Passengers removed from ship for failure to muster

[nana51]

Last week the Hotel Manager on the Oosterdam told our cruise critic group that if people fail to go to Muster drill they will be not allowed to sail. They will also go back to taking roll. They mean business in light of the Concordia .The roll call on Muster was suppose to start this past Saturday.

 

I was on the same cruise. It was pretty annoying that they kept us all waiting for the errant passengers, but they were threatened with removal unless they showed. Fine with me.

[5waldos]

It was a Jazz Cruise on HAL, and I believe it must have left this weekend from Fort Lauderdale as the discussion was today. I cannot "prove" it, but the information came from a Broward County Sheriff Deputy...don't know why they would make up the story. I do not know how many were involved, but was told more than one, with at least one of them from a jazz band booked onboard.

 

It is possible that the removal came on the heels of a bad attitude when they were finally located, that I cannot say.

 

Not trying to spread rumors, just had info that I thought was relevant, for the safety of all of us!

 

I am not questioning it but do wonder why would the Sheriff's Deputy be involved? Even a bad additude shouldn't require the Sheriff.

Edited February 7, 2012 by 5waldos

[Randyk47]

I am not questioning it but do wonder why would the Sheriff's Deputy be involved? Even a bad additude shouldn't require the Sheriff.

 

Maybe the passenger throw a fit and the police had to be called. Maybe the passenger called the police about being removed wanting them to intercede on his behalf. Maybe the deputy was working as part time security. Maybe he heard the story from a friend of his who heard it from his girlfriend. :rolleyes:;) No telling how he knew or found out about the situation.

[Watson's aunt]

that person who refused to go to the drill could cost someone's kife because he did not know what to do.

 

when I was on Amsterdam last June we were docked I forget what port they had a fire drill I could see it from port. All crew reporting to bow . So I am happy with Hal. If you can't follow the rules sorry you ddon' get to play the game

[wander]

I would suspect that the local police were called to be sure the person left the dock area. I have been on several ships were someone was put off the ship and each time either the local police or the Coast Guard escorted the passenger(s) away from the ship and/or port area. It is probably a combination of a safety move and a jurisdictional move.

[Barb Nahoumi]

I think that cruiselines should reinstate the rule which forces pax to bring their lifejackets to the muster drill.

 

They would practice putting it on correctly.

[sail7seas]

I think that cruiselines should reinstate the rule which forces pax to bring their lifejackets to the muster drill.

 

They would practice putting it on correctly.

 

 

All guests certainly can practice putting on their lifejacket in their cabin. If they have any question about it, their steward will absolutely be very happy to help them. Just ask.

[vtbobby]

Maybe the passenger throw a fit and the police had to be called. Maybe the passenger called the police about being removed wanting them to intercede on his behalf. Maybe the deputy was working as part time security. Maybe he heard the story from a friend of his who heard it from his girlfriend. :rolleyes:;) No telling how he knew or found out about the situation.

 

When we went to deck 10 for the sailaway, after muster, there were three pollice cars, (Sheriff?) with flashing blue lights on the pier. They drove away before we sailed...and we assumed that the 'removed' party from 7005 was in one of them.

 

Friends watching on the port webcam heard a radio transmission between the ship & port, reporting that Westerdam would delay departure while a "party from stateroom 7005" was removed from the ship.

 

I believe that it was handled firmly and professionally by the Captain given the climate following the Costa tragedy. That said though...we were on QM2 on a three part cruise (6/2010), stopping twice in Southampton, and were required to attend the three lifeboat drills only once in NYC. The person removed from Westerdam was working aboard for three weeks of Jazz Cruises, and had already attended the Drills twice. In this case, the punishment didn't seem to match the infraction...unless he was stupid enough to give the wrong Officer a 'ration...'

[mjl1960]

WHAT? They didn't have to walk the plank? I personally think the muster is a good idea, but not sure how effective it would be in an emergency. When people panic, the forget everything they have been told before to get them where they need to be. However, if you ask a kid that did it, they could probably tell you in detail. They pay more attention than adults do.

 

Another way to look at people that refuse to do muster is that they will leave more room for the people that do know what to do....survival of the fittest, in the case the "weak" that didn't do the muster drill will drown. Just sayin'....

Edited February 8, 2012 by mjl1960

[mistshar]

I am somewhat disabled and it is difficult for me to go out and stand in the sun for the muster drill. So one time my husband went outside for it and I went into one of the theaters that was just inside and waited there. I could hear everything that was said. Some of the crew kept coming through and saying that the muster drill was going on outside but they didn't give me time to explain why I was there. After it was over my husband said he couldn't hear a thing they said. I said that I heard everything. We don't try to avoid the muster drill because we want to know where we need to go and how to get there.

 

Another time we went down and asked everyone we could find where the people who were not able to participate in the drill needed to go and no one knew. Finally someone told me to go up to my cabin and stay there. Then my husband could tell me and I could watch it on TV. So that is what I did. They always say they have a place for the people with disabilities to go for the drill but then no one knows where it is. I have never been able to find anyone who knows where to find it.

[LMM1801]

I've done something like 40 HAL cruises. The only time I can recall a muster after sailing was the Alaska cruise out of Seward when it was held the next morning. Since sailing was so late, and passengers were arriving right up until then, it couldn't be held late afternoon as is customary.

Now, as to the reason those passengers were let off, I suspect missing muster was part of the story, but only part.

 

I heard that the muster drill must be held before leaving port on US soil, and is a Coast Guard rule .. not a HAL ship rule. Maybe it does not apply to Alaska and Hawaii and only the contiguous 48 states? Not sure. Anybody know?

[LMM1801]

I think that cruiselines should reinstate the rule which forces pax to bring their lifejackets to the muster drill.

 

They would practice putting it on correctly.

 

I agree with you, Barb. It is a hassle and all but forces us to drag them out of the closet and take them with us. I always need the crew to explain to me one more time how to put it on. I bet the poor French woman who lost her husband on the Concordia wishes that they had a drill before that required life jackets. Maybe then the couple would have had 2 instead of 1 between them.

[luckysadie]

Here is a link to the new muster drill policy adopted by CLIA:

 

\http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/n...r-drill-policy

 

I take it to mean that all muster drills must take place before the ship leaves port.

[RuthC]

I heard that the muster drill must be held before leaving port on US soil, and is a Coast Guard rule .. not a HAL ship rule. Maybe it does not apply to Alaska and Hawaii and only the contiguous 48 states? Not sure. Anybody know?

Or, maybe the rule you're referring to, if there is such a rule, went into effect at some time after the cruise.

In any case, the point was to disagree with the poster who said that muster was always after sailing. And now there is agreement from the various cruiselines that drill will always be before sailing, regardless of embarkation port.

[mariner]

The rule is within 24 hours after sailing. It's been that way since April 14, 1912.

[sail7seas]

I believe it was just changed since Concordia.

 

Now it is before sailing........

 

(Perhaps there are a few rare exceptions ??)

[mariner]

The cruise lines have an agreement. They needed to do something for PR. SOLAS is still within 24 hours.

[erewhon]

I heard that the muster drill must be held before leaving port on US soil, and is a Coast Guard rule .. not a HAL ship rule. Maybe it does not apply to Alaska and Hawaii and only the contiguous 48 states? Not sure. Anybody know?

 

The passenger safety drill was held 4.15 pm, the 5th December on board the Volendam, prior to sailing from Sydney Australia.

[IRL_Joanie]

The rule is within 24 hours after sailing. It's been that way since April 14, 1912.

It was changed effective immediately earlier this week. Mandatory Muster drill BEFORE the ship l;eaves Port.

 

Joanie

[sail7seas]

It was changed effective immediately earlier this week. Mandatory Muster drill BEFORE the ship l;eaves Port.

 

Joanie

 

 

Yes, Joanie, I think that is so but by order of which authority?

 

[RuthC]

It was changed effective immediately earlier this week. Mandatory Muster drill BEFORE the ship l;eaves Port.

 

Joanie

That was a voluntary agreement made by the members of CLIA. Cooperation cannot be enforced.

The SOLAS regualtions continue to be within 24 hours of sailing.

The SOLAS regs don't prevent a governmental authority from enforcing stricter regs within their jurisdiction.

[Stakeout]

On all the Hal cruises I've been on, the muster drill occurs after we left port and are out to sea.

How do they remove passengers in the middle of the ocean?

 

have been on 47 HAL cruises and have NEVER been to a lifeboat drill after sailing.. always still tied up to the dock usually at 415pm on a 5pm sailing

[sail7seas]

That was a voluntary agreement made by the members of CLIA. Cooperation cannot be enforced.

The SOLAS regualtions continue to be within 24 hours of sailing.

The SOLAS regs don't prevent a governmental authority from enforcing stricter regs within their jurisdiction.

 

 

Thanks, Ruth.

Edited February 13, 2012 by sail7seas

[Cuizer2]

I heard that the muster drill must be held before leaving port on US soil, and is a Coast Guard rule .. not a HAL ship rule. Maybe it does not apply to Alaska and Hawaii and only the contiguous 48 states? Not sure. Anybody know?

 

The muster drill must be held within 24 hours of first departure.

[Watson's aunt]

my last cruise all the "old" people were there it was they young people we had to wait for