13 Clever Ways to Outsmart Chair Hogs on a Cruise
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- If you love cruising & lounging on the lido deck, then you know how annoying pesky Chair Hogs can be! However, there are some ways to outsmart & beat some of the most annoying people on a cruise!
Reserving chairs (for too long) is something cruise passengers should not do on a cruise ship. However, this doesn't stop some cruisers from being chair hogs. In this video I share some smart & effective ways to beat chair hogs on your next cruise vacation.
This video is great for first time cruisers & repeat cruisers, & offers helpful cruise tips & tricks that work!
This video is a must-watch if you're going on a cruise with one of the most popular cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL
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ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
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I can absolutely confirm I enjoy my morning coffee on the Lido. I can also admit to seeing said chair hogs claiming excessive chairs. I can not confirm or deny collecting said towels and depositing them all on one chair at the end of the row.
Haha love this a little 😉😂
😂
We moved towels from ‘unvisited chairs’ next to us so others could use the chairs. I know those toweled chairs had no one using them for the 4 hours we had been there.
Perfect!
You're a hero.
I’ve read comments reporting they’ve seen ppl go to the pool area late at night after fresh clean towels are placed in the bins, grab the towels & save their chairs for the next day.
Dec of 2023 we went on a 7 night cruise. We looked for an empty chair everyday. The only time we got a chair was the day they cancelled the port stop due to wind.
This December I’m going to look at things differently. When I see chairs saved, I’m going to be grateful that they saved the chair for me. I’ll remove the towel, sit down & enjoy the sun. I refuse to give away my power to inconsiderate people.
I love your comment 👍🏼.
I’m 100% with you on this. They just don’t know how much I really don’t care about them saving a chair.
My wife and I watched two chairs in the shade that had towels on them and after 20 minutes, we removed the towels, and sat on the chairs in the shade. A few minutes later a woman who had been sitting in the sun with her husband directly across from the shaded chairs came over and collected her towels. She didn’t look any too happy but we didn’t care at all.
There were 14 of us on a family cruise aboard Royal Caribbean. My daughter and I wanted to sit outside in the sun for awhile. We looked everywhere and could not find any empty chairs. We picked 2 that had some personal belongings and moved the stuff off in a pile. We sat there for at least an hour and a half, no one came to claim the chairs. We put the stuff back on the chairs and went on our way. People can be so inconsiderate and think nothing of it. I enjoy all your videos, thank you.
I love removing a dozen towels or so in the early morning while people are at breakfast, returning them, and spending my day in the highest bar on the ship, watching the chaos.
😂😂😂😂😂
ha ha This is the way! ^^
We could not find 2 chairs in the sunny area by the pool one day. I spotted 2 empty chairs and asked an attendant if he could also watch those chairs. I set my timer for 40 minutes and approached the attendant again, he didn't want to move the towels or help us out. I said thank you and walked over to the chairs and set our things down. I gathered the 2 previous towels and returned them to big laundry bin by the pool attendant. After being in those chairs nearly 2 1/2 hours the owners came down to claim them. I politely told them that an attendant removed the towels and let us sit there. The couple of women had clearly just had lunch and had never even set foot in the pool. They weren't happy, but what could they do? Then next day I did the same thing, waited 40 minutes and removed the towels. No one came by and we had great seats. I was frustrated that the RC attendant did not want to help or get involved. My advice is to set your timer and wait the 40 minutes the attendants would wait and take care of it yourself. My poor husband was mortified, but fair is fair and shame on RC for not enforcing the rules that are clearly stated in several areas around the pool.
This is disappointing to hear the rule is not enforced. Had a Hawaiian resort that enforced this rule beautifully, and chairs were never an issue. Think I will do this.
Well done 👍 I think that’s brilliant
I wouldn't even wait the 40 minutes. Heck with that. After a couple/few minutes, get that crap out of here. Time and life is too short to deal with selfish people. Only if it's a "towel" and not their personal belongings though. Then have to follow normal rules.
My wife and I just got off a Carnival Cruise last month and all around the pool areas and on their big video screen near their main pool, they posted messages regarding saving deck chairs that if a chair was saved, they imposed a 40 minute time limit or the belongings would be removed. I dont know if it was really enforced, but I am glad to see that it is finally being addressed.
I should have read this comment before posting to the last one. I hope other cruise lines will start doing this too. Even if it isn’t always enforced, most reasonable people can take the hint from signs and announcements.
Its unfortunate that the actual chair hogs probably do not watch your awesome videos!
Those chair hogs don't care. They're the kind of people who takes advantage of someone else's kindness.
@@Jon-yo4wj Exactly.
Fortunately, I don’t really like hanging out around the pool. I so much prefer the fan tail or an upper deck view of the ocean. It’s definitely minimized my frustration regarding chairs.
So right. If I want to hang around the pool. I would stay in my own neighborhood at home. So many things to do on a ship, and I burn easily, too.
…fan tail? Sounds like a Navy guy
@@ScroatBagGarage Or Navy guy wannabe, we just said aft. Then again I was on Submarines so aft had a whole different meaning. ;)
Saving 20 chairs would be a big no no for me. If I saw someone doing that, I’d just sit in one of the chairs anyway.
Same thing in the show lounge.
Absolutely
That goes for anywhere as far as I'm concerned. I'm fine w/ it if someone is saving the seat next to them for their spouse...but beyond that I figure it's first come, first served.
I say someone holding 8 chairs for people who were in port 😮. That’s just not right
We just sit on them. If the “savers” ever arrive, we just get up. Sometimes we are there for hours in these “saved” chairs
I go to the pool right after breakfast. It's sunny but not blazing, the pool is warm and an hour or two is all you need. The hogs that kill me is towel and a book but don't come back until noon. I just move their stuff into the shade next to the smoking area then go to lunch 😆
My view is that if you are going to leave your chair for over 30 minutes you give up the chair. That includes if you rush out there first thing in the morning to reserve the chair. The chair is a scarce commodity and should be treated as such. If possible share your chair. If your kids are going to be in the pool the whole time they don't need a chair.
Truth…”littles” rarely use those saved chairs
NEW CONCEPT: Total prohibition on reserving chairs.
Yes, removing unattended towels from the lounge chairs and staking your territory is a good move, just as removing someone's clothes from the dryer that has been unattended even before you started your load of laundry. You snooze, you lose.
On a Viking cruise last year, someone added their clothes to my clothes that were in the dryer. Like sorry that was gross to try to get my clothes out. I would have preferred if they just moved my laundry to the sofa in the laundry room. FYI I just left my clothes in the dryer for like an hour while I went to lunch. 🤦🏻♀ check the dryers and washing machines.
3:35 We AGREE...we paid for a cruise to 😊SEE, smell and feel the ❤Sea air...and when getting sunshine while sitting these chairs i feel less eyes judging my imperfect body 😊
We really dislike chair hogs. I like the idea of them being monitored. Give people 45 minutes, then have staff pull their stuff off & put it by the towel area.
I will put a post-it note on my stuff with a BRB and the current time if I need to get a drink or need to use the bathroom.
That’s a great idea. I’m packing post it notes right now. Last year my husband, adult daughter, and I went on a cruise to alaska. My hubby and daughter decided to eat in a specialty restaurant a couple of times that I wasn’t interested in. One night I ate at the buffet. As soon as I sat down with a full plate and a full drink, I realized I had forgotten a condiment. I got up and grabbed it only to return to an empty table 😔 The post it note would have been perfect for that situation too.
@@tammystreasures8766 I hope it all works out for you!! I feel bad you lost all your food!!😳
@@trekguy66 it’s all good. The buffets aren’t as crowded at dinner time anyway. I would have been more upset about my drink, but I had the drink package so that was ok too. The other night I was alone, I went to the main dining room and, of course, it was excellent and I got my favorite waiter 👍 The one piece of super great advice I got before going on our first cruise 10 years ago, was to not let little things ruin a great vacation. Learn to go with the flow. Since then, I have also learned that kindness goes a long way. Even on our flights or at hotels, I try to be extra nice and just try to let things roll off my back. 👍
That’s a great idea. I will be going on my first solo cruise soon and a post it might help if I need to get a drink or use the restroom!!!
@@tammystreasures8766 excellent philosophy!!
Great tips Ilana. On Celebrity many times i love to sit in the Solarium by a window. It usually very quiet and available. But even there i have seen someone put some stuff on some chairs and then i wouldn't see them for hours. Yes the pool attendant did finally remove their stuff one morning after I told her about the chair hog.
Happy cruising Ilana!
Thanks for sharing this :)
Best way to deal with it, imo
Great ideas Ilana! 😊 We’ve had success with some of these. Once though things didn’t work so well! 😳😂 We moved a towel once (and the lounger thankfully so we were not found out by the people involved!) after asking if anyone had been using the lounger and getting a negative (being told they hadn’t been there for three hours!) but then they returned and were livid! 😮 Hubby was in the pool at the time so he didn’t witness it and I just pled ignorance. 😂
The crew people should enforce any rules about chair saving.
people really need to learn how to share the chairs. Ive seen chairs vacant for hours, I guess some people want to keep their chairs while they go eat dinner. This is not only inconsiderate but it is rude. Perhaps a new rule should be in place on cruises, NO Reserving Chairs! First come first serve!
From what I understand, that is the rule. The attendants just need to be alerted.
I'm going to admit, I'm watching this video out of sheer curiosity. This whole thing is odd IMO. We live in Arizona and the last thing we would want to do is bake in the sun more that we already do. If we're on the pool deck, we're in the water.
I agree with you. I live in PA but am in my 50's, and enjoy shade more than "heat/suntan". If Im around that pool, my chair's going to be in the shade, and if I am even in that area it's because I intend to get into the pool! 🤣
I would most definitely remove towels that have been sitting a long tine with no personal items, if no other chairs were available. I'm not a sun worshiper, so I'm ok with shade chair. Love your channel ❤
Agree - lol thanks so much for watching
What if the person is just in the pool and you move his or her stuff…you would look stupid. 🤦🏻♀
@@HollyPlakeThat’s why you watch for a decent length of time.
@@judithstrachan9399 I mean it is RUDE to move someone’s private stuff. If it is a cruise line’s towel laying there it is different.
Love your tips especially about sharing. Since I’m a solo cruiser that makes so much sense for me. Also I rarely sit near the pool. I like the Sun deck above or on the side of the ship. Still hear fun music but often shaded so I can read or nap and close enough for beverages or snacks.
I too love my morning iced latte sitting the shade on the aft pool deck at 7 am! Best time ever!!
Sounds like a great spot
Same here, I do enjoy morning coffee of early evening cocktail looking at the water, so the pool deck is not necessary for me. Also, the thought of sitting in the hot sun near an over-crowded pool hours is not my idea of vacation.
Chair hogs are so annoying! I remember on my last cruise my husband and I walked on every deck on a Sea Day looking for a chair and we couldn't find an empty chair because most chairs had personal items laid out on them with nobody's sitting on them. We ended up having to go back to the room.
Very frustrating. Honestly that’s a case to ask a pool attendant for help - it’s not right
My last cruise I reserved a cabana at the Vibe Beach Club on the Norwegian Encore. It was reserved for my exclusive use the whole length of the cruise. The staff was very attentive. The hot tubs weren't crowded. 10 out of 10 I will do it again.
I just skip the sun chairs. Saves on the cost of sunscreen and premature skin aging.
😂
Yes. It makes me cringe seeing people lying out in the sun like they do on cruise ships.
@NicolaDrake79 I just don't enjoy it. I'd rather be cooler in the shade, reading a book or people watching.
Thank you for all of your wonderful videos Ilana. Hubby and I are going on our first cruise in October and we have been soaking up your advice like a sponge!
That’s so exciting!! Let me know if there are topics you’d like to see :)
A highly controversial topic and one of the biggest gripes on the Britannia Facebook page. Pool attendants are supposed to remove towels etc from any chair that has not been used for the past hour but they don't. Probably to avoid conflict but it would help everyone if the rule was enforced. What we are seeing is the worst of cruisers selfish behaviour. Why reserve a sunbed early in a morning if you are going on an excursion or ashore for a couple of hours - but people do and when they find on return their towel has been removed there is conflict. Or how about the group of four who commandeered a block of eight sunbeds so that they had one in the sun and one in the shade for later in the day. You cannot use two sunbeds at the same time and they should have been made to surrender four. Not sure if being an early bird is the answer as so many chair hogs do just that.
The only way forward is for cruise lines to make it policy that unattended items will be removed after an hour and to start enforcing it. That would mean giving staff assertiveness training to stand up to those who break the rule. I have been told that Britannia has plenty of chairs away from the pool so fingers crossed will be able to get on on sea days.
Look at ALL the reserved chairs in your videos! We always have a hard time finding chairs. I usually go up a deck or 2 and get in the shade somewhere. This is a hot topic on ships.
Our experience has been positive with finding a chair . Having cruised to many ports before we pick the morning 9 -11:00 am to enjoy a uncrowded pool while folks have gone ashore . We also utilize our state room deck a lot.
Sounds great 👏
I do think the crew should step in and announcements should be made reiterating that you cannot save a chair for hours without using them and the towels and belongings will be moved seemed reasonable to me
Good idea
A sign by the chairs would be good too. Maybe something along the lines of reserving chairs is prohibited. Any items left unattended for 40 minutes or more will be removed.
Yes, Hilton Hawaiian Village enforces by placing a sign with a time mark. After 40 minutes, the stuff is moved and chairs made available. Everyone knows the rules, so can't get upset if your stuff is moved.
Chair hogs aren’t just around the pool they are also in the theatre and on my recent Alaskan cruise they were in the crows nest as well for Glacier Bay talks. When I went into the crows nest for the early morning talk a lady had placed personal items on the full length of a large bench seat and many chairs just across from the bench. Saving about 15 spaces. I walked up and politely said “can I sit here” and very abruptly she said “ no” I asked if she needed all of them when a man and lady (maybe in their 30s) arrived the older lady (much younger than me) said “yes i do” but the man said “no” I walked away at that stage and sat on the floor (I’m in my 60s). I could hear the man arguing with the older lady but she would not give in. Once the talk began I waited 5 minutes and no one came so I then walked back sat right in the middle of the bench and said ”it doesn’t look like your people are coming and I’m in my 60s and you should be ashamed of yourself keeping this many seats and watching me sit on the floor” the man was horrified and kept apologising. He got up gathered the ladies items and dumped them in the ladies lap and said”don’t do that again mum” 🫢
I have seen on an Alaska cruise where the passenger videoed a large amount of chairs and sofas with everything you could think of from their cabin to save chair's. This needs to be addressed if the cruise lines does not want some problems in the future. People this day and time don't care about anyone but themselves. Shameful!!!!
I avoid the pools on deck. I simply post up in the casino. 😂
Our last cruise was on Carnival Conquest. We avoided the main pool and went to the aft pool after lunch and had no problem getting loungers. And the pool itself was quieter too
Good idea to look for the “alternative” pool, thanks for sharing
I've never understood why folks find the need to cram in like sardines around the pool. It's noisy, crowded, kids running amok... ugh, no thanx. On my favorite ship, the Elation, the smoking area is the deck above the pool. I snag a lounger and drag is 20 feet or so into the smoking area (I smoke) and plunk. If I want to go for a dip, just go down, hop in for a bit and then back up. It's quieter, much less busy and has a better breeze!
This is a great idea. I don’t need to be right where the action is as long as I am close by.
I only grab a chair by the pool when I or my hubby want to swim. Otherwise, I would rather be further from the noise. A lot of the time on a sea day I will just sit on my balcony for beauty and sea breeze. I love being on the ship, but my favorite days are on port days when ship is quieter. We are going on a smaller ship next week for the first time. I’m hoping with fewer passengers it will be less noisy.
I prefer the upper deck chairs. Bar is right there and less busy, nice breeze
Love your top and your ideas!
Wow! Chairs are a tricky subject. That can be a fight just waiting 😮. I've seen arguments happen over chair hogging. Luckily my experiences have always been a location option not involving being directly next to the pool.
if you really want to sit by the pool take a cheap mechanical kitchen timer, set it to 45 min on the chair, everyone will applaud when the timer goes off..... except the chair hogs.
I’m a big fan of your channel. I love the advice you give and you do it in a great and fun way. Some of these tips, however, seemed like your were giving tips on how to be a chair hog. Please don’t get up early and reserve a chair unless you want to use the chair at that time. Don’t leave your things on a chair if your going to lunch for an hour. The chairs next to the pool should be used by the people that are using the pool or people with them. For instance if I want to swim and my husband doesn’t, then he is fine sitting next to the pool watching me. If I want the sunshine, but not really in the mood to swim, then I chose a chair away from the pool so swimmers can use the closer chairs. The only time I have left my chair unattended is to go get a drink or to take a dip in the pool. My favorite is for my husband and I to go get a chair and I’ll sit on the edge of the pool with my feet in the water and he reads or whatever in the chair. Once in a while, it’s the other way around. I actually love staying on the ship on port days even if it’s for half a day. If it’s a port I’ve been to before, a lot of the times I will enjoy the day on a less crowded ship. I’m so excited our next cruise is just a week away. Thanks for such great content!
Thanks for your great comments. I’m definitely not encouraging people to reserve a chair early & not actually use it :)
@@LifeWellCruised oh I really didn’t think you were, but I’m afraid that’s how other watchers will see it. I think you are great and honest ❤️
I don’t want to sit in the sun so near the pool is not a big draw for me. Also, I don’t like people so why would I want to lounge near them. Suite with balcony & privacy is my cup of tea. Hubby is the people person but he’s not going to bake in the sun either. He’ll be in the casino and know everyone there within an hour. True story - we were on a cruise, I went to cabin to unpack, hubby went to explore the ship. They were giving tours of the spa/salon so he called me to come over. On my way there people kept asking me if I was “?”. I said yes and they said my husband was looking for me. When I got to the salon, I told hubby he was in big trouble. All those people only had to remember one name, he was going to have to remember about 2000, plus the crew. I think if we were walking through the pool area and noticed alot of saved chairs we’d probably act like crew members and remove all the towels while ignoring any complaints, fake ignorance and no speak english.
My favorite time at the pool is early in the morning or later in the afternoon. This way you avoid the crowds and no issues with the chairs. 😁
I've never had an issue with "chair hogs" since there are so many chairs scattered around the ship. My issue is with the fact that the chairs are so close together that they can't be moved an inch to follow the sun. I've been referred to as a "sun dial" in that I'm there for the tan. I see so many who can't possibly get an even tan. I usually go for an end chair of a long row so that I can move with the sun. After all, I don't want uneven lines...
That’s true, we’ve actually lifted up our chairs to reverse them 😂
Have you tried a tanning bed?
Great video Ilana! I’ve never had this issue before because I tend to try to find the absolute least populated spots to lay out. 😂❤🎉
I remember during COVID, when cruising was shut down, I'd get up early and leave a book on a lawn chair, just to stay in practice. 😝
Love your video. have a blessed day
Maddening! This happens all the time!
True annoying
Not only our people inconsiderate, but sadly too many people think they’re entitled to do what they want despite the rules. When I’m looking for a chair and everything seems to be “saved” I will give 15 minutes and if no one‘s back, I will remove their personal belongings to the ground and take the chair. I’ve seen way too many times chair sit unattended for way too long. And I’ve never seen a pool attendant to help with this problem. leaving your chair to go get lunch and thinking it should be saved over that time is not OK! Not sorry if this sounds harsh, I’m fed up with these people!
@LifeWellCruise - HILARIOUS still shot describing “chair hogs!”😂 Always enjoy and learn something helpful from your videos - thank you Ilana.👌🏻
If you leave the pool deck because of a passing rain storm, take your towels with you if you decide to leave for the day. Soaked towels weigh a lot!
It would seem that the cruise lines could come up with some other creative ideas to handle the seating. And it would be great marketing if the cruise lines would let their customers come up with ideas.
On some Carnival Cruise ships we found that deck 3 under the lifeboats along the sides there where chairs and lounge chairs that were very seldom used and you got the cool breeze running down along the sides
Thank you for these great tips, Ilana. This is the main reason we decided to book our next cruise with a smaller, luxury ship (Seabourn). We are late-risers and always fall victim to chair hogs. These will be good tips though for the future! :-)
I hate crowds so I usually opt for a top deck chair facing the ocean. Better view!
I have asked pool attendants to time chairs and wait until they remove them
Thanks for sharing this
I think that’s the best way to do it.
We recently discovered the Havana area with a pool and Havana rooms. Only 18 and above. Only Havana rooms get to use the pool and bar. It’s awesome 👏
I absolutely hate chair hogs - I just can't understand how they don't get embarrassed! While I was cruising B2B on Rotterdam, I couldn't believe to see chair hogs on changeover day - they were going to be among the first passengers back onto the ship, yet they still got up to get their belongings on a lounger by the pool before they headed off for their immigration checks - absolutely RIDICULOUS, haha!
One thing to suggest is that if you don't need a chair but have belongings and one of those hanging safes, you can ask someone if you can borrow a rung to latch the safe on to. Of course, announce your presence when you approach to access or remove the safe.
I usually get up early and get a chair for my wife and myself. I like to read in the morning. I might get up for a few minutes here and there to get coffee or to the restroom and she gets up an hour or so later and joins me. We both usually are there most of the day except for lunch. It is sickening to see people come down and get the very best chairs at the same time and sometimes never use them picking up their towels hours later like they might have thought about using them and changed their minds. Really love the people who use one towel to save two chairs at a time. There would always be plenty of chairs if people just used them when they really needed them. Not worth starting a fight over...
Thank goodness that bar stools aren't as competitive. I couldn't care about laying by the pool.
Haha good point
This is the biggest irritant I have on a cruise ship, bar none! If I see just towels on a chair, I would ask the people near by how long they have been unattended. If the answer is an extended amount of time, I would remove the towels and use the chairs for my wife and I. If there is an UN-attendant near by, I would advise him/her of my actions. I use the word "un-attendant" because of the history of the cruise lines not policing or not having policies in regard to chair hogs.
Recently I took my daughter and grandson to Cancun. We needed to get up by 6 am and go to the pool to save our chairs. It was ridiculous. Thank goodness for those chair bands that you recommended. They saved us. The pool attendants did release chairs after an hour. It was fabulous
I don't think that you should be ablento go down at 6am and put towel bands on and leave til you are ready to come back after breakfast or whatever. It is rude. I agree with one of the posts, rule should be no saving, 1st come 1st serve
We've left our chairs, with tote bags, lotions, etc to go to lunch. When we came back an hour later, ALL of our items were gone! We've learned to send one of us to bring lunch to the pool area.😅
An hour later!?!?
Expecting a chair to sit unused for an hour while you are lunching is a prime example of a chair hog.
It is not reasonable to just leave your personal items on deck chairs & go to lunch.
Yep, we played musical chairs on an Antartica trip. Three chairs for 4 of us, worked great. Several commented about me getting food brought to me. They were jealous at my chair service. Although on one cruise line I’ve sailed room service can be to anywhere.
@Hawkeye2001 We're disabled and in our late 60's. We get the loungers by the handicapped pool lift around 9:30 and stay til around 3:30. We've been on 89 cruises, and only once had our items removed for lunch.
I overhear people taking about all the fake stuff they brought in order to hog chairs. Books, sunblock etc. etc. just move stuff and enjoy. No worries. ❤
Most of the cruises I have done have been cold water cruises--for example, Alaska--so chair hogging is less of an issue.
Carnival celebration has crew that monitor pool area and will remove stuff after 40minutes!
RC has a 30 minute policy, I just point out some that have been vacant for a while and they mark them, 30 minutes later they gather belongings off the chair!
This isn't a problem for me and my wife. We seldom 'plunk', unless there really is nothing else to occupy us. We'd rather walk, talk, or go to our suite and read where it is quiet. Honestly, the one place I spend the largest chunk of time on a vessel underway to the next port is Ye Olde Promenade deck. I clock at least 20K steps a day, sometimes considerably more. My wife likes to relax and have a nap, sometimes twice a day. When she does, I walk...and walk...
I loved walking on the Bliss. The have a great promenade with awesome seating and bars along the way. If I got tired, I’d just sit in one of the seating areas. When it got too windy or cold, I would walk in the observation lounge.
I cannot imagine the backlash if you are sitting in a chair the pool attendant removed items from
I think chair hogging should be forbidden!
Sorry I don't go on a cruise to go into the pool...I've been in the pool twice in my 30 cruises...I have a pool in the backyard that doesn't get used enough...just not into sunbathing and skin cancer. I prefer to do other things.
I rarely want to be right next to the main pool… as you mention it can noisy and crowded.
I much prefer seeking out a quieter spot… up above the pool, or forward or aft.
Often I’ll head to the aft pool (which on many ships can be an adults only pool) and there are usually plenty of places to sit
Will take these tip on board. I've heard that the observation lounge on the Bliss is one of the worst for chair hogs. Thanks.
Interesting
Actually it’s not bad except in Alaska it is a little more crowded because it’s cold outside or may be raining. On our Bliss cruise to the Mexican riviera, there was very seldom people in the observation lounge, except one night there was a private party. On our alaska cruise on the Bliss, there were almost always people there, but we were always able to find chairs near the windows. My daughter spent most of her time on the ship in the observation deck water coloring. I will always love Bliss and Encore.
@tammystreasures8766 It's Alaska we're going to, so we will see. Thanks
I just assume an attendant laid out a towel for me.
I am a skin cancer risk, so I avoid the sun like the plague! I'll be looking for chairs in the shade so that I can read one of the 600+ books on my iPad.
I’m not ready to sit and soak up the sun until about 2pm give or take a half hour, so I don’t encounter the chair hogs.
Just remove towels. It's very simple
Why don’t cruise lines have a reservation system for chairs? That way people could just relax, knowing they had a place to sit. They could even up charge for it, which the cruise lines seem to love to do nowadays for everything else, right?
Ok real talk if I sat outside for breakfast and watched chairs ne empty for over an hour I will just move the person's stuff over to the place you can get more towels and take the damn chair. You leave that long you lose the right. Someone comes to complain I point where their stuff is and tell them it was vacant for over an hour and they aren't the queen of the ship.
lol sounds good
I’m not that assertive/confidant. I wouldn’t have problem asking the staff member to do that though.
@tammystreasures8766 I grew up in the country with a lot of overly entitled types. I learned to be assertive or people will walk over your good graces. When they are just holding it without using it (I don't mean they are in the pool, I mean completely away) then they lose the space.
🤦🏻♀ I would be mad if someone moved my personal when I was in the pool. It is RUDE. Did your parents teach you proper manners like do not touch other people’s stuff. 🤦🏻♀
Stuff*
On our last cruise there was an old, really old British couple that were the ultimate chair hogs. I don't know how early in the morning they went to reserve "their chairs", but if must have been very early since EVERY SINGLE DAY they had the EXACT SAME chairs.
Every day. From morning until night.
It was disgusting. Nobody from the crew did something because those people were in the highest loyalty level.
Since we were doing a b2b we were hoping on things getting better on the 2nd leg.
Much to our disappointment they also did b2b and the whole sh**just went on.
Very annoying.
Their sense of entitlement because of who they were is disgraceful. Regardless of tier the crew should should act if it is impacting on others. Did they not go ashore at any time or do anything else?
@@philipdouglas5911 I have not seen them going ashore on the 1st leg. The 2nd leg was a Transatlantic, so only one stop, but they probably still did not go. They were really old, maybe did not want to walk.
I wonder if they did more than just b2b and spend most of their life on that ship.
@@tammystreasures8766maybe, we did not ask.
Yup and what about the ones who travel in LARGE groups and hog the entire lunch area seating near the pool the entire day?!?!
We did an MSC Yacht Club cruise recently, and there was an awful group from the UK (my countrymen) who proceeded to put towel clips on the best sunbeds the night before. Unfortunately, the crew did nothing to discourage this or remove them. I did. After dinner, I would go up and pop their clips of various items around the sundeck. We shouldn't have to, and it's stopped us from returning to MSC, even though we loved the yacht club idea.
We have been on many Caribbean cruises. We really enjoyed Celebrity’s Solstice class ships because they have many seats in the shade on the pool deck. We NEVER sit by the pool because we avoid the sun. We love Celebrity’s Edge class ships in most ways, but there are not as many lounge chairs in the shade. Wish they would have more shaded seats. As my cousin, who has lived in Florida for more than 40 years, says “the sun is not your friend.”. Lots of cases of skin cancer there.
No chair issues, noise or rude people in suite class such as the retreat on celebrity. Alternatively, it’s unpleasant to have to confront inconsiderate cruisers while on a vacation but it must be done
I went on a cruise mumblety-mumble years ago when I was young (can’t remember the cruise line), and they assigned you a lounge chair for the duration of the cruise. It’s definitely better to be able to choose where you want to be, and I appreciate your tips on dealing with chair hogs!
This is not difficult....get up early, grab two chairs 2-3 rows back from the pool, quick 10 minute Lido buffet, and right back to the pool. Zero issues, always get a chair.
Now THIS is a great informational video! Chair hogs are as bad as line cutters!
My wife and i will only use one chair because we are usually in the pool so we need somewhere for our stuff Maybe sit for a bit but we only need one chair we wish more people did that
Also bring your own printed out papers that say it’s been over 45 minutes sorry your beat
I never want to sit by the pool. There's too much going on while I'm trying to relax. I prefer the quiet areas away from the pool and people.
Well I’m sure several people like me and several hated me if they new it was me lol yes I get up early always have and when I see people put towels and stuff on chairs and leave I’ve been known to remove them turn towels in pile there stuff up and if it’s a good bit of stuff from different people I tend to mix it all together put it next to the outer wall or beside trash can they can hate me if they want but people hate when you think the chair is yours for the entire cruise . So come on people help me out it’s fun watching people come back later and other people sitting there and there looking for there stuff
I like to find a chair in a shaded area this way I'm able to go sit at the edge of the pool and then get out of the sun and have a chair my bag hat and personal towel is always with me being very fair skinned I have to be careful not to burn
Good idea
When I cruise with my daughter we rarely sit by the pool. She is very sensitive to Sun and so we find other shaded areas for quiet time. I will never cruise with her again without a balcony. She loves sitting on the balcony when it’s shaded.
I don't lay out so I don't care about chairs by the pool.But if I wanted one and the only thing there was a towel I would just move it.
We usually pay for the Vibe on Norwegian but last cruise we did not and on a sea day it was 7 am and I asked my husband to go find a chair while I hopped in the shower. He got the only one chair that he could find not even by the pool because I prefer to sit away from the action anyway. There were 4 chairs reserved at the end of my row and a couple came a couple of hours after I was there and asked if someone was sitting there and I said no they were reserved before I got here, so they took two chairs and no one ever came for the 4 chairs that were reserved.
The pool attendant said we could take a couple chairs that had cruise towels sitting on them to "reserve" the chairs for an hour or so so we took the chairs. Another hour later, one of the guys came back and was mad we were in chairs. They had reserved 10, and then ended up getting 2 more on the other side of their group of chairs, and we had 4, so they lost 2, which btw never did they use all the chairs the whole sea day. They started yelling at us and said thise have been there chairs all week so they are obviously their chairs. They started to get aggressive, so I got security. It was rediculous! We smoothed it over a couoke hours later and they were fine with us then. But it is REALLY annoying when people save so many chairs at dawn and then think they can come a couple hours later and expect to be able to have them. Part of the problem is that more people want shade then is available. I love the sun, but have to avoid it for medical reasons, so shade is a must. I feel that the ships could cover some of the sunny areas and make more shade then more people would be happy. Still leaving sunny areas too. But it seems like itnis 1bin 10 are shady if that.
We asked the pool attendant to put chairs out on Seascape
I ask the nearest person if the chair is being used and how long it’s been abandoned, if good, I take it and move the stuff. If more people did this and chair hogging didn’t work, the less we’d have to deal with it.
Never remove other’s belongings from a chair. I have seen fights erupt because of this. Instead, talk to the pool attendant and he/she may remove the belongings. Now if the person shows up you can tell them that the attendant removed their belongings and that it wasn’t you.
Exactly! I would be mad if someone moved my personal belongings when I was in the pool. It is rude to do so.
I'm sorry but I was lead to believe that chair hogging was not allowed. Are we starting to accommodate this element in our society now? I have been told by more than one cruise line that it was perfectly alright to remove hog belongings from a chair and put them on the deck. Or ask a crew member and they would remove the belongings. And what's up with someone thinking that if they leave their chairs to go to lunch that they get those chairs back when they return. If a chair hog goes to the buffet for breakfast do they get the same chairs when they return for lunch ? And why should I ask a chair hog if I can use THEIR chair while they go spend time somewhere else on the ship ? Just saying !!
If I can’t find 3 chairs in a row for my group I always just move the towels off 3 chairs where I want to sit. I don’t play their game at all.
I have a devious idea. How about you get up early and place a towel on every chair so it isn’t clear what is reserved! That works for the pic you showed where the towels were on the chair, not so much when you have to check them out to your card!