As the door is opened, Donita and Sandra are surprise to find a steward in the room. He smiles and introduces himself as Dom. He will be responsible for keeping their room clean, bringing towels, and turning down the bed covers each night. He turns on the television and explains:
Dom: Everyday there will be announcements through
the television and on the loud speaker. You
will also receive a daily paper of the events
that will be planned while we are in port or
at sea. Do you have any questions?
Sandra: Yes, Dom. Where are you from?
Dom: I'm from the Philippines.
Donita: How many rooms do you have to clean?
Dom: I take care of 11 rooms everyday.
Donita: That seems like a big job!
Dom: It is, but I have all day to do it. The
biggest problem is getting into the rooms when I'm
supposed to clean. Some people like to sleep late,
others like to take an afternoon nap.
Sandra: Your English is so good; how did you learn to
speak it?
Dom: Thank you, I studied a lot in school. We have
to take a test in my country before we can get a
position working on the ship. It's a good job!
(An announcement comes over the speaker telling
passengers there will be a lifeboat drill in one
hour.)
Dom: Let me show you where your jackets are. (He
goes to the closet). Don't put them on until you are
on deck. It is too crowded in the halls.
Sandra: Where do we go for the drill?
Dom: There will be another announcement telling you
the place. I have to leave now, goodbye.
Both: Goodbye. Thank you.
Learning About The Ship
The women listen to the instructions from the speaker, and then
walk down the hall to the first door on the left, which leads to
the deck. They are surprised to see so many children and adults
passengers. Everyone is standing in small groups as the crew helps
them put on the jackets. A staff member looks at Donita and Sandra
and directs them to their group.
Staff: You are in cabin 621, so you need to go there.
(Points to group.)
Donita: How did you know what cabin we are in?
Staff: There is a code on each life jacket that tells
your room number and the assigned life boat. (He
blows a whistle.) May I have your attention, please.
(Everyone quiets down.) The captain has requested
that we have this drill for everyone's safety. It is
also required by maritime law. Does anyone still
need help with their jacket?
Passenger: Yes, I can't figure out where all these straps
go! (Two staff members go to help him.)
Staff: I am going to demonstrate the correct way to
put your life jacket on. If you are traveling with
children, or someone who needs help, put their on
first. (He demonstrates putting the jacket on with
straps going between the legs.) Any questions so far?
Sandra: What are these two “straws” on either side?
Staff: Good question! Your jacket is equipped with
inflation and light devices. When you pull the cords,
your jacket will inflate. If you want to inflate it
more, just blow into the straws.
Donita: Is this jacket any different than the ones
used in small boats?
Staff: That's a good question! Yes, this one is
designed to turn people who are unconscious in the
water from the face-down position to an upright and
slightly backward position. The jacket helps the
person stay in that position for a long time
Sandra: What about the children's jackets?
Staff: They are the same except for the size. The
adult size jacket is for people who weigh more than
90 lbs and the child size is for anyone weighing less
than 90lbs. (Points to lifeboat). This is your
assigned boat. The same number is on your life
jacket. That's the all clear signal. Now you can
return the life jackets to your cabins.
Everyone walks back to their rooms. An announcement
comes on over the speakers.
Captain: This is your Captain speaking. Welcome aboard
everybody! Tonight will be casual dress for dinner.
There will be a sail away party on the Lido deck in
fifteen minutes. Be sure to bring your camera. We
will be at sea until 8:00 tomorrow morning when we
arrive at our first stop, Half Moon Cay, in the
Bahamas. There will be Tenders leaving every 15
minutes to take passengers to shore. Further
announcements will be given by the activity director.All names used in this story are fictitious.
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