Any truth to the rumour...

[Bajan Keith]

I was reading in a trip report that they plan to do away with the muster drill as we know it. It will take me more like the airplanes..where they play a video that you can watch in comfort.

Anyone else heard this?

[firefly333]

There is a long thread about it somewhere .... many seem to think its true.

Here is the thread if you want to read about what folks said.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...t=muster+drill

[Host Mach]

The new muster drill is more like a briefing... You no longer have to have your life vest with you but you'll be given instruction on how to don it if necessary.

You still need to report to your muster station... just like always.

The big upside is that you don't have to go back to your cabin to put away the vest! You just head on to Sail Away!!!

[Cruzman]

Muster drill on sailings from US ports is a USCG requirement and any changes in current procedures would require their approval. Maritime law may also come into play in this regard.

[old sole]

On John Heald's blog a few weeks ago, he said they would be changing to a "Safety Briefing" the following week, where you would still report to your muster station, but without your lifejacket. I was on the Glory the following week however, and even though the prerecorded TV information about the drill said not to bring lifejackets, the Cruise Diector's PA announcement had us bring them, and we had a full muster drill.

[astropilot]

It was still the standard procedure on Valor last week

[Bajan Keith]

Thanks for all your responses guys.

Thanks especially for the thread firefly.

[want2gosailing2]

On the Miracle last week we just met at our designated area without life vests and listened to the procedure over the loud speaker it was awesome!

[aggieastrosfan]

Hopefully in the next couple months this will be on all the ships. We still had to take our life jackets on the Ecstasy last weekend, but we didn't have to go to the lifeboat stations like we did in April. It's progress at least!

[glrounds]

For What Its Worth:

3 weeks ago on the ELATION, forward paxs had to go to the showroom, don their lifevests and were then led to the muster station. It seemed much more involved than the drill on the SPLENDOR a month earlier which just required us to all go to the muster station with lifevests, as usual.

[thepeach]

The Splendor on the October 18 sailing had the new briefing. We did not have to take our life jackets, and there were several announcements letting people know they didn't have to take them.

[poole]

On P&O and Cunard, passengers have to assemble (with life-jackets) where they would have to in the event of an emergency - theatre; lounge; etc. - and don't have to go out to the lifeboat deck. Much more civilized, and in keeping with the very high standards of these two cruise lines.

[itchin2cruz]

I was just off the Holiday yesterday and there has been no real change to the muster drill

[NCTribeFan]

On the Triumph CTN on 10/24, the "safety briefing" was a total fiasco.

Here we were, on an extremely short cruise, and it was ridiculously long, sailaway was late, and we didn't get to see it anyway.

The capers showed 4 pm in one place, 4:30 in another. People were congregating, standing around without a clue what to do. No announcement until nearly 4:20 to call the crew to their places and said the general public announcement would be made in about 15 minutes. It never came - no pa announcement, no emergency whistle blasts. Nothing.

Finally, at 4:50, they began (as people were still arriving - thanks folks! The people who had been standing there for over a half hour really appreciate your effort). The speakers were useless and no one could hear a word. The only useful thing was having a tall staff member up front showing how to don the lifevest (thanks, I already know how to do that).

Of course, we had finally left port by then, so missed most of sailaway. And, naturally, they allowed all of one side of the ship to leave while keeping the other (mine, of course) standing there for at least another 5 minutes.

It was a joke.

Either do it properly, or have it on the tv and make people sign off that they've watched it.

[katiel53]

Originally Posted by poole

On P&O and Cunard, passengers have to assemble (with life-jackets) where they would have to in the event of an emergency - theatre; lounge; etc. - and don't have to go out to the lifeboat deck. Much more civilized, and in keeping with the very high standards of these two cruise lines.

Somehow, I don't think that putting on your life vest, going to where the lifeboat is, is less civilized than the "high standards" of the above mentioned lines. I feel, it is quite the contrary. It is more civilized to know where your lifeboat is should it be necessary to board it. JMO.

[cherylcorwin]

Originally Posted by astropilot

It was still the standard procedure on Valor last week

Same with the Oct 19 Paradise.
Hard enough using a Walker with that stupid vest getting tangled up in it too!

[loveJake]

Originally Posted by poole

On P&O and Cunard, passengers have to assemble (with life-jackets) where they would have to in the event of an emergency - theatre; lounge; etc. - and don't have to go out to the lifeboat deck. Much more civilized, and in keeping with the very high standards of these two cruise lines.

Same with Princess.