Cruise Lines Tackle Chair Hogging with New Policies

Chair hogging has become a common issue on major cruise lines. Passengers often use towels or personal items to reserve lounge chairs by the pool. This practice leaves chairs occupied but unused for hours.

According to reports on social media, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has started to address this problem. The unrealcruises Instagram account notes that NCL is receiving positive feedback from passengers for enforcing its chair-hogging policy.

“Norwegian Cruise Line is earning praise from passengers for actually enforcing its chair-hogging policy,” shared the unrealcruises Instagram account.

Crew members on ships like the Norwegian Escape are actively marking unoccupied chairs. They use stickers to identify chairs that have been reserved without use. If chairs remain unoccupied for an hour, crew members remove personal items. This allows other guests to use the space. The response from cruisers has been very positive.

Officially, NCL’s policy on chair reservation is clear. Their company website states, “Pool, deck and [theater] chairs may not be reserved.” Beyond this, the policy also forbids topless sunbathing, loud radios, and some wheeled items on board.

Their policy outlines, “Roller blades, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, surfboards, bicycles and similar items may not be utilized on board, except for mobility aids related to special needs, as approved by the ship’s management.”

Passengers have voiced opinions on platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram. One NCL passenger shared an incident on Facebook where her husband moved towels and belongings so they could sit down.

“I avoided the confrontation. He went and put the stuff on the ground behind the chairs, and we came and sat down,” she wrote.

Another social media user, however, advised against touching people’s belongings. Instead, they suggested letting attendants handle unclaimed items. Some passengers praised deck supervisors who enforce the rules. On Reddit, a traveler commented on how some perceive themselves as entitled and disregard rules.

Many passengers back timestamp systems that monitor chair use more effectively. There is also a distinction made between families genuinely using the pool and those simply reserving chairs while away at lunch.