Skipping the muster drill?

[MrPete]

We just sat on our balcony and closed the curtains. No one ever checked and we skipped the muster drill. I HATE THE WAY CARNIVAL DOES IT! We found the Princess way of setting in a lobby much more enjoyable!

 

You should be made to walk from your cabin, blindfolded, to where you are supposed to get into your lifeboat, cause you must be one of the ones thinking a ship's evacuation is as controlled as the drill.

 

Everyone else should have a sense of where they should be, and you will be the one panicking not knowing where you should be.

[missygirl]

Our muster last week to me was a little strange...they never called out any cabin numbers to make sure that you attended so anyone could have skipped it and they would have never known about it nor did they show the ones that had them on incorrectly the correct way. On previous cruises, that was the main reason that I attended (because they would start calling for you on the PA) and if we were sinking I definitely want to know where to be so thats why I make sure to attend. But going back to last week its hot some began to compain and they auctually had us remove the vests and just hold them.

 

Missygirl

[farler05]

Our muster last week to me was a little strange...they never called out any cabin numbers to make sure that you attended so anyone could have skipped it and they would have never known about it nor did they show the ones that had them on incorrectly the correct way. On previous cruises, that was the main reason that I attended (because they would start calling for you on the PA) and if we were sinking I definitely want to know where to be so thats why I make sure to attend. But going back to last week its hot some began to compain and they auctually had us remove the vests and just hold them.

 

Missygirl

Of my 4 Carnival cruises, they have never taken any sort of roll call.

[Artemus]

Sometimes I hide up in the air conditioning vents.:)

[Jenal2]

You've never heard of idle curiosity? Just wanting to know the who/what/when/where/why/how of things?

 

It sells millions of publications a year.

 

Not to mention filling megagazillion bytes on the internet every day! *L*

 

 

You took the words right out of my mouth. Not that its anybody's business, but I am not considering it. I know someone who was, which I thought was a mistake and I told them as much, but I wanted to get other people's takes on it.

[Jenal2]

And I Know I am officially on a Cruise when the LIFEboat Drill Begins!!

 

 

I agree 100% with you

[Jenal2]

Hummmm someone thinks it's time to stir the pot :) Are you the one who revives the "jeans on formal night" threads every now and then when you are bored?

 

No, I had just had an honest question, and fix your signature

[TrinaLC]

I prefer that Carnival makes you walk out to the actual muster station. It is a bit of a pain, but much more realistic than sitting in the theater.

 

We just got off a carnival cruise, and the rooms were indeed checked - that is why they don't have to check room numbers. (Sure, you probably could hide in the closet, but that would be a tad bit undignified wouldn't it?!)

[Maxax]

Muster Drill....IS NOT my favorite part of a cruise....but come on...like others have said....its better than a day at work. And how often do you get to stand there...hot, miserable, in a big uncomfortable orange life jacket....I don't do that very often....so what the heck...just try to make the best of it....and enjoy it! To me...it just wouldn't be a cruise without it!!!

[terri910]

You took the words right out of my mouth. Not that its anybody's business, but I am not considering it. I know someone who was, which I thought was a mistake and I told them as much, but I wanted to get other people's takes on it.

Well, you see, I'm one of those people that is just interested and curious about a lot of things....including things like this.

 

I believe in the premise behind the muster drills and wouldn't miss one (I also actually pay attention to the safety talk at the beginning of a flight, and note the emergency exits, etc.), but I'm curious as to how a cruise ship knows who is there and who isn't. I've heard that they do checks of the cabins, but then I've heard other things, too (perhaps it isn't a uniform method throughout the industry, I don't know). Do they also check the public restrooms? Although for the life of me I can't imagine anyone preferring to spend their time in a restroom rather than at the muster drill...*LOL* And what DOES happen to people who ignore it? Are they escorted to the muster station? Are the crew AT the muster station alerted somehow (IOW, how do the crew at the muster stations know when everyone is there?)? I'd love to know if those that try to skip it are punished in some way (it would satisfy a certain sensibility to hear they are), even if it is just a stern lecture by the most intimidating crew member on board...*LOL*

 

I just don't think curiosity should be taken as implication that someone is going to try to do what they are curious about. Rather, I think it implies an active, intelligent mind! ;)

[BND]

I prefer that Carnival makes you walk out to the actual muster station. It is a bit of a pain, but much more realistic than sitting in the theater.

 

We just got off a carnival cruise, and the rooms were indeed checked - that is why they don't have to check room numbers. (Sure, you probably could hide in the closet, but that would be a tad bit undignified wouldn't it?!)

 

That's what I think also. A bit childish, undignified, and just plain weird to "hide".

[The_Answer_Is_42]

Best I could find about the muster drill: Coast Guard, DHS § 131.540, § 109.227

 

Basically, I've opted out of a muster drill because of illness once, I don't have to flaunt it, but it was noted as to why I didn't attend. I reviewed the materials in the cabin (on the back of the door) and made sure our life vests were where they were supposed to be and all that.

 

As far as appointed fines: I'll be really, REALLY surprised if there is one issued to the cruise line at any point (it's not levied against a guest). Unless there was a mass crew and guest refusal to attend muster, I cannot see a huge fine being levied, and certainly not if a few people don't attend.

[terri910]

(Sure, you probably could hide in the closet, but that would be a tad bit undignified wouldn't it?!)

*LOL* True!

 

Wait a minute. Less dignified than the hairy chest contest? **LOL*

[madamcruisequeen2]

i have a great story about skipping musterd drill. i have told it before on this website but everyone gets mad if you talk about it like it is some huge deal.

I hate it because it is so dam hot and they dont let you smoke.

[yearnin4cruisin]

i have a great story about skipping musterd drill. i have told it before on this website but everyone gets mad if you talk about it like it is some huge deal.

 

Glad to see your inappropriate picture is gone. Thanks for that at least.

[Jenal2]

i have a great story about skipping musterd drill. i have told it before on this website but everyone gets mad if you talk about it like it is some huge deal.

I hate it because it is so dam hot and they dont let you smoke.

 

I want to hear it...

[The_Answer_Is_42]

*LOL* True!

 

Wait a minute. Less dignified than the hairy chest contest? **LOL*

Well, self-degredation in the name of safety is one thing, in the name of winning a cheesy party favor... that's been the advertising gimmick of bars and wet t-shirt contests for ages!!!:p

[KY Transplant]

I don't mind the muster drill at all.

It's having to stand around with the already drunken hillbillies puking & permeating their bad breath and cigarette smoke on you I don't like.

No alcohol should be served until after this is over.

[calicruise74]

i have a great story about skipping musterd drill. i have told it before on this website but everyone gets mad if you talk about it like it is some huge deal.

I hate it because it is so dam hot and they dont let you smoke.

 

 

Did I miss something? Is the "musterd" drill a new thing?

[madamcruisequeen2]

I am not going to talk about it anymore because people on this site get jelous but lets just say while everyone was sweating outside, we had a good time in the bathroom.

[Minoushka]

When we were on Rhapsody my brother who is hard of hearing missed muster drill and somhow they knew and went to get him .So they do check and it is a MUSt

[TY31088]

I go to the drills but have learned to take my time getting there.

 

But if the ship does go up in flames and starts sinking how long will the crew hang around the muster station to lead you to the life boat?

 

What if there is a fire at your muster station?

 

If your are on the top deck playing putt-putt and the call to abandon ship is announced, are you supposed to haul butt down the stairs to your level 4 cabin to get the life jackets? That would take me about 30 minutes.

 

We had two people in our recent drill who didn't bring their life jackets. Nobody said a word to them. They were at the front and the crew just overlooked them. One person in my group had a life jacket with "A" on it, should have been "F" and we were drilled as to why she didn't go to the "A" station. It was obvious the jacket got into our cabin by mistake. The response from the crew member was, "if we are called to stations, you go to the "A" station." Not all of us, just her. We gave the jacket to our room steward.

 

Like I said, I do the drills. If someone enjoys skipping them, go for it. Take the life jackets out of the closet and hide in the shower. Be sure to post it here to get congratulated and flamed.

[figs]

Just got off a cruise, and we honestly, accidentally, missed the drill.

 

We were in our cabin, napping, when the drill announcements started. We did our standard "wait 3-5 min" (roomie can't handle large groups of people at close quarters, so we usually go down toward the end so we're not packed in too deep into the group, so she doesn't panic), and started to go down. Then the muster drill started over the intercom!

 

No one knocked on our door, no one checked. We weren't attempting to miss anything, and we were in the corridor trying to go when they started it. We were late leaving port (embarkation was a NIGHTMARE, thus the nap!), so maybe that's why the normal procedures changed (no knock, no check). I definitely wouldn't advise anyone to do it, and we've never even been the last people to get there before. It felt really weird to have missed it.

[Celtress]

We just sat on our balcony and closed the curtains. No one ever checked and we skipped the muster drill. I HATE THE WAY CARNIVAL DOES IT! We found the Princess way of setting in a lobby much more enjoyable!

 

How pathetic! Obviously you think laws don't apply to you, otherwise you wouldn't be hiding on your balcony and whining that you "hate the way Carnival does it". I bet in a real emergency you'd be the one yelling and panicking and pushing your way onto someone else's life boat. Makes one wonder what other laws you intentionally break (traffic, taxes, etc). It's not a game, it's the law, and if you don't want to participate.... stay home!

 

In my opinion, the Muster Drill is the official start of the cruise! Those who refuse to participate should be put ashore immediately.

[terri910]

Just got off a cruise, and we honestly, accidentally, missed the drill.

 

We were in our cabin, napping, when the drill announcements started. We did our standard "wait 3-5 min" (roomie can't handle large groups of people at close quarters, so we usually go down toward the end so we're not packed in too deep into the group, so she doesn't panic), and started to go down. Then the muster drill started over the intercom!

 

No one knocked on our door, no one checked. We weren't attempting to miss anything, and we were in the corridor trying to go when they started it. We were late leaving port (embarkation was a NIGHTMARE, thus the nap!), so maybe that's why the normal procedures changed (no knock, no check). I definitely wouldn't advise anyone to do it, and we've never even been the last people to get there before. It felt really weird to have missed it.

In reading this, I'm still a little confused as to why you missed it. You say you did your standard "wait" and then started to go down. You were already in the corridor when you heard the drill start over the intercom, you figured you shouldn't have continued going down to the muster station? Did you figure you'd be embarrassed to be late?