Muster Drills

[islandatsea]

Not something to cut corners on.

 

Totally agree!

[caribill]

They could have a video with a person also doing the demo of how to put it on. They do it on planes! Do you think, heaven forbid anyone will remember exactly how to put on their life vest? I don't think so. Let's not ever find out.

 

S

 

Which is why part of the muster drill on Princess is to have every person at the drill put on their life vest with a crew member nearby to assist if needed.

 

Most people will remember how to do it after doing it at the muster drill.

[SwissDave]

I'd like to jump in here. Not about the fact of attending the Muster, but the still having to bring the life jackets. Most cruise lines, except Princess no longer requires bringing them. Just show up.

 

One reason is the fact that going up/down the stairs, before/after, too many people were tripping over the straps which dangled because no one wants to take the time to tuck them in...

 

Princess, are you listening? Get with the program and prevent your passengers from tripping over the straps.

 

I feel better now that I've said this!

 

Have a good day everyone and safe sails to you!

 

They tell you in the drill to make sure the straps are not dragging on the floor to prevent tripping on them. If people don't do as they are told then they probably weren't listening or think themselves too important to be told what to do.

 

Who pays attention before a flight to the flight attendants demonstrating how to fasten a seat belt? This has got to be frustrating if you are in charge of Safety. I think everyone should still be required to wear their life vests, but I also know that if you've achieved Elite status in Captain's Circle then you are probably sick of it.

 

I do, every time I fly. The safety demonstration is more to remind you how to undo the belt in case of an emergency evacuation rather than how to fasten it. I also count the rows between me and the 2 nearest exists, 1 in front of me, and one behind me. Why do I do that? because I am the one responsible for MY safety.

[shredie]

 

Most people will remember how to do it after doing it at the muster drill.

 

Most. :) LOL. I have gotten the thing all wrong more than once, the "Mae West" turned inside out, on my back, etc. I don't know why I am a such a klutz at the life jacket since I do manage to do other things reasonably well. ;) So I continue to go to muster with my jacket in hopes I'll get it right in time of an emergency. I will doubtless drown. :p

[Astro Flyer]

Then lets just have a video for the crew to learn how to load passengers into lifeboats and fight fires. Lets not take any personal responsibility for our own safety.

I know that you're being facetious because you know the importance of emergency training. And that during any stressful situation where there is little time to think & only time to react, repetitive training is essential to responding properly.

 

Passengers drag straps because they don't pay attention even during a drill & will be even more careless during a real emergency. That may result in injuries not only to themselves but to other passengers when they trip & fall. If other cruise lines want to listen to passengers' complaints & not take life vests to the muster drill, I commend Princess for requiring passengers to bring them. Some cruise lines muster at lifeboats which may not be available during an emergency & even dangerous to try to go there. I prefer the Princess procedure to meet inside & if necessary to escort passengers to an available lifeboat.

 

Aircraft emergency procedures are more straightforward & yet many passengers fail to respond appropriately. Passengers will still try to carry items when exiting the aircraft & in a water landing some passengers who ignored the safety briefing to not inflate life vests until exiting the aircraft will perish inside the aircraft.

Edited August 4, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[chengkp75]

I know that you're being facetious because you know the importance of emergency training. And that during any stressful situation where there is little time to think & only time to react, repetitive training is essential to responding properly.

 

Passengers drag straps because they don't pay attention even during a drill & will be even more careless during a real emergency. That may result in injuries not only to themselves but to other passengers when they trip & fall. If other cruise lines want to listen to passengers' complaints & not take life vests to the muster drill, I commend Princess for requiring passengers to bring them. Some cruise lines muster at lifeboats which may not be available during an emergency & even dangerous to try to go there. I prefer the Princess procedure to meet inside & if necessary to escort passengers to an available lifeboat.

 

Aircraft emergency procedures are more straightforward & yet many passengers fail to respond appropriately. Passengers will still try to carry items when exiting the aircraft & in a water landing some passengers who ignored the safety briefing to not inflate life vests will perish inside the aircraft.

 

The decision to have passenger muster either at the boats or inside at a public venue is based on original design of the ship. The spaces must be designed with sufficient access and egress, as well as sufficient space for the number of passengers assigned. These designs are studied using forensic engineering models that simulate crowd dynamics in stress conditions. I believe you understand this, but some don't, thinking that lines and ships can change muster locations easily based on passenger comfort. It also depends on whether the ship can be evacuated within 30 minutes of completing muster.

[caribill]

The decision to have passenger muster either at the boats or inside at a public venue is based on original design of the ship. The spaces must be designed with sufficient access and egress, as well as sufficient space for the number of passengers assigned. These designs are studied using forensic engineering models that simulate crowd dynamics in stress conditions. I believe you understand this, but some don't, thinking that lines and ships can change muster locations easily based on passenger comfort. It also depends on whether the ship can be evacuated within 30 minutes of completing muster.

 

 

Princess could muster by the lifeboats but has chosen wisely not to.

 

One reason for the inside muster stations on Princess is because in a real emergency, it may take hours to get resolved and the passengers will be much more comfortable waiting (while seated) inside than out in the elements (standing).

[Steelers36]

Er, Pam, it's seven short, one long ....

 

I'm not sure I'd have remembered which is was either. All I know is seven of anything and I'm high-tailing it to muster!!!

:D

[Shelly97060]

It's been ages since we've been required to attend the second muster drill on any Princess ship when doing a B2B. :)

 

LuLu

We will be doing our first back to back soon. How will we know whether we are required to attend the muster drill on the second half of our cruise? thanks for the info.

[Astro Flyer]

We will be doing our first back to back soon. How will we know whether we are required to attend the muster drill on the second half of our cruise? thanks for the info.

 

My b2b experience has been near the end of your 1st cruise you will receive in-transit instructions in your cabin including whether you're required to attend a 2nd muster drill.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Astro Flyer

[Josy1953]

I'd like to jump in here. Not about the fact of attending the Muster, but the still having to bring the life jackets. Most cruise lines, except Princess no longer requires bringing them. Just show up.

 

One reason is the fact that going up/down the stairs, before/after, too many people were tripping over the straps which dangled because no one wants to take the time to tuck them in...

 

Princess, are you listening? Get with the program and prevent your passengers from tripping over the straps.

 

I feel better now that I've said this!

 

Have a good day everyone and safe sails to you!

 

I would have agreed with you until we sailed on P&O's new ship Britannia in March this year, they have a new type of life jacket and if we had not had to take them to the muster with us we would not have know how to put them on in an emergency situation. On every cruise there will be new cruisers who have never attempted to put a life jacket on, by requiring them to bring them to the muster the cruise line is sure that everyone has experiences them once. The only line that we have cruised with that did not require us to take the life jacket to the muster was Celebrity but did check that ones in the room were ones that were familiar with and had they been different ones I would have asked for some sort of instruction on how to put them on.

 

We all hope that we never have to use them but we need to know how to put them on if needed.

[caribill]

The only line that we have cruised with that did not require us to take the life jacket to the muster was Celebrity.

 

 

Not required on Royal Caribbean.

 

You muster on deck standing in rows. A crew member demonstrates how to put on the life jacket. Only the people in the first row can see the demo.

 

As a result, probably 80% or more of the passengers have no idea how to put on he life jacket. Can't see the demo and do not have to put it on at muster.

[Shelly97060]

My b2b experience has been near the end of your 1st cruise you will receive in-transit instructions in your cabin including whether you're required to attend a 2nd muster drill.

 

Thanks!

[Astro Flyer]

Thanks!

 

You're welcome.