Elderly passenger - Muster drill

[tmcraine]

I'm thinking of taking my 80 year old mother on a cruise in the fall. She has a lot of trouble taking the stairs and I wondered what the ship does with passengers such as the elderly in the case of the required muster drill. Any info you can give me would be great. Thanks.

[DonnaK]

I'm curious too, as my mother cant negotiate the stairs so well either, and we'll be on deck 10 so it's a lot of flights.

[dobelover]

I have sailed on the Enchantment, Grandeur and Radiance with my Mom, 87. She has very limited mobility and uses a wheel chair. We report to our muster station @ 20 minutes early. The crew have ALWAYS directed my Mom to the area inside the ship (out of the sun and heat or wind and rain). I stay outside to hear the instructions then join her when the drill is over. HTH.

 

 

 

Sue

[dfa1]

We travelled in 2004 with a 1 year old, and the staff @ muster drill were very accomodating to us. They allowed us to take her in early, and I did notice several older folks were excused early as well. I have also heard of people being redirected to some of the interior lounges where the same types of instructions are given, but where older and special needs guests can wait in comfort.

 

I will say that my mother in law, who has suffered with the effects of long-term cancer had to stand the entire time. But because she is only in her 40's, the cruise staff was not aware of her discomfort. We did not report to the same station, but I believe if we had informed them of her condition up front, that they would have taken similar actions for her.

 

At any rate, I would make them aware of the situation, and see what they offer. I expect them to be fairly cooperative and understanding.

[Beth 2001]

My mother has limited mobility, and the crew members guarding the elevators have always allowed her to ride them to her muster station. At the muster station, I have noticed that crew members sometimes offer to take elderly passengers to inside areas so they don't have to stand for long periods of time in the heat. Just start out early (i.e., before they sound the ship's whistle) and let the crew members at the muster station know if she needs a place to sit down or cool off.

[CruisinFinsUp]

Sorry - I think I'm missing something - I've only sailed Princess recently to compare to - on Princess the muster was in a large venue - everyone was seated and given instructions.

 

Is it different on RCI? (we will be on Jewel shortly!!)

 

Thanks

[sophie's mom]

that the muster drill is for safety! Knowing where to go in an emergency could save your life ( especially those with limited mobility).

[Rala]

On Royal Caribbean you report to the actual place you would go if there were a real emergency, usually somewhere on the Promenade deck where the lifeboats are located. Sometimes there are muster station inside (at a bar, for example), but this station would only be for a certain number of people who would be escorted to a lifeboat in a real emergency.

 

You report to your station, wearing your life jacket and then are checked off as being present. Instructions are given about the lifejackets and other regulations, etc., there are a few words from the Captain and the muster drill is over. It usually takes about 20-30 mins. total.

 

I always like to think of it as the official "ceremony" that signals the start of my vacation!!!!

[nrdsb4]

I wonder what would happen in the event of a real emergency and loss of power. How would these people who are truly wheelchair bound get to their stations if indeed the ship had to be evacuated? My Mom is severely disabled and wheelchair bound so she would be in this situation (well, not really, she'd never agree to cruise again for this very reason, sad). It's all fine and good to use elevators and meet in a lounge for muster drill, but how in the world would this be handled if elevators were not working and lifeboats were mandated?

[TinAngel]

Hi

 

Ability and capacity are assumed as "OK" unless you tell the cruise line.

 

I went from soldier to a guy in a wheelchair in a short time. I still can ambulate (walk) with my cane but not fast or far.

 

RCI, Norwegian and others always make sure my needs are considered. They send early a crew member to "escort" me from the cabin, some ships have "special" lifeboats for those disabled as to ensure the lifeboat has crew to lift and assist. Usually a few kids in wheelchairs and those disabled and a few elderly. This is the place to be if "80" as they know what to do.

 

Simple: let them know, they will do what has to be done. Trust me sure I can "walk" but not in an emergency. I'd get bumped and fall.

 

Royal Carib always takes care of me: but you have to let them know. Many elderly are fit and able. I always got out of the lifeboat station first with those kids and such. Royal is great, if they know.

 

Besides: RCI can and will take the duty and worry away. I feel very uncomfortable with the children in wheelcahirs, RCI always watches them with love.

 

Joe

 

PS

 

If such happened, I suspect I would stay in my cabin, or not, I see the care in the crew with the kids. There were four youths in wheelchairs on my last Rhap of the Seas cruise. I was the only adult: I recall at least eight elderly: all over 70.

[Cats' slave]

Arrive early and tell the crew. In case of a real emergency, I'd ask them what you should do. My guess is that crew members would carry your mother.

 

On Royal Caribbean, we've always had to stand at our muster station near the lifeboats until every cabin is checked off. I've been so miserably hot but I've been glad to know what to do in an emergency.

 

This past February we went on the Mariner and it was really cold in Florida. We had warned our first time cruising friends about the muster drill and why it was necessary. This muster drill they sent us to the dining room! Afterwards our friend quite seriously said, "I didn't think that was too bad." :p

[GLBT CRUISER]

We traveled with an older lady with heart condition and placed her in a wheelchair and wheeled her down to our muster station 15 minutes early. She was placed in the front row with us standing behind. Best part was we were allowed to leave early to wheel her back and take the elevator before everyone else was 'released' :D

[Stormlover]

Our last time on the Mariner or Muster was in the Dining room. Nice an cool an comfey seats too..

[Maryandi]

What about getting a cabin on the same deck as the lifeboat drill.? Then you would not have to worry about stairs, etc.

[cruisinfanatic]

What about getting a cabin on the same deck as the lifeboat drill.? Then you would not have to worry about stairs, etc.

Not possible on Voyager Class for 1.

[Moeve]

First it is absolutly inperative that EVERYONE knows where to go and HOW to get there in an emergency - yes even those who are not very mobile. You don't believe me - well why not ask those Star princess passengers!!!!! This is also the reason it is so important the ship is also aware of the disabilty (many passengers feel it is an infringement but thinking that way can cost your life) When you get onboard go to the Pursers desk, point out the severity of the disability and ask just how to handle the drill. If they tell you to use the elevator during the drill ask to see the Supervisor immeadiatly since the elevators can be a death trap in a real emergency and the drill is after all a practice for the real thing.

[Scully's Mom]

We were on the Jewel in January with my 80 year-old mother. We went to the muster station early--before the horn sounded so that we could stand at the back and lean up against the wall. All the people in front of us blocked the sun so we didn't fry!

[MIcruiser99]

We were on the Jewel in January with my 80 year-old mother. We went to the muster station early--before the horn sounded so that we could stand at the back and lean up against the wall. All the people in front of us blocked the sun so we didn't fry!

 

Wish I had thought of that! On our cruise, I was the right in the front and it was HOT!

[lauraapp]

I also traveled with my 84 year old mother, who was having back spasms at the time of the drill. I told the cabin steward and he checked her off and told her it was OK that she did not attend the drill, but to take note where she would go during a real emergency....

[carla64]

This may be a dumb question, but I'm curious...if there was a fire, say like on the Star...where would a person go? I mean wouldn't it be dangerous to go back to the room to get a life jacket? I think more people would get killed trying to get back to their rooms for a life jacket or even getting to an assigned muster station.

[wrp96]

If there is an emergency and you are not in your stateroom, you go directly to your muster station. They have life jackets there for everybody as well.

[Rainbowdayz]

We just returned from April 1 sailing on the Legend. My mother is 82 and has been in a wheelchair for the past year. During that time, we have sailed on the Carnival Miracle, Holland America Zuiderdam and RCC's Legend. Each time we went early and took an elevator but it didn't make it any easier. Just "do-able". The whole procedure is very upsetting to my mother who cruised for many years fully able to use the stairs. I've read where people have been allowed to wait in lounges or just inside the doors once they have reported, as well as in the front of other passengers in those crowded lines. This has not been our experience. Each time my mother has been pushed to the back where she can't see and it's been stifling hot. No matter how many times we've asked people to move, more come and we finally give up and pray for it to be over. The Legend drill was ridiculously unorganized and took forever. It certainly does nothing to boost my confidence in the procedure. I voted to let mother stay in her stateroom this time but my dad overruled me saying the fact they will knock and enter the room is just as bad because it would scare her and he's right. We did ask the cabin stewerd if he would refrain from knocking and entering and he refused. ( I don't blame him for this; I know it's policy). We have also asked the crew on sailling if she could be excused once she's reported and each time we were denied. Then it's so much fun trying to get an elevator after the drill. Able bodied people who could use the stairs run over her like she's not there so we don't even try; for 20 minutes we wait in a lounge. As for people who post of the importance of these drills, I can only say my mother would have no idea where to go or what to do in an emergency so the drill is of no value to her. Since she is with one of us 24/7, it does not concern us. One of us would be with her and would see that she got to the proper station. Before she was in a wheelchair, I thought of muster as a necessary pain. Now I see it as a nightmare that we have to get through. Good luck with a tough situation.

[cusyl]

Rainbowdayz, you might want to try a Princess cruise with your mother. They muster inside the ship in public rooms near where your lifeboat would be. In the event of an emergency the crew would lead you from that spot to your lifeboard. For the elderly and infirmed, this is much easier than for the other cruise lines that make you muster outside in the sun and humidity.

[Rainbowdayz]

Rainbowdayz, you might want to try a Princess cruise with your mother. They muster inside the ship in public rooms near where your lifeboat would be. In the event of an emergency the crew would lead you from that spot to your lifeboard. For the elderly and infirmed, this is much easier than for the other cruise lines that make you muster outside in the sun and humidity.

 

It's been a few years since we sailed with Princess and mother was not in a wheelchair. We love the line though and would sail with them again, especially if they make muster less taxing. There's no reason IMO that the procedure has to be so unpleasant for the disabled. My mother comes away from those drills feeling like a non-person and I resent reading the preachy responses of those who tell us of the drills importance. I fully understand that. I also understand it will be a family member assisting my mother should the need arise. The disorganization and ineptness makes me wonder if anyone could really survive a true disaster.:rolleyes:

[Cats' slave]

If I sounded preachy, I'm sorry. I hate muster drills so much, mainly because I arrive early and get put near the back. With the life jacket on, I'm usually sweltering. I have to keep reminding myself of the drill's importance.

 

On our last cruise, I missed the announcement about the crew's mid-week drill. When I heard the horns go off, I counted them and I thought it was the real thing. I was in our room so I grabbed one life vest and tried to reach a second one which my husband had put up high in the closet. I couldn't pull it out. I felt kind of frantic, but I remembered there were vests stored near the life boats.

 

The minute I stepped out of our stateroom a crew member saw me and said it was only a drill. What a relief!