Royal Caribbean Bans Smoking on Balconies

[Karma5]

How will the smoking ban pan out ?

 

Wonderful...............

[tiessa]

FYI, smoking is banned in the Casino on all Australian & New Zealand Cruises including the TP from Sydney to Hawaii. This is due to Australia's very stringent no smoking laws in all enclosed spaces.

About time that RCL caught up with the rest of the world.

Remember when you could smoke in aircraft. Can't now but I bet you still fly.

 

 

Your comparison is not valid but that's beside the point. It is a business decision and that is what will make the decision. I think they would have banned it in the casino by now if they were going to.

 

They seem to go with local laws on their cruises because that is what people are used to and expect. They allow smoking inside the ships on many Asian trips. i'm surprised no one has complained about the lingering smell since it is such a problem.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Banning smoking in all sorts of locations has been court tested for years.

 

It's a business decision, not a constitutional right.

 

Smokers need to get over it and spend their energies on quitting the deadly habit rather than criticizing those who apparently have more sense and discipline in managing their own health.

 

P.S. Non smokers have the same or more rights NOT to smell that filthy smoke when enjoying a cruise.

 

There - somebody had to say it.

[CRUZBUDS]

Banning smoking in all sorts of locations has been court tested for years.

 

It's a business decision, not a constitutional right.

 

Smokers need to get over it and spend their energies on quitting the deadly habit rather than criticizing those who apparently have more sense and discipline in managing their own health.

 

P.S. Non smokers have the same or more rights NOT to smell that filthy smoke when enjoying a cruise.

 

There - somebody had to say it.

 

You mean smokers don't actually have the "freedom" to pollute my breathing space?

 

[niko40]

This is funny...I was searching my cruise to see if I could snag a OS since they were all sold out and so many smokers are canceling but nothing has opened up yet.

 

 

hmmm I wonder why ;)

[Donoiv11]

I agree with it.

[tinkerme1]

Was talking to a reliable source today regarding this topic. He stated that RCI is taking a lot of heat for this total balcony ban. He also stated that some modifications to the recent smoking policy change is going to be made. He didn't want to be any more specific at this time. But he did say their is going to be some kind of stay of execution.

 

I would be very disappointed in RCI if they back peddle on their new Smoking Policy! Certainly they knew there would be backlash for a while from the smokers. This policy is not only about health but safety at sea. I would give a big "FAIL" to RCI if they cower to the low percentage of smokers!

[Aurora2143]

hmmm I wonder why ;)

 

Either they're occupied by non-smokers or the smokers have not been notified.

I didn't get a notice from RCI or my TA, but after reading about it on here last night I emailed my TA and cancelled our SG and 2 GS for December 14 on Quantum. I haven't received a confirmation from him yet so keep an eye out for it if you want it.

Have at it. :)

[Charles4515]

It's going to get awfully smoky up on the pool deck if that is the only outside area for smoking.

 

I hope they put up big signs so the non smokers will know which area is for smoking, otherwise they & their children could be walking through a long tunnel of smoke at times, far far worse than some smoke on the balcony.

 

If it gets too smoky on the pool deck they are not going to reinstitute indoor smoking. They will get rid of smoking on the pool deck.

[CRUZBUDS]

We just booked a balcony for a B2B on the Serenade of the Seas 2015 -- we got one of the big ones by the hump. The smoking policy tipped the scales for us! :)

[Donoiv11]

Just emailed RC to complain about the smoking ban. I feel they sold me the balcony stateroom under false pretenses. I booked a balcony so that I could smoke. Otherwise, I could have saved some money.:(

 

Interestingly enough, I booked an inside room so I didn't have to sit on my balcony and smell your bad habit! I am going to complain as well and let them know that I would have bought a balcony and now they are all gone. FALSE PRETENSES!

[Elizanessie]

If it gets too smoky on the pool deck they are not going to reinstitute indoor smoking. They will get rid of smoking on the pool deck.

 

If they get rid of smoking on the pool deck then the ship becomes a non smoking ship (apart from the casino)....I can't see that working out too well.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Was talking to a reliable source today regarding this topic. He stated that RCI is taking a lot of heat for this total balcony ban. He also stated that some modifications to the recent smoking policy change is going to be made. He didn't want to be any more specific at this time. But he did say their is going to be some kind of stay of execution.

Highly unlikely.

 

This is the type of decision that has gone through extensive vetting at high levels before finalizing.

 

There will be just as many people who now consider a cruise because of the balcony ban as there are those cancelling because of it.

 

Kudos for the overdue, bold, and right decision by RCI.

[Cruising89143]

Your comparison is not valid but that's beside the point. It is a business decision and that is what will make the decision. I think they would have banned it in the casino by now if they were going to.

 

They seem to go with local laws on their cruises because that is what people are used to and expect. They allow smoking inside the ships on many Asian trips. i'm surprised no one has complained about the lingering smell since it is such a problem.

 

Celebrity did not ban smoking in the casinos at first. They started with a policy similar to the one RCI is implementing. The casino will be next.

[Donoiv11]

May I assume that you are a constitutional attorney, Supreme Court Justice, or some other legal "MAVEN" as the basis for your opinion? The constitution is a living document that is subject to change and interpretation.

 

That's reaching a little bit isn't it? Not sure you have to be a Supreme Court justice to understand that smoking isn't covered anywhere in the constitution.

[Charles4515]

If they get rid of smoking on the pool deck then the ship becomes a non smoking ship (apart from the casino)....I can't see that working out too well.

 

There are outside areas that are not on the pool deck that are not high traffic that could be utilized if need be.

[Cruising89143]

Highly unlikely.

 

This is the type of decision that has gone through extensive vetting at high levels before finalizing.

 

There will be just as many people who now consider a cruise because of the balcony ban as there are those cancelling because of it.

 

Kudos for the overdue, bold, and right decision by RCI.

 

I agree. As has been posted on this thread, we saw and read the same complaints when RCI implemented the no smoking policy in the staterooms. There was the foot stomping and announcements that people were going to cancel and move to the other cruise lines. RCI didn't flinch. It worked out well for them then and it will work out well this time. I still predict a few more cruise lines will move to this policy.

[Zigggypup]

The casino will be next.

 

No way. Too much cash at stake. $$$$

[Zigggypup]

Highly unlikely. This is the type of decision that has gone through extensive vetting at high levels before finalizing.

 

You wait and see. If Obama can change his mind about bombing Syria, RCI can surely modify a smoking policy.

[Cruising89143]

There are outside areas that are not on the pool deck that are not high traffic that could be utilized if need be.

 

On the Reflection they had four outdoor areas that I'm aware of. May have been more. Deck five they had nice comfortable chairs and ashtrays on the port side which was covered. They had a section on the pool deck port side that was covered. They had an area in the sunset bar on the port side that was nice and large and they had a smoking area starboard at the Mast Bar on the deck above the pool. There were plenty of places. What we have here is dramatics which does not surprise me.

[bigeagle12]

No way. Too much cash at stake. $$$$

 

Good try. Those that gamble will still gamble .. it is as big an addiction as smoking. It would also get more non-smokers into the casino. And best of all it would get the smokers that are only there to smoke out of the casino.

[Elizanessie]

There are outside areas that are not on the pool deck that are not high traffic that could be utilized if need be.

 

Can't remember any areas off hand ...I guess the sky bar on Oasis Class :confused:

 

Oh just imagine if the weather is bad and the decks are closed....oooh casino here I come....along with hundreds of others.

[Cruising89143]

No way. Too much cash at stake. $$$$

 

Didn't hurt Celebrity. Give it time.;) baby steps.

[Zigggypup]

Good try. Those that gamble will still gamble .. it is as big an addiction as smoking. It would also get more non-smokers into the casino. And best of all it would get the smokers that are only there to smoke out of the casino.

 

Ain't happening. If they were going to do that, it would have been much easier just to incorporate it into this latest policy change.

[Aquahound]

I agree. As has been posted on this thread, we saw and read the same complaints when RCI implemented the no smoking policy in the staterooms. There was the foot stomping and announcements that people were going to cancel and move to the other cruise lines. RCI didn't flinch. It worked out well for them then and it will work out well this time. I still predict a few more cruise lines will move to this policy.

 

Exactly. And lets face it, not all smokers book balconies. Narrow it down to the ones who do book balconies and would actually cancel this unique cruise line because of an inconvenience, I have a feeling the cancelations arent as inflated as some make it seem on this forum. JMHO.