Muster drill difficulties

[bshow]

Damn right I'd have with you! :)

 

 

 

I don't want be a 'PITA', but I think your comments are based on a lack of good knowledge on the subject. Anyhow who deals with safety on board thinks differently. You are thinking from the perspective of a passenger. To be honest, the Muster Drill should be a whole lot more 'involved', but for obvious reasons, it wouldn't work. The present drill is the bare MINIMUM experience that a passenger could stand. That does not mean that the whole drill should be scrapped. Muster Drills have been standard since the sinking of the TITANIC. The passenger drills are quite tame.... it is the minimum that passengers can stand. Behind the scenes... the drills are nothing like they used to be.... even twenty years ago were differently. For the passengers... it is the standard muster for any ship for a hundred years. The signals, put on your lifejacket and then go to your boat. That is all they want passengers is to understand, "this is not a joke". So saying that the musters are a waste of time....it is not.

 

 

 

Eg.... HAL passenger drills are out on deck. Seems like it is nothing. Crowd control? Yes, it is... for good reasons. It helps the crew to deal with the passengers.... in a crowded situation. This is important. So.... the passengers and at least the crew can help passengers out of the ship and out onto the deck. Experience. OK... what about the ships where the passenger muster is held in a lounge or other space. Personally, I do not like it at all. Many reasons. I prefer the HAL method. So.... the drill is held inside. And then what happens in a real situation? Hmmm? You have a thousand passengers in a lounge that have to be escorted from a lounge... away from one area to send them out onto an enclosed deck and then you have to line them up and put into the boats. Meanwhile.... the crew have no first hand experience of taking passengers from to that lounge and then out onto deck for the boats. It is a very vital missing experience.... not only from passengers... from the crew as well.

 

 

 

OK... this is just ONE of the reasons drills are done. Might seem unnecessary but it is. The passenger drill is just the small step to the beginning of your cruise. I hope it will be a great cruise, but believe me.... there have been thousands, THOUSANDS passengers that thought the drill was a nonsense and have ended up wet, cramped, cold and seasick in the bottom of a lifeboat!

 

 

 

Let's have that second beer!

 

 

Excellent explanation, thank you! I look forward to raising a glass!

 

Cheers

[Topsham]

Excellent explanation, thank you! I look forward to raising a glass!

 

Cheers

 

 

 

Careful.... might take more than just one!

[sppunk]

Has HAL officially announced Koningsdam's musters will be indoors yet?

[Topsham]

Has HAL officially announced Koningsdam's musters will be indoors yet?

 

 

Most definitely inside. No room for everyone on deck at the boats.

 

The muster will be on No. 3 Deck (Promenade Dk). From the plans... Show Lounge and Main Dining Room are the only areas.

 

No doubt it is going to crowded.... 2,600 people to be moved into those spaces. No idea how people will be split and how where they will be sent. Probably MDR passengers will go to the tenders. Show Lounge passengers will go to the standard lifeboats.

 

Going out to stand on deck at each boat that is one thing. 2600 people to be seated and told where together is going to take time. Might take more than the old system.

 

For the old ships... the muster will stay as before. There is insufficient space inside for a muster.

[sppunk]

Most definitely inside. No room for everyone on deck at the boats.

 

The muster will be on No. 3 Deck (Promenade Dk). From the plans... Show Lounge and Main Dining Room are the only areas.

 

No doubt it is going to crowded.... 2,600 people to be moved into those spaces. No idea how people will be split and how where they will be sent. Probably MDR passengers will go to the tenders. Show Lounge passengers will go to the standard lifeboats.

 

Going out to stand on deck at each boat that is one thing. 2600 people to be seated and told where together is going to take time. Might take more than the old system.

 

For the old ships... the muster will stay as before. There is insufficient space inside for a muster.

I seriously doubt they ask pax to walk to their tender. This isn't done on any line that I know if/have sailed w/ indoor musters. Indoor musters on Princess are painlss, in many venues, and quick.

 

I think they can also use other venues too, such as Quuen's Lounge.

Edited January 31, 2016 by sppunk

[Topsham]

I seriously doubt they ask pax to walk to their tender. This isn't done on any line that I know if/have sailed w/ indoor musters. Indoor musters on Princess are painlss, in many venues, and quick.

 

I think they can also use other venues too, such as Quuen's Lounge.

 

 

No, for drill purposes... the pax will stay indoors.

 

Casino and Queen's Lounge are the only two other spaces... then Show Lounge and Main Dining Room (upper).

[knittinggirl]

Most definitely inside. No room for everyone on deck at the boats.

 

The muster will be on No. 3 Deck (Promenade Dk). From the plans... Show Lounge and Main Dining Room are the only areas.

 

No doubt it is going to crowded.... 2,600 people to be moved into those spaces. No idea how people will be split and how where they will be sent. Probably MDR passengers will go to the tenders. Show Lounge passengers will go to the standard lifeboats.

 

Going out to stand on deck at each boat that is one thing. 2600 people to be seated and told where together is going to take time. Might take more than the old system.

 

For the old ships... the muster will stay as before. There is insufficient space inside for a muster.

The inside muster drills we've attended end up standing room only unless you get there early and grab a seat.

 

On Celebrity, we met in the casino. Grabbed a seat and waited until muster drill. But getting out of the casino after muster drill finished was another matter. At least the standing room only people could get first crack at the elevators.

[dakrewser]

One of the pluses of HAL's muster drills is that, now that we're no longer required to bring life jackets, once the crowd is dismissed we can avoid the pile-up in the elevator lobby by going 3-5 steps to the rail and watching sail-away.

[scamper]

Seems like there was something to be said for the glass-enclosed promenades on ships of the past located directly below the open boat deck. S.S. Norway (my first cruise) had one, but I can't remember if the boat drill was held there or on the open deck.

[Lizzie68]

One of the pluses of HAL's muster drills is that, now that we're no longer required to bring life jackets, once the crowd is dismissed we can avoid the pile-up in the elevator lobby by going 3-5 steps to the rail and watching sail-away.

 

I so agree. DH and I simply hang back - he is in a wheelchair. What is the big rush anyway? By waiting 20 minutes or half an hour, we enjoy the view and then have no worries getting into an elevator. Mind you, we have always had good weather for sailaway. I probably wouldn't want to be out there in lashing rain, but I would find a place to shelter out of the way.

[Topsham]

Seems like there was something to be said for the glass-enclosed promenades on ships of the past located directly below the open boat deck. S.S. Norway (my first cruise) had one, but I can't remember if the boat drill was held there or on the open deck.

 

 

 

NORWAY (as FRANCE)... the enclosed promenade was for the musters. The boats are lowered to Prom Deck and you come through the doors into the boats there. Yes, easy.... and was the old Transatlantic style.

 

QE2 did not have traditional prom deck but the space was there.... and you come from the lounges straight into the boats.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Looking forward to Koningsdam's inside musters.

 

;)

 

Me Too, if in fact that is what they do :confused: I wonder if they have even thought that far ahead. :D

Sorry had not read the other posts after this one that I quoted.

Edited January 31, 2016 by LAFFNVEGAS

[chengkp75]

Me Too, if in fact that is what they do :confused: I wonder if they have even thought that far ahead. :D

Sorry had not read the other posts after this one that I quoted.

 

As I've said above (in the posts you didn't read :D), this decision as to where to hold muster was made long before any steel was cut for the ship. It is done during the design stage, and is based on, and determines various aspects of the public spaces onboard, if they are to be used as muster stations.

[fourkittys]

I have and use one of these on every cruise. Google "Walking cane with Seat" and you will find many options and prices for a foldable cane that has a built in seat. Mine cost around $20 and has been used many times on cruises and airports and car rental lines. Folded it becomes a regular walking cane.

[2ptu/000]

Recently on Veendam. First time traveling with husband in a wheelchair. This is just a transport chair. I went to the Front Desk and told them that it would be difficult for me to push that chair out to the open deck. They said to go to the Atrium. There were about 25 people in the atrium. Only one person from HAL there and that was a traffic director at the end of the corridor. They just stood there like a statue. I did go out to our station and sign in and tell them where we would be. They seemed fine with that. I expected someone would demonstrate how to put on the life jacket to the people in the atrium like they do outside. Nope, nothing. Now, what if this was our first time traveling on a ship and we had no knowledge of how to put one on? I was really surprised that the people in the atrium were ignored. I did see one women faint on here way in or out the door to the outside. Also, heard over the intercom of the person that came to help her that someone had fallen down the steps somewhere. Muster drills can be an adventure.

[Topsham]

I expected someone would demonstrate how to put on the life jacket to the people in the atrium like they do outside. Nope, nothing. Now, what if this was our first time traveling on a ship and we had no knowledge of how to put one on? I was really surprised that the people in the atrium were ignored. I did see one women faint on here way in or out the door to the outside. Also, heard over the intercom of the person that came to help her that someone had fallen down the steps somewhere. Muster drills can be an adventure.

 

 

One of the perks for 4 Star Passengers... actually not a perk... it is a job. If you have 4 Stars you are expect help other passengers put lifejackets on. ;)

[earljr]

One of the perks for 4 Star Passengers... actually not a perk... it is a job. If you have 4 Stars you are expect help other passengers put lifejackets on. ;)

 

I have searched the rules, perks list, etc. and can not find anything like this statement anywhere. I do note that 4 stars do have priority leaning rights against the bulkhead during the drill.

 

 

;):)

Edited February 28, 2016 by earljr

[Topsham]

I have searched the rules, perks list, etc. and can not find anything like this statement anywhere. I do note that 4 stars do have priority leaning rights against the bulkhead during the drill.

 

 

;):)

 

 

 

That is for Platinum Medallion passengers!:eek:

 

Mind, that perk is only when those that know getting to the muster early gets to lean on the bulkhead.

[RuthC]

That is for Platinum Medallion passengers!:eek:

Having the cutest officer on the deck help you don & adjust your lifejacket is the perq for this platinum medallion passenger. ;)

 

 

(I may be old, but I ain't dead yet.)

[Lizzie68]

Having the cutest officer on the deck help you don & adjust your lifejacket is the perq for this platinum medallion passenger. ;)

 

 

(I may be old, but I ain't dead yet.)

 

:D:D You are funny, Ruth! Would be nice that truly was a perq!

[Topsham]

Having the cutest officer on the deck help you don & adjust your lifejacket is the perq for this platinum medallion passenger. ;)

 

 

(I may be old, but I ain't dead yet.)

 

 

 

Daily? ;)

[cbr663]

... I did see one women faint on here way in or out the door to the outside. Also, heard over the intercom of the person that came to help her that someone had fallen down the steps somewhere. Muster drills can be an adventure.

 

We also had a gentleman pass out during the muster drill on our Dec cruise. Your comments above got me wondering how many incidents occur each year on HAL's ships during muster drills? I am thinking that the number may be quite surprising. I doubt that HAL would ever publicly release it though.

[Lizzie68]

We also had a gentleman pass out during the muster drill on our Dec cruise. Your comments above got me wondering how many incidents occur each year on HAL's ships during muster drills? I am thinking that the number may be quite surprising. I doubt that HAL would ever publicly release it though.

 

We have heard a couple of such incidents recently while watching and listening to the FLL sailaways.

[Topsham]

We also had a gentleman pass out during the muster drill on our Dec cruise. Your comments above got me wondering how many incidents occur each year on HAL's ships during muster drills? I am thinking that the number may be quite surprising. I doubt that HAL would ever publicly release it though.

 

 

 

 

Probably no different from going to any muster on any other ships. I'd be more surprised about passengers sailing ashore in closed, hot, tenders. Likely worse than Muster Drill.

 

Anyone who feels that they are not up to the muster... advise someone and go to the Atrium. Even go to the first Muster Guide on the stairs. If you feel not well or up to it. Don't panic... just advise and tell.

[CowPrincess]

Having the cutest officer on the deck help you don & adjust your lifejacket is the perq for this platinum medallion passenger. ;)

 

 

(I may be old, but I ain't dead yet.)

 

Oh RuthC -- hilarious :D Thanks for the chuckle. (Now I know why I should try for 5* :D )