Carnival tackles sun lounger hogs
Carnival has become the first cruise line to ban passengers from hogging sun loungers.
Senior cruise director John Heald has announced a new ‘use it or lose it’ policy on the Carnival Breeze which, if successful, will be rolled out across the fleet.
Stickers will be placed on sun loungers showing the time guests leave, and if they don’t return within 40 minutes their belongings will be removed to the towel station so that someone else can use the lounger.
The new rules are being broadcast on the in-cabin TV and on a large screen in the Seaside Theatre.
The announcement says: "In consideration to all guests on board, please do not reserve sun loungers. Towels will be removed after 40 minutes and kept in the Towel Station close to deck 10 main pool. Enjoy your FUN Day at sea."
Heald revealed details of the new policy on his Facebook page, which has received a flood of support from passengers. One said:"I’m glad you are trying to do something. It is not fair to "reserve one " all day long. Unless your butt is actually IN the chair."
Heald said on Facebook: "We went with 40 minutes as we felt that this was a fair amount of time if guests get up to eat, drink, pee, swim or slide.
"The big difference here is that we are now staffed and able to police this. Our crew will walk the decks and if they see a chair unused but saved with towels, books, shoes, baby Yaks or underpants they will place a sticker on the chair with the current time.
"Then, they will check 40 minutes later and if the chair is still reserved and unoccupied then they will remove the articles and take them to the towel station by the main pool making sure a note is left for the guests that they have done so."
Heald said the new rules would be tested over two cruises and then rolled out to the rest of the fleet. He added: "It has been noted by the beards who read this page how important this was to you and I have pushed hard to the most senior beards to get this done and my thanks to them for listening and acting."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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