Muster Drill change?

[chandom]

My two cents...

An event requiring everyone to muster can happen at anytime. Good example is the incident on Freedom last year. That fire occurred just before docking in Jamaica.

As such, starting from your room isn't always going to happen. The process of the drill is more for awareness of where your muster station is. Not getting to it.

 

From what I recall from every drill. If the signal is given, you proceed to your muster station. If you happen to be in your stateroom, put on warm clothing and gather any medication.

 

Plus, if you wanted to make things more realistic. Use of crew only stairwells would be permitted.

Think about having a room on the back of an Oasis class. Telling me the most ideal egress path is going to the mid-ship stairwell then back to the Aqua theater.

 

On top of that, I'm sure during the drill the crew has to muster as well. Such, some of them can't go to their station until their area is cleared. Thus they can't start the rest of the drill until the crew has been accounted for.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Except you can't predict where you will be when/if it goes off. And sorry but I'd rather take my sweet @ss time twenty minutes before muster learning the closest landmark. I dunno, I was a first time cruiser once and it seemed logical to be on station at the scheduled time. It never even crossed my. Ind that I should be waiting until the horn blew

Of course you don't HAVE to wait until the horn blows to go to your station. You could board when the ship opens and wait for muster at your station for all I care.

 

The point is Royal is giving conflicting information. "When the drill starts, proceed to your muster station" means you don't need to go to muster until the horn sounds. And that's the announcement I heard two weeks ago.

 

If they (Royal) want people at the muster station before the horn sounds, 10 minutes before hand, make an announcement that everyone must proceed to their muster stations.

 

I agree it makes more sense to experience the drill as similar to an actual emergency as you can... meaning no elevators, walking with the masses, etc.

Edited July 25, 2016 by S.A.M.J.R.

[flczr]

I have never waited in my room waiting for the announcement. Sweated a lot through ].

[spookwife]

But they don't sound the horn until every one is in place and checked in! At least not on any cruise I have ever been on. They start announcements 30 minutes and then 15 minutes out. Hell the crew is practically herding you out of their spaces and to your muster station. It just makes no bloody sense to me to do it your way.

[mcatmcat]

I had a video of the instruction for the drill but I can't find it

 

I don't remember the exact wording but I remember something like " head to your station when the drill starts" if you head 1hr or 20 minutes you are breaking the rules which clearly says head to the muster drill when the alarm sound. I don't care if I look to others late, I'm doing what the video says. I'm not going to a cruise to be seating for 30 minutes but everyone is different.

[emory2001]

Ok, just to clarify, when I said "leave your cabin," I didn't necessarily mean just your cabin. I meant wherever you are. A few people had posted they were in their cabins, so that's the word that was on my mind. :rolleyes:

[emory2001]

The point is Royal is giving conflicting information. "When the drill starts, proceed to your muster station" means you don't need to go to muster until the horn sounds. And that's the announcement I heard two weeks ago.

 

If they (Royal) want people at the muster station before the horn sounds, 10 minutes before hand, make an announcement that everyone must proceed to their muster stations.

 

Exactly. I don't really care "which way" the rule goes, but it does need to be clear - as evidenced by the various perceptions among cruisers, both on ship and on this thread.

[Snit13]

We have not sailed RCCL since January 2014. I do not recall ever being required to stand outside on deck. I know on our 2 Jewel cruises we had to muster in Schooner Bar. Have they changed their routine? All Celebrity musters have been inside for years. We normally report at least 15 minutes early for the drill and have never heard of waiting in room. Mayble I don't hear to well.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

But they don't sound the horn until every one is in place and checked in! At least not on any cruise I have ever been on. They start announcements 30 minutes and then 15 minutes out. Hell the crew is practically herding you out of their spaces and to your muster station. It just makes no bloody sense to me to do it your way.

That wasn't the case in my cruises in 2013 and 2014. Again, two weeks ago, the announcement 10 minutes before the start said "The muster drill will begin in a few minutes. When it starts, please head to your muster station." There were 6 of us in the cabin listening to it. If they would have said "Please head to your muster stations now", we would have left.

 

We're not trying to "get one over" on anyone, we're following the instructions.

 

ETA: If you're at your muster station 20 minutes early, how do you know everyone is in place and checked in when they sound the horn? I know our muster stations on Freedom, there would be only a very slight chance the people who showed up early would be able to see the people showing up late.

Edited July 25, 2016 by S.A.M.J.R.

[mollyeilis]

I hope you do realize they must take roll at each muster station. By waiting in the comfort of your cabin, everyone is waiting on you to complete the roll call for your particular muster station. Your attitude is why muster takes so long.

 

Nope. *You* are doing it wrong. In case of emergency, we aren't going to get to the stations before the emergency. We go *after* the emergency. *After* the alarms sound. And that is how it should be done.

 

If everyone did it right then the amount of waiting would be the same. It's YOU going early that is causing you to stand there longer.

 

 

Yes, and isn't that just how I started my post?!?!?!?

 

But the person asked...

 

if Royal (and they're really the only ones that count) wants everyone AT the muster station when the horns sound, shouldn't they tell people that?

 

 

 

 

I do wish Royal did their musters like Celebrity (inside). That being said, we go to our muster station at the time indicated on the daily paper, get checked off & stand in line waiting for those that come when the horn blares.

 

We've had inside muster stations on Royal. It's stateroom-dependent. Just because you are outside doesn't mean everyone is! :)

 

 

If muster is at 4 pm you need to be at your station at 4 pm. .... All the announcements I ever hear is : in 15 minutes the muster drill will begin. Please proceed to your muster station. Not once is there anything about waiting until horns sound.

 

I have never heard it like you hear it.

 

I mean, I've never heard just those words like that, but if I did I still wouldn't interpret it like you are. I would interpret it as needing to proceed *once the muster drill begins*, which is indicated with the alarms. You're hearing it differently.

 

 

 

 

Reality.

 

Isn't that the important "right answer"?

 

No, not to a person like me. I like for things to make sense.

 

 

If the announcements said that, I'd agree w/you. All the announcements I've heard have said "When the drill starts, proceed to your station." That's different than "Be at your station when the drill starts."

 

Apparently some people feel that those announcements = the beginning of the drill.

 

I feel the drill starts with the alarms.

 

Doesn't mean I won't play along with the ridiculousness. But I despise it.

 

 

Except you can't predict where you will be when/if it goes off. And sorry but I'd rather take my sweet @ss time twenty minutes before muster learning the closest landmark. I dunno, I was a first time cruiser once and it seemed logical to be on station at the scheduled time. It never even crossed my. Ind that I should be waiting until the horn blew

 

So you're focusing on "I agree that it should be you leave your cabin when the alarm sounds". I don't think that poster meant that the rule should be "start in your cabin". I think it's what follows that's important in their post.

 

The blowing of the horn is the start of the drill. The drill SHOULD be the act of getting to stations, in line, and counted. It shouldn't just be standing in line and being counted and having incomprehensible things said loudly to you.

 

Earthquake drills didn't start with us already under desks. They started with the teacher announcing that there was an earthquake and THEN we got under desks.

 

 

The process of the drill is more for awareness of where your muster station is. Not getting to it.

 

Now that makes a bit of sense. Except that it's really hard to work out where it is from everywhere in the ship in the first couple hours of being on that ship. But still.

 

 

But they don't sound the horn until every one is in place and checked in! At least not on any cruise I have ever been on. They start announcements 30 minutes and then 15 minutes out. Hell the crew is practically herding you out of their spaces and to your muster station. It just makes no bloody sense to me to do it your way.

 

Makes just as little sense to others (including me) to do it the way you're doing it.

 

If you're going to do it that way, just recognize that you're making a choice to be there longer than you have to be there. Don't glare at people who are waiting for the personnel to do what the personnel said they were going to do. Don't glare at the people who were listening to *what was said*, and not what others magically know.

 

I figure they are announcing it so often so that you are aware. They don't say "now go". If they want you to go, they should say so.

 

And we've definitely been on different cruises, because, while there ARE horns once everyone is assembled, there are the alarm sounds ahead of time. To signal the starting of the drill, as defined by "when the alarms are sounded to indicate there's an emergency". Not as defined by "once we can start yelling at you incomprehensibly".

 

 

 

We have not sailed RCCL since January 2014. I do not recall ever being required to stand outside on deck. I know on our 2 Jewel cruises we had to muster in Schooner Bar. Have they changed their routine? All Celebrity musters have been inside for years. We normally report at least 15 minutes early for the drill and have never heard of waiting in room. Mayble I don't hear to well.

 

 

No one is being told to stay in their room. That's just where some people happen to be. It's an example being given here.

 

Muster station depends on your stateroom. On our first Freedom cruise we were in 1700 and our station was outside. On our last Freedom cruise we were in 1864 and our station was in the formerly Egyptian themed lounge. Can't remember for Vision. And definitely not for 2003 Radiance. :)

Edited July 25, 2016 by mollyeilis

[aubreyc1988]

Is this the "Is it OK to wear jeans in the MDR" topic?? :D :D :D

[Big_G]

No sense get your undies in a bundle over a drill. While it's important to attend, it's more important that you show up in the right place in case of an emergency.

 

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Desert Cruizers]

I will admit the announcements we have heard, or understood to mean, " at the sound of the horn blasts we were to proceed to our Muster Station" We were never told we should go before the horn, but can see that if all passengers proceeded to their stations when the first announcement is made, the instructions could be done quicker. For our upcoming cruises next year, we will leave our room when the first announcement is made.

[BillOh]

I hope you do realize they must take roll at each muster station. By waiting in the comfort of your cabin, everyone is waiting on you to complete the roll call for your particular muster station. Your attitude is why muster takes so long.

 

 

,

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

That was a bit harsh and not what the OP said at all.

[epcopres]

I have never had any confusion about Muster on any of my cruises. We have always had crew giving direction all over the ship on pool decks, on the stair cases. They even check the seapass if you are confused where to go. I think Royal doing it outside is important because thats where we need to be in an actual emergency WHERE THE LIFE BOATS ARE not in the air condition. Be thankful we dont have to carry those HUGE awkward life jackets anymore. That was VERY HOT.

[aubreyc1988]

I think that even thought what is verbally said over speakers may be "Come when the horn blasts", this is not what RCI/Staff want you to do. I mean, if you are walking around the ship when they make their announcement "Muster drill will begin in 15 minutes", the crew are like "Here, go to your muster station, it's at X"

 

I don't know why the instructions contradict what the crew tells you, but we have never listened too closely to the actually announcement, we just always go early.

[reallyitsmema]

I have never had any confusion about Muster on any of my cruises. We have always had crew giving direction all over the ship on pool decks, on the stair cases. They even check the seapass if you are confused where to go. I think Royal doing it outside is important because thats where we need to be in an actual emergency WHERE THE LIFE BOATS ARE not in the air condition. Be thankful we dont have to carry those HUGE awkward life jackets anymore. That was VERY HOT.

 

This is not true at all! You go to your muster station if their is a real emergency and then listen to what you are being instructed to do. You will be taken to your lifeboat station if it is safe to go there or you will be taken to an alternate location.

 

Go to your muster station! That is the whole point of the drill.

[pspercy]

For muster drills to have the most value they should be held out by the lifeboats.

Edited July 25, 2016 by pspercy

[Big_G]

For muster drills to have the most value they should be held out by the lifeboats.

 

Why? It's not like the life boat is used in the drill. They want you to know where to meet in an emergency. What's better than having the drill in that location?

[S.A.M.J.R.]

I think that even thought what is verbally said over speakers may be "Come when the horn blasts", this is not what RCI/Staff want you to do. I mean, if you are walking around the ship when they make their announcement "Muster drill will begin in 15 minutes", the crew are like "Here, go to your muster station, it's at X"

 

I don't know why the instructions contradict what the crew tells you, but we have never listened too closely to the actually announcement, we just always go early.

But this is simple for Royal to solve... if they (RCI/staff) WANT you to be at your muster station ahead of time, simply say that. Or, in the announcement... "The muster drill will begin in 10 minutes. Please proceed to your station now." They shouldn't rely on the crew to pass the word (IMO).

 

On our three cruises, we've just happened to be in our stateroom. We're not hiding out there or trying to "start" there. That's just where we've happened to be.

[molsonschooner]

For muster drills to have the most value they should be held out by the lifeboats.

 

so what if there is an actual emergency and the lifeboat that you are assigned to cannot be reached. Perhaps there is a fire right close to your life boat. What would you do then?

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

so what if there is an actual emergency and the lifeboat that you are assigned to cannot be reached. Perhaps there is a fire right close to your life boat. What would you do then?

 

Bingo!

 

Also, not ALL the lifeboats are what you see. There are some that are rafts and not visible unless needed.

[DirtyDawg]

But this is simple for Royal to solve... if they (RCI/staff) WANT you to be at your muster station ahead of time, simply say that. Or, in the announcement... "The muster drill will begin in 10 minutes. Please proceed to your station now." They shouldn't rely on the crew to pass the word (IMO).

 

There is a reason why these people are working on a cruise ship and not at the Mayo Clinic.;)

[Mac303]

The reason some of the muster stations are inside is to avoid over crowding

and confusion on the lifeboat deck.

 

In an actual emergency after you arrive at your muster station and are

accounted for the crew will then escort you to your life boat.

[emory2001]

I boarded Enchantment today. Both Cruise Compass and announcements have said "when the ship's whistle and alarms sound, proceed to your muster station." It's actually pretty clear. The issue is inconsistency with these clear instructions and the crew's expectations and/or training. Heading down now though, 15 min early.