At a the Passenger Ship Safety Conference in London this week, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice-President of Marine Operations and first captain of the Oasis of the Seas, Captain William Wright, spoke about the cruise line procedures and how cruise lines must hold their safety drill before a ship leaves port.

Existing marine law dictates that the safety drill must be held within 24 hours of setting sail, which is why the passengers aboard the Costa Concordia didn't have their safety drill before the ship sank.

Captain Wright said that despite the current legislation most cruise lines do hold a safety drill before the ship leaves port on the first day.  Wright expects cruise lines to ensure the drill is held immediately, even if it is inconveniences passengers, like a late departure).

“To pass this through the IMO will be a slow process,” he said. “I believe this will be an immediate change by the industry. It has got to happen.”