Carnival trials new system to stop deck chair hogs
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Carnival Cruise Lines is trialling a new system aboard to stop people hogging sun lounger and deckchairs on pool decks.
The company’s senior cruise director John Heald posted on his Facebook blog that the company’s Carnival Breeze liner is testing the new system from this week to prevent seat-saving. “The Carnival Breeze is the test ship for a new commitment to stopping this and we started today,” he wrote.
The new rules were posted on cabin TVs, in series of announcements Heald makes several times a day and on his morning television show. The rules are also displayed on the Seaside Theatre big screen.
“So the message is loud and clear,” he said, “and we are now adequately staffed to police this.
Our staff will walk the decks and if they see a chair unused but saved with towels, books, shoes etc the chairs will be stickered with the exact time marked. They will then check 40 minutes later, and if the chair is reserved and unoccupied, the articles will be removed and relocated to the towel station by the main pool making sure a note is left for guests that they have done so,” he said.
Heald pointed out that it was felt that 40 minutes was adequate time for guest to eat, get a drink, swim, use the bathroom and so on without losing their seat.
The changes are reported to have been generally well received by passengers. If the trial is successful, the scheme will be rolled out across the entire fleet.
