We are preparing to go on another cruise, this time to Alaska. Now, last time we went to Alaska we went into the lounge to view the incredible scenery at Tracy Arm Glacier and found that entire rows of seats by the windows had blankets, sweaters and assorted bags upon them; but no people! After waiting for the people who owned them to come I finally asked a lady if these seats were going to be occupied any time soon. She said they were for her 'family' and they were coming. After waiting for another 10 minutes and no show of people, I finally moved one sweater and sat down. Following my example, others moved stuff and sad down. The lady almost went ballistic and said that some in her family were 'handicapped' and couldn't stand. Question for the forum: what/who was right? Should the cruise authorities intervene? They do have signs saying that no seats are to be reserved, but no one, it seems, enforces it. By the way, same thing happens in the theater. Get there early, and save an entire row!!!So, at the risk of starting a foders row, is it okay to move the sweater?

My husband absolutely loathes the practice of saving seats anywhere So we move sweaters or whatever and get someone in authority when there's a fuss with the people who feel that they have a right to save seats for others who can't be bothered to get there when they should.

On a Princess Cruise a few years ago, an entire row of seats in the Theatre was empty except for one person sitting at each end. As people were looking for seats, a Hostess asked if the seats were taken, and the answer was "yes". When she asked where they were, the answer was "in the bathroom". As soon as she left, the man at one end got on his cell phone --to call the others "in the bathroom", I guess, and before too much longer, the row was filled. The point is, the oh-so-polite ship's hostess did nothing useful. On this same trip, by 9:30 a.m., most of the lounge chairs on the sun deck had towels, books, single flip flops, etc. saving chairs despite signs saying they could not be reserved.

On Oceania, staff regularly removes towels from lounge chairs. I wish this policy were replicated on other lines, so the passengers don't have to be the "bad guys".

I also am anti-chair saving and never hesitate to move items from unoccupied chairs after a reasonable amount of time.

I find it ludicrous that the cruise staff does nothing about this. Let them scream all they want but they are the ones behaving rudely.

Abuse can happen in the reverse too. Once on a land vacation we left our belongings on the beach chairs, went for a short walk and came back 10 min. later to find our chairs which we had occupied all morning taken by someone else. How would you like it if that happened to you? You've been there all day and someone comes along and in a few minutes time takes your places. They refused to leave so we got someone from the hotel to move them and they did. "No seat saving" doesn't mean as soon as you get up its open season on your chair. The problem comes from how do you define a "reasonable time." Some looking for a seat will call it to suit themselves and pirate your spot. Others will claim a spot, leave for hrs. and expect to get it back when they return. It both cases its selfish behavior IMHO. Another time we found our spots taken after a walk. Those who took them were very civil, so were we and we found some other chairs to set side by side and had a good chat. Hopefully you can be adult and civil when trying to solve this glitch and not resort to an ultimatum of sorts even though this sort of thing can be very annoying. JM2C

Except to go to the 'loo' no one should expect to keep the same chairs all day, especially when there is scant viewing opportunities, and the view is going past fast. But I don't want to get into a fight either; (husband is not a big man). I think maybe they should issue a 'pass' from purser's desk with a time printed on it, which expires in 30 minutes. After that time, it can be removed without any complaint. How's that for a solution?

I read this on another website but one person wrote that when people hog chairs he always tears the last several pages out of the book they're reading! I'm still laughing at that one though I've never done it.

Actually in all our yrs. traveling we've had this problem twice. Not bad at all.

I should ask if others have found this to be a prevalent practice where your ability to find a spot has been adversely effected.

We were at a resort in Venezuela one year when every a.m. almost EVERY seat around the pool was taken.. At the beach there was an elderly woman watching all the chairs and they had towels on them or books..shoes, etc. I went to the manager of the hotel and told him we were going off the property and would not be spening our $$ there. He assured me that he makes the rounds at 7:00 a.m. and there isn't a problem. The managr told me I could sit on the sand...I blew a gasket and told hm I didn't work all year logn to come to his resort and sit on the beach..... The next morning he did his rounds I guess alot later...and took all the towels, shoes etc,. from both areas... .we heard later (we went off the property again) he collected shoes, books and the towels and made an annoucement..We heard there was chaos..lol Another day at the resort we went to the beach and I sat down again on a lounge that had a towel... an elderly woman read me the riot act.. An ex-policeman with us told her she should be ashamed to be a representative for her country.....I enjoyed the water and the lounge for approximaely 30 minute...lol

My God. Sounds like the resort from he!!.

It was in Puerta La Cruz..lol The topper was that the last evening we had a late departure and were sitting on the balcony ready to watch a Miss Venezuela show when a gentleman(I use that lightly) came over to the table and wanted to know when we were leaving.... Why, a member of our party wanted to know...his answer....HE WANTED THAT TABLE!!! We got dirty looks all night long..lol and as it turns out our flight did not leave until the next a.m. He was not an American.. The best part is that we hired a driver to take us to a beach...he took us somewhere where we all got on a huge rowboat and went to almost deserted little island where we had a fabulous time.. there was a tin shed where a man was cooking arepas and fresh fish... Which reminds me of a trip to Margarita Island where a taxi driver took us to a deserted beach where we rented chairs and a cabana (not Agua which was not then clean enough) and a man came by selling homemade lasagna...and at the back of the beach were shacks with fresh fried fish...Life can be great!! Best of all when Parrot Pop and I are no longer able to do all that romping around (we haven't stopped yet)
the one thing we have is great memories and stories...

Recent reviews on the new Crown Princess discuss chairs being saved by (1) a blow up doll, (2) a family of six teddy bears, (3) single flip flops. This was at 7am as she was leaving the gym and walking thru the pool area.

I have seen much abuse on my cruises and it is annoying.

Wow! PM you sure have guts. . To do all that in Venezuela of all places is amazing. We once considered a trip to Margarita island and Caracas but cancelled it when our TA tols us about her plane stopover there. She had time to kill and wanted to see some of the town but decided against it when a soldier armed to the teeth told her it wasn't safe. Cheers. Larry

Venezuela was probably 15 years ago and yet I'd go back there in a heart beat..Through Fodor's I've met a very lovely woman who I consider a dear friend and we would visit with her.. the situation is very dangerous there..Caracas which was a beautiful city has fallen into disrepair.. But only a few years ago we went off the ship in Cartegena on our own and had a ball..we had been there before.. Right now the only port that I would hesitate is any place in Jamaica... that is the only country that I've ever felt threatened.. Margarita has changed..it's much more developed..and if there are soldiers with guns..so what.. I'd be careful.. The City of Santo Domingo in the D.R....we would walk around at night... the only problem we had when were there a few years ago..it was Merengue Week and as we left the hotel the guard told me to take off my gold chain.....otherwise than that.. I can't and won't live my life in places like Aruba which is so sanitized..lol..Oh if you ever to to S.D. I can tell you of a native restaurant on the Mercado where you can get the best shrimp dinner...and when I tell Dominicans that I know it.. they look at me and laugh

PM: You are one well traveled gal and it seems you do love neat experiences and meeting people in faraway places. Those memories last a lifetime. Best of luck in having many more. Larry

If y ou looked at these two white heads you would never guess..lol Next trip may include Morocco, Canary Islands or Gibraltar..lol. Wherever too many cruise ships don't hang out