Carnival conquest - extended muster drill 😒

[Cushing985]

Personally I think that those who don't attend should be removed from the ship before sailing as in a real emergency they would be the ones confused in the way and putting everyone else at risk.

 

 

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I totally agree. A few weeks of that and with the word getting out that Carnival is serious about mandatory drills would put a stop to people hiding from the drill.

[BenjiRodney]

I noticed ours was MUCH longer than normal on the Elation in December. They walked us out to the boats, etc. They didn't do a roll call, though. I can understand if they feel they need to do roll call, but they should just scan the sign & sail cards in the way in to the muster location.

 

 

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They did scan our cards on the Magic in December.

[BenjiRodney]

I noticed ours was MUCH longer than normal on the Elation in December. They walked us out to the boats, etc. They didn't do a roll call, though. I can understand if they feel they need to do roll call, but they should just scan the sign & sail cards in the way in to the muster location.

 

 

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They did scan our cards on the Magic in December.

[jasong38501]

They did scan our cards on the Magic in December.

 

They did ours as well on the Valor in November. Yet they still made us stand still quietly for a hand count of passengers. Not sure if they were working out the kinks of a new system of scanning everyone or if they want the redundancy of two counts.

Edited January 30, 2017 by jasong38501

[cloudninecat]

They scanned our cards and still ended up calling for us over the speaker while we had been standing there scanned in from the beginning. We thought it was kind of funny but I imagine that those that had to wait (for no good reason) didn't think it was funny. Lesson learned, just because they call a persons name on the loud speaker doesn't mean they are the hold up.

[BeverlyS]

Just leaving now

on the Jan 29th sailing. Muster drill lasted over an hour standing at the lifeboats. They took "mandatory roll call" for each and every cabin. Quite the *****. People started raging and one guy finally just left screaming. Is this mandatory for all carnival sailings now? Is it a test? Not a great way to start a cruise. I'm all for safety but after having back surgery a few months ago, there's a huge difference between standing for 15-20 minutes and standing for over an hour.

 

I was there too... I also was surprised at how long it lasted. My group was very quiet though, no one got upset. However, since it was raining when we departed, and windy, and I didn't take a coat, I was cold!!! Some of the taller guys stood in front of us to block the wind, which was nice, and they let a couple of older people go around the corner and sit down after they had done the roll call.

 

I too hope they learn by this and change the procedure!

[sirk25]

They did this on our Jan 29th sailing on the Miracle as well. What a gong show, to manually check off every individual my hand. We were on the "sunny" side of the ship, and to stand there in the hot afternoon sun for over 90 minutes is too much. Our 7 y/o was not too pleased and was hard to keep occupied. There were elderly folks standing in the sun for that long as well and couldn't bear the wait. Mind you, the crew were doing their job to ensure we all stood (could not sit at all) shoulder to shoulder, and no cell phone usage at all, for the complete waiting time. 90 minutes???? really?!?!!? That seems very unreasonable and peoples comfort and well being were not being considered. I do hope this is looked at and fixed to a better system. There were lots of complaints from frustrated passengers, and rightfully so. I am sure Carnival is getting alot of feedback on this.

[RaiderDuck]

Given how worthless the muster drills are on Carnival (they're somewhat more useful on NCL), we're tempted to just hide in the bathroom for our upcoming cruise and hope they don't take roll. What good does it do to stand on the deck for 30-45 minutes and stare at lifeboats?

 

On the GF's Carnival Victory cruise in December (work-related, so I wasn't along), one of her co-workers ended up in the infirmary the first night for a concussion caused by the poor lady collapsing during the drill itself: the Miami humidity and closeness of everyone overwhelmed her and she passed out.

 

Who the heck needs this???

[stargate fan]

Oh I agree, but this is my 30th cruise with carnival, and the first time they took roll call. Even if everyone had been there (which they weren't). It still added a substantial amount of standing time. I know I'm whining, but I'm guessing I'm not the only one who has physical trouble standing for an hour packed like sardines. (Believe me, I wish I could stand that long comfortably.)

 

I am totally with you on this issue. I can stand up barely long enough to make a pie. That's one of the reasons FTTF is worth the cost to me.

 

On both the Magic and the Breeze muster drills were held in interior locations with seating. In those conditions no-shows are a minor irritant. I understand the importance of muster but think the late comers rather than the rule-following crowd should be penalized.

 

This is a great example of rewarding bad behavior.

 

When I sailed with my mom a few years ago, she had trouble walking down stairs due to a healing broken knee cap. A crew member saw her struggles and led us to a lounge for safety drill. What a relief to see her comfortable.

 

A few years later I had terrible knee issues and was scheduled for replacement a month after a cruise. I contacted Special Needs and received an email stating to go to Guest Services upon embarkation to let them know. We were sent to a seated muster station.

 

I am now post surgery and have a bit of an issue standing for extended periods so Special Needs has already been contacted and we'll be visiting Guest Services when we board.

[Keys2Heaven]

Personally, I find it frustrating that some folks feel above others in that they should be able to blow this off. This is a very important drill and just might save a life. Only once have we had muster drill in an interior location. I actually enjoy it, as it allows my wife and I a chance to meet a few of our fellow cruisers.

[RaiderDuck]

This is a very important drill and just might save a life.

That's the problem: how is standing out on a deck for 30 minutes or more, staring at lifeboats, going to "save a life?" We're not being taught how to use these boats or anything else that might prove useful.

 

NCL at least had us meet in our specified muster areas (with plentiful seating), with the personnel saying "Meet us here in case of emergency." Their way is better, IMHO.

[OntCruise]

I was on this cruise too and I could not believe they were doing a roll call during the muster drill. One guy yelling out cabin numbers to a whole bunch of people talking and not paying attention. This poor guy is standing on a tiny platform - trying his best to hold a megaphone in one hand while trying to check off names on a piece of paper. It was ridiculously unorganized and "almost" comical. Then not so funny, a lady behind us fainted.. people were calling for help, then a guy got super pissed off and stormed out.. Others were trying to sneak away and got stopped at the door. I've never seen anything like it. Oh and we missed sail away too and it was our first time out of FLL. They need to find a better way!

 

Just waiting for my Carnival survey so I can give them my feedback :)

[misterchatter]

Just off a B2B on the Elation (Jan 23 & 28) sailing. The first muster we met inside , then out to the lifeboats, total time was about 45 minutes. On the second sailing, we didn't go to the lifeboats, total time was about 20 minutes. The weather wasn't the greatest for either sail away. :confused::confused::confused:

[ray98]

That's the problem: how is standing out on a deck for 30 minutes or more, staring at lifeboats, going to "save a life?" We're not being taught how to use these boats or anything else that might prove useful.

 

NCL at least had us meet in our specified muster areas (with plentiful seating), with the personnel saying "Meet us here in case of emergency." Their way is better, IMHO.

 

They are teaching you how to get to your life boat, how to assemble for loading and how to properly wear your life jacket. There is no teaching you 'how to use' the lifeboats, the only step left is for you to enter it.

 

Face it...you are part of the problem because you are too ignorant to understand the drill.

[RaiderDuck]

They are teaching you how to get to your life boat, how to assemble for loading and how to properly wear your life jacket. There is no teaching you 'how to use' the lifeboats, the only step left is for you to enter it.

 

Face it...you are part of the problem because you are too ignorant to understand the drill.

They're showing us where the lifeboat is. Unless "assemble for loading" means standing near the lifeboat itself, they're not teaching us how to do that. And we have no idea how to properly wear our lifejackets because they specifically tell us not to bring them. In three cruises, all of them complying with all muster drill rules, I have yet to even touch a lifejacket, much less wear one.

[chengkp75]

That's the problem: how is standing out on a deck for 30 minutes or more, staring at lifeboats, going to "save a life?" We're not being taught how to use these boats or anything else that might prove useful.

 

NCL at least had us meet in our specified muster areas (with plentiful seating), with the personnel saying "Meet us here in case of emergency." Their way is better, IMHO.

 

It's not that NCL "chose" a different method. SOLAS regulations prefer the muster locations be as close to the boats as possible, but newer ships have minimized the size of the promenade decks to the point where there is not enough space to have the muster there, and still have space for people to move past. Therefore, the musters were moved inside. It has nothing to do with passenger comfort, and is strictly determined by the original design of the ship.

 

They're showing us where the lifeboat is. Unless "assemble for loading" means standing near the lifeboat itself, they're not teaching us how to do that. And we have no idea how to properly wear our lifejackets because they specifically tell us not to bring them. In three cruises, all of them fully complying with all muster drill rules, I still have yet to even touch a lifejacket, much less wear one.

 

The passenger muster drill really has nothing to do with lifeboats. The purpose of the passenger muster is to get the passengers into a limited number of known locations, under the supervision of crew, so that they can be accounted for. The vast majority of actual musters result in passengers being mustered to get them accounted for and out of the way of the emergency, with never a thought of getting into the boats. The muster drill is to teach the "cattle" (the passengers) the things they need to know to do in an emergency: get to your station, get accounted, and shut up and pay attention.

[jgh1204]

Charge a $500 missed muster fee.

[AmazedByCruising]

The muster drill is to teach the "cattle" (the passengers) the things they need to know to do in an emergency: get to your station, get accounted, and shut up and pay attention.

 

 

I have asked before about the muster drills as they were completely different from one ship to the next one. That made it feel like a routine some outdated law demanded but didn't serve an actual purpose. There must be a large percentage among the "cattle" who feel they're wasting their time.

 

It would be nice if the 20 minute presentation would include 30 seconds to explain why there's a muster drill at all. "The next 20 minutes we'll explain a lot about the lifevests, the lifeboats, and that your kids will be taken care of. But remember, you are here because we need you to be here in case things go wrong. When the alarm sounds, we want you to be here."

 

That was certainly not the main message I got from 3 muster drills.

[RaiderDuck]

I have asked before about the muster drills as they were completely different from one ship to the next one. That made it feel like a routine some outdated law demanded but didn't serve an actual purpose. There must be a large percentage among the "cattle" who feel they're wasting their time.

 

It would be nice if the 20 minute presentation would include 30 seconds to explain why there's a muster drill at all. "The next 20 minutes we'll explain a lot about the lifevests, the lifeboats, and that your kids will be taken care of. But remember, you are here because we need you to be here in case things go wrong. When the alarm sounds, we want you to be here."

 

That was certainly not the main message I got from 3 muster drills.

The message I got from the muster drills I've been on is "We're doing this because the law says we have to do. So let's get it over with."

[Keys2Heaven]

Yes, being done in accordance with maritime law, but to get passengers familiar with their muster station. I really don't get the push back because someone is standing in an area for a period of time. Carnival did increase "comfort" by no longer requiring life jackets to be worn to the muster station.

 

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[chengkp75]

Another factor of the passenger drill to remember is that the actual drill is the only time the crew assigned to muster the passengers actually get to train with handling actual people, and gain skills in crowd management. Yes, the crew has a drill as well, but during that drill, the crew assigned to direct passengers and to complete the musters have no one to work with. So, they are learning just as the passengers are learning, just a different skill set.

[ray98]

I have asked before about the muster drills as they were completely different from one ship to the next one. That made it feel like a routine some outdated law demanded but didn't serve an actual purpose. There must be a large percentage among the "cattle" who feel they're wasting their time.

 

It would be nice if the 20 minute presentation would include 30 seconds to explain why there's a muster drill at all. "The next 20 minutes we'll explain a lot about the lifevests, the lifeboats, and that your kids will be taken care of. But remember, you are here because we need you to be here in case things go wrong. When the alarm sounds, we want you to be here."

 

That was certainly not the main message I got from 3 muster drills.

 

The largest amount of time is spent waiting on passengers to reach the location. It is just a fact when assembling thousands of people.

 

Every drill I have been to did exactly the things you mention above.

 

• This is the exact location you will respond to in the event of an emergency
  
• We will annonce when there is an emergency and you will hear this horn from the ship
  
• We ask you to remain quiet and listen for instructions from staff
  
• Bring your life jacket and this is how you properly put it on
  
• Your kids have their location on their arm band, if unattended they will be escorted to their station. Meet them there.
  

 

There is no need for any explanation for anyone with common sense.

[chengkp75]

The message I got from the muster drills I've been on is "We're doing this because the law says we have to do. So let's get it over with."

 

Look at it from the crew's perspective. If you had to take time out from your normal work every week to try to do a job where you deal with a horde of people who ignore your instructions, talk over you, and are generally rude, making comments about how soon can we get back to the bars, how long would it take you to get the attitude of "well, this is for their safety, not mine, so if they don't care about it, why should I?" And an American's tolerance for taking BS from someone is far lower than that of most of the international crew.

[DirtyDawg]

Look at it from the crew's perspective. If you had to take time out from your normal work every week to try to do a job where you deal with a horde of people who ignore your instructions, talk over you, and are generally rude, making comments about how soon can we get back to the bars, how long would it take you to get the attitude of "well, this is for their safety, not mine, so if they don't care about it, why should I?" And an American's tolerance for taking BS from someone is far lower than that of most of the international crew.

 

Sounds like an everyday occurance for a University Instuctor, high school, teacher, grade school teacher..........

 

They sould have an exit exam for the cattle, if they don't pass it's Muster 'till Midnight!

[KCMiller]

Given how worthless the muster drills are on Carnival (they're somewhat more useful on NCL), we're tempted to just hide in the bathroom for our upcoming cruise and hope they don't take roll. What good does it do to stand on the deck for 30-45 minutes and stare at lifeboats?

 

On the GF's Carnival Victory cruise in December (work-related, so I wasn't along), one of her co-workers ended up in the infirmary the first night for a concussion caused by the poor lady collapsing during the drill itself: the Miami humidity and closeness of everyone overwhelmed her and she passed out.

 

Who the heck needs this???

 

Needs this? I would think that the passengers on the Costa Concordia needed this, and were grateful that they knew where their muster stations were, and what to do. No one ever thinks they will need any of the information in safety drills, until they actually do. That being said, I wish there was a better way to do these - I don't enjoy standing in the hot sun for extended periods of time in close formation with folks I don't know.

 

KC