Muster stations!!

[rylisal]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, I didnt know b4 we went, but by law all passengers HAVE to report to their Muster stations complete with life jkts on b4 sailing!(Happens on all cruises)
We sailed at 5pm so at 4.15 we all reported to our station on deck which is posted on back of stateroom door.Line up room by room & everyone is checked in.Ships horn sounded to alert us that it was time, as did the tanoy system in stateroom. Hard to not hear it & yet still people were late!
Our toddler really was'nt happy being in his life suit & SCREAMED the deck down-So much so I was told to leave as no one could hear the instructions being read out!!
Thought I'd mention this for the new cruisers so it doesnt take you by surprise!
Only takes about 15mins in all though & then its back on deck for the Sailaway Party!!:d:

[ANGEL]

yes, its great fun isn't it?!;) We looked soooo attractive in our life jackets! Still, I'd far rather know what to do in an emergency! It doesn't take long anyway, then it's all fun after that!


Be warned, if you don't attend you wil get a very stiff warning from the Captain and DCL staff too.

[Scotty]

It doesnt take long and better to be safe than sorry. All cruise lines have to do it by law.
My DS passed out in the heat and they wouldnt get a medic as they were all busy at their muster stations, other cruise lines dont actually make you wear the life jackets for the whole drill!!! We were unlucky that our muster station was outside in full sunshine, sometimes its inside.

Another thing that new cruisers may not be aware of is the time you have to clear immigration on returning to the US. An early start to the end of the holiday - some people go in PJ's!!!

[Michelle]

I am so looking forward to this...;)

[CBR600]

Whe we clear immigration at the end of the cruise, I think I read in another post that you have to go down at something like 5am, do we all need to be there or can I just send hubby? Not looking forward to dragging the kids out of bed at that time in the morning!

[jdybnsn]

Whe we clear immigration at the end of the cruise, I think I read in another post that you have to go down at something like 5am, do we all need to be there or can I just send hubby? Not looking forward to dragging the kids out of bed at that time in the morning!

Unfortunately you all have to be present :( ....and it is not uncommon to see people in their PJs (especially kids).

They do soften the experience a little by providing coffee, tea, orange juice & pastries etc.

I would plan to be there 5 mins early as they process people in the order of their arrival ....get done first, then you can go back to your cabin for a few more zzzs:zzz:

Try and be positive and look at it as a wonderful way to experience a Florida sunrise ! ...and there are lots of benefits of getting off the ship early....... you have the whole day ahead of you, instead of a part day - we were driving out of the port at 9am. after disembarkation, and were back in Orlando for 10am.

[jdybnsn]

I think it is 6am that you have to report to Immigration on board ....can someone confirm, my memory is a little rusty ?

[ANGEL]

If you do the eastern cruise, you actually have to do this twice if you're a non -US citizen!;) (the immigration I mean). On entry to St Thomas for everyone, and then again at Port Canaveral!

We're more used to it now, but it's still not very nice!

Yes, it's normally about 6 am you need to be there!:(

[Scotty]

Yes we are having to do it twice in October.