You’ve queued through Embarkation Day, unpacked your bags and now you’re ready to get your holiday well and truly going. Hold on just a sec. Before you go bombing into the pool, there’s the small matter of the muster drill to deal with first.
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Cruise Muster Drill Procedure
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Below, we’ll walk you through what you can expect from a muster drill, including what the procedure is, what it involves, and any etiquette you might want to know about ahead of time. Let’s get started!
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What is a muster drill?
A muster drill is a mandatory safety drill that happens on all cruises, as laid out by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. They are sometimes referred to as a ‘lifeboat drill’ or ‘safety drill’.
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Taking place before the ship sails, the drill lets guests familiarise themselves with where to assemble in the (unlikely) event of an emergency.
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What happens during the muster drill procedure?
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What is a cruise muster station?
A muster station is the place on your cruise ship where the safety drill takes place. They can either be inside or outside. It’s usually written on your cruise documents, and it’ll likely be written on the back of your cabin door too.
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If it’s due to be held inside, your muster station will usually take place in a lounge, theatre, restaurant, or bar. If it’s held outside, it’ll be on your ship’s promenade deck. At an outside muster station, you’ll be asked to form lines like you would in a real emergency. There tends to be more standing during an outside muster drill, so we’d recommend wearing closed shoes that you know you’re comfortable in.
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Can you skip muster drills on a cruise?
No. Every guest, including children, must attend the muster drill, even if you’ve sailed on the same ship or cruise line before.
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If you miss or skip the muster drill, you’ll be invited to attend another drill later on. Cruise lines are pretty no-nonsense when it comes to their muster drills, and if you fail to attend this one, then they can disembark you from the cruise, without any sort of refund. We’d recommend not trying to get away with skipping the muster drill in any way.
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Helpful tips for your muster drill
Wait for the post-drill rush to calm down
With every cruise guest gathered at their muster stations, things can become a bit of a bottleneck when the muster drill ends. Queues and long waits for lifts and elevators will also be a frequent occurrence. For this reason, it’s a good idea to hang back or head to a quiet bar and wait for the rush to calm down before you make your way back to your cabin.
Set off early for the elevators
Once the muster drill has kicked off, your ship’s lifts and elevators will not be operational. If you need to use either of these to get around, then you should set off for your muster station as early as you can.
Don't be late
Remember, everyone else will be attending the muster drill at the same time as you, so if you’re late, you’ll only be holding up the rest of that part of the ship – no big deal. Avoid the death stares and make sure you’re on time.
Put away your phone
If you’re tempted to take a peek at your phone during the drill, then be aware that you’ll get a talking to by the crew. Repeat offenders may have their phones taken away for the duration of the drill too. Pay attention and keep your phone in your pocket while the crew are speaking.
Take your life jacket if you need to
It depends on the cruise line, but you may need to bring your life jacket with you to the muster drill – though this is becoming less of a requirement. If you’re unsure, you can always play it safe and bring it with you.
What are digital muster drills?
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