ChiefMateJRK

Shouldn't it be the cruise lines working with the IMO to negotiate better processes?

Sometimes it is possible to "know too much."

Are you sure about that? I've never heard of this searching for stragglers before. That would take a whole lot more time than the 15 minutes delay I experienced two weeks ago.

Amen Sister!! 🐀 Be sure to lift a Blue Moon for our mutual friend.

These are not mutually exclusive. The "real" reason may be the behind the scenes drills requiring more time. It's likely easier to blame it on stragglers (which they will always have). This would also theoretically motivate folks to be prompt on their next cruise.

Just two data points: a) folks report missing muster drills and going to make-up sessions b) our resident former NCL engineer has reported that it takes more time for the crew to conduct the behind the scenes drills than it takes to show us idiots how to put on a life vest (so, they may be dragging out the process on purpose, and catching a few stragglers at the same time) How do you know that it is because they are waiting for stragglers?

Do you have reason to believe that the delays are because they are waiting for specific people?

Thanks. That's the only kind of cruise I take (so far 😎). It was a ten day Eastern Carribean and the weather was fantastic. I also learned that you almost need to take a class to navigate the Miami airport and that at least one Miami Uber driver has no idea about what is where in the port.

Thank you, but you're telling me something that I already know. I believe that contrarian opinions on a discussion board are what make for good discussion.

I witnessed my first dinner-with-officers last week. It happened at the next table in an MDR. Two officers and four couples. It was almost painful to watch. I asked DW and DD at one point if they saw any faces at that table that looked like they were having fun. Three witnesses and not a single affirmative report.

That's pretty much what I just experienced on the Sky (except I don't believe anybody was spotted with earbuds).

I think there are three types of people in this thread. Those who "think" that the current in-person muster is a good idea, those who "think" it's a bad idea and those who "know" what it's like right now. I'm in the third group and no amount of conjecture on the internet will change what I experienced two weeks ago tomorrow. If they can fix it by getting everybody to show up on time, magically increasing deck space to allow some distancing, make everybody shut up while the teacher is talking (that rarely worked in elementary school in the absence of a metal ruler) and upgrading the audio and speaker so that it is easy for every passenger (even the hearing impaired) to hear and comprehend, then I'll accept that it is an "okay" process (it still won't provide anything more than the video version). Until then, I'll remain unconvinced that there is any logical basis to force every passenger to endure this mess.

Nice seat?! We had to stand under a lifeboat in a Covid cloud for about 40 minutes of nothing.

People like this: And myself based upon actual experience:

I would like to hear of any recent experiences of folks missing their muster drill. We missed one before Covid and just had to show up for a makeup session in the theatre.

I didn't experience any "kinks," just a really crappy process for providing critical safety information. We've spent three years being told that it is unsafe to gather in a large, stationary crowd yet that is exactly what I experienced. Stood there within a few feet of at least a half dozen strangers and within a few more feet of many more. Add to that the crowded lines upon completion with many huffing and puffing trying to be the first to the now-reopened bars. While I haven't checked lately, I'm guessing that NCL's safety protocols still recommend distancing whenever possible.

Absolutely. Thanks to my Muster on the Sky twelve days ago, I didn't pinch my fingers in a drawer once during the entire cruise (see my previous post just above). I accurately described what happened. I'm really struggling to understand what part of that exercise made any of us more safe. I actually benefit more from the forced video on the TV because I can understand what they are saying and nobody else is drowning (no pun intended) them out. IMHO, it's time to move on in the interests of both safety and passenger comfort/enjoyment. Perhaps the decision makers who come up with these drills (NCL, regulators, etc.) should attend one or two to see what they really consist of.

I'm pretty sure that they would, although I only recall splitting two packages between three at dinner.

We have actually split a single credit (4 items) between three people at lunch. That works great when you just had breakfast a few hours ago and have an early dinner reservation.

We were in person on the Sky last week and it was a wasted 40 minutes of my life that I will never get back. We showed up a minute or two early, were rudely ordered to stand first here, no wait move there, etc. A slew of people packed in like rats under a lifeboat (que the Covid spreading discussion). Did nothing for 15 minutes while they goofed around and checked in the random late arrival. Then some skinny kid showed us how to put on a life vest and he wrapped the waste strap around himself twice (which was the only humor for a few of us larger passengers). Then the guy came on over the speakers and said a bunch of stuff nobody could understand because of a) language differences, b) crappy acoustics and c) a bunch of people talking about where to get their next meal/drink/entertainment/etc. I did make out that he was also giving us a general safety briefing that included, and I'm not making this up, watch your fingers when you close doors and drawers so that you don't pinch them? Really?? 🤣

I use method B (empty garbage bag into the paper bag, then commence stuffing). I filled two bags on the Sky last week, and I dare say that each was actually something to be proud of! 😎 This was the first time I used both tape and garbage bag. Much better than garbage bag alone.

Well, I guess it's to each their own. Would NCL really open your bag to find your in-the-luggage info? I would think they would just wait for you to show up and claim the orphaned bag. Maybe my three initial monograms would help establish my ownership (assuming both my Amazon ship tag and normal luggage tags had somehow gone missing). I use high quality luggage so if something actually ripped the entire handle off I would likely have other problems.

I just take a tall kitchen garbage bag. Also, don't forget a small roll of packing tape. Those NCL paper bags are well designed to burst at the slightest amount of "stuffing." Even with an inner bag lining, the bag will rip from top to bottom if you don't run a line of tape around the rim. Do the tape and bag routine and you'll likely get twice as much laundry in the bag. Of course, if you're just doing a couple of items ala carte' (i.e. per item pricing), it makes no difference as you could just use more NCL bags. Good luck!

I guess it depends upon what time you eat. If I spent twice as much time double tagging each bag prior to each cruise, and goofing around with twice as many of those nice but finicky little rolling fasteners for each suitcase I would easily offset that 45 minutes in about two cruises. I've been on many cruises and have never had a tag "ripped off." For most of those cruises I just stapled on the paper with no further reinforcement. Did you tip your porter? (jk) Just curious. How does being Diamond status impact this process?

I don't believe that there is such a place. I had just heard that it works, tried it and it worked for me (see my earlier post).