Wheelchairs and muster drill

[ksmcdonald]

I know from the past that we have to use the stairs instead of elevator before and after muster drill. Can people in wheelchairs use elevators? Is there a different drill for wheelchair users?

[Merion_Mom]

I know from the past that we have to use the stairs instead of elevator before and after muster drill. Can people in wheelchairs use elevators? Is there a different drill for wheelchair users?

 

Talk to Guest Services when you board. They will direct you to the area for wheelchair users.

[ryano]

Is there a different drill for wheelchair users?

 

No different drill to my knowledge but that may depend on the ship. My last two have been on Freedom on deck 4 crammed in with everyone else :D I was able to use the elevator to get there. Generally they will let us go just a minute or so early to get out before the crowds.

Edited January 29, 2016 by ryano

[Havingfun2010]

Disabled travelers, including elderly, people with canes, wheelchairs, or or infants, are usually directed to an alternate location on the same floor, but in the lounge. Everyone is either scanned, or room numbers taken, so they know. Often times they will ask also. You may use the elevators. They will remind you that elevators etc will not be operational in a real emergency and to make sure you know where you need to go also. Outside of that, they take care of you.

[ryano]

Disabled travelers, including elderly, people with canes, wheelchairs, are usually directed to an alternate location on the same floor, but in the lounge. .

 

Not my experience at all but again, it might vary from ship to ship. I honestly cant remember what we did on Monarch or Radiance. here was my last muster station on Freedom. As you can see, I arrived way early.

 

[pjnj40]

When i was on the Anthem, they setup the muster drill station way before they starting the announcement of the drill. If you know what deck to go for muster drill, i would hang around a little earlier then announce drill time on that deck. this way you can avoid the hassle and splitting up when you want to do sail away after the drill over.

[chengkp75]

Not my experience at all but again, it might vary from ship to ship. I honestly cant remember what we did on Monarch or Radiance. here was my last muster station on Freedom. As you can see, I arrived way early.

 

 

Ryano, every ship should have a special needs muster station. They do not advertise it, and unless you go to the front desk immediately upon boarding, and request it, they won't say a word about it. But it's there. This is for those who have mobility issues or other issues that makes it easier for them to muster indoors and seated, and this is where the crew assigned to assist special needs passengers in a real emergency muster. Generally, there is a nurse assigned as well. Most ships/lines allow one accompanying member of the party to stay with the special needs passenger.

 

And yes, there are crew at the elevators to stop folks from using them during drill, but they will allow passengers with mobility issues to use them.

 

It is always good to notify the front desk that you want the special needs muster station, as this puts you on a list of those that the crew will be looking out for during an emergency, and if you are not at the special muster location, crew will be dispatched to look for you and assist as needed.

Edited January 30, 2016 by chengkp75

[aftop]

As I previously posted on this same subject I asked an officer about an alternative station as my DW cannot stand for long periods. We were seated in a lounge, a crew member took each Sea Pass and had them scanned. They then demonstrated the procedure as we could clearly hear the instructions from the outside deck.

 

There were several people in wheelchairs in the lounge.

[John&LaLa]

Enchantment lets you go to Boleros. There will be someone in there checking off your seapass.

[riclop]

I know from the past that we have to use the stairs instead of elevator before and after muster drill. Can people in wheelchairs use elevators? Is there a different drill for wheelchair users?

 

Same drill just leave your room early.

[cindy_k]

My mom uses a scooter on the ship to get around. We try to get to our muster station before they start so there aren't any problems with getting elevators.

 

If you don't go early, I think the staff will let you on the elevator. They need you at the drill.

 

After muster, the crew usually will let us and any other mobilly challenged passengers go first and get the elevator for us.

[ryano]

Ryano, every ship should have a special needs muster station. They do not advertise it, and unless you go to the front desk immediately upon boarding, and request it, they won't say a word about it. But it's there. This is for those who have mobility issues or other issues that makes it easier for them to muster indoors and seated, and this is where the crew assigned to assist special needs passengers in a real emergency muster. Generally, there is a nurse assigned as well. Most ships/lines allow one accompanying member of the party to stay with the special needs passenger.

 

And yes, there are crew at the elevators to stop folks from using them during drill, but they will allow passengers with mobility issues to use them.

 

It is always good to notify the front desk that you want the special needs muster station, as this puts you on a list of those that the crew will be looking out for during an emergency, and if you are not at the special muster location, crew will be dispatched to look for you and assist as needed.

 

Wow, I had no idea :o I've just always went where my seapass said to go. thanks so much for this info! Honestly it was pretty bad out there on deck 4 with everyone jammed up against me and I did wonder about a real emergency so I will go to guest services and request it.

 

5 cruises and I had no idea I've been doing it wrong! :eek:

[Mama24]

Wow, I had no idea :o I've just always went where my seapass said to go. thanks so much for this info! Honestly it was pretty bad out there on deck 4 with everyone jammed up against me and I did wonder about a real emergency so I will go to guest services and request it.

 

5 cruises and I had no idea I've been doing it wrong! :eek:

 

I never knew it either, ryano, and I've sailed on Freedom three times. This is good information to know.

[Paulxyz2004]

If you have mobility issues or Need Special assistance in case of an emergency it is essential to tell them as soon as you board and before muster drill. They do have procedures in place to assist you, but they Need to know.

 

It won´t do you any good to just take the Elevator down a bit early for the drill and not let them know.

 

In case of a real emergency there is no going a couple minutes early and By the time they call muster the Elevators might not be operational. They need to assign People to help you in case of a real emergency, but they can only do this if they know.

[cruisenfever]

Disabled travelers, including elderly, people with canes, wheelchairs, or or infants, are usually directed to an alternate location on the same floor, but in the lounge. Everyone is either scanned, or room numbers taken, so they know. Often times they will ask also. You may use the elevators. They will remind you that elevators etc will not be operational in a real emergency and to make sure you know where you need to go also. Outside of that, they take care of you.

Not my experience at all but again, it might vary from ship to ship. I honestly cant remember what we did on Monarch or Radiance. here was my last muster station on Freedom. As you can see, I arrived way early.

You have to check in at your Muster Station, or have someone do it for you, and then you can go inside to the area designated for those that can not stand or are in a wheelchair. If Deck 5 is the Muster Station deck, then inside there will be an area where a staff member will go through the same thing that is being done outside.

[spookwife]

I know from the past that we have to use the stairs instead of elevator before and after muster drill. Can people in wheelchairs use elevators? Is there a different drill for wheelchair users?

 

 

no and no. you must situate yourself on the correct deck early.. basically as soon as they make the announcement that the drill will be in half an hour. you will be herded into the same muster station as everyone else unless you specifically request a private Muster

 

at best they will let you off to the side and not be in the mass crush of the rest of the crowd standing.

[AJTWC]

My son is a full-time wheelchair user, and my husband is the "designated pusher". For muster, they were both escorted by a crew member to an elevator and then to the station. (Explorer, Oasis & Allure)

[ksmcdonald]

Good info people! It gives me somewhere to start. Thank you.

[RADICALBURN]

On VISION we met in casino. Went down early and then was escorted from muster station to casino......................................RADICAL

[rosemariee]

As I previously posted on this same subject I asked an officer about an alternative station as my DW cannot stand for long periods. We were seated in a lounge, a crew member took each Sea Pass and had them scanned. They then demonstrated the procedure as we could clearly hear the instructions from the outside deck.

 

 

 

There were several people in wheelchairs in the lounge.

 

 

I have several invisible illnesses one of which make it nearly impossible for me to stand still for more than 10 minutes. I ended up buying FTTF (Carnival) to ease my anxiety with lines. Unfortunately that doesn't cover everything so I still have my concerns. I'm concerned about lines waiting for tender back to the ship and the safety briefing. Hopefully everything works out

 

 

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