events, then listed dangerously forcing passengers to crawl through up-ended hallways. Passengers say they were originally told by crew members that there were just "technical difficulties" and electrical problems, even as became clear that something more serious had happened. Crew members were initially reluctant to lower life boats and appeared "helpless and overwhelmed" in face of the emergency. Once the ship began to tilt on its side, it became impossible for lifeboats on that side to be lowered and some on the high side became stuck and could not reach the water.

I would really really hope Disney crew are better.

From another story, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...se-ship-passengers-we-swam-for-our-lives.html

"Passengers, some saying it felt like a rerun of the Titanic disaster, told of people leaping into the sea and fighting over life jackets in panic when the ship hit a rock and ran aground near the island of Giglio, late on Friday"

Would you fight over a life jacket? I thought they give everyone one in their rooms, or am I wrong?

 

[DisneyJoe]

Would you fight over a life jacket? I thought they give everyone one in their rooms, or am I wrong?

Yes, every room has life jackets - but if you are far away from your room, with no easy way to get to it to get the life jackets....I am sure there are others onboard, but I have no idea of how many or where they are kept.

Panic can make people do crazy things.

In lifeguard class, we are taught that people can be so panicked that they will put a "death grip" on you if you aren't careful, and we are taught to push and even punch people strategically to have them release their hold on us so that we don't die trying to save them.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I'm sure there will be plenty of long investigations of the many issues that drive this accident to the depths of the disaster it unfortunately is. Problems and failures will be identified, responsibility will be placed, and (hopefully) the industry as a whole will learn and improve. If no lessons are learned then the tragic events will only deepen.

Sounds to me like the crew and guests all lacked direction and leadership. Being in charge, or "the captain", isn't a position of just being the boss who tells people what to do. True leaders inspire their charges to want to do the job with excellence under any conditions. It can be done. The fact that the crew were indecisive and unsure caused panic in the guests which created a 'Titanic' mentality when in fact they were not. It's very clear that leadership failed from the top which caused a cascading, multiplying series of leadership & communications failures all the way down. People died as a direct result.

 

[Bolt]

When I was at Castaway with the Disney Dream, the crew was being trained how to lower the boats. It was cool to see them driving around in the water while on the island!

 

[ChuckElias]

Just saw a report on MSN that the ship was diverted from its course so a crew member could wave to his family on shore.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oh my. Oh my.

Yep, when we were at CC we saw stuff going on with a lifeboat and there was a group of CMs doing some in-water training, too. I know sometimes it seems like overkill but constant repetition will make knowing what to do and when to do it take less thought. You just do it.

 

[tilina1124]

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line is an American cruise line company owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company and is headquartered in Celebration, Florida.[1] The business is run by President Karl Holz.[2] Disney Cruise Line operates the Disney Cruise Line Terminal, which homeports the Disney Magic and the Disney Dream. The Disney Wonder is homeported in Los Angeles (Miami, Florida in 2012). In 2012, it is estimated Disney Cruise Lines will own nearly 3% share of the worldwide cruise market

 

[Zummi Gummi]

It's also worth noting that the crash happened less than three hours after sailing commenced, which means they hadn't done the mandatory lifeboat drill yet. This surely added to the confusion and panic among the passengers- no one knew where to go yet.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It's also worth noting that the crash happened less than three hours after sailing commenced, which means they hadn't done the mandatory lifeboat drill yet. This surely added to the confusion and panic among the passengers- no one knew where to go yet.

I've only ever been on the one cruise (Dream in September) but we did the muster drill before leaving port. Is that not the standard procedure, to do the muster drill before leaving port?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I've only ever been on the one cruise (Dream in September) but we did the muster drill before leaving port. Is that not the standard procedure, to do the muster drill before leaving port?

That is standard for Disney. It was sadly not standard for Costa Concordia.

 

[The Mom]

I was on a short cruise last year, and we did not do the muster - just given directions and a map! This was a Carnival ship. On a Greek cruise we did the full muster. It was done as soon as we were underway, but we were still within sight of the port.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I was on a short cruise last year, and we did not do the muster - just given directions and a map! This was a Carnival ship. On a Greek cruise we did the full muster. It was done as soon as we were underway, but we were still within sight of the port.

Costa Concordia is owned by Carnival!

This should drop the number of complaints about the drill...

 

[Master Yoda]

I have always had a deep respect for the cruise lines that refuse to leave port before the safety drill is complete, in spite of guest complaints. Safety will always seem excessive until it is shown to be inadequate.

It is obvious that quite a few mistakes were made on the part of the crew and in particular the captain and Carnival will be paying through the nose for it for some time to come. If all goes well this accident will make cruises safer for everyone.

 

[ChuckElias]

Ok, this is not about the accident itself, but all the talk of lifeboats and practicing lowering them reminded me of this incident from one of my cruises:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=74552

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Wow! Okay. I was under the impression the muster drill before leaving port was a required thing across the industry but then who would regulate it with ships worldwide being registered out of so many countries. Yeah, I griped about the drill on our cruise because it was soooo hot. Looking back, I wish I could've understood what the CM was saying into his little bullhorn. Next time I'll ask and/or let them know not one of us could understand a word. :veryconfu

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Wow! Okay. I was under the impression the muster drill before leaving port was a required thing across the industry but then who would regulate it with ships worldwide being registered out of so many countries. Yeah, I griped about the drill on our cruise because it was soooo hot. Looking back, I wish I could've understood what the CM was saying into his little bullhorn. Next time I'll ask and/or let them know not one of us could understand a word. :veryconfu

I've griped about it too! Depending on where you have it, it can be crazy hot and sometimes they are hard to understand. I will gripe no longer!

 

[GMRO]

The Carnival ship wreck is a real tragedy for sure. A real shame for all those on board who got injured; who are lost and for the folks not even on the ship who lost love ones too…

Far as the crew…I’m not the least surprised they were not prepared for such an “accident”. Course can you really call running a ship into rock an accident??? The old saying “you get what you pay for” rings loudly on this one. Was this not the same cruise company that had the food poisoning a few years back as well as the fire on board too with one of their ships? NOPE, you could not pay me to book a deal with Carnival. NO THANKS! My wife’s and my own personal safety and are just way too valuable.

Far as comparing Disney’s Crew and their DCL operations – there are no comparisons. We’ve, wife and I, have only cruised with Disney. We’ve never had the urge to venture away from Disney. And this just supports our feelings even more. Are they perfect? Nothing is…but they are sure pretty close. And hearing about folks who bit$% and wine about the drill before leaving port…funny. No doubt you will be the ones who again will complain IF something does go rogue and you can’t get into a lifeboat or find your way. Please remember SAFETY is everyone’s PERSONAL responsibility. You should rely on no-one! For you and your family members – it’s really up to you. Yes they are there, the crew, to guide and support and organize but really it’s up to you to absorb the procedure - if you are physically able to do so. Just like on an airplane. Don’t even get me started on that and the folks who have no respect and disregard for the in-flight emergency exit procedures when they are gone over. I have no idea why folks think these drills are such an inconvenience. This could save your lives people! Forbid you ever have to use the info you hear/learn at these short cruise drills or pre-flight instructions. Makes you wonder how many folks on the HUDSON WATER LANDING flight via US AIR were paying attention - huh???

I applaud the DCL for their work to continue to provide us the best SEA experience. The caliber of the ships; crew; food; as well as the full experience are 2nd to none in the world. And it does not come at all by accident!!! KUDO’s to all involved.

BTW, I can’t wait till this May when the wife and embark on our DREAM cruise. We are looking so forward to it!

 

[BelleofDE]

It is maritime law that they must go over the muster drill within the first 24 hours everyone embarks. I remember reading one of the first articles posted on CNN about the accident that stated this drill was scheduled for the next day.

When I went on my Disney Cruise I didn't care about doing the muster drill, I just felt silly walking around in the life vest (even though everyone else was wearing one too). I got a great pic of my husband sitting in our stateroom wearing his life vest while waiting for the announcement to go to the lifeboats.

 

[emcclay]

My best friend's parents were on the sister ship of the Costa Concordia last year! How crazy!

Is it a fact that cruise lines make you sign a waiver before you board that you cannot sue if anything goes wrong because they are LLC?