Life Boat Muster / Safty Drill

[Hobbsey]

Or what ever you want to call it.....

I note from various posts that things have changed on HAL for the Boat Drill. No more jackets. Indeed!! I also saw some posts that the roll was not called at the Drill. HMMMM!!!

My first cruise was on Lurline to Hawaii in 1968. On that trip they did the boat drill the first day out at sea - in tossing waves. What fun. My first HAL was on Westerdam in 2000 and I was impressed with how throughly and seriously they took it. They even dropped a boat so we could all see how it was organized inside. But in the Fort Lauderdale heat some passengers passed out for the length of it with all trussed up in orange float wear.

I understand why they want to make some changes. There is nothing like breaking the Drill and then jamming into the stairwells and elevators with the other 1500 to 2000 passengers, all trying to get back to the cabain and stow the jacket so we can all rush right back out to the rail for sail away. This new style will be much less messy and over-heated.

However, I hope that they have not lost the same sense of urgency and responsibility to be sure that everyone knows how to use their jacket and the importance of knowing where the assigned station will be IN CASE OF AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY. Please, rest my worry and tell me I am over thinking this aspect of things.

Jeff

[Krazy Kruizers]

I can understand not wearing the life jackets to the lifeboat drill.

But I do think that Roll Call should be taken -- this ensures that people have reported to the proper lifeboat station.

I noticed on our last cruise that quite a few people were not taking part in the drill -- and not all of them were intransit guests.

[AuntieEm]

Can you tell me what to expect during lifeboat/muster/safety drill? When is it and where do we go for it? :confused:

[Hlitner]

HA lifeboat drills are a real piece of cake when compared to some lines (like RCI) where they make you stand out on deck at the lifeboat stations. On HA you simply muster in the appropriate lounge (it is listed behind your cabin door) and, if you get there fast enough, you can usually get a comfy seat. Since the cabins have different muster station you do need to look on the back of your door for your station. They no longer want you to take your lifejackets (in your cabin) since too many folks were getting injured tripping over the the things. Once you are comfy in your lounge there will be an annoucement from the Captain, they will read a safety briefing, and then the staff in the lounges will demonstrate how to put on your life vest (which you do not have).

Hank

[sail7seas]

HAL always takes Life Boat Drill seriously and all are still required to be present at their appointed life boat station on Promenade Deck at the life boats. All instructions that were formerly given are still related. I think it's great we don't have to wear the hot life jackets during the Drill. I don't think that makes us any less safe. Most adult people have sense enough (one would hope :rolleyes:) to make note of exactly where their life jacket is stored in their cabin. There are spares available on deck in the event of an emergency and you can't get to your cabin to get your life jacket.

OP..... You'll feel as safe as ever on HAl ships and I expect you will approve HAL's style life boat drill, as always.

(People on Collectors or b-to-b cruises are not required to attend Drill their second segment.)

[kazu]

Our life boat drills have all been at the muster stations (sans life jackets now). I did notice that all rooms were being checked to make sure that passengers were not there.

It's very civilized and they do explain how to use the life jacket :D

[Hobbsey]

OP..... You'll feel as safe as ever on HAl ships and I expect you will approve HAL's style life boat drill, as always.



Not feeling as if my safty would be at stake, I know what to do. I'm interested in making sure that new folks aren't going to be confused and make things overly confused if a real emergency were to arise.

Now I see a post here telling me that there is no visit to the lifeboat station at all, it all happens in the lounge and yours telling me otherwise. Do procedures vary from ship to ship?

Also, for Auntie Em, is it true that the muster station is now listed on the key card so one doesn't even have to check the door of the cabin?

[kazu]

Not feeling as if my safty would be at stake, I know what to do. I'm interested in making sure that new folks aren't going to be confused and make things overly confused if a real emergency were to arise.

Now I see a post here telling me that there is no visit to the lifeboat station at all, it all happens in the lounge and yours telling me otherwise. Do procedures vary from ship to ship?

Also, for Auntie Em, is it true that the muster station is now listed on the key card so one doesn't even have to check the door of the cabin?

Yes, I'm not Auntie Em, probably the wicked witch of the North, but the muster station was indeed listed on our key card on our last two cruises.

Very good plan IMO :D

[Hobbsey]

Yes, I'm not Auntie Em, probably the wicked witch of the North, but the muster station was indeed listed on our key card on our last two cruises.

Very good plan IMO :D

I do love the change as long as it is still taken seriously once you are on deck and "mustered". I can see how this makes things much more sane and even safe during prep to sail away.

[sail7seas]

<SNIP>



Now I see a post here telling me that there is no visit to the lifeboat station at all, it all happens in the lounge and yours telling me otherwise. Do procedures vary from ship to ship?

Also, for Auntie Em, is it true that the muster station is now listed on the key card so
one doesn't even have to check the door of the cabin?




Life boat drill on HAL ships is held AT lifeboat stations.
The post saying differently is incorrect.

[NMLady]

HA lifeboat drills are a real piece of cake when compared to some lines (like RCI) where they make you stand out on deck at the lifeboat stations. On HA you simply muster in the appropriate lounge (it is listed behind your cabin door) and, if you get there fast enough, you can usually get a comfy seat. Since the cabins have different muster station you do need to look on the back of your door for your station. They no longer want you to take your lifejackets (in your cabin) since too many folks were getting injured tripping over the the things. Once you are comfy in your lounge there will be an annoucement from the Captain, they will read a safety briefing, and then the staff in the lounges will demonstrate how to put on your life vest (which you do not have).

Hank

Which HAL ship were you on that met in a lounge instead of at a lifeboat muster station?? When we were on the Amsterdam last May we stood at lifeboat stations on the Promenade deck.

[Jo-Bob]

HA lifeboat drills are a real piece of cake when compared to some lines (like RCI) where they make you stand out on deck at the lifeboat stations. On HA you simply muster in the appropriate lounge (it is listed behind your cabin door) and, if you get there fast enough, you can usually get a comfy seat. Since the cabins have different muster station you do need to look on the back of your door for your station. They no longer want you to take your lifejackets (in your cabin) since too many folks were getting injured tripping over the the things. Once you are comfy in your lounge there will be an annoucement from the Captain, they will read a safety briefing, and then the staff in the lounges will demonstrate how to put on your life vest (which you do not have).

Hank

Perhaps you are thinking of another line. HAL does NOT do as you have described. 10 cruises on HAL and never have we been directed to a lounge.

[kazu]

Perhaps you are thinking of another line. HAL does NOT do as you have described. 10 cruises on HAL and never have we been directed to a lounge.

I totally agree - we did it in a lounge on one cruise line, could watch it on the television on another :eek: (yup what happens if there's really a problem:eek:) On HAL, we have always, always gone to our muster stations. And we've been on two in the last year :)

[3rdGenCunarder]

Perhaps you are thinking of another line. HAL does NOT do as you have described. 10 cruises on HAL and never have we been directed to a lounge.

Cunard musters indoors. Their philosophy is that they want to keep you inside and dry/comfortable until you actually need to go to your lifeboat.

My first two cruises were on HAL, with mustering on deck. Then we sailed on QE2, and I was surprised to muster indoors. (There are assigned stations around the ship, it isn't everyone in a big lounge) But actually, it makes sense. If everyone is on deck, there would be very little space for crew to move around to lower boats, etc. On Veendam, we nearly filled Promenade deck, and that was without the extra bulk of the lifejackets.

Putting the muster station number on the key card is a brilliant idea.

Am I remembering correctly that HAL requires kids to wear ID wristbands? I recall that part of the drill "script" on Veendam was a reminder for parents to go to the muster station in an emergency, not run around searching for their kid. The crew would round up any kids they saw and escort the kids to the correct muster station, using the info on the wristband.

[RetiredMustang]

... (People on Collectors or b-to-b cruises are not required to attend Drill their second segment.)



Sail,

Not necessarily any more. We have done b2b/Collectors cruises in which this was true, but this February, on a Collectors Cruise on Ryndam, we had to do both musters. The ship's staff explained that the U.S. Coast Guard had recently changed their requirements, and all were required each sailing to do the muster. I'm not sure if it applies only to Tampa, or to all U.S. ports.

To Hobbsey (the OP), there will probably be a range of people, from those who read the instructions and try on the vests until they get it right, all the way to those who just figure they can read the instructions while the ship is sinking, and why is it taking so long to get my third appletini?. It's the latter ones that I will wave to and say, "Hey, Darwin says 'hi!'!"

Dave

[Two@Sea]

I suspect the discontinuance of requiring life jackets at the muster drill may have something to do with the effort to reduce onboard illness. I always wondered how many people had sneezed or coughed on them before we had to wedge them under our noses during the drill?

I always sprayed or wiped our's with disinfectant beforehand... but still felt the need to shower immediately after wearing it. :o

[sail7seas]

All children are required to wear a wrist (or ankle) band at all times from when they board until they disembark. It states their life boat station and you're correct that parents (guardians) are instructed they should proceed to the life boat station to meet up with the child in the event of an emergency. A crew person will be certain the child is brought there.

[sail7seas]

Sail,

Not necessarily any more. We have done b2b/Collectors cruises in which this was true, but this February, on a Collectors Cruise on Ryndam, we had to do both musters. The ship's staff explained that the U.S. Coast Guard had recently changed their requirements, and all were required each sailing to do the muster. I'm not sure if it applies only to Tampa, or to all U.S. ports.
<snip>
Dave

Well, that's odd. Our last five sets of b-to-b (Collectors) we have not been required to attend the second life boat station. The letter we received said we were excused.

(Maasdam and Eurodam)

[catl331]

HA lifeboat drills are a real piece of cake when compared to some lines (like RCI) where they make you stand out on deck at the lifeboat stations. On HA you simply muster in the appropriate lounge (it is listed behind your cabin door) and, if you get there fast enough, you can usually get a comfy seat.You have this backwards. We have always mustered under our life boat on HAL and on our one RCCL cruise we went to a lounge where there was so much conversation going on we could barely hear the PA.

[Jo-Bob]

;)Here's what I think about the life-boat drill, if anyone is interested;)
Muster takes place at the area you need to be in case of an emergency. I strongly suspect that if there were an emergency requiring life-boats, the process of lowering and readying them for pax would be taking place before (or certainly while) the horns are sounding, indicating that pax need to be at their stations.

I can't imagine that the process of lower life boats would begin only after all pax were assembled. I agree, it would be mayhem with all those people standing around in the way. Life boats are generallly above your head....I do think that boats would be at the ready before folks are summoned to their station.

And remember, not every 'disaster' happens with a ship remaining perfectly level.......and in the dark, perhaps....with people panicking(sp?) all around. Yikes.

I walk a lot when cruising, around and around the promenade....actually one of my favorite things to do while aboard.......and every time I pass by my station I make note of it, and it's relative location to all the places I like to be on the ship. Here's hoping no one EVER finds out exactly how it works

[Boytjie]

Can you tell me what to expect during lifeboat/muster/safety drill? When is it and where do we go for it? :confused:

This was the Zaandam in Vancouver September, 2007. These days you don't have to take the life vest any more.

It usually takes place just before the ship departs and in your cabin it will tell you which muster station to go to on the Promenade Deck.

http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/18019/2675648980102790654S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2675648980102790654yDtFbo)

[Boytjie]

HA lifeboat drills are a real piece of cake when compared to some lines (like RCI) where they make you stand out on deck at the lifeboat stations. On HA you simply muster in the appropriate lounge (it is listed behind your cabin door) and, if you get there fast enough, you can usually get a comfy seat.

No, you are mistaken. On HAL you muster at your lifeboat. On Princess and Cunard we did it in lounges, on every HAL cruise it was on the Promenade deck.

[Hlitner]

No, you are mistaken. On HAL you muster at your lifeboat. On Princess and Cunard we did it in lounges, on every HAL cruise it was on the Promenade deck.

Now you have me 2nd guessing myself. Too many cruises...too many drills :) Will be back on HA next week so maybe that will jog my memory.

Hank

[GeriatricNurse]

Not feeling as if my safty would be at stake, I know what to do. I'm interested in making sure that new folks aren't going to be confused and make things overly confused if a real emergency were to arise.

Now I see a post here telling me that there is no visit to the lifeboat station at all, it all happens in the lounge and yours telling me otherwise. Do procedures vary from ship to ship?

Also, for Auntie Em, is it true that the muster station is now listed on the key card so one doesn't even have to check the door of the cabin?


Yes, and the muster stations have always been indicated on the stateroom I.D. Cards! ;)

[GeriatricNurse]

This was the Zaandam in Vancouver September, 2007. These days you don't have to take the life vest any more.

It usually takes place just before the ship departs and in your cabin it will tell you which muster station to go to on the Promenade Deck.

http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/18019/2675648980102790654S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2675648980102790654yDtFbo)


And on your Stateroom I.D. Card! ;)

[kazu]

Now you have me 2nd guessing myself. Too many cruises...too many drills :) Will be back on HA next week so maybe that will jog my memory.

Hank

No worries Hank - no one can be perfect all of the time ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

HA lifeboat drills are a real piece of cake when compared to some lines (like RCI) where they make you stand out on deck at the lifeboat stations. On HA you simply muster in the appropriate lounge (it is listed behind your cabin door) and, if you get there fast enough, you can usually get a comfy seat. Since the cabins have different muster station you do need to look on the back of your door for your station. They no longer want you to take your lifejackets (in your cabin) since too many folks were getting injured tripping over the the things. Once you are comfy in your lounge there will be an annoucement from the Captain, they will read a safety briefing, and then the staff in the lounges will demonstrate how to put on your life vest (which you do not have).

Hank

On all our HAL cruises we have always reported to our assigned life boat.

On Princess and Cunard we reported to a lounge -- I can't remember what we did on NCL or RCI.

You must be thinking of another cruise line.

[Hobbsey]

Sail,


To Hobbsey (the OP), there will probably be a range of people, from those who read the instructions and try on the vests until they get it right, all the way to those who just figure they can read the instructions while the ship is sinking, and why is it taking so long to get my third appletini?. It's the latter ones that I will wave to and say, "Hey, Darwin says 'hi!'!"

Dave

Far too funny, far too TRUE! LOL

[Hobbsey]

On all our HAL cruises we have always reported to our assigned life boat.

On Princess and Cunard we reported to a lounge -- I can't remember what we did on NCL or RCI.

You must be thinking of another cruise line.


I have been on cruises where the muster station was in lounge and from there we'd proceed as a group to the boat location. But I don't believe I have ever NOT gone to the boat. I was always struck by how HAL was more thorough than most in how they went about it.

Thanks all for the insight.

[jkrislc]

I have been on cruises where the muster station was in lounge and from there we'd proceed as a group to the boat location. But I don't believe I have ever NOT gone to the boat. I was always struck by how HAL was more thorough than most in how they went about it.

Thanks all for the insight.

On Disney this past January, we did a back-to-back and had our muster station in one of the restaurants. Neither time were we taken to the actual lifeboat location.

[Boytjie]

On all our HAL cruises we have always reported to our assigned life boat.

On Princess and Cunard we reported to a lounge -- I can't remember what we did on NCL or RCI.

For the life of me I could not remember where we assembled on NCL's Pride of America last November! I checked our pictures and that did not help. I just looked at the review I wrote for something else and saw that we assembled outside on deck 6 at our muster station.

[Hobbsey]

As you can see, we have completely forgotten where to muster....

[3rdGenCunarder]

As you can see, we have completely forgotten where to muster....

Love the pictures! I have a similar one. After a few glasses of champagne one formal night, I noticed that the backdrop for portraits was that staircase. While our friends were posing for their portrait, I ran to the cabin, got my bathrobe and lifejacket, and had my picture taken in robe and lifejacket. I wasn't sure they'd bother to print it, but they did and I bought it!

[Hobbsey]

Love the pictures! I have a similar one. After a few glasses of champagne one formal night, I noticed that the backdrop for portraits was that staircase. While our friends were posing for their portrait, I ran to the cabin, got my bathrobe and lifejacket, and had my picture taken in robe and lifejacket. I wasn't sure they'd bother to print it, but they did and I bought it!

The bath robe is a nice touch!!

[Floridiana]

Well, that's odd. Our last five sets of b-to-b (Collectors) we have not been required to attend the second life boat station. The letter we received said we were excused.

(Maasdam and Eurodam)

Statendam - April 2011 - San Diego: We were required to attend the second drill after having attended our first one in Fort Lauderdale 2 weeks before.

[Spender Nui]

Love the pictures! I have a similar one. After a few glasses of champagne one formal night, I noticed that the backdrop for portraits was that staircase. While our friends were posing for their portrait, I ran to the cabin, got my bathrobe and lifejacket, and had my picture taken in robe and lifejacket. I wasn't sure they'd bother to print it, but they did and I bought it!


Post it.

[Spender Nui]

I can't give detail but I recall having more than one lifeboat drill on the same (long) cruise. Not sure it was HAL.

[erewhon]

Having attended lifeboat drill on boarding day, a mandatory lifeboat drill was held on day 23 of a 32 day cruise on the Volendam, Vancouver to Auckland, 2008.

Last year the passenger safety drill was held on boarding day and again on day 22 of the 29 day Volendam voyage, Vancouver to Auckland.
Of those 22 days, 13 days were sea days.

It was surprising that some passengers were still unaware of the location of their assigned lifeboat at this second passenger safety drill.

[tomc]

Look at post #25 if you want to see how incredibly stupid the drill is on HAL. That lifeboat will crush all those people when it is lowered. Is that dumb, or what?

Is this a joke, or what?

;)

[3rdGenCunarder]

Look at post #25 if you want to see how incredibly stupid the drill is on HAL. That lifeboat will crush all those people when it is lowered. Is that dumb, or what?

Is this a joke, or what?

;)

The life boat would swing outward, not land on the deck, so it would not crush anyone. My concern is that there are so many people on the deck there is very little room for the crew to move around to lower the boats.

On most cruises I've taken, boat drill is not treated as a joke. A few years ago on RCCL, the staff in charge of our lifeboats barked orders at us as if we were their subordinates. We had to stand in orderly columns, with the shorter people in front. no talking! Pay attention! And people did pay attention.

It's each passenger's responsibility to pay attention and know what to do. In an emergency, the crew have to take care of a lot of passengers. A clueless idiot wandering around looking for his/her lifeboat may get lost in the shuffle. If your lifeboat is full and you're not anywhere to be seen when it's time to lower the boat, they're not going to send out a search party.

Sorry to sound like the ex-school marm that I am, but lifeboat drill should never be taken as a joke.

[catl331]

The life boat would swing outward, not land on the deck, so it would not crush anyone.I guess you're not familiar with tomc's sense of humor, and/or didn't notice the "sarcastic" smiley. He knows full well the boat wouldn't come straight down. :)
My concern is that there are so many people on the deck there is very little room for the crew to move around to lower the boats.In a true emergency I suspect that the boats would be out over the side before many of the passengers arrived. Besides, from what I've seen when the tenders were lowered at some ports it doesn't take many crewmen or much room to do it.

[Boytjie]

The life boat would swing outward, not land on the deck, so it would not crush anyone. My concern is that there are so many people on the deck there is very little room for the crew to move around to lower the boats.

I am sure the cruise line and things like the Coast Guard have figured out that they can launch boats in those conditions. A lot of times the guys are climbing around above where the people are standing.


On most cruises I've taken, boat drill is not treated as a joke. A few years ago on RCCL, the staff in charge of our lifeboats barked orders at us as if we were their subordinates. We had to stand in orderly columns, with the shorter people in front. no talking! Pay attention! And people did pay attention.

And I have heard HAL captains get quite stern during the drill demanding people pay attention.

[tomc]

catl331 --

They used to lower a boat or two in the demonstrations; maybe it's still done and I'm just not near them. The narration included how many people could fit in them. Next time you are tendered ashore, look at the seating symbols; in case of an emergency, you will be so close you might have to get married after getting safely ashore.

And, yes, that ;) did signify a joke. After 225 sea days, I may be crazy, but I sure ain't stoopid. ;) ('nother joke).

[sail7seas]

They used to lower a boat or two in the demonstrations; maybe it's still done and I'm just not near them. The narration included how many people could fit in them. Next time you are tendered ashore, look at the seating symbols; in case of an emergency, you will be so close you might have to get married after getting safely ashore.





Life boats are not used as tenders though tenders can be used as life boats. The seating and configuration of life boats is different than tenders.


Not all of those boats we see hanging over Promendade Deck are tenders.

[sapper1]

Sail,

Not necessarily any more. We have done b2b/Collectors cruises in which this was true, but this February, on a Collectors Cruise on Ryndam, we had to do both musters. The ship's staff explained that the U.S. Coast Guard had recently changed their requirements, and all were required each sailing to do the muster. I'm not sure if it applies only to Tampa, or to all U.S. ports.

Dave
Dave, maybe it depends on the country you are in at the time----on the Nieuw Amsterdam last month in Barcelona, the in transit guests were not required to attend a second safety muster. We felt rather conspicuous walking through the ship during the drill and when we got the "look" from one of the hall monitors we simply said "in transit" and were given the OK.

[RetiredMustang]

Dave, maybe it depends on the country you are in at the time----on the Nieuw Amsterdam last month in Barcelona, the in transit guests were not required to attend a second safety muster. We felt rather conspicuous walking through the ship during the drill and when we got the "look" from one of the hall monitors we simply said "in transit" and were given the OK.

Sapper,

It probably does vary by country, but we've only done b2b/Collectors cruises from Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa, so I don't know about cruises from non-U.S. ports such as Vancouver or Rome. I was responding to sail7seas, who had related her experience that she had not had to do the second boat drill from what I assumed were U.S. ports. We also had that experience out of Ft. Lauderdale, so we were a bit surprised that we had to do the drill on the second half of our cruise out of Tampa this February. The explanation I got was that it was a recent change in U.S. Coast Guard procedures, so I presume it is limited to U.S. departures, but it might only be limited to Tampa.

So, for those doing b2b/Collectors cruises out of Tampa at least, you will have to do both boat drills (...unless, of course, they have changed the procedures in the last 3 months...:D).

On another note, we did enjoy the second drill on our last Collectors cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale, on Noordam in 2010, from which we were excused. We just went to the Ocean Bar and sat where we could watch the proceedings (and wave).

Dave

[sail7seas]

Actually, we have not had to do the second life boat drill when sailing from Montreal to Boston. Same for FLL.

[ricki]

Regent is one of the lines where people meet inside and do not go to a muster station. Our station was the theatre, and I could only imagine the chaos as people tried to get out of the aisles in a panic. I think gathering at the muster station makes the most sense---it reinforces the location and the seriousness of the preparation.

Ricki

[jdmss]

Interesting thread... we just waved goodbye to the Zuiderdam sailing out of Vancouver, and we were there while they held the drill... interestingly there was 1 woman and another couple out on their balconys while the drill was on... and another man on the top deck looking over.... we watched the whole life boat drill and all stayed where they were.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Next time you are tendered ashore, look at the seating symbols; in case of an emergency, you will be so close you might have to get married after getting safely ashore.

I haven't had the pleasure of tendering in one of the lifeboats yet but I'm sure the seating arrangements have people more crammed together than at a Super Bowl game.

If marriage is a possibility, I'm hoping I won't be chastised for seat saving while I wait/look for the eligible male of my choosing. :rolleyes: If he isn't on my boat, can I jump off and take a quick look around till I find a suitable candidate? One certainly can't leave life altering situations such as this to mere chance. Now would be the time to aggressively cut lines and push people out of the way. :cool:

[HAL4ME]

I never go to those Muster Drills...I figure if it's your time it's your time!...and besides like that little orange thing is gonna make a difference anyways?:D:p:D

[tomc]

In regard to S7S's post" Actually, we have not had to do the second life boat drill when sailing from Montreal to Boston. I did the "In Transit" think last year and was told someone would come around and just check us out; no big deal. There were several of us in the Lido and, sure enough, a crew member came along; I flashed my I.D. card and that was it.

Except for a woman who was extremely put out. "How DARE you! I have a letter from the CAP-tain, sir." And on and on. The poor guy looked at me and said, "I may need a witness." She finally produced her I.D. and he went on to the next, quite willing, pax.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I haven't had the pleasure of tendering in one of the lifeboats yet but I'm sure the seating arrangements have people more crammed together than at a Super Bowl game.

If marriage is a possibility, I'm hoping I won't be chastised for seat saving while I wait/look for the eligible male of my choosing. :rolleyes: If he isn't on my boat, can I jump off and take a quick look around till I find a suitable candidate? One certainly can't leave life altering situations such as this to mere chance. Now would be the time to aggressively cut lines and push people out of the way. :cool:

NO! Absolutely not! There probably won't be enough time to check out enough prospects. This is why you must go to the drill. Be one of the last ones there so that you can check out nearby groups on the way to your group and look for your prospective mate as you walk by. Remember that lifeboat number (or join that group if they aren't doing roll call) just in case.

This reminds me of a lifeboat drill on QE2, where were mustered in part of a lounge. A man sitting near us said, "look around, you could be spending time VERY CLOSE to these people." DH and I later discovered that our deck chairs were next to the chairs this man and his partner had reserved. We spent a lot of time chatting and laughing, and when we or they would leave for the day, we'd say "See you on the lifeboat!"

[rafinmd]

I have sailed several lines and experienced both the lounge and on deck versions of the drill.

Cyrstal actually does both. On the Symphony the muster is on the Promenade Deck while on the Serenity the drill is in a public room. The difference is based on the design of the ship but one thing in common among all ships I can remember is that the muster point is on the same deck as and close to the lifeboats. On Symphony the lifeboats are hung above the promenade deck and the interior areas are all private cabins. On Serenity the boats are recessed into the hull on a lower deck, accessed by doors leading out from near the muster rooms.

Cunard uses public rooms. On all their ships the boats hang over the promenade deck and the adjoining inside spaces are public, so they could choose either option. I personally tend to favor the inside room option. Part of the Captain's message in the safety orientation is something like: "The Emergency Alarm is a warning to assemble and await further instructions, it is NOT a signal to abandon ship". I like that sentiment. I think it would be very rare for a ship to sink 10-15 minutes after an emergency, and the first response needs to be an assessment of the situation, be it fire, lost person, or whatever. I suspect that in the overwhelming majority of cases it is better to have people in a secure sheltered area of the ship rather than standing outside exposed to the weather. I suspect this is also a more controlled environment more conducive to getting people organized quickly.

I also suspect that the key thing in the plan is to have the crew fully familiar with what to do and any plan will be quickly adapted to the actual situation. The crews train constantly and I'm quite sure that training includes practicing how to communicate to passengers necessary modifications to the plan. It's always better to modifiy things as needed than to start from scratch.

The crew trains constantly and works hard to assure our safety. The least we can do is take 15 minutes out of our cruise to be ready to play our part in an emergency on our own rather than divert the crew's attention to dealing with clueless passengers.

Roy

[kazu]

I never go to those Muster Drills...I figure if it's your time it's your time!...and besides like that little orange thing is gonna make a difference anyways?:D:p:D

Now I know who is holding us up getting back to our cabins. Here is a snip from Roy who commented below
The crew trains constantly and works hard to assure our safety. The least we can do is take 15 minutes out of our cruise to be ready to play our part in an emergency on our own rather than divert the crew's attention to dealing with clueless passengers.

I have to say I totally agree with him. Jacqui

[ricki]

I have sailed several lines and experienced both the lounge and on deck versions of the drill.

Cyrstal actually does both. On the Symphony the muster is on the Promenade Deck while on the Serenity the drill is in a public room. The difference is based on the design of the ship but one thing in common among all ships I can remember is that the muster point is on the same deck as and close to the lifeboats. On Symphony the lifeboats are hung above the promenade deck and the interior areas are all private cabins. On Serenity the boats are recessed into the hull on a lower deck, accessed by doors leading out from near the muster rooms.

Cunard uses public rooms. On all their ships the boats hang over the promenade deck and the adjoining inside spaces are public, so they could choose either option. I personally tend to favor the inside room option. Part of the Captain's message in the safety orientation is something like: "The Emergency Alarm is a warning to assemble and await further instructions, it is NOT a signal to abandon ship". I like that sentiment. I think it would be very rare for a ship to sink 10-15 minutes after an emergency, and the first response needs to be an assessment of the situation, be it fire, lost person, or whatever. I suspect that in the overwhelming majority of cases it is better to have people in a secure sheltered area of the ship rather than standing outside exposed to the weather. I suspect this is also a more controlled environment more conducive to getting people organized quickly.

I also suspect that the key thing in the plan is to have the crew fully familiar with what to do and any plan will be quickly adapted to the actual situation. The crews train constantly and I'm quite sure that training includes practicing how to communicate to passengers necessary modifications to the plan. It's always better to modifiy things as needed than to start from scratch.

The crew trains constantly and works hard to assure our safety. The least we can do is take 15 minutes out of our cruise to be ready to play our part in an emergency on our own rather than divert the crew's attention to dealing with clueless passengers.

Roy

Well said, Roy. We have only sailed Symphony, so I didn't know that Serenity had a different procedure.

Ricki

[Spender Nui]

Remember the Prinsendam (1980).

[KirkNC]

I think you should have to go to your actual station and put on your life vest. In an actual emergency knowing where to go and how to put on the vest may save lives.

Kirk