Princess Cruises Takes Aim at a New Buffet Problem
Everyone has heard of the dreaded pool chair hog. You know the type. They wake up at sunrise, toss a towel onto the best lounger by the pool, and then disappear for hours while everyone else circles the deck looking for a place to sit.
But cruise ships may have a new problem that’s become even harder to solve. Instead of taking over pool chairs, some passengers are taking over the buffet.
And Princess Cruises has become the first major cruise line to publicly tell guests that enough is enough.
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When the Buffet Becomes Game Central
Cruising has always been a social vacation, but a growing trend has emerged over the past few years. More passengers are organizing cruises specifically as gaming vacations. Friends, families, and gaming clubs book an entire sailing together with one goal in mind: spend the week playing cards and board games while someone else handles the cooking.
Honestly, it sounds like a fantastic vacation.
The problem isn’t the games. It’s where they’re being played. Many gaming groups have discovered that the buffet is the perfect headquarters. It has unlimited snacks just steps away, beverage stations, nearby restrooms, comfortable tables, and plenty of natural light. It’s easy to settle in around 10 a.m. and keep the games rolling until dinner, or even later.
Unfortunately, those same tables are supposed to serve thousands of hungry passengers throughout the day.
Imagine walking into the buffet during lunch on a busy sea day only to find dozens of tables occupied by guests who finished eating hours ago and are deep into a marathon game of bridge, Mahjong, or cards. They’ve already eaten, but they’re not leaving anytime soon. For passengers simply trying to grab a meal, finding a seat suddenly becomes a frustrating challenge.
It’s basically buffet chair hogging.
Princess Cruises Decides to Step In
The issue recently gained attention after a passenger aboard Sapphire Princess shared a photo inside the private Princess Cruises Passenger Forum Facebook group.
The photo showed a newly posted sign inside Horizon Court, the ship’s buffet, asking guests not to use the dining area for card games or other recreational activities. The post quickly attracted more than 1,200 reactions and nearly 200 comments from fellow cruisers, many saying they had seen similar signs appearing on other Princess ships.
The sign reads:
“To ensure a comfortable dining experience for all, as a courtesy to your fellow guests, we kindly ask you to refrain from using Horizon Court’s dining areas for card games or other recreational activities.”
But rather than simply telling guests “no,” Princess also offered an alternative. On Sapphire Princess, guests wanting to play cards or board games were directed to the Pacific Moon Dining Room until 3:30 PM on sea days, giving gaming groups a dedicated place to gather without tying up valuable buffet seating.
It’s a surprisingly simple solution that balances both groups of passengers. Gamers still have a comfortable place to enjoy their vacation, while buffet tables remain available for guests who actually need a place to eat.
Other Cruise Lines Already Offer Gaming Spaces
Princess may be the first cruise line to post an explicit sign asking guests not to occupy buffet tables for gaming, but the concept of dedicated game space isn’t new.
Carnival Cruise Line has long designated sections of its Main Dining Room during the day for cards, board games, puzzles, and other group activities. Other cruise lines frequently use lounges, conference rooms, libraries, or unused dining rooms for similar purposes, especially on sea days when passengers are looking for indoor activities. Some ships are even built with gaming in mind, like the Game On lounges found on Celebrity ships.
A Small Sign That Solves a Growing Problem
It’s easy to see both sides of the issue.
Gaming groups aren’t trying to ruin anyone’s vacation. They’re simply looking for a comfortable place to spend time together, and cruise ships naturally encourage socializing.
At the same time, buffet seating is one of the most limited resources on board. During breakfast and lunch, especially on sea days, every available table matters.
As organized gaming cruises continue to grow in popularity, cruise lines may need to rethink how they use public spaces. Dedicated gaming rooms, expanded lounge seating, and temporary Main Dining Room game areas could become just as common as trivia contests or craft classes. For now, Princess Cruises appears to be the first major cruise line willing to say out loud what many passengers have quietly been thinking.
You’ve heard of pool chair hogs. Now, meet the buffet table hogs. And if Princess’s new signs prove successful, don’t be surprised if more cruise lines begin following suit.
