Disappointed in balcony smoking on Solstice

[terp4life]

From X's website:

 

"Smoking is permitted in many of our lounges and on open air decks on the port side of the ship."

 

Book your balcony stateroom on the starboard side!

 

I was on the starboard side. Still an issue. At times I could see people on deck 5 smoking, went down, and in fact there were ashtrays there, so I assume that the new rule is both sides of deck 5 are now acceptable for smoking.

 

Also, as others have reported, it was a faint but detectable smell. Enough to know it was there, not enough to bother my asthma. It was never from an immediately adjacent balcony though.

[travelingmom37]

Well, just another point of view. Many of us dreaded smokers DO follow the rules. While I disagree with no smoking on any balconies, that is the policy of the trip I signed up for. I am in the majority of smokers as the very few designated smoking areas were filled with others , most of whom missed smoking on our balconies.

If you asked someone to stop and they continue you have every right to contact Guest Relations.

I realize this is an issue, but no more so than tolerating drunks ( who way out number the smokers), tattered jeans and T-shirts in the dining room, etc.

BTW, the smoking policy was distributed at boarding ( last March) and was also placed in the staterooms.

[PartyAllDaTyme]

Speaking as someone for whom Celebrity's smoking policy drove us to them from Princess--

 

I am an occasional smoker, really only when out drinking.

I decided to buy an electric cigarette for my cruise next week.

That way I can satisfy my smoking while drinking urge without offending anyone.

Electric cigarettes emit no smoke, and dont smell. You inhale flavored water vapor with nicotine in it.

Seems like the perfect alternative for such close quarters.

Any social drinking smokers should check them out.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

There has been some discussion of e-cigs and vaping a while ago. The consensus seemed to be that there's no official policy, but that Celebrity would still consider it to be smoking and ask that it be done in designated smoking areas, if for no other reason than to avoid numerous erroneous reports of smoking violations. Personally, I'd have no problem if you'd want to indulge on the balcony next to mine, but if I saw you a few doors or decks down and wasn't sure, you'd be getting a visit from the ship's staff.

 

Allowing smoking in various areas around the ship (the worst being Sky Lounge) is one rule I'd like to X, that's for sure.

 

I agree with the sentiment, but I think the current arrangements are a fair compromise.

 

I was on the starboard side. Still an issue. At times I could see people on deck 5 smoking, went down, and in fact there were ashtrays there, so I assume that the new rule is both sides of deck 5 are now acceptable for smoking.

 

No, it's not. It's likely the ashtrays were moved there by smokers. Do us all a favor and report it.

 

Well, just another point of view. Many of us dreaded smokers DO follow the rules. While I disagree with no smoking on any balconies, that is the policy of the trip I signed up for. I am in the majority of smokers as the very few designated smoking areas were filled with others , most of whom missed smoking on our balconies.

If you asked someone to stop and they continue you have every right to contact Guest Relations.

I realize this is an issue, but no more so than tolerating drunks ( who way out number the smokers), tattered jeans and T-shirts in the dining room, etc.

BTW, the smoking policy was distributed at boarding ( last March) and was also placed in the staterooms.

 

A great big thank you:) for realizing that the smoking policy is part of the deal! The hostility sometimes directed at smokers is really at those with a sense of entitlement who feel the rules don't apply to them, and that their thoughtlessness doesn't affect others. DW has an extreme sensitivity to cigarette smoke, to the point where we could not use our balcony on our Princess cruise about half the time due to neighbors smoking. We could not walk through the casino even when it was closed due to lingering smoke, much less partonize it when it was open.

 

As far as reporting smoke coming from "somewhere", I'd still report it. It keeps Celebrity aware that we consider the problem to be important enough to raise a stink about it (pun intended:D).

[PS90]

Well, just another point of view. Many of us dreaded smokers DO follow the rules. While I disagree with no smoking on any balconies, that is the policy of the trip I signed up for. I am in the majority of smokers as the very few designated smoking areas were filled with others , most of whom missed smoking on our balconies.

If you asked someone to stop and they continue you have every right to contact Guest Relations.

I realize this is an issue, but no more so than tolerating drunks ( who way out number the smokers), tattered jeans and T-shirts in the dining room, etc.

BTW, the smoking policy was distributed at boarding ( last March) and was also placed in the staterooms.

 

I appreciate your ethics and your point of view, but I wouldn't equate smokers disobeying the rules with "tolerating drunks", etc, because those issues are only a voluntary problem, while secondhand smoke is unavoidable and annoying, whether you want it to be or not.

 

In other words, other people behaving obnoxiously by being drunk, or breaking the dress code, can only annoy you if you let it. But inhaling secondhand smoke is an unavoidable health risk to many people.

[ORV]

I appreciate your ethics and your point of view, but I wouldn't equate smokers disobeying the rules with "tolerating drunks", etc, because those issues are only a voluntary problem, while secondhand smoke is unavoidable and annoying, whether you want it to be or not.

 

In other words, other people behaving obnoxiously by being drunk, or breaking the dress code, can only annoy you if you let it. But inhaling secondhand smoke is an unavoidable health risk to many people.

 

I'll agree to a point, but an obnoxious drunk can also become an unavoidable health risk.

 

What people wear and how that affects someone is another story altogether.

[TomBeckCruise]

That is too bad that some rude people caused you to not be able to fully enjoy your balcony. I agree that X needs to remove the outdated signs and place a clear sign about smoking on balconies being strictly prohibited. They also need to have strict consequences for somebody making a second violation; if someone is busted once by ship security and makes a second violation IMHO they should be debarked at the next port.

 

Huh? I thought all cabins are now non smoking. am I wrong? Seems so.:(

[Gonzo70]

Huh? I thought all cabins are now non smoking. am I wrong? Seems so.:(

 

All staterooms and balconies are non-smoking, but in many staterooms near the balcony door there is a sign about not throwing cigarette butts overboard. They need to replace those with signs stating that smoking is prohibited.

[shoppingchick]

Had a problem on the Eclipse with smoke coming from Promenade deck. Luckily, they were able to move us to a different cabin.

[PartyAllDaTyme]

Had a problem on the Eclipse with smoke coming from Promenade deck. Luckily, they were able to move us to a different cabin.

 

You really were fortunate! Smoking is allowed on the port side of the Promenade deck. Many have posted about the hazards of booking the deck(s) above, but smoke drifting up is part and parcel of the location for those cabins. It's lucky Celebrity was able to accommodate you, but I wouldn't count on this in the future.

 

This is different from problems with people smoking where they shouldn't.

[dzcruisers]

Well, just another point of view. Many of us dreaded smokers DO follow the rules. While I disagree with no smoking on any balconies, that is the policy of the trip I signed up for. I am in the majority of smokers as the very few designated smoking areas were filled with others , most of whom missed smoking on our balconies.

If you asked someone to stop and they continue you have every right to contact Guest Relations.

I realize this is an issue, but no more so than tolerating drunks ( who way out number the smokers), tattered jeans and T-shirts in the dining room, etc.

BTW, the smoking policy was distributed at boarding ( last March) and was also placed in the staterooms.

 

tolerating drunks ( who way out number the smokers), tattered jeans and T-shirts in the dining room,

Please explain to me how these affect my asthma and my lungs.

[lindi]

This is very disturbing. It seems more prevalent on the Solstice class ships. Perhaps they are having a harder time filling these ships and have told the crew not to alienate passengers by enforcing the rules. After the fire on the Star Princess, Princess installed cameras to monitor the balconies. Doesn't Celebrity have such cameras. If so, surely they can review the tapes, identify the smokers, and enforce the rules....if they want to.

 

 

 

No, it isn't necessarily more prevalent on the Solstice class ships. We returned from a Southern Caribbean cruise on the Millenium, Feb.14 ( fantastic cruise overall) and there was a couple who continued to smoke on the balcony throughout the cruise. This couple also were "door slammers", so we considered where this behaviour came from. Perhaps a first cruise and they didn't know how any better?

 

They were from North America, the deep south.

 

Agree, there should be better survaillance.

[constantcruiser]

I think limiting smoking areas in other parts of the ship may actually be driving more people to smoke on their balconies. They figure no one will see them there and they won't get caught. But you can't hide that telltale smell.

[iancal]

Have not had any issue on our last two balcony cruises-Equinox in Feb and Millennium in Dec. DW did see some some people smoking from time to time but never once could we smell smoke.

[ORV]

No, it isn't necessarily more prevalent on the Solstice class ships. We returned from a Southern Caribbean cruise on the Millenium, Feb.14 ( fantastic cruise overall) and there was a couple who continued to smoke on the balcony throughout the cruise. This couple also were "door slammers", so we considered where this behaviour came from. Perhaps a first cruise and they didn't know how any better?

 

They were from North America, the deep south.

 

Agree, there should be better survaillance.

 

 

Yes as we all know, those Southerner's are ignorant and don't know any better. Is that what you were trying to say?

[paulsang]

As for making the Sky lounge smoke free, I say leave it alone. It is the only interior room on the ship that allows smoking (that I am aware of). I do not smoke, but my partner does. It is the one air-conditioned place he can have a drink and relax. The room is large enough that it isn't stuffy and oppressive.

 

I think the compromise is fair.

[paulsang]

Yes as we all know, those Southerner's are ignorant and don't know any better. Is that what you were trying to say?

 

LOL

 

Cannot be any worse than mid-westerners....:eek:

[barbgazz]

I hope that is not the way my message read, it certainly not the case. I had an immensely enjoyable vacation. I loved every minute, in spite of the smoking. However, a large part of the reason we did not try a different line was the no smoking on balconies rule. I have respiratory issues and have personal experience with family members with lung cancer. As a result I was really looking forward to enjoying my balcony smoke free. Was not able to. Just wanted to let others know, so they would not have to be as disappointed in that aspect as I was.

 

The staff was sympathetic but unable to do much when there was no one in particular to "remind" of the rules.

 

They probably thought you were overly sensitive. Maybe you could just smell the smoke from the clothes of the people in the room next to you.

[ORV]

LOL

 

Cannot be any worse than mid-westerners....:eek:

 

 

I guess I lose out all around, I was born in the South and moved to the Midwest.

[maxsales]

I realize this is an issue, but no more so than tolerating drunks ( who way out number the smokers), tattered jeans and T-shirts in the dining room, etc.

BTW, the smoking policy was distributed at boarding ( last March) and was also placed in the staterooms.

 

I could not disagree more!! Your smoke can kill me, period. This is not close to being the same as someone wearing tacky jeans.

 

No matter how much evidence is produced, and by now it is overwhelming, smoking kills, as does second hand smoke. Smokers just refuse to beleive it. An obnoxious drunk is annoying, but not deadly unless driving, and I don't think the captain is going to let them take the wheel.

[terp4life]

They probably thought you were overly sensitive. Maybe you could just smell the smoke from the clothes of the people in the room next to you.

 

Totally don't understand this. How is easily smelling smoke being overly sensitive? It is a strong odor that many people can't miss. The people on either side of us were never smoking that we could see, so I do not know why you think it was the clothes of the people next to us. And how would we smell their clothes?

[travelingmom37]

I could not disagree more!! Your smoke can kill me, period. This is not close to being the same as someone wearing tacky jeans.

 

No matter how much evidence is produced, and by now it is overwhelming, smoking kills, as does second hand smoke. Smokers just refuse to beleive it. An obnoxious drunk is annoying, but not deadly unless driving, and I don't think the captain is going to let them take the wheel.

 

 

Please read my full post this quote is from. I do follow the rules and understand the damage of second-hand smoke. I do not even smoke in my home (or others homes).

The above reference re. jeans, etc. was about people just ignoring rules in general. I was certainly not equating this with second hand smoke. Simply stating we are not all thoughtless.

[paulsang]

I guess I lose out all around, I was born in the South and moved to the Midwest.

 

LOL

 

As a Jersey boy, who has lived in the mid-west, and currently in SW Florida...I am a triple loser....lol I guess.:eek:

 

But New Jersey is a nice place to visit.....especially in summer.

[paulsang]

The above reference re. jeans, etc. was about people just ignoring rules in general. I was certainly not equating this with second hand smoke. Simply stating we are not all thoughtless.

 

People can be very sensitive....

 

I understood the intention of your post. There always rule-breakers.

 

I love it. Yet another thread on smoking.....LOL

 

but, it is always fun to engage others.

[4Grandcats]

I don't think smoking is permitted in the Sky Lounge - that was one of my favorite spots - day or night - never saw a smoker.

Next time you cruise - head up there - quiet spot for reading or just enjoying the sea.

[Moomintroll]

The comments along the lines of "most smokers don't give a hoot about you, most smokers don't care about bothering other people" are insulting to people who do smoke, and do care.

 

I would never smoke on my balcony on X; I signed up with X and in doing so I agree to play by their rules. Same goes for the formal dress code, but that's another story and I'm sure shall be told another gazillion times :)

 

Interesting to read others' experiences (without the raging stereotyping) though. We spend a lot of time on the balcony, and on our Solstice cruise (port side, but deck 11 so probably far enough from 5 to avoid that) we didn't smell smoke at all during the whole cruise.