Should Carnival Add Table Flags? Guests Weigh In on Lido Options
Table seating at Carnival Cruise Line’s Lido Marketplace can be a nightmare with crowds, saved tables, long lines, and more. But would a table flag system help alleviate some of these common issues?
One guest suggested the use of colored flags to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, as a way to indicate open seats and a willingness to welcome new table companions.
“Can you have a flag system for lido tables. A green flag if you would like to invite other people to sit with you and a red flag if you do not want that,” the guest explained.
While Heald did not respond to the suggestion directly, he did include it in his daily poll for his more than 615,000 followers. The suggestion did not get the response the original poster may have been expecting, however.
More than 51,000 votes were cast in the June 6, 2025 poll, with just 2% – approximately 1,035 votes – agreeing that this would be a good idea.
At the same time, 27% of voters – roughly 14,000 votes – do not agree that it is a good idea. This is where my vote goes, honestly, as our family prefers to dine independently at the Lido Marketplace.
If we want to meet others, the Main Dining Room at an assigned dining time with a shared table is a much nicer experience.
The intention behind such a system is admirable, as using a flag could show others that seats are available. For example, if a couple found an empty table with four seats, they could use a green flag to indicate that the remaining two seats are still open for other guests.
This could help alleviate some of the long lines and crowds at the Lido Marketplace. This would be particularly true for the wildly hectic embarkation lunch or breakfast on port days, when the venue can be remarkably crowded and seats difficult to find.
Interestingly, additional votes were very evenly matched between those guests who would use the green flag to invite others and those who would use the red flag so no one would sit with them.
Both options garnered 7% of votes – approximately 3,600 each.
How Else Could Lido Marketplace Use Seat Indicators?
If the flags were used in another way, they might get more universal acceptance and widespread use.
Red and green flags could be used as signals to the dining servers whether or not tables need to be cleared. A red flag could be a great way to indicate if diners are simply grabbing drinks, going back for a second course, or picking out their dessert and aren’t quite finished with their meal.
Similarly, the green flag would then indicate that the party has finished their meal and departed, and the table might be able to be cleared more quickly so others can use it.
Many commenters noted that they’d welcome such a “I’m done, thanks!” system, especially if they happen to be solo cruisers or dining alone.
Read Also: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options You’ll Want to Know – With Menus!
Carnival crew members can be so efficient that one’s dinner might be taken away if you leave a plate unattended to go get a glass of lemonade or to nick that favorite dessert. During busy times, other diners might already have taken over the table before you can return.
Many people do note that a flag system might be confusing for some, and likely wouldn’t always be used as intended or even used at all.
Others liken such a flag system to speed dating and find it unnecessary. There are plenty of other easy ways to meet people on a Carnival cruise, such as joining in activities or visiting the numerous bars onboard to have a drink and a chat with a new friend.
Should Carnival Add Table Flags? Guests Weigh In on Lido Options