Costa Concordia: Will you change your cabin perference?

[HappyInVan]

The tragedy is a reminder of the danger of ship travel. Particularly for the mobility impaired.

Any ship can be sunk because of bad luck and/or bad judgement. The odds may be low. But, look what happened in Japan with a 1 in 1,000 year event.

So, is anyone considering a change in cabin assignment? What would influence your decision? How could the cruise company help you?

I don't suppose that this would deter anyone from cruising. Cold dead hand and all that?

[Atomica]

There are dangers in crossing the street. Driving to work. Going to the airport...the list goes on.

I don't think this terrible event will cause frequent cruisers to book another voyage, but it may cause people who have never cruised, and were on the fence about it, to re-think their plans...

[Krazy Kruizers]

I'll not change the type of cabin I book.

[KirkNC]

No, I can't go through life trying to anticipate every possible event that could end it.

[kazu]

my cabin choices would remain the same as well. i can see some people changing but not very many:)

[sail7seas]

No changes in our cabin selection.

Only thing I plan to do differently is to never leave our cabin without a credit card, some cash, a few days must have meds in a small ziploc and copy of our passports. Takes no room, weighs nothing but will give me peace of mind. That in itself is worth it for me.

[Randyk47]

We don't plan on making any changes to our cabin selection criteria. Granted at this point in life we're in relatively good health with no limitations. On the other hand I'm not sure there is a totally right answer to cabin selection that meets every potential hazard at all times of day and night. There are so many variables that finding the perfect fit is difficult to impossible. You do the best you can based on your own specific circumstances. The Concordia is a reminder that bad stuff can and does happen. Being at sea has it's own set of inherent risks, some totally unlike or different than you'd face or expect on land, some the same. Again all you can do is do the best you can based on your needs and acceptable risks.

[Viesczy]

No changes in our cabin selection.

Only thing I plan to do differently is to never leave our cabin without a credit card, some cash, a few days must have meds in a small ziploc and copy of our passports. Takes no room, weighs nothing but will give me peace of mind. That in itself is worth it for me.


S7S is right about having a little bug out bag. No worries on where your cabin is, but just be sure you have anything and everything with you that you need/to help out. Those few ounces you're going to carry will be invaluable should something terrible happen.

Derek

[RuthC]

I did change my preferred cabin location to the deck where muster is held a few years ago. Obviously the decision wasn't because of a disaster, and just as obviously that doesn't work on all ships.

However, it was to make it easier to get to/from the drill itself. And when on a shp such as a Vista/Signature, I still get a cabin within a reasonable distance from Promenade. In an emergency I can manage the stairs. The thing is, in an emergency, I probably won't be in my cabin anyway.

[NJpassenger]

Another thing which we do whenever we travel is have a scanned copy of our passports in our emails. I figure that no matter where we are in the world we can always find an internet cafe or some other place to access our email and then we can print out a copy of passport if needed. Not as handy as actually having the copy on your person but insurance nonetheless.

[mmr923]

Another thing which we do whenever we travel is have a scanned copy of our passports in our emails. I figure that no matter where we are in the world we can always find an internet cafe or some other place to access our email and then we can print out a copy of passport if needed. Not as handy as actually having the copy on your person but insurance nonetheless.

Super idea! We usually have a copy (paper) in our luggage somewhere, and one with a friend at home, but hadn't thought about an e-copy.

[Laurie S.]

I don't plan on making any changes, other than putting our passports in a ziplock bag while they're in the safe. I always have my good jewelery placed for quick access in the safe and will keep the passports and wallets close to them.

[bepsf]

Another thing which we do whenever we travel is have a scanned copy of our passports in our emails. I figure that no matter where we are in the world we can always find an internet cafe or some other place to access our email and then we can print out a copy of passport if needed. Not as handy as actually having the copy on your person but insurance nonetheless.

That's a brilliant idea -

[rafinmd]

Another thing which we do whenever we travel is have a scanned copy of our passports in our emails. I figure that no matter where we are in the world we can always find an internet cafe or some other place to access our email and then we can print out a copy of passport if needed. Not as handy as actually having the copy on your person but insurance nonetheless.



(snip....)The thing is, in an emergency, I probably won't be in my cabin anyway.

Super idea, NJpassenger. Ruth, I think you've hit the nail on the head there.

Roy

[LUV2CRUZalso]

Great tips from this discussion! Taking those few assurance items with us, makes great sense! We had always had copies of our passports in our suitcases.. but it sure doesn't hurt to take a copy along with a credit card and a few small meds!

We will not be revising our cabin preferences any time soon.

Thanks everyone...

Denny (& Karen) ;):p

[chrispb]

I don't plan on making any changes, other than putting our passports in a ziplock bag while they're in the safe. I always have my good jewelery placed for quick access in the safe and will keep the passports and wallets close to them.

Not a good idea to return to your cabin for anything. Crew died doing just that when a British ship was sunk in the Falklands war. The ones who survived just grabbed their survival suits and got straight to the lifeboats.

[sail7seas]

They say a violinist from Costa Concordia was at a lifeboat but chose to return to his cabin to get his valuable violin. He is among those who did not survive.

[peaches from georgia]

Not a good idea to return to your cabin for anything. Crew died doing just that when a British ship was sunk in the Falklands war. The ones who survived just grabbed their survival suits and got straight to the lifeboats.
I agree. For special events like this there are special circumstances for aid and travel. All the Costa survivors got home very quickly and I'll bet only a tiny % of them had $$, wallets, passports or credit cards with them. The only thing I'm going to worry about is grabbing a life jacket on deck and getting the heck off the ship safely, not going back to my cabin.

And I'm sure not going to cart all these provisions around with me every minute I'm on the ship.

[Randyk47]

If you save a copy of your passport in your emails make sure you don't open it unless you have to. Once it's opened it's saved to your computer and no longer available unless you have that same computer. You can save email to an external server like Yahoo but then you're running the risk they'll get hacked. I really like the idea....just got to think about a safe place to store the info. Unfortunately more servers get hacked or compromised than cruise ships sinking.

[tangerinebunny]

We bought the air tickets for our May cruise yesterday. Getting to the airport (20 miles away) remains more dangerous than either the flight or the cruise.

We won't change anything, and it's my guess that HAL will be even more safety conscious than usual.

[DFD1]

No change. We always book a stateroom on one of the upper decks. I would not want to be on a lower deck where I could not get outside easily. Climbing a lot of stairs in an emergency would be very difficult. This has been a long-time practice.

[Lady Chew]

I agree. For special events like this there are special circumstances for aid and travel. All the Costa survivors got home very quickly and I'll bet only a tiny % of them had $$, wallets, passports or credit cards with them. The only thing I'm going to worry about is grabbing a life jacket on deck and getting the heck off the ship safely, not going back to my cabin.

And I'm sure not going to cart all these provisions around with me every minute I'm on the ship.

Totally agree, especially with the last sentence I highlighted!

I can just imagine, getting ready for formal night ... let's see, we're going for drinks first, then dinner, then the show, then maybe some dancing in the lounge ... I'll need my seapass card, reading glasses ... oh, and don't forget, my passport, all my good jewelry, cell phone and/or laptop, three days worth of meds, perhaps a jacket ... "oh, Mr Chew dear, can you put all this stuff in your jacket pockets for me, with all of your stuff?"

I don't mean to treat this subject lightly, because it is serious ... and one should have contingency plans in place for various circumstances ... but ... this is too much for me!

There's a song by Bon Jovi (I think) that I like "... I want to live while I'm alive ..." not spend my time waiting for disaster to strike!

[bepsf]

...does the OP have some sort of info regarding the location of the cabins in which the persons who died on Concordia were booked?
Were they all grouped together in some remote part of the vessel?

[Typhoon1]

It's dangerous to step out your front door. Also, getting out of bed can be dangerous.

[DeepWaterMariner]

If the question has to do with the time it takes to get from your cabin to the muster station then a lower deck would be my choice. Less people to deal with on the stairs. There are more cabins above the muster stations than below so I would expect those stairs to be crowded with people coming down. Of coarse that would be in a situation where everyone was in their cabins when the muster was ordered which isn't a given. The reality is that we probably won't change a thing. The odds are so extremely low that we would have to muster and evacuate the vessel that it isn't worth putting in place a personal plan that I'll likely forget in the unlikely event that it is ever needed.

[HappyInVan]

...does the OP have some sort of info regarding the location of the cabins in which the persons who died on Concordia were booked?
Were they all grouped together in some remote part of the vessel?


Sorry! Got no info to share. Obviously, rooms above the main deck are better than below, if the ship is sinking.


However, this ship wreck defers conventional wisdom. To me, it appears that the ship ran aground twice.


First, there was a gash on the port side some distance below the water line. At this point, the passengers are safe as their rooms far above the water line. Passengers and crew should all have been saved if it took an hour and a half to sink.


But, el capitano turns from the open sea and runs his huge ship into shallow waters. It's mind boggling why he did that. In a calm sea, evacuation should proceed in open waters where the life boats have room to maneuver.


In shallow waters, the ship runs the risk of running aground and capsizing. The life boats run the risk of running onto rocks in the dark.


Sure enough, the ship lists and ends up on its starboard side (not the side that has been holed).


On a large ship, there is a considerable distance between the water level and the life boat stations. So, the ship could have difficulty launching half its boats if it lists more than 10 degrees.


Which is another reason why you don't want to run into shallow waters.


To top it off, passengers are told to return to the cabin 45 minutes after the hull breach(?).


Seems to me that there was enough time to get everyone onto the main deck. Just don't understand how the Korean couple on their honeymoon ended up trapped. Unless, the ship capsized suddenly and they were unable to open their room door.


In that case, even the cabins above the main deck would be in danger. Which is why you should go to your muster station the moment the ship lists and doesn't right itself.


Obviously, the mobility impaired are at great danger in any ship wreck. Wonder if the crew was able to assist those passengers in the last minutes.


I wonder what instructions or assurances are given to mobility impaired passengers. Does anyone know?

[Seago2]

Let's just say I am glad I have a verandah booked in March. I know it makes no sense, that any possible sinking/fire is specific to the event, but I don't want to be trapped in an inside right now. My SO gave me "Burning Cold", about the 1980 Prinsendam fire and sinking, for Christmas. So when Concordia went down I was well versed in the way an evacuation SHOULD happen (due to the many mistakes on Prinsendam). That compounded my worry and obsession over Concordia.

Changes I will make: yes, I will bring two flashlights. That is a no brainer, and yet I have never thought to do that. I will copy and email our passports (great idea!). Chagrined to say that I wear my cruise card around my neck, so I can't see bringing credit cards and pills with me everywhere I go but I just might. The main change: if I hear a direction to go back to my cabin I won't.

Oh- and yes, I believe most of the bodies have been found (so far) in an interior muster station.

[sail7seas]

Totally agree, especially with the last sentence I highlighted!

I can just imagine, getting ready for formal night ... let's see, we're going for drinks first, then dinner, then the show, then maybe some dancing in the lounge ... I'll need my seapass card, reading glasses ... oh, and don't forget, my passport, all my good jewelry, cell phone and/or laptop, three days worth of meds, perhaps a jacket ... "oh, Mr Chew dear, can you put all this stuff in your jacket pockets for me, with all of your stuff?"

I don't mean to treat this subject lightly, because it is serious ... and one should have contingency plans in place for various circumstances ... but ... this is too much for me!

There's a song by Bon Jovi (I think) that I like "... I want to live while I'm alive ..." not spend my time waiting for disaster to strike!



:D

A bit of exaggeration ;) but dramatically fun to read. :)

A credit card, cash, mini ziploc with a few days pills and a paper copy of info page from passport. would fit just fine into the smallest evening purse. No weight, no room, lots of peace of mind.

Different strokes for different folks.
Life was much easier for those survivors who had funds/access to funds than those who left the ship without a credit card in their pocket.

[Call8675309]

We try to book cabins in a quiet area after a serious misstep on our third cruise. Entirely my fault for not paying attention to the deck plans. I feel you can make reasonable preparations for a disaster, but you can not entirely eliminate risk. I try not to spend a lot of time there anyway unless sleeping or enjoying the veranda.

[ariawoman]

I don't plan on changing my cabin location, I've tended to be a little higher up due to liking verandah category and up.

As for changes - I've always had documents available online of my passport and credit cards, license, etc - but might i suggest to you guys - instead of doing it in email - you can save it in something like google docs or box (dot com). I've been using box to share files between myself and my boyfriend and also as a central place to keep information. This way, we dont have to be at any specific computer. Also box has an app for mobile - so i can even access from my ipod or droid.

[jcrandle]

I do plan to change my preference from "non-evacuating" to "evacuating".

[HappyInVan]

Oh- and yes, I believe most of the bodies have been found (so far) in an interior muster station.


Ah! Thanks for the info. Now, it makes some sense.


The interior muster stations are usually large rooms. A capsized ship means that the doors are difficult to reach. And the corridors may be flooded.


Here's an account from the vice-mayor of the island. He had time to board the ship, and spent six hours helping with the evacuation. It's unbelievable that there were still passengers on the ship six hours after evacuation began.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16638399


What if the ship was on fire, or sinking like the Titanic?


Note the panic. The mobility impaired folks would have little chance.

[Amuse Bouche]

I will keep my typical cabin. I want another way out if I can't get to the life boats. We don't go if we can't afford a balcony. We are blessed that we've been able to. I can't stand the confinement.

The only thing I will be changing is I will be bringing this waterproof fanny pack filled with flashlight, meds, passports, credit cards and our cell phones, and then tucked into the safe as usual.

The saddest part of the Concordia situation is that it seems they had plenty of time to organize and get off the ship, if the passengers had been given the correct instructions. Telling them to go back to their cabins and wait was so wrong.

I will set up the pack just in case I have time to get back to my room to grab the bag and life vests. It would suck to have time and have nothing but the HAL canvas shopping bag to try to toss stuff into.

And, putting this on won't be cumbersome. And will be less likely to be ripped away or lost.

http://www.thewaterproofstore.com/obfanny.html

[fleckle]

Higher deck (less likely to flood and climbing down easier than climbing up).

Our cabin must have more than one way out (in case hallway is flooded or blocked, or filled with fire or smoke, or door to hallway cannot be opened).

Just as at home we have more than one escape exit from each bedroom in case of emergency.

[sail7seas]

Today I made color copies of our passport info pages and will laminate them so they'll be ready to go for our upcoming Maasdam cruise. :)

It will give me a bit of 'peace of mind' and that is priceless. :)

[wendy_woo]

I am going on my first cruise in 3 weeks, I am sure it will be fine, but we do travel a lot and I think its the same, I keep passport copies in my Yahoo Account and also email them to my daughter, I had a passport stolen in the US and getting this emailed saved a huge amount of hassle.

We would not return to our cabins for anything and we both know how to swim, obviously a lifevest would be useful!

The people that hurt most after a tragedy are those left behind so we make sure its as easy as possible for them by ensuring our wills and wishes are updated and there is a trail for them to find the paperwork, that's the best I think you can do along with having a wonderful time and not worrying!

[fuzzywuzzy]

I am going on my first cruise in 3 weeks, I am sure it will be fine, but we do travel a lot and I think its the same, I keep passport copies in my Yahoo Account and also email them to my daughter, I had a passport stolen in the US and getting this emailed saved a huge amount of hassle.

We would not return to our cabins for anything and we both know how to swim, obviously a lifevest would be useful!

The people that hurt most after a tragedy are those left behind so we make sure its as easy as possible for them by ensuring our wills and wishes are updated and there is a trail for them to find the paperwork, that's the best I think you can do along with having a wonderful time and not worrying!

Yes, I always do this. I leave a binder out with our financial information in it. I have typed a huge letter signed and sealed in an envelope marked "In case of emergency" which I leave out as well when my DH and I travel. God forbid that anything happens, but as we see in the news, bad things can and do happen. Leaving a paper trail will hugely help those left behind to handle legal and financial matters. I know it sounds morbid but I feel better leaving home when I do this. In this letter I have all our bank account #'s, all other important information with regard to Wills, lawyer phone#, Pension phone#, etc. Basically all our assets and debit information is outlined in this letter as well as where to find things in our home in the filing cabinets.

I too make photocopies of our credit cards, Passport, etc. I leave a copy here at home and I take a copy with us in case of lost or stolen ID, wallet, etc.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Changes I will make: yes, I will bring two flashlights. That is a no brainer, and yet I have never thought to do that. I will copy and email our passports (great idea!). Chagrined to say that I wear my cruise card around my neck, so I can't see bringing credit cards and pills with me everywhere I go but I just might. The main change: if I hear a direction to go back to my cabin I won't.

Oh- and yes, I believe most of the bodies have been found (so far) in an interior muster station.

I don't understand why people were told to go to their cabins !!?? What are muster drills for then? I thought in case of emergency, you were to grab your lifejackets and head to your muster station to await further instructions!! Why in the world would you go back to your cabin and wait? Especially when hundreds of cabins are way below in the lower levels of the ship.

[sail7seas]

I don't understand why people were told to go to their cabins !!?? What are muster drills for then? I thought in case of emergency, you were to grab your lifejackets and head to your muster station to await further instructions!! Why in the world would you go back to your cabin and wait? Especially when hundreds of cabins are way below in the lower levels of the ship.


I agree. It made no sense for guests to be directed to return to their cabin.

The communication aboard Concordia seemed to be hugely lacking and most who were not Senior Officers didn't seem to have been advised how bad the situation aboard really was.

[kazu]

Let's just say I am glad I have a verandah booked in March. I know it makes no sense, that any possible sinking/fire is specific to the event, but I don't want to be trapped in an inside right now. My SO gave me "Burning Cold", about the 1980 Prinsendam fire and sinking, for Christmas. So when Concordia went down I was well versed in the way an evacuation SHOULD happen (due to the many mistakes on Prinsendam). That compounded my worry and obsession over Concordia.

Changes I will make: yes, I will bring two flashlights. That is a no brainer, and yet I have never thought to do that. I will copy and email our passports (great idea!). Chagrined to say that I wear my cruise card around my neck, so I can't see bringing credit cards and pills with me everywhere I go but I just might. The main change: if I hear a direction to go back to my cabin I won't.

Oh- and yes, I believe most of the bodies have been found (so far) in an interior muster station.

At least on the Prinsendam EVERYONE was rescued and no one died (sorry, couldn't resist)

[Oceanwench]

We'll stay where the HC cabins are - VA or SY or SC - which is deck 5 or 6.
I guess we could book the HC lanai cabin on Maasdam! :)

DH takes too many pills and injections [that must be kept refrigerated] to haul them around with us.

[luxurysailer]

The communication aboard Concordia seemed to be hugely lacking and most who were not Senior Officers didn't seem to have been advised how bad the situation aboard really was.

Several points to be made in relation to this thread:

1) Was there anyone on board exerting effective overall control of the evacuation process on Costa Concordia? If not, which appears to be the case, this undoubtedly hindered the whole process and may well have resulted in bad decisions (such as instructions being given to return to staterooms) being made by lower ranking individuals who had no real idea of what the situation was.

2) In some pictures there appears to be a dock only a few hundred yards at most from the Costa Concordia. Perhaps the captain was making for the dock, lost control and ran aground a second time where it capsized, or maybe he just ran out of time before he could get to the dock.

[Indycal]

Several points to be made in relation to this thread:

1) Was there anyone on board exerting effective overall control of the evacuation process on Costa Concordia? If not, which appears to be the case, this undoubtedly hindered the whole process and may well have resulted in bad decisions (such as instructions being given to return to staterooms) being made by lower ranking individuals who had no real idea of what the situation was.

2) In some pictures there appears to be a dock only a few hundred yards at most from the Costa Concordia. Perhaps the captain was making for the dock, lost control and ran aground a second time where it capsized, or maybe he just ran out of time before he could get to the dock.

This was an article listed on another thread, great article that talks about WHO was helping the evacuation: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,810761,00.html

[HappyInVan]

Several points to be made in relation to this thread:


2) In some pictures there appears to be a dock only a few hundred yards at most from the Costa Concordia. Perhaps the captain was making for the dock, lost control and ran aground a second time where it capsized, or maybe he just ran out of time before he could get to the dock.

I have to interject.

The island port is pretty small. Perhaps, it only takes small inter-island ferries. The island has only 1,458 population.

There's no way that el capitano could have docked the 114k ton Concordia.

In fact, he would be committing a very bad act of seamanship to bring a crippled ship into the inner harbor or waterway. Where the sinking would obstruct passage.

Finally, the ship was without power after the first collison. So, there was no way that he could have guided the ship to the dock. In fact, he had no way of knowing where the ship would end up since it was gliding in on momentum.

Without power and in a calm sea, the only sane option is to head towards the open sea. Evacuation could be safely done, and the lifeboats had only a short distance to the port.

Turning towards the shore when the ship was powerless was an act of folly. Sure enough, it ran aground. Keeled over in shallow water. Then, capsized as the tide receded.

[luxurysailer]

I have to interject.

The island port is pretty small. Perhaps, it only takes small inter-island ferries. The island has only 1,458 population.

There's no way that el capitano could have docked the 114k ton Concordia.

In fact, he would be committing a very bad act of seamanship to bring a crippled ship into the inner harbor or waterway. Where the sinking would obstruct passage.

Finally, the ship was without power after the first collison. So, there was no way that he could have guided the ship to the dock. In fact, he had no way of knowing where the ship would end up since it was gliding in on momentum.

Without power and in a calm sea, the only sane option is to head towards the open sea. Evacuation could be safely done, and the lifeboats had only a short distance to the port.

Turning towards the shore when the ship was powerless was an act of folly. Sure enough, it ran aground. Keeled over in shallow water. Then, capsized as the tide receded.

I didn't say the captain was making good decisions, merely guessing what might have been going on in his mind. He'd already made a horrendously wrong decision that night, and who knows what straw he may have been trying to grasp.

[kazu]

I have to interject.

The island port is pretty small. Perhaps, it only takes small inter-island ferries. The island has only 1,458 population.

There's no way that el capitano could have docked the 114k ton Concordia.

In fact, he would be committing a very bad act of seamanship to bring a crippled ship into the inner harbor or waterway. Where the sinking would obstruct passage.

Finally, the ship was without power after the first collison. So, there was no way that he could have guided the ship to the dock. In fact, he had no way of knowing where the ship would end up since it was gliding in on momentum.

Without power and in a calm sea, the only sane option is to head towards the open sea. Evacuation could be safely done, and the lifeboats had only a short distance to the port.

Turning towards the shore when the ship was powerless was an act of folly. Sure enough, it ran aground. Keeled over in shallow water. Then, capsized as the tide receded.

I am no engineer - but I have to agree - if he had just lowered the lifeboats and called for May Day - they weren't that far away - they could have had help JMHO . But who knows what he was told while he was on the phone???? This is an outright tragedy and travesty and shouldn't have happened - JMO and why I have been following it so closely.

May all those have gone RIP and all my sympathies to those left behind.

[HappyInVan]

I didn't say the captain was making good decisions, merely guessing what might have been going on in his mind. He'd already made a horrendously wrong decision that night, and who knows what straw he may have been trying to grasp.

Not blaming you. The event is so incredible that one tries to offer a rational excuse.

I only have a power boat license (for small craft) and it's obvious to even me that el capitano was making stupid and then suicidal decisions.

The capitan of a $600m ship with 4k lives should be a cold professional. Yet, this guy swung from exuberance to panic.

After power was lost in the initial collison, the ship should have been steered away (while the ship could still be steered) from land (not towards land) while the situation was assessed.

It was immediately clear that the ship was doomed because the engine room was flooded. The Concordia was permanently without engine power and was a derelict.

The proper cause of action would be to throw out the sea anchors and start evacuation. You can't wait because the ship was so close to land and the tide could push the ship into the rocks.

Since the port was so close, the only sensible thing to do was to immediately unload the passengers to the port where they could embark on ferries. Makes no sense to try to get closer to the port when you got no steering control.

This captain should have gone down with his ship.

[jcrandle]

Not blaming you. The event is so incredible that one tries to offer a rational excuse.

I only have a power boat license (for small craft) and it's obvious to even me that el capitano was making stupid and then suicidal decisions.

The capitan of a $600m ship with 4k lives should be a cold professional. Yet, this guy swung from exuberance to panic.

After power was lost in the initial collison, the ship should have been steered away (while the ship could still be steered) from land (not towards land) while the situation was assessed.

It was immediately clear that the ship was doomed because the engine room was flooded. The Concordia was permanently without engine power and was a derelict.

The proper cause of action would be to throw out the sea anchors and start evacuation. You can't wait because the ship was so close to land and the tide could push the ship into the rocks.

Since the port was so close, the only sensible thing to do was to immediately unload the passengers to the port where they could embark on ferries. Makes no sense to try to get closer to the port when you got no steering control.

This captain should have gone down with his ship.

I would add one change to your last line.


This captain should have gone down instead of his ship.

[RMLincoln]

We usually buy guaranteed cabins so we could be anywhere and have been in most parts of the ship from top to bottom, front to back. Every location has its advantages.

I will make a slightly better organized collection of stuff in the safe probably in an under-garment type money belt that can be grabbed in a hurry and worn on our person. Not that I would go back for it but if I'm evacuating from my cabin I'd grab it with the life jacket. If I didn't have it ready to grab I doubt I"d take any time to gather it all together. And anything I"d take in an evacuation I'd wear on my person, not carry.

My general packing guideline anymore is to "pack like you'll never see it again." m--

[bepsf]

I didn't say the captain was making good decisions, merely guessing what might have been going on in his mind. He'd already made a horrendously wrong decision that night, and who knows what straw he may have been trying to grasp.

He was too busy ordering dinner with his girlfriend to think about making good decisions...
...tho I suspect it wasn't straws he was trying to grasp.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089052/Domnica-Cemortan-Was-Costa-Concordia-captain-Francesco-Schettino-trying-impress-ballerina.html

[cmdchiefthom]

Just give me my SB or SC stern wrap around suite and I'm as happy as a clam!;)

[2disneydads]

I've bought about 10 of the new small LED flashlights. I'm placing one in my backpack that I almost always have with me, one in the travel bags of everyone in my family and one in all of our toiletries bags. I've read about people not being able to find their way because of the blackout on the Concordia. I am hoping that having these small flashlights, which don't take up much room and don't weigh much, might help in an emergency. But I've gotten some very good ideas here, too.