Chair Hogs - They're Everywhere!

[spcl4cs_gal]

Spending a very relaxing Christmas week in the Dominican Republic. Just sitting around the pool, I can't help but notice the number of tourists staying at this resort who put their towels on the deck chairs FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, definitely inconveniencing anyone who wishes to sit and enjoy the pool/sun at the same time. And then the hogs have the nerve to pop in every now and again to make sure that no one has taken their chair. :rolleyes: One individual, who has been here the whole week has claimed her chair day in and day out. She needs to go back home and let everyone have a fair shot at a chair. :mad:

[sapper1]

Spending a very relaxing Christmas week in the Dominican Republic. Just sitting around the pool, I can't help but notice the number of tourists staying at this resort who put their towels on the deck chairs FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, definitely inconveniencing anyone who wishes to sit and enjoy the pool/sun at the same time. And then the hogs have the nerve to pop in every now and again to make sure that no one has taken their chair. :rolleyes: One individual, who has been here the whole week has claimed her chair day in and day out. She needs to go back home and let everyone have a fair shot at a chair. :mad:
Look on the bright side, Alison---at least you are not freezing your buns off here in Canada:)---although I must say this is the first green Christmas I have seen in ages. Our lawn is still bright green and not a flake of snow to be seen. Have a nice Christmas and give that chair hog a little splash as you swim by her.;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Yup -- they are everywhere -- ships -- resorts, etc.

But at least you are in a WARM area for the holidays with no snow.

Enjoy!!

[lorekauf]

Look on the bright side, Alison---at least you are not freezing your buns off here in Canada:)---although I must say this is the first green Christmas I have seen in ages. Our lawn is still bright green and not a flake of snow to be seen. Have a nice Christmas and give that chair hog a little splash as you swim by her.;)

Good to hear you aren't covered in snow. It's plenty white here but at least the roads are ok and it's somewhat warm here today.

[TracieABD]

Tell the pool manager at the resort. Maybe they help you out!

[sail7seas]

We're expecting about 18 "+ snow tomorrow into Monday so chair hogs suit me just fine right about now. :D A full blown blizzard is on its way...........

[Vince1980]

Maybe it would be a fun experiment to see if her towel can swim? Or is that too harsh? ;)

[GeriatricNurse]

Look on the bright side, Alison---at least you are not freezing your buns off here in Canada:)---although I must say this is the first green Christmas I have seen in ages. Our lawn is still bright green and not a flake of snow to be seen. Have a nice Christmas and give that chair hog a little splash as you swim by her.;)


Have you been affected by all the rain & flooding that has occured recently in your part of our great country?:)

[SwissMyst]

There should be a little stack of carrels by the deck towel areas where you can gently pick up these "discarded" items and place them for future retrieval for the passengers who obviously forgot them on these now unoccupied loungers. I am sure they would appreciate someone protecting their forgotten belongings rather then just leaving them laying about for anyone to pick up.:cool:

[sapper1]

Have you been affected by all the rain & flooding that has occured recently in your part of our great country?:)

SJ dodged the bullet but the coastal area down from us a bit has been declared a
disaster area due to flooding. Also the part of the NB coast across from PEI suffered severe damage from storm surge and wind.

[cb at sea]

It happens in every resort, every ship, every pool, everywhere! Either ignore it, or move the towels. Easy!

[Elaine237]

If all you do is complain, the chair hogs get what they want. Move their stuff. Use the chair.

Elaine
Norman, OK

[Despegue]

We, like all other people get up in the morning and choose seats for the day before going to breakfast. We then use the seats for the rest of the day, leaving them to go swimming or have lunch. I don't see the problem with that and everybody does it, it is the way things are done in resorts worldwide.

[GeriatricNurse]

We, like all other people get up in the morning and choose seats for the day before going to breakfast. We then use the seats for the rest of the day, leaving them to go swimming or have lunch. I don't see the problem with that and everybody does it, it is the way things are done in resorts worldwide.


A real live CHAIR HOG!:mad:

[bplazo]

We, like all other people get up in the morning and choose seats for the day before going to breakfast. We then use the seats for the rest of the day, leaving them to go swimming or have lunch. I don't see the problem with that and everybody does it, it is the way things are done in resorts worldwide.

If you leave the area take your belongings with you!

[RuthC]

We, like all other people get up in the morning and choose seats for the day before going to breakfast. We then use the seats for the rest of the day, leaving them to go swimming or have lunch. I don't see the problem with that and everybody does it, it is the way things are done in resorts worldwide.
This is not "like all other people". It is rude and selfish.

Personally, I have no problem giving someone a few minutes to return (such as from the restroom, or hamburger line), then move their things. If they return, let them know their things were turned in to the Lost & Found for safekeeping.
I think the stewards are more than generous if they give a half-hour.

[SwissMyst]

..........
I think the stewards are more than generous if they give a half-hour.

Agree. But there also needs to be a designated place where people know they can go to retrieve their abandoned articles. With a nice large sign on it that it is a depository for articles left more than a half hour on deck chairs/tables.

[RuthC]

Agree. But there also needs to be a designated place where people know they can go to retrieve their abandoned articles.
The Front Desk on every HAL ship serves as the contact point for the Lost & Found.
I would imagine that a resort front desk could serve the same purpose. If people have to go out of their way to go there, so be it.

[Hawaiidan]

Getting up selecting a seat ..then having the self centered gall to go to breakfast and then to lunch. Who died and made your self-centered self king ? ( Must be tough to find to find enough mirrors in Belgium for you.)

There are some countries and cultures where bring rude and pushy is the norm....That isnt here. As they say in this country.."that dog dont hunt here" What world accepted standard.....

Holland America I recall if you haven't used the seat or chair for 30 min...its open to anyone else..

[SwissMyst]

What are the logistics here.

The tough part is who does it and how do they monitor the 30 minutes? Do they put a marker on the chair with the time on it and then come back in 30 minutes? How much hassle is it to monitor hundreds of deck chairs. Does the passenger make and enquiry to the deck steward.

Or does the passenger get a notice form and put in the time and place it on the chair and then come back in 30 minutes to see if the notice has not been disturbed?

Is this within the duties of the deck steward to be monitoring all these chairs independently? Has anyone had a negative/positive/neutral experience after removing someone's belongings?

Even leaving towels behind is bad form because it makes it look like the chair is still being occupied, when in fact the previous occupant up and left it (and the towel) permanently.

I have less problem removing just a towel if I don't see anyone using the deck chair after a few prolonged passes through the area but have been reluctant to actually remove personal belongings myself. Or ask the deck steward to do this for us.

[Dive Master]

Every cruise line and ship I have sailed on has had a policy that there is to be no saving of seats at the pool or in the main show lounge.The notice is usually posted at the pool and listed in the daily program.Here is a very simple formula to know if a chair is available or in use:

#1 If someone's BUTT is occupying the chair, then it is in use and not available at this time.

#2 If no BUTT is in the chair, then it is not being used and is available.

[DaveOKC]

The self-centered attittude really bugs me as well.

Some of the worst offenders of this are retired/laid off executives and others formerly in power positions, as they have been catered to for so long that they often think that it is their "right" to be able to bend/break the rules. I am not speaking of all folks in this category mind you, just some.

Just my pet peeve for today............

DaveOKC

[RuthC]

Here is a very simple formula to know if a chair is available or in use:

#1 If soneone's BUTT is occupying the chair, then it is in use and not available at this time.

#2 If no BUTT is in the chair, then it is not being used and is available.
That's a bit extreme. People are allowed to get up to use the restroom without losing their seat. :rolleyes:
You do want them to leave the chair under those circumstances, I presume?

I have no problem with the idea of someone going to get a hamburger, or lunch, and bring it back. But not go off to eat it elsewhere.
And I think it should be acceptable to get out of the chair to get in the pool for a while. After all, that's why there are chairs near the pool!
How about "One chair per butt at a time". You automatically release rights to one chair when you sit down in another.

[Dive Master]

That's a bit extreme. People are allowed to get up to use the restroom without losing their seat. :rolleyes:
You do want them to leave the chair under those circumstances, I presume?

I have no problem with the idea of someone going to get a hamburger, or lunch, and bring it back. But not go off to eat it elsewhere.
And I think it should be acceptable to get out of the chair to get in the pool for a while. After all, that's why there are chairs near the pool!
How about "One chair per butt at a time". You automatically release rights to one chair when you sit down in another.


Ruth, I guess you do make a good point---but how long should that bathroom break be ???? I hate CHOGS and get great entertainment value from messing with them.Personally being a melanoma survivor I can't lay out and cook in the sun but I hate seeing all those saved seats for hours at a time. On the Zaandam I observed one CHOG save 6 chairs by BOTH pools for her group---only observed 2 being used so I told a couple to have a seat.The CHOG had been gone for over 2 hours--I did time her out of curiosity as I swam and sit in the shade.Miss CHOG returned to raise holy he-l and tell the couple and me that she was only in the restroom.I told the CHOG if you were in there two hours, you might want to visit the ship's Doctor--and if you truely were in there two hours then I would presume your butt was occupyng another seat. I asked her how she would like it if I had put a reserved sign on every stall door in case my wife might need to go in the future? Miss Chog had her "smarty pants" son come to threaten me.I thought about getting Security but I am 240 pounds with a mean straight right hand.I just asked the clown "How are your swimming skills?" The CHOG and her son left as I got a standing ovation at the pool.

[bepsf]

Best thing to do with a Chair Hog...
http://statues.com/mrc/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Pig_in_a_Chair_4ab50ffc43a44.jpg

...is put them to good use.
http://www.marqueehirecompare.co.uk/upload/logos/905.jpg
;)

[RuthC]

Ruth, I guess you do make a good point---but how long should that bathroom break be ????
Can we agree that at least five minutes is fair? After all, the closest restroom could be closed for cleaning, so the person has to go a-hunting.
How about 10 minutes?
I'm fine with the 30 minutes the ship pretends to allow. There's no excuse after that amount of time.

Loved your story. :D

[rafinmd]

Dive master, your last line about the standing ovation really made my day.

Roy

[bepsf]

I'm fine with the 30 minutes the ship pretends to allow. There's no excuse after that amount of time.

First the "Facility Trot",
followed by the "Mal-de-Mer" and the ritual "Washing of Hands"...
...a stiff shot of Pepto Bismol and a quick change of clothes before making it back to the deck chair...
Yep - Thirty minutes should certainly allow for all that.
;)

[IRL_Joanie]

Ruth, I guess you do make a good point---but how long should that bathroom break be ???? I hate CHOGS and get great entertainment value from messing with them.Personally being a melanoma survivor I can't lay out and cook in the sun but I hate seeing all those saved seats for hours at a time. On the Zaandam I observed one CHOG save 6 chairs by BOTH pools for her group---only observed 2 being used so I told a couple to have a seat.The CHOG had been gone for over 2 hours--I did time her out of curiosity as I swam and sit in the shade.Miss CHOG returned to raise holy he-l and tell the couple and me that she was only in the restroom.I told the CHOG if you were in there two hours, you might want to visit the ship's Doctor--and if you truely were in there two hours then I would presume your butt was occupyng another seat. I asked her how she would like it if I had put a reserved sign on every stall door in case my wife might need to go in the future? Miss Chog had her "smarty pants" son come to threaten me.I thought about getting Security but I am 240 pounds with a mean straight right hand.I just asked the clown "How are your swimming skills?" The CHOG and her son left as I got a standing ovation at the pool.

On Board HAL ships is this sign (at least I saw them on Oosterdam, Westerdam and this one from Nieuw Amsterdam)

http://joanjett2000.topcities.com/HAL/Nieuw_Amsterdam/sm-Lido-Aft-Pool-IRL_Joanie-7.jpg (http://joanjett2000.topcities.com/HAL/Nieuw_Amsterdam/Lido-Aft-Pool-IRL_Joanie-7.jpg)

Joanie

[SwissMyst]

Interesting sign photo, Joanie. Thanks for tracking this down. Interesting wording of the message ...unoccupied chairs "will be made available" sounds like this becomes and affirmative duty of the deck stewards. Has anyone actually seen a deck steward proactively remove items left past 30 minutes?

And again, what sort of timing protocol do they use since various people abandon chairs at any given time, so how do they keep track of the 30 minute time limit for each '"abandoned" chair?

[IRL_Joanie]

Interesting sign photo, Joanie. Thanks for tracking this down. Interesting wording of the message ...unoccupied chairs "will be made available" sounds like this becomes and affirmative duty of the deck stewards. Has anyone actually seen a deck steward proactively remove items left past 30 minutes?

And again, what sort of timing protocol do they use since various people abandon chairs at any given time, so how do they keep track of the 30 minute time limit for each '"abandoned" chair?

There was one of those signs at both pools on the Nieuw Amsterdam. I took that just last month to post on the web site.

I read it to say "If a Body ain't in the chair/lounger it ain't occupied and can be used by anyone else needing it."

30 minutes though, is in my estimation, to long a time frame to wait. I feel, my feelings only, that 15 minutes is more than enough time to remain unoccupied before removal of anyone else's personal belongings that are hogging the chair/lounger.

By the way, it should be a member of the Ship Crew who removes the missing passenger's belongings. That way YOU (or I) cannot be accused of stealing or damaging anything.

Believe me, the Bar stewards around the pools notice which chairs/loungers are being hogged.

Forgot to answer your question. Yes, I did see several towels removed from Hogged deck chairs/loungers on the Aft Lido deck. I also saw books removed and taken away by an Officer.

Joanie

[lorekauf]

Ruth, I guess you do make a good point---but how long should that bathroom break be ???? I hate CHOGS and get great entertainment value from messing with them.Personally being a melanoma survivor I can't lay out and cook in the sun but I hate seeing all those saved seats for hours at a time. On the Zaandam I observed one CHOG save 6 chairs by BOTH pools for her group---only observed 2 being used so I told a couple to have a seat.The CHOG had been gone for over 2 hours--I did time her out of curiosity as I swam and sit in the shade.Miss CHOG returned to raise holy he-l and tell the couple and me that she was only in the restroom.I told the CHOG if you were in there two hours, you might want to visit the ship's Doctor--and if you truely were in there two hours then I would presume your butt was occupyng another seat. I asked her how she would like it if I had put a reserved sign on every stall door in case my wife might need to go in the future? Miss Chog had her "smarty pants" son come to threaten me.I thought about getting Security but I am 240 pounds with a mean straight right hand.I just asked the clown "How are your swimming skills?" The CHOG and her son left as I got a standing ovation at the pool.
Love it....that is too funny:D.

[m steve]

if you see a lounger unoccupied and no one in the pool, just take the chair and start smoking there. Probably the chair hog also hates smoke and will leave after making a few nasty comments.

[2islandhoppers]

They are everywhere, and from every country. Worst I saw was last year, transiting the Panama Canal. A group of 8-10 Americans pulled the chairs from the outdoor cafe and placed them in a row right up against the railing, effectively blocking everyone else from viewing the lock operations from that vantage point. Then they placed all their personal belongings on the chairs and waltzed off to breakfast, lunch, swim, whatever for the rest of the day. When they did show up to occupy their chairs, they were vocally annoyed at anyone who may have encroached on "their space" in their absence.:mad:

[RedmondCruiser]

Sometimes things do work out. On the Oosterdam someone had four lounges staked out with books etc. They were unattended for about three hours when a lovely Caribbean rain storm hit and drenched the sea view pool area. Needless to say the books were pulp.

[m steve]

and he hates chair hogs.

[sapper1]

Sometimes things do work out. On the Oosterdam someone had four lounges staked out with books etc. They were unattended for about three hours when a lovely Caribbean rain storm hit and drenched the sea view pool area. Needless to say the books were pulp.
I guess you could say the books were pulp fiction. Tee hee.:)

[SDchick]

All the replies are interesting! I'm not a pushy person (I'm generally a pushover) so I will ask the stewards to remove things that have been there too long.

Seems like the bar staff would want drinking customers (...me!) in the seats instead of just towels.

[hillymama]

I enjoy sitting by the pool for about 30 minutes and then I'm usually done. Sometimes I have visions of returning later but I see no need to "reserve" a spot.

If I want to sit where belongings are present I ask those around if the owners will be returning soon. If there is no response I ask how long they've been gone. If the report is it's been a while I have no problem asking a staff member to make the seat available.

I don't mind moving belonings that are spread over several chairs to one or two chairs. My experience is that groups are seldom all in attendance. And, when only a few return it's hard for them to make a stink because there is still space for them to sit.

The fact is that it's human nature to stake out space. Most of us have evolved to sharing and caring individuals. When I encounter a chog I remember that they do not have the same values/skills and it's not my job to teach advanced social skills. Neither do I have to play by their rules.

So, they can take the time and energy to mark a space and I'll take the time to have those marks moved. Easy.

[NYCFOD]

There are a couple of problems with the rules. First the pool stewards are usually young people from a developing nation and are easily intimidated by chair hogs (who are usually pretty arrogant), and so don't want to pick fights with the paying customers. After all, if a steward gets into an altercation with a passenger, the passenger is not going to get fired (if the altercation is serious enough they might be put ashore), and the passenger will write up the steward on the comments card at the end of the cruise.

Second, the cruise line doesn't want to spoil everyone's vacation by having security or ship's officers patrolling the pool deck for chair hogs.

If you are missing out on a chair because of a chair hog, ask the steward to remove offending items. If that doesn't work report the matter to the front desk.

Above all else, when you fill in your comment cards at the end of the cruise make sure you give emphasis to the fact that the cruise line does not enforce the chair hog rule and that this diminishes from your vacation experience. The cruise line take these comment cards seriously. If enough people write comments about the anti-social behavior of chair hogs, the cruise lines will do something about it.

[tcook052]

Above all else, when you fill in your comment cards at the end of the cruise make sure you give emphasis to the fact that the cruise line does not enforce the chair hog rule and that this diminishes from your vacation experience. The cruise line take these comment cards seriously. If enough people write comments about the anti-social behavior of chair hogs, the cruise lines will do something about it.

Such as? No more chairs? :D

[NYCFOD]

Such as? No more chairs? :D

I was thinking they might start enforcing their 30 minute rule.

[Randyk47]

No kidding "chair hogs" are everywhere. I go to this pool and there's this woman who always stakes out one specific chaise lounge. She probably ought to put her name on it! Of course the problem is that the pool is in my backyard and the woman is my darling wife. :rolleyes::eek:

[tcook052]

I was thinking they might start enforcing their 30 minute rule.

Perhaps, but how strongly? As others have said, in a customer service environment making too strong of an enforcement of a policy risks peeving some customers who already a well developed sense of entitlement. I am all for following the rules as it's bred into me as a nice, polite, rule & law abiding Canadian but can see the howls of indignation from some quarters if the policy were vigorously enforced.

[SwissMyst]

Again, it would help if there were blocks of storage carrels in the deck chair areas stating passengers may leave their unattended items (at their own risk) there, if they leave their deck chair for more than 30 minutes.

That way it is the (1) passenger first who can choose to deposit their items and (2) second, it establishes the expectation the items will be removed if they do not voluntarily do this themselves.

[Karennella]

I wonder if people who come from countries where they pay for deckchairs at the beach are more likely to regard the deckchair on board as their property? And is that why they have cabanas on the ships? (to cash in on that idea)
I find the idea of paying for a spot on the beach ludicrous, (even the idea of paying for parking at my local beach in Sydney, Australia has been howled down by all and sundry)
However my daughter lives in London and they love the paying European beaches with chairs, drinks, music etc. When her father heard the daily cost he nearly choked.
Just wondering whether it is cultural differences at play, or lack of consideration. I do know, as parent and a retired teacher, that the worst thing to do is make rules that will not or cannot be enforced.

[Despegue]

If you remove my things or anybodies items from their loungers whenever they go grab something to bite or walk/swim in any resort in the Caribbean, Asia or Mediterranean, you will be in trouble. I am around 200 days a year in resorts so I know what I'm talking about. Choose your seats for the day, and keep them. NO CHAIR DANCING!

[CDiamond]

Curious what happens in a resort if there are more people who want chairs by the pool than there are chairs available? Are you fine with that and say, oh well, guess I don't have a chair today? Are you saying you would not sit in a chair that has a towel on it and you have not seen anyone in it for several hours? Just don't understand if people have paid the same amount to stay at a resort, why would you feel the chair is yours even if you are hardly in it?
Maybe I misunderstood you and you only leave for a short time and then return to the chair. I wouldn't have a problem with that.

[wallygator]

Is it the location of said chair/s that bothers you or the fact you can't use them? Solution is charge a fee lets open the door for more fees. They do check these sites cruise lines/resorts. Ever see someone that wonders on deck or on a beach at 11:00 AM and wonders why all the best locations and chairs are gone? The look in thier eyes, Wow nothing left.
As some say I need to do every thing in less than 30 minuets and be right back in my chair with a big grin to let all know I stuck to the 30 min rule you impose. Sorry you think that way. I’m trying to understand. :confused::confused:

[cookie225]

they can take the time and energy to mark a space and I'll take the time to have those marks moved. Easy.
MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY!!!!

[wallygator]

they can take the time and energy to mark a space and I'll take the time to have those marks moved. Easy.
MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY!!!!

Go for it.

[CDiamond]

Of course there should not be a fee to use a chair in the pool area.
I just want people who choose a chair to use it. I don't care if they swim, go get something to eat, go back to their room to get something, etc, that is fine as long as they are coming back and forth to the pool area.

I think everyone can understand the difference between that, and putting stuff on a chair at 8:00 in the morning, then leave til 11:00, coming back for an hour, then leave til 3:00 in the afternoon and expect THEIR chair to be available for them when they come back. Even this wouldn't matter if it was only one chair and there were plenty of other chairs. But many chair hogs think it's fine to tie up 3-4 chairs for their occasional use.

[NYCFOD]

My experience is that chair hogs can be any nationality. On my first two cruises they were Australian, on my last cruise they were American. The phenomenon is just as prevalent at land based resorts where the primo spots adjacent to the pool are in high demand.

I have been very fortunate to stay at some high end resorts through my work. A lot of five star hotel/resorts charge a resort fee to pay for the resort facilities (it is a compulsory fee and is itself a subject of bitter debate). At some of these high end resorts, the pool staff wander around regularly to pick up towels from the chaises, but I can't say what they do about books etc. that some chair hogs. use. A couple of the resorts I've stayed at in Asia have the equivalent of a maitre d' at the pool who will take you to your chaise, set up the umbrella, lay out your towel and make sure you have a drink (they work for tips).

Personally, I think that chair hogs are riff raff. The cruise lines and resorts should be more proactive about the way they manage the pool area. Clearly the spots are in high demand, so treat it like a restaurant. The pool maitre d' comes on duty at say 8 a.m. - removes any crap left by the early risers. Seats people throughout the day and ensures that there is a waiter to attend to their drink and food needs, like at restaurants only complete parties get seated (so you can't reserve seats for your teenagers who may or may not turn up). At a lot of the resorts I've stayed at for work, the drink waiter is more than happy to order food for you and have it brought to you. They would not need to extend this to the outer decks, where it could be a free for all, but having a special atmosphere around the pools would enhance the vacation experience.

At many beaches in the US and Caribbean, there is a concession stand renting chaises and umbrellas, essentially getting you a reserved spot on the beach. On St Maarten, they even had drink waiters on the public beach.

I suspect this would only work on high end cruise lines.

People who work for tips love to provide service.

[RuthC]

If you remove my things or anybodies items from their loungers whenever they go grab something to bite or walk/swim in any resort in the Caribbean, Asia or Mediterranean, you will be in trouble. I am around 200 days a year in resorts so I know what I'm talking about. Choose your seats for the day, and keep them. NO CHAIR DANCING!
So, what you're saying is, if, when you arrive at the loungers area for the day, you find every single one of them empty, but with someone's "things" on them, and no one arrives over the course of the next several hours, then it's all right with you.
All those loungers, no one in any of them, and you have no place to sit.
Is that it? :rolleyes:

[rafinmd]

If you remove my things or anybodies items from their loungers whenever they go grab something to bite or walk/swim in any resort in the Caribbean, Asia or Mediterranean, you will be in trouble. I am around 200 days a year in resorts so I know what I'm talking about. Choose your seats for the day, and keep them. NO CHAIR DANCING!

So, what you're saying is, if, when you arrive at the loungers area for the day, you find every single one of them empty, but with someone's "things" on them, and no one arrives over the course of the next several hours, then it's all right with you.
All those loungers, no one in any of them, and you have no place to sit.
Is that it? :rolleyes:

Ruth, rest easy. I just did a search of Despegue's post and it seems he favors Celebrity and may never have cruised HAL. Besides the lack of a decent Promenade Deck, another good reason not to cruise Celebrity.

Roy

[RuthC]

Ruth, rest easy. I just did a search of Despegue's post and it seems he favors Celebrity and may never have cruised HAL. Besides the lack of a decent Promenade Deck, another good reason not to cruise Celebrity.

Roy
Roy, I generally don't have a dog in this fight, as the only time I sit around the pool is when the ship is in far north/south latitudes, where there's ice floating around outside. Otherwise, I'm in a lounge chair on the promenade, and there's little competition for those.

It's the attitude I was questioning. I find that those who find nothing wrong with claiming chairs and walking away, are those who have claimed a chair and walked away.
I doubt they would feel the same way if they were among those who were shut out.

[Despegue]

You people are so easily wound-up:D

Sometimes I like to play the Devils' advocate...in a discussion, there always need to be opposing views. These boards become so boring otherwise.

For info: There is a difference between cruise-ships where space is limited and quality resorts where there should AT ALL TIMES be enough loungers available.
Chair hoging on the high seas is very irritating indeed. I do agree. However, do not go and police yourself. Leave it to the pool-butlers. We go for an occasional swim or drink (max 30 min) and do not accept anybody to "touch our junk".

[ironin]

Like Ruth, I have no dog in this fight as I rarely lounge around a pool, on land or at sea. As a perpetually early riser (out of habit, not desire), therefore, I have found it slightly humorous to observe just how early some will get up to "reserve" chairs with odds-and-ends (usually books from the ship's library) and then apparently climb back into bed to return (or not) to "their" chair some hours later. That said, I do understand the frustration expressed here by those who do enjoy lounging around the pool.

[Randyk47]

Funny thing is that I've never cared for the Lido pool area all that much. It's pleasant enough I guess but I like the aft pool area better and chair hogging, while it happens, doesn't seem to be as big an issue as it is around the main pool. Granted we have only cruised Caribbean itineraries and it often gets kind of stuffy around the Lido pool. Maybe it would be different if we cruised one of the Alaska itineraries but that's so far down the bucket list as I don't ever see that happening.

[SwissMyst]

In Europe some downtown parking areas are regulated with a required "parking discs" indicating the time a car is expected to leave showing on a prominent "disc" in the car window.

Perhaps some form of this could work -- anyone leaving a chair is required to install a "disc" they get from the deck steward indicating when they intend to return to their saved deck chair.

Guidelines:

1. No disc on the chair means the chair is abandoned, and items removed.

2. If the disc time has been exceeded and no one has returned, then the items are removed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_parking

[bepsf]

Funny thing is that I've never cared for the Lido pool area all that much. It's pleasant enough I guess but I like the aft pool area better and chair hogging, while it happens, doesn't seem to be as big an issue as it is around the main pool. Granted we have only cruised Caribbean itineraries and it often gets kind of stuffy around the Lido pool. Maybe it would be different if we cruised one of the Alaska itineraries but that's so far down the bucket list as I don't ever see that happening.

Randy -
When we cruised to Hawaii last winter, the midship space beneath the dome was at a premium as it was simply too cold and blustery on the aft lido and observation decks many days as we crossed the Pacific...
...it wasn't until we neared the islands that the aft lido & outer decks became warm & pleasant spaces.

[Randyk47]

Did they close the dome to air condition the space? The only time I can remember the dome being closed on a cruise was on the Veendam a couple years ago. We seemed to have picked up this rain cloud that followed the ship throughout our whole 14-day cruise in the Caribbean. They had to close the doom several times because of rain but it was still humid so we just didn't stay long.

[SwissMyst]

The dome was closed on our Zuiderdam June Alaska trip which made it a toasty sun room for "outdoor" viewing. That was a very cold trip in the Alaska "summer". First time I saw all the chairs pointing outwards towards the windows instead on inwards towards the pool.

[bepsf]

Did they close the dome to air condition the space?

They close the Magrodome to keep the space warm - not cool it..
...if it gets too warm, they simply open the dome a bit in the center to allow the heat to escape.

[wallygator]

Spending a very relaxing Christmas week in the Dominican Republic. Just sitting around the pool, I can't help but notice the number of tourists staying at this resort who put their towels on the deck chairs FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, definitely inconveniencing anyone who wishes to sit and enjoy the pool/sun at the same time. And then the hogs have the nerve to pop in every now and again to make sure that no one has taken their chair. :rolleyes: One individual, who has been here the whole week has claimed her chair day in and day out. She needs to go back home and let everyone have a fair shot at a chair. :mad:

You must be new to the real world.. Its their vacation whats your problem.
Not my attidude thiers.