skipping the muster drill

[cruzincurt]

Princess has much more customer friendly drills than RCI, always inside and no repeats on B2B's.

 

Actually, I want to muster where the lifeboats are to be boarded.

 

Having been to a for real muster on a ship that was on fire, I can tell you that mustering in the lounge, as we did, is an ugly, chaotic scene under real conditions. The singer/dancer/bartender/lifeboat guides were in a panic along with many passengers. Fortunately, we did not end up going to the lifeboats.

 

Why does learning and practicing emergency procedures have to be "customer friendly"? And IMO if it's too hot outside for someone for 15 minutes, they should probably not be cruising in the Caribbean. During our for real muster in the lounge we had no airconditioning or lighting for several hours. Get over it.

[Rancher Dave]

Actually, I want to muster where the lifeboats are to be boarded.

 

Having been to a for real muster on a ship that was on fire, I can tell you that mustering in the lounge, as we did, is an ugly, chaotic scene under real conditions. The singer/dancer/bartender/lifeboat guides were in a panic along with many passengers. Fortunately, we did not end up going to the lifeboats.

 

Why does learning and practicing emergency procedures have to be "customer friendly"? And IMO if it's too hot outside for someone for 15 minutes, they should probably not be cruising in the Caribbean. During our for real muster in the lounge we had no airconditioning or lighting for several hours. Get over it.

 

 

Agree 100%....would my guess that you were on Princess be correct?

 

The crew are people too so in a real emergency many of those who are not true ship crew, but are part of the hotel staff will be in as much of a panic as many of the pax...

 

It is nice to be inside for muster on hot days, but really if there is a fire likely it will be inside, in fact it could even be at a muster station, so it really is better like CruzinCurt states to be out by the lifeboats.

 

My impression from accounts by DW, DD and others about the Carnival Circus Muster drill, is that RCCL takes safety more seriously and forces folks to know where they go and those spots in most cases are by the lifeboats. That said if we hit a berg and were sinking relatively fast, deck 4 on Voyager class may be a bit hard to swallow unless we are boarding the lifeboats quickly.

 

In the event of a fire I would much rather be outside, ideally near to my lifeboat so we can escape quickly as needed. Also, ideally a USNS Carrier would be nearby to pick up everyone with room to spread folks out...since being clustered in the lifeboats in the hot Carribean weather would be not so fun, but better than going down with the ship....probably what will happen to those who skip the drill...thinking they don't need to know or perhaps already planning to ride the ship to the bottom....:eek:

[janazaz]

Mixed feelings about all of this. We have never missed a drill but I agree with those that say wearing the jacket down several flights of stairs is not safe. I have seen people fall wearing these jackets and I've come close to it myself. We just got off the Mariner (full ship) and you could see some crew members occasionally jotting down something (cabin numbers?) on a clipboard but I highly doubt everyone was counted present because there were too many people showing up and this crewmember was not constantly writing anything. Usually there is roll call but not on this one. We were on Deck 10 and had to go to Deck 5 for the drill. That's a lot of stairs wearing a jacket you can barely see around. Do like the airlines, show me my designated meeting area, run through a visual of how to wear the orange jacket and let me be on my way without the mandatory fashion show.

[BND]

Why are people wearing their life jackets while walking to the muster drill? On both Princess and Carnival they tell you to carry them to the meeting place and then you put them on. They stress not to drag the belts and have everyone carry them back when the drill is over.

[cavkc]

We rarely go to the muster drill, my FIL talks to the cabin boy before hand and slips him a "few". They usually don't bother us.

But on one last cruise we were having a party in my FIL suite when they tried to make us with that muster drill thing. We told the person we didn't have to go but they insisted. Well things got kind of ugly, we demanded to see the Captain but they said he was "Too Busy". Needless to say, we did attend but we refused to wear those life preservers. Now thay I have been to it, I won't need to go anymore on my next cruise.

 

Absolutely disgraceful, hope we never have to cruise with you as you clearly think you are above the rules and better than everyone else. RC should ban cruisers who refuse to take part in any safety drill

[bobstheboy]

This is such a serious issue I believe it should be compulsory and enforced. Any passengers not taking part without a reasonable excuse should be escorted off the ship.

 

We have done over 20 cruises on different ships and lines and it is unthinkable to miss this essential briefing.

[jbond]

Having been to a for real muster on a ship that was on fire, I can tell you that mustering in the lounge, as we did, is an ugly, chaotic scene under real conditions. The singer/dancer/bartender/lifeboat guides were in a panic along with many passengers.

Do you think that it would have been any better out on deck? The singer/dancer/bartender/lifeboat guides would still be the same people, inside or outside. That's a matter of training, not where the drill is conducted.

Fortunately, we did not end up going to the lifeboats.........

During our for real muster in the lounge we had no airconditioning or lighting for several hours.

I guess it would have been much more comfortable outside at night, standing around for several hours. I don't know how old you are, but at my age, standing around for several hours would be quite a challenge. Sitting in a non airconditioned theater would be much more preferable.

Why does learning and practicing emergency procedures have to be "customer friendly"?

Just my opinion, but I feel that when the drill is more customer friendly and people are in a more comfortable environment, they tend to pay more attention.

And IMO if it's too hot outside for someone for 15 minutes, they should probably not be cruising in the Caribbean.

I guess you haven't stood outside in Alaska, in the rain for about 30 minutes doing a drill. If you had, you probably would be a little less judgemental and accept that people have differing opinions.

[cruzincurt]

Since I just happen to be an engineer, I make it my point during a cruise to visit where the lifeboats are located, observe how the lowering mechanism works and also where the raft canisters are located and how they are released.

 

Having been to a real muster with a ship on fire, that sheds a whole different light on the minor inconvenience. I hope that once in a lifetime event never happens again, but if it does I'll be prepared to know what to do and where to go.

 

And as for the rain, it won't stop people from going ashore to buy knicknacks.

[PrincesScuba]

Since I just happen to be an engineer, I make it my point during a cruise to visit where the lifeboats are located, observe how the lowering mechanism works and also where the raft canisters are located and how they are released.

 

Having been to a real muster with a ship on fire, that sheds a whole different light on the minor inconvenience. I hope that once in a lifetime event never happens again, but if it does I'll be prepared to know what to do and where to go.

 

And as for the rain, it won't stop people from going ashore to buy knicknacks.

 

 

Curt, were you on the Star Princess in 2006?

[cruzincurt]

Curt, were you on the Star Princess in 2006?

No, the SS Norway when the boiler blew up killing 8 crewmen.

[jbond]

I've just been reading about the fire on the Royal Princess. I wonder how those that skipped muster drill felt when they heard the alarm signal? Probably hid in the bathroom again, saying "Oh not again, it's so boring, we've had the drill one time, I don't need to go".

[OceanDreams]

Quick comments:

 

1. Poseidon Adventure would be a better movie....because the ship flips upside down. (I really don't think you would find a "cabin boy" to pay off to help you find your way out)

2. Captain was to busy......DUH, he was over seeing the muster drill.

3. Germs from the vest.....Do you hold the hand rails going down or up the stairs?

 

I will say the first time my son (then 8....now 17) cruised with me....I took a napkin and some Germ-X and wiped off the whistle......him comments was "MOM......." wasn't 5 minutes into the muster drill when the whislte got the best of him.....and he just had to try it out. You just got to love the Germ-X. Never leave home without it. By the way.....he still cruises with me and right as we are walking out the door for the muster drill.....we both laugh everytime.

 

OceanDreams

[mohavemommy]

I don't mind the drills... except for:

1. When people arrive much later than they should (or think they should be exempt from attending so don't show at all). :rolleyes:

2. The Captain decides to use this time to do a promo plug for the shops and spa on board.:confused:

3. It is so hot outside that people begin to faint. :(

4. People are so loud that you can't hear a thing. :cool:

5. You are already at the back and being shoved back further yet. :mad:

 

I do see the drill as the official start of my cruise... it just wouldn't be a good beginning to a cruise to me without it! :D

[Garyorient]

Absolutely disgraceful, hope we never have to cruise with you as you clearly think you are above the rules and better than everyone else. RC should ban cruisers who refuse to take part in any safety drill

 

I second those feelings.

It ain't big, it ain't clever..........and it is moronic to believe otherwise

[browneyes7]

We rarely go to the muster drill, my FIL talks to the cabin boy before hand and slips him a "few". They usually don't bother us.

But on one last cruise we were having a party in my FIL suite when they tried to make us with that muster drill thing. We told the person we didn't have to go but they insisted. Well things got kind of ugly, we demanded to see the Captain but they said he was "Too Busy". Needless to say, we did attend but we refused to wear those life preservers. Now thay I have been to it, I won't need to go anymore on my next cruise.

 

I hope you are kidding!!:eek:

[sidari]

Regarding the person who believes he/ they are better than everyone else maybe an idea would be to lock this particular person and their guests in their cabins and wait for their whingeing to begin...:rolleyes:

 

With regard to those who do not want to wear Lifejackets due to so called Germs ! as pointed out how many of you use the Handrails on the stairs? or open public Toilet doors on the ship or press the buttons in an Elevator? looks like a poor excuse to justify not wearing one.

 

Even worse on our recent Brilliance cruise was still seeing people failing to use the Hand sanitisers going not just back onto the ship after a day out but when going into the Dining rooms .....:mad: probably the same ones who do not want to wear lifejackets at muster drills.

 

As for muster drills in the heat .... Why? ..... on the Brilliance they were done inside as they were on Princess.

 

There is another thread running on the subject of lifejackets and the fact that RCI have done muster drills without them on certain ships which it seems they will spread fleet wide when Oasis is ready.

 

If Carnival muster drills are so bad its little wonder 37 people have gone overboard on their ships since year 2000!

[Cruising Lions]

To RCCL Rules - you sound like a person with no brains. Are you that special that you rate unusual treatment. I hope if something happens you remain in your room partying so other people can be assisted

[browneyes7]

What bothers me is when people won't be quiet during the drill. It usually just makes the drill last longer. I'm a retired school teacher.......so it really bothers me when people don't follow the rules.:)

[miss nikki]

I don't really mind the muster drills too much. Like someone already said, they're somewhat of a signal to the start of the cruise. I had broken my foot the night before a cruise, and as I was crutching my way to our muster station, our cabin steward saw me and told me I didn't have to go. That was fine with me. My husband had to go by himself, and it seemed the drill only took 15 minutes outside.

I just don't understand what the big deal is about having to go? It doesn't take that long, and it signifies that you're about to cruise :)

[sleepybert]

My wife collapsed at one, not really a big deal - 2 nurses and a doctor were standing right next to us and had her all taken care of in no time. Going from Northern Canada to HOT anywhere sometimes does that to a person:p This is why we try to go to the HOT place a day before now to get used to it:D

[Honey's Gal]

I am such a worry wart, that the muster is also important to me because I wonder that if there was an emergency and my DH and I were in different parts of the ship.......how would we find each other? The only way would be to meet where we KNOW our lifeboat would be.

 

Because my DH has mobility issues, we always go down to the area 10 min early, carrying our lifevests. This also keeps him from being pushed over in the rush. Yes, it has happened

[RayJacki]

Well, your issue will soon be resolved. They are running a trial on Majesty now where you do not wear or bring your lifejacket to the drill. You still have the drill, but without the vest. It will soon be rolled out fleet wide. The reason is that Oasis & Allure are planned to not have vests in the cabin...only at the muster stations and in the boats (all ships do this now anyway)

 

 

:p Cool - anyone know how quickly this will be implemented across the RCI fleet? We're on the Mariner in October and the Navigator in December and would LOVE to not have to carry the life jackets to the muster station and then back to our room after,

[beachseeker]

Have cruised 6 times and attended all musters. Didn't know I had a choice! Last cruise (June 09 on NCL Sky) was the first time that roll was taken. Worst muster was Celebrity Solstice. The stairways were overcrowded and traffic was not moving well. Felt like the whole ship was being directred to the same area. IMHO, Princess does the best job of muster, but anxiously waiting to check out RCCL's muster in November.

[Got2Cruise]

My parents sailed in March with HAL. Due to a dawdling employee at the airport, they missed muster drill, and thought that was that, but they were summoned the next morning and had to do it then.

 

I was under the impression that it is the same way on Royal. Btw, NCL takes the musterdrill seriously also. I would never want to cruise on a ship that did otherwise.

[Ships R Great]

Since I just happen to be an engineer, I make it my point during a cruise to visit where the lifeboats are located, observe how the lowering mechanism works and also where the raft canisters are located and how they are released.

 

Having been to a real muster with a ship on fire, that sheds a whole different light on the minor inconvenience. I hope that once in a lifetime event never happens again, but if it does I'll be prepared to know what to do and where to go.

 

And as for the rain, it won't stop people from going ashore to buy knicknacks.

 

What a tragedy! the Norway was such a beautiful ship. We were just about to book a second cruise on her when the explosion happened.