I just saw an interesting new article called Another Night to Remember about the Costa Concordia cruise ship sinking. Some lessons here I take away:

Some people will behave well, some badly.

Individuals can make a huge difference.

Stay alert, stay on top of what is happening.

If things don't seem right, they probably aren't right, no matter what you are being told.

Try to stay in shape. Even a small extra bit of physical fitness can make a huge difference, for people of any age. Don't neglect upper body strength.

Check out exits, where safety gear is located, etc, as soon as you board.