Don't even think about skipping the Lifeboat Drill

[DallasGuy75219]

Do they have sail away during muster on any ship?

 

They may begin pulling away once the muster drill is complete and as people are leaving their muster stations, but in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident, the cruise lines don't leave port until the muster drill is complete.

[bakersdozen12]

There are crew members with clickers counting people in each area.

 

 

We didn't even see that on our sailing.

 

 

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[DallasGuy75219]

Muster station locations will almost never change over the life of the ship. If the promenade deck has sufficient space to handle all the passengers at the stations under the boats, that is what the IMO prefers. As the promenades were made smaller to increase inside volume (revenue generating) space, the muster stations had to be moved inside. However, the spaces have to be designed as muster stations from the get go, with volume, ingress, egress, and distance to the boats taken into consideration as to whether a space is acceptable or not. This is not the cruise lines' decision, this falls under SOLAS regulations and class society rules.

 

Remember, the passenger muster is not about the boats. It is about accountability, and getting passengers to known locations out of the way of the crew dealing with whatever emergency is happening. Therefore, it is not necessary to have muster locations at the boats, nor is it required to "train" people to go to the boats. Go to the muster location, wherever it is, and wait patiently for further crew instructions.

 

Thank you for correcting some of the misinformation posted in this topic.

 

The cruise lines don't choose muster stations arbitrarily or for passenger comfort or convenience but rather as a function of the where the lifeboats are stored and where the actual embarkation stations are. It's logically preferable to muster at the actual embarkation station but depending on ship design it's not always possible to get the entire ship of passengers at their embarkation stations simultaneously (e.g., the outside deck 4 promenade on the Conquest class).

[cruiseonthebrain]

Carnival needs to hold the Muster drill in the public rooms instead of packing us like sardines under the life boats. Princess, Royal and Celebrity do it that way. Not sure about NCL, its been a while.

 

I can't remember the last time we had to muster out on deck. Our last six (at least) musters were held in lounges.

[Drose716]

Interesting. I'd be okay with this. I'm heading towards my 7th Carnival cruise, & even though I can repeat muster drills verbatim at this point we always go. I'm not above the rules. The only time I've ever noticed a hold up was our late night sailing from PR last year. Since the festivities were already underway by the time the 930 muster happened, i swear half the ship showed up late. We were certainly not early & yet we were in the back row. So annoying.

 

It's strange to me how much muster styles vary. My first cruise 12 years ago was out on deck with life jackets in tow. My second, on fantasy class, 4 years ago was in the main theatre. The next 3 were out at the station sans jacket. My last, also fantasy class, started out in a theatre & then we were guided out to the station after the presentation. That seemed a bit much. If we need to go out in deck that's fine, but start there then. Oh well. It's a requirement & wherever it is we'll be there.

Edited March 27, 2016 by Drose716

[annabell08]

I agree. As I am aging, and having back pain issues, I find it extremely difficult to stand in one place for more than 5 minutes without moving about some. Last year, last cruise, the muster took an incredibly long time, and I almost fainted from the pain. I am not normally one to ask for special assistance, but I fear that next cruise, I may have to ask for the special needs area for muster drill. Don't want to, but cant face the scenario again this year.

 

I check in with the leader at my muster station and tell that person that I can not stand for the drill. The leader directs me to another location where other people who have special needs gather. What happens then varies. Usually a crew member demonstrates how the life jacket is put on.

 

Speak up for yourself and enjoy the beginning of your cruise rather than being in pain.

[riclop]

I just got off of the Breeze, and now they scan the Sail & Sign account cards as you enter your Muster Station. About 20 passengers didn't show up at our station, and they were all called out to report to the drill.

 

This is nothing new.

[Boozebabe]

Carnival needs to hold the Muster drill in the public rooms instead of packing us like sardines under the life boats. Princess, Royal and Celebrity do it that way. Not sure about NCL, its been a while.

 

In case of emergency I want to know EXACTLY where to go. I sure as hell won't be going to the showroom or dining room. And yet some musters are in those very places. At least they were when we sailed on the Breeze the last 3 years. We made a trip to see exactly where our lifeboat was after the muster.

[LadyBeBop]

They may begin pulling away once the muster drill is complete and as people are leaving their muster stations, but in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident, the cruise lines don't leave port until the muster drill is complete.

 

Which I know was after our last Carnival sailing. The last cruise I was on was on RCCL. We didn't sail away for probably a half hour after muster ended.

 

Right now on Carnival, when is muster in proportion to sail away time?

[chengkp75]

In case of emergency I want to know EXACTLY where to go. I sure as hell won't be going to the showroom or dining room. And yet some musters are in those very places. At least they were when we sailed on the Breeze the last 3 years. We made a trip to see exactly where our lifeboat was after the muster.

 

And your assigned muster location is exactly where you are supposed to go. As I've said, what you consider to be the "abandon ship" signal (more than six short blasts and one long blast) is actually the signal for fire and general emergency. At this point, it could only be a galley fire, but the Captain wants to get accountability on the passengers and crew, so he sounds the alarm. All passengers and crew can then be counted, and any missing, such as those who feel they need to go directly to their boat, would require dispatching crew from their primary emergency duties to find those people. Subsequently, the fire is put out, and everyone returns to their normal vacation. Had nothing to do with a lifeboat, nor did the Captain ever have an inclination to send the passengers to get into the boats, yet you were sent to your muster station.

 

I applaud your initiative to find your assigned boat, but please report to your assigned muster station in an emergency.

[RWolver672]

The only cruise that took that didn't have the muster by the life boats was on the Dream. We met in the main theater and people talked all the way through it. We were surprised that Carnival didn't demand that everybody keep quiet during the muster. After it was over, they just released everybody and didn't escort us to our lifeboats.

 

On our last cruise, a person passed out half way through the muster right by us. We were crammed up front where there was no air movement at all. They stopped the muster and attended to her which was exactly what they should have done. That delayed the muster until they carried her away. At least it happened on our side and we knew what was going on. The other side of the ship had no idea of what was happening.

[golfb4cruzing]

Now if they would start on time, make the late ones attend a separate briefing, at an inconvenient time or get fined.

[Je Souhaite]

I just got off of the Breeze, and now they scan the Sail & Sign account cards as you enter your Muster Station. About 20 passengers didn't show up at our station, and they were all called out to report to the drill.

 

This is why I no longer go as the sound horns. I take my time and show up almost last, because you stand there waiting and waiting, while the crew seems to be having the time of their lives while your sweating, smelling others that have traveled all day that are just rank and randy.

 

They should hold a separate drill for those that don't show up. I hate being punished for idiots.

[Purvis1231]

I have always attended the drill. It doesn't bother me at all. I don't understand those who choose to skip it.

 

Those who try to skip the drill, will be the first ones to push themselves to the head of the line in a real emergency. Selfish is selfish.

[jh2360]

We didn't even see that on our sailing.

 

 

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Doesn't mean they weren't doing it.

[DallasGuy75219]

Which I know was after our last Carnival sailing. The last cruise I was on was on RCCL. We didn't sail away for probably a half hour after muster ended.

 

Right now on Carnival, when is muster in proportion to sail away time?

 

Muster is at the scheduled time, whether or not the ship is prepared to leave immediately after, so there's no definitive answer to your question.

[LadyBeBop]

Muster is at the scheduled time, whether or not the ship is prepared to leave immediately after, so there's no definitive answer to your question.

 

I probably worded my question incorrectly. (And that's very common.) How soon after scheduled muster time is scheduled sail away time?

 

(Does that make sense?)

Edited March 27, 2016 by LadyBeBop

[firemanbobswife]

I probably worded my question incorrectly. (And that's very common.) How soon after scheduled muster time is scheduled sail away time?

 

(Does that make sense?)

 

It varies from sailing to sailing even on the same ship. On the Glory we have been sailing out of the Port during muster drill, within literally 3 minutes of muster drill being over, and with 30 or more minutes to spare. There's no set time.

[DallasGuy75219]

I probably worded my question incorrectly. (And that's very common.) How soon after scheduled muster time is scheduled sail away time?

 

(Does that make sense?)

 

Muster is usually scheduled to start 30 minutes before scheduled sailaway time so that they can push away (if ready) once muster is complete.

[LadyBeBop]

It varies from sailing to sailing even on the same ship. On the Glory we have been sailing out of the Port during muster drill, within literally 3 minutes of muster drill being over, and with 30 or more minutes to spare. There's no set time.

 

 

Gotcha. And thanks for the responses, y'all.

 

My take. Muster is extremely important, and cannot be missed. However sail away is special; watching as the ship floats gently away from the dock, waving to those on shore.

 

I've been on three cruises on three different cruise lines. Only on Carnival did we miss sail away due to muster. Every one needs to be on board at least an hour before sail away. Why can't muster be scheduled for 45 minutes before?

[declansdad]

This is why I no longer go as the sound horns. I take my time and show up almost last, because you stand there waiting and waiting, while the crew seems to be having the time of their lives while your sweating, smelling others that have traveled all day that are just rank and randy.

 

They should hold a separate drill for those that don't show up. I hate being punished for idiots.

 

 

Right because these drills look to be so much fun for the crew. :rolleyes:

[renza]

Carnival has it in public spaces now. They have for a while. No more packed in and hot outside

[Bases5]

We just got off the Breeze yesterday and they scanned

our S&S card upon entering.

We also stayed inside our areas for the whole drill

No standing outside.

I did ask one of the guys in charge what happens to no shows.

He said they will find them and they will have to do the drill tomorrow

on the first sea day.

he said they have 24 hours for ever one to complete the drill.

[marshabear]

We were on the Liberty a few weeks ago and had to stand outside for about an hour-no joking as they "went to find people" that hadn't showed up ...it was unbearable, people were dropping like flies and it was held at night in San Juan...can't imagine if it was held in the heat of the day!

 

I hope CCL starts using the scanning method for all ships ASAP!

 

 

 

 

 

Marsha

[Butterbean1000]

You must be new here...

 

No, I've been around for a while. You'd think I would learn.:p