World Voyage Muster Drills Question

Having just disembarked HAL's Oosterdam two days ago, I got to thinking. They were very strict about the muster drill, which included a roll call of each and every passenger. We all had to stand out in the cold rain until every single person was out there.

Now, I don't mind muster drills, but it occurred to me. . . are full world voyage passengers required to do each and every muster drill whenever new passengers embark, or just the once when we first board?

Seems like that will be a whole lot of drills for those of us doing the full voyage if that's the case. :D

Having just disembarked HAL's Oosterdam two days ago, I got to thinking. They were very strict about the muster drill, which included a roll call of each and every passenger. We all had to stand out in the cold rain until every single person was out there.

 

Now, I don't mind muster drills, but it occurred to me. . . are full world voyage passengers required to do each and every muster drill whenever new passengers embark, or just the once when we first board?

 

Seems like that will be a whole lot of drills for those of us doing the full voyage if that's the case. :D

I believe it's just the once - or at least I hope so!

andhow

I can see nothing wrong with attending lifeboat drill every few weeks, or at the start of each major segment of the voyage, for example. Required or not, I'd attend a few, maybe taking different routes each time from cabin to muster station.

It is only a few minutes, and if with friends, we can see who wins the bet this time, by correctly guessing the number of people who arrive wearing the vest, or will put the vest on before being asked ("ooh look at me, I'm wearing something bright orange") :rolleyes: .

It is something we should all take seriously and give thought to. When we attend in daylight, on a moored ship, in the relative calm of embarkation day, how many of us think about getting to "our" lifeboat late at night, in pitch black, on a sloping deck... Or with thick smoke, or even fire blocking our "usual" route? Or maybe from a bar or the nightclub, slightly drunk and not thinking clearly. Your partner or children went to bed early... or are in a different part of the ship. Do you find them?

Do you know the ship well enough to know routes to your muster station from any part of the ship?

How soon we forget Costa Concordia, Star Princess, Andrea Doria, Titanic, Empress of Ireland etc... ...

You raise an interesting question and one that might need serious consideration.

some folks scoff at the way the Concordia was abandoned but my thoughts are that the powers that be should be taking note of what happened and learning from it.

Instead of answering your question, I will do my usual thing and ask questions instead.

Do you think that acquired skills are decayable?

If we learn a specific skill be it driving a car, flying an aeroplane, shooting a gun or playing golf, do we believe these skills will improve if we practice them, regularly carry them out, cvarryout regular continuation training?

Going to a muster station might not be rocket science but doing it in a confident manner might need us to do it on more than one occasion.

Perhaps a bigger concern would be to query how often these lifeboats are lowered at night, at sea in less than perfect conditions? That is a very skillful task and one that needs constant and regular practice to even have a chance of getting it correct!!!!

Is this an inconvenience or is it looking after our best interests?

In a previous life I had to carry out regular continuation training, instructors (myself included) would take into account any relevant event that fell into our area of expertise and perhaps include a scenario that took this into account. far better to learn from the mistakes of others as opposed to burying our heads in the sand.

In a response to my query, Mr Shanks stated that all Carnival cruise ships undergo the exact same type of training regarding these issues and as far as I am aware the Costa line is part of the Carnival group. I have my own very personal opinion regarding the captain of the ship we are all possibly thinking of, but I also have an opinion on the way the ship was abandoned..... Training, training and more training.

My wife and I will most definitely be taking part in these drills as frequently as we can without being an inconvenience ;):o

Muster drills on QM2 do not happen outside the ships covered areas snd are less time taking than on HAL ships. Since all lifeboats are used regularly for tendering and a full emergency training of the crew is practised every week I assume that there shouldn't be any worries.

I recently did a cruise from Southampton to Hamburg, Hamburg to North Cape of Norway and return to Hamburg, and Hamburg back to Southampton, a 16 day cruise with 3 muster drills. Although not a requirement after the first muster, it is advisable that you attend the further drills, we decided not to. Bearing in mind this cruise originated in New York and returned to NY, there would have been a couple more drills for those who did the full cruise.

2 years ago we did a cruise on the QV from LA to Hawaii. We boarded the cruise in LA but there was many passengers onboard from the previous 3 cruises, some had sailed from Southampton. There was an announcment just before the Muster Drill to the effect that some passengers hold 'yellow cards' or 'E something or other cards' were not required to attend the Muster Drill.

I would expect the world cruise would be treated the same.

Having just disembarked HAL's Oosterdam two days ago, I got to thinking. They were very strict about the muster drill, which included a roll call of each and every passenger. We all had to stand out in the cold rain until every single person was out there.

 

Now, I don't mind muster drills, but it occurred to me. . . are full world voyage passengers required to do each and every muster drill whenever new passengers embark, or just the once when we first board?

 

Seems like that will be a whole lot of drills for those of us doing the full voyage if that's the case. :D

On the world cruises, passengers are required to attend muster drill upon embarkation and thereafter once each month for the remainder of the cruise.

Our muster on a world sector was held in the theatre. Just those embarking at our port were required to attend. There was no checking of sea cards though.

On the QE2 world cruise, I attended the muster drill in New York at the beginning of the cruise and was not required to attend any of the other drills for the next 108 days of the full world cruise. Same on Queen Mary 2 a few years ago when I sailed transatlantic to Southampton, a cruise to Norway and transatlantic back to New York. We only attended the drill in NY.

I've been told that, as Louise D says, the rule is every 30 days.

I've been told that, as Louise D says, the rule is every 30 days.

I believe this rule came into operation on Cunard world voyages post Costa Concordia.

It is required to attend when on board . That means

One sailing or mutable as world cruise.

On NCL. Every passenger must attend and swipe

Their room card with the crew member in charge.

Passengers who refuse to attend May be

Escorted off the ship.

That would make me attend.

I would just like to mention how much I appreciate the way Cunard handles their Muster drills. In the past we have spent too much time on open decks either in full sun in hot humid weather or in the raining cold. I always thought that was a crappy way to start a cruise after spending time to look my best for embarkation. :)

I don't really mind attending the muster drills. Seems it would go faster if they scanned your key card.

I don't really mind attending the muster drills. Seems it would go faster if they scanned your key card.

I really don't see how it could go any faster since they don't even check to see if we're there. :confused:

I really don't see how it could go any faster since they don't even check to see if we're there. :confused:

They don't even ask your stateroom number???:eek:

No.....we just go to our designated station....when they are satisfied that everyone who is coming is there, they proceed. It's over very quickly compared to other lines we've been on. Informative, but painless.

Definitely no checking of stateroom number, we just showed up.

On RCL, they scan your card and they do not start until everyone is there. The Cunard experience was 2 months post Costa, the RCL - five months post Concordia.

No.....we just go to our designated station....when they are satisfied that everyone who is coming is there, they proceed. It's over very quickly compared to other lines we've been on. Informative, but painless.

Definitely no checking of stateroom number, we just showed up.

 

On RCL, they scan your card and they do not start until everyone is there. The Cunard experience was 2 months post Costa, the RCL - five months post Concordia.

Wow! I am amazed that Cunard does not even check who you are. Last cruise (DCL) we lined up by stateroom number and they scanned our cards. They didn't start the announcements until all were accounted for. Everything on the ship closed from 3:45 until 4:30 for the 4:00 drill.

I think they do close everything. Since most of the trips are in segments, it's not unusual to see people lounging on decks so they really don't do much enforcing. Personally, I like being treated like a responsible adult.

Personally, I like being treated like a responsible adult.

Yes. Indeed. And knowing what to do if ever the need arises.

On the QE2 world cruise, I attended the muster drill in New York at the beginning of the cruise and was not required to attend any of the other drills for the next 108 days of the full world cruise. Same on Queen Mary 2 a few years ago when I sailed transatlantic to Southampton, a cruise to Norway and transatlantic back to New York. We only attended the drill in NY.

I do remember one extra drill on QM2 WC2012: The day after the Concordia drama, after we left Tenerife...

I do remember one extra drill on QM2 WC2012: The day after the Concordia drama, after we left Tenerife...

We were on the same cruise and I do not agree we had an extra drill in Tenerife. Commodore Rynd made the announcement about the Concordia as we were leaving the port of Tenerife. We have it all on video. There was no extra drill that day that I recall.

We did the whole world on QM2 2012 and we did not attend more than two drills.

Cunard do not scan your key card so do not know if everyone is there or not.

This year on P&O world cruise we were call to every drill every couple of weeks which was a drag as it was just a recorded chat by the Captain. Again, they did not scan cards. Many world cruises did not attend all these drills.

Princess Cruises scan your key card also.

I think it is better for full world cruiser to have to attend a drill every month.

We did get to practise for real on QM2 2012 world cruise as the emergency signal was sounded around midnight. It went off twice so we followed instructions and prepared to leave the cabin. Dressing in warm clothes and got out life jackets out. Only to find out it was a false alarm. A bit scary all the same.

I have worked at sea and that was the first time ever in over 35 years I had heard the signal for real. It is not a nice feeling.

I would just like to mention how much I appreciate the way Cunard handles their Muster drills. In the past we have spent too much time on open decks either in full sun in hot humid weather or in the raining cold. I always thought that was a crappy way to start a cruise after spending time to look my best for embarkation. :)

If the ship you're sailing on doesn't have enough public rooms' space in which to hold the drill, then they basically have no choice but to hold it out on deck.

I have to say I do feel better knowing specifically where my assigned station/lifeboat actually is and how best to get there.

KK