Smoking or Non smoking? And please, no sob stories

[ChrisUK]

Ok... Yes, another smoking thread...

 

I have now been on 5 cruises, the first 4 where smoking was allowed in more places were more fun. I have not smoked all my life, only 3 years, and I hated it before, but thats irrelivant.

 

On a typical cruise there will be my wife and I, a couple of great friends from Florida and maybe a few others. All are smokers. We tended to go into the 'Traditional' English bar, drink and smoke. Ok, not everyones cup of tea, but we all do what we enjoy. We would spend a lot of money whilst in there too, which I guess most smokers would.

 

In December, the policy had changed, no smoking in the English bar, and guess what, it was dead, all week. No takings, no tips for the musician. Just comments like, it was so nice to walk 'past' the english bar and not smell smoke!! Walking past doesnt benefit anyone!!

 

There are 37 (or 36) bars on Oasis, so why make a 'traditional' pub non smoking? Yes, its now UK law not to smoke in pubs, but this is a traditional pub, which was always a pint and a cigarette.

 

I dont get it! Why change something that wasnt a problem and was a good revenue generator?

 

Lastly, why still sell cigarettes on the ships?? Where can we buy them? The shop... Where can we smoke them, almost nowhere!! Wheres the sense??

[rollie]

Big brother is just trying to get you to quit.

 

Rollie

[Elizanessie]

I found it strange that on Oasis there was a smoking section in Boleros but none in the English Pub :(

 

For me it meant.. no Pub...ok can go have ciggie elsewhere like in Schooner Bar but that was not where I wanted to spend my evenings. I wanted to listen to the singer in the Pub...but dont like having a drinkie and no ciggie when relaxing at night. So no drinkies. No revenue from me RCCL cause I just drank the free coffee.

 

One of the main reasons I wont do Indy when she is here on this side of the pond is because there are hardly any bars you can smoke in.

 

There was hardly anyone in the Pub on first two Oasis sailings.

[JanineM]

I think the problem with smoking in the Pub or many of the bars is that it is open to the Promenade --- so it's impossible to keep the smoke and smell in that particular area. It wafts all over. That means it affects many more people than just those in the bar.

 

On Mariner they had and may still have a cigar smoking bar outside the Lotus Lounge. It's a closed off lounge so the smoke didn't blow everywhere else. They also had big air cleansers so it wasn't unbearable for those of us who don't smoke.

 

That's probably a better solution and one that should work for most people - put good entertainment in one of the closed off lounges.

[molly361]

I found it strange that on Oasis there was a smoking section in Boleros but none in the English Pub :(

 

For me it meant.. no Pub...ok can go have ciggie elsewhere like in Schooner Bar but that was not where I wanted to spend my evenings. I wanted to listen to the singer in the Pub...but dont like having a drinkie and no ciggie when relaxing at night. So no drinkies. No revenue from me RCCL cause I just drank the free coffee.

 

One of the main reasons I wont do Indy when she is here on this side of the pond is because there are hardly any bars you can smoke in.

 

There was hardly anyone in the Pub on first two Oasis sailings.

 

We were just on the Indie for Christmas and you could smoke in the Pub, casino bar, one side of Boleros (not the side that the bar is on but the other side of the ship) I did not know that you could smoke on the Oasis in the Schooner bar as now on all the ships I have been on the Schooner bar, which used to allow smoking does not.

[Elizanessie]

We were just on the Indie for Christmas and you could smoke in the Pub, casino bar, one side of Boleros (not the side that the bar is on but the other side of the ship) I did not know that you could smoke on the Oasis in the Schooner bar as now on all the ships I have been on the Schooner bar, which used to allow smoking does not.

 

When Indy comes back over the pond this year..they will change where smoking is allowed...usually one deck of disco..none of the bars..except outside and they close early.

 

Yes on Oasis in the Schooner Bar there is smoking allowed near the bar..and at the seats which are close to the edge which over looks the royal promenade.

[molly361]

When Indy comes back over the pond this year..they will change where smoking is allowed...usually one deck of disco..none of the bars..except outside and they close early.

 

Yes on Oasis in the Schooner Bar there is smoking allowed near the bar..and at the seats which are close to the edge which over looks the royal promenade.

 

Wow, I guess I didn't realize that they are even worse about allowing smoking over there than there are here in the States!!

[SmokinActuary]

Things are heading to the non-smoking extreme.

 

Why not have a smoking bar?

 

I am not a cigarette smoker but I do like to relax with the occasional cigar.

[uksimonusa]

I found it strange that on Oasis there was a smoking section in Boleros but none in the English Pub :(

 

For me it meant.. no Pub...ok can go have ciggie elsewhere like in Schooner Bar but that was not where I wanted to spend my evenings. I wanted to listen to the singer in the Pub...but dont like having a drinkie and no ciggie when relaxing at night. So no drinkies. No revenue from me RCCL cause I just drank the free coffee.

 

One of the main reasons I wont do Indy when she is here on this side of the pond is because there are hardly any bars you can smoke in.

 

There was hardly anyone in the Pub on first two Oasis sailings.

 

How right you are, I was on the Dec 1st sailing of Oasis and felt sorry for Scott Perham in the pub, very few people and that means few or no tips for him. Also noticed that the Smoking section of the Schooner Bar was packed and very few people in the non smoking section

 

 

I think the problem with smoking in the Pub or many of the bars is that it is open to the Promenade --- so it's impossible to keep the smoke and smell in that particular area. It wafts all over. That means it affects many more people than just those in the bar.

 

On Mariner they had and may still have a cigar smoking bar outside the Lotus Lounge. It's a closed off lounge so the smoke didn't blow everywhere else. They also had big air cleansers so it wasn't unbearable for those of us who don't smoke.

 

That's probably a better solution and one that should work for most people - put good entertainment in one of the closed off lounges.

 

The schooner bar on Oasis, opens onto the Royal Promenade, albeit 1 deck up. On Indy, when she is stateside, there is smoking allowed in the Pub, along the bar and behind the railing at the back, on Liberty the pub is full smoking

 

We were just on the Indie for Christmas and you could smoke in the Pub, casino bar, one side of Boleros (not the side that the bar is on but the other side of the ship) I did not know that you could smoke on the Oasis in the Schooner bar as now on all the ships I have been on the Schooner bar, which used to allow smoking does not.

 

We have just got back from Freedom, and have 3 more cruises booked on her this year, the pub was empty, as was Boleros, both allow smoking on other Freedom class ships, the only places you can smoke at a bar on Freedom, are Olive or Twist, stool area only, not the chairs and tables, Casino bar, but this is non smoking on formal nights, upper level of the crypt, only open in the evening and the sky bar.

 

RCI is loosing out on this one, as are the entertainers, I have a friend who will be on Freedom soon, and he likes the pub to be restricted smoking, along the bar and behind the railing, that way the smokers still come in and enjoy the entertainment and therefore tip, and he is not getting smoke blown in his face when signing, like on Liberty.

 

My bar bill this cruise was less than half of what it has been in the past.

[niko40]

Hi all

 

I agree when smoking was allowed at the bar in bolleros and the schooner the bars were full and livley on our last cruise we were gutted that there was no longer smoking in the schooner bar and guess what it was empty most nights no more than a dozen people i think rci need to look at this in more detail not just join the sheep and follow what they think is the right thing to do even the staff on our last cruise said since non smoking the bars had died we spent all our time in the casino bar because you could smoke there and before rci think good you will spend more in the casino wrong i didnt spend $1 dollar in there in fact the more they restrict smoking the more we look for other cruise lines wher you can smoke or alternative holidays all together (RCI get a grip smokers spend more money in the bars than non smokers we personally avarage about $900-$1100 a week in the bars whilst on a cruise) look what non smoking has done to the british pub industry crippled it. THINK ON RCI

[phatmack]

Former smoker here (I know, I know, we're the worst) and I can totally understand the desire to have plenty of bars/locations on the ship to smoke in and how RCI benefits from this extra income! (smoking + drinks = great time, believe me, I remember) I guess the only thing I really wanted to chime in on is that my wife and I are pretty excited to play in the casino and I know that if its super smokey in there then we won't play nearly as much as we would if it wasn't... just food for thought for the RCI income argument. (I don't even know how much smoking is allowed in Casino Royale... on the Indy).

[mom2two2]

No one finds it inconsiderate to others smoking in public like that?

[SmokinActuary]

I think there should be smoking choices and non-smoking choices of venue.

 

For something like the Casino that is one of a kind I can see all or nothing, or a smoking night and non-smoking all the other times.

[Aquahound]

I have no problem with venues being made available to both smokers and non-smokers, but I am glad to hear it is no longer allowed in the pub. The pub is a small room with only one opening, unlike many of the other venues that are open on more than one end, and larger. The smoke is more prevelent and stagnent in the pub, even from just 1 smoker.

[twoputt.plusone]

Maybe the smoke wasn't an issue for you but it was for non-smokers. Business may be slow until all the non-smokers realize that now they too can enjoy the pub. That hasn't been the case in the past for all.

[Aquahound]

Maybe the smoke wasn't an issue for you but it was for non-smokers. Business may be slow until all the non-smokers realize that now they too can enjoy the pub. That hasn't been the case in the past for all.

 

True.

 

By the way, I do not have tight pockets, nor do I drink Coke unless there is rum in it. Oh, and I have always been a generous tipper.

 

Whooda guessed I was a non-smoker? ;)

[ChrisUK]

Considering the majority of cruisers are 'new' cruisers, they wouldnt know anyway!!! And why would it take a while to realise? It takes 2 seconds to ask, and if the smoke free smell is so noticable, surely they would know straight away!!!

[printingchick]

I live in a state where smoking is prohibited in nearly ALL public places. No smoking in restaurants, bars, concert halls, offices, etc. Smoking within 50 feet of a an entrance to many business establishments is also prohibited, to prevent non-smokers from having to walk through a cloud of smoke. Opponents of this legislation insisted bars and nightclubs would go out of business if this law passed. That has not been the case.

 

Smokers ALWAYS have the option of stepping outside any non-smoking establishment for a FEW MINUTES to enjoy their habit. Non-smokers are condemned to inhale unwanted smoky air during their entire stay at a venue where smoking is permitted.

 

I know my state is not the only one to ban smoking in public places. I've seen numerous hotels and resorts which market themselves as entirely smoke-free, so clearly they see some advantage to this strategy. I don't understand why this becomes such an acrimonious issue on cruise ships. From what I have witnessed, prohibiting smoking in public areas is the way most of the country is heading. It should come as no surprise that cruise ships are following the trend.

[As the ship sails]

Maybe the smoke wasn't an issue for you but it was for non-smokers. Business may be slow until all the non-smokers realize that now they too can enjoy the pub. That hasn't been the case in the past for all.

 

Actually I disagree with you and I am a NON-SMOKER.:) I enjoyed the bars much better when they allowed smoking in them all as the smokers tend to be the friendly and lively ones at the bar. Obviously there are some non-smokers that fall into this category also as I am certainly one of the friendly and lively non-smokers. However the bars have not had the same fun factor since many became non-smoking.:)

[paulap70]

I also live in a state with a smoking ban, except for casinos (they had a good lobby group!). I am a non-smoker and I love it that I don't have to breathe secondhand smoke any longer. Even the casinos have non-smoking sections - and these sections are busy.

 

On the pool deck does RCCL still designate one side as smoking and one as non-smoking or is it all non-smoking at this point?

[printingchick]

Paula:

Yes, one side of the pool deck is smoking, one side is non-smoking. And, when I cruised on Freedom last year, the Schooner bar was smoking along the perimeter, non smoking close to the piano. This worked fine - not ideal for either side of the argument, but tolerable to both.

 

My state also has casinos. The nightclubs in the casinos are the only ones in the state that do NOT have to follow the smoking ban. (Indian Land) The casino itself, however, does include smoking and non-smoking areas. Both appear equally popular.

[As the ship sails]

I also live in a state with a smoking ban, except for casinos (they had a good lobby group!). I am a non-smoker and I love it that I don't have to breathe secondhand smoke any longer. Even the casinos have non-smoking sections - and these sections are busy.

 

On the pool deck does RCCL still designate one side as smoking and one as non-smoking or is it all non-smoking at this point?

 

It kind of varies from ship to ship. On the Freedom for example there is no smoking at all on deck 11 but on deck 12 smoking is allowed at the Sky Bar. It used to be that you could smoke on the one side of deck 11 but they removed this area for smokers due to the H2O zone being on deck 11 or so they claim.:)

[As the ship sails]

Paula:

Yes, one side of the pool deck is smoking, one side is non-smoking. And, when I cruised on Freedom last year, the Schooner bar was smoking along the perimeter, non smoking close to the piano. This worked fine - not ideal for either side of the argument, but tolerable to both.

 

 

This is not the case on every ship. The smoking areas vary on each ship. For example on the Freedom there is no smoking whatsoever on deck 11 on either side of the ship.

[bbenson]

This is not the case on every ship. The smoking areas vary on each ship. For example on the Freedom there is no smoking whatsoever on deck 11 on either side of the ship.

 

 

Just off Voyager and The Pub there was non-smoking as well. Only night it was really busy was new year eve. Other than that it was pretty quiet. But the sports bar across the promenade was always packed but it allowed smoking.

 

The casino on the formal, non smoking, nights was empty... on the smoking nights it was busier and on the last 2 nights it was packed!

[retnuh281]

I am a smoker, and recently took a Carnival cruise with friends that were new to cruising. Won't bore you with a review , but the the two venues that we really wanted to go to we couldn't because of the smoke was intolerable. It seems that even Carnival has cut down the places in which smoking is allowed and the smokers just camp out there and you can't even walk by without getting it on your clothes. I agree smoking and drinking = FUN, but not if you can't breathe.