NCL to eliminate in-cabin smoking

[PartyAllDaTyme]

Following moves by Princess, HAL and Carnival, NCL has decided to ban smoking in cabins as of January 2012. Cigarette smoking will still be allowed on balconies, though pipe and cigar smoking on balconies are banned.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4570

[PartyAllDaTyme]

Hmmm. Thought this would generate more interest, what with Celebrity's (still superior) smoking policy being one of its hallmarks. Interesting that the industry is moving, albeit gradually, to Celebrity's practice.

 

NCL still allowing cigarette smoking on the balcony is a deal-breaker for us, won't be cruising with them any time soon. It's great that there's now Celebrity and Princess to choose from, but still nice to see NCL changing with the times a bit.

[floridacruisers]

JMHO. I'd rather swim than go on an NCL cruise ever again. Just doesn't compare in my book to Celebrity or Princess or HAL or RCI or....... They would have to do more than ban smoking in the cabin to get me to go back.

Phil

[RVRCLC]

I have no interest in NCL, or what they do.

[Guest maddycat]

We tried NCL twice. On the first NCL cruise we thought that it might just be that particular ship, the Spirit, that we didn't care for. We gave them another chance and sailed on the Dawn. After that cruise we decided that NCL wasn't for us. We wouldn't sail with them again even if the cruise was free.

[islandgirlejfan]

When we first sailed them, one side of the ship was designated smoking rooms and the other half non smoking. I never quite understood why they changed it but I'm glad they are jumping on the bandwagon even if we don't sail with them again. My son and daughter in law just booked an NCL cruise for January and I know this will make them happy because they are non smokers. They both have good jobs and could cruise on any line they wanted. They like the casual atmosphere that NCL provides as they dress up for their jobs every day and feel their vacation is just that. It's nice that different cruise lines recognize this. :)

[kitty9]

I'm just wondering what all the smokers will do when every line restricts smoking? I know many here said they would never cruise X again because of their policy. But it now seems that every line will eventually limit smoking.

[tuggers]

Hopefully when there are no more places to smoke, they will QUIT!:)

I never plan to go on NCL so its really not important to me (I imagine this is what most people who sail X are thinking) but I do like to see non-smoking become more popular. Second hand smoke is dangerous!

[bellybutton530]

JMHO. I'd rather swim than go on an NCL cruise ever again. Just doesn't compare in my book to Celebrity or Princess or HAL or RCI or....... They would have to do more than ban smoking in the cabin to get me to go back.

Phil

 

My sentiments too. I sailed on NCL during the 80s and 90s, but once they started that Freestyle crap I dropped 'em like a hot potato.

[jerseygirl3]

We considered (briefly) doing NCL for our winter cruise next year, and then DH remembered how on our very first (and only) NCL Sky cruise back in 2000 the waiter refused his request for a second lobster tail.

 

Even though NCL is moving in the right direction with limiting the smoking, the lobster tail refusal is a dealbreaker!

[nanofrog]

I'm just wondering what all the smokers will do when every line restricts smoking? I know many here said they would never cruise X again because of their policy. But it now seems that every line will eventually limit smoking.

 

Not interested unless balcony smoking is banned too. We have had too many cruises ruined because of that.:mad:

[Tenn4ever]

Not interested unless balcony smoking is banned too. We have had too many cruises ruined because of that.:mad:

 

I'm not interested in any cruise line who allows smoking on the balconies.:)

[catlady922]

I'm a smoker and love NCL. I don't mind that I'm limited to smoking on the balcony. I spend most of my time there anyway. :)

I will enjoy my cigarettes on the balcony of my aft penthouse suite!

[PartyAllDaTyme]

I'm a smoker and love NCL. I don't mind that I'm limited to smoking on the balcony. I spend most of my time there anyway. :)

I will enjoy my cigarettes on the balcony of my aft penthouse suite!

 

I'm genuinely happy for you that you can continue to cruise with NCL, as well as most other cruise lines, and enjoy your balcony. For many of us, we are limited to Celebrity, Oceania, and soon Princess.

 

The reason I started this thread was not to debate the pros and cons of smoking policies, but to note that NCL is the latest line to move a step in the direction towards the position that Celebrity has been at for years. There may be some for whom the decision to ban all smoking in cabins and to ban pipes and cigars from balconies will be enough for them to change their loyalties or at least to give NCL a try, but I think for most the cigarette smoking on the balcony still allowed will be enough of a deterrent that I doubt NCL would gain any significant amount of Celebrity's market share.

 

In other words-- close, but no cigar.

[4774Papa]

Hmmm. Thought this would generate more interest, what with Celebrity's (still superior) smoking policy being one of its hallmarks. Interesting that the industry is moving, albeit gradually, to Celebrity's practice.

 

NCL still allowing cigarette smoking on the balcony is a deal-breaker for us, won't be cruising with them any time soon. It's great that there's now Celebrity and Princess to choose from, but still nice to see NCL changing with the times a bit.

We have two cruises booked on X coming up and have done two NCL cruises. The smoking on balconies thing was not a problem on NCL. Only once did I notice the faint odor of smoke.

Also, we like NCL's freestyle approach. I read on cc that X has better food. The food on NCL is very good in the specialty restaurants and can be excellent in the MDR. Entertainment is good on NCL.

I am not that excited about wearing a Tux for three nights on our X cruise, but I will give it a try.

[cynbar]

My DH was a smoker for years --- thankfully he quit 2 1/2 yrs ago ---- but I often think he would be having a very difficult time with current smoking restrictions. It's very difficult to find a hotel these days that allows smoking, and at Disney World outside smoking is severely restricted also. Maybe it will lead more smokers to quit, but I tend to doubt it. Anyway, it's a welcome trend for the rest of us. Anyway, we prefer Celebrity and Princess but have sailed NCL twice to Europe where the freestyle approach was welcome after those very long port days. And our son and DIL are both attorneys who wear suits to work every day and really prefer casual on vacation, NCL appeals to people who don't own a suit and also people who wear one all the time. Thankk goodness there are choices.

[PartyAllDaTyme]

We have two cruises booked on X coming up and have done two NCL cruises. The smoking on balconies thing was not a problem on NCL. Only once did I notice the faint odor of smoke.

Also, we like NCL's freestyle approach. I read on cc that X has better food. The food on NCL is very good in the specialty restaurants and can be excellent in the MDR. Entertainment is good on NCL.

I am not that excited about wearing a Tux for three nights on our X cruise, but I will give it a try.

 

DW is extremely sensitive to secondhand tobacco smoke, to the point where her doctor has recommended that she not patronize any restaurant or bar that has permitted smoking any time in the past five years.

 

For us, any amount of smoking on balconies is a problem. On our first cruise with Princess, she had to retreat to the safety of the cabin about half the time she otherwise would have wanted to be enjoying the balcony. That's why NCL is still a no-go for us.

 

FWIW, from what I've read on Cruise Critic, the food on X is probably better, NCL probably has better entertainment. You don't have to wear a tux on formal night-- a nice dark suit and tie will do nicely. Just no shorts or...

 

Wait a minute-- how did this turn into a dress code thread?:confused::eek::D

[maxsales]

We considered (briefly) doing NCL for our winter cruise next year, and then DH remembered how on our very first (and only) NCL Sky cruise back in 2000 the waiter refused his request for a second lobster tail.

 

Even though NCL is moving in the right direction with limiting the smoking, the lobster tail refusal is a dealbreaker!

 

 

Thanks for the reminder. The only cruise I was ever refused a second entree, to try, was on the NCL Norway. This was pre free style, so I don't know if the policy is still the same.

[cruzeluver]

DH and I went on our first two X cruises as smokers and we coped just fine. Even with the limited number of smoking areas on X, we never had to go too far for a smoke.

 

In March we completed our first cruise as non-smokers (10 months now!) and it was fabulous!!:D

[wwcruisers]

The reason I started this thread was not to debate the pros and cons of smoking policies, but to note that NCL is the latest line to move a step in the direction towards the position that Celebrity has been at for years. There may be some for whom the decision to ban all smoking in cabins and to ban pipes and cigars from balconies will be enough for them to change their loyalties or at least to give NCL a try, but I think for most the cigarette smoking on the balcony still allowed will be enough of a deterrent that I doubt NCL would gain any significant amount of Celebrity's market share.

 

Party-- I agree that this is a sign of progress in the industry. But I think you and I are on the same page when it comes to banning smoking almost everywhere EXCEPT balconies. It really just makes matters worse, if that's the only place people can smoke legally. :(

 

We had a horrible experience on RC, right after they switched to this policy. Our lovely center-hump balcony on Indy (which we had booked over a year in advance) was virtually useless on a 2-week b2b, as we were surrounded by smokers -- and they were always outside! :eek:

 

The only time we sail RC now is when we can book a large aft balcony. Don't know if it's the extra real estate between us and our neighbors, or the wind currents off the stern -- but the smoke doesn't seem as bothersome, back there. :cool:

[Gig103]

My sentiments too. I sailed on NCL during the 80s and 90s, but once they started that Freestyle crap I dropped 'em like a hot potato.

 

I'm curious what it was about Freestyle you don't like, because I'm new to cruising. Is it the upcharges at the restaurants? Do you feel it causes sacrifices to food? Lacking formality or service as a result? None of these?

 

On topic -- good for NCL, who is left for smoking in cabins? Maybe the European markets?

[FLJudi]

I'm curious what it was about Freestyle you don't like, because I'm new to cruising. Is it the upcharges at the restaurants? Do you feel it causes sacrifices to food? Lacking formality or service as a result? None of these?

 

On topic -- good for NCL, who is left for smoking in cabins? Maybe the European markets?

 

We chose to pick a set dining time and have the same table, same table mates and particularly the same wait staff each night. You can let the wait staff know your special requests (eg. no peppers, crudite plate on table when we arrive, decaf coffee served with meal) and they take good care of you. If you don't like table location, table mates or wait staff on the first or second day, the maitre d' will be happy to reassign you to a more compatible table.

[Guest maddycat]

I'm curious what it was about Freestyle you don't like, because I'm new to cruising. Is it the upcharges at the restaurants? Do you feel it causes sacrifices to food? Lacking formality or service as a result? None of these?

quote]

 

We found the food, service and attitude of the staff on NCL to be far inferior to both Celebrity and RCI. As far as formality, we don't do formal anymore (no flaming please). On formal nights we dress smart casual. It hasn't been a problem on either Celebrity or RCI.

[shadowmatrix]

What they need to do is get rid of smoking in the casino. On NCL Epic it's not a matter of going to the casino to gamble with all that smoke. The casino was built in the middle of the freakin' ship. Who in their right minds would build something that nearly every person would have to walk through to access the rest of the ship.....and then have a giant cancer causing cloud of smoke in the area waiting for every adult and child to suck that into their lungs??

 

If you want to kill yourself in your own stateroom, by all means have a pack there...but please NCL, don't make the rest of us die with them. :mad:

[jt1120]

Two words for catlady922: Star Princess. Way too dangerous.

 

It doesn't matter whether they have decided to ban smoking in the cabins or not, the damage is done. They'd have to scrub the walls down and replace the carpeting to at least get a smoked in cabin back to respectable standards. There is nothing worse than walking into a cabin that has been occupied by a smoker. No amount of carpet and air freshener will get the stench out. It ends up smelling like flowery smoke, which is almost gagging. Now the real positive move would be to ban smoking on balconies like =X= has done.

 

As for NCL, yeah, we've sailed with them in the past. They're not that great, and the service is always hit and miss. Plus, the writing was on the wall for us when we heard the words "OPTIONAL formal night." Nope, we'll pass. We're doing them in October because it's a two-nighter and it's a quick weekend getaway for us. As for a 7-night or longer with NCL, sorry, I doubt it.