Lounge chairs on the Escape

[mvh]

I have heard it is nearly impossible to get chairs by the pool, which is expected. Every cruise ship pool is small and crowded and there are chair hogs on every ship. So, I am really not concerned with being next to the pool. My question is, what about the other lounge areas, like up along the sides and in the Spice area? Are those just as difficult to get by 8:30 or 9:00am?

[excitedtocruise]

We went to the top sun deck around 10 a.m. and never had a problem. During sea days it had a nice breeze up there, but don't go up there when in port, no air flow and did get hot.

[aquarianne11]

We went to pool area around 9:30-10AM during sea days. Never had problems finding empty loungers.

 

It gets more crowded later on.

[mvh]

So are most of the people just complaining or exaggerating that are the chairs by the pool are gone and or saved with towels by 7:00am? I hope so. I was on the Breeze last year and people said the same thing, but I never had a problem before 9:00am.

[aquarianne11]

So are most of the people just complaining or exaggerating that are the chairs by the pool are gone and or saved with towels by 7:00am? I hope so. I was on the Breeze last year and people said the same thing, but I never had a problem before 9:00am.

 

I'm not sure. We are not picky about lounge chairs, we don't have to be near the pool.

 

But around 7-8AM, most people will probably be sleeping especially on a sea day.

[BirdTravels]

Always seemed to be ample loungers.

[paulh84]

If it's really as bad as some recently posted FB pictures make it appear, I will have no problem 'relocating' some items to get chairs.

[beerman2]

There are chair hogs on all ships/lines! Some will go to any length to get "their" spot.

 

Last year on the Epic I was out getting coffee on deck and saw 2 people start Unstacking the lounge chairs and placing them next to the pool. 2 people/12 loungers.

 

I thing the whole group showed up around 10.

 

The ultimate definition of " Me First Attitude"!

[bucade]

I have also heard that the chair hogs are in full force...I say as with other cruises I've been on, if you are saving a chair with a towel and no one is around, throw that towel off and take the chair. Let them try and get me to move! ;)

[mayj1209]

We just returned from Escape, on the boat Jan 2 - 9, lounge chairs were an issue, everywhere was jammed, if you didn't put a towel on a chair before 9 am you wouldn't find a free chair. Staff were removing towels off chairs if they were unattended after an hour. When we walked around the deck after breakfast around 10 am, every lounge chair was taken. I don't know about H20 as we were with kids. It was annoying, eventually chairs would free up but we usually had to wait.

[LakeWobegon]

Yeah, If I saw a chair unattended for more than 15 minutes, I'd just throw the towel off and sit down. That's more than enough time for someone to go to the bar and come back with a drink or go to the bathroom or whatever. I mean, you're gone longer than that and you lose it. We're living in a society here as George Costanza once said. If you go to the pool for half an hour and swim, you lose your chair, period. Some may feel different but its not that big a deal. You just sit down and if someone does challenge you, you can say I'm sorry but you tell them no one's been sitting on this seat available to the general public on the ship for the past hour so you figure you'd claim it. Then ask them if they had a seat reservation for this particular chair. Well, maybe don't do that last part. lol

[Pappion]

Our sailing that I just came off of today was bad. Even spice was crowded. People in the hot tub told us they saw women fist fighting over loungers. But that's here say. It was really crowded though.

[sbcpl]

we just got back from the Escape.

set your wake up call for 6:45, have some coffee in your state room and go grab some chairs. Bring your own towel to identify your chairs. Pool area fills up quick, we stayed at the stern in h2o, 2 hot tubs, no kids and a bar close by.

Port stern is the best for sun while heading south, the reverse on the way north.

[beerman2]

Disclaimer first ( tongue in cheek )

 

With all the changes NCL is doing with extra charges ( perceived of not), number the lounge chairs and have cruisers purchase the ones they run out to save at 7a.m. If your not in the lounge chairs by 8 a.m. You loose money and prime spot.

 

 

Chair hogging IS ON all lines. It is the ME first society that we live in!

 

It was so much simpler when people showed some respect, common sense prevailed, and people were courteous!

[joelle6667]

I have heard it is nearly impossible to get chairs by the pool, which is expected. Every cruise ship pool is small and crowded and there are chair hogs on every ship. So, I am really not concerned with being next to the pool. My question is, what about the other lounge areas, like up along the sides and in the Spice area? Are those just as difficult to get by 8:30 or 9:00am?

 

You would have to see it to believe it and yes every ship has small pools area ect. But imagine chairs lined up on each side of walk ways where honestly you can not walk looking up because some legs stick out .. My dad fell my daughter stubbed her toe and I too lost a peice of my big toe nail .. It's a safety issue on my opinion .. I am not a big drinker but I saw one man fall and they needed to get a wheel chair his head was split open .. I saw two grown ass men on day one fight .. Physically go at it .. I'm not sure if you have sailed this ship yet..

I was in the Haven and this is what I experienced walking through the sun deck .. It truley can not accommodate the amount of guest and add unlimited alcohol to this mix .. Cluster /@:(!

[joelle6667]

Our sailing that I just came off of today was bad. Even spice was crowded. People in the hot tub told us they saw women fist fighting over loungers. But that's here say. It was really crowded though.

 

Not hear say .. I sailed 1/9 - 1/16 and I watched a man attack a worker in the casino .. Two men physically going at it pool area .. I believe it was over a lounge chair .. I honestly never witnessed as many drunken fools in my whole life .. It's one thing to be around drunk happy party going people ..

I mostly did not see this ..

If any one sailed this sailing I'm sure you witnessed a man daily walking around cursing .. Screaming how badly the ship was . Middle of the week I asked a server in the casino why he would continue to serve someone who clearly has consumed more than he should have ..

[GrannyGail]

What about loungers in the shade? Is it the same situation... Too many people... Not enough loungers?

[TifffanyD]

Not hear say .. I sailed 1/9 - 1/16 and I watched a man attack a worker in the casino .. Two men physically going at it pool area .. I believe it was over a lounge chair .. I honestly never witnessed as many drunken fools in my whole life .. It's one thing to be around drunk happy party going people ..

I mostly did not see this ..

If any one sailed this sailing I'm sure you witnessed a man daily walking around cursing .. Screaming how badly the ship was . Middle of the week I asked a server in the casino why he would continue to serve someone who clearly has consumed more than he should have ..

 

I sailed that sailing and didn't see anyone walking around screaming except some of the obnoxious parrotheads.

[mayj1209]

What about loungers in the shade? Is it the same situation... Too many people... Not enough loungers?

 

We found it packed everywhere but it could be that we went the week of Jan 2.

[joelle6667]

What about loungers in the shade? Is it the same situation... Too many people... Not enough loungers?

 

I know this is difficult to visualize and it was very difficult to take a picture of because I would be taking pictures of strangers sun bathing lol

But you can go to you tube perhaps and veiw a walk through video ..

I was on the oasis as a member wrote and service was excellent and you never felt as though there were that many on board .. I agree take it all with a grain of salt and with that realize people stacked lounge chairs every where .. Sun, shade , walk ways .. There were lounge chairs every where and trust me when I say the path way on deck was all but three feet wide .. Single file and with that some had chairs blocking path .. You were zig zagging through.. There was just not enough deck space ..

[joelle6667]

I sailed that sailing and didn't see anyone walking around screaming except some of the obnoxious parrotheads.

 

I saw the parrot heads lol that would fall under drunk happy partying lol

[trvlqueen]

So are most of the people just complaining or exaggerating that are the chairs by the pool are gone and or saved with towels by 7:00am? I hope so. I was on the Breeze last year and people said the same thing, but I never had a problem before 9:00am.

 

We were on the January 2 cruise - and it was pretty bad with the chair hogs. That said, I'm not above moving their towels under the chair if they've been unoccupied for an extended period. I don't mind giving the chair up if they return, but on our trip, we did this three different times, spent over four hours in the chairs we "borrowed" and the people that had saved them never returned. Right next to the pool, you tend to find groups of chairs held by one person, so you're unlikely to get a spot there unless you arrive very early, but I prefer the deck just above the pool, anyway, as there is a better breeze up there -

[joelle6667]

You can definitely borrow a chair that has a towel and I too have know problem identifying a chair that clearly had been abandoned with no personal belongings but did you not feel that the placement of chairs all over the decks was crazy ..

There was not a shortage of chairs as there was a shortage of deck space ..

They were every where and any where! Honestly you could not walk safely !!

When you read about arguments & fights .. It's true, I can not for the life of me imagine a man going on a beautiful ship with his wife/girl friend and others in the group assaulting a worker .. Your an animal in my opion .. I witnessed this and also witnessed my 74 year old father being next to the staff member who was being hit.. It was very upsetting to see .. I do not know what prompted the guest to throw these punches and go for this employee but I honestly don't care.

There definitely are people that when cunsuming too much alcohol become unruly .. I would definitely wait a bit before borrowing someone's chair.

I had my parents and two children in line while leaving the ship while a couple ended up before me and my husband, I had stopped to fix my bag and they ended up before us.. I had the customs paper for the four of us and my daughter brought it to my attention and I asked the woman if she minded my husband & I getting back with them .. I am not sure if her partner with the straw cowboy hat realized she said of course but he turned around and very loudly said "or their asses can all climb back her with you" I honestly was more embarrassed for her when my 21 year old told him to move ahead of us all and apologized .. This behavior I honestly witnessed all week ..

Mostly I was left with my mouth open by the ignorance some of the guest had towards the staff .. I vacation often and I usually try for two cruises a year and never witnessed anything like this .. Personally I feel that everyone could have been frustrated by the long waits .. lines .. Over booking ect..

When you read service was slow it was slow .. Yes your on vacation and there should be no rush but meals are a patience tester ..

We had our breakfast each morning in the Haven And we would be sitting 1/2 before we got coffee .. And don't expect more cream or extra butter ..

I loved the wait staff they were wonderful and I can't blame them .. They were so busy that at times I felt terrible asking them for something ..

This was every where ...just not enough staff