First time cruiser needs help!!!

[glasshouse107]

This may be a silly question, but I am concerned about cabin room. We are booked on FOS 7 night Western Carribean cruise with a balcony. (D2). We will be driving to Port Canaveral and parking at the port. My thought is it would be easier to handle one very large piece of luggage instead of having multiple smaller ones. The large piece of luggage is about 10" thick. Will it fit under the bed?

 

Also, will my husband be able to smoke a cigar on our balcony?

 

Thanks for any help and if you have other tips, they will be very welcomed. I am soooo excited!!!!

[FLACRUISER99]

This may be a silly question, but I am concerned about cabin room. We are booked on FOS 7 night Western Carribean cruise with a balcony. (D2). We will be driving to Port Canaveral and parking at the port. My thought is it would be easier to handle one very large piece of luggage instead of having multiple smaller ones. The large piece of luggage is about 10" thick. Will it fit under the bed?

 

Also, will my husband be able to smoke a cigar on our balcony?

 

Thanks for any help and if you have other tips, they will be very welcomed. I am soooo excited!!!!

Your room steward will get it under the bed, I had one put blocks under a bed so the suitcase would fit. Your DH will be able to smoke on the balcony but ask your neighbors as a courtesy to them.

[cb at sea]

Generally, if you lift the bedframe, the suitcase will fit....

[Marie51]

I have been able to put large pieces of luggage under the bed as there is quite a bit of room under there.

Please do not smoke cigars on the balcony. The smoke drifts to balconies around yours and stinks. There are designated places to smoke cigars.

[rxmurphy]

I have been able to put large pieces of luggage under the bed as there is quite a bit of room under there.

Please do not smoke cigars on the balcony. The smoke drifts to balconies around yours and stinks. There are designated places to smoke cigars.

 

Isn't one of them your balcony?

[MyNameIsGermy]

Your DH will be able to smoke on the balcony but ask your neighbors as a courtesy to them.

 

Good tip!

 

Personally, I would do a few smaller pieces of luggage, but since I'm not the one lugging them around, do whatever works out best for you!

 

Now, on another note, since this is your first time, are you ready to become a cruising addict? You're going to have a blast!

[gerif]

Isn't one of them your balcony?

 

Pipe and cigar smoking is only permitted within the Cigar lounge. (If no Cigar lounge exists on a particular ship, there will be a designated area for pipe and cigar smoking).

 

This from RCI's website, so, no, cigar smoking is NOT permitted on your balcony.

[39august]

I'm pretty sure there is a cigar lounge on Freedom. I have no idea where it is but have seen it mentioned in Compasses for that class of ship.

[Brian131489]

This may be a silly question, but I am concerned about cabin room. We are booked on FOS 7 night Western Carribean cruise with a balcony. (D2). We will be driving to Port Canaveral and parking at the port. My thought is it would be easier to handle one very large piece of luggage instead of having multiple smaller ones. The large piece of luggage is about 10" thick. Will it fit under the bed?

 

Also, will my husband be able to smoke a cigar on our balcony?

 

Thanks for any help and if you have other tips, they will be very welcomed. I am soooo excited!!!!

 

There is a cigar lounge on the freedom class, but you can also smoke them on your balcony, you just have to ask your cabin steward for an ash tray.

 

Enjoy your cruise !!!!

[Langley Cruisers]

In a pinch, you could open the suitcase so it lays flat; it would certainly fit under the bed that way.

 

Sorry, no cigars or pipes on the balcony. There are some conflicting answers here, but RCI's policy from their website is clear: no cigars on balconies.

 

"Q: What is the Smoking Policy onboard?

 

A: For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our ships are designated as non-smoking; however, we recognize that some of our guests smoke. Therefore, to provide an onboard environment that also satisfies smokers, we have designated certain public and private areas of the ship as "smoking areas."

 

Smoking in public areas is only permitted in designated smoking sections which vary by ship. Generally, smoking is permitted outdoors on only one side of the ship; and smoking is permitted on all private ocean front balconies, including Loft Suite balconies on Oasis Class. To assist in locating areas where smoking is permitted, you will find visible signage posted within all smoking areas and ashtrays that are provided for your use. The location of all smoking venues can also be found in the daily Cruise Compass; or you may contact Guest Services once onboard.

 

For your safety, smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on interior private balconies on Oasis Class that overlook The Boardwalk or Central Park. Smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, food outlet, theater, hallway or corridor; nor in Central Park, The Boardwalk or The Jogging Track on Oasis Class ships; nor in the H2O Zone on Oasis and Freedom Class ships. A $250 cleaning fee will be applied to the SeaPass account if smoking has occurred inside staterooms or on private interior balconies overlooking The Boardwalk or Central Park onboard Oasis Class ships. Royal Caribbean International kindly asks all guests to please observe the non-smoking areas and to refrain from smoking pipes or cigars in any of the public areas. These requests are made to provide a comfortable shipboard environment for everyone. Guests who violate this smoking policy may be subject to further action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of this Guest Conduct Policy.

 

Pipe and cigar smoking is only permitted within the Cigar lounge. (If no Cigar lounge exists on a particular ship, there will be a designated area for pipe and cigar smoking).

 

A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco products onboard. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must always be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard."

[NorbertsNiece]

There is a cigar lounge on the freedom class, but you can also smoke them on your balcony, you just have to ask your cabin steward for an ash tray.

 

Enjoy your cruise !!!!

 

No, you may not smoke cigars on the room balcony.

The link to the RCCL policy is here

.

[Brian131489]

Well Then I guess I break all the rules... I have never had a problem with smoking them on my balcony and not to mention the cabin steward has been in the room while I was enjoying a cigar in the mid afternoon and he said nothing to me about it, actually he brought a bigger ash tray for me to use.

 

I'm sorry I don't keep a copy of all the rules in my back pocket, nor do I tell people how to run thier vacation, other then enjoy and I can't wait to hear how it went when you return.

 

I swear if the people on this site would spend less time telling people how to run thier vacation, or tell them what they can and can't do it would make it a more friendly site.

[rxmurphy]

In a pinch, you could open the suitcase so it lays flat; it would certainly fit under the bed that way.

 

Sorry, no cigars or pipes on the balcony. There are some conflicting answers here, but RCI's policy from their website is clear: no cigars on balconies.

 

"Q: What is the Smoking Policy onboard?

 

A: For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our ships are designated as non-smoking; however, we recognize that some of our guests smoke. Therefore, to provide an onboard environment that also satisfies smokers, we have designated certain public and private areas of the ship as "smoking areas."

 

Smoking in public areas is only permitted in designated smoking sections which vary by ship. Generally, smoking is permitted outdoors on only one side of the ship; and smoking is permitted on all private ocean front balconies, including Loft Suite balconies on Oasis Class. To assist in locating areas where smoking is permitted, you will find visible signage posted within all smoking areas and ashtrays that are provided for your use. The location of all smoking venues can also be found in the daily Cruise Compass; or you may contact Guest Services once onboard.

 

For your safety, smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on interior private balconies on Oasis Class that overlook The Boardwalk or Central Park. Smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, food outlet, theater, hallway or corridor; nor in Central Park, The Boardwalk or The Jogging Track on Oasis Class ships; nor in the H2O Zone on Oasis and Freedom Class ships. A $250 cleaning fee will be applied to the SeaPass account if smoking has occurred inside staterooms or on private interior balconies overlooking The Boardwalk or Central Park onboard Oasis Class ships. Royal Caribbean International kindly asks all guests to please observe the non-smoking areas and to refrain from smoking pipes or cigars in any of the public areas. These requests are made to provide a comfortable shipboard environment for everyone. Guests who violate this smoking policy may be subject to further action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of this Guest Conduct Policy.

 

Pipe and cigar smoking is only permitted within the Cigar lounge. (If no Cigar lounge exists on a particular ship, there will be a designated area for pipe and cigar smoking).

 

A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco products onboard. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must always be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard."

 

I'm not a lawyer (or a cigar smoker) but is the phrase I bolded unclear?

[NorbertsNiece]

Well Then I guess I break all the rules... I have never had a problem with smoking them on my balcony and not to mention the cabin steward has been in the room while I was enjoying a cigar in the mid afternoon and he said nothing to me about it, actually he brought a bigger ash tray for me to use.

 

I'm sorry I don't keep a copy of all the rules in my back pocket, nor do I tell people how to run thier vacation, other then enjoy and I can't wait to hear how it went when you return.

 

I swear if the people on this site would spend less time telling people how to run thier vacation, or tell them what they can and can't do it would make it a more friendly site.

 

A question was asked and answered.

[Mysticks1]

This may be a silly question, but I am concerned about cabin room. We are booked on FOS 7 night Western Carribean cruise with a balcony. (D2). We will be driving to Port Canaveral and parking at the port. My thought is it would be easier to handle one very large piece of luggage instead of having multiple smaller ones. The large piece of luggage is about 10" thick. Will it fit under the bed?

 

Also, will my husband be able to smoke a cigar on our balcony?

 

Thanks for any help and if you have other tips, they will be very welcomed. I am soooo excited!!!!

 

Your suitcase should fit under the bed (You can slide it under opened up if necessary) If not the steward can store it for you until the last night. Just ask them if you find that it doesn't store underneath the bed.

[thelion]

I'm not a lawyer (or a cigar smoker) but is the phrase I bolded unclear?

 

Smoking cigarettes is permitted on your oceanview balcony. Smoking cigars is not permitted due to the much more... prevalent smell.

 

If you keep reading the policy there is a nice line that says cigars and pipes are only permitted in the cigar lounges or another designated area (which does not refer to your balcony, or it would say your balcony - it refers to another public location).

[rxmurphy]

Smoking cigarettes is permitted on your oceanview balcony. Smoking cigars is not permitted due to the much more... prevalent smell.

 

If you keep reading the policy there is a nice line that says cigars and pipes are only permitted in the cigar lounges or another designated area (which does not refer to your balcony, or it would say your balcony - it refers to another public location).

 

Guess that's why I'm not a lawyer!:D

[thelion]

Guess that's why I'm not a lawyer!:D

 

No, but RCI hires plenty to help write their policy. Especially when you consider the fines for smoking in an undesignated area.

 

Frankly, I am surprised they still allow smoking on the balconies. After the Princess fire, I would think it would be a no-no.

[FreshOffTheBoat]

Well Then I guess I break all the rules... I have never had a problem with smoking them on my balcony and not to mention the cabin steward has been in the room while I was enjoying a cigar in the mid afternoon and he said nothing to me about it, actually he brought a bigger ash tray for me to use.

 

I'm sorry I don't keep a copy of all the rules in my back pocket, nor do I tell people how to run thier vacation, other then enjoy and I can't wait to hear how it went when you return.

 

I swear if the people on this site would spend less time telling people how to run thier vacation, or tell them what they can and can't do it would make it a more friendly site.

 

I know, people on these boards are nuts about rules.

[Jimnbigd]

As for the luggage, porters usually handle it for a small tip. So, you are not toting your big luggage onto the ship yourself. Since you are driving, take whatever luggage you want. Leave room for souvenirs. The last night of the cruise you can put your large packed luggage in the hall, and it will be taken off the ship to a luggage area next to customs. Take a small bag for your overnight stuff. If you want to get through customs faster, get a porter after you leave the ship.

 

Some people do "self debarkation" (or something like that), where you do NOT put your luggage in the hall the last night, but instead carry it off yourself. These people usually leave the ship first, and this might be worth it to you if you can tote the luggage off the ship (and down the steep ramps).

 

I see you are in Virginia. I suggest you drive in the day before to allow for any contingencies.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Quigley10]

We think the cigar bar on the Freedom was off of Pharoah's Palace on deck 5.

[BlueSkySailing]

What do you mean? This site is so friendly!!!!! Just don't make the RCCL pitbulls mad and you'll be ok :o One more thing to add if I may, if RCCL has help writting the rules why then is there no mention of clove cigarettes? Ther aren't tobacco products but smell as strong as a cigar! So the rule are how ever YOU want to read them! I say to the OP just have fun and smoke it if you got it!!!

Happy Cruising!!!!!!

[glasshouse107]

Thanks everyone for all your assistance. It was a great help (I think) :).

[Hugh2011]

Pipe and cigar smoking is only permitted within the Cigar lounge. (If no Cigar lounge exists on a particular ship, there will be a designated area for pipe and cigar smoking).

 

This from RCI's website, so, no, cigar smoking is NOT permitted on your balcony.

 

Here is what I found on the web.

 

More Smoke-free Areas Introduced Across the Royal Caribbean Fleet

 

 

Where it's banned

 

 

Currently, smoking is prohibited in guest hallways and corridors, restaurants, entertainment venues and most of the ship's interior public spaces except for designated areas in bars and lounges (and, of course, the casinos, where, a total ban would no doubt affect onboard revenues). The new policy will add all guest staterooms and suites, and one bar or lounge on every Royal Caribbean International ship onto the roster of smoke-free spaces.

Where you can still smoke

 

Guests wishing to smoke may still do so from starboard outer decks, in designated areas in bars and lounges, and on stateroom and suite balconies. Ashtrays are available in designated smoking areas or by request through stateroom attendants. Violations of the smoking policy will result in cleaning charges to the guest's onboard account and may also be addressed through the line's Guest Conduct Policy.

 

 

=================

 

 

So it's apparently permitted to smoke on an outskde balcony, they even provide ashtrays.

 

 

However, this was in 2008. Don't know if it has changed since.

[Hugh2011]

Well Then I guess I break all the rules... I have never had a problem with smoking them on my balcony and not to mention the cabin steward has been in the room while I was enjoying a cigar in the mid afternoon and he said nothing to me about it, actually he brought a bigger ash tray for me to use.

 

But still, why wouldn't it be permitted for cigars, but permitted for cigarettes ? I don't get it, And I don't get the logic of the rule either. I'm a non-smoker, like my wife (quit in 2004) and I feel they both smell. Cigars even more strongly But I prefer the smell of cigar over cigs.

 

Hope you enjoyed your cruise !