The muster drill lasts approximately 20-30 minutes and will always take place prior to the ship sailing. Cabin stewards will visit cabins to instruct guests that they must make their way to the designated venue in which the muster drill will be held.

A standard muster drill on a cruise ship typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes, though the actual time can vary based on the size of the vessel and how quickly passengers comply with instructions. Since the 2012 Costa Concordia disaster, international maritime law requires that this safety briefing occurs before the ship leaves the pier. In recent years, many major lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney have transitioned to "e-muster" or "virtual muster" systems. In this modern format, you watch safety videos on your smartphone or stateroom TV at your own pace and then simply visit your designated muster station to check in with a crew member, a process that takes less than five minutes of physical time. However, if the ship still performs a traditional "face-to-face" drill, the entire ship's operations are paused while thousands of guests gather at their stations. These manual drills often take longer if the crew has to track down "stragglers" who haven't reported for duty, as the ship cannot legally set sail until every single passenger has been accounted for and instructed on life-jacket usage.