Safety on board

How is managed the safety on board?
When and where are the drills held?
Are there any maps or other instructions?
What other enhancements does the line use to ensure safety, i.e. maps showing routes to the nearest lifeboats, etc.?
How is our crew trained to operate the life boats?
How frequently is testing carried out in which the lifeboats are lowered?

How is managed the safety on board?

All cruise ships are designed and operated in compliance with the strict requirements of the International Maritime Organization, the UN agency that mandates global standards for the safety and operation of cruise ships through adoption of treaties, regulations and resolutions, codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. Safety-related regulations and requirements are rigorous – and ships often go substantially above and beyond what is required, for example carrying backup mechanical, navigational and safety provisions.
Ships crews undertake extensive training, certification, drills and scenarios for emergency situations, including the evacuation of a ship. All cruise ships have lifeboats, life rafts and life preservers for every person on board as well as additional capacity.

When and where are the drills held?

Upon embarkation in the main ports, all guests are requested to participate in a one-hour safety drill conducted in the 6 languages. The Safety drills involve the entire crew and simulate the evacuation procedure, with guests requested to take their respective life jackets from their cabins and go to the assigned Muster Station where they receive additional safety instructions.
In secondary ports, before the ship's departure, a detailed safety briefing is also held for all newly-embarked guests. The safety briefing is normally held in a dedicated area (usually the theatre or a Muster Station) and does not involve all the crew, being conducted by a group of social hostesses and animators that helps guests to familiarise themselves with the safety equipment and procedures. The Safety briefings and drills are all fully compliant with the strict SOLAS requirements.

Are there any maps or other instructions?

Safety instructions on how to reach the relevant muster station and where to find the respective life jackets are available in all cabins, in 6 languages (ITA, ENG, GER, FRA, SPA, PORT, RUS), in the cabin information booklet and behind the cabin door (in 6 languages), where fire instructions and a map are also displayed, showing “You are here” information and the primary and secondary escape routes to the muster stations.

What other enhancements does the line use to ensure safety, i.e. maps showing routes to the nearest lifeboats, etc.?

Maps on the location of the different muster stations are displayed in all public areas and staircases etc. All public areas also feature arrows showing the way to the muster stations and indicating the staircases to reach them.
In addition, a safety video (in Italian and English) is broadcast 24/7 on the in-cabin television system on channel 1.

How is our crew trained to operate the life boats?

The crew receive regular training ashore, before embarkation and on board. The comprehensive on-board training coordinated by the ship’s Safety Officer consists of 4 two-hour modules, as follows:
A. Preliminary
B. Emergency instructions
C. Fire-fighting
D. Life-saving
A significant part of Section D is dedicated to management of the lifeboats. All crew members directly in charge of lifeboats receive additional and specific training on how to prepare, lower, pilot and maintain the lifeboats.