Safety Drill Change

[daib GC]

Someone has just posted in another place that you will have toawipe your card at a safety Drill to show attendance.

Not before time.

[GillD46]

I agree Dai. On other ships we have had to answer to a roll call or show our cards. I have always felt P&O and Cunard have been lax about this matter.

[david63]

Don't have a problem with that - although I suspect that it will slow the process down while some passengers have to "rummage" to find theirs or have left it in the cabin!

Next thing will be that you have to swipe your card to get in the lifeboat

[Happydays]

We had to have our cards swiped when we were on Princess in September. There were plenty of crew with hand held machines, it went smoothly.
They also made announcements informing everyone to make sure their cards were swiped otherwise they would have to attend a later safety drill. Then there was a flurry of hands being raised to get cards scanned! They had crew in the area scanning cards where people were sitting. It didn't take any longer than a P&O drill.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Maybe it will make those who didn't do so before take it seriously.

The penalty for non-attendance (without a note from your parents giving a good reason!) should be immediate disembarkation. It's other people's safety put at risk by the "I know it all already and I'm too important to attend" brigade!

[London Cruiser]

Yes I can confirm that`s what they did on Ventura last week, good idea but it was so painful waiting for it to start, like how can you turn up 20mins late and just amble in like your having a walk in the countryside keeping everyone waiting, 4.30pm doesn't mean 4.50pm. I really did feel like walking out to be honest. We always turn up a bit early so waited probably 30mins for the Kings Speech! I know its not ethical but next month I might turn up get card swiped and walk out!!

[qbman1]

There's just no legislating for the Great British Public !

I think the card-scanning malarkey is a good idea but it is wrong to penalise the majority because of a few stragglers. Maybe there should be a strict cut-off time and any non attendees forced to attend a separate briefing later.....and sent to bed without supper !!

[towny44]

There's just no legislating for the Great British Public !

I think the card-scanning malarkey is a good idea but it is wrong to penalise the majority because of a few stragglers. Maybe there should be a strict cut-off time and any non attendees forced to attend a separate briefing later.....and sent to bed without supper !!

Alternatively maybe their cruise card should be disabled until they have spent time on the naughty step (seperate briefing to be held on the prom deck during dinner time).

[david63]

Alternatively maybe their cruise card should be disabled until they have spent time on the naughty step

Not in P&O's (or any other line's) interest - no cruise card = no spend = lost income!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Alternatively maybe their cruise card should be disabled until they have spent time on the naughty step

Not in P&O's (or any other line's) interest - no cruise card = no spend = lost income!

But might focus minds. Wouldn't have to do it often once the word went round

[wolfie]

It's amazing how many don't attend the disabled tender disembarkation test, either. The one where you have to 'virtually' step over the gap twixt the ship and tender. Loads of people on many of our last cruises who were in wheelchairs, using walkers or walking sticks, did not attend. For those in the former categories it should be compulsory, and for anyone who has registered as having mobility issues, as we do. Non attendance ,then you are a liability to all those on board, in case of an emergency, and should be disembarked ASAP.

Additionally, provide enough designated disabled seats in each safety drill venue for those with mobility problems, just as they do in the theatre of an evening, though those are never enough! Too many times we have been reliant on the good will of other passengers to offer a seat to my OH.The more checks on attending all types of safety drills, the better, IMO.

[david63]

It's amazing how many don't attend the disabled tender disembarkation test, either. The one where you have to 'virtually' step over the gap twixt the ship and tender. Loads of people on many of our last cruises who were in wheelchairs, using walkers or walking sticks, did not attend. For those in the former categories it should be compulsory, and for anyone who has registered as having mobility issues, as we do. Non attendance ,then you are a liability to all those on board, in case of an emergency, and should be disembarked ASAP.

Never heard of this before - but I agree, if they don't turn up chuck them off.

[towny44]

It's amazing how many don't attend the disabled tender disembarkation test, either. The one where you have to 'virtually' step over the gap twixt the ship and tender. Loads of people on many of our last cruises who were in wheelchairs, using walkers or walking sticks, did not attend. For those in the former categories it should be compulsory, and for anyone who has registered as having mobility issues, as we do. Non attendance ,then you are a liability to all those on board, in case of an emergency, and should be disembarked ASAP.

Never heard of this before - but I agree, if they don't turn up chuck them off.

My understanding is that this is used to assess whether you can board a tender when its a tender port. We went once on Britannia but Pauline could never stride across the gap without help, especially if the tender was moving about, so we do not bother now, but of course we also don't try to board the tender either, we just stay on board..
There will be a lot of "disabled" passengers in the same category as us, but in an emergency my understanding is that the crew would definitely help them into a lifeboat.

[daib GC]

It's amazing how many don't attend the disabled tender disembarkation test, either. The one where you have to 'virtually' step over the gap twixt the ship and tender. Loads of people on many of our last cruises who were in wheelchairs, using walkers or walking sticks, did not attend. For those in the former categories it should be compulsory, and for anyone who has registered as having mobility issues, as we do. Non attendance ,then you are a liability to all those on board, in case of an emergency, and should be disembarked ASAP.

Never heard of this before - but I agree, if they don't turn up chuck them off.

My understanding is that this is used to assess whether you can board a tender when its a tender port. We went once on Britannia but Pauline could never stride across the gap without help, especially if the tender was moving about, so we do not bother now, but of course we also don't try to board the tender either, we just stay on board..
There will be a lot of "disabled" passengers in the same category as us, but in an emergency my understanding is that the crew would definitely help them into a lifeboat.

Agreed,

The step over test is only for using the tenders. If there is no tender port then there is no test.

[poole boy]

The last time we sailed with P&O on Oriana we had to board at the city terminal in September I had to do this test in the terminal before boarding if you could do it they put a coloured dot on your card.

[towny44]

The last time we sailed with P&O on Oriana we had to board at the city terminal in September I had to do this test in the terminal before boarding if you could do it they put a coloured dot on your card.

Yet another way for P&O to slow down the boarding process!!!

[qbman1]

Surely better than risking life and limb on the tender pontoon ?!

[daib GC]

The last time we sailed with P&O on Oriana we had to board at the city terminal in September I had to do this test in the terminal before boarding if you could do it they put a coloured dot on your card.

We have done 3 cruises since then and it was always done on board ship.

Dai

[wolfie]

It's those who have registered as having a mobility issue and don't attend the 'step over' test, but then do use the tender, that I have issue with, not those who don't intend using a tender. I wasn't suggesting throwing them off the ship.

[poole boy]

as we are going on Oriana again in just over 5 weeks we will see if its been changed but up to now never been asked to do this on board

[Mervyn and Trish]

It's those who have registered as having a mobility issue and don't attend the 'step over' test, but then do use the tender, that I have issue with, not those who don't intend using a tender. I wasn't suggesting throwing them off the ship.

If they have a mobility issue and use the tender without passing the test they'll probably throw themselves off the ship!

[wolfie]

[/quote]
Yet another way for P&O to slow down the boarding process!!!
[/quote]

It won't inconvenience you unless you have registered, on booking, as having mobility issues. Hope you never have them, who knows what life brings any of us through no fault of our making, not lifestyle choices, just sheer bad luck. Anyway, after 20 years we are well used to such opinions so, may you sail through embarkation without any delay

[towny44]

Yet another way for P&O to slow down the boarding process!!!
[/quote]

It won't inconvenience you unless you have registered, on booking, as having mobility issues. Hope you never have them, who knows what life brings any of us through no fault of our making, not lifestyle choices, just sheer bad luck. Anyway, after 20 years we are well used to such opinions so, may you sail through embarkation without any delay
[/quote]
Wolfie, my wife is a wheelchair user so we know all about mobility issues.

[wolfie]

Apologies townie , I have just read back on this thread and must have skimmed over what you had said about not getting off at a tender port.

Note to self..... read threads from the start and not from latest post, in future!

[towny44]

Apologies townie , I have just read back on this thread and must have skimmed over what you had said about not getting off at a tender port.

Note to self..... read threads from the start and not from latest post, in future!

Apology accepted, it's easily done.