POA Muster Drill - Where

[spirit rev]

So, I've learned the muster drills on POA start at 4:45. Where are they held? Since most of my NCL cruises have been out of NYC in January, they were in the main dining rooms most of the time. Wondering since the POA sails from a warm weather port if these drills are inside or outside.

Thanks for your help again.

[pizzalady1]

So, I've learned the muster drills on POA start at 4:45. Where are they held? Since most of my NCL cruises have been out of NYC in January, they were in the main dining rooms most of the time. Wondering since the POA sails from a warm weather port if these drills are inside or outside.

Thanks for your help again.

 

All NCL muster drills are held inside, as far as I know. I have always been in the bigger of the two MDRs, but I have always had an aft cabin. I think some are held in the Stardust. Your location will be on the back of your cabin door.

[www3traveler]

There are several ships where the muster drills are held outside under your assigned lifeboat. The location of your cabin will decide your Muster Drill location. There will be a sign on the back of your cabin door (like in hotels) giving the location of where your Muster Drill location is and there should be signage near the lobby given the location of Muster Drill stations. Muster Drill information is also given in the Freestyle Daily you receive on the first day of your cruise. YOU are required to attend but you do not need to bring your life jacket.

[KeithJenner]

So, I've learned the muster drills on POA start at 4:45. Where are they held? Since most of my NCL cruises have been out of NYC in January, they were in the main dining rooms most of the time. Wondering since the POA sails from a warm weather port if these drills are inside or outside.

Thanks for your help again.

 

 

Whether you muster station is inside or outside will be based on the architecture of the ship, not the weather.

 

As said above, on most NCL ships they are inside, but a couple (the Spirit for example) have them outside. I've never been on the POA, but from what I know of it I imagine the muster stations will be indoors.

[punkincc]

Ours was in one of the MDRs, but I have no idea where everyone else was. Your Muster Station code will be printed on the front of your room card. You will probably get a Freestyle Daily at check in, or if not, look for them in the guest services area. The codes/meeting locations should be listed there. Near the time of the drill, crew will be stationed throughout the ship to direct passengers, and they can quickly tell you where your station is.

[spirit rev]

Thanks all for your information.

I gather from your responses that the muster stations are all indoors. I'm aware of how to find out where our muster station is having sailed NCL many times.

My reason/concern for asking relates to the them being in the MDRs with the tables already set for dinner and how much the silver and glasses are handled by folks who sit at the tables during muster drill. While I'm really not a germ-a-phob, I prefer not to have my silverware handled by others (besides the wait staff) prior to using it to eat with.

[Sauer-kraut]

Thanks all for your information.

I gather from your responses that the muster stations are all indoors. I'm aware of how to find out where our muster station is having sailed NCL many times.

My reason/concern for asking relates to the them being in the MDRs with the tables already set for dinner and how much the silver and glasses are handled by folks who sit at the tables during muster drill. While I'm really not a germ-a-phob, I prefer not to have my silverware handled by others (besides the wait staff) prior to using it to eat with.

They won't set the tables until after the drill is over.

[spirit rev]

They won't set the tables until after the drill is over.

Unfortunately, that has not always been my experience when sailing out of NYC on NCL.

[punkincc]

Thanks all for your information.

I gather from your responses that the muster stations are all indoors. I'm aware of how to find out where our muster station is having sailed NCL many times.

My reason/concern for asking relates to the them being in the MDRs with the tables already set for dinner and how much the silver and glasses are handled by folks who sit at the tables during muster drill. While I'm really not a germ-a-phob, I prefer not to have my silverware handled by others (besides the wait staff) prior to using it to eat with.

 

Yes, the tables were completely set up in the dining room we were in. I wondered about that myself. But, since the dining rooms open very soon after the drill is over, I guess they would not have time get them ready if they waited.

 

All the more reason to stick with the buffet and the specialties like we did;).

[herdingdogmom]

We were in a balcony cabin on deck 10 or 11 forward on the POA and our muster drill was outside under the life boat. They made us line up like you would be on the lifeboat. It was hot and not pleasant. It's the only NCL muster drill I've be to that has been outside. The most recent one on the Pearl was in the MDR and the tables were already set for dinner.

[greatlakesgirl]

Thanks all for your information.

I gather from your responses that the muster stations are all indoors. I'm aware of how to find out where our muster station is having sailed NCL many times.

My reason/concern for asking relates to the them being in the MDRs with the tables already set for dinner and how much the silver and glasses are handled by folks who sit at the tables during muster drill. While I'm really not a germ-a-phob, I prefer not to have my silverware handled by others (besides the wait staff) prior to using it to eat with.

Nope, ours on the POA was outside on deck 6.

Edited November 23, 2015 by greatlakesgirl

[tempus137]

but you do not need to bring your life jacket.

 

I haven't cruised in several years, but every muster drill I've had in the past required life jackets. When was this changed?

[KeithJenner]

I haven't cruised in several years, but every muster drill I've had in the past required life jackets. When was this changed?

 

 

Quite a few years ago.

[pizzalady1]

As I said earlier, all of our muster drills were in the aft MDR. Every time the tables were all set, but the tables and set-ups were all covered with another table cloth.

[jpcello]

Thanks all for your information.

I gather from your responses that the muster stations are all indoors. I'm aware of how to find out where our muster station is having sailed NCL many times.

My reason/concern for asking relates to the them being in the MDRs with the tables already set for dinner and how much the silver and glasses are handled by folks who sit at the tables during muster drill. While I'm really not a germ-a-phob, I prefer not to have my silverware handled by others (besides the wait staff) prior to using it to eat with.

 

We were on Breakaway in August. We were in the large MDR for muster (we were in an accessible cabin). All of the tables that were set had large table clothes spread over the set tables so you couldn't touch any of the place settings.

[jpcello]

As I said earlier, all of our muster drills were in the aft MDR. Every time the tables were all set, but the tables and set-ups were all covered with another table cloth.

 

We were on the Breakaway in August. It was the same for us - set tables were covered.

[punkincc]

Glad to hear that at least they cover the table settings part of the time. On our POA ( 2014 ) there was no covering. Maybe they have made a change since then?

[chengkp75]

Glad to hear that at least they cover the table settings part of the time. On our POA ( 2014 ) there was no covering. Maybe they have made a change since then?

 

Well, in addition to the differences between POA and all other cruise ships that everyone knows about, there is another difference when it comes to sanitation. Since the USPH's mandate is to prevent infectious diseases from entering the US, they have no jurisdiction over the POA (which never leaves the US) or any of the dinner cruise or casino boats. These are inspected by FDA, and while they have modelled their program after USPH's VSP, there are a few differences, and the FDA is newer to the party. It may be that FDA never caught this, since they would frequently inspect at ports other than embarkation ports, and that once the practice was found, it was corrected.

 

That's why you'll never see the POA listed on the USPH inspection scores. ;)

Edited November 23, 2015 by chengkp75

[DaisyGoldberg]

We were also outside (outside the 50's diner place). Staring straight into the sun, pretty hot and uncomfortable. If your muster station is outdoors in Hawaii (or anywhere, I suppose), take a hat, sunglasses and some water, because you might be standing in a spot you'd otherwise never subject yourself to for quite a while.

 

(Could be ours was unusually long for some particular reason having to do with that sailing. I've never had a muster before or since that was less comfortable.)