wolft927

I will say depending on how close the sailing date is a lot of times they only guarantee you a cabin category. I booked a RCCL cruise 3 days from sailing because my NCL cruise was canceled 48 hours before sailing. May I ask how far out your booking?

Yes, no drinks at the boat drill

Has boarding began yet? Is this the first Miami visit in a while for the joy

My guess it’s a full crew immigration check. That is pretty normal to delay boarding for an hour or so

We also have a aft haven for our cruise in April, the crew elevator is great not just for debark morning but for all ports, especially if your in a port with a ton of ships like Cozumel, great to be first off and getting a cab to paradise beach fast

Absolutely correct! This is as much for the crew as it is for the passengers. Not to mention the crew is required to do a crew only drill ever 7 days. Stay on board for one of those and see how the crew act for them. Staff Captains onboard would lose there mind if they weren’t taken seriously

This will always be a topic people don’t like to do on vacation on a cruise, but facts are facts it’s the law and the cruise lines must comply. Don’t like the 30 minutes then don’t go on a cruise.

Blame the United States Coast guard and Maritime law. You think cruise lines want to shut down bar service and revenue generating outlets for 30 minutes ?

A muster drill is not formalized training in a military setting, it is the very basic where to go and when to go and how to put on a life jacket.

First of all muster stations are exactly what they are a place for everyone to muster in an emergency event. Most muster stations are inside lounges restaurants theaters etc…in the event that the Captain issues the abandoned ship order, you will then be escorted to your lifeboat. I know there are some ships that still have muster stations out on deck, but it isn’t the norm anymore.

Maybe go back to the days of the Titanic and ensure music is being played as well as drinks being served. Again, unless you have worked onboard a Cruise ship or Vessel that size . You never see what and why they are done

Lol, long period of time without food or water? Pretty sure everyone can make it max 30 minutes without food or water! Also like I stated before, worked onboard chips for 5 years, and the entire announcement during the drill comes directly from the bridge over every single speaker on the entire ship, including inside your cabins. If you can’t hear then that means your muster station is not being quiet.

Well, Tell us then!

So no use in debating this, this is a maritime law that a lifeboat muster drill must be completed prior to a ship leaving port. Regulations were only changed because of Covid.

Exactly, goes back to the normal again...does it stink? Sure it does, but honestly kind of suprised it lasted this long lol.

Well considering I worked on board ships for over 5 years, very very familiar with SOLAS ( Safety of life at Sea) and US maritime law, also have friends in the United states Coast guard, the change in Muster Drills was always meant to be temporary due to Covid. But have I personally been on a ship that has changed to the old way...no... but others on this thread have.

Port of Miami Traffic all depends when you are leaving and how many ships are in. We were on the Symphony of the seas in October and traffic was hectic but nothing crazy, believe there were 5 ships in. Now we are leaving on the Norwegian Joy in April and we will have 8 ships in that morning so will be a bit more hectic. Lots of road construction going towards NCL's and RCCL's terminals. Normally I am one to be first to the Pier in the morning, but with that many ships disembarking I may arrive a little later. We are sailign in the Haven so dont have to worry to much about time spent in the terminal

I believe they are going back to the traditional way of completing muster drill...Coast Guard probably said it is time to go back to normal.

Pretty sure outside would allow you to go to Club Balcony Level and Spa Balcony. Not sure Haven

Always Bring Bridging Documents, even if never asked. My wife has never been asked but we bring it anyways. We are bringing my 16 year old stepdaughter in April, and have a notarized letter from her father showing he knows she is leaving the country. Her 17 year old friend is also coming and we have the form signed and completed by both her parents as well as copies of there driverse licenses as well as a notorized travel document giving my wife and I permisssion to take her as well as make medical decisions on their behalf. Now will we need all these documents, maybe not, but imagine getting to the terminal and being denied boarding because you dont have them.

I have been on the Breakaway several times out of New Orleans. We have never experienced anything dramatic when it comes to lines on the Breakaway. Shows were good and food was good as well. We have sailed both Carnival and NCL out of New Orleans and the only thing i can say is embarkation is always a bit of a pain. The Breakaway is one of the largest if not the largest ship that docks there. Boarding is a Pain so my advise is to relax and board a little later. If not there super early odds are you will be waiting outside to get into the terminal as it fills up fast, and then everyone waits for the ship to be cleared for embarkation. But i will say I love the sailaway down the Mississippi River!

are you in a 2 BEdroom Haven suite, if so you still get two services,

We tip $20 to the porter, if it’s 2 or 4 of us

Hopefully, I have an Aft Facing Haven Suite for my April 8th Cruise

We have Cruised the BA twice in the Haven and liked it alot. Our next cruise in April we are on the Joy also in a Haven Suite (Aft facing Haven Penthouse) We opted for this becasue of the Balcony space and we will have our 16 year old stepdaughter as well as her 17 year old friend.