Carnival cruisers say always do this first upon boarding a cruise
Stepping aboard a cruise ship for the first time is an experience that presents you with a lot to take in - from the enthusiastic welcome from crew members anticipating your arrival to the buzz of onboard activity and the sheer size of the ship that you'll call home for the next several days.
It's normal to feel a bit overwhelmed during your first moments on board a cruise ship. However, once you get your bearings, you'll quickly feel a weight lift once you realize that you've officially arrived to your vacation at sea.
New cruisers often come aboard with a list of things they want to do right away to kick off their vacations. Most passengers come hungry and make a beeline for lunch at the buffet, and many can't wait to get their first cruise cocktail to enjoy by the pool.
But before you get fully into relaxation mode, there's one key thing that every cruise passenger should do first. It's easy to get distracted by all the fun going on around you, but taking a few minutes to take care of it first can save you the hassle of interrupting your relaxation later to complete it.
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Always head to your muster station first upon boarding a cruise
Before each and every cruise can set sail, every passenger on board the ship must visit their assigned muster station to check in with a crew member for a quick safety briefing - no matter whether you've done it before on a previous sailing. Whether it's your first cruise or your 15th, it's recommended to take care of this mandatory safety exercise first before you do anything else on board.
Checking in at your muster station on cruise embarkation day only takes a few minutes to complete and if you don't know where to go, getting help is easy. Crew members are posted all around the ship to help direct you to your assigned muster station, which is listed on your cabin key card.
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Avid Carnival cruisers recently highlighted the importance of completing this mandatory safety requirement right away on embarkation day in a discussion on the popular Facebook page of Carnival Cruise Line's brand ambassador, John Heald, who asked his more than 669,000 followers to share whether it's the first thing they do after boarding the ship.
"Going to check in at your muster station on embarkation day is a very important thing for you to do," Heald reminded passengers.
Carnival cruisers say muster first, then relax
Most experienced Carnival cruisers understand that it's best to get their necessary cruise safety task taken care of first rather than interrupt the fun later to complete it. They also don't want to be that person who crew members may have to call and hunt down to complete their mandatory muster drill so the ship can depart on time.
"I don't want to be that name they're calling on the intercom," Paula Dorraugh Long commented on Heald's post.
Most passengers take care of the muster station check-in right away and then move on to lunch, enjoying the pool, and exploring the ship.
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"We get muster out of the way the minute we get on the ship. It takes literally 5-10 minutes tops, so it's not hard (for those who need to hear it). After that, we eat and then I explore the ship and my husband takes our daughter to the pool," Christina Thrower shared.
For some though, there is one acceptable first stop on the way to the muster station - the bar.
"We grab a drink first! Then muster with a piña colada in hand," Shari Giffen commented.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 11:51 AM.