Muster Drills Description Please of How it Works

[katrocity1]

We'll be cruising for the first time in June and will have our 11 yr old twins with us. Can someone tell me how the Muster drill works. Is there an alarm? Will the kids be scared?

 

Just want to know what to expect so I can describe to them ahead of time.

 

Thx

[sparky-elpaso]

A lot depends on what ship / cruise line. In some cases you will be instructed to go to your actual muster station on deck (location is on your sea pass card, in others you will go to a theater or public space. There's usually an announcement before the time instructing you what to do. The ship may use the horn so you know what signal to expect - I can't remember exactly what it is. Most lines no longer require you to wear your life jacket but it's a good idea to get them down from wherever they're stored in your cabin to check them out and try them on sometime during the first day or so of your cruise.

 

Keep an eye out during your cruise - on port days the crew may hold drills / training sessions and lower a few of the life boats. Interesting to watch. And the ship may use the boats if you have a tender port so you may get a ride in one. :)

[beachbum53]

Welcome to Cruise Critic! The muster drill takes place approximately 1/2 hour prior to sail-away. On the back of your cabin door, there is a sign that tells you where your muster station is. An announcement will be made when it is time for the muster drill to take place. There's nothing scary about it. At the drill, you'll be instructed on what to do in the event of an actual emergency, and how to put on your life vest. On most cruise lines, you are no longer required to bring a life vest with you to the drill. Hope you and your family have a great cruise!:)

[chengkp75]

The signal for muster is sounding the ships horn (not usually audible inside) and the ships general alarm bells (inside) in the following manner: six short rings and one long ring. It is best to describe the drill to your kids before hand, so they know what to expect and to be patient (hard) and quiet (even harder) during the drill. They are generally (though this depends on the line, 1/2-1 hour before sailing.

[katrocity1]

1. What do you do in the drill?

 

2. Do you walk the stairs to the area with lifeboats?

 

3. Do you take your life jackets?

 

I really want to make sure I know the blow by blow so I can explain in detail to the kids.

 

Thanks!

 

K

[Daisyloo]

What line are you going on. That makes a difference as to the procedure.

[Gunner22aa]

1. What do you do in the drill?

 

Again it depends on the cruise line. At a minimum you will be seated and shown a video of what to do in an actual emergency. You will be given instruction on where to meet, how to put your life jacket on and in the case of Princess meet the individuals responsible for your safety. The drill is mandatory. On our last cruise we ended up starting late because a couple of couples decided to blow it off and had to be chased down by the staff.

 

2. Do you walk the stairs to the area with lifeboats?

 

Again dependant on your cruise line. On Celebrity we were on the open deck near our lifeboat. On Princess our muster station is always Club Fusion based on where we stay on the boat.

3. Do you take your life jackets?

 

Again cruise line dependant. On Celecrity we had to wear them. On Princess we were not required to take them to the briefing.

[Keith1010]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

While there are minimum standards that the cruse lines follow there are still differences in the way the drills are conducted.

 

Let me suggest that you post this on the cruise line board for the cruise line you are sailing.

 

Keith

[Roz]

While the drills are very important, I think you're making a bigger issue of this than it needs to be. If you're apprehensive or frightened, you will translate this to your kids. Honestly, I don't see why 11 yr. olds can't handle a muster drill. The crew will be there to assist you every step of the way, and the procedures will be announced.

 

Roz

[ducklite]

Tell them it's like the fire drills they have in school. Same idea.

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

[NMLady]

1. What do you do in the drill?

 

2. Do you walk the stairs to the area with lifeboats?

 

3. Do you take your life jackets?

 

I really want to make sure I know the blow by blow so I can explain in detail to the kids.

 

Thanks!

 

K

 

It varies from cruise line to cruise line and even from ship to ship, so no way to give definitive answer.

One thing in common is that an announcement will be made about 15-30 minutes before the muster telling what time it will be (30-60 minutes before sailing).

Very few ships require you to bring your life jackets anymore since people were tripping over the trailing ties.

Some ships have you stand where your lifeboat is but others simply assign you a place indoors to sit or stand.

[bbwex]

I don't think I am going to add much of anything to what has been said, other than the question about using the elevators -- they will be restricted to handicapped people, and you will have to use the stairs.

 

The muster drill is clearly noted in many places when you arrive -- you will definitely know when it is. In most cases, it is an hour or so before departure, but after the end of the embarkation process.

 

In your cabin, as has been stated, will be a easily seen placard telling you what your muster station is and where it is located.

 

There will be an announcement on the main PA system when it starts, and they will sound the alarm inside the ship. If you are outside when it starts, or get to an outside muster location quickly enough (if you have an outside one), you will hear the ship's horn sound. You might also hear this from other cruise ships in port as they will be going through the same process at about the same time.

 

Some lines still require that you take your life preserver, so no longer do. If they do, put them on in your cabin, and secure the straps. The straps are a great trip hazard on the stairs, so don't have any dragging, and watch for others who might not be so careful with their straps. In either event, as the muster station, they will demonstrate putting your life preserver on properly.

If you have to take it with you, they will instruct you to keep it on on the way back to your cabin, again keeping the straps secure for the same reason as you were careful on the way to your muster station.

 

At the muster station, and this might be inside in some large space, or outside on the deck along the lifeboats -- this varies between lines -- they will take attendance and ensure that every single person is there. They will then explain what the emergency procedures would be in the unlikely event of a problem. Once that is all finished, you will be allowed to go back to your cabin and have a great cruise.

 

It is not frightening at all, and as someone has already said, your kids have been through fire drills, and likely worse, at school many times. The staircases do get crowded and slow, but it is no big deal.

 

As I have noted, they are mandatory, and if you are missing, they will come and find you. If they don't find you quickly enough, you will have to go through it by yourselves, and if you refuse, as some frequent cruisers sometimes try to do, some lines will collect you and your luggage and escort you to the gangway for an early end to your cruise! Muster drills might be used for other reasons -- for instance if they think someone might have fallen overboard.

 

In the event of a real emergency, if you cannot get back to your cabin for your life preserver, they have extras at the lifeboat stations.

[OCruisers]

1. What do you do in the drill?

 

2. Do you walk the stairs to the area with lifeboats?

 

3. Do you take your life jackets?

 

I really want to make sure I know the blow by blow so I can explain in detail to the kids.

 

Thanks!

 

K

 

We need to know on WHICH cruise line and ship you'll be sailing to answer you correctly.

 

LuLu

[cb at sea]

In the drill, you will stand with your group, and a crew member will tell you what to do SHOULD there be an emergency.

 

You can find out where your lifeboat station is ahead of time, and get there early via the elevators, if you wish. If you wait until time for the drill, you'll need to use the stairs.

 

It's not scary, and there's really no need to overly explain to the kids.....that tends to make them fearful for nothing!

 

On most ships, you don't take lifejackets anymore....if you need them, you'll be told so!

 

As another said, it's a "drill"...just like at school, so they'll be prepared JUST IN CASE!

[wwcruisers]

Just a word of warning -- depending on your location when the alarm sounds, that "six short blasts, followed by one long blast" can be very loud (and scarey)! :eek: Since we always travel with earplugs, we used to just put them in, when we went back to the cabin for our lifejackets. They worked very well, and we never had any problem understanding the crew's verbal instructions. Now that we don't go back for our lifejackets, we tend to forget to bring our earplugs to the drill. But, that's OK -- when they say that the alarm is getting ready to sound, fingers in your ears work pretty well, too! ;)

[Essiesmom]

On many lines, there will be a safety video playing on your cabin TV when you board. There will be an announcement over the PA system and into all cabins telling you that 'in 30 minutes there will be a safety drill...' the same announcement will be made 15 minutes later. When the drill alarm sounds, it will not be a surprise. Some lines will tell you not to bring your life jacket to the drill. Others will tell you to bring it, but not wear it. If you are told to bring it, it's use will be demonstrated at the drill, and then you will practice putting it on. As has been said, attendance is mandatory, and some lines are taking attendance. EM

Edited November 4, 2013 by Essiesmom

[OCruisers]

Tell them it's like the fire drills they have in school. Same idea.

 

Excellent Suggestion! :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[larronry]

I will add that as the time approaches I usually ask a crew member on deck what time it is scheduled for, especially if the ship started embarkation late. Usually there is a schedule somewhere (maybe newsletter in cabin or on one of the tv channels) but if I think there is a reason for a delay I ask. I find it important because my son has autism and preparation is necessary. I also find the sounds no more ear piercing then the fire drill at school which I know must be worse then when I was in school.

[kitty9]

For some reason, you're not telling what line you're on, but from looking at your previous posts, it looks to be Celebrity. The reason people needed to know is that every cruise line, even different ships from the same cruise line, do things differently.

 

On Celebrity's S class ships, you are assigned to a specific public room where you'll gather to watch a short video. You DO NOT bring your life jackets with you. In the daily newsletter, that will be in your cabin when you arrive, it will tell you the time of the drill. Most savvy cruisers will tell you they arrive in that meeting place about 10 minutes before the drill starts.

 

About 30 minutes before the drill, the cruise director will announce that the drill will commence. He will then give a few directions.

 

On the M class ships, such as Summit, Infinity etc, you'll meet in a public room, such as the theater or casino, and you'll follow the directions of the staff in that room. Once everyone is accounted for (they take attendance), the crew will demonstrate the rules and the cruise director will then make announcements. After that, the crew will lead you out on deck to your assigned lifeboat. After that, you're done.

 

To be honest, you seem to be really overly concerned with the drill. Kids younger than yours go through the drill with absolutely no problems, so try not to get so worried about it. Yes, the information is important, and the ship's horn is loud, but this isn't a scary thing. It's really no different than the drills that are held in your child's school. Heck, some of those drills can be real scary as my cousin had to play dead during their recent drill where they practiced what they'd do if a shooter entered their school. A muster drill is nothing like that

[mom says]

For some reason you don't want anyone to know what cruise line you will be on. Fine. PPs have described various scenarios regarding the muster drills. Pick the one that most closely approximates the ship you will sail on. Or just read the information that you will find inside your cabin. Better yet, have your 11 year old twins read it.

 

I'm not sure why you think 11 year olds would be frightened by a drill, unless they are afflicted by some particular disability. I hope they won't be traumatized by the safety instructions and demonstrations aboard the plane you'll probably be flying in to get to your embarkation port. I think you are making way too much of this.

[Cuizer2]

We'll be cruising for the first time in June and will have our 11 yr old twins with us. Can someone tell me how the Muster drill works. Is there an alarm? Will the kids be scared?

 

Just want to know what to expect so I can describe to them ahead of time.

 

Thx

 

The signal for the muster drill is seven short blasts on the ship's horn followed by one long blast. If you are inside you will hear an alarm. Typically you are warned ahead of time that the muster drill will occur in a short time:

 

The ship's newspaper (which you will find on your bed when you enter your cabin) will list the time of the muster drill. There will be a PA announcement warning visitors that the ship is getting ready to sail. There will be a PA announcement warning that the muster drill will occur in X number of minutes. There will be a PA announcement that the crew members should go to their muster stations. Finally there will be the seven short follow by one long blast of the ship's horn plus the inside alarms.

 

You head to your muster station and there will usually be roll taken (to make sure everyone is there), some safety information will be provided via the PA system and a demonstration on how to put on your life jacket. Some of the lines no longer require that you bring your life jacket to the muster drill. Finally there will be a PA announcement that the drill is over.

 

I've taken some photographs at must drills, which I have posted below ...

 

Caribbean Princess - 2010 ...

 

 

Voyager of the Seas - 2009 ...

 

 

Carnival Paradise - 2008

 

 

Freedom of the Seas - 2007 ...

 

 

Carnival Glory - 2006 ...

 

 

NCL Star - 2005 ...

 

[Cuizer2]

1. What do you do in the drill?

 

2. Do you walk the stairs to the area with lifeboats?

 

3. Do you take your life jackets?

 

I really want to make sure I know the blow by blow so I can explain in detail to the kids.

 

Thanks!

 

K

 

1) Mostly stand around and watch & listen.

2) Yes, you do not use the elevators in an emergency.

3) Some lines require that you bring your left jackets, recently some lines do not want you to bring your left jackets (because the trailing straps end up being a safety hazard).

[katrocity1]

What line are you going on. That makes a difference as to the procedure.

 

Cruise line is Celebrity on Summit. Thanks!

[katrocity1]

For some reason you don't want anyone to know what cruise line you will be on. Fine. PPs have described various scenarios regarding the muster drills. Pick the one that most closely approximates the ship you will sail on. Or just read the information that you will find inside your cabin. Better yet, have your 11 year old twins read it.

 

I'm not sure why you think 11 year olds would be frightened by a drill, unless they are afflicted by some particular disability. I hope they won't be traumatized by the safety instructions and demonstrations aboard the plane you'll probably be flying in to get to your embarkation port. I think you are making way too much of this.

 

I'm cracking up about everyone commenting about me for some reason not wanting to post what cruise line we are on. Didn't know I was supposed to or that there would be differences between lines. I was at work today and didn't have time to check the board. I wasn't ignoring your questions.

 

Thanks to everyone for your help! Great to know it is no big deal and not scary.

 

 

K

[katrocity1]

The signal for the muster drill is seven short blasts on the ship's horn followed by one long blast. If you are inside you will hear an alarm. Typically you are warned ahead of time that the muster drill will occur in a short time:

 

The ship's newspaper (which you will find on your bed when you enter your cabin) will list the time of the muster drill. There will be a PA announcement warning visitors that the ship is getting ready to sail. There will be a PA announcement warning that the muster drill will occur in X number of minutes. There will be a PA announcement that the crew members should go to their muster stations. Finally there will be the seven short follow by one long blast of the ship's horn plus the inside alarms.

 

You head to your muster station and there will usually be roll taken (to make sure everyone is there), some safety information will be provided via the PA system and a demonstration on how to put on your life jacket. Some of the lines no longer require that you bring your life jacket to the muster drill. Finally there will be a PA announcement that the drill is over.

 

I've taken some photographs at must drills, which I have posted below ...

 

Caribbean Princess - 2010 ...

 

 

Voyager of the Seas - 2009 ...

 

 

Carnival Paradise - 2008

 

 

Freedom of the Seas - 2007 ...

 

 

Carnival Glory - 2006 ...

 

 

NCL Star - 2005 ...

 

 

Thanks for the photos! I loved seeing them.