Yes, you are legally required to participate in the muster drill and know the location of your muster station on every commercial cruise ship. Following the Costa Concordia tragedy, international maritime laws (SOLAS) were tightened to require that this drill takes place before the ship departs or immediately upon sailing. In 2026, many cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney have moved to "e-Muster" or "Muster 2.0," where you watch safety videos on your smartphone or stateroom TV and then simply walk to your designated station to have your "SeaPass" card scanned by a crew member. This process confirms that you know exactly where to go in the event of an emergency. If you fail to complete this "check-in" at your muster station, the cruise line will repeatedly call your name over the public address system, and if you still refuse to comply, you can be forcibly removed from the ship at the next port (or even before departure) without a refund. It is a non-negotiable safety protocol designed to ensure that in a real emergency, every passenger knows their assigned lifeboat location and how to properly don a life jacket.