Smoking onboard

People have "banged on" about the smoking issue for years and the one thing I have come away with is that SB will change its policy only when it wants. We can "bang on" all we want and perhaps it makes us feel better but it won't affect a thing. Our only option, if we so choose, is to sail with someone else and stop "banging on."

That is exactly right Henry.

I do not like smoking and have never smoked but I must say that I have never experienced any problems with smokers whilst on a Seabourn ship.

I do not go to the designated areas that smokers frequent which is the best option for non smokers.

Life ain't bad is it?

I got off the Quest yesterday. I have not had too many problems with smokers on my other Seabourn cruises but on this one the smoking was unpleasant. There is only one place where smoking is allowed indoors on the ship and that is the Obversation Bar. I love this bar, but on most nights right on 8pm a man came into the bar and lit up. The smoke caused the whole bar to be unpleasant and often people left because of this. There are smoke extractors on the smoking side of the room but these just seem to distribute the smoke more quickly around the room. The smoke could sometimes be smelt in the corridor of deck 10 and as soon as the lift doors opened at level 10. I felt very sorry for the staff in this area as they cannot leave and go somewhere else. OK, you can avoid this bar. However if you want to use your balcony and you have a neighbour who smokes bad luck. We had to open our door slowly if we wanted to go out. If the smoker was there we quickly shut it again before the smoke came into our cabin. This even happened when we were in the pristine waters of Antartica.

It was a great cruise and I hope the smoking policy changes soon. Lots of people on this cruise complained about the smoking but until the company changes its policy it will continue that just a few smokers can make things very unpleasant for a lot of people.

To Suite Dreams: this seems to be the policy of Crystal regarding smoking. Maybe they have very recently decided to limit things, but this is what is online and as of about a year ago, I personally experienced this. As you see, it states that the port side is fair game for smoking in both the pool area and the promenade deck. The promenade deck is not so much an issue as one is mostly moving through this area, but the pool deck is definitely an issue. if what you say is true, you should ask them to update the information on the internet.

Smoking Policy

Crystal Cruises kindly asks all guests to observe the non-smoking areas on board which have been created for the comfort and enjoyment of everyone (with the exception of Crystal Esprit which is a non-smoking vessel). Indoor smoking is permitted only in the Connoisseur Club smoking lounge and the VIP Casino (during play, upon request). Smoking is prohibited in all other indoor areas of the ship including all other public rooms, lounges, corridors and restaurants, as well as all staterooms, suites and verandahs. Please note, if smoke is detected in a stateroom or suite, a cleaning fee* of $250 per incident will be billed to your account.

Smoking is permitted in the following areas:

Cigarette smoking (includes Electronic cigarettes)

Connoisseur Club

VIP Casino (during play, upon request)

Decks 10, 9 and 8 Aft on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity

Deck 11 Aft Crystal Serenity

Seahorse pool area, port side only

Promenade Deck, port side only

Even so, this should not be a thread about what Crystal allows regarding smoking. I only brought it up since we were talking about how the various cruise lines handled smoking. Bottom line, smoking onboard can be an issue and we hope that our cruise on Seabourn is pleasant and not marred by excess smoke that is unavoidable.

All the cruise lines I have looked into over the last couple of months, including Oceania, Silversea, Regent, Azamara, Crystal and Celebrity - none allow smoking on verandas.

I agree that our smokers need a place/s to have a puff, but suite verandas are not the place for two reasons - 1. The very close proximity to others - fumes and the impact on neighbouring suites. 2. Fire hazard - the verandas are exposed to more wind and it only takes a lite cigarette or ember to take flight and land on something flammable and you will have a fire - as seen on the Star Princess in 2010.

I believe it is good to give this subject a bash from time to time and I am happy to “Bang on“ :D from time to time in hope that SB will take notice.

I would hate our first SB cruise to be our last.

Bev

All the cruise lines I have looked into over the last couple of months, including Oceania, Silversea, Regent, Azamara, Crystal and Celebrity - none allow smoking on verandas.

 

I agree that our smokers need a place/s to have a puff, but suite verandas are not the place for two reasons - 1. The very close proximity to others - fumes and the impact on neighbouring suites. 2. Fire hazard - the verandas are exposed to more wind and it only takes a lite cigarette or ember to take flight and land on something flammable and you will have a fire - as seen on the Star Princess in 2010.

 

I believe it is good to give this subject a bash from time to time and I am happy to “Bang on“ :D from time to time in hope that SB will take notice.

 

I would hate our first SB cruise to be our last.

 

Bev

Exactly.

On our recent Seabourn cruise we could not use our verandah ( that we had paid a premium for) due to inconsiderate smokers next door and also below.

It is time Seabourn moved with the times and stopped allowing smoking on verandahs. Or will it take a fire to concentrate their minds?

As to " banging on" about it , anyone who is bothered by this does not have to read the thread- the clue is usually in the title viz " smoking". So lets keep banging on from time to time and sharing experiences. Even if the " suits" are too busy to read Cc ( which I doubt) there are many potential Seabourn customers who welcome information gleaned from Cc posts in order to make an informed choice about which cruise line best meets their preferences.

Oh, and BTW I do not need unsolicited advice from a serial poster about what I should or should not contribute to this forum.

Perhaps a weekly letter to Rick Meadows might be more effective is one really wants to "bang on." The same post over and over again on CC doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

... Or will it take a fire to concentrate their minds?

 

As to " banging on" about it , anyone who is bothered by this does not have to read the thread- the clue is usually in the title viz " smoking". So lets keep banging on from time to time and sharing experiences. Even if the " suits" are too busy to read Cc ( which I doubt) there are many potential Seabourn customers who welcome information gleaned from Cc posts in order to make an informed choice about which cruise line best meets their preferences.

 

Oh, and BTW I do not need unsolicited advice from a serial poster about what I should or should not contribute to this forum.

As you mentioned, they already had that fire (at least the corporate parent did) on the Star Princess. I'm surprised their underwrites allow them to continue allowing the practice.

Perhaps a weekly letter to Rick Meadows might be more effective is one really wants to "bang on." The same post over and over again on CC doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

Good idea- lets all do it.

But also lets keep banging away on CC to share experience

And feedback directly to Seabourn by way of the cruise comments form.

In this way we might get more bang for our bucks and convince the Seabourn decision makers that there's no smoke without fire.

I'm not sure why they don't allow the indoor smoking spot to be the club lounge which is much larger and actually has an area a bit off to the side. To use their premier lounge on a smaller ship that has limited indoor spaces in the evening seems odd. The club doesn't have suites directly adjacent to it and it also has a better all weather outdoor area if people want to go outside as well. Although we don't smoke I can see the need to accommodate smokers but possibly a review of the indoor venue may be prudent. It would probably offer a reasonable compromise to all parties.

Well, as far as I can tell, Seabourn does not pay attention at all to what appears here on Cruise Critic. There is no Seabourn presence here, as compared to other lines that have staff who respond to CC questions and concerns. So as much as we would like to think that our comments on Cruise Critic have some impact on Seabourn's policies, IMHO, that just is not going to happen. Too bad in the case of smoking policies. And as far as setting aside any indoor area on such a small ship for smoking...not a good idea. Oppresses the vast majority of passengers to please a few smokers, makes a smokey area of a precious area of a small ship. Smoking should be outdoors, IMHO. I will close by saying that we did enjoy our long Seabourn experience and may return someday depending on itinerary, but not because of the smoking policies.

TV

Be assured they read, they discuss, they consider but no they don't have a presence because they are more likely to get an honest view or uninhibited response when a poster thinks they are totally anonymous.

I've read a few studies which say customers are more likely to be honest when no one knows who they are and small cruise lines on ccc can easily identify who is making to comments. It can lead to upgrades, better service or just a heads up this one is a whinger.

IME companies that respond to review or comment often post along the party line, having been advised by a legal team as to what they should say, rather than reading and discussing behind board room doors.

Oh and FWIW we found smoking on SS to be far more intrusive than on SB. Seriously you can smoke on the jogging track!

In the film Annie Hall the following dialogue takes place:

ALVY'S THERAPIST: How often do you have sex?

ANNIE'S THERAPIST: Do you have sex often?

ALVY: Hardly ever. Maybe three times a week.

ANNIE: Constantly. I'd say three times a week.

Sex like peoples attitude to smoking is highly subjective, we have never met selfish smokers on any of our Seabourn cruises.

We are on the Crystal Serenity and a lady sat down at the bar which is non-smoking and opened her purse up which contained a pack of cigarettes the lady next to her went into a coughing fit. I must say that was funny as she was not smoking. Oy Vey.

We are on the Crystal Serenity and a lady sat down at the bar which is non-smoking and opened her purse up which contained a pack of cigarettes the lady next to her went into a coughing fit. I must say that was funny as she was not smoking. Oy Vey.

So,which one was the Princess?

So,which one was the Princess?

The one that went into a coughing fit at the sight of a pack of cigarettes?

About 1985 I was a young trust officer with a mild girl crush on the trust division's young lawyer. We went out to lunch one day & this paragon of virtue (in my eyes!) said as she looked around the room, "I just don't understand smoking. Nobody smart smokes cigarettes anymore."

That was all it took. On New Year's Eve 1985 I vowed to give up cigarettes & have never looked back. I thank that young lawyer whenever I think of it for making me live up to what I could be. Alas for me - I have asthma that is probably traceable to my 15 years of smoking & occasionally - especially when I am exposed to cigarette smoke - I gasp for breath.

If you haven't had that gasping for breath experience - I recommend that you DO experience it in whatever way you can before you defend smoking in areas that expose the innocent to cigarette smoke.

WHY - in this day & age - are we allowing people to make us sick? I am among the most tolerant people when it comes to mandating behavior & in fact hate big government etc, but why would a cruise line as wonderful in every way as Seabourn is allow smoking on verandas, where it can annoy so many people?

We haven't been on Seabourn in several years & smoking on other lines like Crystal, Azamara & Oceania hasn't been an issue. We're looking at a Seabourn cruise this autumn & until I picked up this thread had no idea that Seabourn allowed smoking on verandas. I'm rethinking the trip.

Thank you for posting this 101st smoking query.

You have stopped us making a very expensive mistake. We had, after a lot of research, decided on a seabourn cruise. We usually cruise with Celebrity and Azamara but fancied a change. Due to health issues we can't deal with smoking.

We could have avoided areas of the ship when smoking is allowed, after all everyone is entitled to enjoy their holidays but are not willing to risk having neighbours who smoke on the balcony. It did not occur to us that a cruise line would allow this.

Such a shame.

I don't want to continue another smoking discussion but just to mention that Queensland toughened laws last week. Last year the smoking rate dropped by 2% from 14 to 12% and it was announced that "Twenty years ago we had smoking amongst 12- to 17-year-olds sitting at about 23.5 per cent and we're now as low as 6.7 per cent," Not sue if this is a trend worldwide.

I have never smoked and feel the same as others toward it but it has never been an issue on my 25 SB days. I know this is the luck of the draw as to who you are next to wrt balcony and how many smokers are in the Oberservasion lounge when you enter but there are plenty of other places on the ship to go if I found there were smokers in the lounge on a particular occasion.

My hope is that there will be less and less smokers and this issue will be no longer. In the mean time I hope it reduces the number of SB travelers, the prices drop and I can cruise more affordably on SB.

I agree with you on most points. How do you escape the person next door on their balcony? We also have been very lucky but I do use and enjoy our balcony, if I was unable to use it I would not be a happy camper.

We have perhaps been lucky on our four SB cruises in not having smokers on adjoining balconies. We avoid the Observation deck after early evening, although we were once upgraded to a PH on that floor and had to scurry to and from the lift each night to avoid too much passive smoking!

I have a mild allergy to cigarette smoke and avoid it with a passion whenever possible. On reflection, much as we love SB and can attest to their attention to our views and wishes in all matters EXCEPT this one, if we did begin to find the smoking a problem, we'd vote with our feet - and let SB know it.

Just been on Sojourn Singapore to Hong Kong. The smoking in the observation lounge was awful. It's bad for us passengers but even worse for the staff. Why don't Seabourn address this, surely health & safety comes into it. Let Fagash Lil use the outside.

I am sorry to hear about your experience at the Sojourn's Observation Bar where after 20:00 smoking is allowed and passengers choose to light up their cigarettes to the dismay of many passengers and crew. Of course, everyone knows that smoking is carcinogenic and that common courtesy measures might encourage smokers to head outside where Seabourn offers designated smoking areas.

We are on the Odyssey now for 9+ weeks and have experienced the same thing: smokers making the Observation Bar off limits to us after 20:00. I know, I know... they are within their rights. Blah blah blah.

So until Seabourn bans smoking from the Observation Bar - and I have been hearing "it's just a matter of time" for 15 months now from Seabourn's head of marketing - I will refer to the Observation Bar as "The Smoker's Bar". Because that's what it is. That's some use of space- an indoor entertainment bar with a capacity of 130 including several bar staff and musicians, effectively restricted for usage to 2-3 smokers and their friends. Does that make for attractive marketing?

Happy sailing!

After speaking with some of my non-smoker friends today at our Colonnade breakfast and at Seabourn Square, I have decided that "The Smoker's Bar" is OUT and "The Smoker's Lounge" is IN. Heretofore the Observation Bar will be called The Smoker's Lounge!

Sounds more inclusive for those who are not aware of and/or interested in health matters.

Happy sailing!

How about the Smokers' Den?

I think the Cancer Club is quite catchy.