On a warm-weather cruise the various pool and sun-deck areas get very crowded and struggle to meet the needs of thousands of people.
Lines at the bars get long, roving waiters become hard to find, and even space in the pools and hot tubs gets tight. Perhaps most famously, deck chairs become nearly impossible to find and people get angry about chairs that have stuff on them but no people anywhere near them.
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That's technically a policy violation: Every cruise line has rules that limit how long a chair can be unoccupied. Those rules are rarely enforced, however, as removing people's personal belongings trades one set of angry passengers for another.
Carnival Cruise Line actually has a system of leaving notifications on pool and sun-deck chairs designed to warn passengers. It works when it's used, but it's not always used, even on very busy ships.
The cruise line, however, has another problem, which a passenger raised in a message to Brand Ambassador John Heald. The note raised some interesting questions as to how the cruise line names its on-board areas.
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Image source: Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival has a Serenity Deck issue
Carnival cruise ships have multiple areas designed to serve different audiences. Some people want a party atmosphere while others want a family-friendly environment.
On smaller ships, the cruise line has to manage expectations during the day through its pool-area programming. Larger ships have spaces dedicated to different audiences. These include an adults-only area, which usually has lounge chairs, a pool, a bar and a hot tub.
Carnival calls that area the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. The name implies what its atmosphere will be like, but one passenger emailed Heald with a key question. (Heald is currently sailing on Carnival Mardi Gras with his wife and daughter.)
"John go check on something as you are on the ship I am going on. Is the Serenity Deck on the Carnival Mardi Gras totally quiet or is there noise for people or the pool deck and music there?" wrote an unnamed passenger. "Debating taking my dad on Mardi Gras as a gift and I didn't use Serenity last time I was there."
The poster said they wanted a truly serene environment.
"He can have fun at night, but during the day likes a shaded chair where there are zero noisy people. No music. Just quiet for him to read. This is what it should be John. If not why not," they added.
Heald responded by involving his more than 500,000 followers.
"I haven't been up there today but will take a look when I have time," he wrote. "Serenity decks. Should they be as described or is it ok for people to have 'fun' while there?"
Carnival customers debate what 'Serenity' means
This is how Carnival describes the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat on its website.
"Look, you'll still be on the same ship as the kids, the hoopla, and all the Carnival-style excitement… but you could easily forget because when you’re at Serenity you could not be further from it all.
"The world you'll find yourself in is one of complete peace, sea breezes, and, of course, a nearby bar. It's the place to get done the kind of stuff you just can't seem to do anywhere else — reconnect with your partner, finish that book, or do absolutely, blissfully, nothing at all."
That implies a quiet area, but Carnival passengers debated exactly what a serene environment offers.
"It is for adults to have fun without kids running around! I would like some shade and more music," posted Debbie Peterson.
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Some complained that the rules weren't enforced.
"I like the serene Serenity deck. If there is a group bringing their own music and being loud, it is disturbing. Loud music is for Lido," Jenni Griffith Cobb wrote. Serenity "was created for those who like a calm, relaxing space outside."
Most agree that based on the area's name, it should be quiet.
"I would think talking, and low voices would be fine with no music or soft music," Jackie Holt posted.
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Ben Sides agreed with that.
"I don’t think they could be completely quiet on a Fun Ship, but there shouldn’t be any partying or craziness going on, on the Serenity deck/area. Most of them I’ve been on have been calm and a relaxing place to sit/lay," he wrote.
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