Muster question

[carrieluvsgreg]

I have been on most of the classes of Carnival ships and have "mustered" both inside and out... We had an inside location on Promenade on the Fascination years ago (the only reason I remember this was it was our kids first cruise and my son, who was 9 managed to lose his sign and sail card before the drill was over... )Our first cruise on the Inspiration we were outside and our friends were inside, a couple of years ago we were on the Paradise (also Fantasy class) and our station was out by the boats. On the Dream and Breeze we have been inside every time, which I think is the norm for that class. On the Glory and Liberty... I don't honestly remember. The drill has never been a big deal with us- but of course, we prefer to be inside.

[Anthomaniac]

Can you just tell them this? Or would I need some kind of proof? I have really bad arthritis in my back and have a hard time standing for very long.

Just let them know at GS when you board, they'll tell you where the special needs muster will be.

 

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[riclop]

I read in a thread in the last few months that they have started checking S&S cards via a tablet during muster. Can some one Shar with me the changes and if this is speeding up the process? Hate standing there waiting for the late arrivals. TIA

 

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Yes they do.

[RWolver672]

When we sailed on the Dream a few years back, the drill was in the main theater and we never went to the lifeboats afterwards. This year on the Paradise, we mustered in the main theater and afterwards, they marched us all up to the lifeboats.

 

They did scan our cards as we entered. Before the muster started, they called out names that hadn't signed in. If someone answered, they checked off that name and continued with the list. When everybody was accounted for, they started the muster.

[Wheels87]

There is a lot of misinformation being posted on here about this. The fact is that on any Carnival ship, there are many different muster stations placed throughout the ship and it is your cabin number which dictates where you go. Some stations are inside, for example in the theater or the comedy club and some are outside, like in the lido stage area. Some of the stations actually have to take their folks to the lifeboats and some do not and I'm certain that rotates because I have cruised several times on the same ship within a short span of time and have experienced it for myself.

 

All of my recent cruises have used scanners at the muster drill and the process seemed to take about the same amount of time, or perhaps a little longer.

 

Good luck!

[firemanbobswife]

There is a lot of misinformation being posted on here about this. The fact is that on any Carnival ship, there are many different muster stations placed throughout the ship and it is your cabin number which dictates where you go. Some stations are inside, for example in the theater or the comedy club and some are outside, like in the lido stage area. Some of the stations actually have to take their folks to the lifeboats and some do not and I'm certain that rotates because I have cruised several times on the same ship within a short span of time and have experienced it for myself.

 

All of my recent cruises have used scanners at the muster drill and the process seemed to take about the same amount of time, or perhaps a little longer.

 

Good luck!

 

What misinformation are you referring to? Different classes of ships do muster differently. For example on the Conquest Class you go outside to your lifeboat area on Deck 4. On Dream and Vista Classes your muster station is inside. My cruise in August on Conquest they did not scan your S&S cards, but in March on Vista and this month on Glory they did.

[idraconis]

I for one would like to know what to do in case of an emergency. How ever I wish they wouldn't (cruise lines) hold a muster drill in the casino. Sitting and inhaling smoke for 30 minutes is not my idea of a fun time. They don't serve drinks during the drill and they should ban smoking during the drill. IMO.

[PrettyPenny7]

I wish they would have scanned our S&S cards on the Victory earlier this month! That muster was complete bull****. On top of which - there were still people who didn't show up. I'd have preferred to sit somewhere and see a longer video, than go through that muster clusterf*** again. I forget which ship my sister/BIL went on for their honeymoon, but they were seated in a dining area so of course I was expecting this for our muster on the Victory and was sorely disappointed.

[Wheels87]

What misinformation are you referring to? Different classes of ships do muster differently. For example on the Conquest Class you go outside to your lifeboat area on Deck 4. On Dream and Vista Classes your muster station is inside. My cruise in August on Conquest they did not scan your S&S cards, but in March on Vista and this month on Glory they did.

 

My apologies...I should have used the word, "confusion."

 

It seems that some are under the impression that you either always go to the life boats or never go to them and that is not the case. I have been on the Dream several times when we had to actually leave the comforts of the indoor muster station and actually go out to the life boats, while other times we did not at the same station. I imagine that they change it up for the sake of the crew members so they get practice as well.

 

Cheers!

[firemanbobswife]

My apologies...I should have used the word, "confusion."

 

It seems that some are under the impression that you either always go to the life boats or never go to them and that is not the case. I have been on the Dream several times when we had to actually leave the comforts of the indoor muster station and actually go out to the life boats, while other times we did not at the same station. I imagine that they change it up for the sake of the crew members so they get practice as well.

 

Cheers!

I will admit I am under the same impression that muster is done one way on each ship as to not cause confusion. I know Dream and Vista Class have the muster inside, and from what I understand the Fantasy Class has muster inside but then you go out to the lifeboats (I've never actually sailed this class). I have never heard of it varying depending on whatever criteria they use to change it. There is only 1 way to do it on Conquest Class and that is outside so in that case, it won't vary.

[DGNewton]

Muster was slow and agonizing for us despite the new technology. We were standing out in the heat for what seemed like forever while late people were showing up, and they were allowed to show late. My disabled husband almost passed out and had to be escorted inside. I have osteoarthritis and heat sensitivity so it felt like torture. I wish they would do it indoors with ac and seating. Until that happens, we will be anticipating the muster drill with extreme dread when we sail Carnival.

 

Ours was the same on the Sensation in August. So long and hot. People couldn’t stand that long. It was the worst we’ve ever experienced. I hope the sold out Sunshine is better on Nov 18!

 

Each of had to be scanned. Plus if you speak a foreign language, they will call you out for personal instructions. We all had to wait for them as well. Then they escorted people to the boats. Was not professional in my opinion.

[Pellaz]

Actually, they did scan each of us from our room individually on the Freedom a couple of weeks ago.

 

Interesting. On Vista three weeks ago the three of us in our cabin arrived together at the theater entrance, where our muster was to be held. The employee scanned my sign-and-sail and I noticed on his tablet that all three of our photos showed up, so he glanced at us, nodded, and waved us in. My two cruise companions were a little surprised they hadn't been scanned until I told them that all of our photos had shown up on the crewman's display.

[CdrescherRBL152]

Once, just once, it would be so awesome there was a mass protest against this indignity and half the ship skipped the drill. Obviously people are sheep so I don't see this happening unless a couple big groups got together and agreed to so it beforehand.

Guess what you can not skip the muster drill is International Maritime Law must be done with in 24 hours of boarding.

[angiegal]

Ours was the same on the Sensation in August. So long and hot. People couldn’t stand that long. It was the worst we’ve ever experienced. I hope the sold out Sunshine is better on Nov 18!

 

Each of had to be scanned. Plus if you speak a foreign language, they will call you out for personal instructions. We all had to wait for them as well. Then they escorted people to the boats. Was not professional in my opinion.

 

Our trip on the Sensation in early October was a cluster *&^*! They only scanned one card per cabin but the crew we encountered didn't seem to know how to work the iPad or who to scan. At first call, they were missing more than 50 people. They ended up calling out names of more than 20 people, but half of them claimed to have already been scanned. Kids had to be told repeatedly to get out of the pool, people kept going to the upper deck and being told they had to move, people were eating, drinking, on their phones, whole groups of people talking and dancing, staff on the stage were talking and dancing. It took FOREVER and was just chaos! (I'm sure I sound like a huge PITA but trying to teach a 3 year old to follow rules when no one around you is following them is really hard to do!) We were stuck on the Lido deck. The other half of our party sat in the lounge for their muster drill and then had to walk to the lifeboats. Totally different experience. Staff was super strict about drinks and talking. Unfortunately, it still took forever for them, too, because muster drill happens ship wide. UPSIDE- at least we didn't have to wear life vests and be packed in like sardines in front of the life boats like our first Sensation cruise :D

[Schoifmom]

Just off the Dream. Muster was held inside (4 muster areas were located in the main theater, but others were located throughout the ship, depending on your cabin location). Different from the Sunshine, there was no "special needs" muster area, you reported to your assigned indoor muster area. Staff made note of those with special needs. Once the main "demonstration" portion of the muster drill was over, those with special needs were excused. All other persons were taken up to the lifeboats (I'm sure to make them familiar with the route).

[PrettyPenny7]

I for one would like to know what to do in case of an emergency. How ever I wish they wouldn't (cruise lines) hold a muster drill in the casino. Sitting and inhaling smoke for 30 minutes is not my idea of a fun time. They don't serve drinks during the drill and they should ban smoking during the drill. IMO.

 

Still have no idea what to do in the event of an emergency on the Victory. I could not hear half of what was said during that muster. Couldn't even have found my way back to that muster station where I think they said to meet in the event of an emergency, but who the heck really knows?

 

Clearly all musters aren't created equal.

[PrettyPenny7]

Guess what you can not skip the muster drill is International Maritime Law must be done with in 24 hours of boarding.

 

WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS???????

 

Oh they can come find me afterwards and make me sit (comfortably) through a longer version of it, then! They have plenty of time.

[Schoifmom]

WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS???????

 

Oh they can come find me afterwards and make me sit (comfortably) through a longer version of it, then! They have plenty of time.

 

That's great, while you make the rest of us wait for them to look for you several times before going on with the drill. :rolleyes:;)

[PrettyPenny7]

That's great, while you make the rest of us wait for them to look for you several times before going on with the drill. :rolleyes:;)

 

They didn't wait on the Victory. People just wandered in and out all willy-nilly. Nice try, though.

[Schoifmom]

They didn't wait on the Victory. People just wandered in and out all willy-nilly. Nice try, though.

 

They did last week on the Dream. If your stateroom didn't check in, they called your name at least twice looking for you (they don't send out a search party, if that is what you though I meant).

[Anthomaniac]

WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS???????

 

Oh they can come find me afterwards and make me sit (comfortably) through a longer version of it, then! They have plenty of time.

Plenty of time ....said the passengers on the Costa Concordia.

 

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[evandbob]

WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS???????

 

Oh they can come find me afterwards and make me sit (comfortably) through a longer version of it, then! They have plenty of time.

 

 

I boarded a cruise in mid itinerary due to a death in the family. After getting on the ship in Antigua, I had to attend a lenghty video in the comedy club, along with the other 6 mid cruise arrivals. Don't you know, we had to wait for one of them before they would start the video?

 

Just show up on time and you'll be spared the "horror" of a more efficient muster. I've been calling for Carnival to adopt this technology for years now, since I first experienced it on Princess. It really does make a big difference in the length of time that muster now takes.

 

JMO, but anyone who deliberately evades muster deserves to be put off the ship. If you have special needs then alert Carnival and they will accomodate you.

[evandbob]

Every muster I've attended on Carnival has the "disclaimer" that for past cruisers there may be new emergency procedures that can vary year to year and from ship to ship.

 

In over 30 Carnival cruises in 14 years, I keep hearing the same announcements, kind of like the plane crew telling us how to snap a seat belt. I still attend anyway, even though I can probably recite a good part of the announcements. I do like being inside and comfortable, much better than the lineup in the heat with life preservers on, as they used to do when I 1st started cruising.

[PrettyPenny7]

Just show up on time and you'll be spared the "horror" of a more efficient muster.

 

I showed up on time and I was not spared a moment of horror, I can assure you.

 

As I've already stated, clearly all musters are not created equal.

[PrettyPenny7]

They did last week on the Dream. If your stateroom didn't check in, they called your name at least twice looking for you (they don't send out a search party, if that is what you though I meant).

 

No, I just meant that they're (unfortunately) not standardized. Scanning cards would have been an ideal way to know if everyone showed up or not. It was mainly frustrating because of all the disorganization/confusion.