Explaining the Lifeboats to kids - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

luvmyguys · 02-15-2007, 10:07 PM

Before we went on our family cruise last year, we took a trip to the port on something unrelated (a dolphin sightseeing trip). I pointed out the cruise ship and said that we'd be sailing on something similar. My then 6 year old asked me what "all those little boats were for". Being honest (but upbeat!), I told him that they were there just in case anything were to happen on the ship that might make it unsafe for us to stay on it. He had also been reading about the Titanic at about this time. I think he was a little spooked, but he did fine on the cruise. He was very particular about what he would and would not bring, based on the possibility of it being lost at sea.

Now, though, he really doesn't want to go on another cruise, saying that he's afraid of sinking. I explained that this was why they have a lifeboat for every person on the ship, that this was why we had a muster drill, and that this was why he had to wear that wristband during the cruise - all to make sure he'd stay safe. He's taken if further than that, asking what we'd do if we were in a lifeboat and didn't know how to get back to shore. I tried to explain all the contingency plans, but didn't quite have enough detail to satisfy him.

Anyone else have this issue? What'd you say?

Thanks!

hanna · 02-16-2007, 09:31 AM

I'm no help here, but thought this a quite interesting question. So a little bump up to the front in hopes someone will answer this.

I hope he gets over his fear soon. 6 year olds do have a vivid imagination, don't they?

sue miller · 02-16-2007, 09:37 AM

I have sailed with my Grandkids, and they always asked!! I told them the lifeboats were the latest high tech, that they are also used to get us into ports, that there were at least 5 crew members on everyone of them, the boats hook together so none can go off from the others, They are totally covered in bad weather and open if nice, amd all cruise routes have more than one ship going to the same ports so if something happens there is always another ship close by if needed!! When the Star Princess had her fire, the Grand was close by waiting!!

CruiseArizona · 02-18-2007, 07:55 PM

My 10 year old had to do Non-Fiction/Historical Fiction book report comparison. He choose to do the report on two books about the Titanic disaster. This was after our first cruise, but before our seconds.

Maybe you could say that the life boats are kind of like Seatbelts in cars. We always wear our seatbelts, but 99.99% of the time we don't need them. But if we get in a wreck they keep us safe. You could explain that 99.99% of the time there is never any problems with cruise ships, but if there is a problem the life boats keep you safe.

Also explain the changes in safety laws since the Titanic. All ships must have life boats for every passenger and crew members. Crew member participate weekly in safety drills ect.

Also, riding in the lifeboats as tenders seems to easy any concerns about how they work and if they are safe.

attagirl · 03-30-2007, 02:30 AM

I think that the way you approach how you explain what they are and what they are for is if you take the focus off the negativity of it and reassure them that there is no reason for concern and if that does not work, contacting the cruise line can often give you more information that could be used. They may have something already to provide you child with.

canarymoon · 02-01-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by attagirl

I think that the way you approach how you explain what they are and what they are for is if you take the focus off the negativity of it and reassure them that there is no reason for concern and if that does not work, contacting the cruise line can often give you more information that could be used. They may have something already to provide you child with.

Interesting thought -
Has anyone actually done this? And, if so,, what kind of information (if any) did you get in response to your query?

nealberk · 02-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Great answer, Suzanne. It is a matter of prevention like fire drills at schools and home evacuation drills at home.

It is just a method of being safer.

cruisin' chick · 02-01-2009, 09:54 PM

I would add something to that: tell the kids that they are not allowed to explore the lifeboats (maybe if you're caught, you get throw off the ship at the next port). Else you may have a kid curious as to what the lifeboats look like. And after what a youth security told me about catching some teens making out in a lifeboat...

nealberk · 02-02-2009, 12:02 AM

Actually on several of our cruises the life boats were used as tenders.

MD11F · 02-02-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmyguys

He's taken if further than that, asking what we'd do if we were in a lifeboat and didn't know how to get back to shore. I tried to explain all the contingency plans, but didn't quite have enough detail to satisfy him.

Anyone else have this issue? What'd you say?

Thanks!

I'd tell him the life boats are staffed by some of the crew members of the cruise ship who are trained in their operation, with enough navigational hardware to get to the nearest port, so there's nothing to worry about.