Two Wheels Only

As stated earlier, different ships have different time limits. That's why it is important to know what the time limit is for someone's specific cruise. It's the TIME that people should focus on, not the distance from the chair.

Your opinion contradicts NCL's policy. If there was a "drink hog" thread and someone wrote "...IMHO, anyone who has more than 5 drinks per day with the PBP is a drink hog..." would that opinion mean anything? If NCL allows people to leave their chair for a certain amount of time, the person can go wherever they want to go as long as they are back in time. It's very simple. A chair hog is someone who violates the policy. Get up at 6am, drop a towel, and return to the chair at 9am? = A chair hog. Get up at 6am, drop a towel, get a cup of coffee, and return to the chair at 6:10am? = Not a chair hog. Get up from a chair and sit in the hot tub that is 10 feet away for longer than the dailies state? = A chair hog. Get up from a chair and walk 600 feet back to your stateroom and return to the chair in less time than the dailies state? = Not a chair hog.

That's a surprise. When Seaside first went into service, the cabanas were ridiculously expensive. A few months later when I sailed, the price had gone down to something like $59/$99 for port/sea days. Now, they are no charge at all.

Here's a video of Seashore. I jumped ahead to parts that you might like. There is plenty for children on the ship. My 2 were about the age of your older children the first time that we sailed Seashore and we have continued to sail Seashore/Seascape as they have gotten older. The "experience" (Bella, Fantastica, Aurea, Yacht Club) chosen when booking does make a difference and reviews often reflect those differences. It's important to know what each experience has and what it doesn't have. Feel free to ask any questions.

Don't forget to take your food & drinks with you so that someone else can use the table. 🥴

True, just as some people do not get angry at those who use a lounger within NCL policy. Unfortunately, some people vent their anger at everyone including at those who do not deserve it.

Yes, it is a policy. The ones who DO NOT violate the policy are not the reason why you do not have a lounger. If 50 people are sitting in 50 chairs and none are available, do you feel that those 50 are doing something wrong? Probably not since they are allowed to use those chairs. If each of those 50 went one at a time to the bar for 5 minutes each, none would be doing anything wrong, either. If 5 went to the buffet for 10 minutes, 5 went to the bar for 10 minutes, 5 went to the hot tub for 10 minutes, 5 went to the pool for 10 minutes, and 5 went to the restroom for 10 minutes all at the same time, you would see a lot of empty chairs but none of those people would be violating NCL policy at all. You can compel NCL to enforce the current policy or compel NCL to change the policy to something that you prefer. One option has a better chance of success than the other but in the meantime, there's no reason to hold any animosity towards the people who abide by the current policy. Some people get angry at the sight of a man wearing shorts in Cagney's. Since NCL allows shorts, there's no reason to be angry at the man in shorts. Some people get angry at the sight of a man wearing a hat in Cagney's. In that case, a person can be angry at the dress code violator and/or be angry at NCL for not enforcing the dress code. They clearly are NOT the same since one is violating the policy and the other is not. Perhaps more should be done to clearly differentiate the groups to avoid confusion when this topic is discussed.

The MSC site can be strange.....well, "stranger than usual" at times. I would look around at the various travel agency sites to check availability. If what you want is available, call MSC (ugh) and book what you want over the phone.

I would love to see NCL enforce the current policy. Since I don't violate the policy, nothing for me would change other than being entertained when I see the chair hogs return. 😉

Chair hogs are the ones who violate the current policy, not the ones who abide by it.

In addition to what is listed above, there's probably the issue with leftover tape residue, damage to the door from hard or sharp edges, complaints of theft, etc. Whatever the reason, guests should abide.

NCL allows it whether you like it or not. That's the part that's the actual bottom line. For whatever reason, NCL allows items in an otherwise empty chair to remain. The guest that gets up to walk to the bar for a drink still has a lounger when he returns 10 minutes later.

If the items were moved (folded towel gets used and is now a damp balled up towel), would you feel any differently? Take the following scenario.... Bill gets up at 6am and places a folded towel on lounger A. Ted gets up at 6am and places a folded towel on lounger B. Bill goes back to bed to take a 4 hour nap. Ted goes to the buffet to get a coffee. You walk by at 6:05am and see the 2 loungers with the folded towels. After his coffee, Ted goes into the hot tub for 15 minutes then returns to his chair. He uses his towel and balls it up before throwing it back onto the chair. Ted then goes into the pool for 15 minutes. If you walk by again at 6:25am and see a folded towel on lounger A and a balled up towel in lounger B, would you believe that there are 2 chair hogs or only 1?

That's not how I use the term but I have seen the term used by others in the exact way that you describe.

OK, I get it. You're stating what you would like the NCL policy to be instead of what the actual policy is. Sure, people can discuss alternatives to what the current policy is but since there is no system that would make everyone happy, every possible idea will have people who disagree with it. If people fear that their seat will be taken the instant that they get up, people will more than likely sit in the chair for extended periods of time. As pointed out earlier in this thread, someone sitting in a chair for hours can do so without being called a chair hog but if that person goes into the pool for 5 minutes while leaving a towel on the chair, other people will see the towel on the chair and complain. What part would you like to see enforced? If everyone followed NCL's policy, your chair would still be yours after you get up provided that you return in time. If you don't return in time, someone else will get the chair that you had. Once again, the problem is the people who leave items in a chair for longer than the allowed time. We AGREE that those people are the problem. We disagree on what NCL should do in order to solve that problem. You seem to want to punish those who follow the rules in order to also punish those who do not follow the rules. I would rather NCL enforce the rule which only punishes the chair hogs.

NCL, who owns the ship, allows a certain amount of time away from the lounger. The amount of time can vary but NCL makes it clear how much time a person has. It may not be the amount of time that you agree with but the person who does what NCL allows isn't being selfish nor rude. The people who leave for longer than NCL allows are the selfish and rude chair hogs. Before leaving, the person will just make a new friend and say "....if anyone asks, just say that you're friend will be back in xxx minutes...". Even if a best friend is there, if the person that leaves is gone for longer than NCL allows, the chair should be up for grabs. Friend or no friend, the time limit is impartial. You opinion contradicts what NCL allows. Abiding by what NCL allows actually solves the issue. The people who drop a towel at dawn and don't return until after lunch are the problem as they are going against what NCL allows. The people who go into the pool, into the hot-tub, to the buffet, etc. and return before exceeding the allowed time are not the problem. Solo guests would have a big problem in that scenario.

Seashore and Seascape = Owner's Suites and Royal Suites each have a reserved pergola (their choice of location). The rest are first come/first serve. Seaside and Seaview = Royal Suites each have a reserved cabana (their choice of location). The rest can be rented for a cost depending on sea day or port day. Meraviglia = Royal Suites each have a reserved cabana. There are only 3 to choose from. The remaining one can be rented for a cost. This is based on my experience on the above ships except for Seaview which I've never sailed.

The Yacht Club cabanas might be sold-out. It has happened to me (once) but I didn't see the need to book a non-Yacht Club cabana. I'd probably cancel the non-Yacht Club cabana and enjoy Ocean House and the surrounding areas. Bimini Beach is very nice so if you explore away from the Yacht Club area, Bimini is right next to you. The kids might also like the Lagoon area since there are no waves there. Kids are welcome in the Yacht Club no matter how many contradictory comments that you might read on the forum. The staff will probably dote on them and spoil them even more than you. Mine were 5 and 7 during their first Yacht Club cruise and had a great time and continue to now as they are older.

NCL doesn't have to discuss anything with anyone. Their ship, their rules.

Are decorations allowed? No. Is the ban enforced? Sometimes.

NCL gives X number of minutes for guests to leave items in the lounger. As long as the person returns within X minutes, the items and the chair shouldn't be disturbed. Where you are when away from the lounger doesn't matter. How long you are away from the lounger is what matters.

There are usually chairs and tables in the shaded areas (:41) but there is nothing stopping you (or an attendant) from dragging a lounger into the shade.

I just priced one and MSC rounds up to the nearest dollar. 😁

Another option to compare/contrast would be the Princess Sanctuary Collection..... As the name suggests, guests reserving in the Sanctuary Collection enjoy exclusive access to the ship’s top deck retreat* area, along with a host of additional and high-end amenities designed to enhance their voyage. These indulgences include exclusive private dining and relaxation areas, a luxurious stateroom experience, as well as the Princess Premier bundle to round out the all-inclusive allure of the Sanctuary experience. Princess Premier offerings include: Premier Beverage Package (covering drinks up to $20, champagne by the glass, specialty coffees, smoothies and bottled water, as well as 25 percent off bottles of wine) Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 with Fleetwide Starlink and 5G for up to 4 devices Daily crew appreciation (e.g., gratuities) Two nights of specialty dining Unlimited prix fixe meals at any casual dining location Free OceanNow Delivery Service Activation Complimentary Room Service "Green Lane" Express Boarding (Free Medallion device delivery included) Reserved seating in the Princess Theater Unlimited boutique fitness classes per voyage (e.g., Pure Barre, YogaSix, StretchLab) Unlimited premium crafted desserts Unlimited premium fresh juices Unlimited Digital Photo package / Princess Prizes * - They actually used the word "retreat" 😄

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