Muster Drill. Where do people hide?

[Mistizoom]

Our cruise this past January was the first one with muster inside. After it was over, I was still completely unaware of where I was supposed to go in the event of a real emergency. I’m assuming I wasn’t supposed to return to the MDR! I liked having them outside so I knew exactly which lifeboat to show up at.

 

 

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Not sure what ship you were on, but on Breakaway, Getaway and Escape the lifeboats are on deck 7 where the muster stations are. From what I could tell, there semi-concealed doors that go out from the various venues on deck 7 right to the life boats. I mustered in Bliss nightclub on Getaway and the casino on Escape. They don't tell you about them as I guess they don't want people using them unless directed by crew members.

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

I love the mustard drills!

 

 

 

Yes, the first few cruises we were on, my son thought they were Mustard Drills. Now that he is a 20 something, we laugh about it!

[xriva]

Our cruise this past January was the first one with muster inside. After it was over, I was still completely unaware of where I was supposed to go in the event of a real emergency. I’m assuming I wasn’t supposed to return to the MDR! I liked having them outside so I knew exactly which lifeboat to show up at.

 

 

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One main purpose of muster drill is to show you where to go in the event of an emergency. You DO return to the MDR.

 

Did you see the sign the crew was holding up? The one with the letter and number? The letter and number that matched the ones on your keycard? That’s your muster station. Muster station is not the same as your lifeboat.

 

 

 

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[Tansy Mews]

I have done pirate drills twice - in the Suez area and then near India. That was different! Sit on the floor in the halls and listen for instructions. Though they didn't seriously think there would be problems (naval ships were patrolling), the ship did douse some outdoor lights, had water cannons (hoses) on decks, covered the lowest level portholes, and closed off the lowest deck.

[www3traveler]

I have done pirate drills twice - in the Suez area and then near India. That was different! Sit on the floor in the halls and listen for instructions. Though they didn't seriously think there would be problems (naval ships were patrolling), the ship did douse some outdoor lights, had water cannons (hoses) on decks, covered the lowest level portholes, and closed off the lowest deck.

 

WOW!!!! That would have been very very scary. Thank you for sharing.

[rxlowry]

I've never hid but I'm usually in my cabin unpacking and wait until they call it. I'm still never last though!

[LrgPizza]

Have a great cruise, Keith!

 

I make sure I pay close attention to the people that arrive late to muster drills. Those are the people who are inconsiderate of their fellow passengers, and if I have a chance to return the favor to them at some point in the cruise, I will. I can be catty like that.

[Salem615]

I almost missed one a few years ago. We were onboard early and I indulged a bit too much with the welcome drinks! Between that and the sun I went back to the room to "rest" for a few minutes. I woke up to my husband saying we had to go to the drill. I still don't know how I got there!

[marktwothousand]

Anyone know the time of the makeup drill on the next day?

[josephmz]

 

Once heard a woman giving a crew member in the theatre a total ration about going to her assigned muster station.

She couldn't understand why she had to walk down the steps toward the stage to her station.

And no, she appeared to be healthy. She just didn't want to do it.

[Mike_DeA]

Monster Drill

 

 

 

Munster Drill

 

[cruisinmeme]

One of the best muster drills i attended was on the breakaway. The theatre was completely full. The guy gets up there and says the drill will start when EVERYONE is quiet. He stood up there until everyone shut up. Yeah,keep talking and risk being mobbed afterwards .you could hear a pin drop and he had the floor the whole time.  No side shows.

i always hated the outdoor drills where they pack you 15 people deep.

[joyy7403]

On 3/25/2018 at 1:04 PM, Notnewtoit said:

Rules of course, do not apply to "me" they only apply to everyone else, who are nowhere near as special as "me".

 

That’s the truth! People who think they’re above everyone else. I have no use for them.

[CharmCity2000]

Our last cruise our muster station was in the casino.  My 9 yr old wanted to know what arcade this was and when could he come back. 

[VicRock]

2 hours ago, CharmCity2000 said:

Our last cruise our muster station was in the casino.  My 9 yr old wanted to know what arcade this was and when could he come back. 

We go to Atlantic City for the beach.  My kiddo got so excited the first time he saw the casino.  When I told him he couldn't play he was so upset.  Now he tries to convince us to play while  he sits outside the ropes to watch.  He then tells us if we win we need to split it 3 ways.  LOL.  We don't play but he tries.  Hes 7.

[don't-use-real-name]

On ‎3‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 7:05 PM, bluesea777 said:

As veteran cruisers (19 and counting) we still get to the muster station early and people watch. If the station is by the bar, we turn the high chairs around to face the section (so we can watch the lifejacket demo). Once the drill is over we just turn the chairs back to face and order our first traditional cosmos of the cruise!

 

Mind you, the elevators shut down a good 20 mins before the drills, so if you have cabin on higher decks (esp. on big ships), you better have a good head start! ;p

 

Mind you, the elevators shut down a good 20 mins before the drills

 

Yes the elevators shut down for a short time before and during the drill.

Anyone in a wheelchair - scooter - leg brace - or similar appliance is allowed to use the elevator.

 

After the drill it is a mad house to use the elevators to return to the level you left.

This is the only time that the elevators get more use than during embarkation.

Some guests take the stairs down one or more decks to ride the elevator up as the elevator stops to

load up guests if there is any room at the level the drill was held - way to beat the system.

Using elevators at aft - forward or mid-ship is equally unproductive - you can't rise to your level you

have to descend to take an empty elevator up.

This or find a bar and wait out the elevator mayhem.

Seasoned cruisers know of this method to escape the madness.

 

Generally 15-20 minutes later things will have returned to normal.

And for those that missed the "Mustard Drill" (I like that one) the make up drill you can use the elevators.

 

[don't-use-real-name]

 

Deleted doubled post !

Edited October 9, 2019 by don't-use-real-name
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[Suite Heart]

20 hours ago, cruisinmeme said:

One of the best muster drills i attended was on the breakaway. The theatre was completely full. The guy gets up there and says the drill will start when EVERYONE is quiet. He stood up there until everyone shut up. Yeah,keep talking and risk being mobbed afterwards .you could hear a pin drop and he had the floor the whole time.  No side shows.

i always hated the outdoor drills where they pack you 15 people deep.

 

I was present during an outdoor drill on the Star, YEARS ago. It was in the summer, and it was HOT. An elderly gentleman actually passed out and had to be carried off the deck by 2 crew members. He was okay afterwards, thank goodness. (Though I was on a cruise about 4-5 years ago when a guy had a fatal heart attack.)

[GA Dave]

You can see how thrilled my wife was on the Getaway when we had to wait half an hour for everyone to show up for the muster.  She is a former teacher and cannot stand bad behavior.

 

Edited October 9, 2019 by GA Dave

[cruisinmeme]

4 hours ago, Suite Heart said:

 

I was present during an outdoor drill on the Star, YEARS ago. It was in the summer, and it was HOT. An elderly gentleman actually passed out and had to be carried off the deck by 2 crew members. He was okay afterwards, thank goodness. (Though I was on a cruise about 4-5 years ago when a guy had a fatal heart attack.)

 

 

Not all all surprised by this. Even in fall time when the sun is blaring on you and people are super packed on top of each other it is not good. 

[FLConnie]

On ‎3‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 10:13 PM, Tansy Mews said:

I have done pirate drills twice - in the Suez area and then near India. That was different! Sit on the floor in the halls and listen for instructions. Though they didn't seriously think there would be problems (naval ships were patrolling), the ship did douse some outdoor lights, had water cannons (hoses) on decks, covered the lowest level portholes, and closed off the lowest deck.

We are sailing Suez in November and I've heard about Pirate Drills. Definitely won't miss that!

[graphicguy]

I have seen some people show up late, after the drill had started, and was not able or allowed to get their key card scanned.  They were informed they would get a notice on where/when to come for the drill the next day. I never saw those folks go into such a tizzy on a cruise ship.

 

Finally, the cruise staff just left them in the theater bitching among each other about the fact they had to come back.

 

Absolute worst time to try to use the elevators...after the muster drill.  Best to find a bar to order a drink and wait for the throngs to thin out.  Or, use the stairs, which isn’t a bad alternative given the amount of food on board.

[Reader0108598]

On 10/8/2019 at 3:10 PM, josephmz said:

 

Once heard a woman giving a crew member in the theatre a total ration about going to her assigned muster station.

She couldn't understand why she had to walk down the steps toward the stage to her station.

And no, she appeared to be healthy. She just didn't want to do it.

I have COPD among other things I can walk downstairs pretty well coming back up ummm not so much! I use three inhalors a day and a nebulizer when i need it We cannot assume someone is able bodied just because you cannot see their disability. I have had crew look at me like ya right when I sit in the upper seating!

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2019 by Reader0108598

[Giantfan13]

A question about Muster Drills. We used to cruise with a couple who basically refused to go to the drill. They hide in their cabins or some where else--whatever. What can happen to some one who basically doesn't show up at all? Obviously they won't be thrown in the brig, so if there is no real penalty, why even make the effort if that is what people want?

 

Cheer

Len

[shof515]

46 minutes ago, Giantfan13 said:

A question about Muster Drills. We used to cruise with a couple who basically refused to go to the drill. They hide in their cabins or some where else--whatever. What can happen to some one who basically doesn't show up at all? Obviously they won't be thrown in the brig, so if there is no real penalty, why even make the effort if that is what people want?

 

Cheer

Len

 

you will get a letter to your cabin asking you to attend a make up drill the next day.