While cruise ships are a very safe form of travel, emergency situations can happen in rare cases.
So what should you do if you find yourself in trouble? Crew member and YouTuber Luli, known as “Luli de los Cruceros” on her channel with nearly 60,000 subscribers, spoke about safety protocols in a recent video.
The cruise worker described the vessels as being like a “floating city” where everything is meticulously planned out. This is crucial to help passengers when problems arise.
All staff members receive training to face a wide variety of situations – from fires to completely evacuating the ship if it starts sinking.
Luli said: “The crew knows exactly where they should be and what they should do in case of an emergency… My emergency card indicates exactly what I should do in case of evacuation, even the boat or raft where I should be.”
The cruise worker explained how drills can involve using a “vertical slide” to evacuate the ship in emergencies, which is known as the “marine evacuation system”.
She added: “It’s an effective way to evacuate many people in a short time and safely.” For best results, crew members are drilled in this process regularly.
Luli emphasises “it’s essential to be prepared” in case of emergency, even though the chances of sinking are minimal. According to Luli, these trainings ensure that the crew remains in a constant state of alert and knows how to act to protect passengers and themselves.
What to do if your cruise ship starts sinking
If you find yourself on a cruise ship that is sinking, it’s crucial to remain as calm as possible and act swiftly. Here are some general steps to follow:
- Listen for Announcements: Pay attention to any instructions given over the public address system or by the crew. They are trained for emergency situations.
- Head to Your Muster Station: Be familiar with the location of your muster station from the safety briefing at the start of the cruise. Head there immediately when instructed.
- Wear Your Life Jacket: Put on your life jacket as soon as possible. Life jackets are usually located in your cabin or at your muster station.
- Evacuate in an Orderly Manner: Follow the crew’s instructions for evacuation. Typically, this means moving calmly and quickly to lifeboat stations.
- Assist Others if Possible: If you are able, help others, including children, the elderly, and those with disabilities, to ensure they are also wearing life jackets and are safely making their way to the evacuation area.