Question re muster station

[richardj]

My DW has asked my MIL to come on a cruise to the carribbean with us next year. The problem is her single cabin is forward whereas we are in an aft suite, already pre booked. DW has concerns about her 83 year old Mum attending muster on her own and in the event of an incident would be separated from her. Has anyone else had experience of this and what are the chances she would be able to be with us for drill?

[balf]

If you are allocated different muster stations I can't see how that would be possible. The muster station has to be conveniently placed near to the cabin and and anyway it would mess up the cabin check done to ensure everyone is out of the cabin in an emergency.

 

David.

[Florry]

There are usually four life jackets in a suite so I'd be tempted to just give her one of those and take her with you to your muster (assuming there are only two of you in the suite). The only thing that is checked is that you have the right number on your jacket. Then I'd make sure my Mother knew where her muster was just in case.

Edited July 11, 2016 by Florry

[dsrdsrdsr]

If you explain to the crew that either she changes to your station, or she will need a member of the crew on hand at all times to look after her, I'm sure they'll find a way. The crew have enough to do without making extra work. It's an easy change to make on P&O because you don't have allocated lifeboats.

Edited July 11, 2016 by dsrdsrdsr

[Lanzalady]

When we did our muster on Azura last year, nobody actually took any names or cabin numbers. We all just sat in the lounge whilst members of staff showed us how the life-jackets worked. It was a bit if a waste of time really.

[the english lady]

When we did our muster on Azura last year, nobody actually took any names or cabin numbers. We all just sat in the lounge whilst members of staff showed us how the life-jackets worked. It was a bit if a waste of time really.

 

Not a waste of time. You have to know where to go in an emergency, without thinking. its one of those if it happens times. Without thinking you have to grab your lifejackets and head to your muster station..or you could uhm where is it we have to go...uhm how do I put this on....uhm....help....why didn't we try these when we had to...

I think this is better than if you have a set lifeboat you muster by, what happens if there is a fire by your lifeboat, what do you do then?

[insanemagnet]

Not a waste of time. You have to know where to go in an emergency, without thinking.

 

A ship sinking tends to happen either quite slowly or very fast.

 

In the former situation you would have all the time you need to find out where your muster station is and stroll along to it. The problem with this type of situation can be the failure of either crew or passengers actually taking action as there appears to be no immediate danger.

 

In the latter situation, for example the MS Estonia, the only people who survived were the people who did not go to the muster stations, but got off the sinking ship themselves as fast as possible.

[cruise9876kend]

I know what the time will be for the master drill when u board I would get ur mothers life jacket and take her to her master station find her a comfortable seat 15/20 mins before this way u can still use the lifts and wait with her till the drill alarm is sounded the u and ur partner move to ur station this way u know she is there and safe and she can wait there until it's over so u can help her back up to the cabin

[davecttr]

I think it might be a good idea to register her as a passenger requiring assistance because of the distance between your cabins. Then if there is an emergency during the night you can be confident that the crew will see her to safety.

 

On my last safety drill (TUI Discovery) we mustered by the lifeboats but of course there is room for all the passengers on the promenade deck. They scanned our cruise cards to ensure everyone was there. They also told us if the alarm sounded and we were not in our cabins it was OK to go to the muster station as there are sufficient spare lifejackets stored there for everyone.

[Lanzalady]

Not a waste of time. You have to know where to go in an emergency, without thinking. its one of those if it happens times. Without thinking you have to grab your lifejackets and head to your muster station..or you could uhm where is it we have to go...uhm how do I put this on....uhm....help....why didn't we try these when we had to...

I think this is better than if you have a set lifeboat you muster by, what happens if there is a fire by your lifeboat, what do you do then?

That was the point. We didn't go to our muster stations, we sat in the one of the lounges! Our muster station wasn't pointed out to us and neither were we checked off on a list. In the case of the ship sinking, how many of those P & O passengers would still be wandering around the ship asking which of the many bars should they be sitting in waiting to hear what to do next? On the RCI Brilliance of the Seas last month, we had to go to our muster stations and were all ticked off a list and then informed of what the procedure was once everyone was there. Now, that was a proper muster procedure.

[SDadw01]

That was the point. We didn't go to our muster stations, we sat in the one of the lounges! Our muster station wasn't pointed out to us and neither were we checked off on a list. In the case of the ship sinking, how many of those P & O passengers would still be wandering around the ship asking which of the many bars should they be sitting in waiting to hear what to do next? On the RCI Brilliance of the Seas last month, we had to go to our muster stations and were all ticked off a list and then informed of what the procedure was once everyone was there. Now, that was a proper muster procedure.

 

Perhaps you should only cruise with RCI then ! :-)

Edited July 12, 2016 by SDadw01

[daiB]

That was the point. We didn't go to our muster stations, we sat in the one of the lounges! Our muster station wasn't pointed out to us and neither were we checked off on a list. In the case of the ship sinking, how many of those P & O passengers would still be wandering around the ship asking which of the many bars should they be sitting in waiting to hear what to do next? On the RCI Brilliance of the Seas last month, we had to go to our muster stations and were all ticked off a list and then informed of what the procedure was once everyone was there. Now, that was a proper muster procedure.

 

 

Your muster station is the lounge not the lifeboat.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Edited July 12, 2016 by daiB

[the english lady]

That was the point. We didn't go to our muster stations, we sat in the one of the lounges! Our muster station wasn't pointed out to us and neither were we checked off on a list. In the case of the ship sinking, how many of those P & O passengers would still be wandering around the ship asking which of the many bars should they be sitting in waiting to hear what to do next? On the RCI Brilliance of the Seas last month, we had to go to our muster stations and were all ticked off a list and then informed of what the procedure was once everyone was there. Now, that was a proper muster procedure.

 

As has been stated the lounge was your muster station. In a real emergency you would be escorted from there to whichever lifeboat was deemed the most sensible to use. Hence my comment about if the muster station was by a lifeboat, and you could not get to said lifeboat for whatever reason, what then.

[Clodia]

They check ALL the cabins. On a recent back to back, I sat in my cabin watching the Captain's broadcast on the TV on the 2nd cruise because I didn't have to attend the Muster station as I stayed in the same cabin. I was still checked off the list by staff.

[davecttr]

As has been stated the lounge was your muster station. In a real emergency you would be escorted from there to whichever lifeboat was deemed the most sensible to use. Hence my comment about if the muster station was by a lifeboat, and you could not get to said lifeboat for whatever reason, what then.

 

You would be redirected to another lifeboat, just like being redirected to another muster station if your lounge or theatre was on fire or you could not get there ;)

 

I must say I am a little concerned about being trapped inside the ship if it starts listing. I would much prefer to be on the outside in such a circumstance.

[insanemagnet]

As has been stated the lounge was your muster station. In a real emergency you would be escorted from there to whichever lifeboat was deemed the most sensible to use. Hence my comment about if the muster station was by a lifeboat, and you could not get to said lifeboat for whatever reason, what then.

 

You can only do that if the ship is sinking slowly, in which case finding your muster point is not an issue.

 

If the ship is sinking fast (Estonia, HoFE, etc) a leisurely stroll from a lounge to a lifeboat is going to work.

[Mysticalmother]

You all seem to be talking about a sinking ship. There are other emergencies which could require you to go to your muster station as a place of safety eg a fire.

I know muster drills are boring....but they could save your life. Its 30 minutes of minor inconvenience.

Having stayed in a hotel where a real fire required us to evacuate the building at 3am, and I didn't know where the fire exits were, I now always make sure I study that little diagram on the door every time I check in to a hotel and go and find where the emergency exits are....I see the muster drill on a ship as no different.

[john watson]

I know what the time will be for the master drill when u board I would get ur mothers life jacket and take her to her master station find her a comfortable seat 15/20 mins before this way u can still use the lifts and wait with her till the drill alarm is sounded the u and ur partner move to your station this way u know she is there and safe and she can wait there until it's over so u can help her back up to the cabin

 

This posting is ridiculous. It accurately deals with the essence of the topic and outlines a very sensible way of helping an elderly person get through the difficult situation of enduring the muster station drill staying within all the cruise lines rules. It suggests an excellent way of ensuring a frail person can get to the muster station with assistance and get a rare nice comfy seat early doors. At the end of the drill when the big rush to get lifts back to your cabin and the crush starts it also seems to suggest that staying in the seat in the muster station until you can return to collect your mum to assist her return to her cabin is the most prudent strategy.

 

We don't get many posts like this normally.

 

Regards John

[cruise9876kend]

Hi john what it's ridiculous about my post I'm a little confused lol

[john watson]

Hi john what it's ridiculous about my post I'm a little confused lol

 

To be honest I have been reading the posts on Cruise Critic awhile and they go completely off the point like this thread has; how quickly will the ship sink? Have we got a dedicated lifeboat, is that the best system of muster drills. What would happen if our life boat were unavailable due to technical problems - ALL in response to; How can I deal with the problem of "My elderly mother's cabin is at the other end of the ship and I am worried about her doing the muster drill with her having a different muster station". Then you come along, answer the original posters dilemma with sensible suggestions, sticking to the point it has never happened before it's just surreal.

 

Regards John

Edited July 12, 2016 by john watson

[cruise9876kend]

I see people do go off point quickly

[richardj]

I know what the time will be for the master drill when u board I would get ur mothers life jacket and take her to her master station find her a comfortable seat 15/20 mins before this way u can still use the lifts and wait with her till the drill alarm is sounded the u and ur partner move to ur station this way u know she is there and safe and she can wait there until it's over so u can help her back up to the cabin

 

Thank you for offering a sensible option, DW still has concerns leaving her alone although she has worked on ships in her earlier years and lives very independently alone at home. We will try and get an answer from p&o that reassures DW or just hold this cruise to a later date and try another cruise line to take Mother on where cabins are in same area.

[insanemagnet]

This posting is ridiculous. It accurately deals with the essence of the topic and outlines a very sensible way of helping an elderly person get through the difficult situation of enduring the muster station drill staying within all the cruise lines rules. It suggests an excellent way of ensuring a frail person can get to the muster station with assistance and get a rare nice comfy seat early doors. At the end of the drill when the big rush to get lifts back to your cabin and the crush starts it also seems to suggest that staying in the seat in the muster station until you can return to collect your mum to assist her return to her cabin is the most prudent strategy.

 

We don't get many posts like this normally.

 

Regards John

However the suggestion simply treats the muster drill as if it was a trip to the theatre.

 

If it was a situation where the person needed to attend the muster station in an emergency, then the OP wouldn't have had the luxury of knowing 15 minutes in advance of the fire/iceberg/rock/etc. The logistics of them making their way from one end of the ship to the other to assist, when it is all kicking off would be difficult.

 

P&O must on every voyage have passengers that cannot make it to a muster station under their own steam, so must be used to providing assistance when needed.

[Scriv]

P&O must on every voyage have passengers that cannot make it to a muster station under their own steam, so must be used to providing assistance when needed.

 

Am I right in thinking you have to register with P&O when you book if any of your party require assistance? Does this mean if you need to have mobility aids - or can it be if you are just elderly and/or frail?

 

I ask as a 92 year old relative is cruising soon with her daughter-in-law and I was wondering whether they could register for a bit of extra assistance in the case of emergency? Likewise richardj's MiL?

 

Mind you, ours is in great form although a bit frail these days, but can topple easily.

Edited July 13, 2016 by Scriv

[the english lady]

Am I right in thinking you have to register with P&O when you book if any of your party require assistance? Does this mean if you need to have mobility aids - or can it be if you are just elderly and/or frail?

 

I ask as a 92 year old relative is cruising soon with her daughter-in-law and I was wondering whether they could register for a bit of extra assistance in the case of emergency? Likewise richardj's MiL?

 

Mind you, ours is in great form although a bit frail these days, but can topple easily.

 

If any help is thought to be reqd inform pando. It helps them to know in advance etc who requires help, what sort of help etc is required.

I have mobility issues and always go down to the muster station early, so I can use the lifts, so I am not holding people up on the stairs.