Smoking Policy. Is it really being enforced?

[Pam in CA]

That will never happen... Smokers are a big revenue for Princess. It has been tried before and was an abject failure...:D

It was tried many years ago when, at least in the US, smoking was allowed pretty much everywhere. The Carnival Paradise was built in 1998 as a smoke-free ship. By 2004, smoking was allowed in a few areas on the ship. Since then, buildings, villages and cities have become smoke-free and attitudes have changed substantially. I remember when the town in MA where I lived went smoke-free in all restaurants and bars. There were dire warnings that the bars would lose customers and the restaurants would close. That didn't happen. Attitudes had changed and education about smoking improved, and people could eat or drink in a cleaner atmosphere. The bar flies left but they spent most of their time nursing their drinks anyway. Bar tenders and restaurant workers were thrilled because they were no longer at risk. It's amazing the difference a few years makes. Because it didn't work back in the 1990's doesn't mean it wouldn't work today. :)

[caribill]

One of my favorite areas on the Caribbean Princess has been the aft pool. I wish they would make this area non smoking also, or at least alternate days - M<W<F you can smoke there, T<TH<S you can't.... would help out both types of cruisers.

 

I suggest alternating as follows:

 

Sunny days: no smoking allowed

Rainy days: smoking allowed

[Astro Flyer]

It seems as though the non smoker is a bigger revenue for Princess. IF the smoker was a bigger revenue then Princess would not be making the changes that they are. No business is going to make a decision that is going to make them lose money. Maybe 20 years ago when Carnival tried the non smoking ship it was a huge failure, but today may be a different story. All the changes the cruise lines are making are in favor of the non smoker not the smoker.....so it seems to me that the bigger revenue maker is the non smoker.

Like you said, if it didn't make business sense to make this change, then they wouldn't have done it.

 

Based on their statement about the changes, they are putting the majority of their customer's comfort over the small minority of smoking passengers.

 

Keeping the comfort of our passengers a priority, and in consideration of consumer studies which show smokers are a small minority of passengers, Princess has implemented the following smoking policy.

[lopdx]

I guarantee you if someone is smoking on the balcony next to mne that I will report it.

 

 

Ditto!!;)

[kuldalai]

With the new policy if you are found smoking in designated non smoking areas including Staterooms you will be fined someting like $ 250 for each offence, simply added to your on-board account .

[srphnx]

LM (smoke free) AO

 

I suggest alternating as follows:

 

Sunny days: no smoking allowed

Rainy days: smoking allowed

[Duck Creek]

As the original poster is asking a 'policy' question wouldn't it make more sense to go directly to Princess and ask if their cruise is under old or new policy and just work with the answer.

Just a thought!!!

[SteveH2508]

It was tried many years ago when, at least in the US, smoking was allowed pretty much everywhere. The Carnival Paradise was built in 1998 as a smoke-free ship. By 2004, smoking was allowed in a few areas on the ship. Since then, buildings, villages and cities have become smoke-free and attitudes have changed substantially. I remember when the town in MA where I lived went smoke-free in all restaurants and bars. There were dire warnings that the bars would lose customers and the restaurants would close. That didn't happen. Attitudes had changed and education about smoking improved, and people could eat or drink in a cleaner atmosphere. The bar flies left but they spent most of their time nursing their drinks anyway. Bar tenders and restaurant workers were thrilled because they were no longer at risk. It's amazing the difference a few years makes. Because it didn't work back in the 1990's doesn't mean it wouldn't work today. :)

 

I agree with all of the above (and yes I am a smoker)

 

BUT

 

on land you have areas where you can go for a smoke but on a completely smoke-free cruise ship you do not. This would reduce the potential market for that ship by roughly 20-25% - no cruiseline is going to take that risk IMHO.

[CruiserGuyWPB]

As the original poster is asking a 'policy' question wouldn't it make more sense to go directly to Princess and ask if their cruise is under old or new policy and just work with the answer.

Just a thought!!!

If everyone on here only answered exactly what this, or any other OP had asked, 95% of this site would be a simple one or two word, or one sentence answer. The majority of the threads will only have two posts. Once someone answered the question, whats the point of anyone here posting any additional information????? Although many times the conversation morphs from just the simple needed answer, there is always something to learn by whatever some one else may add to the conversation.

[1 HappyCruiser]

One of my favorite areas on the Caribbean Princess has been the aft pool. Out of our 3 cruises on her, 2 of those times I have been unable to sit and watch the wake because of those that smoke and the close proximity of the chairs there (those of you who love the aft pool will know what I am talking about when I say the close proximity). I wish they would make this area non smoking also, or at least alternate days - M<W<F you can smoke there, T<TH<S you can't.... would help out both types of cruisers.

 

I doubt if your alternate smoking days would actually work but I do agree that the Terrace pool does have air currents that swirl the smoke around to both sides of the pool.

On the 12/6 - 12/20 Coral Princess cruise, a page with the new smoking policy was inserted in the departure day Patter. That will probably be the final warning. They later admitted it was a mistake and that the smoking policy had not changed yet.

 

 

Art

 

By any chance did you save a copy of the letter. It would be interesting to see the wording if nothing else.

[umieesa]

I just wish smokers were more considerate. It`s really unfortunate that they don`t seem to realize how bad they smell and how far the smoke actually travels :eek:. Although I don`t smoke, and hate any smell of smoke...if that`s your choice you have the right to do so in designated areas. It`s when people break these rules that pisses me off...it`s the kind of people that when the sign says no smoking 9 meters from the door that they`re there standing right next to it for all who enter to get a whiff (and don`t get me started on the ones smoking with their child in tow:mad:).

 

The smokers are getting upset by all the comments left here by the non-smokers, but the truth of the matter is...smoking kills, and second-hand smoke is just as dangerous (I had someone close to me die from lung cancer and she herself had never smoked!). So when these rules are put in place, as much as you may hate them, they benefit everyone ;)

[Kim]

As a non-smoker with a husband that smokes (too much), I am bothered by it. I won't go to the casino if it is smoking. My clothes stink and because of the area being contained inside, it is unbearable to me. We sit on the non-smoking side of the pool and he will get up to walk over to the smoking area when he feels the need. Even on the beach he won't smoke near me. Being open area, I felt the balconies should be left alone, but I must say, I will look forward to drinking my coffee out there in the morning without having to breathe in his smoke. I totally understand both sides of this issue being that I am on the "other side" with a husband that smokes, but holy Hannah! The claws sure come out over it. Relax, people. It was a question. Let's all just enjoy our cruises. And please save your comments about being able to enjoy it, now that balconies are smoke free. I get it, already!

[umieesa]

Kim...I don't think you should take the comments personally. I know when writing my post it wasn't directed at you, but just my feelings about the matter in general. I know it's not easy to live with a smoker (my dad used to be a smoker), but it can be a very heated topic. Until someone quits, they never really know how bad they/it smelled.

 

I hope you have a great cruise, and I'm sure your husband will still enjoy himself :)

[coops]

Kim,

 

Maybe have your dh get a E-Cigerette for when he is on the balcony . Thats what I plan to do. Use it on the balcony and smoke the real ones where ever it is permitted on the ship.

 

They dont smell , it is vapor and battery operated.

Dawn

[vickie_bernie]

As a non-smoker with a husband that smokes (too much), I am bothered by it. I won't go to the casino if it is smoking. My clothes stink and because of the area being contained inside, it is unbearable to me. We sit on the non-smoking side of the pool and he will get up to walk over to the smoking area when he feels the need. Even on the beach he won't smoke near me. Being open area, I felt the balconies should be left alone, but I must say, I will look forward to drinking my coffee out there in the morning without having to breathe in his smoke. I totally understand both sides of this issue being that I am on the "other side" with a husband that smokes, but holy Hannah! The claws sure come out over it. Relax, people. It was a question. Let's all just enjoy our cruises. And please save your comments about being able to enjoy it, now that balconies are smoke free. I get it, already!

 

Your husband sounds like a considerate smoker and I am sure he will be the same when it comes to the new smoking policy and not smoke on his balcony.

 

Enjoy your cruise

 

Vickie

[Toddy709]

That will never happen... Smokers are a big revenue for Princess. It has been tried before and was an abject failure...:D

 

I chuckle every time I see someone on these boards exclaim that something "will never happen". Who is their inside man and how do they know that what they say is the be all/end all voice in the situation???

 

Seems not very long ago a lot of people were exclaiming that no smoking balconies would "never happen".

 

I don't believe any of Princess' ships will go completely non-smoking any time in the near future, but I wouldn't bet the farm on the casino remaining a smoking venue.:p

[gooch47]

I know you will be able to avoid the smoking areas if you put the effort into it, but can you imagine the smoke that will now be concentrated in those relatively small areas? A casino we frequent made about 1/4 of its space non-smoking. But we didn't want to limit our gaming to 1/4 of the available area. The new regulation actually made it worse for us non-smokers.

[Woobstr112G]

Do the new regulations talk about e-cigarettes? I can see some hard core anti smokers complaining about somene seen using one. Also, what about snuff?

 

Bob

[WVBill]

Is the new smoking policy regarding "designated smoking areas" in public spaces any different from the way it is now?

[toberman]

Is the new smoking policy regarding "designated smoking areas" in public spaces any different from the way it is now?

 

I asked the CD (who is a smoker) that very question and he said that everything remains the same except for cabins and balconies.

[BettyCruiser]

June 15, 2011

Dear Passenger,

We are looking forward to welcoming you onboard your Princess cruise next year. We know you still have some time before you step onto our ship and are you probably in the midst of the exciting planning stage of your vacation; however it is important that we share new information with you regarding our smoking policy as soon as possible. Effective voyages beginning after January 15, 2012, smoking will no longer be allowed in passenger staterooms or balconies onboard the Princess fleet.

We have measured passenger feedback over the years and found that smokers are a small minority of our passengers, and that the large majority of passengers value having their primary living space onboard smoke-free. As balconies are an important part of the Princess experience, we believe it should be included in these new policies as it’s important to keep that peaceful space clear of smoke.

Of course, we welcome passengers who smoke and will provide special smoking areas around the ship, as per our current policies. Smoking will continue to be allowed in the Churchill’s cigar lounge (where available on select ships), a section of the disco and casino, and a portion of the open decks.

We look forward to providing a more enjoyable experience for the vast majority of our passengers and regret any disappointment this may cause our smoking guests. We are excited to welcome you onboard next year and we are confident you will have an excellent cruise vacation.

 

This is the notification I received regarding the smoking policy change, it sounds like public areas will remain the same as current.

[NoGvmnt]

With the new policy if you are found smoking in designated non smoking areas including Staterooms you will be fined someting like $ 250 for each offence, simply added to your on-board account .

 

 

I certainly hope there is no leeway on this, by this I mean no first offense warning, just an immediate $250.00 fine that continuously doubles after the first offense.

 

I have no problem with people smoking on their balcony, as long as they can keep THEIR stench off of MY balcony and out of MY cabin (maybe by placing a plastic bag over their heads while smoking):D.

 

Jim

[Richie2pies]

Do the new regulations talk about e-cigarettes? I can see some hard core anti smokers complaining about somene seen using one. Also, what about snuff?

 

Bob

 

The anti-smoking zealots will complain about e-cigs too. I wonder how many smokers will say: "I wasn't smoking on the balcony, I had an e-cigarette". Especially at night.

[Woobstr112G]

The anti-smoking zealots will complain about e-cigs too. I wonder how many smokers will say: "I wasn't smoking on the balcony, I had an e-cigarette". Especially at night.

 

Good point.....

 

Bob

[Talisker92]

Sigh-here we go again! After reading years of comments from non smokers about how they could not use their balconies because of "chain smokers", I had hoped the smoking threads would die a natural death after Princess banned smoking on balconies.

But, after a lady asked an innocent question about the policy, which was answered politely and promptly by some other posters, the anti smokers came out in full force.

Having won a major victory by banning smoking on balconies, their sights are now set on every other part of the ship.

On a recent cruise, my wife was smoking on the promenade deck on the authorized side next to the ashtray, when a lady stood next to her and gave her the "windmill" bit. My wife politely told her that she was smoking where it was allowed and wondered why she was standing by an ashtray. Good question??