Time to level the playing field: Chair Hogs

[tonyfsu21]

We sail Icon in a couple weeks with the entire family and I refuse to lose the pool chair battle. I plan to go buy a bag full of chair hog supplies from the dollar store (blue tooth speakers, cheap purses, beach bags, Boca chair clips) and secure my family a row of chairs. IMHO there has been enough time for the company to come up with a better game plan to finally stop the chair hogs and they have failed. I refuse to spend 5 figures on a holiday trip and be at a disadvantage any longer. I know this statement will come under fire but it’s what I feel is necessary. I have attached a pic of the Icon pool deck before 7am in March and you will see that every single desirable pool chair has been accounted for by the hogs. There is no excuse for this and if the companies position is a posted sign and a vanilla threat to remove items then I am prepared to take that risk and gamble the $20 in newly acquired chair hog supplies. Done & dusted. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

So, in order to deter the chair hogs you're going to become a chair hog ?  Not sure I'm following your devious plan.  

[tonyfsu21]

9 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

So, in order to deter the chair hogs you're going to become a chair hog ?  Not sure I'm following your devious plan.  

Haha! Yes, it’s unorthodox for sure but I’ve never been the rule following type. 

[tonyfsu21]

I am also editing my screen name to reflect the change. Tonychairhog21

[asquared17]

28 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

So, in order to deter the chair hogs you're going to become a chair hog ?  Not sure I'm following your devious plan.  

isn’t this like that quote about a monster staring into the abyss and then becoming the monster ? maybe (certainly) i am mixing my metaphors

[asquared17]

but i am in percent agreement about the chair hogs 

[asquared17]

35 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

Boca chair clips

wait i actually like the animal clips!! 

[tjcruisers]

Agree that by now Royal should have some system in place to address it (like chalking a tire in a parking lot). We've been fortunate that the last 2 cruises (Wonder/Symphony) we had no issue getting a great seat whenever we went down by the pool or solarium. Overall the passengers seemed to be respecting the rules of no hogging. Our next cruise in March is on a smaller ship, not holding my breath we'll as lucky. 

[JimnKathy]

For RCL it's a real conundrum.

Enforce the rules and make the chair hogs upset...don't enforce the rules and the well-mannered folks like us have to scramble around if we want to be by the main pool.

We find the Solarium to be the answer...we'll let the piggies slop it around on the main pool deck. 

What I think is silly is to become part of the problem in order to solve the problem.

[tonyfsu21]

8 minutes ago, JimnKathy said:

For RCL it's a real conundrum.

Enforce the rules and make the chair hogs upset...don't enforce the rules and the well-mannered folks like us have to scramble around if we want to be by the main pool.

We find the Solarium to be the answer...we'll let the piggies slop it around on the main pool deck. 

What I think is silly is to become part of the problem in order to solve the problem.

Jim-

I have 2 young children. The Solarium is not the answer for us. Silly as it may be, I am going to have 4 chairs to enjoy by the pool on a sea day. 

[Pattycruise]

I’m so glad I’m not a sun worshipper and worry about the chair hogs.  I’d rather park my cap on a ledge or somewhere I can see it and be in the pool. 

[loki007]

I don't worry about chair hogs...I get up early and find myself a nice spot and then enjoy it all day. I'm always amused when people are wondering around the solarium at 11 or 12 and can't believe there are no chairs...proceed to the upper deck please 

[Hoppy2BHere]

Pick a section.. take all the towels from all the chairs. Pick your 4. Relax and watch the show… 

oh… and.. play dumb…

[Geezer Of The Seas]

Icon of the Seas. Crown's Edge. Free pass for Crown's Edge clipped to chair hogs chair. 

Unfortunate harness detachment. 

See where this is going?

FWIW,  we're wrapping up our first sailing on HAL. Same problem. smaller scale. Chair/table hogs in the buffet is worse than the pool. 

And the buffet flies are absolutely horrible. Real flies, not subset of passenger.  

[tonyfsu21]

2 hours ago, loki007 said:

I don't worry about chair hogs...I get up early and find myself a nice spot and then enjoy it all day. I'm always amused when people are wondering around the solarium at 11 or 12 and can't believe there are no chairs...proceed to the upper deck please 

Not what I am talking about at all. I try and get chairs at 6am. You are referring to a different set of circumstances. 

[ScottD]

I feel like you are just adding to the problem.  Go, find a set of chairs that have towels lined up on them, grab a deck attendant and tell them you need 4 chairs and to help you remove items from unoccupied chairs (or do it yourself).  I also have never had to fight for chairs and always find 2-3 when needed, but we also aren't big sun or pool people and only do it on embarkment day when it's still kind of empty.  

[tonyfsu21]

37 minutes ago, ScottD said:

I feel like you are just adding to the problem.  Go, find a set of chairs that have towels lined up on them, grab a deck attendant and tell them you need 4 chairs and to help you remove items from unoccupied chairs (or do it yourself).  I also have never had to fight for chairs and always find 2-3 when needed, but we also aren't big sun or pool people and only do it on embarkment day when it's still kind of empty.  

Trust me when I tell you that the Icon pool deck is a different animal. I refuse to lose out on prime chairs because I follow the rules. When the company sorts out the mess and starts to enforce this issue in a way that actually makes it fair for all then I will once again follow the rules.

[BrianB]

@tonyfsu21

You do what you gotta do.

Talking about following the rules…there are two conflicting rules;

1) Royal’s rarely-enforced chair hog rule.

2) Fellow passenger’s ‘my stuff=my chair’ rule.

Only one of these rules seems to be respected. First come, first served. Regular cruisers can complain about it all we want…because we see it all the time. But new and less frequent cruisers seem to understand this is the way it’s done. Not only aboard cruise ships, but also at many land resorts.

I think as far as the company is concerned…if it seems to work itself out over the vast majority of customers, then don’t get involved.

I agree with you. If you (and Royal) can’t beat ‘em…join ‘em.

Until some workable, enforceable and respectable process is created…nobody’s going to give you a pat on back for sacrificing a great set of chairs for you and your family just to show you’re not contributing to a problem that most people don’t even know exists.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[LTR]

What I really liked about Navigator was the cubbies (like you have in grade 1) by the pool. If I am in the pool I can't also be sitting on a chair. So just being able to place my items in a cubbie while I bobbed around was nice. Although I think they were specifically by the solarium pool. It would be nice if there were more cubbies or lockers so you didn't need to hog a chair of you were just in the pool.

[tonyfsu21]

2 hours ago, BrianB said:

@tonyfsu21

You do what you gotta do.

Talking about following the rules…there are two conflicting rules;

1) Royal’s rarely-enforced chair hog rule.

2) Fellow passenger’s ‘my stuff=my chair’ rule.

Only one of these rules seems to be respected. First come, first served. Regular cruisers can complain about it all we want…because we see it all the time. But new and less frequent cruisers seem to understand this is the way it’s done. Not only aboard cruise ships, but also at many land resorts.

I think as far as the company is concerned…if it seems to work itself out over the vast majority of customers, then don’t get involved.

I agree with you. If you (and Royal) can’t beat ‘em…join ‘em.

Until some workable, enforceable and respectable process is created…nobody’s going to give you a pat on back for sacrificing a great set of chairs for you and your family just to show you’re not contributing to a problem that most people don’t even know exists.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

To add to this, I plan to be a chair hog from 6am to maybe 1pm. My family will not block up a bank of chairs for longer than a few hours. The typical chair hog selfishly holds chairs for the entire day (not cool) regardless of use. Like I said, this is an unorthodox and somewhat aggressive approach to an issue that I will no longer let impact my holiday vacation. A problem will be solved by adding to the problem (yep). Cheers

[Mrs. Thomas]

What I have done is park my fat bathing suited behind right next to the chair on the deck. It makes people so uncomfortable that they move their stuff. What's even better is when they were sitting in the chair then move.  The one time in my life that I don't care that people are put off by what I look like in a bathing suit. 

[Dad2Cue]

On 11/9/2024 at 12:32 PM, Hoppy2BHere said:

Pick a section.. take all the towels from all the chairs. Pick your 4. Relax and watch the show… 

oh… and.. play dumb…

 

On 11/9/2024 at 9:15 AM, tonyfsu21 said:

We sail Icon in a couple weeks with the entire family and I refuse to lose the pool chair battle. I plan to go buy a bag full of chair hog supplies from the dollar store (blue tooth speakers, cheap purses, beach bags, Boca chair clips) and secure my family a row of chairs. IMHO there has been enough time for the company to come up with a better game plan to finally stop the chair hogs and they have failed. I refuse to spend 5 figures on a holiday trip and be at a disadvantage any longer. I know this statement will come under fire but it’s what I feel is necessary. I have attached a pic of the Icon pool deck before 7am in March and you will see that every single desirable pool chair has been accounted for by the hogs. There is no excuse for this and if the companies position is a posted sign and a vanilla threat to remove items then I am prepared to take that risk and gamble the $20 in newly acquired chair hog supplies. Done & dusted. 

Royal needs a couple of strategically placed chair guards like the guys in the photo.  Give a person a badge with some authority and the problem is solved.  Anyone that puts a towel down at 7 a.m. on a cloudy day would be very suspicious.  When they show up, they need to get into the pool or put their butt in the chair. 

I always feel sorry for the life guards who stand on the side of the pool during inclement weather with nobody near the pool.  I feel like I should tip those life guards just for standing there.  I would tip a chair guard if they could find me a chair.

You would think Royal would have extra people for chair guards.   I reserve chairs for people who will show up later but at least I'm present.  When I need to leave, someone takes my place or I vacate the chairs.

[tonyfsu21]

2 hours ago, Mrs. Thomas said:

What I have done is park my fat bathing suited behind right next to the chair on the deck. It makes people so uncomfortable that they move their stuff. What's even better is when they were sitting in the chair then move.  The one time in my life that I don't care that people are put off by what I look like in a bathing suit. 

Something tells me this wouldn’t even cause the Icon crowd to blink considering what you see on any given day at that pool. Holiday sailings are certainly a different animal. 

[PhantomWolf]

On 11/9/2024 at 10:50 AM, asquared17 said:

isn’t this like that quote about a monster staring into the abyss and then becoming the monster ? maybe (certainly) i am mixing my metaphors

I did not expect to find a Nietzsche quote here on the blog this morning but I am pleasantly surprised.

 

I'm conflicted here.  The poster is going to become a chair hog which we all find annoying (chair hogs, not the poster).  But they are making the change intentionally to enjoy what they have spent money on.  I guess I'm okay with this as long as you are actively using the chairs at some point.... the duality of man is fun.

[Pooch]

I guess I am guilty.  I plop stuff on 2 chairs about 7:15.  Grab breakfast & sit my butt down til hubby gets there.  Then I go back to the room to clean up & we spend the rest of the day in and around those chairs.  There’s probably 45 minutes between marking my territory & actual use.  

[need2cruz]

I've never been on Icon, so I don't know the pool chair situation there.  But I have been on multiple other ships with my family of 8.  Never would all of us need a chair at the same time.  Usually, teens and adults are using the pool more than lounging.  We pick about 3 chairs to put towels and shoes under and take turns sitting and swimming.  My question to you would be, does all 4 of you really need 4 chairs?  I'm not trying to be rude, but are your children really lying on the chairs for 7 hours?

[Matt]

The issue with enforcing the rule with chair hogs is it's a no-win situation for Royal.

If they do nothing, someone is upset (person trying to get a chair). 

If they enforce the rule, then someone is upset (the chair hog).

By doing nothing, it's mostly perceived as a "guest to guest" problem. Hope that logic makes sense.

[smokeybandit]

They need to implement a reservation system for chairs. 90 minutes at a time, and either use it or don't use it. If at the end of your 90 minutes there's no one else on the list, then you can have it another 90 minutes.

Granted that'd be cumbersome, but it'd be something.

[NotPayinExtra]

If there are 2 of us, we use 1 chair. 4 of us, we use 2 chairs. Someone is always in the pool, while another is sitting in the sun. It's seems a much more fair balance. And kids never sit still, so they really don't need their own chair. Hog half the amount of people in your group and play if you can't beat them, join them. While also being only a half hog to others. It's the best middle ground I got.

We need to start meeting each other in the middle and compromising. 50/50. 

[Jolly Ogre]

2 hours ago, Matt said:

The issue with enforcing the rule with chair hogs is it's a no-win situation for Royal.

If they do nothing, someone is upset (person trying to get a chair). 

If they enforce the rule, then someone is upset (the chair hog).

By doing nothing, it's mostly perceived as a "guest to guest" problem. Hope that logic makes sense.

Meh...I just take the stuff on the chairs that I want to the towel station and let them sort it out.

I don't really give a flying F if I piss off a chair hog.

[Dad2Cue]

1 hour ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Meh...I just take the stuff on the chairs that I want to the towel station and let them sort it out.

I don't really give a flying F if I piss off a chair hog.

That could escalate to a "Royal problem" rather quickly.  I would think Royal would want to mitigate "guest to guest" problems too. 

[Va4fam]

Understand your position about fighting back. 

Wouldn't it be great if fellow passengers waited until they were going to the pool (or Solarium) to use a chair? 

We were on Harmony for the Halloween sailing.   Lots of people.  It rained most of the day at Costa Maya and during 2 sea days.  Seems like that would put a premium on the pool chairs during nice days.   Never seemed to be an issue for us.   Why?

Expectations-we don't go to the pool at 10:00 AM and expect to have seats right next to the pool.   Sometimes we are lucky and find one, but usually search further away or up a deck to find a couple of chairs.  Back of the ship is a great place to catch sun and watch the wake.   Try it!

Timing--many mornings we will sleep in, eat breakfast, go to gym, and head to pool.  Many people leave in afternoon, easier to find a vacant chair.

Creativity--sometimes we find one vacant chair but not two....and will move chairs as needed.   Not able to do this on Anthem earlier this year, all chairs were tied by a long bicycle cable lock system.   Is this considered foul play?   Maybe, but we never block aisles, and seems more considerate than "chair hogging."  Will this work with our group of 12 for Christmas......not even going to try.

Karma-we never remove towels or belongings.  Ever.  Maybe someone had to run to bathroom?  Or getting drink at bar?  Or put their towels there early in the morning...who am I to decide?  Don't want to get bad cruise ju-ju.

And YES, I see the guilty "chair hoggers" out in earnest by 7 AM when I am finishing up my morning run on the track.   You know who you are

 

 

 

[Jolly Ogre]

1 hour ago, Dad2Cue said:

That could escalate to a "Royal problem" rather quickly.  I would think Royal would want to mitigate "guest to guest" problems too. 

This is Royal's policy. You can take unattended items to the towel station and crew will take unattended items to the towel station as well.

[tonyfsu21]

8 hours ago, Pooch said:

I guess I am guilty.  I plop stuff on 2 chairs about 7:15.  Grab breakfast & sit my butt down til hubby gets there.  Then I go back to the room to clean up & we spend the rest of the day in and around those chairs.  There’s probably 45 minutes between marking my territory & actual use.  

Pooch- you might be considered a chair hog. I am excited to become a member of this club. 

[tonyfsu21]

7 hours ago, need2cruz said:

I've never been on Icon, so I don't know the pool chair situation there.  But I have been on multiple other ships with my family of 8.  Never would all of us need a chair at the same time.  Usually, teens and adults are using the pool more than lounging.  We pick about 3 chairs to put towels and shoes under and take turns sitting and swimming.  My question to you would be, does all 4 of you really need 4 chairs?  I'm not trying to be rude, but are your children really lying on the chairs for 7 hours?

Excellent question. I don’t sit, in fact I walk close to 20k steps a day on average. I will be actually be securing 4 (highly desirable) chairs for my entire extended family to enjoy. There are 12 of us if you include the kids. My wife will be enjoying one with a pina colada along with my parents and possibly one of my kids between pool hops. They will be well used and when we are done they will be promptly vacated for others to enjoy. 

[tonyfsu21]

7 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

They need to implement a reservation system for chairs. 90 minutes at a time, and either use it or don't use it. If at the end of your 90 minutes there's no one else on the list, then you can have it another 90 minutes.

Granted that'd be cumbersome, but it'd be something.

Trust me, I would prefer to pay. The company has turned every other aspect of cruising into the McDonald’s upsize model and they should do the same here. 

[tonyfsu21]

4 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Meh...I just take the stuff on the chairs that I want to the towel station and let them sort it out.

I don't really give a flying F if I piss off a chair hog.

I do the same thing but I normally just toss it on an adjacent chair. That was of course before I decided to become a chair hog. If someone does that to me, it’s fair game. I can play the same game. 

[Jolly Ogre]

2 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I do the same thing but I normally just toss it on an adjacent chair. That was of course before I decided to become a chair hog. If someone does that to me, it’s fair game. I can play the same game. 

When I have done this nobody has asked where their stuff went. I am usually only at the pool/hot tubs for an hour or two so probably we miss each other.

[tonyfsu21]

2 hours ago, Va4fam said:

Understand your position about fighting back. 

Wouldn't it be great if fellow passengers waited until they were going to the pool (or Solarium) to use a chair? 

We were on Harmony for the Halloween sailing.   Lots of people.  It rained most of the day at Costa Maya and during 2 sea days.  Seems like that would put a premium on the pool chairs during nice days.   Never seemed to be an issue for us.   Why?

Expectations-we don't go to the pool at 10:00 AM and expect to have seats right next to the pool.   Sometimes we are lucky and find one, but usually search further away or up a deck to find a couple of chairs.  Back of the ship is a great place to catch sun and watch the wake.   Try it!

Timing--many mornings we will sleep in, eat breakfast, go to gym, and head to pool.  Many people leave in afternoon, easier to find a vacant chair.

Creativity--sometimes we find one vacant chair but not two....and will move chairs as needed.   Not able to do this on Anthem earlier this year, all chairs were tied by a long bicycle cable lock system.   Is this considered foul play?   Maybe, but we never block aisles, and seems more considerate than "chair hogging."  Will this work with our group of 12 for Christmas......not even going to try.

Karma-we never remove towels or belongings.  Ever.  Maybe someone had to run to bathroom?  Or getting drink at bar?  Or put there towels there early in the morning...who am I to decide?  Don't want to get bad cruise ju-ju.

And YES, I see the guilty "chair hoggers" out in earnest by 7 AM when I am finishing up my morning run on the rack.   You know who you are

 

 

 

I have never been naive enough to think we could find prime chair locations at 10am on a holiday sailing. It’s not going to happen. The hogs are out before 7am. If you snooze, you will lose. It’s unfair and the chair situation is messy. When the company finally (if ever) mitigates the issue, I will no longer be a hog.

[Va4fam]

3 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

When I have done this nobody has asked where their stuff went. I am usually only at the pool/hot tubs for an hour or two so probably we miss each other.

We witnessed an ugly incident at Coco Cay last year.  

Two chairs in the shallow part of the Oasis Pool.   With towels and sunscreen but otherwise empty for two hours. 

A couple came by, moved the towels and sunscreen and took over the chairs.

15 minutes later, original occupants of the chairs showed up after a jetski excursion and lunch and demanded their chairs back.

New couple said "No." 

Voices were raised.

Unpleasant words were exchanged.

Threats were made.   More unpleasant words exchanged. 

A drink attendant called a supervisor to try and calm everyone down.

Nobody backed down.

We had been there two hours and offered our chairs and went to lunch.

No idea what happened after that.