FWhat ire alarm?

[Bohrski]

I have been reading these boards ever since I booked my first cruise in December - this time next week I'll be onboard the MS Zaandam and I am soooo excited. Anyway, I just read a couple of references to fire alarms going off in the wee hours of the morning. Is this a test of the system or a random thing (it has happened to me 3x in a hotel!)? Does one stay put or get dressed if it's during the night? Since I am in the last week I am thinking of all the scarey things now - what if I miss the ship? What if the ocean is real rough? What if I get sick? What if my luggage gets lost? and other silly things to worry about....

Also, what's happening with the baggage handlers in Seattle? Is that still an issue.

Many thanks for letting me express my "what ifs".

[Copper10-8]

I have been reading these boards ever since I booked my first cruise in December - this time next week I'll be onboard the MS Zaandam and I am soooo excited. Anyway, I just read a couple of references to fire alarms going off in the wee hours of the morning. Is this a test of the system or a random thing (it has happened to me 3x in a hotel!)? Does one stay put or get dressed if it's during the night? Since I am in the last week I am thinking of all the scarey things now - what if I miss the ship? What if the ocean is real rough? What if I get sick? What if my luggage gets lost? and other silly things to worry about....

Also, what's happening with the baggage handlers in Seattle? Is that still an issue.

Many thanks for letting me express my "what ifs".

I can guarantee you that no captain/cruise line in their right mind is going to be testing audible fire alarms during the night time and/or during early morning hours. When they do test them (in the day-time), the officer on the bridge/officer of the deck will make a PA announcement advising/warning the pax of same. If a fire alarm goes off in the middle of the night, it is either an actual fire (no matter how small or large), a faulty system and/or a manual pull (meaning some idiot passenger with nothing better to do is playing with it). If it's the real thing and if there's a need for some sort of action on your part i.e. putting on your clothes, you will be notified via the ship's PA system very soon. Don't panic! HAL and other lines practise these procedures on a weekly basis and are very good at what they do!

Have a great cruise on Zaandam next week; she's a very nice ship and I'm willing to bet you, you'll have an awesome time on her. It's OK and very normal to be anxious as your cruise get's closer. Try thinking about all the good times you're going to have! Let us know when you return:)

[TrojanCruiser]

I have been reading these boards ever since I booked my first cruise in December - this time next week I'll be onboard the MS Zaandam and I am soooo excited. Anyway, I just read a couple of references to fire alarms going off in the wee hours of the morning. Is this a test of the system or a random thing (it has happened to me 3x in a hotel!)? Does one stay put or get dressed if it's during the night? Since I am in the last week I am thinking of all the scarey things now - what if I miss the ship? What if the ocean is real rough? What if I get sick? What if my luggage gets lost? and other silly things to worry about....

Also, what's happening with the baggage handlers in Seattle? Is that still an issue.

Many thanks for letting me express my "what ifs".

Bohrski- You will learn at the life jacket/muster drill held before the ship even casts off from the dock what the alarms mean. 6 short blasts and 1 long blast means to don your life jacket and go to your muster station (if you're far from you're stateroom, then go directly to your muster station where the crew have extra life jackets). HAL takes the muster drill very seriously and passenger safety is stressed. On the first night of our recent Ryndam cruise to Alaska, 6 short blasts went off at about 4:30AM. I heard the first one go off and just kept counting- fortunately, the long blast didn't go off. The captain and cruise director quickly made announcements to explain the situation- an exhaust line for one of the engines malflunctioned setting off the alarm. There were some tests done during the day but they were always explained ahead of the test that it was just a test. I felt confident from our muster drill that had the situation escalated, that we were trained in the proper safety procedures and everything would be fine. I felt safer on the Ryndam than having to take on LA traffic any day...:)