Will the muster drill process ever change?

[CMontheseas]

This is what crew deal with on a regular basis

 

[tvguy]

Management explained to us that since DCL voyages are mostly comprised of first time cruisers moreso than with the other cruise lines, it was important to have that physical experience of gathering families together in these spaces especially for us to be able to observe the people we have and see ahead of time who we can count on to follow instructions when needed, and the ones who might need extra assistance, or even those who might grumble and be a bigger problem in the event of a real emergency.

I thought Disney has the highest percentage of repeat cruisers of any cruise line? But, they also seem to carry more children, and those in person life boat drills are important for that reason IMHO.

 

[Karin1984]

I thought Disney has the highest percentage of repeat cruisers of any cruise line? But, they also seem to carry more children, and those in person life boat drills are important for that reason IMHO.

We do not know which cruiseline has the most kids on board. Disney profiles themselves as the family friendly cruiseline, but that doesn't equal that there are more kids on board than Royal or Norwegian on an average cruise. Figures on demographics per cruiseline are not published (at least I could not find them, annual reports don't seem to give these details)

Same with first time or repeat cruisers, there are not really figures out in the open about DCL or other cruiselines.

I understand that CMs have to explain it with "Management says", but that doesn't have to be the same as the actual reason. I've worked for a major airline and there was a difference on why certain corporate decisions were made and what we told passengers.

 

[JLTraveling]

Thank you for this info. I always look around "my" lifeboat group to see who's paying attention.

And who the helpers might be. My dad and I are both the personality type to help guide members of our group to the right spot if there was a real emergency. But it's also useful for us to look around and see who else we might be able to count on in such a scenario.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Here is one thing that might be part of the reason why when they say its due to staffing. We did Royal Carribean in June with my daughters dance studio and they got to take a class with two of ships performers. The performers were talking about there daily schedule and others duties. Royals performers essentially work alot less then on DIsney. Its primarily the performers that are stationed around the ship at the muster stations to check people (everyone, not one per room) that they completed the muster drill. Disney uses people from all areas of the ships for theres so they can't just be stationed for 4 hours around the ship since they need them to be doing there main job then.

 

[Karin1984]

Here is one thing that might be part of the reason why when they say its due to staffing. We did Royal Carribean in June with my daughters dance studio and they got to take a class with two of ships performers. The performers were talking about there daily schedule and others duties. Royals performers essentially work alot less then on DIsney. Its primarily the performers that are stationed around the ship at the muster stations to check people (everyone, not one per room) that they completed the muster drill. Disney uses people from all areas of the ships for theres so they can't just be stationed for 4 hours around the ship since they need them to be doing there main job then.

I saw a cruise performer on her social media telling her about her duties on day 1 of the cruise, the muster drill. Not sure if she was performing on Royal as well.

Disney probably cannot use performers for their muster drill with in person drills, as the sailing away party almost immediately follows the drill. With the time they need to prepare for the show there is no time to use the performers for an in person drill.

If they did do an e-drill the performers could help out for the first few hours, 11-2 and then have 2 hours to prepare for the sail away.

But I am sure I am oversimplifying this

 

[Kwami]

I saw a cruise performer on her social media telling her about her duties on day 1 of the cruise, the muster drill. Not sure if she was performing on Royal as well.

Disney probably cannot use performers for their muster drill with in person drills, as the sailing away party almost immediately follows the drill. With the time they need to prepare for the show there is no time to use the performers for an in person drill.

If they did do an e-drill the performers could help out for the first few hours, 11-2 and then have 2 hours to prepare for the sail away.

But I am sure I am oversimplifying this

The sail away party only involves a few performers, though. The theater crew, the princesses, and the rest of the characters aren't involved.

 

[happycamper47]

Disney probably cannot use performers for their muster drill with in person drills, as the sailing away party almost immediately follows the drill. With the time they need to prepare for the show there is no time to use the performers for an in person drill.

Yes they do. We've talked to several CM's who were team leaders and they were performers.

 

[Mags2002]

The sail away party only involves a few performers, though. The theater crew, the princesses, and the rest of the characters aren't involved.

It depends on their contract. I was friends with a Princess and also a dancer in shows including Sail-a-Wave.
The Cast are definitely involved in drill

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

It depends on their contract. I was friends with a Princess and also a dancer in shows including Sail-a-Wave.
The Cast are definitely involved in drill

But there is a difference in a 1 hour drill vs being stationed somewhere for 4-5 hours .

 

[Mags2002]

But there is a difference in a 1 hour drill vs being stationed somewhere for 4-5 hours .

Of course there is. The time wasn’t in question, it was whether the Cast (on DCL) were involved and the answer is yes they are

 

[ladyofthetramp]

The muster doesn't bother me. Just go, pay attention. Then it is done. Go have fun.

 

[EveV]

This is what crew deal with on a regular basis

Yes. I feel for all crew/CM's through moments like this. Interestingly, it costs more money to perform in-person muster vs virtual. What Safe-D knows from training and learning across groups, especially, is that physical presence is important for initial and continued imprint. I'm so guilty of resisting initially too and my brain reflexively wants to say, "Oh, you've done this so many times", but during a real event/crisis, panic can set in. I always try to recall my landmarks on the way to muster station too, which in-person muster allows for. Maybe it's just the act of getting older that we appreciate safety and due diligence, even if the company enforcing it have a financial vested interest. Many of us do listen and appreciate what you do, seen and unseen, to make things safe and fun for the guests! Sending a virtual"Grape Soda"

 

[pachy25]

Yup, between things like this and the kids club age change I am losing interest in sailing with them .

Buh bye!

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Buh bye!

Okay, we all have our limit of what we can tolerate. The drill whatever but the kids club has caused us to cancel our next cruise.

 

[Cheburashka]

it costs more money to perform in-person muster vs virtual

That isn't necessarily true. With virtual muster, they have to station a lot of crew members around the ship to man every single muster location for about four hours, as well as provide related tech support to passengers. With in-person muster, more crew members are needed, but for a much shorter time, probably about one hour total of their time on a typical cruise.

 

[EveV]

That isn't necessarily true. With virtual muster, they have to station a lot of crew members around the ship to man every single muster location for about four hours, as well as provide related tech support to passengers. With in-person muster, more crew members are needed, but for a much shorter time, probably about one hour total of their time on a typical cruise.

While not necessarily true, I would also consider the bar closings (lost revenue). In addition, with in-person muster, often 5+ crew members are present to corral folks and assist with the briefing for each station. Virtual muster required one CM, however I concede at times we saw two. Interestingly, the crew/CM's spent a ton of time (not during muster) drilling for these events through various scenarios. I think they should do a info session on that-- it's crazy to think of all the things they prep for!

 

[Kwami]

While not necessarily true, I would also consider the bar closings (lost revenue). In addition, with in-person muster, often 5+ crew members are present to corral folks and assist with the briefing for each station. Virtual muster required one CM, however I concede at times we saw two. Interestingly, the crew/CM's spent a ton of time (not during muster) drilling for these events through various scenarios. I think they should do a info session on that-- it's crazy to think of all the things they prep for!

The bars and everything else closed when DCL had virtual drills, too. They still stopped everything for about a half hour to make announcements, blast the horn, and make everyone watch a video on the nearest screen.

And I've never seen 5+ crew members at a muster station. I rarely see more than two. The only time I saw more was when our muster station was in one of the restaurants, but that's because there were multiple muster stations in the same restaurant and the crew was gathered together in the middle.

 

[tvguy]

it costs more money to perform in-person muster vs virtual.

Not sure why there were be any cost difference. They don't bring on additional staff just for the muster drill. As has been noted, often the staff manning the muster stations are part of the entertainment staff etc. Everyone is on salary and already on the ship for the duration of the cruise. So someone having to staff a muster drill just get an added duty, so it costs nothing.

 

[CMontheseas]

Not sure why there were be any cost difference. They don't bring on additional staff just for the muster drill. As has been noted, often the staff manning the muster stations are part of the entertainment staff etc. Everyone is on salary and already on the ship for the duration of the cruise. So someone having to staff a muster drill just get an added duty, so it costs nothing.

This is accurate. Any additional duties or hours spent relating to safety do not mean any additional pay for those hours. As a Station leader we might randomly get pulled for an extra 2-3 hours on top of an 11-hour work day and there’s nothing we can do about it since “overtime” hours aren’t a thing on board.

During Virtual Muster nothing was supposed to be open at all as mandated by the US Coast Guard. (If you noticed bars or services still operating after the Muster Drill has officially commenced, that’s probably why we were hit so badly during Coast Guard inspection.)

Every station has to have several crew assigned to it and always more than two. These duties include:
-Station Leader
-Assistant Leader
-Station Sign Holder
-PDA Scanner
-Runners
-Lifejacket Demonstration
-Crowd Control/Exit Doors

It varies between stations but generally there’s 2-3 from Entertainment, 2-3 F&B and maybe one each of Spa, Guest Services, Merch, etc. (Housekeeping teams are usually at Lifejacket distribution and crowd control/stateroom runners). We all have to have backups for each of our positions in case any of us don’t make it in an emergency.