A cruise operator is being applauded online for a firm approach to sun loungers, a policy that could make poolside time on your next trip far less stressful.
Plenty of people will hop on a plane or set sail in search of sunshine at some stage this year, but there’s one holiday headache that keeps cropping up.
It’s the familiar “sun bed wars”: passengers head to the pool early, drop towels and a few items to “claim” loungers, then disappear for hours without actually using them.
For anyone arriving later and finding rows of seemingly taken-but-empty chairs, it can be incredibly annoying. Carnival Cruise Line, however, has introduced a clear method aimed at stopping the practice.
Often referred to as “chair-hogging,” the behaviour is especially common during peak season. Carnival says it has “a system designed to ensure that all guests are able to enjoy equal access to sun loungers by preventing seat saving in outdoor deck areas”, according to its website.
The website adds: “Shipboard team members, the ‘ChairShare Team’ monitor sun lounger usage and if they observe a seat that contains a towel or personal belongings (flip-flops, books, etc.) but appears to be unoccupied, a sticker is placed on the chair indicating the time the sticker was placed and when personal items will be removed.”
Carnival says that if nobody returns to the chair within 40 minutes, “the contents are removed and held for the guest’s safekeeping”.
The sticker that is placed on the belongings of ‘chair-hoggers’ reads: “We stopped by at [time] and found this chair empty. Hope you’re having a great time… but for the benefit of all we limit how long chairs can be left unattended. At [time] we’ll move your stuff to the towel hut for safekeeping.”
Carnival notes that the process also helps other guests understand which loungers are likely to free up soon, making it easier to plan an upcoming break by the pool.
The tougher stance has attracted plenty of approval in Reddit discussions, with many arguing it’s overdue.
“Love this. So sick of 80% of the chairs being empty all day long with the exception of a clipped on towel,” one user penned.
While a second stated after being asked if they approve of the measure: “100%. I have been on too many cruises where people wake at 5 am and put their things in a chair by the pool and don’t show up until 11am. Not acceptable.”
That said, some commenters questioned whether the policy is consistently enforced once the ship is actually underway.