Carnival Liberty - Muster Drill Nightmare

[Joebucks]

Wishful thinking, but the muster drill process is outdated. I wish it was when you board, you just have to check in with your muster station area with your sign and sail card to know where it is at. Perhaps you can also opt to complete an online certification beforehand and/or only have to do it once for repeat cruisers.

 

The people there aren't listening. This is what happens with regulations.

[Cruiser_1977]

1 hour ago, sixesandeights said:

NCL has done them inside for years.....pretty easy switch to make...get with the times CCL!!!

I was on the NCL Sky out of Miami in June and our muster drill was outside.

[pallasanila]

What a nightmare. I have seen several people faint or nearly faint at a muster drill in the hot Miami sun. I made the mistake of having some alcohol and not enough water at one drill and felt kind of woozy myself. Now I'm cautious about not having a repeat experience. Ironically enough, the muster drill that I felt the worst at was the indoor drill on the Norwegian Escape. They had us in the arcade space and there was nowhere to sit. I ended up sitting on the floor near the bowling area. I just desperately needed some food and water!

 

Glad you've got a dr. appointment. My issues are always related to dehydration.

[JaiJae]

This is a great topic to address! My 13 yr old son fainted during the muster drill as well. He’s never had any major health issues and never fainted before. My mom also had to go in due to the heat. It was a very scary experience. This was on the Carnival Valor this past June. There has to be a change in the process before something drastic happens to a passenger. 

Edited October 24, 2018 by JaiJae

[Salem615]

9 minutes ago, JaiJae said:

This is a great topic to address! My 13 yr old son fainted during the muster drill as well. He’s never had any major health issues and never fainted before. My mom also had to go in do to the heat. It was a very scary experience. This was on the Carnival Valor this past June. There has to be a change in the process before something drastic happens to a passenger. 

Yes - It was very scary. My poor husband said I was unresponsive for a few minutes and a nurse behind us was trying to help. 

 

[Salem615]

57 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Wishful thinking, but the muster drill process is outdated. I wish it was when you board, you just have to check in with your muster station area with your sign and sail card to know where it is at. Perhaps you can also opt to complete an online certification beforehand and/or only have to do it once for repeat cruisers.

 

The people there aren't listening. This is what happens with regulations.

I agree. Nobody pays any attention and it is so crowded and noisy that you can't really hear anything. Last year we were on a cruise and there was a very loud person who was trying to be the life of the party during the drill. Nobody could get him to settle down. Being you can't hear and see what is going on and being that many people are already in party mode I can't imagine what would happen if there was a real emergency! I have a feeling it would be chaos!

[disneylover89]

We usually cruise in June or August and it is hot and uncomfortable during muster drill BUT I do not like when my muster station is indoors because in case of a real life catastrophe, that is the last place I want to be.

Stay hydrated, fed and not too far into your cups and 99% percent of the people will be fine.  If you know you wont be, let the crew know and they will put you with the disable people.

[chengkp75]

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

Wishful thinking, but the muster drill process is outdated. I wish it was when you board, you just have to check in with your muster station area with your sign and sail card to know where it is at. Perhaps you can also opt to complete an online certification beforehand and/or only have to do it once for repeat cruisers.

 

The people there aren't listening. This is what happens with regulations.

 

1 hour ago, Salem615 said:

I agree. Nobody pays any attention and it is so crowded and noisy that you can't really hear anything. Last year we were on a cruise and there was a very loud person who was trying to be the life of the party during the drill. Nobody could get him to settle down. Being you can't hear and see what is going on and being that many people are already in party mode I can't imagine what would happen if there was a real emergency! I have a feeling it would be chaos!

What you are not realizing is that the passenger muster is as much for training the crew as it is for "training" the passengers.  The passenger drill is the only time the crew assigned to guide passengers to their stations, and those assigned to control the muster locations, and take accountability, to actually handle large, unruly crowds of people, so this is their training to save your lives.  As for hearing things at the drill, this is a far secondary requirement of the drill.  As another CC member said it in another thread, what you need to do either in a drill, or in an actual emergency are the "three ups":  Show Up, Shut Up, Listen Up.  The information passed during the drill, typically has little to do with what to do in an emergency anyway, so getting yourself and your party to the muster station is 90% of what you need to know about shipboard emergencies.

[PhillyFan33579]

4 hours ago, dmdiver said:

Well, you see, it's like this.  Some people board as early as possible.  I've had my Guy's burger by 11:30 in the past.  So, if they are drinking non-stop from that time until muster at 3:30, that's 4 hours.  So, yeah, they could do it pretty easily, especially if they are not typically big drinkers.  I wouldn't do that because I don't like being hung over, but some people just go crazy on vacation.  If they have low tolerance for alcohol, it may not take a whole lot.

 

Good point about early boarding. I have been on several cruises this year and have been sitting at a bar as early as 10:35 AM on Magic with the latest being 11:10 AM on Liberty.  So if you go into vacation mode right away and start drinking like there is no tomorrow, it’s pretty easy to be significantly under the influence by the time muster starts, which I do my best to avoid. 

[kellycambp]

You can also request to attend the disabled muster drill. My husband has a heart condition and didn’t feel comfortable standing outside for a long time in the heat. They held the disabled muster in the dining room.

[NWACruiser]

The muster drill on the Ecstasy was started indoors.  Once the announcements were completed, we went outside to the station.  

[Djptcp]

Salem 615 based upon your experience with the muster drill, on your next cruise find out where the special needs muster drill is on your ship. You will be inside and able to sit down. I have standing issues and have been doing the special needs muster drill for a number of years now.

[memoak]

I have over 35 cruises with the sister line Princess and it has been a long time since we any outdoor mustering

[Crusin Hogs]

Cruise on The Dream ,Magic, Breeze , Vista ,Horizon   , the muster  is done inside  while seated on all of these ships .Only the older ,smaller Carnival ships still do them outside  

[Loyal Buckeye]

On 10/24/2018 at 8:01 AM, Melissalcsw said:

If people would just show the hell up on time, they would get done quicker.

 

On my liberty cruise in June, it wasn't that hot outside but people were late. Thusly delaying the inevitable.

 

Get there on time, get it done and go about your business.

This is the heart of the problem. The last muster we went to they spent at least 30 minutes just waiting for about 5 people. We had one guy behind us pass out and they had to move a lady up to the front because she was afraid she was going to pass out. It doesn't take long for word to spread that you should show up late for the drills so that you will (A) not have to stand there as long and (B) Be in front so you can exit quicker when its over.

[MJSailors]

We have not participated in an outdoor muster drill since sailing on the Big Red Boat  in 1985.

The cruises we have had with Celebrity, Cunard, NCL and Princess have all had muster drills inside the ship.

[simplelife]

On ‎10‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 4:47 PM, cruisin*tigger said:

Obviously don't be late, but arrive near the end.  Less time to stand outside in the heat, and most likely you will be closer to the front of the crowd.  Its just the luck of the draw where you end up waiting; the last few times my muster station has been one of the dining rooms or casino.

IF everyone takes this advice, the result would be the same as all arriving early

[RWolver672]

On 10/24/2018 at 9:23 PM, NWACruiser said:

The muster drill on the Ecstasy was started indoors.  Once the announcements were completed, we went outside to the station.  

Same with the Paradise.  Met in the theater and listened to the announcements, then were led out to the lifeboats.

 

[Salem615]

On 10/24/2018 at 9:23 PM, NWACruiser said:

The muster drill on the Ecstasy was started indoors.  Once the announcements were completed, we went outside to the station.  

I like that idea. It seems to make more sense.

On 10/24/2018 at 3:02 PM, kellycambp said:

You can also request to attend the disabled muster drill. My husband has a heart condition and didn’t feel comfortable standing outside for a long time in the heat. They held the disabled muster in the dining room.

This is what I plan to do next time we cruise. I will also be looking into ships that do not do outside drills. 

[schazzy]

While I agree the muster drill can be a pain no matter where it's held, at least we don't have to all run back to the cabins and grab everyone's life vest anymore.  

[zippyjet]

Thank God, on newer ships like the Breeze, Vista and Horizon Muster Stations are inside. The outside heat stroke Muster drills are on the older ships. I've learned to wait till the end before lining up for outside Muster drills.

[Treyatl2006]

I agree with the OP. I hate outdoor muster drills. It's already 90 plus degrees and you add 100 people to that and its misery. Its especially true when you've eaten and had alcohol. I felt light headed once during an outdoor muster. I got to the muster station early and stood up waiting because people took their time getting to the muster station. 

 

I dont even understand why the Liberty even have muster stations outside. That ship should have enough areas and venues to support all muster stations inside. You have the theater, ocean plaza, all main dinning rooms, night clubs, comedy club, piano bar, lido buffet area... 

 

My last cruise on the Magic had their Muster drill 100% inside.

[Purvis1231]

On ‎10‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 2:04 PM, obx_fintoo said:

Sorry that you had that happen to you!  I agree, standing out in the heat is a bad idea.  The last couple of cruises we have done have not made us stand outside.

Is it really that hot in October? I think this lady may have some other medical problem that caused her fainting. 

[chengkp75]

4 hours ago, Treyatl2006 said:

 

I dont even understand why the Liberty even have muster stations outside. That ship should have enough areas and venues to support all muster stations inside. You have the theater, ocean plaza, all main dinning rooms, night clubs, comedy club, piano bar, lido buffet area... 

 

See post #5 regarding the legal requirements for muster stations.

[NWACruiser]

To be a little snide about this, why not drop muster drills completely.  If an emergency happens on the ship, then chaos can set in and ....

 

In reality, muster drill is very important for the passengers and the crew.  Therefore please

• Show up on time.
• Shut your traps and listen.
• Stop complaining about it.  

I always locate my muster station as soon as I get into my cabin.  (It is on your door).  I also check to see if there are enough life vests in the cabin.  When muster drill is called, I immediately head to the station.  Yes it is hot outside, and their usually not a lot of a breeze, but if everyone would move quickly to their station and listen, then it would get over sooner.  

 

If you are starting to feel bad, let one of the crew know immediately, and they will get you to a place to cool off.