quote:

---

Originally posted by Cunard Fan:
Do you know what the dementions are in feet by any chance?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mike sa:
Externally doesn't look big enough for 370 pax - sardines ?

What are the tables for - an alternative restaurant ?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by PamM:
How long does it take to load 370 people into one lifeboat?

---

If they announce in an emergency that each lifeboat has an 'inch of gold' sale on board, about 2 minutes I guess?

[ 08-02-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
Evacuation time should be quick since the boat has two entrances instead of only one, also people walk directly into it and do not have to wait for the time it takes to lower the boat one deck into position.

---

Excellent points Carlos. It wouldn't surprise me if OASIS could be evacuated in less time than a typical cruise ship. The fact that boats are loaded in position from two entryways should really make a difference. We don't know what the staging area will be like, but I'm sure it will be designed to be quite efficient.

Then there is the problem of seasickness too; doesn't bear thinking about. Just hope they are never put into practise and only ever used as tenders, she'll need a lot and rather claustrophobic ones too.

But as Malcom says, she's unsinkable

quote:

---

Originally posted by PamM:
Herding 370 people into one small boat takes time however many entrances; each person has to be seated, in order, not where they feel like & a blockage can occur at the door. The opposite to an aircraft where one is pulled off the end of the chute and told to run for it anywhere.

Then there is the problem of seasickness too; doesn't bear thinking about. Just hope they are never put into practise and only ever used as tenders, she'll need a lot and rather claustrophobic ones too.

But as Malcom says, she's unsinkable

Pam.. in just the same frenzy re booking as I was with Indy & Freedom

---

As I mentioned earlier, the staging area will be very important. I'm certain all these boats will have fairly large staging areas where people can be organized prior to entering the boats. There may even be a staff member on each boat during an evacuation to direct seating, and this person would stay with the boat after launching.

As for seasickness, that is a constant with any ship, not just OASIS.

The fact that the boats on OASIS are loaded in position should greatly help with the speed of an evacuation.

Also, I don't think any of these boats will ever be used as tenders. In fact none of the Voyager/Freedom Class ships carry tenders to my knowledge. The boats are used only for evacuation purposes. Royal Caribbean must hire out a tender service in any port that requires tenders for this class of ship. I guess they decided this would be easier than carrying their own, and I suppose they have overcome the logistical challenges. Basically these ships can't call at a tender port that doesn't offer their own tender service. Royal Caribbean is taking measures to ensure that passengers on OASIS will never have to tender, at least while the ship is performing it's normal Caribbean run. The infrastructure at every Caribbean port OASIS will call at is being prepared to handle this new class of ship. If the ship ever ventures to Europe which someday may be a possibility, I would imagine only docking ports will be utilized.

As a former flight attendant who had to evacuate many planes during drills in a specific amount of time, I can tell you a big issue is no staging area. Basically people will tramp over each other in an evacuation and there are usually many injuries from the slides. There is no official person at the bottom of the slide to assist people so you hope two passengers will assist but there is no guarantee. I did have to evacuate one airplane in real life, an L1011 in Atlanta due to smoke in the cabin. Even though the situation was not life threatening, people panicked and there were many injuries because of the slides and people shoving.

Personally I would take my chances having to evacuate on a ship like OASIS over the new Airbus any day! I hope neither ever happens.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

[...]
As for seasickness, that is a constant with any ship, not just OASIS.

The fact that the boats on OASIS are loaded in position should greatly help with the speed of an evacuation.

---

It is certainly helpful that the boats can be boarded immediately but it's not that on can just walk aboard since the floor is not level. Lifeboats in general are not considered to be up-to-date technology by many and I guess that's want Pam meant with her comment and not only the boats of Oasis. Nevertheless, I am sure RCI did a lot of research on this topic especially since Oasis is such a large ship and many people voiced their concern about how large passenger ships can be evacuated even before a ship like Oasis has been considered.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

Also, I don't think any of these boats will ever be used as tenders. [...]

---

These boats are of course not at all intended nor even remotely suitable to be uses as a tender.

[...]

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

Personally I would take my chances having to evacuate on a ship like OASIS over the new Airbus any day! I hope neither ever happens.

Ernie

---

See this video clip of an A380 evacuation test. Of course, nothing compared to a real emergency like you went trough.

[ 08-02-2008: Message edited by: Ernst ]

One of the first items on the 'list of things to do' when evacuated in a lifeboat, is to hand out the seasickness pills.

Have you seen how long it takes some passengers to get to dinner!

We are not talking about elite athletes on a cruise ship. Some are crippled and in wheelchairs. Surely this would block and consume time getting passengers in.

quote:

---

Originally posted by PamM:
Re the sea sickness I was referring to the knock on effect. One person being sick, can make the next and so on. Even if you are not someone prone to seasickness, being in such close confinement can have dire consequences. 12 people in an open lifeboat, you hang over the edge [see Explorer] - 370 squashed in an enclosed area doesn't bear thinking about.

One of the first items on the 'list of things to do' when evacuated in a lifeboat, is to hand out the seasickness pills.

Pam

---

Very few ships are going to have 12 people in a lifeboat. In most cases it will be more like 150 crammed in, maybe even in less space than the 370 on OASIS. Maybe we need to look at the space ratios of the lifeboats! Also, all modern lifeboats are required to be enclosed. The days of leaning over the side are over, unless you are on an older ship. All this is really a mute point anyway, as the chances of any of us ending up in a lifeboat are pretty slim. Plenty of other more pertinent things to worry about!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ernst:

Nevertheless, I am sure RCI did a lot of research on this topic especially since Oasis is such a large ship and many people voiced their concern about how large passenger ships can be evacuated even before a ship like Oasis has been considered.

---

Of this there is no doubt. To my knowledge OASIS will be the first passenger ship where the 150 lifeboat limit has been challenged and rule amended. No doubt RCI had to work closely with the various maritime agencies and insurance companies to have this rule waived, and in doing so prove their evacuation plan is probably superior to what is already out there. Personally I think it's pretty ground breaking (we always like to talk about true innovation) and perhaps in the future we will see even smaller cruise ships adopt this life saving scheme?

The space ratio of a lifeboat would be my last consideration as long as one of those 370 seats had my name on it!

[ 08-03-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ernst:

See this video clip of an A380 evacuation test. Of course, nothing compared to a real emergency like you went trough.

---

Yes, simulated emergencies are nothing like the real thing. In real emergencies things don't go like clockwork and people don't wait patiently to evacuate in a nice line. Also there could be structural damage to complicate things and of course not everyone is single, young, and able bodied such as those in the video.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:
Very few ships are going to have 12 people in a lifeboat. In most cases it will be more like 150 crammed in, maybe even in less space than the 370 on OASIS.

---

Of course, I was merely pointing out extremes, but whatever room each person has, imho, 370 persons all in one lifeboat is far too many. Obviously the majority of TPTB disagree; so just hope they never have to be used & are just dangling ornaments.

quote:

---

Originally posted by PamM:

Of course, I was merely pointing out extremes, but whatever room each person has, imho, 370 persons all in one lifeboat is far too many. Obviously the majority of TPTB disagree; so just hope they never have to be used & are just dangling ornaments.

Pam

---

150 or 370 in a small, temporary confined space really makes no difference to me. Fact is I will likely never have to worry about it, nor will it have any bearing on which ships I choose to sail on.