Sunbed reservation wars spreads.

[Windsurfboy]

8 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

If it were a works canteen, the employee schedule would solve the problem.

 

But the buffet "restaurant" is designed on the idea that people go there to eat and, when they're done, go elsewhere. The reality is that people grab a table and hog it all day, especially on "scenic sailing" days. Or they stay to play cards for hours. It's a Restaurant, not a lounge, but people use it as a lounge. 

 

Agree about playing  cards , but lingering with an after lunch coffee is different. 

 

One may ask why they don't go to a lounge,  no space in lounge , or no views, if you give Buffet better views than lounge then this is what happens.  Cards rooms are open taken by formal bridge clubs

Edited August 1 by Windsurfboy

[3rdGenCunarder]

Just now, Windsurfboy said:

 

Agree about playing  cards , but lingering with an after lunch coffee is different. 

 

One may ask why they don't go to a lounge,  no space in lounge , or no views, if you give Buffet better views than lounge then this is what happens. 

 

Staying through from breakfast through lunch isn't lingering. It's hogging.

[Windsurfboy]

2 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Staying through from breakfast through lunch isn't lingering. It's hogging.

 

Again one must ask WHY. 

 

What makes other spaces unattractive or unavailable. 

[PORT ROYAL]

9 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

If it were a works canteen, the employee schedule would solve the problem.

 

But the buffet "restaurant" is designed on the idea that people go there to eat and, when they're done, go elsewhere. The reality is that people grab a table and hog it all day, especially on "scenic sailing" days. Or they stay to play cards for hours. It's a Restaurant, not a lounge, but people use it as a lounge. 

How true…

Noted many pax on QM use the side seating pods of KC to play cards etc., when the Carinthia Lounge is a short walk away, with numerous tables available, in a better setting.

Strange….

 

 

 

[exlondoner]

6 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

How true…

Noted many pax on QM use the side seating pods of KC to play cards etc., when the Carinthia Lounge is a short walk away, with numerous tables available, in a better setting.

Strange….

 

 

 

Wouldn’t that be hogging another eating area?

[PORT ROYAL]

6 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Wouldn’t that be hogging another eating area?

No, the Lounge is very large, with the “eating area tables” being close to the serving displays.

[King Amo]

I've no real beef with anyone finding a place to sit and then using that place. Naturally a level of thought and courtesy of fellow passengers wouldn't go amiss, i.e. large queue at the door and not using the space as intended such as the buffet during main service or Golden Lion at the lunch rush. My issue is with people who spread their belongings out then disappear for hours, which tends in my experience to be around the pool, particularly during meal service times, and the Queens Room early afternoons prior to afternoon tea. 

 

 

[exlondoner]

Just now, PORT ROYAL said:

No, the Lounge is very large, with the “eating area tables” being close to the serving displays.

That has not been my experience. When I ate there, there were few spaces, and all present were eating or at least drinking. Surely it is nowhere near as large as KC.

[PORT ROYAL]

3 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

That has not been my experience. When I ate there, there were few spaces, and all present were eating or at least drinking. Surely it is nowhere near as large as KC.

CL is a lounge, having lounge seating with areas considered suitable for the playing of cards etc., plus a small area with tables/chairs for eating, then vacating.

The direction of this discussion is why do card players, and other game players, take up (hog) ‘eating’ tables/chairs in the KC, when the CL (lounge area - not eating area) is available?

Thought…. Adequate table in Stateroom?

[exlondoner]

6 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

CL is a lounge, having lounge seating with areas considered suitable for the playing of cards etc., plus a small area with tables/chairs for eating, then vacating.

The direction of this discussion is why do card players, and other game players, take up (hog) ‘eating’ tables/chairs in the KC, when the CL (lounge area - not eating area) is available?

Thought…. Adequate table in Stateroom?

Well, as I say, when I was last aboard, the entire room was taken up by eaters and drinkers.

[PORT ROYAL]

14 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Well, as I say, when I was last aboard, the entire room was taken up by eaters and drinkers.

Obviously, it appears that on one’s last whole space survey, those who usually hog tables in KC possibly retired to their staterooms to utilise a perfectly functional table.

[D&N]

2 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Wouldn’t that be hogging another eating area?

But it's a "lounge", not a buffet, food hall or restaurant. Similarly to my feelings on the pub, if someone wants to sit all day sipping drinks in a a lounge or pub I don't see why they should vacate their seats for someone that wants to eat.

I know there are folk that might sit there without drinking. I think on QM2 there's a corner where craft activities take place.

 

Not a venue we'll use anyway. Didn't like the atmosphere. Thought we would, but in practice I think it might be that pub, buffet, casino and Carinthia share a common theme.

[Windsurfboy]

No-one should be expected to  retire to stateroom (aka cabin). The question is is there enough seating for the number of passengers.

 

Whilst there will always be a few inconsiderate people , mass seat hogging and sunbed hogging will be primarily caused by lack of seats or sunbeds. 

Edited August 1 by Windsurfboy

[TouchstoneFeste]

On 7/27/2024 at 10:46 AM, majortom10 said:

Well it was only a matter of time before reserving of sunbed with towels spreads to other parts of the ship.

Just returned from a Ponant cruise, and there was a notice in the daily program to the effect: "Items left unattended on deck chairs for 30 minutes will be sent to lost and found".

[exlondoner]

5 minutes ago, TouchstoneFeste said:

Just returned from a Ponant cruise, and there was a notice in the daily program to the effect: "Items left unattended on deck chairs for 30 minutes will be sent to lost and found".

And were they?

[TouchstoneFeste]

17 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

And were they?

Not being much of a sun lounger I didn't really notice, but there weren't any obvious violations or people storming around complaining.

[Planning to cruise]

I think the same warning does(?) did appear in Cunard dailies.  I dont think it made any difference.

[PORT ROYAL]

Just a thought.  It bedgate expands.

Has anyone considered bring onboard one’s own padded sun lounger?  
Then no angst, or time bandings.

 

Drop off with luggage, store on balcony, use as/when required.  

 

In fact, position, then leave.  If “occupied” on return, one can legitimately say, that’s mine, trot on.

 

Or better still…. Cunard offers a paid reservation protocol.  One pays pre-cruise online, for duration of cruise, Cunard issues a timed booking (first paid, first served), for position selection used on embarkation, a named reservation then constantly placed.  Say at $50 pp per day

 

[exlondoner]

5 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Just a thought.  It bedgate expands.

Has anyone considered bring onboard one’s own padded sun lounger?  
Then no angst, or time bandings.

 

Drop off with luggage, store on balcony, use as/when required.  

 

In fact, position, then leave.  If “occupied” on return, one can legitimately say, that’s mine, trot on.

 

Or better still…. Cunard offers a paid reservation protocol.  One pays pre-cruise online, for duration of cruise, Cunard issues a timed booking (first paid, first served), for position selection used on embarkation, a named reservation then constantly placed.  Say at $50 pp per day

 

But people want different positions at different times according to where the sun is and how much wind etc? I assume people who don’t have balconies of their own would be given priority. 
 

All sounds much more complicated than just moving people’s stuff if chair left empty,

[WantedOnVoyage]

Come back, Dennis Dawson, all is forgiven.

 

You pay a deck chair charge (I think it was $10.00 a day at the end), you and Dennis pick out your favourite spot and he has YOUR chair, with cushion and steamer rug all ready for YOU in the same spot.  Even tucks you in.  Deck chair service, tray lunches and teas.  All part of the service. And he'll move the chair in or out of the sun, too.  Nary a worry in the world.

 

This worked just fine for oh about 160 years with Cunard. Then someone decided to "improve" things. 

 

What do they call it again, "The Good Old Days"??

 

For all good reason, too. 

[Planning to cruise]

2 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Or better still…. Cunard offers a paid reservation protocol.  One pays pre-cruise online, for duration of cruise, Cunard issues a timed booking (first paid, first served), for position selection used on embarkation, a named reservation then constantly placed.  Say at $50 pp per day

Don't even suggest it!  Another money maker for Cunard 😃

Instead of paid for off ship excursions it could be marketed as the on ship alternative. Maybe even a package with speciality dining during your alternative day on board.  🤣    

[exlondoner]

9 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

Come back, Dennis Dawson, all is forgiven.

 

You pay a deck chair charge (I think it was $10.00 a day at the end), you and Dennis pick out your favourite spot and he has YOUR chair, with cushion and steamer rug all ready for YOU in the same spot.  Even tucks you in.  Deck chair service, tray lunches and teas.  All part of the service. And he'll move the chair in or out of the sun, too.  Nary a worry in the world.

 

This worked just fine for oh about 160 years with Cunard. Then someone decided to "improve" things. 

 

What do they call it again, "The Good Old Days"??

 

For all good reason, too. 

Not for me. 

 

Poverty, starvation, huge child mortality, those sorts of things.

Or for ships, no balconies, no air conditioning, no stabilisers. And the thought of being tucked in by such a man horrifies me.

[3rdGenCunarder]

35 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

Come back, Dennis Dawson, all is forgiven.

 

You pay a deck chair charge (I think it was $10.00 a day at the end), you and Dennis pick out your favourite spot and he has YOUR chair, with cushion and steamer rug all ready for YOU in the same spot.  Even tucks you in.  Deck chair service, tray lunches and teas.  All part of the service. And he'll move the chair in or out of the sun, too.  Nary a worry in the world.

 

This worked just fine for oh about 160 years with Cunard. Then someone decided to "improve" things. 

 

What do they call it again, "The Good Old Days"??

 

For all good reason, too. 

 

Sun Deck on QE2 was originally a first-class area, so there probably wasn't a fee to reserve chairs. By the time I sailed on QE2, it was no longer reserved for first class and was available for a small fee. The last time sun deck still had reserved deck chairs, I paid $17 for the whole voyage. I remember drinks, elevenses, and tea, but I don't remember lunch service. 

 

Perhaps the closest we come to the reserved chair area now is the Grills Terrace. You don't have your very own chair reserved for you, but I don't think the 7 AM chair hogs operate there. I have had the unfortunate luck of cold and rainy cruises when I've been in PG, so I have had limited experience with the service. I must try PG on a WARM cruise one of these days. 

[Victoria2]

2 hours ago, exlondoner said:

But people want different positions at different times according to where the sun is and how much wind etc? I assume people who don’t have balconies of their own would be given priority. 
 

All sounds much more complicated than just moving people’s stuff if chair left empty,

All crew need to do is 'patrol' the decks, mentally or physically mark an empty sunbed and move 'stuff' from empty sunbeds after, say, half an hour.

 

We saw sunbed reserving on the Grills deck on QA on the couple of sunny days in May but no need in July as it was flipping cold!

 

[Victoria2]

44 minutes ago, Planning to cruise said:

Don't even suggest it!  Another money maker for Cunard 😃

Instead of paid for off ship excursions it could be marketed as the on ship alternative. Maybe even a package with speciality dining during your alternative day on board.  🤣    

With you Planning to cruise

Buy your own sun bed for the cruise duration?

 

No, No No

 

and did I say NO!!!!!!😅