What happens in a muster drill?

[Gemynii]

We generally wait until they actually announce that the drill has begun and that we should report to our muster stations. They will give several "lead-up" announcements ("In 10 minutes...." "In 5 minutes....") and a lot of people will go at that time. They're the ones who end up against the bulkhead.

 

Ignore the countdown announcements until the last minute. Got it. Thank you :)

When do they usually do the muster drill? Right before sail time?

[crewsweeper]

I wonder why the Dream Class doesen't go outside like others do?

 

But since its unpleasurable like you said,.....I guess I'm kinda glad its inside.

 

But they do take you to the lifeboats after the drill. I beleive the configuration of the Dream class ships lends itself to moving more passengers to the theater, lounges and dining rooms easily. Plus there's not a lot of open deck space next to the lifeboats themselves. You are suppose to meet in the theaters and then be escorted tot the lifeboats. This may have changed some after Concordia.

 

However, the muster drill is done centrally on all non- Dream class ships with the CD or designated person reading the script over the PA system, not by the crew person(s) standing in front of you. But it can seem a bit unpleasant mind wise for folks anxious to get on with their cruise or unpack, especially when the muster instructions are repeated in 2-3 languages to accomodate non-English speakers (great Berlitz moment for those so inclined) .

[DFW Airwolf]

Someone say MUSTER DRILL. I'm READY !!!!!

 

[Aplmac]

One advantage of a meeting place like a lounge is that if the assigned lifeboat was not available

(for example, because if the ship is listing too heavily to launch the lifeboats),

the crew can lead the passengers to an alternative site

Should be an interesting tour :)

because by the time she's listing too badly to launch lifeboats

your decks will be at 20-30 degrees off true horizontal

and your bulkheads (walls) will be gradually 'morphing' into decks!

 

Normal ambulation will be quite difficult -even impossible for the 'disadvantaged'.

 

Anything more than a 5-10 degree list, I'll be in Survival mode

grabbing my wife by the arm, and heading towards any portal that leads to an exterior deck

on whatever is then the upper side of the listing ship!

[DebBrown]

And they do know if you decide to not show up. A few years back we stayed in our cabin and were very quiet. About 5 minutes after last call, our room steward was banging on our door. We ignored him and he kept banging until we finally answered him. We figured either we answer or they were coming in. We pretended we had been asleep and didn't hear the announcement. :rolleyes: To this day I have NO idea how they knew we were in our cabin.

[Lovefuninthesun]

It varies ship to ship -- sometimes we have been on an outside deck, standing uncomfortably in the heat, pressed together like sweaty sardines; other times we have been in a lounge. Always have had to bring life preserver.

I never used to take the drills super-seriously, but now -- post-Concordia -- I will be taking notes! :)

[jakeHOU97]

But they do take you to the lifeboats after the drill. I beleive the configuration of the Dream class ships lends itself to moving more passengers to the theater, lounges and dining rooms easily. Plus there's not a lot of open deck space next to the lifeboats themselves. You are suppose to meet in the theaters and then be escorted tot the lifeboats. This may have changed some after Concordia.

 

However, the muster drill is done centrally on all non- Dream class ships with the CD or designated person reading the script over the PA system, not by the crew person(s) standing in front of you. But it can seem a bit unpleasant mind wise for folks anxious to get on with their cruise or unpack, especially when the muster instructions are repeated in 2-3 languages to accomodate non-English speakers (great Berlitz moment for those so inclined) .

 

No lifeboats on the Magic. Like I said, we were in and out in 10 0r 15 minutues

[jakeHOU97]

It varies ship to ship -- sometimes we have been on an outside deck, standing uncomfortably in the heat, pressed together like sweaty sardines; other times we have been in a lounge. Always have had to bring life preserver.

I never used to take the drills super-seriously, but now -- post-Concordia -- I will be taking notes! :)

 

Didn't need to bring life presevers. Didn't even touch/remove or even SEE them in the closet the whole cruise!

[nybumpkin]

When do they usually do the muster drill? Right before sail time?

They will list the "approximate" time on the front of the Fun Times that will be in your cabin when you board. In my experience, they will list the drill as 1/2 hour before sail time. It can vary a bit, though - we've started sailing during the muster drill on a couple of cruises.:(

[bunchesofun]

It's sad because I noticed on our Dream cruise that after the muster drill, there were a lot of small children walking around without their bracelets on. Those were put on them for a reason.

 

I think those with bands are the children that are attending Camp Carnival. It is my understanding it's the under 12s that get a band. I could of course be wrong, but our daughter was in Camp Carnival and they are the ones that put the band on her.

[Not_Done_Living]

At our Muster station they had numerous crew walking around and putting a band on all the children under 12.

[Rainbowfalls]

:( The standing part has me worried, if my father goes at least and my grandmother. My dad has really bad knees, he needs the replacement surgery but his doctors want him to wait as long as he can possibly stand for it due to the first surgery never being as good as the follow ups if he needs one., anyways so standing for periods of time specially in the same position causes him a ton of pain. And my grandmother is 70 something. Neither of them need walkers or wheelchairs cause they can walk and stand just we limit the amount we do because of their issues. Are there seating options for those with standing problems?

[jakeHOU97]

:( The standing part has me worried, if my father goes at least and my grandmother. My dad has really bad knees, he needs the replacement surgery but his doctors want him to wait as long as he can possibly stand for it due to the first surgery never being as good as the follow ups if he needs one., anyways so standing for periods of time specially in the same position causes him a ton of pain. And my grandmother is 70 something. Neither of them need walkers or wheelchairs cause they can walk and stand just we limit the amount we do because of their issues. Are there seating options for those with standing problems?

 

Yes, I believe they have 1 or 2 handicap rows right up front, not sure. If your ship goes to the lifeboats, try gently asking one of the crew if your Father and Grandmother can stay behind and explain the situation, that worked when our child was 2 on the Fantasy in 05

[Rainbowfalls]

Yes, I believe they have 1 or 2 handicap rows right up front, not sure. If your ship goes to the lifeboats, try gently asking one of the crew if your Father and Grandmother can stay behind and explain the situation, that worked when our child was 2 on the Fantasy in 05

 

 

Thank you :)

[yakdaddy42]

They have this thing on the ship called a muster and before every cruise the muster needs to be rewound, they rewind the muster with a drill and the drill in on the same deck as the lifeboats. everyone is required to turn the drill a few time to help get it rewound. Take a good look at what happen to the Concordia when the muster drill was skipped. The ship hit a rock and tipped on its side. dont skip the muster drill.

[Gemynii]

[quote name='nybumpkin']They will list the "approximate" time on the front of the Fun Times that will be in your cabin when you board. In my experience, they will list the drill as 1/2 hour before sail time. It can vary a bit, though - we've started sailing during the muster drill on a couple of cruises.:([/QUOTE]

Thank you for answering my questions. I appreciate it. :)