How to get a great seat without turning your sea day into The Hunger Games
If you’ve cruised before, you already know the truth: the pool itself is rarely the problem. The chairs are the problem.
MSC actually has clear rules about reserving loungers, but real life on a packed sea day can look very different. This guide is the “happy middle” between being prepared and being obsessive. You’ll know when to show up, where to look, and how to avoid drama.
Start with the official MSC policy (so you know what’s enforceable)
MSC’s published guidance says:
- Sunbeds are free but cannot be reserved.
- Guests are asked not to “hold” deck chairs with personal items during long absences, defined as more than 30 minutes.
- Pool towels are typically provided in your cabin, and unreturned towels may be charged to your onboard account.
That’s your foundation. It also helps to know the unofficial reality.
What cruisers say actually happens (the consensus)
The actual experience across most ships is a different:
- On sea days, people will “save” chairs early, sometimes as early as 6:00 AM, and show up much later.
- Enforcement is inconsistent. Some passengers report attendants won’t get involved, while others say staff will act if asked (or if the ship is actively cracking down).
Translation: plan as if you need a strategy, then be pleasantly surprised if you don’t.
The golden rules of MSC timing
The early-bird window (sea days)
If you want a specific “home base” (front row, poolside, shade), the best practical target is:
- Arrive around 8:00 to 8:30 AM
- Expect many prime spots to be spoken for by about 9:00 AM on busy sailings (especially around the main pool)
You do not have to be extreme about it. You just have to beat “late breakfast drift.”
The port-day hack (best tip in this whole guide)
If you’re staying on board while most people go ashore, the pool deck can feel like a private club. Port days are when you can snag:
- Aft-facing loungers
- Better shade options
- Hot tubs without an audience
If your family wants one stress-free pool afternoon, pick a port day and commit.
The “last hour” strategy (underrated)
If you don’t care about peak sun, the easiest chair situation is often after 4:00 PM, when families peel off for showers, snacks, and early dinner routines.
Where to look first (and where not to)
Avoid the main pool “middle”
The chairs closest to:
- the bar
- the big screen
- the activity zone
…go first and stay loudest.
Go one deck up or 50 feet away
A very common social media tip is that the deck can look “full” from the center, but you’ll find open clusters if you:
- walk slightly aft
- go up a level
- check side-deck pockets (ship dependent)
Consider the indoor pool (Jungle Pool / Magrodome ships)
Indoor pool areas often have better chair availability because a lot of guests chase full sun first. They also win on windy, rainy, or cooler sailings.
The “6:30 PM clear out” thing (yes, it’s real on some sailings)
One recurring complaint is that MSC crew may start stacking or clearing outdoor chairs around early evening, with an average time starting about 6:30 PM.
What this means for you:
- If you love sunset lounging on the open deck, don’t assume you’ll have chairs out there late.
- Have a backup plan: indoor seating, lounges, or a quieter bar with views.
This isn’t universal across every ship and sailing, but it’s common enough that it’s worth planning around.
Mastering MSC’s towel system (so you don’t get towel-charged)
MSC’s official guidance is simple: towels are typically in your cabin and must be returned, and missing towels may be charged.
What cruisers report:
- Charges in the neighborhood of $30 per towel show up frequently in passenger discussions (amount can vary by ship and region).
- Guests sometimes report towel charges even when they believe towels were left in the cabin at the end, which is why it’s smart to be a little extra careful.
Simple towel strategy that works:
- Treat towels like borrowed equipment, not “free souvenirs.”
- Use the towel exchange station if your ship has one (many do), so you’re not hauling wet towels back to the room.
- On the last night, do a quick towel count and make sure they’re where MSC expects them (usually the cabin).
Ocean Cay note: towels may be handed out at the island entrance or brought from the ship, but they must be returned at the island entrance.
Beating chair hogs without starting a pool-deck incident
Here’s the reality: MSC has the rule (no reserving, no long absences), but you don’t want to be the person physically relocating someone’s stuff and turning your vacation into a courtroom drama.
The “just move it” debate
There’s two takes to moving somebody else’s towel that has obviously been abandoned:
- Some people will move a lone towel if a chair has clearly been empty a long time.
- Others strongly recommend involving staff to avoid confrontation.
The low-drama move
If a chair looks abandoned well beyond the 30-minute guidance and you’d like the chair, ask a pool attendant what they can do under the ship’s policy.
The “human presence” strategy (for families)
If you want to hold a couple chairs while the rest of your group grabs breakfast:
- Leave one actual human at the chairs.
- A lone flip-flop and a paperback is not a force field.
Essential “chair gear” for MSC (small stuff, big payoff)
MSC pool decks can be windy, especially on ships with more open ocean-facing designs.
My short list:
- Towel clips or bands: keeps your towel from launching into the Atlantic (and helps you spot your chair).
- A bright identifier: the MSC towels all look the same, so a distinct clip helps avoid mix-ups.
- Small bag: keeps sunscreen, Kindle, and phone together and makes it obvious the chair is actively being used.
A simple MSC chair game plan you can actually follow
If it’s a sea day
- Decide your goal: shade, quiet, close to pool, or close to bar.
- If you want prime: arrive 8:00 to 8:30 AM.
- If you want low stress: go aft, go up a deck, or hit the indoor pool zone.
- Step away briefly, but avoid long disappearances. MSC’s guideline is 30 minutes.
If it’s a port day
- This is your best shot at the “perfect lounger” without effort.
- Enjoy the quiet deck.
- Take advantage of hot tubs and aft seating while the ship empties out.
Bottom Line
MSC’s official rule is straightforward: loungers can’t be reserved, and chairs shouldn’t be “held” with personal items for more than 30 minutes. The real-world experience depends on your sailing, but the winning strategy is consistent:
- Sea day: show up by 8:00 to 8:30 AM if you want prime real estate, or go aft and up a level to avoid the worst chair competition.
- Port day: the pool deck can feel like a cheat code.
- Towels: treat them like checked-out items, because towel charges are a very real complaint among guests.
- If chairs start getting stacked around early evening on your sailing, don’t take it personally – pivot to indoor options and keep enjoying the ship.