When does DCL technology work?

[Mommb]

I also think DCL might have a higher number of kids on board not necessarily with their parents and but also not in the kids club, and in person one is probably better for kids to learn where to go.

This. Also, I would think that DCL has a greater number of young children than other cruise lines. Navigating with young kids in a crowded area, and keeping kids occupied while listening to directions, is much more difficult than going to the muster site when convenient. It's important for guests and crew to know what will be particularly difficult in the event of an emergency and who might need extra help.

It's also important to see the passages that will be used during an emergency that aren't normally open -- several of my "optimal paths to muster station" have gone through crew areas that are accessible to guests only when staffed by crew members and wouldn't be open if guests had a period of several hours to go to their stations. DCL can station people all along the paths because there is almost nothing else happening around the ship during the muster -- no food service, no entertainment, no room servicing.

 

[Flossbolna]

Now...perhaps a compromise for DCL would be to have to go to your cabin to get a check-in card for your muster station or something so they know you went to your cabin and know how to get there.

Most people don’t know that they are supposed to go from their stateroom. They are hanging out on ship somewhere and rush to their muster station from there.

 

[RedHead0186]

Most people don’t know that they are supposed to go from their stateroom. They are hanging out on ship somewhere and rush to their muster station from there.

To be fair, you can do that now with the in person muster. If you're not in your stateroom right before muster, you can go from wherever you are on the ship.

 

[OKW Lover]

I don’t see why DCL can’t flag your account that you’ve done an in person muster in the last 12 months and then you can skip that one by scanning a QR code at the station.

What if you're on a different DCL ship?

 

[brentm77]

What if you're on a different DCL ship?

Does it really vary from ship to ship? If you are scanning the QR code at the station, you are seeing where to muster. What else is different?

In any case, they could have you watch a short video in the app that is specific to the ship and certify that all have watched in in your family, like other lines. I know, people can lie, but if they don't take their safety seriously, will it make a difference if they are standing in the sun not paying attention either?

 

[DCL58]

Bottom line, people should take responsibility for themselves - making sure THEY are comfortable knowing where their muster station is, knowing how to get there from their stateroom OR other places on the ship. In the unlikely event of an actual emergency, everyone has to get their own their own.

Everyone shouldn’t have to stand in the hot sun for muster drill because others don’t feel comfortable with the online version. Some of us cruise so much that we could lead the muster drill - there is a reason the spiel says you have to attend no matter how many cruises you have been on.

 

[RedHead0186]

Bottom line, people should take responsibility for themselves - making sure THEY are comfortable knowing where their muster station is, knowing how to get there from their stateroom OR other places on the ship. In the unlikely case of an actual emergency, everyone has to get their own their own.

Everyone shouldn’t have to stand in the hot sun for muster drill because others don’t feel comfortable with the online version. Some of us cruise so much that we could lead the muster drill - there is a reason the spiel says you have to attend no matter how many cruises you have been on.

I hear what you're saying. BUT, in the case of an emergency, someone not knowing what to do/where to go could cost precious seconds and cost someone their lives (their own or someone else's). Someone who doesn't know how to get to their muster station could unnecessarily clog up corridors, wandering around. Or take up cast member time asking questions. Or not taking things they're supposed to/taking things they're not supposed to.

A good example of this is the recent airline emergencies-how many times in those evacuations have we seen people taking their carry-on bags off with them (even though they're explicitly told not to in the safety demonstration). Thankfully in those instances it was okay, but in a different scenario someone stopping to grab their stuff could mean someone else doesn't make it out in time. And clearly lots of people either don't care enough to pay attention or don't care enough to follow directions.

If it truly was every person for themselves, then I'd agree with you. But in a true emergency we would really need everyone to be as prepared as possible, because one person being clueless/unprepared could cost the life of someone else.

 

[sponica]

Does it really vary from ship to ship? If you are scanning the QR code at the station, you are seeing where to muster. What else is different?

In any case, they could have you watch a short video in the app that is specific to the ship and certify that all have watched in in your family, like other lines. I know, people can lie, but if they don't take their safety seriously, will it make a difference if they are standing in the sun not paying attention either?

I won't lie, I book my stateroom intentionally in places with an internal muster location....so no standing in the hot sun. Maybe that's why I'm unbothered by the in person muster. Probably takes me longer waiting for them to open the actual muster location, than the actual muster itself)

 

[tvguy]

We just returned from the Dream yesterday. The technology at the cruise port wasn't working so everyone was re-entering their profile information causing some folks with later PATs to be delayed several hours from boarding. I had to ask the person what does our return flight information have to do with us boarding the ship? In other words, sure it's part of our complete profile we entered back home and it is asking you again for the information but for now, press skip and let's get people through the line to board the ship!

Activation of our MagicBands did not work either which has also been par for the course.

What have others experienced in regards to simple things not working that should? Oh and why can't Disney use video technology like other cruise lines for muster instead or parading everyone outside to stand in line...I guess we know the answer to that question, because their technology is unreliable at best!

I am going to take my first Princess cruise later this year and I guess their version of the Disney Magic Band, the Medallion system, is pretty impressive but it is not perfect. Someone yesterday was complaining that they were having to give their Stateroom number at bars to get drinks. Well, apparently the system was reading the Medallions of EVERYONE within a certain distance of the bar and the bartender needed your stateroom information to pull up the right account. And with their system, your picture pops up on the Medallion readers, and a few solo female passengers are uncomfortable when they realize that every time they walk past a reader, their picture, name and stateroom number pops up, even if they are not getting a drink from the bar, or entering the dining room or other service that the reader is outside of. All in public view.