Royal Caribbean Bans Smoking on Balconies

[Esmerelda]

People tend to forget that Royal Caribbean is a business. They are making a business decision based on their customer comments/complaints. I watched their stock yesterday and it stayed steady and actually came up .22% by the days (DOW) end. Their business is still doing well. My husband and I own an apartment building. We've made changes in rules along the way and yes, we've angered some renters and they've moved out but we still have a building totally rented out so once again, the changes were business decisions and they worked with no repercussions at all to our business. They were positives, not negatives.

 

In the state of Ohio, we had the option about 5 years ago to vote to making it a non smoking state. I know many many people that voted. Ultimately, the 'smoke free' vote won out. The folks that smoke were infuriated but they had the same opportunity as we did to vote. At that same time, many business owners here said their businesses would go under if people couldn't smoke. The reality was none of the businesses here were hurt financially; restaurants, bars, hotels etc. Someone on the old thread mentioned their jobs and smoking. I work in healthcare. It's clearly stated in our policies (that you sign) that an employee will never smoke on the property (it's a huge property). Yes, you must get in your car and leave the 20 acres to smoke elsewhere. Yes, they have terminated several people that have violated that policy. As well, employees pay an extra stipend (I think it's $50 a check) for your insurance if you are a smoker because there are so many health issues from smoking and they cost the hospital a lot more money to insure.

 

If it were your business and you had complaints (obviously many of them), you would rethink an issue as well. It was a business decision on Royal's part, that's it. It's no different than a recent story of a restaurant owner that banned children under a certain age (6?). The owner had complaints from many patrons so the restaurant needed to address the issue. Yes, some parents were very angry but the restaurant is financially doing fine. Ohio now has 3 or 4 brand new smoke free casinos and they are making millions. Just saying... One must think of the big picture and think outside the box. My guess is that more cruise lines will follow suit on the smoking policies. Seaboard and Cunard have changes up and coming which I believe Carnival owns and Disney changes theirs on November 15, 2013.

 

I'm not trying to start another dispute on this topic and I would appreciate it if posters remember that. Thank you.

[gabbygrrl]

Fantastic news!!

 

For every smoker that says they will now book an inside cabin to save money, there is a non-smoker waiting to switch to a balcony because now there will be fresh air. Seems like a win-win for RCI. They won't lose money, they may actually see a higher demand for balconies because of this.

 

Also I find it interesting that whenever the balcony smoking issue was raised, smokers always told non-smokers to sail Celebrity if they didn't like the policy....well now the shoe is on the other foot...so if you don't like the new non-smoking balcony policy, then go on NCL or Carnival....just saying.

[knots4crewzing]

I agree. I have 3 booked for next year and this sure puts a damper on my cruising. We like to sit on the balcony in the morning with a cup of coffee and in the evening with an after dinner cognac before retiring for the night.Gwen

 

Well if you decide to cancel those cruises, and used a NCC to book them, good luck! I just tried to cancel a few cruises, and as I used NCC's, they are non refundable!!!!

Boy they know how to stick it to the smokers:mad:

 

 

Totally agree!! Where are our rights!! We also paid good money for use of our balcony!

Does anyone know if there is still smoking outside on deck 4 on the Explorer?

[Sky616]

So glad to hear this. For all of you saying that you will be switching cruise lines, only Carnival and Norwegian remain for the big lines and I anticipate it's only a matter of time before they adopt this policy as well so you better hurry up and switch.

[wolfegizmo]

Very excited and glad for this ban!

We love sitting on our balcony and would have to go inside

before when our neighbor smoked!!!

[SadmanCruiser]

I am a smoker and whilst I am not really bothered with the change in policy, I am upset by the 'back-door' way it has come about. No announcement, no publicity - only know due to Cruise Critic.

 

There will be many smokers who are unaware of the change, and will probably not know until they are onboard - only a small percentage are on here.

 

Two weeks ago we booked a 21 night cruise in a JS on the Independence in May for the crossing and 8 night Norway cruise. I emailed my TA a couple of days ago and changed to a PR - saving $4000. I have to admit I did this out of spite towards Royal, we are still booked on the X Eclipse for a month in November next year knowing their smoking policy.

 

Pete & Wifey.

 

ps I will still use my electronic nicotine vapouriser on my balcony!;)

 

Forgot to add, I have, and will always, support a ban on smoking anywhere inside be it ship, hotel, etc.

[ryano]

only Carnival and Norwegian remain for the big lines and I anticipate it's only a matter of time before they adopt this policy as well so you better hurry up and switch.

 

We can assume that but if they are the only lines left that allow smoking on their balconies, they might just bring a ton of revenue in from those that are jumping ships.

 

You can bet their bean counters are considering that too.

[jakesnana]

Carnival and NCL will be the last holdouts to smoking on balconies.

 

I am sure they will follow suit.

 

Just watch

 

......

 

I remember on our first cruise you could almost walk the entire ship and smoke.

 

Times change

 

I don't EVER see Carnival changing their smoking policy. Carnival Corp has 2 other cruise lines that have restricted smoking policies - Holland and Princess - so they have a cruise line that appeals to most everyone. Why would they want to change that.

 

As of Jan. 1, the only ships RCCL Corp owns ALL have restricted smoking policies. I don't see how this is a good business decision, but time will tell.

 

Personally, I book a balcony cabin so that I can have an OCCASIONAL cigarette out there. After all, I don't spend all day in my cabin. As I see it, the need for a balcony is now gone. I am sailing the Enchantment in Oct., so I will see how small the smoking area on the open deck is going to be. If it is so small that I cannot sit and enjoy a cup of coffee with my cigarette, I will DEFINITELY not be sailing RCCL in the future.

[Coov]

I don't understand the whole "rights" complaint. Royal has the right to do this, and we now have the right to breath fresh air on a balcony. Do smokers feel they are the only ones entitled to "rights"? What about the rest of us?

[knots4crewzing]

I don't understand the whole "rights" complaint. Royal has the right to do this, and we now have the right to breath fresh air on a balcony. Do smokers feel they are the only ones entitled to "rights"? What about the rest of us?

 

 

You're way to sanctimonious!!

[Cindy]

I am a smoker and whilst I am not really bothered with the change in policy, I am upset by the 'back-door' way it has come about. No announcement, no publicity - only know due to Cruise Critic.

 

There will be many smokers who are unaware of the change, and will probably not know until they are onboard - only a small percentage are on here.

 

I don't quite understand that aspect...I would be willing to bet the vast majority of people who cruise RCI have no idea about the change. At the very least, an e-mail blast should go out to people with existing bookings.

I am sometimes amazed (not in a good way) at RCCL's communication problems. To roll this out without even making sure their own reps were informed? That's a real head scratcher to me.:confused: I would think anything that affects large numbers of people and is a major policy change would be communicated internally first, then publicized in such a way as to reach the masses at once. I love Cruise Critic, but it shouldn't be my only news source!:rolleyes:

[Esmerelda]

I don't EVER see Carnival changing their smoking policy. Carnival Corp has 2 other cruise lines that have restricted smoking policies - Holland and Princess - so they have a cruise line that appeals to most everyone.

 

(see my post a few above yours) The following was copied from Fox news August 20, 2013. "Seabourn and Cunard, both owned by Carnival Corp., said it was revising its smoking policy as of early next year. Seabourn -- one of the few lines that has continued to allow guests to smoke in their rooms, will enforce the new rules beginning in February and Cunard beginning in April."

 

Carnival owns both of these cruise lines. My guess is it won't be long before Carnival will follow suit since this is their corporation. (I'm not trying to be argumentative either, thank you) .

[bouhunter]

I don't know which surprises me more - the number of people who say they will not sail RCCL again, or the ones who say the PRIMARY reason they booked balcony's was to smoke:rolleyes: We book a balcony for the outdoors and the view:)

[Jimmys Chippy]

Now I wonder if I will be able to get some OBC for their policy change. I booked a balcony cabin because I could have a smoke out there. I have several hundred dollars tied up in non refundable money (air plane tickets, non refundable hotel room) so I can't just cancel without penalty.

 

While the change in policy doesn't surprise me, I am disappointed. I won't stop cruising Royal, but I will stop paying the premium prices balcony cabins are charged, and go back to inside rooms. So in theory I can cruise more because of the change.

 

If they're going to hand out OBC for this reason I think they'll suddenly find that everyone who booked a balcony was a smoker.

[Coov]

You're way to sanctimonious!!

 

Sup, pot? Just call me kettle.

[Paul65]

I agree. I have 3 booked for next year and this sure puts a damper on my cruising. We like to sit on the balcony in the morning with a cup of coffee and in the evening with an after dinner cognac before retiring for the night.Gwen

 

Not a problem. It's perfectly fine to have morning coffee or evening Cognac on your balcony. :cool:

[cello56]

For those smokers who are rushing to cancel their upcoming RCI cruises, I suggest you stop for a moment and really think about that. Just last month Disney announced a no smoking policy on their balconies. RCI followed suit one month later. What is to stop Carnival or NCL to jump onboard next month? So you may perhaps, be giving up a great cabin, at maybe a terrific price, searching for something that no cruise line will be offering soon. Personally, I will be totally shocked if Carnival and NCL do not follow the rest of the mass market companies and ban balcony and indoor lounge smoking soon. It may be that smokers are simply going to have to adapt their preferred smoking habits, and learn to live with these new rules. Canceling all your future cruises seems an awful lot like as my Mother used to say "Cutting off your nose to spite your face!" Take a few days to calmly assess your options before you make drastic changes that cannot be undone. If you really think about it, perhaps you enjoyed your balcony for more then just a smoking location?

 

Just my advice for what it's worth.

[jakesnana]

I don't quite understand that aspect...I would be willing to bet the vast majority of people who cruise RCI have no idea about the change. At the very least, an e-mail blast should go out to people with existing bookings.

 

I am sometimes amazed (not in a good way) at RCCL's communication problems. To roll this out without even making sure their own reps were informed? That's a real head scratcher to me.:confused: I would think anything that affects large numbers of people and is a major policy change would be communicated internally first, then publicized in such a way as to reach the masses at once. I love Cruise Critic, but it shouldn't be my only news source!:rolleyes:

 

 

RCCL did send out an e-mail to TA's yesterday, to notify them of the new policy, so that they could notify their clients.

 

I can't speak to whether or not they notified the people who booked directly with RCCL.

 

So, although they did notify TA's, I heard it HERE first, which is a HORRIBLE way to do business !!

[Gator0178]

I for one am glad. I have had my balcony experience ruined by neighbors who smoked every time I wanted to enjoy the balcony I paid for! I will switch back to getting balconies again!:D

[EmpireStateCruisers]

I dont smoke so this doesnt affect me....as far as having neighbors that smoke on there Balcony I have been fortunate enough to not experience that yet....but I know people that will specifically spend the extra money just to get a balcony so they can smoke..my guess is this will send them running to other cruiselines...although hey may all follow as well.... im still a Royal Fan!!

[Goes Cruising]

Now I wonder if I will be able to get some OBC for their policy change. I booked a balcony cabin because I could have a smoke out there. I have several hundred dollars tied up in non refundable money (air plane tickets, non refundable hotel room) so I can't just cancel without penalty.

 

While the change in policy doesn't surprise me, I am disappointed. I won't stop cruising Royal, but I will stop paying the premium prices balcony cabins are charged, and go back to inside rooms. So in theory I can cruise more because of the change.

 

Just like RCCL never gave OBC to non-smokers who found their balconies unusable because of heavy smokers next door, I doubt you can expect OBC because you now can't smoke on yours.

[Mom.to.2]

Thank you, thank you RCL! Now I don't have to cross my fingers and hope my neighbors are nonsmokers. This has made balcony cabins worth much more!

 

As to the news breaking here first...that happens a lot. CC moles are frequently faster than cruise-lines are able to get new information out. I don't think RCL was necessarily trying to hide the policy change.

 

The only thing I disagree with regarding the policy is banning e-cigs from balconies as well. I imagine many will continue to puff on their ecigs from the comfort of their room or balcony as detection would be near impossible (no smoke to waft & give them away.)

 

 

I don't know which surprises me more - the number of people who say they will not sail RCCL again, or the ones who say the PRIMARY reason they booked balcony's was to smoke:rolleyes: We book a balcony for the outdoors and the view:)

 

^this

[Mom.to.2]

just like rccl never gave obc to non-smokers who found their balconies unusable because of heavy smokers next door, i doubt you can expect obc because you now can't smoke on yours.

 

 

like

[rickdent]

You are? Really? I bet you're not.

 

Why would you call someone a liar with absolutely no justification?

I, in fact did cancel my OS on Oasis for next February just yesterday.

 

Now the casino will be even smokier since it's the ONLY indoor smoking venue.

Will Celebrity lose business as customers migrate back to RC?

 

I have truly enjoyed the cruise experience, (all in suites) but won't be doing it anymore.

 

Have fun! (really)

Rick

[EmpireStateCruisers]

Why would you call someone a liar with absolutely no justification?

I, in fact did cancel my OS on Oasis for next February just yesterday.

 

Now the casino will be even smokier since it's the ONLY indoor smoking venue.

Will Celebrity lose business as customers migrate back to RC?

 

I have truly enjoyed the cruise experience, (all in suites) but won't be doing it anymore.

 

Have fun! (really)

Rick

 

 

NOOOOOO DONT GOOO DONT DO ITT NOOOOOO!!!!:cool: