Those Darn Pool Deck Chairs

Something has to be done about the pool deck situation. Several times I have heard about the "No reservation policy" onboard. But passing by the deck on the way to breakfast, every chair on the deck has a towel or handbag on it.

Carnival has a chair monitor now that travels the deck, but in no way is able to cover the entire area, and doesn't have the means of monitoring the deck chairs for time limits.

Spend a little time on deck and you will see several arguments take place throughout the day over chairs, and or articles left on chairs.

What do you think a solution for this could be?

The only thing that I see feasible is some type of chair reservation before the cruise starts. Other than that, there will continue to be problems.

Thoughts?

I wish they would add more chairs. But that would probably require removing something on deck. There just isn't enough room and I wish they would realize that. This has been a problem on every cruise I've taken, and I'm not seeing that changing anytime soon.

Unless we turn cruise ship employees into a mini police department issues like saving chairs, saving a place in line, saving a table at the buffet, holding up elevators for your friends, hogging two slot machines in the casino etc. will just continue to roll merrily along.

If I find a chair with only a towel, or a flip flop, or a book I don't hesitate to move said object and take over ownership. If someone saves a place in line for 30 of their nearest and dearest I just walk past them and step into line in front of said group. Sometimes you just have to be a bit assertive when other people are straying over the line.

 

If I find a chair with only a towel, or a flip flop, or a book I don't hesitate to move said object and take over ownership. If someone saves a place in line for 30 of their nearest and dearest I just walk past them and step into line in front of said group. Sometimes you just have to be a bit assertive when other people are straying over the line.

Although I think Carnival could do a better job policing the early morning chair savers, I agree that it's mostly a matter of guests moving items and sitting down. I have gone through at 8 a.m. and piled all the towels on one chair for the fun of it. :D If we declare war on the chair savers, maybe eventually it will stop. If only people would understand that everyone wins when the chairs are used efficiently. A reservation policy would NOT lead to efficiency chair use, or a relaxing cruise.

Chair hogging is NOT just a cruise ship thing...go to any beach or pool resort,and you'll see the same thing. Right now, the chairs directly next to the pool are so close together, that you have to crawl onto them from the foot of the lounger...not a pretty sight, or fun to do. We generally find plenty of loungers on the deck above the pool...more breeze up there, too, and more space! When I want to take a dip, it's a short hop down the steps!

I agree that some people go too far when saving chairs but my wife and I will save our chairs while we grab lunch and come back it may take 20 minutes to stand in Buffet line and I do not think we are being wrong for doing so and if someone move my stuff I would be pissed

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A reservation system would be terrible. If anything they just need more employees enforcing the rules. Its really easy to tell if a chair is unattended for a long time in the early morning especially, since 90% of them are

On Carnival I just join the crowd and put my own stuff out to reserve my chairs.

On RCCL they have a system that actually works. The have deck police. They will let an unoccupied chair go for ten minutes. Then they will move the belongings to the end of the row. Then eventually they move the belonging to the cabana where they hogs will have to retrieve their stuff.

This goes on until all the chairs are filled with people, then they disappear into the crowd.

Chair hogging is NOT just a cruise ship thing...go to any beach or pool resort,and you'll see the same thing. Right now, the chairs directly next to the pool are so close together, that you have to crawl onto them from the foot of the lounger...not a pretty sight, or fun to do. We generally find plenty of loungers on the deck above the pool...more breeze up there, too, and more space! When I want to take a dip, it's a short hop down the steps!

I have never encountered this at any land resort I've been to, AI, Condo, Beach or otherwise. I have only run into this problem on Cruise ships.

I thank God every day that I don't enjoy being anywhere near the main pool. Too crowded, too noisy and too much drama about deckchairs. Go up one deck and you'll find plenty of empty chairs and you can actually hear and see the ocean.

On Carnival I just join the crowd and put my own stuff out to reserve my chairs.

 

On RCCL they have a system that actually works. The have deck police. They will let an unoccupied chair go for ten minutes. Then they will move the belongings to the end of the row. Then eventually they move the belonging to the cabana where they hogs will have to retrieve their stuff.

 

This goes on until all the chairs are filled with people, then they disappear into the crowd.

Funny, they didn't do that on the Independence last November.

That being said, I'd get ticked off if my stuff was moved after only 15 minutes in the pool.

Funny, they didn't do that on the Independence last November.

 

That being said, I'd get ticked off if my stuff was moved after only 15 minutes in the pool.

Being in the pool is not the problem. It is when a towel is folded neatly on dozens of chairs, or only a book is laying on a chair for long periods of time with nobody around. Walk by pool at 8 AM. Half the chairs or more are already reserved with a towel and there isn't anyone in the pool or even around.

anyone

I agree that some people go too far when saving chairs but my wife and I will save our chairs while we grab lunch and come back it may take 20 minutes to stand in Buffet line and I do not think we are being wrong for doing so and if someone move my stuff I would be pissed

 

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I moved items when every lounger had a neatly folded towel at 8 a.m. with no people in sight, or one person claiming ten prime loungers in the morning sun for family that would arrive hours later. If you're grabbing lunch and returning to your chairs to eat, no problem. If you're going to sit in the buffet area to eat and return an hour later, vacate your lounger for some poor mom who wants to sit for a half hour and watch her kids in the pool. When you get back, someone else will have gone to lunch or to the casino and you can sit in their lounger. No loungers go to waste and everyone is happy.

I have never encountered this at any land resort I've been to, AI, Condo, Beach or otherwise. I have only run into this problem on Cruise ships.

Cruises seem to have a particular problem with early risers claiming their group's loungers for the day and disappearing for hours, but they're not the only place with lounger saving issues.

I was at Universal Studios hotel pool when I was screamed at for stealing someone's lounger while he was at lunch. Ironically, the lounger was actually empty when I arrived and sat down. He had apparently been gone for so long that someone else had moved his hat, used the lounger, and left.

I moved items when every lounger had a neatly folded towel at 8 a.m. with no people in sight, or one person claiming ten prime loungers in the morning sun for family that would arrive hours later. If you're grabbing lunch and returning to your chairs to eat, no problem. If you're going to sit in the buffet area to eat and return an hour later, vacate your lounger for some poor mom who wants to sit for a half hour and watch her kids in the pool. When you get back, someone else will have gone to lunch or to the casino and you can sit in their lounger. No loungers go to waste and everyone is happy.

We do get our lunch and return and that usually takes about 20 minutes as long as you are not trying to get the Mongolian wok then only one of us will go as that line is oh my word long it could take an hour

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Just move the lone flip flop to wherever it's mate is and put the folded towel at the bottom of the lounger until the owner comes to retrieve it. From my experiences on other lines this seems to be a Carnival "thing." I agree that if people are just assertive much can be accomplished. As far as loungers for little kids, how many of them actually use the loungers - very few - they are running all over the place and in the pool. It's really not difficult for the towel folks to watch the area around the pool. Shame on them if they let people put out towels at 8 AM that are unsed for hours and hours.

So does it happen yep, is it as bad as every chair taken at breakfast with no one in it????? Never ever saw that .. unless your talking when they put out the towel animals

I thank God every day that I don't enjoy being anywhere near the main pool. Too crowded, too noisy and too much drama about deckchairs. Go up one deck and you'll find plenty of empty chairs and you can actually hear and see the ocean.

I'm with you!

So many other places to lounge without all the drama.:)

Being in the pool is not the problem. It is when a towel is folded neatly on dozens of chairs, or only a book is laying on a chair for long periods of time with nobody around. Walk by pool at 8 AM. Half the chairs or more are already reserved with a towel and there isn't anyone in the pool or even around.

 

 

anyone

After 18 cruises I fully understand what a chair hog is. I was pointing out Je S's false statement that RCCL is removing belongings after 10 minutes. I know for a fact on the Independence that is not the case I would hope that it is false across the fleet.

Just move the lone flip flop to wherever it's mate is and put the folded towel at the bottom of the lounger until the owner comes to retrieve it. From my experiences on other lines this seems to be a Carnival "thing." I agree that if people are just assertive much can be accomplished. As far as loungers for little kids, how many of them actually use the loungers - very few - they are running all over the place and in the pool. It's really not difficult for the towel folks to watch the area around the pool. Shame on them if they let people put out towels at 8 AM that are unsed for hours and hours.

I have sailed 5 lines and I can assure you, I've seen chair hogging on everyone of them.......even HAL. there is no age discrimination when it comes to hogging chairs.

Someone should invent a cheap little 30 minute spring loaded timer that connects easily to the chair frame. Maybe the size of a silver dollar. If someone is sitting in the chair, doesn't matter if timer is working. It should be a rule that if you leave said chair you MUST activate timer. If you leave and do not activate, chair is free for all. If the timer is running, chair is saved. I am sure some company could make these things for very little cost and make them simple and cheap.

Someone should invent a cheap little 30 minute spring loaded timer that connects easily to the chair frame. Maybe the size of a silver dollar. If someone is sitting in the chair, doesn't matter if timer is working. It should be a rule that if you leave said chair you MUST activate timer. If you leave and do not activate, chair is free for all. If the timer is running, chair is saved. I am sure some company could make these things for very little cost and make them simple and cheap.

Someone should invent a cheap little 30 minute spring loaded timer that connects easily to the chair frame. Maybe the size of a silver dollar. If someone is sitting in the chair, doesn't matter if timer is working. It should be a rule that if you leave said chair you MUST activate timer. If you leave and do not activate, chair is free for all. If the timer is running, chair is saved. I am sure some company could make these things for very little cost and make them simple and cheap.

There's already a 'rule' that you should not save chairs - what makes you think the 'rule' to activate the timer will be followed? LOL.

The timer/device needs to be automatic/self starting - e.g the weight of a 'body' on the chair keeps it dormant but once the body is 'off' then the timer starts ....for the 30 minute time limit.....if you (or another body) occupies the chair then it stops and would restart next time the chair is vacated :) Maybe even have a light on it - e.g. red light means timer is 'clicking' down - but when green light appears - the chair can be yours!!! (and yes spring loaded so it 'throws' off whatever is on the seat would be an exciting bonus ha ha ha).

A friend of fine was on the Allure back in December. She said that employees tagged empty chairs with a tag that had a time stamp on it. As they patrolled, they checked the tags. If 45 minutes had passed, and the chair was still empty, the employee removed the belongings. My friend said the system worked quite well and this cruise was right after Christmas...up until New Years...so the boat was definitely at capacity.

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The problem will continue because Carnival does nothing about it.