New Poll - Do ya' Muster?

[SFParrtHd]

Another vote for attending. We take "bets" on who puts their vests on first when told "do not put your vest on until you are told to do so".

[palolake]

When I saw this poll the first thing I thought was that you should be ashamed of yourself for having people vote on this. The excuses of being on many cruises before doesn't cut it for me. Even if you are on the same ship as you were before, you are probably in another cabin or maybe Princess changed the procedure. Is it really that big of a deal to take half an hour out of your day? What is it that is so exciting to do "hiding out" in your cabin that you will miss at the drill? I'm with the other posters who hope you'll stay out of my way in an emergency.

[PescadoAmarillo]

When I saw this poll the first thing I thought was that you should be ashamed of yourself for having people vote on this. The excuses of being on many cruises before doesn't cut it for me. Even if you are on the same ship as you were before, you are probably in another cabin or maybe Princess changed the procedure. Is it really that big of a deal to take half an hour out of your day? What is it that is so exciting to do "hiding out" in your cabin that you will miss at the drill? I'm with the other posters who hope you'll stay out of my way in an emergency.

 

I agree totally, but have to admit that this kind of behavior is simply representative of what we're encountering every day while on land. We'll watch people run stop signs, park in handicapped spots without authority, not clean up after their dog, drive erratically due to cell phone usage, etc. and we'll look at each other and say, "They're MORE IMPORTANT than we are!", because that is exactly what such actions imply. Entitlement is the predominant attitude these days, and on a cruise ship it is reflected in not following the dress codes, chair hogging, seat saving, and, now I find out, not attending the muster drill.

 

JMVHO

[curiouscat]

. and we'll look at each other and say, "They're MORE IMPORTANT than we are!", because that is exactly what such actions imply.

JMVHO

 

 

Nah.. I just think they're narcissitc indiv's that didn't get enough attention as children:D

 

CuriousCat

[earljr]

Another vote for attending. We take "bets" on who puts their vests on first when told "do not put your vest on until you are told to do so".

 

love it -- so do we :)

 

 

Earl

[scamper]

"I look forward to...?" That's...different.

[scamper]

I agree totally, but have to admit that this kind of behavior is simply representative of what we're encountering every day while on land. We'll watch people run stop signs, park in handicapped spots without authority, not clean up after their dog, drive erratically due to cell phone usage, etc. and we'll look at each other and say, "They're MORE IMPORTANT than we are!", because that is exactly what such actions imply. Entitlement is the predominant attitude these days, and on a cruise ship it is reflected in not following the dress codes, chair hogging, seat saving, and, now I find out, not attending the muster drill.

 

JMVHO

 

That's right! After all, God Himself could not sink this ship! I vote everyone just stay in their rooms or in whatever lounge they happen to be in and listen to the instructions that are broadcast all over the ship. We'll just close our eyes and visualize how to part our lifejackets on. No need to sit your drink down or anything...I mean...that would just be inconvenient. The next thing they'll ask us to do is pay attention to the flight attendants demonstrating where to find the information on how to open the overwing exits or any other exit doors or how to put on the oxygen masks. I mean, really! Do they think people have died not knowing these things? Such silly, silly people. How tiresome!

[sunshine426]

We just returned from a cruise on the Sapphire Princess. We attended the Muster Drill and had a few flash backs as we were also on the "Charred Princess" last March. When they pointed to the dooryways and where crew members would direct you in the unlikely event you had to abandon ship I could so remember standing at a door much like that, talking to our favorite waiter as he manned his life boat station around 4am as we appproaced Jamaica. We were glad to cruise again, but will always attend the muster drill.

[harrynterry]

We have never missed a muster in all our cruises. I can't say it's exactly fun, but neither would be not knowing where to go or what to do in case of emergency. (Remember the Titanic) You couldn't keep me off a ship, but not playing by the rules for muster is no different than griping that people aren't following the dress codes or crowd and push in the tender lines or buffet.

 

Plus appreciate the way Princess handles it.....the one time we sailed Celebrity not only did we meet inside for instruction, we then had to put on our vests and then parade outside and stand under the lifeboat we were assigned to.

[AliceS]

Hey, you might learn something new? At least you don't have to stand outside in all weather like Celebrity. Just go and see how many people don't pay attention when they say, "Don't put ON your life jacket, just watch", someone always has to put on the life jacket and you hear the velcro pull apart. What other funny stuff have you observed?

[Sanibel*Gal]

Always go to muster. We make it fun. It is the official start to our cruise and we love meeting everyone. :D

 

 

Agree - this is always the beginning of another great cruise & Muster is a must for the safety of everyone!!:)

[cruisingfreak]

We always go to muster.

 

 

 

Minette

[FranKes2000]

Does anyone remember all their muster drills? January will be our 10th cruise and I tried to remember all of them. I remember the first one. I also remember the last three. But the others are hazy. They have been with three different lines. For those that have drill on the outside deck, it seems all of them were on the starbord side. Has anyone had one on the port side?

 

Your cabins must have always been on the starboard side, those with port side cabins will be mustering on the port side.

[JPO]

My wife uses a wheelchair for going any distance more than 50 feet or so and she can not go up/down stairs which makes this an especially interesting event. Usually we 'prepostion' in the muster area since the elevators are off limits for the drill. We alwyas double-check that our steward and the pursors desk are aware that in a real emergancy we would need help. On our last cruise the steward said we should just remain in our cabin which we did ... felt weird and we probably would not do that again. No one checked the cabin to see if we were there or not ... not sure if that is worrysome or not.:confused:

[scamper]

My wife uses a wheelchair for going any distance more than 50 feet or so and she can not go up/down stairs which makes this an especially interesting event. Usually we 'prepostion' in the muster area since the elevators are off limits for the drill. We alwyas double-check that our steward and the pursors desk are aware that in a real emergancy we would need help. On our last cruise the steward said we should just remain in our cabin which we did ... felt weird and we probably would not do that again. No one checked the cabin to see if we were there or not ... not sure if that is worrysome or not.:confused:

 

I would think that the stairwell monitors would see you coming and direct you appropriately. It isn't like your Mrs. is the first passenger they have seen in a wheelchair. The crew should be doing whatever they are supposed to do to make sure you get to your muster station during the drill.

[TexasCPA]

We always attend. We have been keep waiting for 1/2 hour twice while they went to "find" the missing people. They called roll call....Aleeta

Yep...this has been the case on most of the cruises we have been on. The cruise line almost always holds things up (by this I mean required attending passengers are required to keep their lifejackets on in the sun/heat) while they "look" for the missing/hiding parties. Most of the time they're just in the wrong place, but either way it was those who faithfully attended who got the short end of the stick.

 

Perhaps it should be like camp where if you violate the rules you get to wear a toilet seat around your neck for a day or two... :D

[Love Cruis'n]

Aside from the safety factor, to me going to a muster drill means the cruise is about to start – and I love cruis'n :)

 

There isn’t any other vacation I go on where there’s a muster drill, so it’s always a joy to me. :)

[woodofpine]

I always attend sometimes a little grudgingly but always understanding that this is one set of rules you want to understand if the situation mandates it.

 

But my mom didn't go during her last few cruises. She would stay in her cabin and await the crew and tell them "do with me what you will".

 

But then mom's been a double lower amputee for a few years confined to a wheel chair. So, if the elevators aren't in operation she's not going anywhere except down with the ship!

 

Mom indicates that besides similarly positioned travelors like herself, the guys that hide out and won't attend muster are the same ones that wear speedos to the dining room on formal night! :D

[beth4652]

One of my favorite sayings is "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." In this case, it's "better to know it and not need it than to need it and not know it."

[jff50]

I was also on the Star Princess when Muster was called at 3a.m. in the morning. I looked out my balcony door and saw sparks of fire flying over. I was very glad that I knew at least where my muster station was. My DH and I managed to get clothes on and our life jackets but that was all. When we got to the muster station and sat down that is when we realized all the things we should have had with us. We won't make that mistake again. A emergency fanny pack will be put together and attached to our life jackets on our next cruise. Showing the above picture over and over to the numskulls that think the muster drill is a big joke may hopefully change there mind. Just ask anyone of us that was on this ship what kind of turmoil we went through for 8 hours that would have been far worse if we did not know what to do.

This seems like as good a reason for attending a muster drill as any. So if this is the best reason, what would I have learned in mustering on the Star Princess that I didn't get in 17 previous Princess muster drills. Let's see--I know that my muster station is noted on the back of my room door, I will have checked the life vests that we have (including making sure that we have one that is the right size for my daughter), I will already have walked around the ship including using the stairs to get to my muster station, I know to carry the life vest without dragging the straps, I know how to put the life vest on, I know how to hold the life vest and step off the ship (looking to make sure there is noone below me), I know that they will escort us from the muster station to a life boat if necessary. So, what would they have told me at that Star Princess muster drill, that I didn't already know, that would have made things easier/better in the event of a fire.

 

By the way, I don't think the muster drill is a joke. If I am on a cruise other than on a Princess ship I have already sailed on, I always go to the muster drill. But so far, I haven't heard anything to convince me it is necessary/worthwhile on my next Princess cruise.

 

I would love to hear from anyone that was on the Star Princess when the fire broke out. What specifically did you learn at the muster drill for that cruise that would be helpful to someone who has multiple cruises with Princess?

[georoc01]

The only times I have missed it is when I have boarded too late to attend. Other than hide out in your room, what else is there to really do during it? All the public rooms are either being used for the drill or closed, and they broadcast it over the intercom system.

[cruiseryyc]

These are quite often more entertaining than any of the comedic shows throughout the cruise.

[JPO]

The only times I have missed it is when I have boarded too late to attend. Other than hide out in your room, what else is there to really do during it? All the public rooms are either being used for the drill or closed, and they broadcast it over the intercom system.

 

The one time we boarded after the drill (2 days late :mad: - don't ask) on Costa Atlantica, a crew member gave us a private muster drill as required by law.

[red4lisa]

I go but my sister hides!

[Killer]

When we were on Caribbean Princess on a B2B last March, we were sitting at a table by the aft pool when they called the muster. As we were not required to attend, we just stayed put, with drinks and cigarettes in hand.

 

No one from the crew ever approached us and asked why we were not at our muster stations.

 

Hiding in the room does not seem necessary. Just sit on deck and pretend you know what you are doing.