Kristi Williamson

We loved this area!!! It's been our favorite location on any ship so far.

Having sailed many times on three different lines, I can tell you that you shouldn't take anyone's word about a line unless they've actually sailed on it and many people who've never stepped foot on a Carnival ship have an opinion about Carnival, which is so weird.

You shouldn't take anyone's word if they've only sailed on a line ONCE.

You shouldn't take anyone's word if they've only sailed on older ships with a line.

You shouldn't take anyone's word who constantly compares one line to another every time they speak about cruising.

...see a pattern here?...

Only you can determine what you'll like. Everyone has different tastes.

We actually enjoy EACH line for different reasons. First, we love to cruise. The ocean feels like home to me and I can relax on a cruise in a way that I can't relax anywhere else BUT my own home.

Second, every line has things we enjoy and things we don't enjoy. All of them!

Finally, a cruise really, really is what you make it. If you want to find things to gripe about, you'll find them. If you want to find relaxation and enjoyment and fun, you'll find that, too. (unless you were on the Triumph when she conked out at sea...then you get a pass on griping!) :D;):p

You think you have problems???????

 

I have been hopping around on one flip flop and never did find out how that murder mystery ended since my last cruise *LOL*

The butler did it!! :p:D:p

So what do you do if all the chairs are being used by actual people and you can't watch your kids? Just wondering bc you keep saying you NEED to be by the pool to watch your kids but what if you just can't bc all the chairs are taken?

In all the cruises we've taken our kids on (we don't always take them), that's never happened. We're usually out there by 10am and there has ALWAYS been saved chairs somewhere within sight of the pool, usually relatively close.

As previously stated, if the kids aren't with us, we don't care for the pool area and grab one of the many available chairs away from the pool to sun, drink and read.

So let's say I am by the pool with no kids. I get up to get in the pool or use the bathroom. Does that mean you take my chair bc you have to watch your kids so you have more of a right to it then I do without kids?

No. Also, if you'd read the thread, you'd have the answer to this question.

So just because you have kids you feel entitled to a chair over everyone else? Why don't you take your kids to the pool when there are chairs available, or better yet, get into the pool with them?

 

I rarely even use the pool, and when I do, I sit where I find a seat. That's how it is, and that's how it should be for everybody. The world doesn't revolve around you just because your kids are with you.

Yep. I feel "entitled" to the saved seats because my kids are with me and because no one is using them. The world doesn't revolve around people sleeping in their cabins thinking "their" chairs are just waiting in the sun for them. Doesn't work that way.

I sit where I find a seat, too. There's always tons of them with people's crap on them right by the pool while they're off playing bingo, or eating, or sleeping, or walking around the ship. And no, the world doesn't revolve around me or my kids. But, the rules do when I'm following them.

Move your junk out of the empty seat, or I will hand it to an employee and have a seat. When we choose to leave, we will remove our things, even if we're just going to eat because that seat could be used by another paying passenger and it's the right thing to do. The end.

I will be bringing plain towel for pool after my room towel was stolen ( everything else left) when I literally walked to the pool put my feet in and walked back to sit. I went to guest services and they made a note of it and I wasn't charged thankfully....I did however buy a nice yellow one to bring home!

I'm sorry your towel was stolen. Glad Carnival did the right thing by not charging you, too!

I can't imagine stealing someone's things, especially knowing they may be charged extra for them. That's not part of my world.

If you ever need extra towels for the pool (besides your nice yellow one!), try to always take the large white ones from your bathroom or ask the steward for extras. They'll provide them and there's no charge for those.

I read the thread and don't know what to think other than I wouldn't want to meet some of the posters here in a dark ally. It becomes very clear that you folks are very passionate and emotional of the subject, which is interesting to me because Sally never has a problem getting us chairs or holding mine while I go workout in the gym. Maybe its location? You imply the thread is clear, but there are some questionable suggestions of retaliation.

 

A better response might be explaining the rules instead of implying that those who are questioning the discussion are likely the main contributers to the problem. That doesn't help your cause.

 

Burt

None of my replies have any questionable suggestions of retaliation because that's not my style. I get the feeling that you're old enough to know that those who make those comments are the people you actually have to worry least about in real life situations.

I'm glad you've never had troubles with hoggers, but I do move things to be near my kids in the pool. That is my responsibility and I take it seriously. I can't let a flip flop in a "saved" chair keep me from watching my kids. I AM passionate about them and their safety, as well as the comfort of other cruisers around my children. :)

For me, personally, I wish the lines would do a better job of policing hoggers for this very reason. Parents shouldn't have to wander around to find a chair when there's 27 around the pool with magazines in them or a back flipped up. The employees of the cruise lines SHOULD take care of this, but, for now, they don't.

Just wondering, since there are so many of you that are experts in chair hogging, this would be a good place to ask. I have a number of questions... You, too, can be an expert! Just follow some basic rules plastered on the pool deck, the big screen and the daily Fun Times! Easiest expert certification in the world, right here, folks!

 

Is there a better spot to have your chair? First, second row? Are the sun rays more potent, or is there benefits to being in the middle of the row vs the aisle? Better, would be subjective, I suppose, but has nothing to do with being certified as a NON-chair hogging expert! This must be in another class or non-listed information section!

 

I'm also curious to know, for those that move towels from people who went to get a drink, go to the bathroom, go check on their kids, etc for 20, 30 mins that it may take and you decide on your own to to be the towel police and move a towel... what do you do during that time? Do you just stand there lurking and waiting? If you'd read the thread, you'd already have these answers. This could be a clue into why you're not yet an expert on the rules of chair hogging!

Seriously, if you'd read the thread, you'd see that no one moves anything from someone who's using the chair or actually just gone for twenty minutes and no one is standing around with a stop watch. Once again, the only people having things moved are those that stumble up at 6am to slap down a towel "in case" they may want to use a chair at some point during the day or those that come out for an hour and then wander off for four hours to go do something else and think "their" chair should still be there if/when they decide they might want to come back to the pool deck. This isn't rocket science, people. And my guess is that the only people offended are those that do the very things that chair hogs are named for. ;)

My feet always swell by day 4-5 of our cruise. I am not sure why since I am average weight and pretty active while home, but they do. Our first cruise I had to buy a $40 pair of flip flops so I could have shoes that fit and were comfortable. So now I bring an extra pair a size larger than I normally wear. I also elevate my feet every night which helps a lot.

This is off topic, so I'm sorry in advance. :o Mine use to do this, too, until I realized that the ship water was doing it to me. It doesn't affect most, but the water on the ships are high in salt. I must have filtered water and I have to drink a lot of it to keep this from happening. I now bring on 24 waters for a 7 day and pick up more in port if the trip is longer. I drink a minimum of 3 a day, sometimes 4 (it's cheap in port if you need more). Since that water is in the food, you may have to up your water intake to stop it from happening. ...back to your regularly scheduled thread... :):p

Another option is to have an area on the deck where you could 'check' your valuables, thus eliminating the need to have a place to stash all of your stuff. Punching a hole in the corner of your S&S card and attaching it to a springy keychain (ala hardcore casino players and their loyalty cards) or placing it on a lanyard so that you can keep it with you at all times. I have never been but the new wristbands that they are using at Disney World are intriguing (everything in one deal room key, tickets... everything)

That's a great idea!

Hello potty break! Is that an acceptable reason for someone to get up for a very BRIEF period of time????????

I've read that post twice now and I can't see anywhere that the poster suggested that taking a potty break or getting a drink or even grabbing a plate to bring back would be considered chair hogging. Lots of people eat in their loungers. I'm not a chair hog, though, so I don't read into her words or get offended by them.

She did say, "eating breakfast, lunch or dinner". If you're going to go eat somewhere like the buffett/MDR, which takes longer than 30 minutes (Unless you're the first person in line, scarf it down and run back at top speed. Plus, you're lounger would still be there anyway in that case scenario),then you lose the lounger and will have to find another one when you come back to actually use one. It's not a difficult concept.

So Carnival holds the passengers responsible for the towels in the room, I see.

 

One of the most entertaining discussions on the forums is the Rum Runner discussions. I wonder why the moral police on those discussions don't hold the towel stealers accountible? It would make for more entertaining threads. :D

 

Burt

Only the blue ones with the Carnival logo, and they clearly state that passengers will be charged if the same number in the room aren't left in the room upon debarkation. People still lug them to the pool, even though the white ones work fine and there's no charge if those are not the same count. There's one large, blue beach towel for each person in the room (that's been our experience, anyway). We usually never use them and just take a large white one to the beach and to the pool.

And I don't know about the rum runners. I'm sure if they're berated enough all rum runners would become about as obsolete as the chair hogs!! (or not! lol) :D:D:D

I'm curious about this myself. How can a Carnival towel be taken off the ship without being purchased in the ship store? If they are personal towels, isn't that wrong? We haven't been on Carnival in a while, so I must be missing something.

 

Burt

People bring the Carnival "beach" towels left in the cabin and plop them on a lounger at 6am with plans to return at...some point in the day. Late morning, after lunch, afternoon...who knows? Instead of turning these in to a Carnival employee when they use the unused lounger that's being "saved", evidently some people take them back to their room and take them home.

Never done that one. I'm not interested in causing someone to pay 20 bucks for something they didn't get, BUT I would imagine if that happened often enough people may stop "saving" loungers, too. ...or they'd just plop a white towel on the lounger because that's how they roll... :rolleyes:

Burt,

We've never seen but one altercation on Carnival, and it was over theater seats on the Dream! (two women, at that!) We have seen some on RCCL, though. (twice!...both times were drunks) Don't worry. Just go and have fun. People making silly threats behind the safety of their computer screens are definitely not something to worry about in real life on your vacation. :)

We've always had great experiences with Carnival and hope you enjoy your next cruise!!!

Oh I wish this were true. I don't like chair hogs and don't consider myself one. We had a group of 12 people on the Magic. We decided on an area above the aft pool on the Magic with a couch and a couple of chairs and a couple loungers to meet at for the day.....for 12 people! There were always at least 4-5 of us present in this area. And all chairs were used at least every 30 min. We got yelled at a couple of times by very rude people that we were hogging and saving. Once someone absolutely insisted on using one of the chairs in our circle. So, to prove a point they stayed there for like an hour in the middle of our group! While the friend/spouse whatever stood behind them watching for one of us to get up!

Sorry that happened to you. We never have a group that big. We have four kids, but even when ALL of us are cruising and we need to be by the pool, we normally only have 2 loungers for the DH and myself. If the kids wander over from the pool they just sit on the end of one of ours because we know they won't be there long anyway.

We've never had a single person even show back up...or if they did, they didn't say anything, which is what most people, including those who talk big behind a computer screen, would do.

The hoggers know they are wrong. There's signs everywhere saying don't leave your junk in a chair to save it, sometimes even a little tag on the big screen!

Don't worry about big mouths on here who know good and well they aren't going to do anything in real life except tuck their tails and go get the crap they left on the chair if it's something that has value, which it normally doesn't or they wouldn't have left it to "save" a chair in the first place. Just hand the stuff to a Carnival employee and get on with your day and your vacation.

If someone does wander over looking all confused, just point to an employee or tell them the chair was empty when you got there and THEN point to an employee. :D:D:p

And like I said before: You'll know which chairs are being used. You just will. They look...used! Even if they've just gone to the pool, they'll still leave a bag, or a drink or a towel with sunscreen beside the chair or something that will let you know it's actually being used for it's intended purpose. A "saved" chair looks vacant, empty and saved. Every. Single. Time.

I called, not included. There goes that extra game and piece of candy I guess.

You can still pre-pay them if you'd like, though. Go online (or call back) and fix it and then pay. That way, when you get on board you still don't have those charges. We do the same thing, by the way. I love having zero charges!! Add some cash to the card when you board and you don't even have to think about "billing" while you're cruising.

Good luck and I hope you have a great trip!!! :)

Call Carnival and have them email you an itemized statement just to be absolutely sure. That way you won't have any questions or worries about it all!

You have to be kidding me. You move my towel while I am taking a dip in the pool and you will need a life vest

First, if you're really "taking a dip in the pool", then your chair will look used, like everyone's does who is actually using it and no one would move your things because that's rude if someone is using the lounger. I've never seen anyone move anything from a lounger that is very obviously being used! Ever.

Second, if you're not (and you can always tell!), then it'll look unused and it's not "your chair" and I'll move anything I want because you're rude for thinking you can "save" a chair when other paying passengers actually may need that chair to USE.

Finally, my man is 6' 4" and over 220lbs. Good luck with throwing him anywhere. I'll be waving at you when they sit you off at the next port after a night in the lower decks! :D:D:rolleyes::):p

OK so how early should I be heading to the pool deck on sea days to lounge for the day in order to actually get a decent chair

Depends on what you view as "decent".

If you want to be beside the pool, then get there by 8ish. If there's a single flip flop, an orange or a row of chairs with the back tilted forward, either call a CC employee over or remove the stuff and take it to a CC employee and have a seat. (This is what we do WHEN WE HAVE OUR KIDS, because they enjoy the pool and I need to be able to see them at all times.)

Otherwise, there will be plenty of chairs on the upper decks that are completely empty, even at peak hours. When we DON'T have our kids, we much prefer this area and always look for something out of the way to sun, drink and read. We have a spray bottle of water with ice in it to cool off. We don't use the pools or hot tubs.

I don't hog chairs but when I do go in the pool I leave my stuff on the chair. Luckily nobody has ever moved my stuff but without a little timer ( which I'm thinking of coming up with something) how is one to know I'm coming back soon? When I'm searching for a chair I just keep searching, I can't see standing around timing other people on my vacation. I do agree Carnival employees are the ones that should enforce their rules. I guess it's a matter of individual tolerances.

 

 

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Who watches chairs or "times" other people? I don't.

When you come to the pool and drop your things off, you probably have a bag, towel, sunscreen, glasses, ect...like most people who are using the pool, right? I doubt you put one flip flop in the chair or one book or an orange to go swim. Those are the people hogging chairs and I move their junk to actually use the chair. (Actually we don't just move it, we hand it over to the bartender or the wait staff.)

Like I said in a previous post, you can always tell who's "saving" themselves a chair while they sleep the morning away or go play bingo but "might" want to swim later. My kids cruise with me and I need to watch them to make sure they are safe and/or not splashing other passengers, etc...

I have a closet full of free Carnival beach towels thanks to chair hogs!!

 

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I wish I could find those hogs!! I have no use for that one flip flop or torn up magazine and I have my own book. :D:D:cool:

I've posted this for years:

The solution to "chair hogging" is to move the crap people piled on a chair. (you can ALWAYS tell who's actually using the chairs and who's "saving" them) It doesn't mean that much to them or they wouldn't leave it lying around. Second to that, my kids are in the pool and I'm going to watch them. I've never had anyone say a single word to me "if" they ever even came back. If they ever do, I'll stand up and start waving and screaming at the nearest Carnival employee that someone is harassing me and I need security!!

ps...thanks to that one person who left the orange. It was tasty! The one flip flop in one lounger, the other flip flop in the next lounger, the towel in the next one and the magazine in the next one was kind of lame, though.

It's so interesting that everyone has such different tastes. My closest GF married last year and has cruised before with Carnival and RCCL, but decided on a 10 day with Princess for her honeymoon. She loved the ship but came back 5lbs lighter because she loathed the food and said she'd never go back.

We've sailed everything but HAL, Princess and the QM's of the sea and for the price, we'll stick with the less expensive lines, cruise 3-4 times a year, vape on the balcony, smuggle on booze because I don't want to trudge down every night for a pre-dinner drink or pay ridiculous amounts to have a bottle I don't even like very much delivered to the room and tip extra for the outstanding service that I receive on RCCL, Carnival and NCL. :D;):p

DH and I did agree that when we're a bit older we may give HAL a try, though. We'll see.