Carnival to Hold Full In-Person Safety Drills on Five Ships, Sept. 26-28
If you're sailing on Horizon, Panorama, Vista, or Firenze departing at 3:30 p.m., or Carnival Sunshine leaving Norfolk at 4 p.m. between September 26-28, 2026, expect a mandatory in-person muster drill before departure. Watch for onboard announcements guiding you to your assigned muster station, and don't bring luggage. Staterooms typically open around 1:30 p.m., and food and beverage service closes just before the drill begins.
These full drills aren't new policy — John Heald has said SOLAS and agencies like the US and Australian Coast Guard require every ship to run them twice a year, and Cruise Hive notes Carnival Magic and Paradise already did theirs in mid-September. My read is Carnival's proactive email to guests is about managing surprise, not compliance itself — passengers used to quick e-muster check-ins can be caught off guard by a full in-person drill involving hundreds of people per muster station. If I were sailing on Horizon, Panorama, Vista, Firenze, or Sunshine during that September 26-28 window, I'd build in extra time before sailaway and not treat the closed stateroom doors or paused food service as a scheduling problem. It costs a few minutes; skipping it isn't an option.