What time is muster drill?

[Bestbubba]

First P&O cruise coming up next week on the Azura and wonder if any of you experts out there can tell me what time is muster drill? Also we have been spoiled by Celebrity and RCI with their policy of not having to wear your life-jacket for the drill, how do P&O handle it?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Sue

[BrianI]

Usually around 4pm.

The arrangement is much better than RCI in that you dont have to stand on deck. You take your life jacket from your cabin (carry it, dont wear it) and go to your muster station which is one of the lounges or bars shown on the back of your cabin door. The drill is explained to you and a demonstration given on how to put on a lifejacket. After the demonstration, you will be invited to put on your life jacket. It takes around 15mins.

Brian

[tom_uk]

As far as I can recall from our cruise on Ventura a month or so ago, we had to take the lifejackets to the muster stations and put them on there; crew members checked that we'd got them on properly. But then we were told to take them off at the end of the session.

 

So lifejackets were donned, but not worn while walking to/from the drill.

[Bestbubba]

Thank you Brian and Tom, just what I needed to know! Really glad we don't have to wear them, have seen so many trips and slips from all the trailing bits and bobs as people march up and down the stairs.

 

Brian you're right, RCI are a pain, have stood out on deck in the heat on many occasions. Celebrity and Princess don't do this, glad to hear neither does P&O.

 

Have a great weekend and thanks again

 

Sue

[tom_uk]

Brian you're right, RCI are a pain, have stood out on deck in the heat on many occasions. Celebrity and Princess don't do this, glad to hear neither does P&O.

 

We actually had a very uncomfortable muster drill on Solstice last autumn. It was in the Photo Gallery, which may well have contributed to the problem. There were lots of passengers and very few seats, so most people were standing, shuffling, talking, etc. This meant that the cabin number check was hard to hear, and took a very long time, with almost everyone still standing. Then came the video, which most people couldn't see or hear. (We're still standing.) Then came a speech from the cruise director (still standing...) followed by further announcements in various other languages (guess what we're doing all through these). All-in-all it took half an hour or more, and was definitely the most uncomfortable part of the cruise.

 

In contrast, we thought the muster drill on Ventura was efficient and quick, and we were comfortable throughout.

[Bestbubba]

We actually had a very uncomfortable muster drill on Solstice last autumn. It was in the Photo Gallery, which may well have contributed to the problem. There were lots of passengers and very few seats, so most people were standing, shuffling, talking, etc. This meant that the cabin number check was hard to hear, and took a very long time, with almost everyone still standing. Then came the video, which most people couldn't see or hear. (We're still standing.) Then came a speech from the cruise director (still standing...) followed by further announcements in various other languages (guess what we're doing all through these). All-in-all it took half an hour or more, and was definitely the most uncomfortable part of the cruise.

 

In contrast, we thought the muster drill on Ventura was efficient and quick, and we were comfortable throughout.

 

Tom that does sound grim! We were lucky on our Celebrity cruises, have been in the casino and the dining room - mind you, couldn't hear anything - too many people all yakking away:rolleyes:

 

Sue

[Thejuggler]

Muster is called as soon as all passengers are on board and prior to sailaway. There is no requirement to put the lifebelt on - at the end of the demo you can if you want, but most don't bother.

[LibraLass41]

But you must attend it.

 

Our muster on Equinox was in a Oriental restaurant and we watched a American cartoon on what to in the event of problems at sea. No one checked we were happy with our life jackets or could put them on correctly. I think pando take it more seriously.

[DK09]

Having just come off Oceana our muster station was the theatre, so comfy seats :)

 

It took place at 4pm just before sail away.

[Freecall]

There is no requirement to put the lifebelt on

 

Wow! Let's hope not, it would take all day to give everybody a chance to play with a lifebelt.

[CASPALL]

I know that the drill is necessary, but it always annoys me that on our last few cruises (departing from Southampton) we just managed to get our lifejackets back to the cabin and then fought our way back up stairs again to get out on deck for sailaway only to find we missed the brass band and were sailing away! :(

Caryl