A Muster Drill Dodger...Sailing with some Newbies. What should I do?

[logan25]

I can tell you on a recent Royal cruise, that passengers were kept waiting longer for muster drill instruction to begin, because the captain kept announcing over the PA system for all passengers to report. And was very specific in saying drill would not begin until every passenger reported to their station. He explained to the rest of us how important muster drill instruction is for OUR safety and no one would be excused.

 

And I remember reading a news article last year about passengers being unceremoniously disembarked from one ship at the beginning of a cruise for refusing to participate.

[Charles4515]

A worse safety hazard would be to need your life vest, not remember where it's located, and if fortunate enough to find it, not be able to put it on properly.

 

I certainly hope Princess doesn't 'come around to the trend'.

 

There are plenty of extra life jackets stored at the muster stations and in other locations than your cabin. In a real emergency you might not be able to go to your cabin or they might want you to go directly to the muster station.

[Seafoam Green]

There are plenty of extra life jackets stored at the muster stations and in other locations than your cabin. In a real emergency you might not be able to go to your cabin or they might want you to go directly to the muster station.

 

Yes, Charles, how correct you are. And where does one get the information regarding where the extra life vests are?

 

At the muster drill, of course!!

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

 

 

yours Shogun

[okiecruiser71]

A worse safety hazard would be to need your life vest, not remember where it's located, and if fortunate enough to find it, not be able to put it on properly.

 

I certainly hope Princess doesn't 'come around to the trend'.

 

I respectfully disagree. And by the way, it was the Coast Guard who gave the other lines the okay not to have people bring their life jackets to the muster. I'd wager that even in today's world, most people have the basic level of intelligence necessary to put on a life jacket without instruction.

[Seafoam Green]

I respectfully disagree. And by the way, it was the Coast Guard who gave the other lines the okay not to have people bring their life jackets to the muster. I'd wager that even in today's world, most people have the basic level of intelligence necessary to put on a life jacket without instruction.

 

In the litigious society we live in, Princess is properly 'covering all bases' by demonstrating the proper use of the life vest and then having the passengers demonstrate their ability to follow directions and put the life vests on.

 

I believe the old adage 'better safe than sorry' fits well here.

 

We will just have to agree to disagree on this point.

[robsaw]

Yes, Charles, how correct you are. And where does one get the information regarding where the extra life vests are?

 

At the muster drill, of course!!

 

And of course, that doesn't change the fact that such knowledge about where extra life vests are during the muster drill has nothing to do with whether or not bringing life vests and trying them on at the muster drill is a good idea.

 

An earlier post stated that (paraphrasing) the muster drill is not to make the passengers feel comfortable about emergency situations. Actually, that is the primary purpose - to avoid panic by giving people a bit of information. In a stressful situation, most people will not fully recall the details of the muster drill, but they will recall that there is a plan in place, which is a major factor in preventing panic. Making people calm and comfortable is in fact the most critical factor in an evacuation. Total recall of the procedures is for the crew, who drill repeatedly and are there to direct passengers in the case of a real emergency.

[Pamster]

I've also heard announcements from other musters (when leaving Vancouver for Alaska) that if you do not attend, you will be escorted off the ship and your trip ended before it even starts. Be thankful that the muster is in a lounge or theatre on Princess and that you don't have to stand squished together on deck like Holland America or Norwegian.

 

OptionAnon, I'm sure your Aunt would have no problems sitting in the theatre through the drill (go a little early) or I guess she won't be attending any of the shows if she doesn't like crowds.

 

Norwegian doesn't make passengers stand outside on the deck anymore, either. Or bring their life vests.

[Cobraman]

I respectfully disagree. And by the way, it was the Coast Guard who gave the other lines the okay not to have people bring their life jackets to the muster. I'd wager that even in today's world, most people have the basic level of intelligence necessary to put on a life jacket without instruction.

 

 

Really? You might not want be so generous with your intelligence awards. Besides, it has very little to do with intelligence. Go back and read the reports on the Concordia incident. Most of them didn't remember how to put on their vests, when to put on their vests or where to find their vests.

 

Left to their own devices, the majority of people cannot function when faced with critical incidents or life/death situations. The only thing that seperates them from survivors is training. Every operator, soldier, cop, fireman, etc. believes in their training, and their training keeps them alive.

 

The muster serves a purpose, and quite frankly they should do more with the time.

[Charles4515]

Really? You might not want be so generous with your intelligence awards. Besides, it has very little to do with intelligence. Go back and read the reports on the Concordia incident. Most of them didn't remember how to put on their vests, when to put on their vests or where to find their vests.

 

Left to their own devices, the majority of people cannot function when faced with critical incidents or life/death situations. The only thing that seperates them from survivors is training. Every operator, soldier, cop, fireman, etc. believes in their training, and their training keeps them alive.

 

The muster serves a purpose, and quite frankly they should do more with the time.

 

I think if they do more with the time the passengers will stop paying attention. On one of my HAL cruises the Captain was part way thru and he felt people were not listening and all of a sudden he said shut up everyone. That did get eveyones attention! But instead of apreciating him for being safety concious the comments were that he was being rude. In a real situation most passengers are going to have to depend on the crew for instruction including how to put on the vest whether they tried it at the drill or not. The crew has the drills every week. The passengers don't. Keep it short, this is your muster station, when you hear the alarm go there.

[Colo Cruiser]

Really? You might not want be so generous with your intelligence awards. Besides, it has very little to do with intelligence. Go back and read the reports on the Concordia incident. Most of them didn't remember how to put on their vests, when to put on their vests or where to find their vests.

 

Left to their own devices, the majority of people cannot function when faced with critical incidents or life/death situations. The only thing that seperates them from survivors is training. Every operator, soldier, cop, fireman, etc. believes in their training, and their training keeps them alive.

 

 

Exactly!

However I don't think it would matter what they did more during that time it won't make a difference.

[Cobraman]

I think if they do more with the time the passengers will stop paying attention. On one of my HAL cruises the Captain was part way thru and he felt people were not listening and all of a sudden he said shut up everyone. That did get eveyones attention! But instead of apreciating him for being safety concious the comments were that he was being rude. In a real situation most passengers are going to have to depend on the crew for instruction including how to put on the vest whether they tried it at the drill or not. The crew has the drills every week. The passengers don't. Keep it short, this is your muster station, when you hear the alarm go there.

 

I agree completely. Most will think they are prepared, until they realize just how serious the situation has become, and by that time it is normally too late for it to end well.

[Tweedy]

Norwegian doesn't make passengers stand outside on the deck anymore, either. Or bring their life vests.

 

That's a plus!

[caribill]

I'd wager that even in today's world, most people have the basic level of intelligence necessary to put on a life jacket without instruction.

 

Most, yes. But not all.

 

With the way Princess does muster, even more will know how to do it properly, but there will still always be a few who will need assistance for one reason or another.

[highflyingrealtor]

Darwin, law #5, natural selection...

[dmwnc1959]

Really? You might not want be so generous with your intelligence awards. Besides, it has very little to do with intelligence. Go back and read the reports on the Concordia incident. Most of them didn't remember how to put on their vests, when to put on their vests or where to find their vests.

 

Don't forget there were a good number of Costa Concordia passengers had been newly embarked at the port of Civitavecchia (roughly 700 new passengers) who had not gone through any type of safety/muster drill, which was scheduled for the following day.

 

That was one of the concerns of this type of route, where it multi-ported (beginning or ending a cruise at the same port, but offering more than one point of entry), picking up new passengers and disembarking others at three different locations: Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), and Savona.

 

And most all of the pictures I saw where Costa Concordia passengers where waiting at the lifeboat stations, they were all wearing life vests like this one:

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/15/article-0-0F7834AE00000578-698_964x623.jpg

 

So somewhere in between "didn't remember how to put on their vests, when to put on their vests or where to find their vests" they somehow managed.

[2BeOnaBoat]

First of all...I'm as knowledgable as anyone can be on muster procedures...I've been on over 25 Princess cruises and I could give a muster drill presentation in my sleep. However...my next cruise will be a bit different. I have often sailed with one adult who may have been new to cruising, and during muster I would usually just stay in our room. I would, quite literally, during the time the drill was happening, retrieve the life preservers and I'd explain to my new adult travel-mate how they worked, where we should go in case there's an emergency, etc.

 

This time, however, I'll be cruising with two teenage boys and their aunt.

 

Not to bore you with too many details, one of the reasons the aunt is resistant to cruising is...the crowds. Well, anyone who has cruised before knows this...the first crowd we see is at the buffet...and the NEXT crowd we see is at muster.

 

So...

 

Here is my very specific question (which, by the way, is NOT about the "importance of the muster drill"...I'm good there) I saw in a recent Princess Patter that an hour or so after departure, they offer a "Late Muster Drill for Late Arrivals". Well, I kinda love that...if we could go to, for example, the Explorers Lounge, with maybe 50 other people, as opposed to the hundreds in the Princess Theatre...that would give them (and the crowd-phobic aunt) a bit of relief from the crowds.

 

I still feel as though I could properly explain the muster situation on my own...but, since there are now minors involved, I feel more of a responsibility to do the right thing.

 

So...is this "Late Muster" presentation a new standard on all ships? I don't remember ever seeing it before. But, when you're travelling with someone who's already a little freaked about the possibility of something going wrong, you hate to make one of your first stops a place where there will be 800 people with orange life-vests around their necks looking confused.

 

Take the newbies to the muster - if not for legal reasons then for the virginity. Don't lead them around the whole trip. Let them explore and try to remember the excitement of your first cruise; the not knowing, the wonderment of discovery.

 

Personally I'd avoid the buffet especially on the first day. But with newbies, you have to take them. They will appreciate the MDR later.

 

The only thing I wouldn't do with newbies is wait in the line to board. Sneak them into the Platinum/Elite line.

 

Oh and tell them to only put the whistle in their mouth if they are convinced they are about to die! Other than that observe and enjoy, nudging as needed.

[DebJ14]

They are a safety hazard. The straps dangle on the floor and cause people to trip on them. Princess (and the other Carnival brands) will come around to that trend eventually. There's absolutely no need to bring them to the drill.

 

Carnival does not require that you bring them to the drill. They haven't required it for a couple of years now.

[gelo7]

I thought that the op was jesting until I read the full post. Why is the world so full of people that feel that the rules don't apply to them?

[DShock]

We cruise 3x a year on Princess and always gladly go to muster and take our life vests. It's part of a ritual and signals the beginning of a great time and escape from reality of our high stress jobs...not a bid deal. I also fly a lot in my job and even though I've heard it a thousand times I still listen when flight attendants give their safety briefing AND I always count the number of rows to the nearest exit...just in case. In emergencies those that have the combination of great instincts, control of panic, and knowledge of procedures, including putting on a life vest, are the ones most likely to survive.

 

One thing to note...we do many b2b's...and we are always told we do not have to attend on the second 7 days muster drill.

[dickwho]

On my last trip our cabin steward told me that they are required to check the cabins that they look after & anyone who tries to duck 'muster' is reported, and must go to the 'naughty room', and be given a dozen lashes with the 'cat' by the bosun.

 

However, after the last two incidents involving ships owned by Carnival, I'd suggest that the need to attend will be taken much more seriously than previously.

 

So me, Ima goin'.

[sherryf]

I'd wager that even in today's world, most people have the basic level of intelligence necessary to put on a life jacket without instruction.

 

I'm not so sure. There are plenty who are not intelligent enough to know to NOT put on their life jacket until instructed to do so... :rolleyes:

 

And then there are the ones who aren't intelligent enough to know that you shouldn't put that nasty whistle in your mouth... :eek:

[notentirelynormal]

Every drill I've gone to I've had someone ask how exactly the life jackets were put on. I don't think they are stupid, but it is new to them and they are just asking for guidance. I would much rather have them ask then wait until they really needed to know and have no clue. It takes a nanosecond to tell them and I'm sure it took more effort for them to admit they didn't know than for me to tell them. They are grateful for the help and I'm thankful I can help. I think basically most people really are there to find out what goes on, where and when. Sure, if you've cruised before the speech is pretty much the same but it is all part of the "cruise" experience. It is such a small part of the trip that I just don't get the issue so many people have.

[caribill]

First of all, I agree that even experienced cruisers should attend the drill except when attendance is not required on turnaround day on a b2b at which time it is optional.

 

But if you do not attend, you still cannot avoid hearing it.

 

It is broadcast into the cabins.

 

It is broadcast over the PA system everywhere.

[Doug R.]

First of all, I agree that even experienced cruisers should attend the drill except when attendance is not required on turnaround day on a b2b at which time it is optional.

 

But if you do not attend, you still cannot avoid hearing it.

 

It is broadcast into the cabins.

 

It is broadcast over the PA system everywhere.

 

However you will not get your card scanned in the cabin. Therefore they will find you and make you walk the plank! :eek: