Cruise Muster Station and Muster Drill: What Are They?

Table Of Content

• The 1-item upgrade you need for a better cruise ship cabin experience (it’s already in your house)
• Are Muster Drills Mandatory?
• Practice the Use of Life Jackets
• What Can You Expect During a Cruise Ship Muster Drill?
• Why You Should Always Use the Safe in Your Cruise Ship Cabin, Even if You Never Lock it
• Is The Muster Drill on a Cruise Mandatory or Optional?

Families will have more time to enjoy their vacation and explore the ship without interruption. If you cruise with Costa or MSC around the Mediterranean you will notice that guests can embark and disembark at any port. Guests then only need to visit their assigned Muster Station once aboard, so that they know where to find it in case of a real emergency.

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Although mega-ships seem pretty unsinkable, we've heard that before, and a shivering Leo did, too. Amidst all the excitement of embarkation day, you will have to complete the required safety drill. It must be done before sail away, so you will still be able to sip on a drink while watching the shore disappear into the horizon. After the emergency signal has been tested and demonstrated, a crew member assigned to a particular muster station will take attendance to ensure that all relevant passengers and crew members are present.

Are Muster Drills Mandatory?

Each passenger will be marked off a list when they have attended the Muster Station, to prove they have taken part. A Muster Drill will happen on every cruise in some form or another. It is important that you attend and are prepared for what is going to happen. The majority of cruise lines have made changes to the Muster process in the last few years. You will not be able to simply press play and ignore the e-muster drill, as many will have prompts you will need to click in order to acknowledge that you have understood the instructions.

Practice the Use of Life Jackets

Overall, however, cruise lines have done a splendid job of rethinking how passengers muster safely prior to the start of each voyage. Digital mustering allows passengers to more easily complete safety formalities, and does so in a way that is, overall, quick and efficient for today's megaships. That echoes passengers we spoke to on our Princess sailing, who remained unsure about the other rules of the ship -- including where smoking was and wasn't allowed onboard. Old-school muster drills were many things, but they all hammered home the importance of being fire-safe onboard. In January, Norwegian reverted back to traditional muster drills; however, after receiving feedback from guests, they announced that all ships would return to the e-muster drill format by the first of April.

In these drills, experienced crew members show what to do during emergencies. These are particular areas where everyone meets before an evacuation. The importance of muster drills is huge; it prepares passengers for emergencies. Knowing what to expect during the muster drill is critical for everyone on the cruise. The drill shows everyone where to go and what to do if there’s a danger. Muster drills differ from cruise line to cruise line, but they're fundamentally drills to show passengers what to do if they need to abandon ship.

Regarding fully in-person drills, some lines conduct a version where everything is done in real-time. Others gather everyone to watch a video in the same place simultaneously. Princess Cruises offers seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries calling at Princess Cays, the line’s Bahamian Island, departing from Fort Lauderdale. In addition to the Bahamas, passengers get to see either Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; and Falmouth, Jamaica, or St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts. You can also opt for an east/west grand tour if you have 14 days to spare. On the 3,560-passenger ship, there’s an elaborate piazza with roving street performers, a cocktail bar and club for the adults, a theater, casino, pools, sports courts, and more.

Is The Muster Drill on a Cruise Mandatory or Optional?

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Staff members scan keycards to check passengers in, and the process is complete. A muster drill is an important part of any cruise, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew members in the event of an emergency. These safety drills are a mandatory event for every cruise ship on the sea, so you will likely be familiar with them if you are a veteran cruiser. But if you are a first time cruiser, rest assured that these are a simple and standard part of every voyage, and not something to be intimidated by.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) also regulates how long it can take for a ship to be evacuated (30 mins) and other related safety factors. It doesn't matter how many times you've cruised, even on the same ship, all guests and crew are required to attend muster. If you miss muster, perhaps because of a late arrival, a medical incident, etc, a separate drill will be conducted just for your party. In cases where lines continue to conduct e-muster drills, passengers must report to their designated muster stations to check in with crew members waiting there. Some will conduct a life jacket demonstration in person; others will verify that you've watched any required instructional videos. All will either scan your keycard or take down your name or cabin number to confirm you've done your due diligence.

Understanding muster stations and their role is vital for passengers. When everyone works together during these drills, the ship is safer. It also builds trust in the emergency processes and the crew’s guidance. The evolution of safety procedures shows the cruise industry’s focus on improving emergency readiness and valuing the passenger experience. Whether through traditional or electronic drills, the aim is precise. They want everyone ready to react swiftly and wisely if an emergency happens.

If you are in the Caribbean or anywhere else particularly sunny and hot for that matter, and you are attending a muster drill, ensure you’ve covered yourself in suncream. This is because you will likely need to stand in the same location for a good minutes so take caution. Taking place before the ship sails, the drill lets guests familiarise themselves with where to assemble in the (unlikely) event of an emergency. You’ve queued through Embarkation Day, unpacked your bags and now you’re ready to get your holiday well and truly going. Before you go bombing into the pool, there’s the small matter of the muster drill to deal with first. Muster stations help people get to their lifeboats in an orderly way.

With everyone gathered, you’ll then be walked through the process for safe evacuation should an emergency take place. It also gives guests a chance to familiarise themselves with their surroundings and the routes to the ship’s lifeboats. Drills and clear signs for muster stations help people know what to do. Gathering at muster stations helps the crew count everyone and speeds up rescue efforts. If you don't participate in the muster drill at the appropriate time, the cruise won't throw you in the brig, but if you're really defiant about the process for some reason, you could find yourself marooned.

Given the current or recent pandemic (depending on when you read this!) Royal Caribbean have announced an electronic muster drill called Muster 2.0. Then, everyone heads to their muster stations for more details on what to do in an emergency. Inconsistency is the thing that's truly problematic at this point in time. Some lines give you a brief spiel on what to do at your muster station in an emergency, while others just zap you in and usher you out the door. We're pretty sure there's a happy-medium between lots of information and none at all. The muster, or lifeboat, drill has been a staple of ocean voyages for over a century, required by the international maritime treaty known as SOLAS, or Safety of Life at Sea.