[Dave]

I'm not excusing it, but given you had a midnight departure and the port intensive nature of that itinerary, it doesn't look like there was a good time for a drill at any time. That is a U.S Coast Guard requirement (the drill), and since you didn't stop at any U.S. ports I guess Costa had no obligation to do the drill within 24 hours of departure.

The lights on the life jackets are saltwater activated.

Let's see...an Italian ship never stopping at a U.S. port...why would I expect English to the be first language used aboard, especially when the Euro is the currency?