Muster drill question... Please dont flame me!

[chengkp75]

I'm not inclined to think that doing away with flags of convenience would necessarily result in higher fares due to higher wages and better training. HAL ships are Netherlands flagged and home ported in Rotterdam, yet their fares are comparable to those charged by Bahamas, Bermuda or Malta flagged ships, while Holland certainly boasts a longer and more noted seafaring tradition than the others (possibly excepting Malta, if one considers the traditions of the Knights of St. John).

 

The big question would be, whether or not Holland requires stricter safety regulations than the IMO. Also, what are their requirements for training, etc, for the Indonesian crew they use. To use my favorite example of the one US flag cruise ship, every crewmember on the POA has a USCG merchant mariner's credential, with all the attendant security and training requirements that every other US merchant mariner needs. On ships that meet the IMO standards, and not sure about Holland, only the deck and engine crew need to be merchant mariners. It's not about the traditions of a maritime industry in a country that makes it a "flag of convenience", it is how much flag state oversight is given (training requirements, safety requirements, inspections). Even Norway has gone to a "second registry" where the ships can fly the Norwegian flag, but use foreign crew.

[BeagleOne]

Captain "Sulley" Sullenberger is a local boy, and he is true hero in these parts. That entire incident increased my faith in people's ability to work together in an emergency, unlike one poster on this thread who seems convinced that it will become free-for-all chaos. Even phone videos taken by passengers on the Concordia disaster show that people aren't prone to "mayhem" like he believes.

 

First Officer Jeff Skiles is a local boy for me, and in fact was in my undergraduate university graduating class...along with several thousand others, I don't actually know him! The two of them did an absolutely amazing job.

[sloopsailor]

There were some killed on impact, but over half of the mobile survivors (ie those who could get out of their seats) drowned because people didn't follow instructions. I never implied that all would have survived if people had paid attention.

 

A HUGE difference with this Ethiopian Airline crash and an emergency at sea is that the devastation happened instantaneously on impact, where an emergency at sea would evolve over hours. The only way there could be any comparison is if the ship exploded and was completely destroyed in a split second. Using your Ethiopian air line crash example as a reason for your paranoia is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

I've read all your post with amusement. I gather that based on your paranoia about being stuck behind 2,000 people trying to exit a ship, that you also refuse to enter a high rise building for the same reason. Or a sports stadium during a big game, or a large theater, or even an airport during busy travel seasons. All would have thousands of people all trying to get out in an emergency.

 

If you don't avoid those situations, then your safety paranoia as an excuse for not cruising on larger ships is disingenuous. :rolleyes:

Edited May 16, 2014 by sloopsailor

[ducklite]

A HUGE difference with this Ethiopian Airline crash and an emergency at sea is that the devastation happened instantaneously on impact, where an emergency at sea would evolve over hours. The only way there could be any comparison is if the ship exploded and was completely destroyed in a split second. Using your Ethiopian air line crash example as a reason for your paranoia is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

I've read all your post with amusement. I gather that based on your paranoia about being stuck behind 2,000 people trying to exit a ship, that you also refuse to enter a high rise building for the same reason. Or a sports stadium during a big game, or a large theater, or even an airport during busy travel seasons. All would have thousands of people all trying to get out in an emergency.

 

If you don't avoid those situations, then your safety paranoia as an excuse for not cruising on larger ships is disingenuous. :rolleyes:

 

I try to avoid high rises. Generally in theaters and arenas I am in a secure "backstage" area where there are plenty of exits and not plenty of people. Airports are actually pretty easy--there are many, many exits that empty onto the tarmac area. So not usuable typically, but if there was a fire or something along those lines the sterile concourse will be breached anyhow, so use them!

[dsrdsrdsr]

I'm not inclined to think that doing away with flags of convenience would necessarily result in higher fares due to higher wages and better training. HAL ships are Netherlands flagged and home ported in Rotterdam, yet their fares are comparable to those charged by Bahamas, Bermuda or Malta flagged ships, while Holland certainly boasts a longer and more noted seafaring tradition than the others (possibly excepting Malta, if one considers the traditions of the Knights of St. John).

It wouldn't necessarily make that much difference. P&O used Indian crew when they were British registered, and they still use Indian crew now they're Bermuda-registered.

[O2Cool]

For those who wanted to know. Carnival counts those at the muster station to determine if all are there. We all were, so the drill went off promptly and we were released.

[Laurie S.]

I don't think counting will always work. On our February cruise, due to delayed boarding at Long Beach, my fiance couldn't take his heart pill on time. He also was on prechemo medication. As a result, by the time we got on board, he was very nauseous and the first thing he did was go in the bathroom and be sick. When he takes the pill, he's supposed to lie down for an hour, and couldn't do that. I went down to Guest Services and explained the situation and asked if he could do the muster drill inside. They didn't ask our room number and I stayed with him inside. How would they have known at muster outside where we were? BTW, as we headed down to the drill, our room steward was at the door about to check on us to make sure we had left. He directed us to the crew stairs, but I said we had permission to do the disabled drill, and he said take the main stairs down.

[bearandbee]

Our cabin steward was one of our muster station captains on one of them. Seriously, they take attendance and physically look at every person in that muster station. Why would they bother to take the time to check cabins when everyone is accounted for?

 

To answer your question...because the drill is not just for the passengers, but it is also a practice session for the crew. In a real emergency the crew tries to check every cabin and also designate when a cabin has been checked. During the muster drills on my last 2 Royal Caribbean cruises, the stateroom attendants were going into rooms, verifying they were empty, and then placing red cards in the door key slots as I was walking down the hall. Similar standard operating procedures are used by trained personnel in other types of emergency situations, so I am not sure why you seemed shocked by it.

[ducklite]

To answer your question...because the drill is not just for the passengers, but it is also a practice session for the crew. In a real emergency the crew tries to check every cabin and also designate when a cabin has been checked. During the muster drills on my last 2 Royal Caribbean cruises, the stateroom attendants were going into rooms, verifying they were empty, and then placing red cards in the door key slots as I was walking down the hall. Similar standard operating procedures are used by trained personnel in other types of emergency situations, so I am not sure why you seemed shocked by it.

 

 

I think this must vary by line. It hasn't been the case in at least a couple if the lines I've sailed on.

[buthead2009]

I was on freedom of the sea (royal caribbean) thay scand are sail cards

[Bonnie J.]

We got off the Freedom of the Seas, RCCL, a week ago today, May 10th. They didn't scan our sign 'n sail cards!

[SeagoingMom]

The room stewards open and check every room then put a usually red 'card' in your door slot because you are not in your cabin.

I have heard of 'private' musters for those who didn't show up the 1st day.

On our recent Princess cruise, every room card was scanned and pax directed to the right muster station if they were headed to the wrong one (as I was.) Even so, there was a second muster drill listed in the Princess Patter (daily newspaper) for later that day (or the next day?) for those who had missed the first muster. I don't understand it.

[ducklite]

On our recent Princess cruise, every room card was scanned and pax directed to the right muster station if they were headed to the wrong one (as I was.) Even so, there was a second muster drill listed in the Princess Patter (daily newspaper) for later that day (or the next day?) for those who had missed the first muster. I don't understand it.

 

 

People could miss due to late arrival or a medical issue that allowed them to be excused the first time.

 

When we were in the PG a few weeks ago, the ships doesn't sail until the last late flights from LAX and HNL arrive around 10:00 pm. Obviously they aren't going to make the while ship wait for muster until what is long after bedtime for many, so instead they conduct muster around 5:00 for those already onboard and a second muster the following morning for the late arrives.

[cruisemom42]

On our recent Princess cruise, every room card was scanned and pax directed to the right muster station if they were headed to the wrong one (as I was.) Even so, there was a second muster drill listed in the Princess Patter (daily newspaper) for later that day (or the next day?) for those who had missed the first muster. I don't understand it.

 

A couple of times I have missed the first muster drill due to a late arrival to the ship (both times in Europe). Both times I was required to attend a make-up drill, and they do take it seriously. On one ship, the safety office was actually waiting for me right outside the dining room door to escort me to the location (not the normal muster station) for the make-up drill.

[stag]

Sorry wrong post.

Edited May 17, 2014 by stag

[mammajamma2013]

Chengkp75 -- You'll get no flaming from me. I like to know the details of how things like this are supposed to work. Thanks for taking the time to explain the whole process to us! :cool:

 

Ditto. Extremely interesting post, Chengkp75.

[dsrdsrdsr]

Voyages of Discovery, a fly-cruise landing at Luxor, and the first day of the cruise (on which the ship wasn't sailing anywhere) I had a Valley of the Kings excursion. So without us even asking, the line very kindly put us up in a 5-star hotel at Luxor to save us the 8-hour round trip to the ship.

 

Anyway, the result was we reached the ship at 9.0 pm the following day, and were told two things - make-up muster drill was at 9.15, and the buffet closes at 9.30. At that stage we decided the dangers of missing a meal were greater than the dangers of missing lifeboat drill, so we did. They ran a second make-up drill next day.

 

I should think that, statistically, if I wore a crash helmet while driving to the airport, I would inprove my odds of surviving to the end of the cruise by more than I would by attending lifeboat drill. I attend anyway, but more because I have to than because I think it will be a life-changing experience.

[donaldsc]

 

Anyway, the result was we reached the ship at 9.0 pm the following day, and were told two things - make-up muster drill was at 9.15, and the buffet closes at 9.30. At that stage we decided the dangers of missing a meal were greater than the dangers of missing lifeboat drill, so we did. They ran a second make-up drill next day.

 

 

So you missed the muster because the meal was too important. If you look at some of the earlier posts on this thread, you should have been kicked off the boat.

 

DON

[dsrdsrdsr]

So you missed the muster because the meal was too important. If you look at some of the earlier posts on this thread, you should have been kicked off the boat.

 

DON

Good grief. If you think I'm a threat to myself and to others, you'd better not meet my mother. She's deaf, so can't hear any announcements at all, nor can she hear the speeches at lifeboat drill - she must be much more of a liability than someone who's been to forty or so drills, just none of them happended to be in the last five minutes or so.

 

But then, I've always lived life on the edge - extreme sports have nothing on me. Do you know, I actually rode on the front seat of the bus on that Egypt trip - nothing but a seat belt between me and the windscreen. Actually, considering the powers-that-be thought it advisable that the other front seat be accompanied by an armed guard, maybe there's just a smidgeon of a chance that not going to lifeboat drill until 12 hours after sailing wasn't the most daring act of the holiday.

 

Anyway, thanks for your concern. By a fluke, I survived - but I realise I'm not likely to be so lucky again. Few people miss lifeboat drill twice and live. :)

[rene194215]

With over a dozen cruises and 1900 posts here what else were you expecting?:confused:

 

only 5 cruises so far. not sure where you see more????:confused: And on none of them did Carnival check... I was expecting people flame. and most of my posts are asking questions. I learned a lot from other posters here on other cruise lines. I wish Carnival would take the initiative to do the same...

[TechyTraveler]

When we were on Freedom they checked our room, and took roll call

[rene194215]

When we were on Freedom they checked our room, and took roll call

 

Thanks! I hope each ship on Carnival does this!!

 

BTW, my best friend lived in Newton after finishing at Wentworth... He passed away 7 years ago the 29th of May... I just saw you were from there an it brought back great memories of him....

[alexspepa]

this.

 

 

 

I also noticed on an airplane, no one listens to the instructions. Delta did something fun...they played a video with comedy in it, and people paid attention.

 

On my first cruise on the Bahamas Celebration, they had the comic lead the drill. I can STILL remember what he said lol

 

 

THIS time, my kids and grandkids will be along. They will be paying attention very closely, if I have my way :)

 

on our Celebrity cruise our muster station was in the steak restaurant...the hostesses were wearing pretty skimpy dresses and they demonstrated the life belt procedure. I guarantee you at least half the audience gave them their undivided attention.

 

My friend is a flight attendant for USAIR - she said that the day after the Hudson Miracle she could not figure out why everyone was watching her during the safety briefing.

[celebrity]

Ask the passengers on Costa Concordia that did not attend muster. :(

While I will be the first to admit that it interferes with my fun, it is mandatory and necessary.

On our very first cruise in 1979, they actually pulled the tarp off the life boat and showed us the provisions inside.