Life Boat Drills

I may be fooling myself but I walk well enough to handle the requirements of the ship and port bus excursions but standing for the life boat drill was excruciating on our last cruise - Holland America. We were standing there for almost 90 minutes in the heat and humidity and icould barely walk after it was over. Is there any way around the requirement? Could a chair be provided? Private session? Sit in a lounge as I did on a Princess drill?

I am reluctant to book again for only this reason.

What ship?

I may be fooling myself but I walk well enough to handle the requirements of the ship and port bus excursions but standing for the life boat drill was excruciating on our last cruise - Holland America. We were standing there for almost 90 minutes in the heat and humidity and icould barely walk after it was over. Is there any way around the requirement? Could a chair be provided? Private session? Sit in a lounge as I did on a Princess drill?

 

I am reluctant to book again for only this reason.

As you know, there is a requirement to attend.

However, if you have some sort of disability then the various different laws in the US and EU will require HAL to provide an appropriate chair.

WD

What ship?

just a general question - i would look most favorably on the cruise line that is most helpful about this - boat drill on HAL was a terrible way to begin such a lovely trip - i never really got over it, emotionally or physically

just a general question - i would look most favorably on the cruise line that is most helpful about this - boat drill on HAL was a terrible way to begin such a lovely trip - i never really got over it, emotionally or physically

What you need to do, upon boarding, is go to the purser's desk (sometimes called customer service desk), tell them your problem, ask for assistance. They'll then be able to tell you what to do: in some instances, you can indeed sit, other things that can happen is that you'd be directed to a special area with other people with disabilities, your sometimes you can view the drill on your in-cabin television.

But if you don't inform them of your problem -- and it's not readily visible -- they'll not know that you need assistance!

I know some people who bring 3-leg canes with folding seats or folding stools(lightweight ones that fold in like an umbrella) with them when they know they may have to stand for a while. That allows them to sit when they need to without having to look around for a chair or get out of line. Standing for long periods causes leg pain for my husband. He's really tall so he normally just stands in the back during muster and leans against the wall to take pressure off his knees.

Did you tell anyone about your problem with standing at the start of muster? If so, the staff should have made some accommodation for you, like bringing a chair. I've has some musters only take 15 minutes but others take over an hour. It all depends on whether the other passengers show up on time.

If you didn't let the cruise line know of your problem then you can't expect them to provide you with a way to help. I have a daughter in a wheelchair. Whenever we book a cruise or any type of vacation, the first thing I mention and the last thing I mention is her special needs. So you gotta speak up

Call the special needs department of the cruise line you are interested in and then when you do book the reservation speak to that department again and they will not only tell you what to do but note your problem in your folio.

This has always worked for me and I hope it does for you also.

I know some people who bring 3-leg canes with folding seats or folding stools(lightweight ones that fold in like an umbrella) with them when they know they may have to stand for a while. That allows them to sit when they need to without having to look around for a chair or get out of line. QUOTE]

 

I rarely use my rollator (rolling walker with seat) at home now, but I still travel with it. It gives me someplace to sit when I'd otherwise have to stand for a while, and alerts people that I may not be able to do everything they ask of me. (I look normal to the casual observer.) It helps me with my balance when the ship is rolling. I also register with the special needs department and have learned to request a wheelchair for embarking and debarking when there is often a long line plus a long way to carry carry-on luggage. You may want to consider some kind of walking aid like the stools mentioned or a rollator. It's amazing how much it helps. For Muster on our last cruise, the crew actually came up to me and asked if I would prefer to observe Muster on TV in our cabin, but I was fine since I could sit.

There's no requirement that you must stand....at least, not as far as I know! If you need to sit, tell the crewmember! And perhaps, not arrive so early!

This happened to us onboard the Carnival Splendor. I told one of the crew members that my DH needed to sit during the Muster Drill and she directed us to an area that had seats [with other people in it] and we could hear the Muster Drill very clearly.

Let the ship know of your special "needs" and they will accommodate you.

Don't let yourself get to the point of exhaustion/frustration or worry.

The cruiselines want you to keep coming back and they want you happy!!!!!!!

On all three of our cruises, we were directed to a lounge area for muster. We heard the instructions along with everyone else, but we did not have to do the part where you go line up for the lifeboats. We were told that the crew would give us special instructions in the event of an emergency. To top it off, they dismissed us just before the rest of the passengers, and got us all on the elevators back to our cabins before the post-muster deluge.

This was how it worked on Azamara Quest, Celebrity Century, and Celebrity Infinity. And I found it a very easy way to accomplish this necessary task. I'm with everyone else on here: just ask to join those with mobility issues.

I use a rolling walker for any distance walker because of the seat. I told Princess I was concerned with steepness of boarding ramps. She arranged for wheelchair embarking/disembarking plus a sharps container in my room for insulin syringes and even gallons of distilled water for my c-pap machine...all this done by phone weeks before my cruise. They really do want to help. Incidentally, I also prepaid my gratuities ahead of time so I didn't need to be concerned about the charge at the end of my cruise. Hope some of this helps.

Every ship of every line will have a "special needs" muster location. When you board, contact Guest Services and explain that you need to go there for drill. They will make the adjustment to the muster lists so you will not be counted absent at your original station. These stations are almost universally indoors, and in a lounge, or atrium where there is seating. They frequently allow one care giver to attend there as well as the special needs guest. There will be crew assigned to this station to assist these people to the boats if it is ever needed, and some ships will also assign a nurse to this station, just in case.

Really? Why does a muster drill take 90 minutes? I haven't experienced a drill taking that long.

Really? Why does a muster drill take 90 minutes? I haven't experienced a drill taking that long.

It is required that all passengers attend the Muster Drill. There are some folks that believe they are above attending due to past cruisings or just plain elitist feelings. These folks are sought out and "encouraged" to attend, and in some cases asked to depart after their refusal to attend. Muster drill are designed to be a short as possible but do require all to attend. If it was a 90 minute drill, thank those that were sailing with you that thought they were too important to follow regulations.

Every ship of every line will have a "special needs" muster location. When you board, contact Guest Services and explain that you need to go there for drill. They will make the adjustment to the muster lists so you will not be counted absent at your original station. These stations are almost universally indoors, and in a lounge, or atrium where there is seating. They frequently allow one care giver to attend there as well as the special needs guest. There will be crew assigned to this station to assist these people to the boats if it is ever needed, and some ships will also assign a nurse to this station, just in case.

This is not correct. Neither HAL or RCL offered these services. I specifically asked multiple people on both cruises.

Carnival is the only cruise line I am aware of that provides a separate muster station for the handicap and their traveling companions.

Betty

I am on Britannia (May 2nd 2015) and a few day ago I phoned them to ask if there was a seperate muster drill for Britannia for those of us who are disabled. I was told they do not have a seperate drill, everyone attends the one muster drill. However, she did say that the lifts are shut down just before the drill so that it forces everyone to use the stairs and told me to get to the muster station early so that I can use the lifts.

How is that going to work in an emergency. There will not be enough evacu chairs for the amount of disabled onboard.

RCI have had the best muster drill of all the cruises I have done.

P&O have to look at this it is simply not good enough.

Celebrity muster in theatre, restaurants and lounges. No lining up on deck and no life jackets. By far the best experiences we have had. Royal caribbean and MSC line up on deck but always provided a chair for my husband. If you lining on deck just ask for a chair and they will provide. I understand what a nightmare standing can be, my hubby used to worry, but inform special needs team ( at same time request pier assistance) and all will be good. Enjoy your cruise :)

Princess also has the Muster Stations in public lounges and the theater rather than outside. There is also always a special lounge (or sometimes the Casino) designated for disabled and their companions. They (Princess) want us all to be together so it is easier for them to assist us if needed. Works much better for me than waiting outside in the sun or wind.

M.

Does Royal Caribbean muster outside or do they use lounges etc?

I can tell you on the NCL Breakaway they do use lunges dinning rooms etc, no life jackets- found it to be very easy.

Does Royal Caribbean muster outside or do they use lounges etc?

It depends on the ship. Oasis was in a lounge. Adventure was outside.

Does Royal Caribbean muster outside or do they use lounges etc?

I can tell you on the NCL Breakaway they do use lunges dinning rooms etc, no life jackets- found it to be very easy.

• Outside vs. inside varies by ship.
  
• Oasis and Allure - inside
  
• Jewel, Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade , Rhapsody, Navigator, Vision, Adventure - outside
  
• All others - don't know
  
• RCCL does not require life jackets at muster drill.
  

Carnival is the only cruise line I am aware of that provides a separate muster station for the handicap and their traveling companions.

 

Betty

On Royal Caribbean I have always attended muster drill in the lounge with other disabled and not had to stand outside. This was on both Radiance and Mariner.