Wednesday, March 16, 2011

36 DAYS TO GO . . .

     FRIDAY MARCH 18, 2011

     MANDATORY LIFE BOAT DRILLS.  HAVING NEVER CRUISED BEFORE, WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THESE, I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT SOME 20 - 40 MINUTES OF MY FIRST DAY WAS GOING TO BE GOBBLED UP BY A SAFETY DRILL.  I SAY 20 - 40 MINUTES BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THEM BLOCKED OFF ON DISNEY'S PERSONAL NAVIGATORS FOR 30 AND 45 MINUTES BOTH, AND HEARD PEOPLE SAY THEY WERE DONE IN 15 MINUTES.  SO I GUESS TIME WILL REALLY TELL.
     UNTIL RECENTLY, EVERY SINGLE PASSENGER HAD TO GO TO THEIR STATEROOM AND PUT ON THEIR LIFE JACKETS AND THEN REPORT TO THEIR ASSEMBLY STATIONS.  EACH INDIVIDUALS ASSEMBLY STATION IS PRINTED ON THEIR LIFE JACKET AS WELL AS ON THE BACK OF EACH STATEROOM DOOR WITH DIRECTIONS ON EXACTLY HOW TO GET THERE.  YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN YOU WERE IN SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A FIRE DRILL.
     WELL NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ON YOUR LIFE JACKET AND GO.  THIS RULE HAS BEEN CHANGED.  SUPPOSEDLY FOR ALL CRUISE LINES, IT IS NO LONGER MANDATORY.  EITHER WAY, YOUR LIFE JACKETS ARE STORED IN THE TOP OF YOUR CLOSET, SHOULD YOU NEED THEM.  A COMMANDING VOICE WILL COME OVER THE INTERCOMS AND SPEAKERS TELLING YOU TO REPORT TO YOUR ASSEMBLY STATION FOR THE MANDATORY BOAT DRILL.  ALL ACTIVITIES OF ANY KIND ARE SUSPENDED ON ALL SHIPS DURING THIS PERIOD, SO YOU WON'T BE MISSING ANYTHING.
     WHILE YOU MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET ANYMORE, IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO AT LEAST PAY ATTENTION TO HOW TO "UNFOLD" IT (THEY'RE FOLDED INTO LITTLE SQUARES) AND PUT IT ON.  YOU NEVER KNOW.  BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.  WHEN EVERYONE IS GATHERED AT THEIR MUSTER STATION, ATTENDANCE WILL BE TAKEN WITH YOUR KEY TO THE WORLD CARD TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS THERE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.  IF NOT, THEY WILL PAGE THE MISSING, AND ALL WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEIR ARRIVAL.
     ONCE EVERYONE IS INDEED ALL ASSEMBLED, A DISNEY CAST MEMBER WILL GO OVER THE SAFETY STEPS TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.  WHERE TO GO AND WHEN.  HOW THE LIFE BOATS WILL BE HANDLED AND LOADED, ETC.  HOWEVER UNLIKELY, REMEMBER, THERE ARE 4,000 PEOPLE ON-BOARD.  THAT'S A LOT TO ORGANIZE IN A HURRY, SO PAY ATTENTION! 
     ANOTHER, MORE REALISTIC, USE FOR THE BOAT DRILL IS TO ALREADY START TO GET TO SEE AND KNOW SOME OF YOUR FELLOW PASSENGERS.  YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THEM IN THE TERMINAL ALREADY, OR AT THE BUFFET, OR AT THE POOL.  SAY HELLO.  INTRODUCE YOURSELF.  INTRODUCE THE KIDS.  IT'S A VACATION.  ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.  YOU'RE JUST GETTING STARTED!
     SEE YA REAL SOON!   ºOº
TONIGHT'S MOVIE IS "THE SWORD AND THE STONE".  A LESSER KNOWN FILM, BUT ONE THAT ALL LITTLE BOYS END UP LOVING.

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