Questions about saving chairs on deck

[MaryKatesMom]

Many. many years ago I sent DCL an email with a photo I took while by the pool. Every single seat was saved but no one was in them! I suggested little cubby holes or something to place items while in the pool.

That was the only cruise we used the pool past the first day.

We are a family of 4 but only use one chair for me which I use all day. My vacation is to read by whatever body of water I am near.

 

[RedSox68]

Many. many years ago I sent DCL an email with a photo I took while by the pool. Every single seat was saved but no one was in them! I suggested little cubby holes or something to place items while in the pool.

That was the only cruise we used the pool past the first day.

We are a family of 4 but only use one chair for me which I use all day. My vacation is to read by whatever body of water I am near.

My favorites are the people who grab bananas and towels and put on on each seat for 4-6 seats. There was someone who posted on here a while back who said they saw this every morning by the same woman. So they came back after breakfast to note that no one was seated in those seats. So the next morning he/she followed them and picked up every item they put down and put it on the table. They watched that afternoon when the woman came back with her brood and was incensed that there were no chairs saved for them. Which means they expected to save those seats from early morning until mid-afternoon! Very selfish.

We, too, much prefer the rear seats in the theater -- even in movie theaters we go to the very top and at plays we usually sit in the balcony -- much better views. Plus when the show is over in the Walt Disney Theater, you are closer to the door to get out

 

[Weedy]

Ok I'm a rules follower. But I think it's pretty ridiculous that one person in your party (or parent and child) can't stop and use the restroom while others go sit down. We always sit in the same general area so others can find us.

 

[mmouse37]

See, to me this is complete irrational behavior. If a couple are sitting there and one leaves, the other has a perfect right to hold that seat. What do they expect -- for the partner to find a seat somewhere else when they return.

Same with the pool chairs -- I have never seen anything wrong with saving one chair while you are in the pool or taking your kid to the bathroom, etc. I think the major issue is when people lay objects out at the crack of dawn for the day, or a family saves seats for every single member when most the members are in the pool and won't even be using the chairs for the most part. I'm glad we're not pool people

But I can say that the closest we came to this extreme seat saving was our first time through the Panama Canal. We got up at 5 a.m. to see the pilot brought onboard, and went up deck at 6 a.m. to get some views. People had actually dragged all the loungers and chairs to the rails -- around the whole front of the ship, so that you could not get to the rails or see. I heard a CM say "this is NOT going to be allowed" and immediately had crew breaking up the chairs and moving them back. Seriously, that was a very self-centered "me me me" move on the part of those passengers!

We witnessed this as well on our Panama Canal crossing. It was very selfish and very dangerous...to block the whole front of the ship. On our first Panama crossing people were actually sitting up on top of the posts that surround the basketball area. CM promptly told them to get down.

MJ

 

[RedSox68]

We witnessed this as well on our Panama Canal crossing. It was very selfish and very dangerous...to block the whole front of the ship. On our first Panama crossing people were actually sitting up on top of the posts that surround the basketball area. CM promptly told them to get down.

MJ

I mean come on folks, this isn't a quick event where if you aren't out there at a certain time you will miss it -- we walked all around the ship all day and saw lots of stuff. I can't even imagine planning on plopping myself down in a lounger for the duration of the PC experience! Plus they had a great on deck BBQ and my then 18-year-old DD and I got to use the adult pool since it was empty (while my husband ran around and took photos LOL)

 

[Mighty Mouse Mama]

Technically, there is a "no reserved seats policy" that extends to not just the Walt Disney Theatre, but according to the pool decks as well; per the Navigator, "the saving of the sun loungers is not permitted on Decks 11, 12, & 13. Items left unattended will be returned to lost & found at Guest Services, Deck 3 Midship." I've read that people will go up to CM and ask to have people's belongings removed if they've been there for longer than a given amount of time (say 30 minutes and it's crowded). According to the "rules", there is no saving and the CM will remove the belongings. I've never had an issue finding a seat but do observe people parking stuff on chairs for hours at a time. If we were cruises during a busy time of the year, and couldn't find a chair next to the pool to watch my child, I'd likely contact a CM to help me move someone's things or if it were just a towel, I'd just move it.

Good to know! I totally missed that when reading the navigators that have been posted. That helps a lot. Thanks!

 

[Markonefive]

There's a whole web site called stupidguesttricks that tells cringe worthy stories of people's rudeness and sense of entitlement. But also the occasional compliment, too. For the theatre, I think that in the instance of the three teens reserving three rows, a cm should have seen how obvious this was, gone to them, and politely told them to sit down, you can't do what you're doing, have a magical day. For families of kids who might need bathroom breaks, the polite thing to do is to at least try to be on an edge so as not to inconvenience other participants (and as a bonus, your kid will get to see cast members up close who walk on aisles during the shows). And as for the pre-show seat saving, I think that bringing a small item like a sweater or sweatshirt and leaving that on the vacant seat (or seats) if you have to get up for a quick unplanned break shows that it this isn't a pre-show group block like those teens. Pools -- cubbyholes or baskets (like in supermarkets) sounds like a great idea to me. Reminders to guests about not reserving unused seats in signs and navigators would help. And cast members who notice vacant seats for too long (say an hour) could discreetly put items in baskets and set them aside, freeing up the seat. Nothing wrong with bathroom breaks or snack or even a quick run to the drink station or buffet to bring something back (15 mins) but longer than that, you should give up your seat and let someone else have a turn.

 

[elvispursley]

I've often wondered why DCL didn't think to put cubbyholes around the pool/jacuzzis so that you could place your flip-flops and cover-ups in them instead of taking up a lounger. I'd rather put my stuff in a cubby when I'm just going in the jacuzzi instead of just throwing it on a lounger that I'm not going to use, but where else am I supposed to put my cover-up and book when it's just me coming down to use the jacuzzi for 30 minutes?? Here's to hoping the new ships have some common sense designing to them!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've often wondered why DCL didn't think to put cubbyholes around the pool/jacuzzis so that you could place your flip-flops and cover-ups in them instead of taking up a lounger. I'd rather put my stuff in a cubby when I'm just going in the jacuzzi instead of just throwing it on a lounger that I'm not going to use, but where else am I supposed to put my cover-up and book when it's just me coming down to use the jacuzzi for 30 minutes?? Here's to hoping the new ships have some common sense designing to them!

The only cubbies onboard DCL are at AquaDuck (and they are on rollers):


Maybe they didn't want to give up space on the pool deck to dedicate to cubbies/lockers.

 

[elvispursley]

True...forgot about the cubbies for aquaduck! Didn't realize those were on wheels but how perfect would that be to have more of when the ship is full and the loungers are being used as storage?! Will this stop the rude people from hogging loungers? Highly unlikely, but it would be an option for those of us who aren't rude and selfish!

 

[kerry1379]

We were on the Magic for Spring Break. We have a large family so to get seats together for the evening theater shows we all would be waiting when doors opened. That said, after waiting 45 minutes, shortly after dinner, of course my 5 year old had to go the restroom right before one of the very popular show started. When I came back,my husband was frazzled and said one of the ushers almost demanded that he give up her seat because even that was considered "saving." In my mind that is NOT considered "saving" at all. But as others have said, you may come across others who do not agree with you. Just do the best you can.

 

[elvispursley]

I love how the CMs are around to enforce the "no saving seats" rule when a little one is taken out to use the restroom but whenever I see large groups saving seats, they're never around to say "boo" and it's left up to other guests to "inform" them of the policy

 

[RedSox68]

I love how the CMs are around to enforce the "no saving seats" rule when a little one is taken out to use the restroom but whenever I see large groups saving seats, they're never around to say "boo" and it's left up to other guests to "inform" them of the policy

Exactly! Don't even get me started on the chaos we have experienced in the movie theater where no CMs are around to help out or protect those who just want to see the movie!

 

[mareed]

The only cubbies onboard DCL are at AquaDuck (and they are on rollers):
View attachment 235044

Maybe they didn't want to give up space on the pool deck to dedicate to cubbies/lockers.

Jan 2017 the Wonder had them by the AquaLab and adult pool! They were the same as in the picture and on rollers.

 

[RedSox68]

Just got my email newsletter from Cruise Critic and they had an article about the "10 things not to do on a sea day". And guess what one of them was:

5. Reserve lounge chairs you don't plan to use for hours.

Or, in cruise speak, don't be a chair hog. Do not get up at the crack of dawn, put a book, sunglasses and towel on a lounger in a prime location, then go back to sleep or to breakfast or to the gym, and expect to swagger over to your saved chair somewhere in the vicinity of 1 p.m. It's completely rude -- especially on a day when many people want to spend time in those loungers. It's OK to save your chair while you take a dip or run off to grab a quick bite, but if you plan to be gone for more than 30 minutes, give up your spot to someone who will actually use it.

 

[Mighty Mouse Mama]

Just got my email newsletter from Cruise Critic and they had an article about the "10 things not to do on a sea day". And guess what one of them was:

5. Reserve lounge chairs you don't plan to use for hours.

Or, in cruise speak, don't be a chair hog. Do not get up at the crack of dawn, put a book, sunglasses and towel on a lounger in a prime location, then go back to sleep or to breakfast or to the gym, and expect to swagger over to your saved chair somewhere in the vicinity of 1 p.m. It's completely rude -- especially on a day when many people want to spend time in those loungers. It's OK to save your chair while you take a dip or run off to grab a quick bite, but if you plan to be gone for more than 30 minutes, give up your spot to someone who will actually use it.

Woohoo! Go Cruise Critic! Wonder if that will help at all...

 

[JWG]

Woohoo! Go Cruise Critic! Wonder if that will help at all...

No.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Woohoo! Go Cruise Critic! Wonder if that will help at all...

Cruise Critic often posts this kind of "information". It makes for interesting reading, but hasn't changed a thing.

 

[MunFam]

Sadly, we always used a chair to "hold" our stuff while we were swimming. We had no intention of ever sitting in the chair. I would have been much happier to stuff everything in a gym locker. My gym has electronic ones where you enter a 4 digit code and lock it...like a hotel safe. Knowing my things were "safe" in a locker instead of randomly thrown on a chair would be awesome.

If they offered actual lockers, they could essentially set up a policy of "if you are sitting in the chair, its yours, if you get up...its no longer your chair" even for a 3 minute bathroom break...basically creating a situation where there doesnt need to be a courtesy time for people to return. If you want to "save" your lounger, be within reach of it at all times. If a CM comes over to move your stuff, you can say, I will be there in 2 seconds, just grabbing my chicken tenders or have your chair neighbor let them know you just ran to the restroom or drink station Otherwise, its abandoned gear. I think this would "free up" a ton of chairs, so any time anyone wanted a chair, there would be one available.

 

[RedSox68]

Cruise Critic often posts this kind of "information". It makes for interesting reading, but hasn't changed a thing.

I agree -- and, for us, 80% of the stuff they post in articles is already known by anyone who has already cruised. I just thought it was funny that they said almost word for word what's been said on these boards about this very thing. But no, it won't make a bit of difference.