carnival to start head counts at muster drills!

[H82seaUgo]

FINALLY!

 

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/JohnHeald/posts/423972844311949

[tracyanns]

FINALLY!

 

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/JohnHeald/posts/423972844311949

 

This is only going to make it last that much longer so though it is good those they have to hunt down r going to f this up for everyone else.

[SkyMaster]

I don't think this is anything new. I recall that in the past (yep, WAY in the past) they used to have the list of passengers, and they'd check you off when you arrived at the muster station. Makes perfect sense to me. ;)

 

"SKY"

[pe4all]

I agree, this change is great, and long past due. However, I have a few questions, such as : What do they do with the head count, once it is completed? I am sure they know how many people should be at each muster station, but what if the count doesn't match? (and I am sure it won't, as some people are at "special" stations inside due to special needs/injuries.) My friend told me that on another line, the crew has hand-held scanners, and actually scans each person's card as they come to the station. After the drill, they actually "hunted down" the people who didn't report and held a private drill for them!! And I know that when we cruised Disney, (long ago) each station had a clipboard, and checked off each passenger's name as they came to the drill. So while the head count is a good start, I think even MORE needs to be done to insure everyone's safety.

[jonbgd]

This is only going to make it last that much longer so though it is good those they have to hunt down r going to f this up for everyone else.

If they kick them off like HAL did maybe they will show up.

[CaribbeanLuver]

Good Lord....why would anyone be happy about this???

[dclark]

I was on the Star Princess last week and they did this. When you entered your assigned muster area, they scanned your sail and sign card with a hand held scanner not much bigger than a book. In fact, they used the same little scanner to get on and off the ship, getting on they had four people with them, made things faster.

[rjrice1]

When we were on Princess in April... they scan your sign/sail card with a hand held portable scanner. Even use it for getting on/off the ship.

Pretty cool.

Cathy

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I agree, this change is great, and long past due. However, I have a few questions, such as : What do they do with the head count, once it is completed? I am sure they know how many people should be at each muster station, but what if the count doesn't match? (and I am sure it won't, as some people are at "special" stations inside due to special needs/injuries.) My friend told me that on another line, the crew has hand-held scanners, and actually scans each person's card as they come to the station. After the drill, they actually "hunted down" the people who didn't report and held a private drill for them!! And I know that when we cruised Disney, (long ago) each station had a clipboard, and checked off each passenger's name as they came to the drill. So while the head count is a good start, I think even MORE needs to be done to insure everyone's safety.

 

I'm also wondering what will happen if the count doesn't match. I'd much rather they have something like the system you describe so they can identify those who aren't there and handle that situation. If the count doesn't match all they know is the count doesn't match...what good is that? :confused:

[pe4all]

I was on the Star Princess last week and they did this. When you entered your assigned muster area, they scanned your sail and sign card with a hand held scanner not much bigger than a book. In fact, they used the same little scanner to get on and off the ship, getting on they had four people with them, made things faster.

 

When we were on Princess in April... they scan your sign/sail card with a hand held portable scanner. Even use it for getting on/off the ship.

Pretty cool.

Cathy

Well, if the sister line of Princess uses scanners, why can't CCL???:confused: (and don't tell me it's because CCL is the "poor" sister!!:p:D)

[MagnoliaBlossom]

On mt last two NCL sailings our cards were scanned.

On our last CCL sailing they counted heDs, and it did take forever, almost an hour. But never did they check the identity of tnose attending. I remember the old days, not that long ago, actually, when they just checked you off the lst. Jeez, it was so simple - but I guess that was too easy.:rolleyes:

[H82seaUgo]

On mt last two NCL sailings our cards were scanned.

On our last CCL sailing they counted heDs, and it did take forever, almost an hour. But never did they check the identity of tnose attending. I remember the old days, not that long ago, actually, when they just checked you off the lst. Jeez, it was so simple - but I guess that was too easy.:rolleyes:

 

their mistake was, when they eliminated the life-vests, they eliminated the ability to scribe the cabin number off the jacket to a list.

 

6 months later since 1/13, and they are still scrambling.

[rjrice1]

Well, if the sister line of Princess uses scanners, why can't CCL???:confused: (and don't tell me it's because CCL is the "poor" sister!!:p:D)

 

 

We still had to bring our life jackets with us to the muster drill too. (pita)

With the scanners they are the same type used in stores to check prices.

As mention before it was so much quicker and easier getting on/off the ship.

Cathy

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Agree they need to scan per pax. When I was walking into my muster station with a cane, someone came & escorted me & hubby to an inside room where I sat in comfort. If they are merely counting heads, they would have been absent 2 at my station and plus 2 inside.

[kjunea]

Agree they need to scan per pax. When I was walking into my muster station with a cane, someone came & escorted me & hubby to an inside room where I sat in comfort. If they are merely counting heads, they would have been absent 2 at my station and plus 2 inside.

 

They've done this with me since I started using a cane. Even when the muster station is outside, they have let me sit inside in a lounge. They would then tell everyone there to come to the lounge if there was a problem, showed us how to put on our life vest and let us go first, before everyone else was released, so easy to get on an elevator!

[Elaine515]

I'm glad to see this being done... now I can only hope that the selfish passengers who drag themselves there 10 minutes late will start showing up on time...

 

 

BTW H82seaUgo I didnt know you were a fan of Johns and read his facebook page :) !!!!

 

 

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[H82seaUgo]

I'm glad to see this being done... now I can only hope that the selfish passengers who drag themselves there 10 minutes late will start showing up on time...

 

 

BTW H82seaUgo I didnt know you were a fan of Johns and read his facebook page :) !!!!

 

 

.

 

anyone can read an open facebook page without being a member. just can't post/comment.

[ItsAllAboutTheSass]

I'm glad to see this being done... now I can only hope that the selfish passengers who drag themselves there 10 minutes late will start showing up on time...

 

 

BTW H82seaUgo I didnt know you were a fan of Johns and read his facebook page :) !!!!

 

 

.

 

 

It's a good place for a laugh.

[HeatherC430]

I think it's ridiculous that these drills are mandatory. Once you attend one, it's the same thing on every cruise going forward! As long as you know where your muster station is, that's all that changes from cruise to cruise! If you don't attend, you're not hurting anyone but yourself!

[H82seaUgo]

I think it's ridiculous that these drills are mandatory. Once you attend one, it's the same thing on every cruise going forward! As long as you know where your muster station is, that's all that changes from cruise to cruise! If you don't attend, you're not hurting anyone but yourself!

 

tell that to your bosses at work, or the principals at schools.

[CruiserBren]

I agree there needs to be scanning for accountability. Some pax, just don't "get" why they need to be there AND pay attention. We were on the Glory a few weeks ago and there was a woman with her parents and her 3 boys (apprx. 4-8 yrs old). After crew telling mom 3 x's, she needed to put her drink down, her boys were crawling under everyone else's feet as they were trying to stand there. She was complaining that she had sailed before and knew what to do!!!

[TheBubbs]

I think it's ridiculous that these drills are mandatory. Once you attend one, it's the same thing on every cruise going forward! As long as you know where your muster station is, that's all that changes from cruise to cruise! If you don't attend, you're not hurting anyone but yourself!

 

Just ask any emergency worker...

 

"During emergency situations, two attributes become the enemy: panic and acting too slowly. Practice and confidence are the antidotes. Confidence is the result of really knowing what to do rather than wondering if you can do something, and practice is the best way to really know."

 

-- Deusrescue.com

[dna1990]

Drills are for the cruise line, not for us.

 

And don't tell me that by others going it will be safer for me. If the unthinkable happens, nobody will remember squat about what they did or did not learn in any drill. You best be prepared to help yourself. Always.

[dvdkndy]

Having only cruised on one Carnival cruise before I always wondered how they knew you were at the drill. I understand they are important to everyone on board but what if some guy locks his cabin door and doesn't go? How would they know unless they scanned their cards. Always have wondered about that.

 

Another question I have is for H82seaugo. Being fairly new to cruising and to Cruise Critic I honestly don't know they answer to this so please forgive me. However, what is the deal between you and John Heald? Did you guys have a run in a long time ago or something? I honestly am curious to what what got you and he at odds with each other. I have seen you post on other threads and never noticed an issue and I have seen his blog and never notice an issue. Thanks in advance for your response.

[jonbgd]

Drills are for the cruise line, not for us.

 

And don't tell me that by others going it will be safer for me. If the unthinkable happens, nobody will remember squat about what they did or did not learn in any drill. You best be prepared to help yourself. Always.

And I disagree the more informed a person is the better prepared they will be in a emergency.

 

But I also dont think they should be having muster stations inside. In case of sinking I want to know exactly where my lifeboat is and the fastest way to get there