RCCL New Smoking Policy

[A Sixth?]

If losing revenue was not an issue then one has to assume that RCI would have followed X on this policy. By the way, on our Reflection cruise in March the casino was much slower than any RCI ship I have cruised.

 

It's a chat board and you are speculating based on your bias and observations as I am.... but since you brought up revenues:

 

If it wasn't working on "X" number-wise they'd find a way of bringing back the smokers.... right? Smokers are a smaller and smaller minority and demographics don't lie. Search "education and smoking" for a start :cool:

[Cruising89143]

It's a chat board and you are speculating based on your bias and observations as I am.... but since you brought up revenues:

 

If it wasn't working on "X" number-wise they'd find a way of bringing back the smokers.... right? Smokers are a smaller and smaller minority and demographics don't lie. Search "education and smoking" for a start :cool:

 

What bias? Yes it is a discussion board. Maybe RCI feels that they have a larger number of smokers on board over X. Again there was a reason that the casino was left as the only indoor smoking venue. This will cause the casino to become the smokers lounge for those not wanting to go outside to smoke. It will now cause more non smokers to stay away. I will be one of those people.

[dkjretired]

What bias? Yes it is a discussion board. Maybe RCI feels that they have a larger number of smokers on board over X. Again there was a reason that the casino was left as the only indoor smoking venue. This will cause the casino to become the smokers lounge for those not wanting to go outside to smoke. It will now cause more non smokers to stay away. I will be one of those people.

 

Should also be pointed out that it is known in the casino industry that a high percentage of high rollers are smokers....

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Thank you, thank you Royal Caribbean! I kind of figured that when Disney announced smoke-free balconies, Royal would have to follow so that Disney can't claim they are the premier family-friendly cruise line.

 

Hubby and I had decided to sail only Celebrity for cruises longer than seven days so as not to risk lengthy exposure to smoke on neighbors' balconies. Thing of it is, we have come to like Celebrity so much we may just continue the same policy.

[CaribbeanBound]

If you're a non-smoker, X has by far the better policy. Was on Carnival 2 months ago. You could smoke on balcony, in casino, and outside. Casino was so bad you could smell the smoke two decks up the stairwells. My folks couldn't keep their balcony door open due to smokers out there. If we book Carnival again (Glory was otherwise nice), we would not book a balcony as it cannot be enjoyed.

Edited September 5, 2013 by CaribbeanBound

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Should also be pointed out that it is known in the casino industry that a high percentage of high rollers are smokers....

 

You have to wonder if, in part, that's due to the fact that non-smokers may by less likely to develop a gambling habit because of the environment which often surrounds gambling (drinking and smoking). It's also partly due, no doubt, to the fact that "risk takers" are more likely to take multiple risks: gambling... smoking... drinking... etc.

 

Still, smoking is slowly becoming less tolerated in public places. All the cruise lines will eventually come around to the fact that clean air should be provided to all!

 

I recall the vocal exodus of several CC'ers when Celebrity went to a smoke-free casino. You have to wonder, if all cruise casinos went that route - would those vocal few stop cruising altogether or would they cope by taking breaks to the upper deck periodically to get their fix? What if (and this one is reaching multiple decades into the future) ALL casinos in the US were to go smoke-free... would they adapt in order to keep playing, or would they QUIT gambling? (things that make you go "hmmmm"!)

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

If you're a non-smoker, X has by far the better policy. Was on Carnival 2 months ago. You could smoke on balcony, in casino, and outside. Casino was so bad you could smell the smoke two decks up the stairwells. My folks couldn't keep their balcony door open due to smokers out there. If we book Carnival again (Glory was otherwise nice), we would not book a balcony as it cannot be enjoyed.

 

That's happened to us on many a Carnival cruise - though it also happened on our OS balcony on the Oasis in May. We had some real chimney/chain-smokers as neighbors. It's unfortunate when their "rights" negatively impact us... :(

 

Tom

[Shake]

One step at a time.

 

Congrats RCCL, now banning smoking the Casino's is even closer than ever before. Give it 2 years, it will happen.

[DiamondSuiteCruiser]

Great news thanks for the update!

[TomTN]

Forgive me.....I'm a little confused by your post. You'll likely cancel your RCI cruise because you don't like the smell? :confused: Why book in the first place?

 

For what it's worth, I rarely ever have a problem with smoke inside. The casino can get smoky, but almost most indoor venues are smoke free.

 

You most likely have a better tolerance to smoke than I do.

It was entirely my fault. I have read on different boards that every cruise line is changing their smoking policy to become more like X.

 

I jumped to the conclusion that they were making material changes.

Stupid me.

The changes (especially indoors) have been cosmetic for the most part.

But, I can blame no one but myself. I should have done more research.

 

I booked on RCI out of ignorance.

 

The RCI website clearly stated that smoking is not allowed indoors. Depends on you definition of indoors.

[bigbenboys]

Yes it is great news for RCL and their new smoking rules. I'm just back from spending a week in Indonesia and 40 days in Japan earlier this year. Where they seem to smoke everywhere. Both RCL and Celebrity both offer great vacation with different options. I do not smoke and it has not stopped me from booking balcony rooms on RCL in the past. Richard

[wwcruisers]

Well, I don't know why RC did it -- I'm just glad they did. Getting smoked off some prime RC balcony real estate is a big part of what sent us to X, in the first place. Furthermore, RC's new-builds seem to have eliminated the concept of an affordable aft balcony -- the only place we could get any respite at all from the second-hand smoke. Obviously, we would prefer a ship with no indoor smoking -- but, we can easily avoid the casino and any bars where RC still allows smoking. Now, we might consider booking Quantum, when she debuts. :cool:

[Aquahound]

You most likely have a better tolerance to smoke than I do.

It was entirely my fault. I have read on different boards that every cruise line is changing their smoking policy to become more like X.

 

I jumped to the conclusion that they were making material changes.

Stupid me.

The changes (especially indoors) have been cosmetic for the most part.

But, I can blame no one but myself. I should have done more research.

 

I booked on RCI out of ignorance.

 

The RCI website clearly stated that smoking is not allowed indoors. Depends on you definition of indoors.

 

Ah, gotcha. :)

 

No, I am not tolerant of cigarette smoke at all. I can't stand it. What ship are you booked on? Maybe I can provide a little insight about the smoking venues and how bad they really are.

[Schplinky]

I'm glad of this development. The prevalance of smoke in some inside RCL bars was the only thing that made me tentative about booking the Quantum. For instance, we love the latin bar on RCL and the piano bar but could never spend time in either because of the smoke.

[Edward50]

And so you're still gonna' smell the smoke in the casino. If you're hanging out in the non-smoking area you'll smell it. Or walking through -

And they allow smoking in the entire casino on China departures.

Not going to be sailing anything but X and Azamara until the other lines go non smoking for real. Sure it's a step in the right direction. Keep taking steps RC.

 

RCI also announced that 1/4 of every pool will be designated as "no peeing".

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

RCI also announced that 1/4 of every pool will be designated as "no peeing".

 

Nice!

 

The people in that corner of the pool should have nothing to worry about then! :D

 

Tom

[Dave85]

I'm glad of this development. The prevalance of smoke in some inside RCL bars was the only thing that made me tentative about booking the Quantum. For instance, we love the latin bar on RCL and the piano bar but could never spend time in either because of the smoke.

 

I've had the same experience. I love latin music but have never been able to set foot in Boleros at night becuase of the cloud of smoke.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Dave85

[Aquahound]

I'm glad of this development. The prevalance of smoke in some inside RCL bars was the only thing that made me tentative about booking the Quantum. For instance, we love the latin bar on RCL and the piano bar but could never spend time in either because of the smoke.

 

Are you sure about that? I don't recall smoking being allowed in the Schooner Bar on any RCI ship. :confused: Boleros, yes, but not the Schooner.

[Schplinky]

No, I'm not sure of it but that is my memory of AOS.

[dkjretired]

You have to wonder if, in part, that's due to the fact that non-smokers may by less likely to develop a gambling habit because of the environment which often surrounds gambling (drinking and smoking). It's also partly due, no doubt, to the fact that "risk takers" are more likely to take multiple risks: gambling... smoking... drinking... etc.

 

Still, smoking is slowly becoming less tolerated in public places. All the cruise lines will eventually come around to the fact that clean air should be provided to all!

 

I recall the vocal exodus of several CC'ers when Celebrity went to a smoke-free casino. You have to wonder, if all cruise casinos went that route - would those vocal few stop cruising altogether or would they cope by taking breaks to the upper deck periodically to get their fix? What if (and this one is reaching multiple decades into the future) ALL casinos in the US were to go smoke-free... would they adapt in order to keep playing, or would they QUIT gambling? (things that make you go "hmmmm"!)

 

Tom

 

Another point which can be thrown out there is that when Celebrity changed their rules on smoking a few years ago they did not change the smoking rules in the casino. Perhaps RC is following the same procedure and make the change in a couple of years.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Another point which can be thrown out there is that when Celebrity changed their rules on smoking a few years ago they did not change the smoking rules in the casino. Perhaps RC is following the same procedure and make the change in a couple of years.

 

We can only hope!

 

Tom

[dkjretired]

We can only hope!

 

Tom

 

I have to make a slight correction on my previous statement, they limited smoking in the casino but did not eliminate it so therefore they did actually change the rules.

[Dave85]

In fairness, I'm quite sensitive to smoke and I was able to gamble comfortably on the non-smoking side of the casino on Oasis. However, Oasis/Allure as such special cases based on their enormous size (and notably width in this case) and I haven't found the "non-smoking area" to be nearly as effective on other ships. Not sure if RCI would consider different rules for Oasis/Allure versus the rest of the fleet, but it could be a decent compromise.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Dave85

[Constance331]

they had more money to spend as they were not otherwise spending it on cigarettes or health care costs.

 

Is that a fact? I could argue that smokers can not only afford to indulge their habit, but are more prone to indulge in other vices, such as gambling, without constraints to a monetary budget.

 

The idea of "more money to spend" is relative to one's own financial circumstances, is it not?

Edited September 5, 2013 by Constance331

[megfla]

Awesome, big step in the right direction! I just wish they would be more vigilant about ensuring people know the policy... I have been paying more to cruise Celebrity to avoid smelling smoke on my balcony and this year first thing I smell when I walk out on the balcony is cigarette smoke:mad: I reported it and they for the most part took care of it.

 

I will definitely be giving Royal Caribbean some more business!

 

 

Yeah...what she said!! Hi Wendy!!

 

I only wish this policy would be in effect for my 9/27 Enchantment sailing!:(