Crows Nest Smoking

[startwin]

I'm not a smoker. I hate being around smokers or smelling fabric that smells from smoke. I'm very anti-smoking but in spite of this I have to side with the smokers on this.

 

I must say that if a smoker chooses a ship they are aware of the policies and know ahead of time where they can or can't smoke. Like non-smokers, they plan ahead for their trip and when they get on the ship they go by the rules and are trying to enjoy their vacation, which includes being able to smoke. Non-smokers have to know the rules, too and avoid those areas if it bothers them. I really like HAL, but not their smoking policy, but I would still choose a HAL cruise but keeping in mind that there are areas on the ship that it's better for me to avoid.

 

I think the smoker's are more aware of where the smoking areas are because they have to be. Non-smokers who are rarely exposed to cigarette smoke and odor (& therefore more sensitive to it), sort of forget until they walk into the wrong area of a cruise ship and have the reaction "hey, what the heck"... "I don't like this"... etc.

 

You can't blame the smokers who are smoking where it's allowed. You can complain to the cruise line about policies or pick a different ship the next time.

 

A sensible posting on the topic! I am also a non-smoker (used to be a chain smoker many years ago) and I detest the smell of smoke. However, as long as you are aware of the ship policy regarding smoking, and you still choose to book - you should not complain.

 

Yes the day WILL come when ships will be non-smoking. In the meantime, just follow the rules.... non smokers can avoid smoking areas, and smokers should be considerate and stay within their smoking boundaries.

 

And from my observations, I usually find these threads bring out the worst in smokers, rather than the reverse. But I also remember when I was very defensive about smoking.

[capecodder2]

Thank you, donaldsc, for starting this post - it saved me time and energy looking for the answers I needed. We received a flyer from HAL with some wonderful cruise offerings - I really wanted to do that Central/South America Rotterdam, Oct 23 cruise from/to San Diego. We had been on 2 HAL cruises 8 or 10 years ago and were turned off because of their smoking policy and the constant smell of smoke on our verandah and in the air system, never miind walking through most of the public areas. Friends assured me that HAL had changed that. Thank you to the poster who copied the smoking policy so I didn't have to go through the website to find it. I will follow the advice of the several posters who advised not cruising on HAL if I didn't like it. I will stick to Oceania and Celebrity which fit me better. I love that fresh sea air on my verandah!

[dockrocker]

I've read and my own anecdotal evidence seems to support (I know -- the plural of "anecdote" is not "data" :)) that cruises attract a higher proportion of smokers than are in the general population -- in the U.S., anyway. There're lots of reasons for that having to do with the average age and certain sociocultural and even political demographics of people who only cruise as opposed to those who participate in other types of travel, particularly more active forms of travel. I suspect that cruise ships will be some of the last venues to become completely non-smoking.

[fridayeyes]

I believe I've read that something like 20% of HAL pax smoke. However, the number of pax whose cruise decisions would be affected by a smoker if HAL went non-smoking is much larger, somewhere in the 40% - 50% range. Example: Out of a couple, 1 person smokes. OUt of a foursome who book two cabins, one person smokes. Out of a 3 generation family who cruise together and book 4 cabins, one or two people smoke. So if HAL policies lose the smoker, they actually lose far more business than just the smoking individual. They lose the business of that person's travel partners, too.

 

I read that on here, and it's been some time ago, so my memory of the numbers may be off, but I'm in the ball park at least.

 

Also, as a former waitress and bartender, the smokers (and drinkers) spend more and tip more - in the aggregate - than the non-smokers and non-drinkers. (Yes, individuals vary, but if you wanted high sales and high tips, you asked for a bar smoking section.)

 

Translation: HAL probably makes more revenue per capita on smokers than on non-smokers.

[dockrocker]

Also, as a former waitress and bartender, the smokers (and drinkers) spend more and tip more - in the aggregate - than the non-smokers and non-drinkers. (Yes, individuals vary, but if you wanted high sales and high tips, you asked for a bar smoking section.)

 

Translation: HAL probably makes more revenue per capita on smokers than on non-smokers.

 

No doubt. And we do know that smokers drink more, on average, than non-smokers. I haven't seen any stats on smoking and gambling, but wouldn't be surprised to learn that smokers gamble more, on average, than non-smokers.

[IRL_Joanie]

I'm not a smoker. I hate being around smokers or smelling fabric that smells from smoke. I'm very anti-smoking but in spite of this I have to side with the smokers on this.

 

I must say that if a smoker chooses a ship they are aware of the policies and know ahead of time where they can or can't smoke. Like non-smokers, they plan ahead for their trip and when they get on the ship they go by the rules and are trying to enjoy their vacation, which includes being able to smoke. Non-smokers have to know the rules, too and avoid those areas if it bothers them. I really like HAL, but not their smoking policy, but I would still choose a HAL cruise but keeping in mind that there are areas on the ship that it's better for me to avoid.

 

I think the smoker's are more aware of where the smoking areas are because they have to be. Non-smokers who are rarely exposed to cigarette smoke and odor (& therefore more sensitive to it), sort of forget until they walk into the wrong area of a cruise ship and have the reaction "hey, what the heck"... "I don't like this"... etc.

 

You can't blame the smokers who are smoking where it's allowed. You can complain to the cruise line about policies or pick a different ship the next time.

 

Thank you!!:)

 

Joanie

[IRL_Joanie]

No doubt. And we do know that smokers drink more, on average, than non-smokers. I haven't seen any stats on smoking and gambling, but wouldn't be surprised to learn that smokers gamble more, on average, than non-smokers.

 

Hubby is a non smoker and I am one, obviously, neither of us drink nor gamble. So, I think that we cannot say that the majority of cruisers/bar goers/what ever you wish to call them, are smokers.

 

I've seen more posts on the boards regarding alcohol, how to bring it aboard, where to get the best prices etc, than many other subjects. And most of those posters are non smokers (from other remarks in threads they've made)....

 

Go figure:)

 

I do have to ask the question.... Just how do WE know that smokers drink and gamble more than non smokers??

 

Joanie

[cruz chic]

I do have to ask the question.... Just how do WE know that smokers drink and gamble more than non smokers??

 

On these boards many smokers have said the cruise line would go broke if they didn't allow smoking in the casino so that's probably where that is coming from.

[DizzyDallasDi]

I do have to ask the question.... Just how do WE know that smokers drink and gamble more than non smokers?

 

I'm certainly no statistician but I have been in lots of bars and casinos. It has been my observation that a great number of people in those establishments are smoking. Now, it may be that these folks only smoke when drinking or grambling (it's not that uncommon). Smoking while drinking or grambling just seems to go hand-in-hand....or hand-in-mouth, as the case may be. ;)