Life Boat Muster

[Floridastorm]

On average how long before ship's departure do they hold the Life Boat Muster? What if you arrive on board after the muster has taken place?

[Typhoon1]

Approximately, 30 minutes prior to departure.

 

Any late arrivals will be given a separate time to report for the Emergency drill. If you plan on arriving late, you might plan on being denied boarding. The ship waits for no one.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Typhoon1

[K&RCurt]

They have gotten very serious about the lifeboat drill since the Costa incident. On our 3/22 Westerdam cruise before hand they stressed that if you did not attend the drill you would not sail. It was stated that way in the daily program as well.

 

About 20 min after the lifeboat drill ended a list of names, about 8, were called to "Report to the front desk." I just happened to be at the Shore Excursion desk at the time and there were 8 unhappy people with very loud excuses, but they were escorted off of the ship and didn't sail.

 

If I were you, I would be on board at least an hour before the published sailing time.

[serendipity1499]

On average how long before ship's departure do they hold the Life Boat Muster? What if you arrive on board after the muster has taken place?

 

Our experience has been that life boat drill on the average has been 45 min. to one hour prior to sailing..

 

If you are boarding in the U.S. & arrive after muster, you may or may not be boarded , since the Cruise Line MUST present to Homeland Security the Psgr. Manifest 60 minutes prior to departure..

 

We've also seen that due to flight delays, sometimes Psgrs have been boarded after Muster but were required to go to a separate drill after departure..

 

IMO I would not chance arriving at the pier that late../SIZE]

Edited April 18, 2014 by serendipity1499

[SeaBands]

at least 2 hours before scheduled departure. I don't think you will be allowed to board once muster has started which is usually 1 hour before. Cutting it close doesn't make sense on a cruise, especially not in any of the ports.

[CruiserBruce]

In our 8 cruises on HAL, life boat drill has always been 45 minutes prior to sailing. The only change in those 8 cruises has been lifting the requirement to bring your life jacket.

 

All aboard seems to regularly be 2 hours prior to sailing.

Edited April 18, 2014 by CruiserBruce

[POA1]

If you are on HAL's air/ground transportation, they bear the responsibility for getting you to the ship on time. If you are on your own, you are... well... on your own.

 

I would plan to arrive at the pier two hours before my sailing time - AT A MINIMUM. Earlier is usually better. We typically try to arrive about 15 minutes before boarding begins, which usuallytranslates into 11:15 AM.

[GeriatricNurse]

On average how long before ship's departure do they hold the Life Boat Muster? What if you arrive on board after the muster has taken place?

 

This term, onboard HAL, has been 'upgraded' to 'Passenger Safety/Emergency Drill' ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Until our last 2 cruises -- we used to have lifeboat drill 45 minutes before the ship sailed, i.e. , if the ship sailed at 4 the lifeboat drill was at 3:15.

But on our Nieuw Amsterdam cruises November 2013 the drills were at 3:45.

Then on our March/April 2014 cruises the drills were at 3:40. Strange times.

[jtl513]

This term, onboard HAL, has been 'upgraded' to 'Passenger Safety/Emergency Drill' ;)

To quote a recent post of yours, "Who Cares"? :p

[solocanadian]

To quote a recent post of yours, "Who Cares"? :p

 

And who cares what cabins you sailed in!:rolleyes:

[jtl513]

And who cares what cabins you sailed in!:rolleyes:

Many people ask for information on specific cabins. I have never heard anyone ask for - or care about - the "proper" name of the life boat drill ... except GN.

.

Edited April 18, 2014 by jtl513

[Floridastorm]

We're driving down from northern Florida to Port Everglades. About a 4 1/2 hour drive. So, we'll be leaving at 8 AM. Should be on board by the latest 1:30 PM. Just wanted to make sure what the cut off time was.

[IRL_Joanie]

We're driving down from northern Florida to Port Everglades. About a 4 1/2 hour drive. So, we'll be leaving at 8 AM. Should be on board by the latest 1:30 PM. Just wanted to make sure what the cut off time was.

Keep in mind a couple of factors on driving, traffic, accident, delay for any reason getting to the port from home and the last one has only happened a couple of times, that I've seen over the last 2 years, the ship leaves earlier than advertised. They generally will wait for Passengers who booked their air through HAL, I said generally. But passengers who are independent (paid transportation (air, train, car, etc.), have been left behind to find a way to the next Port with an Airport, at their own expense.

 

Like I said, it has happened. The earliest I remember seeing one of HAL's ships leave was about 45 minutes before scheduled departure time.

 

What I am trying to say, I know I am long winded:D, leave home a couple hours earlier than you are currently planning to.

 

Joanie

[rkacruiser]

Joanie's advice is excellent.

 

Listening to the Marine radio from the ships in port at Port Everglades, some of the HAL Masters seem to be "chomping on the bit" to begin their voyage.

 

One Master, who I now think of as Captain Grumpy, was heard to have an unhappy conversation with the Port Agent when the linesmen were late in arriving. "I have a schedule to keep.", he said.

[peaches from georgia]

I'd go down the day before and spend the night or at least leave much earlier than 8. You can get stuck for hours on I-95 especially or even the Turnpike if there is an accident.

[jtl513]

We're driving down from northern Florida to Port Everglades. About a 4 1/2 hour drive. So, we'll be leaving at 8 AM. Should be on board by the latest 1:30 PM.

What is the next port that you can fly to if you miss sailing? How much will it cost to do so?

 

We live an hour closer to FLL than you do and we normally leave home by 7:00 at the latest. For one long cruise we drove down the day before just to be safe!

.

Edited April 18, 2014 by jtl513

[Delbankin]

Can't beleive an innocent question about lifeboat muster gets turned into an argument about people listing previous cabins and what the proper name is for lifeboat drill!!

 

In answer to the question, I can't imagine they would prevent anyone getting on board provided you arrive within their allotted timescales. If you happened to arrive late for whatever reason, but before the allotted sail away time, I'm sure they would make provision for you to be advised of the proper procedures. The procedure is normally relayed on cabin TV's in any case.

 

I wouldn't however recommend pitching up late. Sooner rather than later would be my advice.

[RetiredMustang]

Dave's rules of thumb: plan to arrive in an embarkation port in your nation no later than the day before; plan to arrive in a foreign port at least two nights (or 3 if you can swing it) before the cruise sails.

 

It may scorch the credit card, but it doesn't activate the sweat pumps ... :D

Edited April 18, 2014 by RetiredMustang

[Stratheden]

Dave's rules of thumb: plan to arrive in an embarkation port in your nation no later than the day before; plan to arrive in a foreign port at least two nights (or 3 if you can swing it) before the cruise sails.

 

It may scorch the credit card, but it doesn't activate the sweat pumps ... :D

 

Couldn't agree more. Especially the foreign port. From where we live, we like to be well rested and over the jet lag before we board.

[rkacruiser]

Dave's rules of thumb: plan to arrive in an embarkation port in your nation no later than the day before; plan to arrive in a foreign port at least two nights (or 3 if you can swing it) before the cruise sails.

 

It may scorch the credit card, but it doesn't activate the sweat pumps ... :D

 

100% agree!

 

My philosophy: Better to be early than late!

[dobiemom]

We're driving down from northern Florida to Port Everglades. About a 4 1/2 hour drive. So, we'll be leaving at 8 AM. Should be on board by the latest 1:30 PM. Just wanted to make sure what the cut off time was.

I live 2 hours from port and leave at 9:30am. I still get nervous. I think Dave's rules of thumb is great advice that I will start doing and stop sweating. ;)

Dave's rules of thumb: plan to arrive in an embarkation port in your nation no later than the day before; plan to arrive in a foreign port at least two nights (or 3 if you can swing it) before the cruise sails.

 

It may scorch the credit card, but it doesn't activate the sweat pumps ... :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

We're driving down from northern Florida to Port Everglades. About a 4 1/2 hour drive. So, we'll be leaving at 8 AM. Should be on board by the latest 1:30 PM. Just wanted to make sure what the cut off time was.

 

Keep in mind a couple of factors on driving, traffic, accident, delay for any reason getting to the port from home and the last one has only happened a couple of times, that I've seen over the last 2 years, the ship leaves earlier than advertised. They generally will wait for Passengers who booked their air through HAL, I said generally. But passengers who are independent (paid transportation (air, train, car, etc.), have been left behind to find a way to the next Port with an Airport, at their own expense.

 

Like I said, it has happened. The earliest I remember seeing one of HAL's ships leave was about 45 minutes before scheduled departure time.

 

What I am trying to say, I know I am long winded:D, leave home a couple hours earlier than you are currently planning to.

 

Joanie

 

 

There used to be a couple here -- Jim and Ruth -- who lived in Orlando. They would drive down to Ft Lauderdale the day before. That way they didn't have to worry about accidents or other delays.

[Typhoon1]

Do the wise thing and arrive in Fort Lauderdale the evening prior to sailing. Check in to a cheap hotel and spend the night there.

[Travelbug 2]

This term, onboard HAL, has been 'upgraded' to 'Passenger Safety/Emergency Drill' ;)

 

Here we go again :eek: What's with this "correctness" in wording stuff!! :confused: