Good point, still.....

BTW-cute doggie!

I was on the Conquest March 23,2008 and we also set sail during the muster drill..

I just returned last week from my cruise on board the Facination. Turns out, in this  case, I worried for nothing. I am happy to report that we did not set sail until just after the muster drill, so we got to witness a beautiful sail away from Miami and South Beach! I was soooo glad we didn't miss it. I hope everyone's future sail away works out that way as well......

 We also got to witness the early morning charm of seeing the sun rise from our balcony just before arriving at Key West. DH and I had our coffee while watching the sun come up and it was magnificent! Those are the moments that make up the best of  your cruise experience.

The only time the one of our ships started to push off during muster, was when a few of the wedding guests who were supposed to depart before 3:30p, seemed to not find their way out the door ;-)  I wouldn't want to leave either LOL...and even at that, we had only started up the canal in Miami before it was all said and done.  We still were able to enjoy the waving of onlookers, the honking of traffice watching us leave and the beauty of the island homes on the way out.

I think sometimes things happne that are not in Carnival's control, and sadly sometimes guests pay the price.

Happy Cruizin!

I believe this is what happened to us on the Conquest in March too.  They had two very large wedding parties board for the weddings.  In reality, this is in Carnival's control.  They can start getting these folks back off the ship a little earlier, or start having the wedding ceremonies in the cruise terminals and the guests don't board the vessel at all.  We really did pay the price, all we could feel was the movement of the ship, and couldn't see a thing, even though we were on the lifeboat deck.  We were out in open waters, before everyone made their way to the drill.  You also have the certain segment that think they are exempt from the drills, and don't even bother to get the life vests like they are supposed to.

04-20-08 Conquest we had drill while we pulled away from dock also.

Yes, I have sailed twice with Carnival - the Jubilee and the Triumph and was terribly disappointed that the muster drill was held at the time of the sail-away.  I remember hearing the loud horns as we set sail while we were jammed side by side in the drill area downed with lifejackets....just stupid because you couldn't hear the staff give the instructions and when they did, they had to stop/start due to the horns blowing from above.  In addition I thought it was hazardous for all those people to be crammed into one area while all the luggage was stacked all over the floor ready for the crew to distribute it to rooms....another hazard. 

I think they should do the drill (without the life preserver) - simulation by the crew staff while you wait in line at the registration.   For the 1-2 hours as you wait, they have your undivided attention.  I think the passengers would be more attentive, less distracted and would learn the procedure. 

I agree. Out of Long Beach in 14 cruises the muster drill was still going on as we pushed away at least 6-7 times. To me and others I know the sail away is a very special time and most of us do not like missing it. I hope Carnival understands this and does more to avoid it. i have been on other cruise lines and there is always plenty of time to get upstairs prior to tossing the lines.

Wow!!! This has never happen to me and I hope it never does, although a friend of mine was disappointed that on her Glory cruise they set sail during the drill.

Well, my sister Linda and I plan on being on the ship very early so that we can enjoy the time to explore the ship, meet new people and hopefully everyone else will join us on the ship early so that we can do the muster and enjoy the sail away. I agree that it is not the same since there is no one to wave good bye to but maybe there will be people on other ships that we can wave and have a great time with both here in the U.S and in the other ports we will all be visiting. Happy Sailing to all

In September during muster drill on the Imagination lightening struck the ship knocking out the navigational systems so there was no sailaway so to speak and we left port four hours late.  I kept hoping we wouldn't be able to leave at all and I would get to stay on the ship for four days (floating hotel) and then get some rockin' credit for another cruise.  I swear... I am never one of the lucky ones!  lol 

We set sail at 1030 or so at night and we didn't have our muster until the next morning; and even that wasn't on time.

As for me, I do not want to miss out on one cruise in order to receive another cruise. I want to enjoy the first one first. Then I want to win a cruise either playing bingo or on a raffle or something like others have done before me. However, it will probably be my sister who wins and not me. If that happens, she will probably take her daughter instead of me. Oh well, lets just enjoy the ones we have paid for Ok

Kathy ~ A woman that I work with her sister was on the same cruise as me a couple of years ago and was the big bingo winner, I think free cruise or maybe some huge amount of money.  Just ain't fair... oh well.  I just made my September 2010 cruise on the Valor a back-to-back so I'm pretty happy!   Now I just need to book that springtime 2010 cruise...

Jenna-  I really enjoyed leaving Miami too!  We loved all the cars that were honking at us on the way out.