Chair-hogging wars heat up as cruise travelers use sneaky tactics amid crackdowns

Now, social media reports indicate Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is getting serious about the issue.

"Crew members aboard Norwegian Escape have been actively marking unoccupied chairs and removing towels and personal items from loungers left unattended.

"Passengers reported that crew members began marking reserved chairs with stickers at approximately 10 a.m."

Fox News Digital reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for comment.

The cruise line's official policy about reserving chairs can be found on its company website.

The policy continues, "Topless sunbathing is not permitted. Boom boxes or loud radios are not permitted."

It adds, "Roller blades, roller skates, skateboards, scooters, surfboards, bicycles and similar items may not be utilized on-board, except for mobility aids related to special needs, as approved by the ship's management."

"We faced this on the [Norwegian] Bliss, but my husband was my hero," one NCL passenger wrote on Facebook recently.

"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 traveler responded by saying, "You shouldn't touch people's belongings. … Have the attendant do it."

One traveler on Instagram said, "Peace at last."

Another traveler in r/Cruise on Reddit 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."

Many passengers applauded timestamp systems that provide a clear way to monitor chair usage. Others made the distinction between how families are reserving the chairs.

"If you're using the pool or whatever attraction where you are saving your chair, absolutely fine," a traveler in r/Cruise said.

"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."