Boat drill on the Dawn?

I was curious if we have to go to our actual life boat station or are we assigned to various locations for instructions? Do we have to actually put on the life jackets? I can't stand for long periods of time, so could you also let me know when is the best time to arrive at the port to avoid long processing linesmen?thanks!

You are assigned locations based on your cabin location, you don't have to wear your life jacket, or even a shirt if you don't want too, can't say much about the line ups for embarkation, we have always walked right on, been lucky

*Living large one week at a time*

You do go outside to your assigned station for the boat drill. There were no seats. Have you tried calling NCL to ask if they can make special arrangements for you?

For embarkation I think people that showed up after 1pm had less of a wait from what I saw last month.

I was curious if we have to go to our actual life boat station or are we assigned to various locations for instructions? Do we have to actually put on the life jackets? I can't stand for long periods of time, so could you also let me know when is the best time to arrive at the port to avoid long processing linesmen?thanks!

Just off the Dawn last week. Life jackets stay in your room. As to whether you will be required to stand depends on the location of your stateroom. We were midship, deck 9, and were directed to the Aqua Dining Room. But, there were people standing outside on deck 7.

What you may find encouraging is that this was, by a wide margin, the shortest muster drill we've encountered in over 20 cruises. Probably 7-8 minutes. If your muster station is outside on deck 7, take your time getting there to minimize time on your feet.

Recent travel on the NCL DAWN the life boat drill was held in the Stardust theatre

for those in the forward section of the ship. For those in the aft the

assembly point was the Spinnaker Lounge. Mid ships I don't have the answer

but a good guess would be restaurants mid ship promenade deck 7 or the

Aqua on deck 6.

For safety reasons the life vests are not worn to the drill but you are cautioned

to note their presence in you stateroom.

There will be plenty of seating available at any of the assembly stations.

At the assembly station crew members will demonstrate how to put on the

vests and the various whistle and lighting features.

If an actual emergency occurs go to your assembly station directly extra life

vests are available. DO NOT go back to your stateroom - elevators will be or

maybe out of service and stairway traffic will be heavy.

On the NCL STAR the drill is almost identical.

On the NCL SUN the drill is held at the actual life boat station with limited

seating - if a seat is needed alert the crew member of your need.

These drills take just 5 minutes or longer if folks just take their time getting

to the assembly point or station - so hurry along and get it over with !

AND think of skipping the drill - FORGET IT ! Cabin attendants check every

stateroom for drill skippers and at the assembly point or station your presence

is checked off a manifest. Skipping the drill and not making any subsequent

drill may result in your removal from the ship for NON-Compliance with NO

refund of fare. Joke about it if you will be NCL is fined for negligence in this

matter and of course this is passed back onto you in one way or another.

These drills are held while the ship is in port so you will not miss any photo

opts when the ship gets underway i.e. New York city and Lady Liberty should

not be missed - San Francisco the Golden Gate and Alcatraz - Vancouver Canada

Place and the Lions Gate Bridge - Seattle Scenic Puget Sound - others !

Regarding standing in lines for lengthly periods this is variable by port terminal

location. Some have seating after checking in and others will have you milling

around - later check-in is recommended. In any event once boarding commences

there will lines forming going up the gangway to the ship and these proceed

with the speed that NCL can get your presence scanned in as onboard.

Those cruisers in suites or better accommodations are escorted onboard by

a butler or concierge and a lounge is provided for seating waiting for the escort.

If seating and rest is required during the boarding process alert NCL about it.

If you don't tell them how will they know !

For example Garden Villa (and some other midship cabin) passengers' muster drill location is outside on deck 7 standing - been there, done that. A good example of how your cabin class doesn't give you any special access or accommodations what comes to SOLAS. :)

You do go outside to your assigned station for the boat drill. There were no seats. Have you tried calling NCL to ask if they can make special arrangements for you?

For embarkation I think people that showed up after 1pm had less of a wait from what I saw last month.

This is simply NOT true, or it wasn't the first week of March. Some muster stations may be outside but most are inside in various lounges and no one had to leave their station to go to the embarkation locations.

On my last Dawn cruise, my muster station was in the theater. Others have been in various restaurants and lounges. No standing there.

Things have changed then. Our last cruise to Bermuda on the Dawn in 2011 we had our drill outside WITH life jackets. It is good to learn how to actually put the life jackets on and to know where muster station is. However, most people walk around with the cords dangling from the life vests and an accident is waiting to happen. Maybe they should have anyone who hasn't sailed before go with the life vests to be shown how they are put on.

On MOST NCL ships muster stations are both inside and out. Depends where you are assigned. If you cannot stand and it is an outside station, tell them, they will make an accommodation for you. No life jackets required. Depending on where you are boarding, New Orleans has a lot of seats while waiting and will find you a wheel chair is you need it. Boston seating is pretty good also and same for a wheel chair. If you wait until 1-2 pm to board in either port you will walk directly on.

Things have changed then. Our last cruise to Bermuda on the Dawn in 2011 we had our drill outside WITH life jackets.

Yes, things changed around that time - in Mar 2009 we assembled (fwd cabin) in Stardust with our lifejackets but in Jan 2011 no lifejackets were required. If you have needed to go out on an NCL ship, your assembly station has been only there, ours was on Dawn (2014) as I told earlier in this thread.

Yes, things changed around that time - in Mar 2009 we assembled (fwd cabin) in Stardust with our lifejackets but in Jan 2011 no lifejackets were required. If you have needed to go out on an NCL ship, your assembly station has been only there, ours was on Dawn (2014) as I told earlier in this thread.

Or last Dawn cruise was Sept 2011 and we had outside muster with life jackets. We have taken 13 or so cruises on many lines and have only had one muster not outside and without life jackets....and it wasn't NCL. Times have changed.

Or last Dawn cruise was Sept 2011 and we had outside muster with life jackets. We have taken 13 or so cruises on many lines and have only had one muster not outside and without life jackets....and it wasn't NCL. Times have changed.

In 3 1/2 years, many things have changed. :)

HAL still has outside muster station life boat drill. All guests report to a Life Boat deck but not bring life jackets though we used to. HAL stopped asking for people to bring life jackets about 3 years or so ago.

In 3 1/2 years, many things have changed. :)

HAL still has outside muster station life boat drill. All guests report to a Life Boat deck but not bring life jackets though we used to. HAL stopped asking for people to bring life jackets about 3 years or so ago.

 

 

What does HAL have to do with NCL?

My mother-in-law also can not stand for long periods of time. For her next cruise, she bought a folding seat cane to bring with her. She could have used it on our last cruise - while embarking, during the muster drill, while waiting in line to go through customs when disembarking, etc. It cost about $20.

I appreciate all the post. We are mid ship, deck 9 so hopefully we will be inside. Will plan to arrive at the pier in Boston aroundv1pm to miss the lines.

We've been sailing the Boston/Bermuda cruise for many years. The last three years we've had muster drills w/o jackets and we've been in either the Aqua dining room or the Stardust ballroom.

We also arrive at the pier at 10:30a.m. We are through check in very easily and just wait for the OK to board. This way we are on the ship usually by 11:00-11:15a.m. and having lunch before it gets too crowded.

Looking forward to another cruise in July! Have a wonderful time!

You do go outside to your assigned station for the boat drill. There were no seats. Have you tried calling NCL to ask if they can make special arrangements for you?

For embarkation I think people that showed up after 1pm had less of a wait from what I saw last month.

Is the Dawn different than the other ships or is this a new policy. I was just on the Pearl in November and the muster stations were in different locations throughout the ship and none were outside and they all had seats.

What does HAL have to do with NCL?

A comparison and example of how things can change on the ships in 2 1/2 - 3 years.

Advice to OP, regardless of reasons - medical or otherwise, if you are booked on the Dawn already, contact NCL Special Needs desk & inform them, and when you arrive at the pier to check-in, you should ask for & get extra help, maybe a wheelchair would help - as that would help you at boarding time, by zones & with those SN getting early start for the gangway ...

The folding seat cane is another option to consider.

I don't recall if they have special arrangements for pax like yourself with conditions on NCL - I recall for CCL, they do & they're also able to leave first right after the drill was over in a seated area nearest the exits.

Or, if you miss it & just go on day 2 with the make-up ones as that will definitely be less crowded and easier for you.

The only NCL ship where I've ended up outside for a muster drill was on POA, and we were baking and staring into the sun for almost 40 minutes. Also by far the longest drill. To be fair, the muster drill itself did not last that long, but it was that long before they were willing to dismiss us. Most of the time we were just standing there, so probably a glitch with senior officers or something.

Usually we've been in a showroom or casino, though.

When you get to your room, check your muster station on the map on the inside of your door. If it's outside, take your sunglasses and a bottle of water!

(Probably not necessary on Canadian/Alaskan itineraries!)