Muster drills

[Lulubelle45]

I'm heading on my first Princess cruise next month. I've have sailed 3 other lines and they didn't require us to bring our life jackets. I've read on this forum that Princess does. Is this true? If so do we put them on or just carry them to be shown how?? Must say this sounds much more thorough! Our last cruise we assembled in the casino. Couldn't see even the demo! I thought why bother!! I would never skip the drill but thought that one was a joke.

[SadieN]

Princess musters in lounges and dining rooms. You need to bring your life jackets. At the end you try it on. You do not go to the lifeboats. They scan your card to confirm you're at muster.

 

We were in the Casino on our last cruise. There were plenty of crew demonstrating how to put them on and vacate the ship.

Edited April 3, 2015 by SadieN

[Illyria]

On my last Princess cruise a few months back, they announced that first-time passengers were required to bring their lifejackets to the muster drill. For everyone else, it was optional. So yes, you will have to bring it but do NOT put it on ahead of time (they will remind you so).

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

On my last Princess cruise a few months back, they announced that first-time passengers were required to bring their lifejackets to the muster drill. For everyone else, it was optional. So yes, you will have to bring it but do NOT put it on ahead of time (they will remind you so).

I believe they tried that idea for a very short while & decided against it for some reason. Seems like it was a great idea but maybe they found it impossible to actually tell who was a first time cruiser & who was not till you checked into the muster station......and at that point it was to late to do much about it.

[paul929207]

On Princess, you will have to carry your lifejacket to the muster drill. It will be held in the various lounges. If you cannot stand for 20 or 30 minutes, get there early to get a good seat.

[timetravler]

Bring your life jacket and your cruise card. Do not put your life jacket on until you are told to. That happens near the end of the muster drill. The Princess patter will tell you what time muster starts, but sometimes that time changes.

[chloe45]

Our last 4 cruises the patter said to bring your life jacket. We didn't and no one said a word. They just scanned our cruise cards and we entered the muster station.

[Colo Cruiser]

Bring your life jacket.

[davecttr]

Always take your life jacket unless told not to. The life jackets on this ship might be different to your last ship.

[RNGALNG]

We were on the Grand last fall and they had the 'first timers only' thing going on. This winter, we were on the Royal and had to bring jackets. I think too that they decided to go back to tried and true ways.

 

So, yes, bring the jacket, making sure all the ties are wrapped securely around it as you do not want to trip on them as you travel to your station.

 

It is an inconvenience but worth having EVERYONE safe and knowing that we know how to do it!

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

On Princess, you will have to carry your lifejacket to the muster drill. It will be held in the various lounges. If you cannot stand for 20 or 30 minutes, get there early to get a good seat.

The best seats are near the door for a quick exit.:D

[waltd]

Your muster station location will be listed on the back of your cabin door. Check it out when you get on board along with the time. If you want a seat leave for muster 10 to 15 minutes early. If you hate crowds you might want to stay at the muster station till everyone leaves. The stairs are a better choice then the elevators since everyone wants the elevators.

[Thrak]

It's always amazing to look around and see the people who are not following directions. They put on the life jacket even though they are instructed specifically not to do so. It's even more odd when someone decides they need to blow their whistle. Ewwwwwwwwwww........ Who knows what is on that thing or how many other clowns have put it in their mouth.

 

I was really hoping Princess would continue the "only blue cards bring their life jacket" thing but it certainly hasn't been the case for us.

 

For the OP: I know you said you wouldn't skip the muster but please be advised that, on Princess, they do scan your card to verify you attended and, if you don't attend, they will come after you and make you attend a remedial drill.

[Colo Cruiser]

It's always amazing to look around and see the people who are not following directions. They put on the life jacket even though they are instructed specifically not to do so. It's even more odd when someone decides they need to blow their whistle. Ewwwwwwwwwww........ Who knows what is on that thing or how many other clowns have put it in their mouth.

 

I was really hoping Princess would continue the "only blue cards bring their life jacket" thing but it certainly hasn't been the case for us.

 

For the OP: I know you said you wouldn't skip the muster but please be advised that, on Princess, they do scan your card to verify you attended and, if you don't attend, they will come after you and make you attend a remedial drill.

 

They did not scan mine and several other people last month.

They never came to hunt me down.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

There was a short period where they announced people's names on the speaker system if you missed the muster drill but that seemed to have stopped. We missed ;) the muster on the CB last cruise and only received a letter outlining the same thing they said in the video.

Thankfully nothing about a make-up. :D

[Pam in CA]

It's always amazing to look around and see the people who are not following directions. They put on the life jacket even though they are instructed specifically not to do so. It's even more odd when someone decides they need to blow their whistle. Ewwwwwwwwwww........ Who knows what is on that thing or how many other clowns have put it in their mouth.

Even worse was the jack*** on the Grand in February who wore his jacket to Muster, sat down and proceeded to continuously wipe his nose on the jacket. I let the crew know and refused to touch my jacket other than by the belt, including refusing to put it on.

[AKman2495]

We always bring them and put them on during the drill. Push comes to shove, if I really need it, it is usually in a "panic" type situation. It is comforting knowing that I at least put it on once when it was not so panicky.

 

IMHO

[shredie]

Even worse was the jack*** on the Grand in February who wore his jacket to Muster, sat down and proceeded to continuously wipe his nose on the jacket. I let the crew know and refused to touch my jacket other than by the belt, including refusing to put it on.

 

Ewww. Yes, who knows how many germs are on those things?

[Pam in CA]

Ewww. Yes, who knows how many germs are on those things?

Not to mention that the flu was rampant on the Grand the cruise before mine and on mine as well.

[nukesubsailor]

In February on the Royal we were hoping that we would not have to attend as we have done many Princess cruises. No such luck. We sat through it and while we found it less than exciting, it was not bad. What was bad was later when we were in our cabin wanting to watch tv. Before we could watch any show on the tv, we had to let a safety program play its full length. Once it played out, we never had to watch it again before watching any show we wanted. The safety show feature my be unique to those ships that have the "on demand" tv systems.

[Kenswing]

Got to love the people that put the whistle in their mouth.. :eek:

[tanzer22pilot]

Always take your life jacket unless told not to. The life jackets on this ship might be different to your last ship.

 

Agree. It is very important at the life jacket meeting to pay attention. On HAL life jackets, the strap went around to the left, where on Princess ships the strap comes around from the right.

[Pam in CA]

In February on the Royal we were hoping that we would not have to attend as we have done many Princess cruises. No such luck.

While it seems boring to those of us who have been on many Princess cruises, you really do need to attend and hear it every time. You'd be surprised when it's a real emergency how much you forget or aren't sure of.

 

Several years go, I was on a HAL B2B cruise (14 days each for a total of 28 days) and we were required to attend the 2nd Muster. I think something like 50% of the ship did the full itinerary. The 2nd night after the 2nd Muster, the alarm went off at 1:50AM. Woken out of a deep sleep, people were running here and there, unsure what to do. Some grabbed their life jackets and ran to the life boats in their night gear, some stood around the hallway, some poked their heads out and asked what to do. This was less than 36 hours after the 2nd Muster! Yours truly was one of the few to jump into my clothes, grab my medications (and jewelry), a coat and my life jacket before heading into the hallway. The Captain then came on the PA and said for passengers to stay in their cabins. A transformer in the buffet cooler had blown and started an electrical fire. After half an hour, he said it was out, fire crew would remain on station overnight, and to go back to bed. Yeahsureright. I don't think the reaction would have been very different on a Princess ship.

[BCCRUSINGCOUPLE]

We were on the Grand Last year and went to our muster station and did not take our life jackets as per our room stewart. I have to admit this was really slick worked well no one tripping over people life jackets quick and easy.

 

I think the best part of this muster station was one of the crew members was informing everyone on how to put on the life jackets and there is more than enough life rafts on board for everyone so you don't have to worry. It seemed to calm everyone then the crew member said these life rafts are made so they can not sink and can take a lot in the open sea. There was more smiles then out of no where someone puts up there hand the crew member looks over and say how can I help you sir. So this person stands up and say if you can build the life rafts not to sink why would you not just make the ship un sinkable. The crew member looked like deer in the headlights it was a very very funny moment thanks Princess.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

Got to love the people that put the whistle in their mouth.. :eek:

But what if the whistle didn't work? How would you know until it's to late.