how do you judge when a person is trying to claim/save a chair and when they are really just in the pool/spa or using the bathroom? I'd hate to take someone's chair because I thought it was only "being saved" and have them walk up to me a couple of minutes later and confront me for taking their seat. Do you stand around and watch for a while? How long it considered long enough?
Excellent point - so here is one solution. I'm sure you've all seen the little flags attached to chairs that signal you are ready to order another libation. How about a timer type of device good for X minutes activated by weight (lets arbitrarily say 80 lbs). When one gets off the chair, the timer would start the countdown. When the time was up, the window in the timer would show "UNOCCUPIED" and the chair (and it's contents) would be up for grabs.
how do you judge when a person is trying to claim/save a chair and when they are really just in the pool/spa or using the bathroom? I'd hate to take someone's chair because I thought it was only "being saved" and have them walk up to me a couple of minutes later and confront me for taking their seat. Do you stand around and watch for a while? How long it considered long enough?
Excellent point - so here is one solution. I'm sure you've all seen the little flags attached to chairs that signal you are ready to order another libation. How about a timer type of device good for X minutes activated by weight (lets arbitrarily say 80 lbs). When one gets off the chair, the timer would start the countdown. When the time was up, the window in the timer would show "UNOCCUPIED" and the chair (and it's contents) would be up for grabs.
Thats is a really wonderful idea, I bet if you invented something like that you'd be rich. Not only would that work on a cruise but also in public pulls, at disney world water parks, any water parks for that matter.
I like the parking meter idea. The thing is, what do you do about someone who is actually at the pool, has his towel and flip flops at a chair, but spends an hour or so in the pool? Should he have to surrender the chair? Is that any different than the person who marked his territory and then went off to the buffet for an hour?
I hate chair hogs too, but this scenario just occurred to me.
Just came up with another one - this for the folks that WANT to "save" chairs.
When the commuter lane first came to be on the LA freeway system, some folks were using blowup, lifesize dolls in the passenger seats so it would look like there two people in the car. I'm going to offer blowup dolls for sale (both male and female) so people can put them on the deck chairs. Wait, those are already for sale in the porn shops. Darn. Oh well, it sounded like a good idea!
I like the chair-o-meter idea too. Another idea would be for the cruise lines to use those waiters that bother you every 2 seconds to buy a $10 drink special to "chalk the legs" of the chairs. They visit each on anyway, have them enforce the no saving rules. They could mark the empty but "used" looking chairs and if the person did not come back within a reasonable time frame, that waiter/waitress just got a new item of dress!
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But then what happens when you put your chairs out, head to breakfast, and then return to find they have a)been stolen, b)have squatter's using them, or c)all of the above!
I notice it mostly always only happens on sea days when the ship is full. People go out and get a chair then go about doing other things. It seems there are more than enough chairs for everyone that are actually using them. It does get frustrating trying to get a chair with so many empty. I want to retract from my previous post, as I don't condone taking towels as souviners was said out of part jest and part frustration. But when they get their statement and the wife asks what is the $40 charge for towels..Oh that was those towels we took out and put on deck chairs and then we ate lunch and went to casino..I can't say I would have any sympathy for them. I have always been able to eventually find a chair, but I like midship on last day to see the goings on and the music. But is usually easier to get a few chairs together on aft lido. I really like all the innovative ideas for the chair "hog" problem. And now that they are telling people in Capers it may help. Last day at sea is really the only time I venture out there, except walking to the Buffett
Dave56,
I guess that's when we put on the old Marine DI face and tell them to "move it, move it, move it!" Just kidding....the numbered chairs was just a joke...we can usually find a chair when we want one. Everyone just have fun!
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