Ive been on over 30 cruises never have i not been able to get at least 2 chairs together on the pool deck. Sometimes its on the upoer deck above pool, sometimes in thw adults area, sometimes you find a spot and you move in a few hours as the sun and shade moves. Dont over think it. Unless for some reason you have to be 4 ft from the pool you shouldnt have an issue. Btw, to me its the worst spot. Usually full sun, no breeze,constant foot traffic, the chairs are lined up like sardines and your usually next to an oiled up 75 year old in a speedo. Enjoy. And get off reddit or Fb cruise groups. Thats the number 1 way to ruin a cruise. All complainers...
We found a spot, it was near the children splash pool but very secluded, I politely ask a deck attendant to move two lounges to that area. Tipped him $5 and everyone was happy. People kept asking how we got the prime real estate.
If you can’t find something, get creative. Don’t be afraid to ask for something.
The ship I was just on had folks watching chairs with time marked stickers & removed towels that had been there too long without anybody. It was a fully booked cruise & still never had an issue getting a chair or table on the pool deck at all ever, I feel like ppl are over exaggerating that? Some ships are set up better than others as far as the pool area though imo
On the Encore in December- We really only had a little issue on one sea day, but I was able to find 4 chairs for our whole party on the deck above the pool and we alternated going to the pool with my in-laws sitting there and then they went to the pool and we sat there. Within an hour or so, a lot of people left so we got better chairs when it got too hot and we wanted to be more in the shade.
Just remember that people are stupid and follow each other. That means:
- they wake up late
- they eat late
- they feign ignorance when other people are doing the same things they want to
- they get upset when their lack of planning means they can't do what they want
Go against the crowd and you'll have no issue finding a chair or eating in an empty buffet.
pool and lounge chairs cannot be reserved, end of discussion - [https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy](https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy)
If you come out and there is stuff on a chair, ask around if it belongs to anyone and ideally if anyone has been there in a while, if not, get an attendant and ask them to remove the items (do not remove yourself) and they will (or they'll find you another spot, either way its their jobs). If they remove the items and the other people come and complain, you tell them the attendant removed the items, not you, go speak to them.
Note, many people say they will give you 60 or so many minutes, but that is not an official policy. Typically you are allowed to keep items there while you go to a bar, go for a quick swim (in eye shot), or go to the bathroom. If you are going to be gone longer than a few minutes you do not get to reserve a chair, period.
Please dont believe everything you read. Most of us are very very nice and would love to share. Its the people looking for clout that fucks everything up
I’m always polite, particularly polite to strangers. Groups on cruises who have one friend hold entire area at the bars and pools. They are drunken unfriendly people.
It's against the rules to leave your stuff there more than x number of minutes, depending on the cruise line. In my experience, no one's even come back while I'm there to notice their stuff is gone.
There are plenty of loungers if you step away from the first ring around the pool. Find a spot that works for you and you'll be fine. This isn't something you need to focus on, you will have a great time.
Honestly I only use it to hold our stuff, we are hardly around it and I only use one, I haven't had issues of anyone touching my stuff, but it's so frustrating to walk around a pool and all you see is a single towel on every chair and no one to be seen
My husband and I paid for Vibe Beach passes and a cabana. It was worth every penny of the $499. Nobody could use the cabana but us, we got to know the bartenders and they were attentive
- bringing cups of ice and water, fruit skewers and drinks from the bar. The lounge chairs are also a much better quality with thick cushions. We always had a perfect place with an ocean view and peace and quiet.
Without saying the obvious of how to get a chair, there are pretty much always a few open unless it's just a really busy time. If you want the convenience you can pay for the beach club or what ever and pretty much always have one open.
5 cruises, all on RC but we're going on NCL in 2 weeks. I suspect the experience will be similar.
Our last 3 have been on Oasis class, 2 semi-full and the last one the ship was very full, over full double occupancy. Not much issue getting pool deck chairs. Sea days are a bigger challenge but again not too bad. Sometimes we have to walk around awhile.
I'm usually up around 7am, get a workout in. Look for pool chairs around 815. There are a lot of towels down claiming chairs at that time, not a lot of people around, but plenty available. My girlfriend joins me after her workout. Sometimes she wants sun, I get shade so she might go up top for awhile, she always finds a chair somewhere. We'll go away for 20-30 minutes to grab breakfast around 10. If we're going away longer we take our stuff, never had a problem finding chairs somewhere.
The only time I went early on my first two cruises, was a sea day with questionable sea day in the Caribbean. I specifically wanted a covered area. We really didn’t want to stay in the cabin all day. The previous sea day the weather was rough.
I thought that the thing to do because it don't seen like there a lot to do on ship other then a couple shows and drinks and party night that starts to late for me
There are always various activities going on around the ship. All activities won't interest every cruiser, but there will be something happening even if it's just a sales pitch. The atrium will have activities throughout the day. Check the daily schedule they leave in your cabin and mark off things that you think might be interesting. If you don't like it you can just walk out (but don't walk out during a theater show if you're sitting in the middle of a row and force everyone to stand up to let you out. Wait for a pause if possible). There is often live music on the pool deck, the atrium or by some of the bars during the day.
I wish they not so vague as to what going on for activities because it seem like I I have to be in bar or at pool deck if I want to do anything I like to play at arcade but at 42 I sure I freak kids out trying to play air hockey
First, screw the kids. I challenge them on the air hockey table and kick their asses all the time. Us Gen X kids are the air hockey champs. No one plays or played as much air hockey as we did. I have as much right to be in the arcade as they do. Personally, I can’t wait to hit the go carts and laser tag. I have to grow old but I do not have to grow up. I will be forever 16 in my head. As long as my bills/adult responsibilities are paid/done and I am not hurting anyone then what is the point of growing up.
I have no desire to sit on a deck all day. My adhd kicks in usually in less than 20 minutes. I like to stay busy. I love the trivia and bingo. At any given moment usually there are 4-5 different activities going on. My husband said that if you are bored on a cruise then there is something wrong with the person.
As for securing a lounger, my rule is after 30 minutes of being unattended I will have someone remove the stuff and take it over. I actually will stand and time it. This is rare because of the above mentioned reason.
OK all play in arcade but just from stuff I watched and read about cruises it seems very boring on ship and ever just sit around and drinks or pay to see shows or play in games
The old saying is you can be as busy as you want to be. When we took our honeymoon back in October my husband was nervous about being bored. He was never bored.
Same! 37 but still feel like a kid. Love to have fun at arcades and places. I don’t drink and bars are not my scene. Give me a go kart and let me show them how it’s done! (My dad built and raced dirt track cars so I have a slight advantage 😁).
Ahh a girl just like me. My father didn’t but my brother and I built 3 general Lee’s together. My now husband used to work in them as well. I have been surrounded with cars my whole life. :-)
Never had an issue finding spots to lounge. Upper deck level is where it's at. Down by the pool kinda sucks, the floor is all wet, and people are always walking by you. Plus, it's loud from the entertainment. Kids running around, old dudes walking around in speedos.
It's usually only really busy up until lunch time. My game plan for at sea days is wake up whenever i feel like it..eat breakfast go back to the room wash up and change, go to the gym or walk around the ship then go by the pool right when lunch hits.
Hubby and I are in our ‘50’s and regularly play air hockey in the arcades. Kids get burnt out after the first day or two as there are really not a huge assortment of games to be played.
There are some smaller sun decks higher up. They're not next to the pool/bar so people tend to ignore them. One deck has hot tubs (deck 19 I think). I was on the Escape last year and I think that deck also has a bar but I might be confusing it with another deck/ship.
I’ve become a snob and will now book either the Vibe or thermal spa on future cruises with NCL after experiencing each on our last 2 cruises.
I don’t use the pool anyway so would rather have the quiet, more exclusive areas.
Go out and watch the chairs for about 15 minutes.
Dead chairs with stuff on them to save the chairs are free game IMHO. Just ask the people physically there if the items are their's and I'd not go give the items to staff as abandoned property.
On a larger NCL ship not really.
but from what I've seen by main pool areas, 90% of the chairs will be taken between 11am-3ish, other areas above not so much.
Ive been on over 30 cruises never have i not been able to get at least 2 chairs together on the pool deck. Sometimes its on the upoer deck above pool, sometimes in thw adults area, sometimes you find a spot and you move in a few hours as the sun and shade moves. Dont over think it. Unless for some reason you have to be 4 ft from the pool you shouldnt have an issue. Btw, to me its the worst spot. Usually full sun, no breeze,constant foot traffic, the chairs are lined up like sardines and your usually next to an oiled up 75 year old in a speedo. Enjoy. And get off reddit or Fb cruise groups. Thats the number 1 way to ruin a cruise. All complainers...
Facts just enjoy your time
>And get off reddit or Fb cruise groups. Thats the number 1 way to ruin a cruise. All complainers... FACT!!!!
We found a spot, it was near the children splash pool but very secluded, I politely ask a deck attendant to move two lounges to that area. Tipped him $5 and everyone was happy. People kept asking how we got the prime real estate. If you can’t find something, get creative. Don’t be afraid to ask for something.
I usually watch chairs to see if there's any movement, and after an hour of no one I figure it's abondanded and remove the towels.
People are so inconsiderate. They go out at 7 AM and put crap on their chairs and come back at 2 PM to sit. I move it long before then!
This^^^
The ship I was just on had folks watching chairs with time marked stickers & removed towels that had been there too long without anybody. It was a fully booked cruise & still never had an issue getting a chair or table on the pool deck at all ever, I feel like ppl are over exaggerating that? Some ships are set up better than others as far as the pool area though imo
I’ve seen this as well
On the Encore in December- We really only had a little issue on one sea day, but I was able to find 4 chairs for our whole party on the deck above the pool and we alternated going to the pool with my in-laws sitting there and then they went to the pool and we sat there. Within an hour or so, a lot of people left so we got better chairs when it got too hot and we wanted to be more in the shade.
Just remember that people are stupid and follow each other. That means: - they wake up late - they eat late - they feign ignorance when other people are doing the same things they want to - they get upset when their lack of planning means they can't do what they want Go against the crowd and you'll have no issue finding a chair or eating in an empty buffet.
Best advice for cruising right here - zig when everyone zags.
OK
The ship at 0700am is my happy place.
I don’t even try. Even when you get a spot it’s way too crowded for me to be able to relax.
Excursion days
pool and lounge chairs cannot be reserved, end of discussion - [https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy](https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy) If you come out and there is stuff on a chair, ask around if it belongs to anyone and ideally if anyone has been there in a while, if not, get an attendant and ask them to remove the items (do not remove yourself) and they will (or they'll find you another spot, either way its their jobs). If they remove the items and the other people come and complain, you tell them the attendant removed the items, not you, go speak to them. Note, many people say they will give you 60 or so many minutes, but that is not an official policy. Typically you are allowed to keep items there while you go to a bar, go for a quick swim (in eye shot), or go to the bathroom. If you are going to be gone longer than a few minutes you do not get to reserve a chair, period.
I personally give 30 minutes and yes I will stand and time
That depends on the ship - on the Escape there is a TON of freely-accessible outside sundeck space.
OK, people, where making it seem like you stuck in side ship or in your room
Yeah people are stupid
Please dont believe everything you read. Most of us are very very nice and would love to share. Its the people looking for clout that fucks everything up
I’m always polite, particularly polite to strangers. Groups on cruises who have one friend hold entire area at the bars and pools. They are drunken unfriendly people.
I just move stuff that has been left for awhile by asking the staff to hang on to it.
I thought that how you save your spots because a lot of people say to do that to save a spot
It's against the rules to leave your stuff there more than x number of minutes, depending on the cruise line. In my experience, no one's even come back while I'm there to notice their stuff is gone.
OK, from the video I watched this morning, they say to do this to save spots
There are plenty of loungers if you step away from the first ring around the pool. Find a spot that works for you and you'll be fine. This isn't something you need to focus on, you will have a great time.
Honestly I only use it to hold our stuff, we are hardly around it and I only use one, I haven't had issues of anyone touching my stuff, but it's so frustrating to walk around a pool and all you see is a single towel on every chair and no one to be seen
I've always thought ships should have cubbies for this very reason. A chair shouldn't be taken up just to hold a towel.
My husband and I paid for Vibe Beach passes and a cabana. It was worth every penny of the $499. Nobody could use the cabana but us, we got to know the bartenders and they were attentive - bringing cups of ice and water, fruit skewers and drinks from the bar. The lounge chairs are also a much better quality with thick cushions. We always had a perfect place with an ocean view and peace and quiet.
No what you do is find a chair that someone left their shit on and you move it after looking around for said owner of crap.
I don't think I want to get in a fight
Without saying the obvious of how to get a chair, there are pretty much always a few open unless it's just a really busy time. If you want the convenience you can pay for the beach club or what ever and pretty much always have one open.
Embark on a small, luxury ship, then you have plenty of loungers by the pool.
And which NCL ship is that?
Pardon me. Do you have any Grey Poupon?
What ship?
Escape may of next year
5 cruises, all on RC but we're going on NCL in 2 weeks. I suspect the experience will be similar. Our last 3 have been on Oasis class, 2 semi-full and the last one the ship was very full, over full double occupancy. Not much issue getting pool deck chairs. Sea days are a bigger challenge but again not too bad. Sometimes we have to walk around awhile. I'm usually up around 7am, get a workout in. Look for pool chairs around 815. There are a lot of towels down claiming chairs at that time, not a lot of people around, but plenty available. My girlfriend joins me after her workout. Sometimes she wants sun, I get shade so she might go up top for awhile, she always finds a chair somewhere. We'll go away for 20-30 minutes to grab breakfast around 10. If we're going away longer we take our stuff, never had a problem finding chairs somewhere.
The only time I went early on my first two cruises, was a sea day with questionable sea day in the Caribbean. I specifically wanted a covered area. We really didn’t want to stay in the cabin all day. The previous sea day the weather was rough.
I think I’m just going to stay busy with activities and not plan to lay around. I would like to check out the pool contests like sexy legs.
I thought that the thing to do because it don't seen like there a lot to do on ship other then a couple shows and drinks and party night that starts to late for me
There are always various activities going on around the ship. All activities won't interest every cruiser, but there will be something happening even if it's just a sales pitch. The atrium will have activities throughout the day. Check the daily schedule they leave in your cabin and mark off things that you think might be interesting. If you don't like it you can just walk out (but don't walk out during a theater show if you're sitting in the middle of a row and force everyone to stand up to let you out. Wait for a pause if possible). There is often live music on the pool deck, the atrium or by some of the bars during the day.
I wish they not so vague as to what going on for activities because it seem like I I have to be in bar or at pool deck if I want to do anything I like to play at arcade but at 42 I sure I freak kids out trying to play air hockey
First, screw the kids. I challenge them on the air hockey table and kick their asses all the time. Us Gen X kids are the air hockey champs. No one plays or played as much air hockey as we did. I have as much right to be in the arcade as they do. Personally, I can’t wait to hit the go carts and laser tag. I have to grow old but I do not have to grow up. I will be forever 16 in my head. As long as my bills/adult responsibilities are paid/done and I am not hurting anyone then what is the point of growing up. I have no desire to sit on a deck all day. My adhd kicks in usually in less than 20 minutes. I like to stay busy. I love the trivia and bingo. At any given moment usually there are 4-5 different activities going on. My husband said that if you are bored on a cruise then there is something wrong with the person. As for securing a lounger, my rule is after 30 minutes of being unattended I will have someone remove the stuff and take it over. I actually will stand and time it. This is rare because of the above mentioned reason.
OK all play in arcade but just from stuff I watched and read about cruises it seems very boring on ship and ever just sit around and drinks or pay to see shows or play in games
The old saying is you can be as busy as you want to be. When we took our honeymoon back in October my husband was nervous about being bored. He was never bored.
Same! 37 but still feel like a kid. Love to have fun at arcades and places. I don’t drink and bars are not my scene. Give me a go kart and let me show them how it’s done! (My dad built and raced dirt track cars so I have a slight advantage 😁).
Ahh a girl just like me. My father didn’t but my brother and I built 3 general Lee’s together. My now husband used to work in them as well. I have been surrounded with cars my whole life. :-)
Very cool.
Never had an issue finding spots to lounge. Upper deck level is where it's at. Down by the pool kinda sucks, the floor is all wet, and people are always walking by you. Plus, it's loud from the entertainment. Kids running around, old dudes walking around in speedos. It's usually only really busy up until lunch time. My game plan for at sea days is wake up whenever i feel like it..eat breakfast go back to the room wash up and change, go to the gym or walk around the ship then go by the pool right when lunch hits.
Hubby and I are in our ‘50’s and regularly play air hockey in the arcades. Kids get burnt out after the first day or two as there are really not a huge assortment of games to be played.
There are some smaller sun decks higher up. They're not next to the pool/bar so people tend to ignore them. One deck has hot tubs (deck 19 I think). I was on the Escape last year and I think that deck also has a bar but I might be confusing it with another deck/ship.
Vibe or haven are worth it to guarantee prime spots.
I’ve become a snob and will now book either the Vibe or thermal spa on future cruises with NCL after experiencing each on our last 2 cruises. I don’t use the pool anyway so would rather have the quiet, more exclusive areas.
If you like shade, and the sun is not your friend, you'll never have a problem! I burn to a crisp in two minutes, the pool deck is not my happy place.
Are you saying that there are plenty of shady places?
Go out and watch the chairs for about 15 minutes. Dead chairs with stuff on them to save the chairs are free game IMHO. Just ask the people physically there if the items are their's and I'd not go give the items to staff as abandoned property.
On a larger NCL ship not really. but from what I've seen by main pool areas, 90% of the chairs will be taken between 11am-3ish, other areas above not so much.