Kew Gardens Cruiser

I am usually a super friendly nice polite person ... but I've sort of had it with pool/beach chair hogs in crowded public venues when there are no 'reserved' or paid arrangements. (Its completely different if we're renting chairs or cabanas.) I have become very Karen-like (ala Will & Grace) ...

 

I spot a chair with absolutely no personal items on it ... only a cruise/resort towel ... if it stays empty for several minutes ... I walk over, move the towel to the next chair ... place my towel down and lay down. Problem solved :D

 

In the rare event that anyone approaches me ... (maybe twice in the past 6 or so years) ... the conversation basically goes ...

 

SB: Hey, you're in my chair!

ME: "This chair? Oh ... it was empty" (pleasant expression/tone ... but never remove my sunglasses ... make no move to get up)

 

If they seem to want more discussion ... I wait for them but eventually say something along the lines of ... "All these hotel towels look the same ... " and I lay back and close my eyes. If they pursue it, i keep my voice pleasant and bored and say something along the lines of "Well, if you want to go get a staff member to come sort this out ..."

 

Generally I've found that suddenly the chair issue isn't that big of a deal and the person moves on.

 

Maybe I'm being rude or 'insensitive' but seriously ... the chair is for use by a person it isn't a 'storage place' for your towel or even personal items ... I've seen the mom of a family take up a chair for every single person (5 in all) for a day at a resort pool when the 2 younger kids never left the pool ... the dad never left the TV screen at the bar by the pool and the teenager came and got the moms room key to go up to their room and play video games. But there set mom with a towel and an article of clothing on each of the 4 empty chairs as other guests continually walked by scanning for chairs. I'm not the chair police ... but it just bugged me ...

I still think that if the policy is 30 minutes, then you should wait at least 30 minutes and then have cruise staff remove the items. What I have also found that if you are out by the pool by 9AM or so there are usually plenty of chairs by the pool ( so no need to go out at 6 AM and hog or to move someone's stuff off of a chair)

I also think part of the problem ( not saying you) is that some sleep in and wait until noon to go out by the pool and then get mad when they cannot find a chair right away. Therefor they move the stuff of the first unoccupied chair they see. Not really the best approach in my opinion

So, from what I can gather, we have two options for securing chairs at the pool. Option A. Get up at the butt crack of dawn and lay out in the dark, or Option B. Start marking our territory like animals 😂 Or maybe another Option start carrying around sticky notes saying if you haven't been in this chair in the last hour, your towel will be removed! 🙊

The 2 times I was on the Allure and Oasis as long as you got out by 9:00 or 9:30 AM there were usually plenty of chairs by the pool. If you want to sleep until 10:30 and come out to the pool at 11 you might have some trouble finding a chair though

And this is why I would never remove items from a chair even if it was a towel.

I would get a staff member to do it and should the person come back I can say items were removed by staff.

If staff member wouldn't move items I would move on.

 

 

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Agreed. Let a staff member move it. Also make sure the chairs have been vacated more than the allowed time. Too many times I see people posting in the chair hogs thread that if they see empty chairs with stuff on it they claim the chairs without even knowing how long those guests have been gone. What if they had just went to the bathroom or a quick dip in the pool?

Last 2 cruises have been on the NCL Breakaway because I live in NY. While I enjoyed the Breakaway, the Allure and Oasis are still my favorite ships

It is funny but I would definitely sit towards the back away from the teams if you are not participating to avoid any chance of being trampled

Whenever I go I am always holding my breath worrying that somebody is going to get seriously hurt rushing the stage/ jumping over chairs, etc

People get very competitive in that game

We're just so over RC before we even board the Oasis. There's so many negatives around it and RC in general. We'll just go enjoy the cruise we've booked, pay what it costs, and forget about sailing with RC ever again.

For what it is worth I have cruised on several lines ( RCCL, NCL, Princess, Carnival ) and the Oasis/ Allure are my favorite ships. You don't really feel the crowds at all due to the neighborhood concept, the service was really good and there were so many things to do on the ship in the evening ( that you do not have to pay for)

I would go in with an open mind. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised!

Hi! I just booked a western Caribbean cruise on Allure of the Seas leaving Fort Lauderdale May 21st. I'm really looking forward to hopefully seeing Mamma Mia. Does anyone know how long a show normally stays on one ship? My fingers are crossed that it will be on Allure for atleast 8 more months. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated 😊

I think someone posted on another thread that while the cast may change every few months, RCCL usually signs a contract for these shows for at least 5 years so I think you should be good

Just booked the OS on Oasis #11640 for next Sept. to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. This will be a surprise cruise for DW and she'll find out about the OS when we check in. Guess I'll have to tell her about the cruise but that won't be until a week before :D. Would greatly appreciate any information on this suite and or pictures if possible. Super excited about this big event and would enjoy info from fellow cruiser's who have enjoyed the OS.

Thanks

Skip

Congrats. I booked an Owners Suite cabin 11644 for Oasis for a March 2017 sailing. First time sailing in a suite on RCCL

I know there is a pretty detailed video on Youtube for Oasis 11644. I imagine your cabin will be very similar

As evidenced by the amount of questions here concerning Formal Nights... people are concerned about it. So they dress up the first night, realize you don't really have to, then come casual the second.

 

I think a good majority don't really want to dress up and find it a hassle.

My wife still likes to do the pictures on formal nights but honestly I hate having to wear the jacket ( or having to deal with a garment bag on a flight)

On my first 10 cruises I dressed in a suit for both formal nights. Now I think I would rather just wear a nice dress shirt and pants and forego the jacket and tie. 1 formal night is probably enough for a 7 night cruise but I get why some would want to keep it at 2 formal nights ( and RCCL probably doesn't want to lose revenue from photos from eliminating a 2nd formal night)

John whats the 5000 club? Hours, days or weeks spent cruising? .

I think it has to do with the number of posts he has on this board

Technically correct, but the drink packages incourages you to try something new and different. If I got a drink that sounded interesting and found out it was terrible, is it more ethical to dump it out, or give it to someone who might finish it? (once)

I don't have an issue with someone letting another try their drink if they are not planning on finishing it. Some people have an issue with wasting food or drink. The Cruise line probably doesn't mind either because if that person likes the drink they may order themselves one.

Some will probably disagree though. Like I said earlier I have seen people jumped on in the soda card threads because they asked if it was ok to let their wife/ husband have a sip of their soda because they were not planning on finishing the glass and didn't want it to go to waste. I happen to think that is a little extreme

This is not personal but I always laugh when the "drink police" come into these threads and keep harping the same old story. I laugh because the majority of cruisers bring on their own water, soda or whatever -including said police.

 

Both are against the rules and yet I never see the "non-alcoholic drink police" around. It still takes money away form RC.

 

Both of these rules will continue to be broken until changes are made or are better enforced but that's on royal not us and, in until that time, people will do what they will do.

 

Do I care if someone shares a package, not one bit. Just like I don't care if someone brings 2 cases of bottled water on board. Either way, there is consequences if RC starts enforcing, as long as those people realize what those consequences are then that's all that matters.

 

Cheers.

 

I used to see several threads about sharing soda cards. I've seen people chastised because they asked if it was wrong if they had a soda card and "let my husband have a couple sips of my soda once in while because I wasn't finishing the glass and didn't want it to go to waste"

I think also dinner access to Coastal Kitchen ( on ships that have it)

If you click on the red triangle you can post your reason there. It won't get attention from the mods if you post within the thread.

Thanks. I don't really want to report a post. However I clicked on the thread thinking that RCCL did something fraudulent

Has anyone here had their spouse turn into a cruise ship snob? Saw the 5 day cruise in Jan. 2018 on Majesty for a great price! We even live about 4-4 1/2 hours away from Port canaveral-so short drive. We just got off Oasis in May ( our second time) we are going in December 2016 on Freedom (my third time-his second). We have mainly done Voyager type years ago -and the Freedom classes , Oasis classes in the last 10-12 years-except for a short Bahamas cruise-Sovereign-maybe 6-7 years ago. He thinks the Majesty would " be a let down after Oasis! I agree that the ship can not compare to the larger ships- but it is still a cruise ! Anyone else had this problem after going on "nicer ship" cruises:(.

Yes after doing the Allure in 2011 we did the Carnival Miracle later that year because it was sailing from NYC (we live in Queens) and we wanted to go to Bermuda again. It is an older smaller ship and it was kind of a let down after being on the Allure. I don't think we can do the older, smaller ships with less to do on the ship anymore after being on the Allure, Oasis and NCL Breakaway in recent years

Maybe the moderator can change the title of this thread. It is a little misleading

Maybe a lazy river that goes around the pool area?

It was never rocky when I was there. Both before and after it became the suite beach. Barefoot Beach was the best beach, that is why they made it the suite beach!!!

Since it as on the bay side ( same side as Columbus Cove) and not the side that has Adrenaline Beach I am thinking you are probably right. I might bring a cheap pair of water shoes just in case

Thanks all

Also to clarify- we won't need watershoes at Barefoot Beach? ( I know the other side is rocky)

I just saw your other post and responded.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=50814830&posted=1#post50814830

Thank you. Much appreciated!

There's also Barefoot Beach for Suites and Pinnacle guests. If you're not in a Suite, I would definitely go to Columbus Cove, IMO, it's one of the best beaches on Labadee, besides Barefoot Beach. The sand on Columbus Cove is soft, no rocks, nice beach, it's quiet, plenty of palm trees for shade if needed and your close to the luncheon buffet. Take the (one way) ferry over to Columbus Cove and the tram to go back to the ship.

 

We've been on Anthem quite a few times already and love the entertainment, there's so much to do on board. The crew is outstanding, the service is great, can't wait to go back on her again in September :)

 

Have a wonderful time on Anthem!!!!!

I asked this in another thread but how is Barefoot Beach? Much nicer than Columbus Cove? No rocks? We will be Sky Class for our next sailing so we will have access to Barefoot Beach

Hi all. The last time we were in Labadee we went over to Columbus Cove based on the recommendations of many here on Cruise Critic. We enjoyed that the water was calm ( no waves) and there were no rocks like what is at Adrenaline Beach

For our next Oasis sailing we will be in an Owners Suite so we will have access to the Barefoot Beach area. I am not sure if we are going to do a cabana but I did hear about the upgraded bbq lunch

Is Barefoot Beach a much nicer area than Columbus Cove? It also should be about half the walk from the ship than Columbus Cove, correct?

Any rocks in the water at Barefoot Beach?

6 months out is harder for me

Usually the few weeks before the cruise go fast for me because I am trying to get things done for work, make arrangements for boarding/ pet sitting for my dogs and packing/doing the cruise online check in and reservations

Our experience is .....we look at our bookings every day. Last April/may we were on Jewel booked into JS. 3 weeks prior to sailing an owners suite became available for the 10 day May portion in the Med. we added $800 to our previous amount and snagged it.

Moral is to keep checking prices and grab them right away. Three hours after we upgraded the other owners suite was $4000 more .

Exactly, I was booked in a JS for Oasis sailing next March. I was bored at work yesterday so I checked the prices again just to see where they were and the Owners Suites were actually coming in a little less than what I was currently booked for the JS. I immediately called my TA and changed my booking

March 26, 2017

Yup March 26, 2017

My TA verified it and waited until she received the electronic invoice from RCCL before she released my JS

I just checked again and there are no more OS left

I guess I just got extremely lucky