Muster Drill -Health Limitations

[summersigh]

DH has mobility issues that require him to have wheelchair assistance to board and disembark but gets around, abet slowly, with a cane on board. When we traveled on Carnival they have folks with disabilities that can't stand on the deck for the 30+ minute muster drill go to a specific location (a lounge) where they can be accounted for and hear the safety spiel.

 

Is anything like that available on HAL? We'll be on the Zuiderdam this winter and for the life of me, I can't remember how HAL does muster drill.

[casper106]

Rather than depending on opinions here, may i suggest that you phone HAL directly and ask about their policy with regards to your particular situation. Get the name and title of the person you spoke to for reference when it comes time for your cruise.

[woodworker&knitter]

When you board the ship, go to the front desk and let the know. They will let you know exactly where your husband needs to be during the drill. Also that way they aren't searching for him all over the ship.

[RuthC]

At least some of the HAL ships do have a special assembly area for disabled passengers who cannot go to the designated spot. It is in the Atrium on the same level as everyone else.

 

The last cruise I was on, however, did not have such an area. That was the Nieuw Amsterdam, and it was the first time I had encountered that problem. Since the Zuiderdam is the same deck plan, it's possible there is no special area on that ship either. (when I sailed the Zuiderdam, I didn't need the special area.)

 

On the Nieuw Amsterdam I alerted the Front Desk. My instructions were to wait in my cabin, and they would send someone with a wheelchair to bring me to the muster station. They did, but it took forever. If my life had been at stake, I would have been frantic. Or dead.

I was wheeled up, very late, and left there in the chair. I had to wait a while for the pusher to return, and bring me back to my cabin. I was not at all happy with the procedure.

 

I recommend you check at the Front Desk well in advance of muster, and be sure your husband is on the list of people requiring muster assistance. Then, follow their instructions and pay attention to how it goes.

[summersigh]

Thanks ... I'll be sure to go by the Front Desk well before muster to get directions specific to the Zuiderdam from them. :)

[muffin]

Of course there is a spot for the mobility challenged to meet on a ship! I mean, really, there will be about 50 people! Any of the lounges,or the casino, could b e used easily. One staff is require to sign people in and tell the guys on deck they are accounted for. People who cannot stand for 1/2 an hour may faint,or feel very awful if they push it. Would HAL really rather have a few bodies hit the deck and have to contend with that? People in wheelchairs could go out on deck, or those in scooters. It is the others who are invisibly unable to stand that have the worst time, and they may not want to admit the problem. It is especially difficult on hot weather ports. I do NOT understand why HAL insists on people crowding in rows on deck to listen to often unintelligible lectures by people , perhaps with pronounce accents, after standing for fully 15 minutes in the heat while people arrive late or do not call out their cabin numbers when asked . It is a shambles of disorganization. I tell them so an every comment card but they obviously do not care. Other ships inthe carnival family do it much more humanely! My opinion only.

[BKFlowerMound]

You should call access and compliance at (800)547-8493. They will be able to assist you. Do not wait until you get on the ship.

[cb at sea]

Yes..they will make special arrangement for disabled people.

[LindaSSF]

We got off the NA 3 weeks ago. My husband has trouble standing and we asked the Neptune concierge for instructions. I checked in at the muster station. He waited in the midship bar where he was signed in and had the same briefing.

[RuthC]

Of course there is a spot for the mobility challenged to meet on a ship! I mean, really, there will be about 50 people! Any of the lounges,or the casino, could b e used easily. One staff is require to sign people in and tell the guys on deck they are accounted for. People who cannot stand for 1/2 an hour may faint,or feel very awful if they push it. Would HAL really rather have a few bodies hit the deck and have to contend with that? People in wheelchairs could go out on deck, or those in scooters.

Is this based on your experience, or just the way you think it should be? That's not clear from your post.

BTW, people in scooters will have an especially hard time getting out, and even more so getting back in, from the outside muster. Scooters don't easily clear the doorjamb.

[rocsailor]

DH has mobility issues that require him to have wheelchair assistance to board and disembark but gets around, abet slowly, with a cane on board. When we traveled on Carnival they have folks with disabilities that can't stand on the deck for the 30+ minute muster drill go to a specific location (a lounge) where they can be accounted for and hear the safety spiel.

 

Is anything like that available on HAL? We'll be on the Zuiderdam this winter and for the life of me, I can't remember how HAL does muster drill.

Last cruise with Hal My recently passed companion had trouble standing for any period of time,Once at muster station we told the person in charge of names of our concern of her inability to stand for any length of time and he noted her name and cabin number and had escorted to seats just inside the door and every thing was fine.

[janmcn]

I was in a wheelchair on the Oosterdam in Feb. and after asking about the very same thing here, went to the Front Desk and they said I still had to go onto the Promenade Deck with everyone...they did allow me to take the elevator. But, I had to sit and listen to the whole thing...they had no option for disabled folks that I saw. Sounds like it's a ship by ship thing...

[catl331]

I have no disability but Thanksgiving cruise on the Eurodam the muster drill went well beyond the 30 mins. Our boat passengers were all present. It was nice to be with adults who listened to instructions. They told us about this drill when we boarded, it was on the tv's, in the daily paper on the room desk and then announced over the loud speaker. How could one miss it! I truly believe in muster drills after the Costa incident happened!

 

I really can't stand in one place for a long time. I started to get dizzy and then nauseous and finally gave up and stepped out to the rail. A steward took me into the lounge where about 25 people were seated. Presto! I was fine once I sat. I think they were glad to get me away from the group!!

 

We had to wait for other boats whose passengers chose not to come to their boats.

[RuthC]

Sounds like it's a ship by ship thing...

It may be closer to a class of ship by class of ship thing. I have been able to attend indoor musters on the S- and R-class ships with no trouble.

 

When I started using a scooter I went outside, but decided after a few times that trying to get over that lip at the door, especially coming back in, was far too difficult. I just could not manage without help, and that help was not readily available.

Those were on Vista and Signature ships.

 

It was on the Nieuw Amsterdam that I asked for HAL assistance for the entire process. I found it less than ideal.

[emilygrace]

I'm surprised that HAL is still doing their muster drills outside on deck. Every other cruise line I have been on in the past few years has moved this inside to lounges and the theater. On some cruise lines you don't even bring your life jacket to the drill, you just watch a demonstration of how it is used. I'm sure this cuts down on the accidents when everyone is returning to their stateroom and tripping over the belts hanging down.

 

I just appreciate that I don't have to stand outside in the heat waiting for those inevitable stragglers.

[summersigh]

I'm surprised that HAL is still doing their muster drills outside on deck. Every other cruise line I have been on in the past few years has moved this inside to lounges and the theater. On some cruise lines you don't even bring your life jacket to the drill, you just watch a demonstration of how it is used. I'm sure this cuts down on the accidents when everyone is returning to their stateroom and tripping over the belts hanging down.

 

I just appreciate that I don't have to stand outside in the heat waiting for those inevitable stragglers.

 

Carnival still does theirs out on deck - at least on the Sunshine in Jan and May. They don't have you bring the lifejackets with you for muster.

[summersigh]

It may be closer to a class of ship by class of ship thing. I have been able to attend indoor musters on the S- and R-class ships with no trouble.

 

When I started using a scooter I went outside, but decided after a few times that trying to get over that lip at the door, especially coming back in, was far too difficult. I just could not manage without help, and that help was not readily available.

Those were on Vista and Signature ships.

 

It was on the Nieuw Amsterdam that I asked for HAL assistance for the entire process. I found it less than ideal.

 

We'll be on a Vista - Zuiderdam. You'd think they'd have something uniform across the line wouldn't you? :rolleyes:

[chengkp75]

I'm surprised that HAL is still doing their muster drills outside on deck. Every other cruise line I have been on in the past few years has moved this inside to lounges and the theater. On some cruise lines you don't even bring your life jacket to the drill, you just watch a demonstration of how it is used. I'm sure this cuts down on the accidents when everyone is returning to their stateroom and tripping over the belts hanging down.

 

I just appreciate that I don't have to stand outside in the heat waiting for those inevitable stragglers.

 

Once a ship is designed, and the muster stations are designated and studied for suitability (ingress, egress, volume, distance to boats, lighting, etc) and approved by the class society and flag state as meeting SOLAS requirements, the muster station locations will generally (I've never heard of one case) not change over the life of the vessel. The newer ships are allowed to move indoors, not for passenger comfort, but because there is insufficient room on deck at the boats. The lines have decreased the size of the promenade decks to maximize the interior (revenue generating) volume of the ship. SOLAS would prefer the muster locations to be outside at the boats, but if the area does not support the required people, they allow the muster stations to be designed in other areas. So, the older ships will be outdoors almost exclusively, then there are the "mixed ships" and then some that have all indoor. Even new ships like Oasis will have both indoor and outdoor muster locations.

[RuthC]

We'll be on a Vista - Zuiderdam. You'd think they'd have something uniform across the line wouldn't you? :rolleyes:

As far as accommodating the disabled, yes. Reasonable accommodation should be a given on every ship.

[serendipity1499]

Last cruise with Hal My recently passed companion had trouble standing for any period of time,Once at muster station we told the person in charge of names of our concern of her inability to stand for any length of time and he noted her name and cabin number and had escorted to seats just inside the door and every thing was fine.

 

We'll be on a Vista - Zuiderdam. You'd think they'd have something uniform across the line wouldn't you? :rolleyes:

 

We'll be on the Zuiderdam in Oct.. Since my HIP operation I've had a terrible time standing & still have back problems.. When I'm off the ship or need to walk long distances on the ship I would normally use a folding cane...Now Muster Drill scares me...Today I went on-line & will order a new lightweight folding cane with a seat on it.. When I have my cane they usually permit me to use the elevators as I'm slow going up & down steps.. (Getting old is not for the faint hearted)

 

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Folding-Lightweight-Adjustable/dp/B005JIMORU/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1467761591&sr=8-1&keywords=cane+chairs

 

I'll take it to the Muster Drill & sit on it if necessary.. I liked the canvas chairs too that Amazon is selling but think they may be too heavy for me to carry as I'm only 5 feet tall.. Will try to figure out how to make a seat cushion for the three legged cane .. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has used these cane Chairs at Muster..

 

Waiting to place my order only because my Friends DH has a terrible time walking & may need a wheelchair to board & disembark.. I want him to see the chair I'm ordering so he can decide if he wants one too.. Our Friends don't have a computer or e-mail, & I've been printing up lots of info for them..

Edited July 5, 2016 by serendipity1499

[OTOW guy]

Hopefully this is a test for the entire fleet.

[RuthC]

Hopefully this is a test for the entire fleet.

Not at all likely for the existing ships. For future ships, there's a good chance, IMO.

[rafinmd]

It might be possible for the Vista/Signature ships but not for the R & S class. Muster should really be in a place near the lifeboats, and that deck on the R&S is all cabins. The muster is done in lounges in the Cunard equivalents of the Vistas, so I expect HAL could make that change relatively easily. They may have used the outside deck at the time to have consistency in the fleet.

 

Roy

[ShyannDay]

This is very concerning information. I will be cruising Alaska in early Sept. with my elderly (hate that word!) Aunt and Uncle. They definitely cannot stand for that long! We have ordered a wheelchair for my Aunt to use when going to the far end of the ship so we will have that in her room when we board but now I'm wondering if we should get one for my Uncle as well. They both do not normally use them but my Aunt will undoubtedly need one as our rooms are aft. Also - my Uncle is having hip replacement surgery three weeks after the cruise so you can imagine standing for a long period will cause him severe discomfort. I will make sure we visit the Front Desk immediately after boarding... Any other advice is welcome!!

[mancunian]

Strangely enough the only ship I havehad any special treatment was on Nieuw Amsterdam. To be honest I can usually cope with the drill provided I take my stick stool with me. We make sure we are on the correct deck before the alarm goes so no lift - I could not manage the stairs well at all. We also report my condition to the front office but usually after the drill.

 

On this occasion on the NA I approached the station with my usual lack of good walking skills and a kind passenger leapt up and opened one of the closed deckchairs for me. On the one hand I knew this would not be allowed, but on the other did not like to offend kind passenger so I sat down. The crew came rushing over, booked us in and one of the junior staff was told to take me to the ocean bar. At first there was just us there. The drill went on and on, and eventually more people who had been nearer to collapse state were brought in and there were several of us eventually. A member of staff was sent to keep an eye on us and to do the demo.

 

Felt this was not an organised thing but one that evolved on the day.