Safety Drill on HAL - Place to Sit?

[Spender Nui]

I agree, it definitely has to be held at the lifeboat stations, but something has to be done about the no-shows to avoid everyone else standing there for an additional half hour or so. On our last cruise there were several no-shows, several PA announcements, and all of us who took it seriously had to stand around waiting for those stragglers to eventually turn up. I think they should ignore them, and disembark them when found:D instead of punishing the rest of us.

 

On a recent Zuiderdam cruise, after making the announcements, the captain announced that anyone who didn't show up would be put off the ship at the first port (which happened to be Half Moon Cay the following morning). We saw several passengers suddenly seating frantically for their stations.

[Spender Nui]

Easy for you to say. Price to rent a rollator for 12 days is $200.00. That is expensive to have just for boat drill. I have my own but that is another issue since I have to fly into port. I'm glad to see HAL has solved this problem per copper10-8's message.

 

Why would anyone rent at that price when you could buy one much cheaper?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Deals-Rollator-Walkers/lm/R2HM6C5JWPJJ5W

[CruiseGal60]

I recently broke my foot and although the doctor says I should be able to cruise in early Jan. , I will be in a boot with limited walking. My TA was able to get a scooter rental and accessible cabin.

 

I know from past cruises you are not allowed to use the elevator during the drill. What if you simply cannot do the stairs and require a scooter?

 

Thank you

[RuthC]

I know from past cruises you are not allowed to use the elevator during the drill.

You most certainly are allowed to use an elevator during muster drill. I use it every time I have a cabin that's not on the muster deck.

There will be someone stationed near the stairwells/elevator banks, wearing a "Traffic" vest. That person will even point you toward the elevators.

 

Getting to the drill is easy, since everyone tends to trickle in at a different rate. If you wait until the first blast of the horn, there will be few people to compete with for elevator space.

Afterward, there will be a long wait for an elevator, especially if you need room for a scooter, too.

[jkelec]

Why would anyone rent at that price when you could buy one much cheaper?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Deals-Rollator-Walkers/lm/R2HM6C5JWPJJ5W

 

yes why would you rent one when you can bring your own if you are flying you are not charged to take any medical aids ie wheel chair rollators even if you have both check out your airlines disabled persons policys

we are traveling with British airways and virgin atlantic and my mum is bringing her rollator with her and has wheel chair assitance at the airports so rollator will be going in the hull ( no extra charge)

we have all so rented a wheel chair from special needs at sea for the week we are sailing ok it cost $75 but if you need one to enable you to get around in comfort to enable one to enjoy their holiday its worth the cost

[RuthC]

yes why would you rent one when you can bring your own

Why would one buy a rollator if the only time it was needed was during muster drill?

There is an "in-between" condition when there is trouble walking, and trouble standing for long periods, but no need for a wheelchair/scooter or a walker/rollator.

Making reasonable accommodation for people in that condition is fair.

[jkelec]

well with all the diliberating on this subject

looks like the only solution is for a standard muster drill across the board of all cruise lines to be implemented and a strict rules put in place

seem yes all those who are able body and able to walk then you shold be at your muster station and those who are of less mobile have a seated area were they can be attended to and escorted too

maybe one day they will go like every other industry and make you sit down watch a video and sign a disclaimer saying yes you have watched the video and fully understood

but i go back to my point in the first place my self would rather have a proper a relistic as possible muster drill even if in a emergency it may not work out that you get to your particular muster station at least you would have some idea of what to do

at the end of the day rules and procedures are put in place for everbodys safety

and on a lighter note haha

so for those who dont turn up at drill time or turn up on time maybe they should be made to walk the plank or maybe made to do there drill everyday lol

[solocanadian]

I recently broke my foot and although the doctor says I should be able to cruise in early Jan. , I will be in a boot with limited walking. My TA was able to get a scooter rental and accessible cabin.

 

I know from past cruises you are not allowed to use the elevator during the drill. What if you simply cannot do the stairs and require a scooter?

 

Thank you

I always use the elevator - simply tell them I don't do stairs. Never had a problem.

[Sandi3667]

Solocanadian/Gail; there is an easy solution to your issue! When HAL instituted the current mandatory pax safety drill, a Medical Officer/Nurse is now stationed at the bottom of the Atrium near the entrances to the 'Boat Deck' (LP Deck on the S and R class vessels and on Prinsendam; Promenade Deck on the Vistas & Signatures) starting at 15 min prior to the commencement of the drill. Contact that medical officer and advise him/her that you are unable to stand for long periods of time during the drill. He/she will contact the Bridge/Staff Captain via portable radio and they will check you off the muster list.

 

There is some good advice here also from Tangerinebunny and Trixiee re: contacting the Infirmary staff ahead of time (after embarking) however, if you contact the medical officer stationed in the Atrium, it's a done deal. He/She will have you take a seat on one of the benches in/near the Atrium for the duration of the drill. Have a great voyage!

 

Thanks for the info, CopperJohn. Due to recent medical issues, I cannot stand for very long anymore. Hopefully it's resolved by our next planned cruise (Jan or Feb 2014 on the Noordam), but if not, I will keep this info handy.

[solocanadian]

Thanks for the info, CopperJohn. Due to recent medical issues, I cannot stand for very long anymore. Hopefully it's resolved by our next planned cruise (Jan or Feb 2014 on the Noordam), but if not, I will keep this info handy.

I have printed John's advice to take with me in the event I get challenged. :)

[Bluwater7]

Husband travels with a cane that has a seat on it ... he uses that one for tours and for safety drill. Uses a regular cane the rest of the time. Works for him as he cannot stand for a long period of time.

[IRL_Joanie]

Solocanadian/Gail; there is an easy solution to your issue! When HAL instituted the current mandatory pax safety drill, a Medical Officer/Nurse is now stationed at the bottom of the Atrium near the entrances to the 'Boat Deck' (LP Deck on the S and R class vessels and on Prinsendam; Promenade Deck on the Vistas & Signatures) starting at 15 min prior to the commencement of the drill. Contact that medical officer and advise him/her that you are unable to stand for long periods of time during the drill. He/she will contact the Bridge/Staff Captain via portable radio and they will check you off the muster list.

 

There is some good advice here also from Tangerinebunny and Trixiee re: contacting the Infirmary staff ahead of time (after embarking) however, if you contact the medical officer stationed in the Atrium, it's a done deal. He/She will have you take a seat on one of the benches in/near the Atrium for the duration of the drill. Have a great voyage!

 

Wish I'd Known this before my last 2 cruises..........Thanks John for this invaluable info!! Hopefully I will not need the assitance on my cruises in May. Broken back is not much fun to try and get to the drills over the bumps in a scooter with no shock absorbers:(....

 

Joanie

[Typhoon1]

One little question. On one Princess cruise we had to go to our muster stations, sitting down, for close to three hours, bomb scare.

How would HAL handle this?

 

john

 

Might have to stand at Muster stations on Promenade Deck. If that is not the case, I have no idea where you would go for three hours.

[lorenzod]

Solocanadian/Gail; there is an easy solution to your issue! When HAL instituted the current mandatory pax safety drill, a Medical Officer/Nurse is now stationed at the bottom of the Atrium near the entrances to the 'Boat Deck' (LP Deck on the S and R class vessels and on Prinsendam; Promenade Deck on the Vistas & Signatures) starting at 15 min prior to the commencement of the drill. Contact that medical officer and advise him/her that you are unable to stand for long periods of time during the drill. He/she will contact the Bridge/Staff Captain via portable radio and they will check you off the muster list.

 

There is some good advice here also from Tangerinebunny and Trixiee re: contacting the Infirmary staff ahead of time (after embarking) however, if you contact the medical officer stationed in the Atrium, it's a done deal. He/She will have you take a seat on one of the benches in/near the Atrium for the duration of the drill. Have a great voyage!

Gee I hope this really works. After my last drill on the NCL Sun I thought I was going to collapse from back and leg pain. I tried contacting HAL today regarding this issue and they said the only thing I could do is rent a wheelchair. I do not want to do this. I suggested watching it on video tape but they said this was not an option. They did not mention your idea. Do you need a letter from your doctor?

Marsha:)

[kazu]

Btw, the fist time you enter your stateroom after embarking, you'll find the Daily Program waiting for you and/or it is part of your welcome aboard package handed to you at shore-side check-in. In it, on the front page, and on the hourly breakdown inside, is listed the Pax Safety Drill, the time it is scheduled plus the fact that it is mandatory

Even if fine folks do not pick up the DP and read it, 30 min. before the commencement of the drill, there is a P/A announcement by the cruise director. This is followed 15 min later and again at the time the drill commences. That's three P/A announcements! If every passenger took the time and effort to make it to their designated muster station by the time the drill commences, same would be over and done with in 15 mins, 20 tops. What makes the drill last longer just about every time is the 'tardy & no show factor' by passengers. No show and tardy means there are cabins & names unaccounted for at the boat/muster stations those fine folks are assigned to, at times 5-15 minutes after the commencement time of the drill. That has a slinky effect in that incomplete muster rosters result in longer wait times for those pax who had their respective acts together and took the responsibility to arrive at their boat station(s) on time.

 

Lastly, if you advise HAL prior to, or at, embarkation that you have a disability and/or are mobility impaired, that info. is noted on the muster list you are assigned to behind your name and cabin number, and is relayed to your room stewards and to their Housekeeping supervisor(s) at the start of your voyage. Those muster lists are kept in the crew only staircases on boat deck and are retrieved by your boat commanders upon the sounding of those alarms. In case of an emergency/general emergency alarm/boat station muster/abandon ship, you can count on extra assistance being dispatched to your stateroom (in the case you find yourself inside your cabin at the time of such alarm) as well as extra equipment in the form of emergency transport devices, i.e. wheelchairs, stair climbers and/or an Evacu-Trac (mobility transport device). Crew trains regularly on how to use those devices

 

Amen Copper - if people would simply respect the rules things would be over much more quickly. the Westerdam - I kept hearing the same names being called - they should be thankful they didn't 'run' into me on board.

 

great info for those who need it - thank you.

[Tredebo]

My mother travels with her rollator with a seat, which she sits upon at the muster drill. First part of the problem solved. The next part of the problem is that once seated, she cannot see the crew giving the drill instruction because of inconsiderate latecomers standing in front of her and who squash everyone back. Sometimes you've just got to shrug and bear it just so it gets done.

[sail7seas]

My mother travels with her rollator with a seat, which she sits upon at the muster drill. First part of the problem solved. The next part of the problem is that once seated, she cannot see the crew giving the drill instruction because of inconsiderate latecomers standing in front of her and who squash everyone back. Sometimes you've just got to shrug and bear it just so it gets done.

 

 

In a little defense of the inconsiderate late comers.....

 

They are instructed when they arrive to get in the front of the group that is already assembled. It is less disruptive than trying to have them plow through the rows of people who have been standing and waiting. I always am sure to be near front as that is 'my comfort zone' and I consistently move forward as those late comers arrive. They give me dirty looks as they don't like me coming forward.... too bad. We were there on time.

 

The life boat commanders are instructed by the Staff Captain (who runs the drill) for people to step back and have the group leave room for walking between them and the rail. We are constantly told to step back.

 

 

Edited January 27, 2013 by sail7seas

[mr green]

A few years ago on a HAL cruise, I don't recall which one, they insisted on ladies at the front, and gentlemen at the rear. IMO a very poor start to a cruise! Later cruises did not require this.

 

john

[startwin]

A few years ago on a HAL cruise, I don't recall which one, they insisted on ladies at the front, and gentlemen at the rear. IMO a very poor start to a cruise! Later cruises did not require this.

 

john

 

It's usually taller at the back, shorter at the front. But it never fails that some 6'2" guy strolling in late will plonk himself right in front of me, being 5"1":(

[mr green]

It's usually taller at the back, shorter at the front. But it never fails that some 6'2" guy strolling in late will plonk himself right in front of me, being 5"1":(

 

Never had that. However my wife and I are the same hight.

 

john

[SeaSheep]

One little question. On one Princess cruise we had to go to our muster stations, sitting down, for close to three hours, bomb scare.

How would HAL handle this?

 

john

 

One thing that nobody seems to know is that HAL has secondary muster locations. These secondary muster locations are in the public areas, such as dining room and showroom. So in case of a bomb scare you would have been directed here, if safe to do so of course.

 

Kind Regards,

SeaSheep

[celle]

A few years ago on a HAL cruise, I don't recall which one, they insisted on ladies at the front, and gentlemen at the rear. IMO a very poor start to a cruise! Later cruises did not require this.

 

john

 

We struck that on Eurodam last year. I think it was to make sure that the (shorter) women could see the demonstration of putting on a life-jacket and not have their view obscured by the (mostly taller) men.

 

It was a b2b cruise for us and we had already seen how to put on a life-jacket (we knew anyway), so I elected to stand further back with my DH. (I did stand at the front on the first cruise.)

 

When we had to continue standing for a long while, because of latecomers, I moved right to the back, slid down the wall and sat down on the deck. I could still hear all the announcements and I didn't need to see anything. However, my sitting down upset quite a few, newly-aboard passengers.

 

We own a boat and always wear life-jackets. I did 6.5 weeks on a ship, emigrating from UK to NZ and we had to physically put on our life-jackets as we were departing each port on the way (Yes, muster drill when leaving every port!). And I've done quite a few cruises. I don't need to see the life-jacket demonstration one more time, but I do attend the muster drill every time, as required.

Edited February 2, 2013 by celle

[sail7seas]

One thing that nobody seems to know is that HAL has secondary muster locations. These secondary muster locations are in the public areas, such as dining room and showroom. So in case of a bomb scare you would have been directed here, if safe to do so of course.

 

Kind Regards,

SeaSheep

 

 

Really?

 

I'm not that shocked to hear it but it's surprising in all our HAL cruises, we've never heard a murmer about that. Wonder why?

 

[CrabbyHarper]

I, too, have trouble standing, and walk with a cane. We are sailing on Noordam Feb 8, (our fifth HAL cruise), and if I experience any considerable pain due to inconsiderate regulations, will vote with my wallet and never sail HAL again. ;)

 

Thanks Copper, for the info. Will follow your suggestions!

[celle]

I agree with you 100% ... for the reason you wrote ... the drill needs to be held at each person's lifeboat. I can't imagine sitting in a dining room hearing a talk, and then knowing exactly where to go in case of an actual emergency.

 

I remember doing a muster drill on Celebrity Infinity, where our assembly station was in one of the lounges. After the compulsory talk about lifejackets etc, it was explained to us that sometimes it might not be possible for us to use our assigned lifeboat, but that one of the crew would lead us to the lifeboat we were to use. Then, so that we knew which was our regular assigned lifeboat, we followed the crew to it before we dispersed.

 

We were all able to hear the talk, we knew where to find "our" lifeboat, and we knew that, in some circumstances (such as listing of the ship) we might have to be assigned to a different lifeboat.

 

That seemed like a pretty efficient muster drill to me.