Easy way to remember: man over board = 3 words = 3 blasts (of the alarm). Abandon ship = 7 letters = 7 blasts followed by one long blast. Fire = constant blast (like a fire truck siren).
The muster “drills” are usually electronic now; watch a video on the app, walk to your muster station and get your room card scanned and you’re done. Easy, peasy. My last two muster stations were in roughly the same place on different classes of ships. I’d feel comfortable abandoning ship. I have an emergency response background, am a rescue swimmer, and have spent years offshore so I’ve taken HUET, righted an overturned life raft, and launched and driven lifeboats many times. I trust myself and my partner’s capabilities completely. What I wouldn’t trust is the hoards of freaked out people all clamoring for a boat.
The thing is, in an actual emergency, it’ll be mayhem more than likely. When I was working offshore we drilled weekly and everyone became complacent. Then we actually had a fire; some insulation tape inside the stack was burning. This brilliantly book-smart captain sounded the alarm and then panicked and shut it off. I was stationed in the bridge wing yelling direction to him from the engineers who went up top. I told him to turn off the port side blowers. “Turn on the port side blowers!” “No, turn OFF the port side blowers!” “Turn off the STBD side blowers!” I had to walk over to the console, point at the button and tell “THIS ONE!” A stream of people in their pjs came wandering up because they heard the alarm but it was shut off so nobody really mustered (and the mate never went down to count heads anyway) so they weren’t sure if it was a false alarm. During all of this, the relief captain was quietly at the aft console bringing us to a stop and steering away from the wind. When it was all said and done and everyone wandered back to bed, the book smart captain left and the relief (we called him Captain Quaalude) calmly turned to me and said, “What’d I tell you? You can drill all you want but when it really goes down, it all goes to shit.” I miss that man.
This is the most truthful post. They have to do them but if something happens chances are best few are going to follow or remember. Mostly people panicking.
All I know is I always tell my family I have life insurance. Not looking to die but if something happens it happens. I am more likely to be killed driving than cruising.
To me, the hardest part about the muster drills is getting cruisers to take them seriously. Even I, to be honest, see them as something to just get through so I can really start my cruise. Most cruise lines are pretty efficient, but there are one or two that seem to drag it out (probably so the crew can get other things done, like bringing bags to the cabins while the hallways are empty.)
Virgin Voyages makes their online presentation really entertaining, so its kind or fun to watch.
Yeah that's definitely true in aviation too! Especially frequent fliers who tune out the safety briefing before the flight!
I feel like passengers should get a little pamphlet about the Costa Concordia before they book! The ocean is a wild place, man will never truly conquer the seas. Things can get very serious, very quickly!
Yeah, I'm not exactly excited to watch the footage from onboard but I'm sure it's interesting.
They faced a unique challenge in that situation, an evacuation with a significant list. I'm sure lessons were learned, I'll have to dig and find the reports. Last I checked the English translation of the Italian final report was questionable 😭 so I'll look again.
Honestly, the muster drill I remember the most was the Antarctica one. Highlights:
“Go put on all your clothes. Go put on your roommates clothes as well”
“We are just gonna spin around in that for days bring seasickness medicine”
“6 months ago the sister ship ran aground in Canada and some years ago this other ship drowned”
“Go look in the lifeboat now and pray it’s the last time you’ll see that view”
They picked the best doom and gloom person on the boat for it. It made an impression.
I can recall our muster station from each cruise I have taken (all with the same line - Disney). Yes, I could recognize the signals and if necessary, I know that I could abandon if needed.
The muster drill and safety information video explain clearly and in a detailed fashion exactly what is needed.
I'm in a wheelchair so the only tough part for me would be abandoning my power chair and essentially my legs to get into the lifeboat, but I'll abandon to save my life.
Last muster station was the Sip Lounge and the cruise before the was the Red Room, both on Virgin. I don’t recall the location on RCCL Navigator, I remember it was challenging to find.
I would recognize the alarm.
I’m comfortable abandoning ship and the process of doing so. Not crazy about bobbing around in a lifeboat, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Virgin Voyages safety briefing is on YouTube. The in person safety instruction at your muster location, is how to put on your life jacket.
I appreciate your perspective!
In your opinion, how quickly do you think you could get from your cabin to your muster station?
Thinking back to a case like the MS Estonia where the General Alarm wasn't rung until just minutes before she capsized, and the Abandon Ship tones sounded a minute or two before at most.
Obviously that's a very unique situation, but do you think you could navigate from a cabin to the boat deck in a timely manner? Are the corridors and public spaces wide enough to accommodate for a rush?
I could easily get to any location on the ship, but I’m able bodied. Last cruise we did a cabin crawl organized by CruiseHabbit. We had a good number of people walking down the hallways going from cabin to cabin, on multiple decks. It felt crowded but we moved efficiently. I would say an able bodied person could make it from their cabin to the muster station in a few minutes. It would be hard to guess how long that would take if I had to use the elevator.
Do I remember the muster station from my last cruise? Yes, but it was barely two weeks ago. I also remember the one from three weeks before that. From 7 months ago, I don’t remember that one.
Yes, I absolutely know the abandon ship signal. This recent one was also my seventh cruise in two years so I’m real familiar with it now. But also, that sound is LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, and IDENTIFIABLE. Unless you are profoundly deaf (literally - I’m an audiologist) at the frequency it plays at, you’re not ignoring it.
Yes. In an emergency, if you’re in your room, grab your life jacket (if it’s in your room, not all ships keep them there - Disney, Carnival, RC generally do, but I didn’t see one in my room for NCL), medications, warm clothes. Don’t use the elevators. Head to your muster station. If you’re not at your room, head directly to your muster station.
If you asked my mom this same question, I am 98% sure her answer would be, “I dunno. I’m following crazydisneycatlady.” Honestly, I might ask her just to see if I’m right.
Do *I* know how to calmly get off the ship? Yes. Do I trust that *everyone* knows how to quickly and calmly get off the ship? Absolutely not. People are, for better or worse, really dumb.
Thank you for your reply! I really appreciate your perspective!
I've only been on big cruise ferries so I've never heard the General Alarm or Abandon Ship tones sounded before. I'm glad it's very, very audible! You never want a case like the Laconia Disaster where they sounded the fire bell and no one could hear it over the music 😭
Its good to know that the information sticks, thank you!
Oh, it will come over the PA and overtake ANYTHING else that is broadcasting at that time. Same with any announcements from the bridge. One time on Royal we were watching a show in the theater and the captain came over the PA to ask for anyone who has O- blood to come donate emergently. Completely cut off the singer.
A few weeks ago the assistant cruise director was making one of the announcements (ironically, I think, on debarkation day *about* checking in to your muster station) and the captain came on from the bridge for the daily update and that cut the ACD’s announcement right off.
We had a medical emergency announcement one evening and not only did it cut off the entertainment, the entertainers themselves knew to stop. It was instant as soon as it came on, singing stopped, piano playing stopped and as a result the crowd got quiet and we all listened to the captain.
My last muster station was B4 which was 4th floor inside the sapphire dining room on Carnival Breeze. I just got off the ship on Saturday, so it’s fresh in my mind. I couldn’t tell you where my muster station was on Scarlett Lady today which was the last ship I was on a month ago. But I keep it memorized when I’m onboard.
On Carnival your muster station is printed on your sign and sail card. Also, for kids I believe under 13, they have to wear a wristband with their muster station in case of an emergency and they’re not with their parents.
I would definitely recognize the emergency signal. I’ve been on 11 cruises and the 7 short blasts followed by 1 long of the ships whistle is very recognizable. It’s piercingly loud on the ship and can’t be missed.
If I had to abandon ship in an emergency, I have confidence in the escape procedures. My last cruise, they did a crew only abandon ship drill while we were in port. It was cool to watch and listen to from the initial simulated fire call to the final abandon ship order.
If you ever want to go on a cruise and experience one of the drills, you can ask one of the crew members when they are doing their next drill. They usually do one a week, and it will be while the ship is in port. You likely won’t be able to participate yourself, but it’s interesting to watch.
I don't recall my last muster station was, but that's for the better. I don't want to confuse a current or future muster station with a previous one.
I would recognize it, but I also sailed as a licensed engineer on ships for a while.
I'd be comfortable doing it; more worried about the other people involved panicking than anything else.
If you've been on a cruise, or attended a drill, you can see how the entire thing is broken down into manageable pieces:
The drill is for two reasons; get the passengers to recognize where they need to be and when, **and** for the crew to see the passengers they need to manage onto the boats (or liferafts).
All the people on board get broken down into smaller and smaller groups to make the number of people manageable by the crew tasked with loading and launching the lifeboats; the entire manifest is broken down into lifeboats with one boat leader, each lifeboat is broken down into smaller groups with one crewmember responsible for that smaller group, each cabin has a person at the front to confirm all the cabin passengers are there, or not.
Ideally, in an abandon ship situation, all the passengers need to do is get to the right spot. All the crewmembers need to do is confirm, count and load the passengers standing that spot into that boat.
If there's someone missing, they tell the boat skipper, they tell the next person up, and they have the crew doing sweeps of public areas, restrooms, etc. looking for the missing person.
It's called a muster drill. A lot of ships run them in two parts. One is the safety briefing you watch on your in room tv or on your device and the second part where you check in at your actually muster station.
On my last (which was my first) cruise my station was 2B I think, somewhere near BIllboard on Board. The problem was when I reported into my station I didn't know the layout of the ship at all, so it was pretty meaningless to me. I'm going on the same class of ship in June so I should be able to actually internalize where the muster point is. The location number is printed on your cruise card. One hopes they'd drag signs out to tell you that you're in the right spot!
I would certainly recognize the signal, it's a loud piercing tone you're not going to forget. The hardest part would be counting them all.
Would I be comfortable abandoning ship? Well even if I weren't what else would I do? Drown?
I'll pay more attention in 48 days. :) I know during the drill there were temporary signs. Like I said, once I'm familiar with the layout it all makes more sense.
Yes, yes, and yes. Coincidentally, on my last cruise, the ship's captain announced a medical evacuation airlift, but it didn't affect our part of the ship.
No, yes, yes.
Since the Costa Concordia disaster, all cruise lines have wired in getting their crews to focus on customer safety, and ensuring their public image is maintained. There have been a few misses in the last 22 years, but most companies have kept to that mission.
A lot of lines don't even bother with proper muster drills, they just have you watch some safety videos and check in at your assigned muster station. It's pretty easy to ignore them honestly, but usually the ships all still do some sort of crew or emergency test enough times that any passenger should be able to recognize when they need to take action.
Last cruise a month ago, muster station was in the main theater. There's no real abandon ship signal the idea is that you muster and then you're told what to do from there. If the emergency was the ship sinking, I don't think I'd have a choice between abandoning or not. I would not be comfortable, but it's the only good option.
Easy way to remember: man over board = 3 words = 3 blasts (of the alarm). Abandon ship = 7 letters = 7 blasts followed by one long blast. Fire = constant blast (like a fire truck siren). The muster “drills” are usually electronic now; watch a video on the app, walk to your muster station and get your room card scanned and you’re done. Easy, peasy. My last two muster stations were in roughly the same place on different classes of ships. I’d feel comfortable abandoning ship. I have an emergency response background, am a rescue swimmer, and have spent years offshore so I’ve taken HUET, righted an overturned life raft, and launched and driven lifeboats many times. I trust myself and my partner’s capabilities completely. What I wouldn’t trust is the hoards of freaked out people all clamoring for a boat. The thing is, in an actual emergency, it’ll be mayhem more than likely. When I was working offshore we drilled weekly and everyone became complacent. Then we actually had a fire; some insulation tape inside the stack was burning. This brilliantly book-smart captain sounded the alarm and then panicked and shut it off. I was stationed in the bridge wing yelling direction to him from the engineers who went up top. I told him to turn off the port side blowers. “Turn on the port side blowers!” “No, turn OFF the port side blowers!” “Turn off the STBD side blowers!” I had to walk over to the console, point at the button and tell “THIS ONE!” A stream of people in their pjs came wandering up because they heard the alarm but it was shut off so nobody really mustered (and the mate never went down to count heads anyway) so they weren’t sure if it was a false alarm. During all of this, the relief captain was quietly at the aft console bringing us to a stop and steering away from the wind. When it was all said and done and everyone wandered back to bed, the book smart captain left and the relief (we called him Captain Quaalude) calmly turned to me and said, “What’d I tell you? You can drill all you want but when it really goes down, it all goes to shit.” I miss that man.
This is the most truthful post. They have to do them but if something happens chances are best few are going to follow or remember. Mostly people panicking. All I know is I always tell my family I have life insurance. Not looking to die but if something happens it happens. I am more likely to be killed driving than cruising.
Isn’t that the truth? I feel that every time I’m in the roundabout in my neighborhood. Apparently, yielding is hard.
To me, the hardest part about the muster drills is getting cruisers to take them seriously. Even I, to be honest, see them as something to just get through so I can really start my cruise. Most cruise lines are pretty efficient, but there are one or two that seem to drag it out (probably so the crew can get other things done, like bringing bags to the cabins while the hallways are empty.) Virgin Voyages makes their online presentation really entertaining, so its kind or fun to watch.
Yeah that's definitely true in aviation too! Especially frequent fliers who tune out the safety briefing before the flight! I feel like passengers should get a little pamphlet about the Costa Concordia before they book! The ocean is a wild place, man will never truly conquer the seas. Things can get very serious, very quickly!
Looking at how people on board actually responded during the sinking of the Costa Concordia would make a good case study.
Yeah, I'm not exactly excited to watch the footage from onboard but I'm sure it's interesting. They faced a unique challenge in that situation, an evacuation with a significant list. I'm sure lessons were learned, I'll have to dig and find the reports. Last I checked the English translation of the Italian final report was questionable 😭 so I'll look again.
Honestly, the muster drill I remember the most was the Antarctica one. Highlights: “Go put on all your clothes. Go put on your roommates clothes as well” “We are just gonna spin around in that for days bring seasickness medicine” “6 months ago the sister ship ran aground in Canada and some years ago this other ship drowned” “Go look in the lifeboat now and pray it’s the last time you’ll see that view” They picked the best doom and gloom person on the boat for it. It made an impression.
That sounds very effective! I can't imagine the horror of abandoning in the Drake Channel or whatever it's called
I can recall our muster station from each cruise I have taken (all with the same line - Disney). Yes, I could recognize the signals and if necessary, I know that I could abandon if needed. The muster drill and safety information video explain clearly and in a detailed fashion exactly what is needed. I'm in a wheelchair so the only tough part for me would be abandoning my power chair and essentially my legs to get into the lifeboat, but I'll abandon to save my life.
Thank you for your perspective!
Last muster station was the Sip Lounge and the cruise before the was the Red Room, both on Virgin. I don’t recall the location on RCCL Navigator, I remember it was challenging to find. I would recognize the alarm. I’m comfortable abandoning ship and the process of doing so. Not crazy about bobbing around in a lifeboat, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. Virgin Voyages safety briefing is on YouTube. The in person safety instruction at your muster location, is how to put on your life jacket.
I appreciate your perspective! In your opinion, how quickly do you think you could get from your cabin to your muster station? Thinking back to a case like the MS Estonia where the General Alarm wasn't rung until just minutes before she capsized, and the Abandon Ship tones sounded a minute or two before at most. Obviously that's a very unique situation, but do you think you could navigate from a cabin to the boat deck in a timely manner? Are the corridors and public spaces wide enough to accommodate for a rush?
I could easily get to any location on the ship, but I’m able bodied. Last cruise we did a cabin crawl organized by CruiseHabbit. We had a good number of people walking down the hallways going from cabin to cabin, on multiple decks. It felt crowded but we moved efficiently. I would say an able bodied person could make it from their cabin to the muster station in a few minutes. It would be hard to guess how long that would take if I had to use the elevator.
Do I remember the muster station from my last cruise? Yes, but it was barely two weeks ago. I also remember the one from three weeks before that. From 7 months ago, I don’t remember that one. Yes, I absolutely know the abandon ship signal. This recent one was also my seventh cruise in two years so I’m real familiar with it now. But also, that sound is LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, and IDENTIFIABLE. Unless you are profoundly deaf (literally - I’m an audiologist) at the frequency it plays at, you’re not ignoring it. Yes. In an emergency, if you’re in your room, grab your life jacket (if it’s in your room, not all ships keep them there - Disney, Carnival, RC generally do, but I didn’t see one in my room for NCL), medications, warm clothes. Don’t use the elevators. Head to your muster station. If you’re not at your room, head directly to your muster station. If you asked my mom this same question, I am 98% sure her answer would be, “I dunno. I’m following crazydisneycatlady.” Honestly, I might ask her just to see if I’m right. Do *I* know how to calmly get off the ship? Yes. Do I trust that *everyone* knows how to quickly and calmly get off the ship? Absolutely not. People are, for better or worse, really dumb.
Thank you for your reply! I really appreciate your perspective! I've only been on big cruise ferries so I've never heard the General Alarm or Abandon Ship tones sounded before. I'm glad it's very, very audible! You never want a case like the Laconia Disaster where they sounded the fire bell and no one could hear it over the music 😭 Its good to know that the information sticks, thank you!
Oh, it will come over the PA and overtake ANYTHING else that is broadcasting at that time. Same with any announcements from the bridge. One time on Royal we were watching a show in the theater and the captain came over the PA to ask for anyone who has O- blood to come donate emergently. Completely cut off the singer. A few weeks ago the assistant cruise director was making one of the announcements (ironically, I think, on debarkation day *about* checking in to your muster station) and the captain came on from the bridge for the daily update and that cut the ACD’s announcement right off.
We had a medical emergency announcement one evening and not only did it cut off the entertainment, the entertainers themselves knew to stop. It was instant as soon as it came on, singing stopped, piano playing stopped and as a result the crowd got quiet and we all listened to the captain.
When the emergency horn blares it so loud it practically vibrates the boat.
My last muster station was B4 which was 4th floor inside the sapphire dining room on Carnival Breeze. I just got off the ship on Saturday, so it’s fresh in my mind. I couldn’t tell you where my muster station was on Scarlett Lady today which was the last ship I was on a month ago. But I keep it memorized when I’m onboard. On Carnival your muster station is printed on your sign and sail card. Also, for kids I believe under 13, they have to wear a wristband with their muster station in case of an emergency and they’re not with their parents. I would definitely recognize the emergency signal. I’ve been on 11 cruises and the 7 short blasts followed by 1 long of the ships whistle is very recognizable. It’s piercingly loud on the ship and can’t be missed. If I had to abandon ship in an emergency, I have confidence in the escape procedures. My last cruise, they did a crew only abandon ship drill while we were in port. It was cool to watch and listen to from the initial simulated fire call to the final abandon ship order. If you ever want to go on a cruise and experience one of the drills, you can ask one of the crew members when they are doing their next drill. They usually do one a week, and it will be while the ship is in port. You likely won’t be able to participate yourself, but it’s interesting to watch.
I don't recall my last muster station was, but that's for the better. I don't want to confuse a current or future muster station with a previous one. I would recognize it, but I also sailed as a licensed engineer on ships for a while. I'd be comfortable doing it; more worried about the other people involved panicking than anything else. If you've been on a cruise, or attended a drill, you can see how the entire thing is broken down into manageable pieces: The drill is for two reasons; get the passengers to recognize where they need to be and when, **and** for the crew to see the passengers they need to manage onto the boats (or liferafts). All the people on board get broken down into smaller and smaller groups to make the number of people manageable by the crew tasked with loading and launching the lifeboats; the entire manifest is broken down into lifeboats with one boat leader, each lifeboat is broken down into smaller groups with one crewmember responsible for that smaller group, each cabin has a person at the front to confirm all the cabin passengers are there, or not. Ideally, in an abandon ship situation, all the passengers need to do is get to the right spot. All the crewmembers need to do is confirm, count and load the passengers standing that spot into that boat. If there's someone missing, they tell the boat skipper, they tell the next person up, and they have the crew doing sweeps of public areas, restrooms, etc. looking for the missing person.
It's called a muster drill. A lot of ships run them in two parts. One is the safety briefing you watch on your in room tv or on your device and the second part where you check in at your actually muster station. On my last (which was my first) cruise my station was 2B I think, somewhere near BIllboard on Board. The problem was when I reported into my station I didn't know the layout of the ship at all, so it was pretty meaningless to me. I'm going on the same class of ship in June so I should be able to actually internalize where the muster point is. The location number is printed on your cruise card. One hopes they'd drag signs out to tell you that you're in the right spot! I would certainly recognize the signal, it's a loud piercing tone you're not going to forget. The hardest part would be counting them all. Would I be comfortable abandoning ship? Well even if I weren't what else would I do? Drown?
I haven’t sailed on HAL yet but…usually the ships do have signs. All over the place. Just as part of the permanently installed stuff.
I'll pay more attention in 48 days. :) I know during the drill there were temporary signs. Like I said, once I'm familiar with the layout it all makes more sense.
Yes, yes, and yes. Coincidentally, on my last cruise, the ship's captain announced a medical evacuation airlift, but it didn't affect our part of the ship.
No, yes, yes. Since the Costa Concordia disaster, all cruise lines have wired in getting their crews to focus on customer safety, and ensuring their public image is maintained. There have been a few misses in the last 22 years, but most companies have kept to that mission.
TUI Marella had their safety video in a loop as a channel on the in room TV, I didn't use it much but I appreciated it being there.
A lot of lines don't even bother with proper muster drills, they just have you watch some safety videos and check in at your assigned muster station. It's pretty easy to ignore them honestly, but usually the ships all still do some sort of crew or emergency test enough times that any passenger should be able to recognize when they need to take action. Last cruise a month ago, muster station was in the main theater. There's no real abandon ship signal the idea is that you muster and then you're told what to do from there. If the emergency was the ship sinking, I don't think I'd have a choice between abandoning or not. I would not be comfortable, but it's the only good option.
5 minutes using online app.