The Hated Smoking Question

[RevNeal]

I don't often jump into these controversial smoking threads, but want to say how much I admire RevNeal's attitude towards his mother's smoking. Rather than rag at her to quit (and all the bad feelings, both ways, that comes with that) - he simply loves her for who she is and makes whatever accomodations are necessary to enjoy being with her. Whether she smokes or not isn't going to have a major impact on her lifespan at this point - but having a son who loves her unconditionally will make whatever years she has left really good ones. I'm certain he is her hero.

 

Thank you Donna, you have been and continue to be very kind. Granted that I do love my mother deeply, respect her, and don't "rag on her" to stop smoking; it wouldn't do any good, and from what she has told me she wants to stop and, indeed, one day may well give it a try again. What's more important is that I spend as much "quality time" together with her as I can. She's not going to die anytime soon -- her mother is still alive at 102, though in a nursing home on hospice care and suffering the severe effects of Alzheimer's) -- however we had a major scare 8 years ago when Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Praise God, the surgeon got it all and the post-operative chemo appears to have killed any stray cells that were missed or that floated away in her vascular system. However, with Dad's death in 2007 I'm far more acutely aware of how limited my time is with her. If she wants to cruise, I'm taking her ... and if that means two separate cabins for our mutual comfort, I'm going to spend the money to make that possible.

 

All of that being said, I do try to treat everybody the same way when it comes to matters like smoking. I discourage the youth in my church from starting, and ask them -- politely -- to stop if they've already begun. But, otherwise, my pestering people isn't going to work on them.

[bellebaby]

I was wondering what it would be like on the decks during Glacier Bay viewing on my Alaskan cruise. Even though we have a balcony I thought I may take the kids up for the hot chocolate and more expansive views, but I kind of thought there would be people smoking here and there. Does anyone else have any experiences on deck during the glacier viewing days on HAL?

 

I don't remember anything negative while out on deck at Glacier Bay, but certainly remember my chain smoking neighbor on the balcony.

 

B

[WhansaMi]

Well, if you are considering getting cabins with balconies, I hope that you are a smoker because you will probably appreciate and enjoy the use of your balconies as a smoker rather than as a non smoker!

If you are a non smoker, then I would strongly recommend booking oceanview cabins until HAL revises their smoking policy to prohibit smoking on the balconies!

 

Woohoo! I'm feeling much better about having an OV for our trip next summer.

Thanks! :-D

[CowPrincess]

I was wondering what it would be like on the decks during Glacier Bay viewing on my Alaskan cruise. Even though we have a balcony I thought I may take the kids up for the hot chocolate and more expansive views, but I kind of thought there would be people smoking here and there. Does anyone else have any experiences on deck during the glacier viewing days on HAL?

 

I think, though am not POSITIVE of this, that pax are prohibited from smoking on deck in Glacier Bay. We were there in 2008 and 2009, and I do not recall anyone smoking, AND IIRC there were notices in the daily AND announcements. But again, this is just from my increasingly faulty memory so will not guarantee the accuracy of my info! :)

[wingit]

... and from what she has told me she wants to stop and, indeed, one day may well give it a try again....

 

I can highly recommend a book that made quitting for my husband (a heavy smoker for 30 plus years) easy and virtually pain free. I used it to quit before he did - although I did not smoke as heavily as he did. It's really unbelievable how easy quitting can be. He has recommended it to others and it really does work if one really wants to quit. The book is: The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr. It's available on Amazon.

 

Best wishes for the New Year.:)

[Alliea]

perfume as it irritates others. No one would think of smoking inside so no sign needed. Yes perfume in quantity is much more annoying than smoke as it lingers in hallways and indoor venues on a ship. Possibly the smoke erradicates the perfume in the casino?

As for the surveys, we sailed Celebrity and they didn't ask about smoke, they just changed the rules. HAL asks and I am sure they get lots of responses from passengers that they wouldn't sail with them again if they changed to rules. The smoke haters really love to complain and I bet that no one ever had a chain smoker next to them who sat on the balcony for 7 or more days just puffing away. They just love to exagerate to prove their prejudice.

Finally, since only 20% of the population smokes, no one is going to find smoke everywhere they go on a ship. Get real!

I don't smoke but it doesn't bother me. I've survived for 72 years having parents, grandparents and even doctors who smoked.

 

I hate to say this ..but my cruise to Berumda on RCI for 5 days last Sept. had my sister on the balcony of our room- chain smoking pretty much for the whole 5 days. I felt awful for the people next to us on the one side.. The other side they did not seem to use it much at all. I hateeee her smoking. I could not even use the balcony for a while after she smoked..AND the smell actually seeped into the cabin. It was bad. On my last cruise they sent out that form to ask about smoking .. I could not fill out I was opposed to it, so my husband did it for me.. I love traveling with my sister..and I doubt she would cruise if she could not smoke.

[Two@Sea]

I can highly recommend a book that made quitting for my husband (a heavy smoker for 30 plus years) easy and virtually pain free. I used it to quit before he did - although I did not smoke as heavily as he did. It's really unbelievable how easy quitting can be. He has recommended it to others and it really does work if one really wants to quit. The book is: The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr. It's available on Amazon.

 

Best wishes for the New Year.:)

 

Rev, I am a few years younger than your mother, but have smoked more than a pack a day for almost 45 years. I thank you for your sympathy and understanding of her situation, because the more my family and friends tried to convince me to quit, the more I smoked (that'll show 'em!). I tried the recommended book a few years ago, and it worked... for an hour or two every morning :rolleyes:.

 

I was finally able to achieve success with Chantix. Should she wish to speak with someone who understands, or has any questions about how and why Chantix seems to work for us diehard puffers, please let me know and I will gladly provide my home email or phone number to her.

[suse]

That's true. My good friend, Joe, the Vietnam Vet whom I talk about here sometimes, used chantix to quit. He did it. Honest. I never, ever thought he would.

Take a bow, Joe. And all you others.:)

[RevNeal]

Rev, I am a few years younger than your mother, but have smoked more than a pack a day for almost 45 years. I thank you for your sympathy and understanding of her situation, because the more my family and friends tried to convince me to quit, the more I smoked (that'll show 'em!). I tried the recommended book a few years ago, and it worked... for an hour or two every morning :rolleyes:.

 

I was finally able to achieve success with Chantix. Should she wish to speak with someone who understands, or has any questions about how and why Chantix seems to work for us diehard puffers, please let me know and I will gladly provide my home email or phone number to her.

 

Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate it and will keep it in mind.

[HWY 101]

http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/

 

Yep, but after that remember that the cruise industry used to be or still is about a 25-30 billion dolllar industry and there are many choices, unlike a few comment cards.:p

 

just another opinion.. Happy Sailings.

[canoecanoe]

Maybe the cruise lines will be reading these posts and become proactive.

They should experiment with a "Smoke Free" cruise. They will save money on cleaning supplies (chemicals) that are used in cabins and areas that allow smoking. Better for the environment, saving labour costs too.

It was a big change when airlines went smoke free. Smokers are still flying.

Come on cruise lines, who will be first to dare to go Smoke Free.

Oceania is almost there.

[HWY 101]

http://***************/smoking-policy.htm

 

Let's be proactive and read...if there is a change in the above link's information... please advise.. happy sailings..

 

There are many many non smoking cruise lines already... Hotel's might make more money if they offer more options to people who are willing to pay more for the freedom.. just a thought..

 

in case the above web site does not appear.. it is cruise diva with the various smoking policies...

[DizzyDallasDi]

Maybe the cruise lines will be reading these posts and become proactive.

They should experiment with a "Smoke Free" cruise. They will save money on cleaning supplies (chemicals) that are used in cabins and areas that allow smoking. Better for the environment, saving labour costs too.

It was a big change when airlines went smoke free. Smokers are still flying.

Come on cruise lines, who will be first to dare to go Smoke Free.

Oceania is almost there.

 

Carnival tried doing a completely smoke-free ship with the Paradise. They scrapped that idea.

[HWY 101]

good point dizzy, we will leave, just like the opposing side and use rv's and leave our small carbon imprint ( do our politicians and ceo's of banks, auto makers still travel in private jets?)

 

We will also use a paper towel when exiting a public restroom door handle.

 

There are always options for discretionary income travel choices..

[bishop84]

Carnival tried doing a completely smoke-free ship with the Paradise. They scrapped that idea.

 

However the Paradise was not a short lived experiment with a non smoking ship. She was smoke free from her introduction until a year or so ago which I think was about 8-10 years? IIRC they would disembark guests who were found smoking on board.

 

Also wasn't Renaissance Cruises smoke free on all 8 of their ships?

[Randyk47]

The totally non-smoking Carnival Paradise was launched in 1998. She remained a totally non-smoking ship through 2003 when Carnival decided they were losing too much money in casino and liquor sales. It still has the most limited smoking venues of the Carnival line.

[mountainmare]

The other thing about Carnival is that the ships that have designated spa cabins have that entire area non-smoking--including cabins and balconies with stiff penalties if anyone is caught smoking in the cabin or on the balcony. That would be a nice start for HAL to consider--although it would bug me a tad to have to pay extra for a non-smoking cabin.

[kakalina]

It was a big change when airlines went smoke free. Smokers are still flying.

.

 

One doesn't stay in the air in a plane for weeks at a time. That's like comparing apples and oranges. Can't do it and make sense.

[Parrot57]

I am also intolerant of second hand smoke. Fortunately, on our last HAL cruise the only time I noticed bad odor of smoke was near the casino. However, one time I was walking through the stateroom hallway of another deck to get from one end to the other and the entire area smelled like a cigarrette factory. I guess I was just lucky that people on my deck were non smokers.

 

On a long, very expensive cruise I would definitely try to find the ship with the most restrictive smoking rules.

[GeriatricNurse]

Maybe the cruise lines will be reading these posts and become proactive.

They should experiment with a "Smoke Free" cruise. They will save money on cleaning supplies (chemicals) that are used in cabins and areas that allow smoking. Better for the environment, saving labour costs too.

It was a big change when airlines went smoke free. Smokers are still flying.

Come on cruise lines, who will be first to dare to go Smoke Free.

Oceania is almost there.

Well stated!!!

[Randyk47]

One doesn't stay in the air in a plane for weeks at a time. That's like comparing apples and oranges. Can't do it and make sense.

 

As you well know we're with youon this one. HAL goes the way of Celebrity and we're gone. We've already cancelled one cruise on Azamara and have asked to be deleted from mailing/emailing lists for Azamara and Celebrity.

[PatriciaF]

I started this thread and did decide to go to Celebrity rather than HAL--too long and too expensive a cruise (South American 14 days) to have problems due to smoke.

 

However, smoking isn't illegal. I think smokers do have the right to have a wonderful vacation. My mother smoked from age 13 to 78 (to die of pulmonary fibrosis at 82). She subjected my father and me to the smoking section of restaurants and airplanes (once they became separated) for years. Once she quit, she became so awful about being around smoke my father was embarassed to travel with her.

 

I think if HAL would just segregate the ship so one side is smoking and the other isn't, would make it more tolerable for non-smokers and give a cruise option to smokers. If you make a late reservation and stuck on the wrong side, at least you will know.

[ziggypup]

Maybe the cruise lines will be reading these posts and become proactive.

They should experiment with a "Smoke Free" cruise. They will save money on cleaning supplies (chemicals) that are used in cabins and areas that allow smoking. Better for the environment, saving labour costs too.

It was a big change when airlines went smoke free. Smokers are still flying.

Come on cruise lines, who will be first to dare to go Smoke Free.

Oceania is almost there.

 

I wonder what percentage of cruisers are smokers? I think they will lose a lot of customers if they have a smoke free cruise.

 

Yes, smokers are still flying because most of them have to for various reasons. I don't think that you can compare airline travel to cruise travel. Most smokers can go a few hours while flying. Try telling a cruiser who is on vacation that he can only smoke in port.

[John Reid]

I have been trying to decide on a cruise to Alaska this summer. After looking at Princess, HAL, Celebrity, RCCL the choice has come down to either HAL or Celebrity. Princess' ships are too large for Alaska in my opinion, as are the ships from RCCL. They dump too many people into these small towns all at once. And the itineraries are extremely uninspired. I think HAL ships are perfect for this destination and they have the most wonderful Alaskan itineraries, but......I will be booking with Celebrity. I do not want to deal with smokers everywhere I turn. I have sailed HAL once on a charter and really loved the Zuiderdam. I have very much wanted to sail on other HAL ships, but until their smoking policy becomes more restrictive I will not do so. Thanks for the very informative discussion thread. Regards to all.

Carol Hoffman

Gig Harbor, WA

 

Nothing to do with the smoking thread, and only to provide an insight...

We cruised the Alaskan inside passage on Golden Princess last August. Unless the HAL cruise has a different itinerary than the other lines, expect Princess, HAL (Amsterdam), and Celebrity to disembark the same day in each of the ports. There were three to four ships in the same port each day. HAL's smaller ship, won't help in that case.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As long as there are some "TOP" officials at HAL -- there will still be some areas on HAL ships where people can smoke.