Carnival Cruise Line Remains Confident in E-Muster Safety Briefing

While totally different cruise strains are making changes to security briefings as greatest swimsuit their operational wants, Carnival Cruise Line stays dedicated to the e-muster security briefing or digital mustering.

While rumors have persevered that the cruise line could also be returning to the extra conventional in-person group muster, Carnival has confirmed that the brand new, up to date drill stays in place.

E-Muster to Remain

In addressing on-line rumors concerning the return of in-person muster drills from February 1, 2023, Carnival Cruise Line model ambassador John Heald has confirmed that Carnival will proceed to e-muster and famous the success of the brand new drill in demonstrating real-world utility of the security procedures.

“The new way of doing the drill shows guests where to go in a real emergency and how to wear the life jacket,” Heald stated. “In a real emergency that is what guests have to do and from there listen to the Captain, listen to the crew. Trust the captain, trust the crew.”

The e-muster drill was initially carried out as a part of pandemic precautions to attenuate crowding and promote social distancing. Rather than bringing all friends collectively in shut quarters at muster stations to go over security data, the e-muster drill has friends view security movies both on-line or by way of the Carnival Hub app previous to setting sail.

Once on board, friends report back to their muster station at their leisure, the place their Sail and Sign playing cards are scanned to document their attendance. At that point, a crew member confirms that that is the friends’ muster station, and a life jacket demonstration is made if needed. Young youngsters can even be fitted with wristbands printed with their muster station.

The new drill takes only a few minutes, and if friends report back to their muster station immediately, may solely take a number of moments. The outdated drill, by comparability, may take 30-45 minutes, with delays if not all friends report back to the right station or if there are late arrivals to the cruise terminal.

Another element of the drill is sounding the ship’s horn within the emergency sign – seven quick blasts and one lengthy blast – which continues to be accomplished simply earlier than sail away, so all friends hear the sequence. At that point, meals and beverage operations shut down and there are not any ongoing actions, as that is the security drill for crew members.

“Safety is always the top of our list,” Heald stated. “Your safety, the safety of the crew and ultimately the safety of the ship herself will always be most paramount.”

Encouraging Guests to Muster

Many Carnival friends report back to their muster stations within the first jiffy of their cruise trip, and crew members are readily available on the gangway to assist direct friends to the right station.

The new drill, nonetheless, does allow some flexibility in when friends select to muster. Some friends want to get pleasure from lunch first, whereas others wait till they’ve been capable of go to their staterooms – that are typically open at 1:30 p.m. – to drop off baggage, then they will proceed to their muster station unencumbered.

Because the security drill is crucial and all friends should take part and full their mustering earlier than the ship units sail, Carnival Cruise Line takes a number of steps to encourage mustering.

First are the crew members on the gangway encouraging mustering as friends embark. The ship’s cruise director can even make periodic bulletins to remind friends to muster. As the time for sail away approaches, the previous couple of friends’ names could also be referred to as over the intercom for muster reminders.

The cruise line additionally has it arrange that after ordering two drinks, friends’ Sail and Sign accounts are locked they usually can not order any extra drinks till after finishing the muster drill.

These strategies have largely proved efficient, and the overwhelming majority of Carnival friends muster efficiently and recognize the convenience and effectivity of the e-muster.

Future Changes Possible?

While Heald does admit that he’s “not in a position to never say never,” it appears unlikely that Carnival will revert to the old-style group mustering.

“I don’t know if it will ever change or not but what I can say is that we are not returning to the previous way of doing this next month or indeed, at all,” Heald clarified just lately.

These rumors do happen usually, and notably, each cruise line has to make the selections and implement procedures that work greatest for his or her operations. Disney Cruise Line, for instance, transitioned again to the extra conventional group drill in November 2022, and different cruise strains might comply with if that choice works greatest for his or her crew and friends.

So lengthy as friends proceed to adjust to security procedures and people procedures are deemed efficient by maritime authorities, Carnival’s e-muster is probably going right here to remain.