Muster Drill - siren?

[bumbershoot]

Do you HAVE to attend the muster drill on DCL? On other lines we haven't.

Yes you do.

What lines have you been taking where you don't have to go to the muster drill? I will be avoiding those lines.

But it is crowded and noisy up at the muster stations.

YES. Unless you happen to be assigned to the theater (that was nice) you are packed together and it's noisy.


We prefer to treat it as practice for an emergency, so we do NOT go to the stations until the alarms have sounded. To those who have been there since before the alarms (b/c you would totally know 15 minutes before an emergency happened?) that seems like we're arriving late, but we're following the concept of it, to prepare for emergency.

Either way it's noisy and crowded and loud.

 

[Bree]

Yes you do.

What lines have you been taking where you don't have to go to the muster drill? I will be avoiding those lines.

Royal Caribbean offers an alternate location for guests with mobility and other special needs. It's usually located inside a conference room or lounge. You need to go to guest services immediately upon embarking and tell them you need the alternate location and they will give you the details.

 

[Bishoparc]

and after 16 DCL cruises, you would think that I would remember if they sounded the alarm again while at the muster station - I don't think that they do.

You are correct. They make several announcements up until the time of the drill and then there is one final announcement that says "at the end of this announcement the alarm will sound". Following the spanish version of the announcement the alarm sounds.

For our first cruise we waited until the alarm sounded to get to our station. This last one we went down a few minutes early. The last cruise they had the emergency lights on and the staff that is providing you directions in place about 15 minutes early but as previously discussed you don't want to head there extremely early otherwise you miss the lighting and crew that would be there for an actual emergency. (Please keep in mind this may not be true for every cruise, just personal experience.)

As a PP mentioned, you definitely aren't going to be considered late if you wait till the alarm goes off. Just a suggestion for the OP due to her child's needs.

One thing I do suggest is to review the map on the back of your stateroom door. It tells you your muster station letter and also shows all the stairs. Keep in mind in the event of an emergency the crew staircases have signs on them that you can use if they are closer in the event of an emergency.

When you board a newer version of the video below will be playing in your stateroom but this will give you an idea of what to expect.

Sorry if I was long winded in this post, just wanted to provide you with information you will hopefully find helpful.

 

[Starwind]

Another suggestion that may help, to at least cut down on the stress part, is to arrive at your muster station earlier than the official drill time. While you can't leave the drill early, you can at least check-in earlier rather than waiting till the alarm sounds to head down. We usually try to get there about 15 minutes early.

Hope the suggestions help and that you have a wonderful cruise.

On our last 2 cruises (B2B on the Dream) we were up at our stateroom when the made the initial "warning" accouncement that the muster drill was going to start in X minutes and would involve loud noises. Shortly after we happened to head out into the hall and noticed that the emergency exit doors had been opened and were staffed with the "traffic directors". We asked if it was ok if we went down now and were told yes, so we did. Made it almost all the way to the muster point (ours was one of the theatres) before the alarms started. The second cruise we did the same using a different exit pathway -- I figured it was good to know how to get to the muster point using multiple routes

For the OP: I, as an adult, find the alarms physically painful. So I cover my ears with my hands when they are on (which on stairs is not a bright idea, but since i always forget earplugs is the only option for me; i just go slowly and carefully; next cruise I WILL bring the darn earplugs!!). For someone who is sensitive I would recommend earplugs or something similar which can dampen the noise but still allow you to hear directions.

A good thing with DCL is that they give LOTS of warning via overhead announcements that the drill is going to start and that there will be lound noises. This gives you time to prepare (e.g. gather what you are going to bring with you (e.g. essential meds) and do things like put in earplugs. And it means the alarms should not be a surprise when they start -- you know they are coming and when.

As for attending the muster drill, it is mandatory and they will track you down if you do not attend. i don't know what HAPPENS if you don't attend, but they know who doesn't and do something about it (presumably make you attend a "make-up" session).

SW

 

[Starwind]

We prefer to treat it as practice for an emergency, so we do NOT go to the stations until the alarms have sounded. To those who have been there since before the alarms (b/c you would totally know 15 minutes before an emergency happened?) that seems like we're arriving late, but we're following the concept of it, to prepare for emergency.

Either way it's noisy and crowded and loud.

I also treat the drill as practice for an emergency, and we use the emergency exits (crew stairwells) instead of the normal stairwells for that reason: if there was a real emergency those are the likely stairwells we would be using and i want to be familiar with them. e.g. from our stateroom on deck 9 foward on the dream there were two main routes to take -- one of them did this whole jog where you went out onto the outside deck of deck 4 *then came back inside* to get to the theatre. it was actually rather confusing, but I would much rather be confused and learn the route in a simulated drill than have to face it for the first time in a real situation when one is stressed (understanding the real situation is extremely unlikely). the second pathway is more straightforward but people bunch up at one point where the route becomes narrowed right before the theatre -- also good info to know in advance of a real emergency.

on our last cruise we headed down a bit early because the emergency exits were already open and manned by crew traffic directors and when we asked they said it was ok to go down; so we got to walk the route without the alarm noise most of the way (they did start while we were hearding there) and without as many people around. I felt it struck a good balance.

SW

 

[MaleficentRN]

After everyone is at the muster station, there is an ample announcement that the alarm will sound. My DS, who has a noise sensitivity, was fine with just holding his fingers in his ears during the alarm. This is a kid who has yet to view fireworks. Show your DS the video beforehand so he knows how it will sound and tell him he can block out with fingers in his ears. Earmuffs will not work.

 

[darnheather]

I got these for my daughter for our Disney trip. It was a life saver. http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-Jun...94090&sr=8-2&keywords=ear+protection+for+kids

 

[lbus42]

Do you HAVE to attend the muster drill on DCL? On other lines we haven't.

Plus if you don't attend the muster drill, you will not know what to do or where to go in case of an emergency. If there is an emergency, the other people in your lifeboat will have to wait for the crew to find you, endangering their lives.

 

[JavArmy]

Thanks for bringing up this issue. It's something I wouldn't have thought about with our first cruise and now I'm able to prepare my son for it

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Do you HAVE to attend the muster drill on DCL? On other lines we haven't.

By international law, Solas and IMO regulations everyone has to go to the Muster drills, and pay atention to the information being given out.

Those instructions are very important to show you what you need to do in a emergency. Please note these instruction are updated and may not be the same as the last drill you may have gone to.

All lines, all vessels. I WILL JOIN Bumbershoot and ask what lines you did not have to go to the Muster drill, as I will report this to the Coast Guard.

Please check you have the life vests in your cabin and they are the right sizes. TRY them on and connect the straps.you maybe surprised that your cabin has the right number of life vests, but not the right sizes , especailly for kids.. If you need one just ask the cabin steward.


This is for you, your family and fellow passingers protection.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Were the other cruises where you didn't before the Costa Concordia incident? Since then cruise lines are requiring everyone to attend before the ship departs. Although, I've read that Princess doesn't require B2B people to attend on their second leg. Don't know if that's true.

I do know that Holland America has put people ashore who refused to attend the muster drill since the crack down on attendance.

Hi Shmoo,

Before the Concordia, the rules were more confusing, but the general rule of thumb was that you did not have to attend Muster Drill within 24 hours of sailing, but you had to within 1 week. That was to acommidiate cruises where people got in and off at various ports.

On my cargo ships and tankers we had a .muster and fire drill each week.

AKK

 

[OKW Lover]

I'll add my voice to the suggestions that the OP head to their muster stations before the alarms sound. Those alarms are very loud and you will be walking right past some of them in the passageways. Getting to the muster station before the alarm sounds at least saves you from that stress.

and you are "supposed" to be in your room at the beginning of the drill - they make the announcement and then sound the alarms

Not sure why you would think we are supposed to be in the room at the beginning of the drill.

 

[jrabbit]

....

Not sure why you would think we are supposed to be in the room at the beginning of the drill.

well because in case of an actual emergency, they ask you to return to your room and gather necessary meds, put on comfortable, warm clothes and reasonable shoes. And in THEN head to the muster stations. Some / many people will take alternate routes to their station vs. aft, mid, forward stairways. I know that on our very first cruise, I was looking for some of the stairways down to deck 4, never found them until our second cruise - during the emergency drill.

and besides, we are unpacking for our cruise, so we have to be in the room!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I thought after Concordia there were no more cruise lines that didn't have a muster drill or exempted passengers from attending the muster drill.

As far as I know you're not required to be in your room for the drill to start but you ARE supposed to know where your muster station is and how to get there. Think about it, should something occur that requires the passengers to muster, you are not necessarily going to be in your room. If you don't know where it is, there is a chart on the back of your stateroom door that will show you where it is. There will also be crew members stationed at doorways to show you the route.

Whether or not you will actually be able to return to your room in case of emergency has yet to be seen, and they do say that life vests will also be provided on deck if you don't make it to your room to get one. What you do have to know is where your station is, and where it is relative to your room.

 

[OKW Lover]

well because in case of an actual emergency, they ask you to return to your room and gather necessary meds, put on comfortable, warm clothes and reasonable shoes. And in THEN head to the muster stations. Some / many people will take alternate routes to their station vs. aft, mid, forward stairways. I know that on our very first cruise, I was looking for some of the stairways down to deck 4, never found them until our second cruise - during the emergency drill.

and besides, we are unpacking for our cruise, so we have to be in the room!!

We found that those alternative routes were already open when we headed to the muster station 15 minutes before hand.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I thought after Concordia there were no more cruise lines that didn't have a muster drill or exempted passengers from attending the muster drill.

Whether or not you will actually be able to return to your room in case of emergency has yet to be seen, and they do say that life vests will also be provided on deck if you don't make it to your room to get one. What you do have to know is where your station is, and where it is relative to your room.

True. It's quite possible that during an emergency your room will be underwater, making it impossible to return there. That's why the ships have extra life vests on deck.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

In case of a fire, certain areas might also be blocked, which could also prevent access to staterooms.

 

[lilclerk]

We shall see. I'll be on again on 4/29. Will let you know how it goes.

Totally off topic, but get outta town. We were originally booked on the 1/29 Dream cruise this year, and pushed it back to the 4/29 Dream cruise. You were/are going on both of those dates? That's hilarious.

 

[Bishoparc]

Totally off topic, but get outta town. We were originally booked on the 1/29 Dream cruise this year, and pushed it back to the 4/29 Dream cruise. You were/are going on both of those dates? That's hilarious.

Holy cow that is crazy!! Look us up, we're in 9602 on this one.

 

[Starwind]

True. It's quite possible that during an emergency your room will be underwater, making it impossible to return there. That's why the ships have extra life vests on deck.

I figure if my deck 9 room (or the deck 5 room we had for our first 2 cruises) is underwater then i waited way too long to get off the ship... or something exceptionally strange happened (e.g. some kind of rogue wave toppling the ship)... either way at that point getting to a muster station would probably be a moot point ....

A fire or some kind of damage blocking access to the room is probably more likely (but still very unlikely).

One day on our most recent cruise I spent some time wandering deck 4 and actually reading the signage... it was actually quite fascinating and I learned how they normally launch the white barrel-like life rafts (there are written and picture instructions on them and on signage near them and you can stand in front of the protective railing and easily read both) -- not what I thought ! Also, if one pays attention one can see where the lots and lots of lifejackets are stored and even do the math if one wants for how many are visibly/publically stored. e.g. those nice benches placed every so often on the deck 4 outside deck ? if you look closely there is a little sign on them telling you how many adult and child life jackets are inside under the seat.

SW