Email from Royal RE:smoking

[elleluv]

 

Is there a ban against candles? I know several people on balconies near us have lit candles. They need to ban those on the balconies and in the rooms, too.

 

 

Yes... candles are banned... have been for as long as I can remember.

 

I do have friends that bring battery operated candles (no flames), which are fine. I would hope that's what you saw...

[Stevie17]

Outstanding news! I am thrilled and will enjoy a smoke-free balcony on our March 2014 Oasis cruise. :D

[Giorgi-one]

Sorry but I'm afraid all nights are going to be smoking nights in the casino. It's says in the policy if you read the whole thing that there will no longer be no smoking on formal nights.

 

So they will have a smoking and non smoking section in the casino. Big deal. Ship casinos are small so might as well say the whole thing is smoking.

 

Smoking and non-smoking areas are a joke. No way to avoid second hand smoke unless they have a fan sucking all the air in the smoking area away before it can mix with the air in the non smoking area. This fan would have to be so strong it would probably suck the chips off the roulette tables. It would defintely feel like a wind tunnel to be effective.

 

Also a problem with third hand smoke. Smoke condenses on all surfaces and especially carpets and keeps emitting dangerous gases. Most people have the mistaken idea that there is no problem if you cannot see the smoke. Actually most of the 100 or more poisonous and carcinogenic gases in cigarette smoke are colorless and odorless.

[Giorgi-one]

question: How many people are ex smokers and how many have never smoked?

If you were an ex smoker, do you have more empathy for current smokers? or do you dislike smokers more?

Just wondering....

Myself, i'm an ex smoker, glad I quit, but I still have empathy for current smokers as I know what it's like to go through withdrawals.

thanks!

 

Started smoking when I was 12 and quit about 15 years ago. Went to hypnosis at our local high school. I think it was two 2 hour sessions and no I did not pass out. Just the power of suggestion. My wife and I both quit at same time. Never really noticed any withdrawl. After about a week or two the smell of cigarette smoke was very irritating. I do not dislike anyone but find it hard to understand why anyone would take the chance with all the current data. Lung cancer is a really lousy way to die. COPD is not much fun either. Have no empathy for people who smoke around small children who are most susceptible to smoking-related problems.

[poncho1973]

Two things.

 

1. Every time something changes. ANYTHING changes. There is a subset of people who insist this change is the change that will drive the company under. Tipping, smoking, boarding policies, e-coupons, luggage tags, new ships **cough cough Oasis and Quantum cough cough** that they don't find appealling, passports/ID, whatever.

 

THIS IS IT! THE END IS NIGH! I WILL NEVER CRUISE WITH THEM AGAIN AND EVERYONE WILL FOLLOW ME AS THEIR PIED PIPER OF FREEDOM!

 

 

2. I won't even pretend that this will make me, as a nonsmoker, suddenly run to balcony rooms. I think inside rooms fit my cruise style nicely. I'm just there to sleep, shower, and "other stuff" so it's not a big deal. I feel when we've had a balcony it made us feel obligated to use it and we're just not in the room that often.

 

That said, it will 100% make it worth it to upgrade if the price were basically the same. I have actually taken an inside room when the price for the balcony was just a few dollars more because I thought I would rather not have to fight for smoke-free time with my neighbors.

 

It was their right, so I changed. Now it is my right, so they are expected to change.

[mlbcruiser]

I always figured we'd try Carnival's SMOKE FREE ship - the Paradise back in the late 90's/early 2000s BECAUSE it was the first totally non-smoking ship and we don't smoke. Well, we all know what happened to that experiment! For cruise newbies out there, the idea didn't work. The ship didin't make nearly the money the "smoking" ships made. No smokers meant less gambling revenue and less liquor revenue. People do tend to smoke when they gamble and drink. - Why have one bad habit when you can have 3?! ;)

(Just kidding, so I don't need any lectures about drinking or gambling. I am prone to do both - but to a minimum, luckily.)

[griffy116]

Just received the email. I do thank RCCL for the advance warning, but like cool cruiser and others, I am a smoker, but try to be considerate. I can't say I've ever seen a smoker smoke in the non-smoking areas on my cruisers and just can't imagine doing so. But, if I can't have my morning cup of coffee and smoke a cigarette outside on my balcony, then they have lost another customer.

It would have been nice if they could have set aside rooms in the back of the ship - perhaps near where the other public outdoor venues are to try to accommodate all of the passengers.

 

Same here, and when they called I explained it much the same as you have stated above. I don't expect any change in the policy and they shouldn't expect any future business from me. I explained that all the anti-smoking crowd needs to fulfill their promise to RCCL and book twice as many cruises as they did before and then we can all be happy. I'll book with a different line. No longer loyal to Royal and it suits me just fine.

[Big_G]

Same here, and when they called I explained it much the same as you have stated above. I don't expect any change in the policy and they shouldn't expect any future business from me. I explained that all the anti-smoking crowd needs to fulfill their promise to RCCL and book twice as many cruises as they did before and then we can all be happy. I'll book with a different line. No longer loyal to Royal and it suits me just fine.

 

Can't say the change bothers me. As a cigar smoker, I couldn't smoke on my balcony anyway. Sorry you need to change lines but do you really think all smokers will bail on RCI and even if they did, do you really think it will require doubling non-smokers bookings to fill the gap?

[J & G]

Smoking and non-smoking areas are a joke. No way to avoid second hand smoke unless they have a fan sucking all the air in the smoking area away before it can mix with the air in the non smoking area. This fan would have to be so strong it would probably suck the chips off the roulette tables. It would defintely feel like a wind tunnel to be effective.

 

Also a problem with third hand smoke. Smoke condenses on all surfaces and especially carpets and keeps emitting dangerous gases. Most people have the mistaken idea that there is no problem if you cannot see the smoke. Actually most of the 100 or more poisonous and carcinogenic gases in cigarette smoke are colorless and odorless.

 

I was in an airport recently - don't recall which one....maybe LaGuardia - that had a glassed-in smoking room with rows of seats like the ones at the airport gates. I expected that, when the door opened, smoke would pour out and make the walkway smell bad. I was quite surprised that I didn't smell anything when the door opened and someone came out.... and I'm very sensitive to smoke (asthmatic) thanks to having grown up in a house with a 3-pack a day - and night - smoker. I'm thinking the air filtration in that room must have been something amazing!

 

I have to say it was a little weird to see people seated in rows, smoking away, and looking out through the glass as those walking past looked in at them.

[Maryscooking]

Yes, you're probably correct with that assertion. It makes the most sense to me. And I doubt RCI is going to go out and re-design anything to accomodate smokers. But maybe it wouldn't be so hard or expensive to upgrade the on-deck coffee stations and jazz it up a little bit. Make it a place smokers enjoy to congregate rather than just tolerate.

 

See, that is exactly it - I don't think that RCI actually wants smokers to congregate anywhere. Sure, they're paying lip service to the idea of making better outdoor smoking areas, but that's why they aren't supplying coffee. They don't want a smoker to come to have a cigarette and then stay to smoke two more because the smoking section is such a cool place to hang out. Behind closed doors, I bet anything they'd admit that they want smokers to "smoke and go." Especially now that there will be more of them coming to the public areas for that smoke.

[FamilyMiracle]

So vapes are banned on balconies now too?

It is water vapor inside there and a silly lil purple light.

 

It has no odor and no smoke....

IS RC accepting cancellations for already booked cruises?

 

Cause no vapes is not what I signed up for.....

[Langley Cruisers]

So vapes are banned on balconies now too?

It is water vapor inside there and a silly lil purple light... It has no odor and no smoke.... IS RC accepting cancellations for already booked cruises? ... Cause no vapes is not what I signed up for.....

 

You may want to read up on the extensive e-cigarette thread already running. Sorry but there is not no odor. Anyway... ;)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1909869 <--click here

 

.

[royalcruz]

Thank you to the OP. I was able to figure out what side of the promenade allowed smoking and I was able to move to a stateroom on the other side of the ship.

[traveler/]

I was in an airport recently - don't recall which one....maybe LaGuardia - that had a glassed-in smoking room with rows of seats like the ones at the airport gates. I expected that, when the door opened, smoke would pour out and make the walkway smell bad. I was quite surprised that I didn't smell anything when the door opened and someone came out.... and I'm very sensitive to smoke (asthmatic) thanks to having grown up in a house with a 3-pack a day - and night - smoker. I'm thinking the air filtration in that room must have been something amazing!

 

I have to say it was a little weird to see people seated in rows, smoking away, and looking out through the glass as those walking past looked in at them.

We saw a similar smokers room at Atlanta Airport recently.

[suz1607]

Thank you all for this information. I will cancel our January cruise. I have been a courteous and considerate smoker, I hope, although I am sure some of you do not think there is such a person! We had cruised Celebrity over 20 times when they made changes to their smoking policy and switched to RCCL at that time. Guess we will cruise a line with appreciates the business that we give them.

[LMaxwell]

Thank you all for this information. I will cancel our January cruise. I have been a courteous and considerate smoker, I hope, although I am sure some of you do not think there is such a person! We had cruised Celebrity over 20 times when they made changes to their smoking policy and switched to RCCL at that time. Gueswe will cruise a line with appreciates the business that we give them.

 

Clearly banning balcony smoking means RCI has totally zero appreciation for your business :confused:

 

Regardless, happy cruising.

[jt1120]

^^^^ It has nothing to do with their appreciation for business. Obviously they did the research. More people would prefer these guidelines than just letting you smoke up the joint.

 

Thank you all for this information. I will cancel our January cruise. I have been a courteous and considerate smoker, I hope, although I am sure some of you do not think there is such a person! We had cruised Celebrity over 20 times when they made changes to their smoking policy and switched to RCCL at that time. Guess we will cruise a line with appreciates the business that we give them.

 

And eventually you will run out of choices as all of the cruise lines seem to be modifying their smoking policies like this. Then what? You'll stop cruising? What is more important to you, smoking or your cruise? It's not like they're banning smoking all together. Just book a cabin that is closer to the approved smoking areas. That makes more sense than not cruising on a line just because they won't let you smoke in certain locations. WOW!

 

As I've said on this topic many times before, "Star Princess." Do the research.

 

Happy (and fresh) cruising to all.

[Poorplaya]

I am also one of the people who is disappointed with this change!! I too have always been very considerate of the neighbors I have on the balconies next to me to make sure they're empty or it's ok with them. I get balcony rooms for the convenience and enjoyment of strolling out on my patio for a smoke, not up 6 floors through this venue and that venue to find the smoking section. People can say what they want, but I have right to be angry about this!

[skiiergirl]

I am also one of the people who is disappointed with this change!! I too have always been very considerate of the neighbors I have on the balconies next to me to make sure they're empty or it's ok with them. I get balcony rooms for the convenience and enjoyment of strolling out on my patio for a smoke, not up 6 floors through this venue and that venue to find the smoking section. People can say what they want, but I have right to be angry about this!

 

Yes, you have the right to be angry. And those of us that are thrilled about the change have the right to be thrilled/excited/appreciative about the change. I truly believe you and all of the others on here are a considerate smoker. Just waiting for the folks that are the inconsiderate smokers to come on here and actually admit it. LOL I know they are there because we have personally experienced them. Have had several cruises where I truly don't think our smoking neighbors left their balcony except to go inside to use the restroom. Must have had room service 3 meals a day and never did a show or saw a port except from the view from their balcony. Anyone ready to admit they were the one and only inconsiderate smoker that has caused the change? LOL

[gaylemh]

Yes, you have the right to be angry. And those of us that are thrilled about the change have the right to be thrilled/excited/appreciative about the change. I truly believe you and all of the others on here are a considerate smoker. Just waiting for the folks that are the inconsiderate smokers to come on here and actually admit it. LOL I know they are there because we have personally experienced them. Have had several cruises where I truly don't think our smoking neighbors left their balcony except to go inside to use the restroom. Must have had room service 3 meals a day and never did a show or saw a port except from the view from their balcony. Anyone ready to admit they were the one and only inconsiderate smoker that has caused the change? LOL

 

How would you know that they never left their balcony, unless you go on a cruise to stay in your cabin, or sit on your balcony all day to witness them.

Not my idea of a fun vacation, to never leave my cabin/balcony.

[lady_cruiser]

.... I have right to be angry about this!

Angry? Or disappointed?

[negc]

We heard the same threats and predictions of disaster when smoking was banned in bingo parlors, in bars and restaurants, public spaces etc. Eventually, however, reality kicked in and smokers decided that if they wanted to eat, drink, or gamble they would have to forego smoking for the time that they were enjoying those activities. Despite all the forecasts of financial ruin for those businesses affected by the bans, those places are pretty much packed every day and night and the world hasn't come to an end. Some would even say that the bans brought back much of the business from non-smokers who now could enjoy a smoke-free environment formerly denied them. It is likely that the cruiselines will experience the same results and everyone's health will be the better for it.

[krewzin]

More people would prefer these guidelines than just letting you smoke up the joint.

 

 

 

 

I think this is a whole 'nother set of rules.

:D

[skiiergirl]

How would you know that they never left their balcony, unless you go on a cruise to stay in your cabin, or sit on your balcony all day to witness them.

Not my idea of a fun vacation, to never leave my cabin/balcony.

 

 

LOL....I understand that...but there are ways to know without staying in my room all day. We do come and go alot. Like coming back from shore and seeing them on their balcony. Getting up of a morning and them being on balcony. Going to breakfast and coming back and them being on balcony. Stepping out during sailaway and them being on balcony. Stepping out before dinner and them being on balcony. Going out for a night view before bed and them being on balcony. Seeing room service delivery/tray pickup 3 times a day.

[gaylemh]

LOL....I understand that...but there are ways to know without staying in my room all day. We do come and go alot. Like coming back from shore and seeing them on their balcony. Getting up of a morning and them being on balcony. Going to breakfast and coming back and them being on balcony. Stepping out during sailaway and them being on balcony. Stepping out before dinner and them being on balcony. Going out for a night view before bed and them being on balcony. Seeing room service delivery/tray pickup 3 times a day.

 

When I go on a cruise I smoke, maybe 5 times on my balcony for a total of about 20 minutes per day, out of 24 hours a day. Each time it's a total of less than 4 minutes. It just happens that it's the times you are talking about. I have one when I get up in the morning, one after breakfast, one when I come back from wherever I've been that day, one when getting ready for dinner, and the last one before I go to bed. The rest of the time when I'm on the ship, I'm in a designated smoking area. Anyone that would pay to go on a cruise to stay in their cabin all day and order room service for all their meals, is probably one in a million or more. I guess you hit the smoking lottery.