Muster Drill

I read some of last year's Patters that seemed to have the muster drill scheduled for before SailAway, but I was told by someone else that it has to be after the ship is underway.

If the specific cruise makes a difference, it would be the round-trip Seattle to Alaska on the Ruby.

In my experience, it has always been before sailaway.

I read some of last year's Patters that seemed to have the muster drill scheduled for before SailAway, but I was told by someone else that it has to be after the ship is underway.

 

If the specific cruise makes a difference, it would be the round-trip Seattle to Alaska on the Ruby.

always before sailaway

Ever since the accident with the Costa Concodia they've made sure it's always before you leave port.

What's it really matter when you have it as long as you do have it - and you will.

What's it really matter when you have it as long as you do have it - and you will.

If you could ask the 32 passengers of the Costa Concordia that died that question, they might have a different opinion.

In my experience, it has always been before sailaway.

Ditto!!

Tony

"What's it really matter when you have it as long as you do have it - and you will."

The current laws deem it to be that way!

I ... but I was told by someone else that it has to be after the ship is underway.

...

Glad you fact checked "someone else".

When you get onboard you will be told when it will be. Also they will tell you were you should be for it. We always go a little early to get a good seat as it may take a few minutes. And also it is usually before departure. If you decide you do not want to attend for some reason they will track you down.

When you get onboard you will be told when it will be. Also they will tell you were you should be for it. We always go a little early to get a good seat as it may take a few minutes. And also it is usually before departure. If you decide you do not want to attend for some reason they will track you down.

Correct. Get there early and close to the entry door if allowed so you can get out and back to your cabin, stow the life jacket and get to the open decks for sail away.

They scan your cruise card as you come into the muster area so they know who hasn't attended and will notify them to attend a "special" muster presentation that they must attend. That might be waived if doing a BTB on the same ship.

The muster stations are very convenient and comfortable as opposed to some cruise lines that have their muster stations on the open decks that might be in the heat or some other weather.

"What's it really matter when you have it as long as you do have it - and you will."

Muster is mandatory and it has always been before sail away on the ships that I have been on.

Does Princess still require y to take your life jackets to the drill? Just curious as it has been awhile since I've been on Princess and Royal Caribbean no longer required this. Then again, they also don't have life jackets in the cabin on their largest ships, either.

Does Princess still require y to take your life jackets to the drill? Just curious as it has been awhile since I've been on Princess and Royal Caribbean no longer required this. Then again, they also don't have life jackets in the cabin on their largest ships, either.

Frightening.

Note to self, don't sail on RCCL if they don't have life jackets in the cabin.

Frightening.

Note to self, don't sail on RCCL if they don't have life jackets in the cabin.

Life jackets are available. They're just distributed at the muster stations rather than being in the cabins. I'll admit, though, that I though this was weird especially since they don't announce it until the muster drill. As a result, I was looking all over the cabin for the life jackets beforehand.

We have been cruising on Princess since 2004 and on almost every cruise muster muster has been scheduled for 45 minutes before sailaway. And yes, you do bring your life jackets with you to muster.

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Frightening.

Note to self, don't sail on RCCL if they don't have life jackets in the cabin.

Most of the time you will be away from your cabin. The worst thing to be doing in an emergency is to try to get back to your cabin to grab your life jackets or other possessions. NEVER go down into the ship in an emergency. Go straight to your muster stations, meet up with family or friends there, and follow the instructions given to you.

Several people who died in the Costa Concordia disaster were found below decks. Witnesses, including a woman who's mother died, said that some went there to gather possessions or life jackets. They were caught by water flooding into the ship, blocking their way out.

There are several times as many life jackets as there are passengers. They are stored in multiple places, including at the muster station and near the lifeboats.

The last place you should be looking for life jackets is in your cabin.

When you get onboard you will be told when it will be. Also they will tell you were you should be for it. We always go a little early to get a good seat as it may take a few minutes. And also it is usually before departure. If you decide you do not want to attend for some reason they will track you down.

It's good to get there early & get a seat near the door to beat the mad rush back to the cabin. :D

btw- they don't track people who don't show for muster. They were sending out letters at one time if by some reason you didn't scan in but that has stopped.

Ibtw- they don't track people who don't show for muster. They were sending out letters at one time if by some reason you didn't scan in but that has stopped.

I don't know what cruise line you are talking about, but as far as I know all cruise lines are required to ensure that all passengers get the muster drill. On Celebrity, for example, they search them out and escort them to muster. We have waited for nearly twenty minutes because of some selfish people who didn't think they needed to go.

For extreme cases, such as people deliberately hiding so they can't be found, Celebrity will remove them from the ship, with no compensation for their stupidity.

On Princess the Muster Drills are before sailaway and you to take (not wear) the life preserver in your cabin ... also, your cruise card.

They are fairly painless and well organized.

I don't know what cruise line you are talking about, but as far as I know all cruise lines are required to ensure that all passengers get the muster drill. On Celebrity, for example, they search them out and escort them to muster. We have waited for nearly twenty minutes because of some selfish people who didn't think they needed to go.

 

For extreme cases, such as people deliberately hiding so they can't be found, Celebrity will remove them from the ship, with no compensation for their stupidity.

I'm talking about Princess - don't know about Celebrity. They don't check if people attend or not. There was a while where they had makeup sessions for those that skipped out but that has ceased.

Princess will also remove them from the ship if they fail to attend muster. Saw it done on my ladt Caibean cruise to passengers across the hall from us. They had all sorts of excuses and complaints as they were packing under the scrutiny of the ships security.

Most of the time you will be away from your cabin. The worst thing to be doing in an emergency is to try to get back to your cabin to grab your life jackets or other possessions. NEVER go down into the ship in an emergency.

Strongly recommend that everyone follow the directions that will be given at the muster drill rather than strident directions by well meaning folks online.

Recent instructions include that, upon hearing an emergency warning to muster, each individual should make sure they have a jacket or other warm clothing and any necessary meds before they go to their muster station. If that involves a trip below to your cabin, then do it. (Princess and HAL)

This is great info, everyone. I was hoping it was before. We are sailing out of Seattle and I am excited to be on deck and see everything as we sail through the sound and out the Straits. I'm from the area and looking forward to seeing it all from that perspective.

Thanks!

It's good to get there early & get a seat near the door to beat the mad rush back to the cabin. :D

btw- they don't track people who don't show for muster. They were sending out letters at one time if by some reason you didn't scan in but that has stopped.

I'm talking about Princess - don't know about Celebrity. They don't check if people attend or not. There was a while where they had makeup sessions for those that skipped out but that has ceased.

This sure doesn't sound like the Princess the rest of us are talking about.

The seats "near the door" in pretty much all the muster stations are reserved for the handicapped and those who may need assistance. On my last several cruises anyone who does not fit that category has been ordered to move to where the muster guide is directing the incoming passengers. They make it very clear that following the guide's direction is part of the drill (each line has their own subtle way of sussing who is not).

And since 2011 Princess has been scanning the cruise cards of everyone as they enter the muster station. Are you saying that this is just for show and there is no intention of identifying who does not show up? The fact that Princess also does sweeps of cabins during the muster drill also refutes your "they don't check" theory.