Norwegian Cruise cracks down on pool chair hoarders

Norwegian Cruise Line is stepping up enforcement against pool chair “hogging” as passengers say crew members are marking and removing unattended items, pushing back against a long-running practice where towels and other belongings are used to reserve lounge ch

The drama usually starts the same way: a lounge chair sits empty for hours, a towel or water bottle perched like a placeholder, and the pool area swells with people who want somewhere to sit.

For decades. passengers on major cruise lines have treated chair saving as a tradition—collecting anything they can find to stake a spot by the pool. even when they’re not there. Now. as the practice spreads online and ships face increasing pressure from fellow travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line is taking a harder line.

Social media posts point to Norwegian Cruise Line—specifically crew activity aboard Norwegian Escape—as one of the companies moving from warnings to direct enforcement. According to an Instagram account unrealcruises, crew members began marking unoccupied chairs with stickers at about 10 a.m. The post says that if the chairs were still not occupied an hour later. crew members removed towels and other personal items so other guests could use the space. The enforcement, the post added, has drawn overwhelmingly positive reactions from cruisers.

Norwegian Cruise Line says its official rules are already clear on its website. The company’s policy states that “Pool. deck and [theater] chairs may not be reserved.” It also spells out additional restrictions in the same guideline. including that “Topless sunbathing is not permitted. ” and that “Boom boxes or loud radios are not permitted.” The policy further notes that “Roller blades. roller skates. skateboards. scooters. surfboards. bicycles and similar items may not be utilized on-board. ” with an exception for mobility aids related to special needs. as approved by the ship’s management.

For many passengers, the issue isn’t just etiquette—it’s space. The pool can get jam-packed, and leaving chairs empty “reserved” by belongings can feel like the ship’s most public areas are being quietly claimed by people who aren’t using them.

That frustration has spilled into posts on Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram. One Norwegian passenger described a confrontation they faced on the Norwegian Bliss. writing on Facebook. “We faced this on the [Norwegian] Bliss. but my husband was my hero.” Others have shared strategies they say help end the standoff. including simply removing the towels and belongings—though not everyone agrees that’s fair.

On Facebook, one traveler wrote, “I avoided the confrontation. He went and put the stuff on the ground behind the chairs, and we came and sat down. He would tell them they know the rules. and too bad for behaving worse than a child.” Another response pushed back on touching other guests’ property: “You shouldn’t touch people’s belongings. … Have the attendant do it.” On Reddit. a traveler added that the best outcome often depends on the deck supervisor. writing that some ships have “a better deck supervisor who will deal with these entitled folks.”.

The items most commonly used to “hog” chairs—according to passenger accounts—include towels, water bottles, and beach bags. One Reddit user described the behavior in blunt terms. saying. “Some people are ‘entitled. and they think the rules don’t apply to them.’” An Instagram user wrote simply. “Peace at last.” Another Reddit user in r/Cruise said. “I’m not a chair hog. but I know why people do it. Because they’re entitled, and they think the rules don’t apply to them.”.

At the center of the debate is what counts as reasonable use of shared space. Some passengers applauded timestamp-style approaches that track chair usage. Others said there’s a difference between families reserving chairs briefly and leaving them tied up for long stretches while people do other things.

One traveler in r/Cruise put it this way: “If you’re using the pool or whatever attraction where you are saving your chair. absolutely fine.” They continued with a clearer boundary: “If you are eating lunch at the buffet or in some other area of the ship while your towel and hat [have] been sitting on a chair for the past hour — not fine.”.

Norwegian Cruise Line did not immediately add details beyond the rules posted on its website. But with enforcement described as active—marking chairs around 10 a.m. and removing belongings an hour later—the message appears to be straightforward: saving chairs with personal items when you’re not there is no longer being treated as harmless tradition.

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