Muster Drill -Health Limitations

[summersigh]

I too will be checking in at the front desk to see what to do about muster - there's no way DH can stand for 30+ minutes. Shoot ,,,, this IS HAL ,,, I find it hard to believe they won't make - even if one has to ask personally - accommodations for older folks with mobility issues.

 

On Carnival, if you ask, they have a room set aside for mobility challenged and one friend/family member accompanying them.

[Oceanwench]

This question comes up periodically on this board, and it's always interesting to see what people's experiences have been.

 

DH is in a wheelchair, cannot walk at all. We are 4-star Mariners, so we've had a lot of cruises under our belts. Only ONE offered him the option to stay inside for muster drill. I can't remember which one, but it could have been Volendam.

All of our other cruises have been on Vista or Signature ships.

 

We've talked to Access & Compliance (they told us to ask at the front desk of our ship), we've talked to our concierge. Everyone has insisted that he go outside for the drill.

 

The biggest problem we encounter is the lip at the doorway (as Ruth C mentioned) that his chair cannot easily cross going back inside. When the drill is over, the crew disappears. We have to rely on kind passengers (usually it takes two strong men) to give him a push up and over.

 

Earlier this year we cruised on Disney and Norwegian. Both were very accommodating. Besides assigning us to indoor muster, they placed us in the back of the room. And on both ships we were tapped on the shoulder before the drill ended, and told by crew that we could leave to avoid the crowd and get an elevator!

 

I wish HAL would do that.

Edited July 12, 2016 by Oceanwench

[ShyannDay]

Thanks everyone for your replies and useful information. I have to admit, I'm shocked that this is an issue. I always had it in the back of my mind that I would need to find out what kind of arrangements would be made for my Aunt and Uncle. I just never would have guessed that the answer would be that there are no special arrangements for those with health/physical limitations. I'm certain there are many, many people that fall into this category - especially on HAL! :confused:

 

Strangely enough the only ship I have had 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 will be on the NA, but the stick stool would definitely not work for my Aunt. Thanks for the info.

 

On Carnival, if you ask, they have a room set aside for mobility challenged and one friend/family member accompanying them.

 

This is common sense!

Edited July 12, 2016 by ShyannDay

[jakobj]

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.

 

I agree. I have had several email communications with HAL re my mobility issues and inability to stand for more than a couple of minutes. We are on a Eurodam cruise in November and had been told all muster drills will be on the outside decks. They said they will not have a separate seating area for disabled passengers and that all passengers must report to their assigned

muster station. No exceptions. They also said they won't be supplying me with

a wheelchair to sit on. This is our first HAL cruise and I'm not impressed with their policy. We've been on 14 previous cruises and have never encountered this problem

 

Dave

[Serious Cruisers]

are you in an accessible room?

we always have to take one for my mom, and an employee is assigned to each accessible cabin, and they come and get us and take us back to our cabin after the drill

[serendipity1499]

are you in an accessible room?

we always have to take one for my mom, and an employee is assigned to each accessible cabin, and they come and get us and take us back to our cabin after the drill

 

Are you talking about HAL or another cruise line?

[serendipity1499]

I agree. I have had several email communications with HAL re my mobility issues and inability to stand for more than a couple of minutes. We are on a Eurodam cruise in November and had been told all muster drills will be on the outside decks. They said they will not have a separate seating area for disabled passengers and that all passengers must report to their assigned

muster station. No exceptions. They also said they won't be supplying me with

a wheelchair to sit on. This is our first HAL cruise and I'm not impressed with their policy. We've been on 14 previous cruises and have never encountered this problem

 

Dave

 

We'll be on a Vista ship & I've decided to keep my stick stool which I purchased from Amazon & take it to muster.. If needed I'll sit on it during the drill.. There is no way that I can stand for 30 minutes ..:eek:

[innlady1]

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

 

<SNIP>

 

 

Betty...you're the first person I've heard say this! I have had exactly the same problem since my hip replacement surgery in 2010. My orthopedic surgeon said it's because I waited too long to have the surgery so it caused issues with my back. Interesting....

[Serious Cruisers]

are you talking about hal or another cruise line?

 

hal

[serendipity1499]

Betty...you're the first person I've heard say this! I have had exactly the same problem since my hip replacement surgery in 2010. My orthopedic surgeon said it's because I waited too long to have the surgery so it caused issues with my back. Interesting....

 

Sheila, I may have waited too long too..When I first went to the Orthopedic surgeon my hip had almost fully collapsed..After the operation the Surgeon told me I needed a permanent Handicapped parking permit because of my constant limp.. He claims I have scoliosis (sp?) which shocked me as I falsely assumed the hip operation would cure me.. I had previously gone to a Neurosurgeon who sent me to the Orthopedic Surgeon..

 

The Neurosurgeon said to come back to see him after my hip was done..

My problem might (big might) be corrected if I had a back operation, but I can't take that chance as must be able to care for DH.. So now I'm using a cane..

 

As mentioned before will keep the chair cane & try to make a pad for it...Will use it during muster if I'm unable to stand for the required 30 or 40 minutes..

 

BTW It's been a long time as don't see you on CC often.. Welcome back.. :D

Edited August 14, 2016 by serendipity1499