I Just Don't Get it (the pool attraction)

[ericosmith]

I'm just trying to figure out what I'm missing here. After reading this board for several months, it seems to me that the number one complaint is the number of of chairs available around the pool. Now, I've witnessed the scene on the pool deck on sea days and I just don't understand it at all. Here you are, out in the ocean and most everyone on the ship sits around a little man made puddle of water. Most never seem to get in the water, they simply sit around it in a rather large, overcrowded circle.

 

Just what is the pool attraction (other than perhaps some attractive ones on the other side)? I mean really, isn't the ocean the whole purpose for being at sea? Isn't it much more interesting to look at? Shoot, get rid of some of those pools and there would be more room for more loungers for more people to enjoy actually being at sea rather than just sitting around a smaller pool than they could find at the local Holidome.

[bjboothman]

Good question, Eric. I'm with you but I figure it's a "to each her own" kind of thing. Last thing I'd want to do is bake my lilywhite skin into a piece of rawhide and risk melanona (any more than I have to in order to live a good life). Sometimes late in the afternoon I'll take a good book and find a piece of shade, far from the pool to sit and feel the breeze. Everyone once in a while, around 6:00 I'll soak in the hot tub for 20 minutes. I can understand (sort of) why the ambience of being poolside excites some folks, but I really don't get the desire to roast in the sun and bake your skin to a different color - tans just don't do it for me. And in my experience, not a whole lot of adults spend much time in the pool. But then, I spend a lot of time sitting in the shade on the Promenade watching the ocean go by - and that probably bores some people to tears. To each their own, huh?;)

[Bosun]

I hear ya! I feel the same. We normally take a chair along the side where we have an ocean view:) and we only stay long enough to enjoy the view, for I am not a big tanner.

Maybe ppl like poolside because it's closer to the band and other things.. know what I mean? it's definitely the center of attn, and lot of ppl who cruise love the social aspect of it.

It could be habit as well. Like when you stay at a hotel with a pool, you tend to take the chairs closer to the pool. who knows:)

Everyone is different:) Good thing, or else our ocean views would be pretty crowded! haha I cant remember where it was on the Grand, but my husband and I use to go there (no chairs), and it would only be us, in the shade, over looking the water! It was SO nice:)

[Northender]

I dunno Eric. Maybe it is because I don't have a pool at home to sit around. And even if I did, being from the Northeast the time would be quite limited. If the water was warmer in the pool, I would be in it:)

I agree with Joy tho - I always use the aft adult pool as there is shade and being of Irish heritage, you can imagine what color my skin is - it is beyond white......so no tan for me. We usually have a balcony room - but always get one that has the overhang. Still outside, looking at the sea, but covered.:rolleyes:

I have friends who now look like their skin is shoe leather and when we go to St. Maartin in the fall they grease themselves to the max and lay in the HOT sun for hours on the beach. You will find me under the fake umrella - At the pool :D

 

We spend alot of time after dinner in the lounge - if they had a pool lounge, I would probably be there :D

[morticia52]

I'm with you on this one. For a start you won't (hopefully) see whales 'blowing' in the pool but if you keep your eyes peeled on the ocean it's surprising just how often you see that (or dolphins/porpoise leaping).

 

Give me a nice place in the shade with a cool drink and a good book for inbetween times (or a hot drink on the Arctic Circle or Alaska runs maybe) and that's the life for me at sea.

[dbmiller1956]

I agree with your comments. Of course, you realize that you have opened the door to all the "pool" worshippers that are going to tell you the benefits of laying next to the pool, soaking up the sun, and enjoying those little "froo-froo" drinks. They will call you crazy and try to make you understand what is so fantastic about this activity.

 

I likewise find the chair laying to be kinda' boring. You put your little/ big white skin into a bathing suit and climb into a chair. You toast on one side and then turn over and toast on the other side. You get up and leave your belongings there while you "get lunch, go to your cabin, play bingo, etc." returning to find your belongings moved...so you get irate because some other sun worshipper wanted your chair. All the while, you are missing out on lots of activities occurring on the ship; classes, tours, casino, bars, etc.

 

So no one has to worry about me sitting in one of the chairs around the pool. I am that lady sitting in the shade, reading the latest Patterson novel and watching the blue ocean float by.

[ILUVCRUIZN]

I agree with everyone... I myself like to lay in the sun, but I also love to sit in a quite spot in the shade and just listen to the ocean.

 

I am setting here right now watching it SNOW, so laying in the hot sun sounds so good right now.

[Sillyjilly]

I'm not the one laying by the pool, but I am the one swimming in it. Good excercise and refreshing. As for sitting, I prefer the deck looking out into the ocean.

Of course, you need to remember that some of us live a hop, skip and a jump from the ocean and a fresh water pool is just more appealing. :)

[amapola]

I'm with you too! I do like to lay in the sun (early morning and late afternoon only) for a while -- not to the point of tanning much, but a bit of color. Lots of sunblock on too! But I always look for a lounger as far from the pool as possible. I do like to laze around with a good (or at least entertaining LOL) book. This time we're on the Caribe deck so I'm looking forward to alternating between the sun & shade on our balcony! :cool:

[Travelgrrl]

I personally don't really care where I end up sitting, usually, but in general, I'd say people like the pool area because there is music there, events are happening, so it's like a party. But for every person that is jockeying for a pool chair there are plenty others indoors or doing many other pursuits.

[Nitemare]

Yep, it's the biggest complaint because there's very little to complain about. So nothing important, but Chair Hogs are a pox upon the earth, and they never defend themselves, since there's no defense, so it's easy to complain about it.

[bluehorizonlover123]

I try to stay away from the pool. Too many people all huddled around there and the band is too loud too. I like to read or take a nap. I will stay in the sun for an hour or so an then retreat to the shade for another hour or so.

[cjh]

I agree! I don't get it either! Give me my Caribe deck balcony and I can still get the sun even under the covered part of the balcony and just watch the ocean go by.

[psupa]

Good question and one I often ask myself. If I want to sit out, I usually find a spot away from the crowd. I like the port days because most everyone if off the ship and you can sit by the pool and relax without the crowd.

[Pam in CA]

I spend a lot of time sitting in the shade on the Promenade watching the ocean go by - and that probably bores some people to tears. To each their own, huh?

I'm with Joy... I love sitting on the Promenade (or Deck 10 on the Regal), relaxing, reading a book, talking to people walking by or sitting nearby, watching the ocean. With my mom being eaten to death by skin cancer and having to go to the dermatologist twice a year myself, I am very careful of the sun. I'm one of those "wierdos" who is always covered up.

[kryos]

I personally don't really care where I end up sitting, usually, but in general, I'd say people like the pool area because there is music there, events are happening, so it's like a party. But for every person that is jockeying for a pool chair there are plenty others indoors or doing many other pursuits.

And if they have children using the pool, they probably like to be close by in order to supervise them.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[ahracer]

I like to swim in the pool but when I'm done swimming I'm gone to find a nice quiet shady spot with an ocean view and a good book. It doesn't get much more relaxing then that for me.

 

Scott

[gfromftlaud]

We are pool area people...not chair hogs, however. We just enjoy the atmosphere, the music, the activities, drinks(not froufrou ones) and the people watching. Spending the whole day around the pool and getting sun is my favorite part of the cruise.

 

I agree that the ocean view is great too, however, we are from Ft. Lauderdale and live on the beach. The ocean is always right outside our windows.

 

Happy friday everyone!

 

Gary

[m steve]

The reason I like to sit at the pool is to get splashed by the 10 year olds playing marco polo, admire the rare teen age girls in their bikinis, feel jealous of the boys in their speedos, see all the old out of shape bodies like mine which all allows me to take a few steps to one of the bars and get loaded!

What else is a cruise for?:eek:

[geoherb]

We like the Terrace Pool on the Grand-class ships. If I get a chair, I try to get one that I can position near the railing to watch the wake. Most of the time, though, we go up to swim and then I go back to the cabin to change. I try not to spend too much time in the sun. The skyway to Skywalkers provides shade sometimes, which makes it very nice for me in the pool.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I'm just trying to figure out what I'm missing here. After reading this board for several months, it seems to me that the number one complaint is the number of of chairs available around the pool. Now, I've witnessed the scene on the pool deck on sea days and I just don't understand it at all. Here you are, out in the ocean and most everyone on the ship sits around a little man made puddle of water. Most never seem to get in the water, they simply sit around it in a rather large, overcrowded circle.

 

Just what is the pool attraction (other than perhaps some attractive ones on the other side)? I mean really, isn't the ocean the whole purpose for being at sea? Isn't it much more interesting to look at? Shoot, get rid of some of those pools and there would be more room for more loungers for more people to enjoy actually being at sea rather than just sitting around a smaller pool than they could find at the local Holidome.

 

I maybe go in the pool once during a 7 day cruise. If we are sailing at sea and I need to cool off I just water ski off the back of the ship. :D

 

Bill

[waterrats]

When at sea we are at the pool. It is nice and relaxing for us. We mainly only need one lounge chair as I am either in the pool, sitting around the pool talking, or up on deck looking out into the Caribbean chatting. To each his own. During Hurricane Jeane, the pool was where it was at as the pool was splasing back and forth for hours and all us big kids were having fun in the wave pool.

 

Problem is with the chair hogs.

[RvrCrzr]

Answers:

 

To see...or be seen. :)

 

To hear the steel drum band.

 

To watch the MUTS. :eek:

 

To watch the pool games.

 

Close to the bar.

 

The smell of suntan lotion. :cool:

 

Did I mention it's close to the bar? ;)