A new crew member joining Disney Cruise Line ship must learn much more than the duties of their everyday job. They need to know where to go when an alarm sounds, how to help guests move safely and what part they play in an emergency.

Disney Cruise Line shared a closer look at that training, featuring crew members from several shipboard departments. The company says safety instruction begins when crew join a ship and continues throughout their careers at sea. Disney’s shipboard careers information also says every crew member, regardless of role, has safety responsibilities. 

The first lessons cover the ship itself. In two safety familiarization classes, crew learn to identify their muster and embarkation stations, find emergency escape routes and respond to fire and abandon ship alarms. They also learn what immediate action to take during a medical emergency. Two security awareness classes cover suspicious behavior, reporting procedures and the ship’s security levels. 

Training then moves into the situations crew may face while helping passengers. Disney says its passenger ship safety classes cover crowd management, communication during an emergency and the safe movement of guests. Crew assigned to use the ship’s marine evacuation system receive training on the equipment, which connects an inflatable slide or chute to life rafts. Elementary first aid instruction includes CPR, awareness of automated external defibrillators and responding to bleeding, burns and other injuries. 

Practice is a regular part of the job. According to Disney, new crew participate in a drill within their first two weeks on board. General safety drills then take place every other week, giving crew repeated opportunities to practice emergency procedures. Before each sailing, Disney also holds a mandatory assembly drill for guests. 

The crew members show how those responsibilities extend beyond the bridge and engine room. Fabrizio, a chief officer aboard Disney Destiny, discussed the importance of making sure crew understand their training. Cindy, a restaurant manager aboard Disney Treasure, pointed to everyday precautions, including footwear and how servers carry trays. Ulrich, an assistant housekeeping manager aboard Disney Destiny, described guiding crew through safety concerns and helping them improve.