Cruise Safety, your questions answered

Recently, a number of cruise lines have reaffirmed their commitment to safety in response to the Costa Concordia grounding and the questions that event has posed. Celebrity Cruises included a frequently asked questions about safety that provides questions and answers typical of all cruise lines. While individual lines will vary somewhat, this information is a great place to start and addresses many of the questions asked as a result of the Costa Concordia grounding.

What is a “muster drill“?

A muster drill is a mandatory exercise with the objective to familiarize all guests and crew with the location (muster station) where they are to assemble in the unlikely event of an emergency. During this drill, additional safety information (i.e., how to don a life jacket) is presented.

A muster drill is a mandatory exercise with the objective to familiarize all guests and crew with the location (muster station) where they are to assemble in the unlikely event of an emergency. During this drill, additional safety information (i.e., how to don a life jacket) is presented.

What languages are the muster drills conducted in?

Announcements for the guest assembly drill are made in English, or the official language of the vessel. The announcements are made in additional core languages when we have large numbers of guests onboard who do not speak English. On some sailings, announcements may be made in the language of the market, then followed by English and any other approved core language(s).

Should passengers wear their lifejackets when participating in a muster drill?

Guests should not bring life jackets to the muster drill. Our procedures direct guests to proceed directly to their muster stations in the unlikely event of an emergency and upon hearing the emergency signal. This reduces the chance for cross-traffic and improves response time at muster stations, as guests do not need to return to their staterooms to retrieve their life-jackets if they are in another part of the ship at the time. Crew members will provide guests with life jackets at the muster stations. In the unlikely event of an emergency, one of the most important aspects is to account for all persons onboard, and this process facilitates that accountability.

Are staterooms safe?

Yes, staterooms are built to international standards for fire safety and are equipped with audible smoke detectors and fire suppression systems. In addition, guest stateroom doors are equipped with a deadbolt lock for guest safety and privacy while occupying the room and with a door viewer (peephole) to allow guests to better identify anyone seeking to enter a stateroom. Guests are encouraged to secure valuables either in their stateroom safe, or in a safety deposit box available at the Guest Relations Desk. Guest stateroom security is a shared responsibility. Stateroom security devices, when properly utilized, provide a high degree of security.

Are the verandas and railings safe?

Verandas and railings represent an important safety feature on our ships. Even though our verandahs and railings exceed the height requirements of similar shore-side features, it is important that guests not climb or sit on railings for their own safety. Doing so may result in a guest being injured and is a violation of our Guest Conduct Policy, possibly resulting in the guest’s removal from the ship.

What type of background investigation is conducted of your passengers?

Identifying information for every guest is obtained by Celebrity Cruises prior to sailing. This information is verified during check-in and any discrepancies must be resolved before boarding. This process includes prior screening against an internal corporate watchlist to detect whether any guest has been involved in prior incidents on any of our ships. Some forms of prior cruise behavior may make a guest ineligible to sail with Celebrity in the future. On cruises that embark in a US port, we are required to submit guest names to government officials for their screening. Some other countries also require similar checks.

Royal Caribbean International, parent to both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise lines among other also reaffirmed their commitment to safety and provided this video that illustrates more about what goes into the safety commitment they have made.