**A Helpful RCCL Smoking Thread, Please read **

[Scribbles77]

Because less than 25% of the people are bothered with the new policy. Why should RCl resreve half the ship for smoking when 76% of the people agree with the new policy? I'm sure that RCL had this type of internal polling before they updated the smoking policy?

 

No necessarily true, i do not agree with the policy ( i think e-cigs should be allowed) however there was no option to vote on agreement as such it was say that you will chance lines or say that the policy does not affect you.

 

I voted for it won't affect me because, as far as my cruising habits go it won't, i will continue to cruise RCI because i like the line. The policy does affect me just not my cruising choice, ergo the results of this poll may not reflect an accurate result.

[sail2sea]

I have been stuck next to a chain smoker in balcony before. Not pleasant. Glad that won't happen again on any Royal ships close by.

 

Non-smoking and allows wine carry-on. I see myself sailing more with Royal. :D

[Tapi]

Tapi, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. I value your opinions on these boards, and in no way was I looking to start a fight. I am just stating the facts as of today. If you re-read my post, you will see that I did state " time will tell ". I am not saying never, but today, and as of January 2014, I can smoke on my balcony on Carnival.:rolleyes:

 

I really appreciate your reply and I hope you don't feel that my reply was the beginning of a fight either (although I do know that it was a "hearty" reply :o). I just scratch my head sometimes because John Heald is held up to a such a high level by many Carnival cruisers.

 

I do believe that Carnival will probably be the last US major cruise line to hold on to balcony smoking because of their more laid back and informal business model, so I don't think that you have anything to worry about short term. Carnival knows that their guests like to have fun and not be too restricted. Needless to say, a very restrictive smoking policy would go against that. But over time, the current trends in smoking policies will need to be addressed by Carnival management.

[Torpster]

 

Talking about smoking on the balcony with the cabin door closed. No fabrics to clean.

 

 

You must be a smoker to make that statement. Many smokers, will inhale outside, walk inside and exhale. Many smokers just don't care.

[KPfromCT]

I really appreciate your reply and I hope you don't feel that my reply was the beginning of a fight either (although I do know that it was a "hearty" reply :o). I just scratch my head sometimes because John Heald is held up to a such a high level by many Carnival cruisers.

 

I do believe that Carnival will probably be the last US major cruise line to hold on to balcony smoking because of their more laid back and informal business model.

 

No offense to the "hearty" replies. I like them:D

By no means am I a JH cheerleader, but he really is the only way we get updates from Carnival. I take everything he says with a grain of salt.

I completely agree with you about Carnival's business model, and being, probably, the most laid back of the lines. Happy sailing Tapi.:D Keep me entertained with your posts, and HAPPY SAILINGS!

[ckrobyn]

I think the primary concern for all of us, smokers and non-smokers alike should be doing everything we can to reduce the onboard

FIRE RISK!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Banning balcony smoking is a good first step.

Now lets get rid of smoking in the casino. Lets face it, the ashtrays in there are full of napkins and smouldering cigarettes that someone was too lazy to fully extinguish....

[bigeagle12]

I think the primary concern for all of us, smokers and non-smokers alike should be doing everything we can to reduce the onboard

FIRE RISK!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Banning balcony smoking is a good first step.

Now lets get rid of smoking in the casino. Lets face it, the ashtrays in there are full of napkins and smouldering cigarettes that someone was too lazy to fully extinguish....

 

Like

[sail2sea]

I think the primary concern for all of us, smokers and non-smokers alike should be doing everything we can to reduce the onboard

FIRE RISK!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Banning balcony smoking is a good first step.

Now lets get rid of smoking in the casino. Lets face it, the ashtrays in there are full of napkins and smouldering cigarettes that someone was too lazy to fully extinguish....

 

I also wonder if the Enchantment fire was indeed smoke related? Could've been the tipping point.

 

Anyway, the girlfriend and I are thrilled. So is the girlfriend's roommate, who is turning into an avid cruiser under our influence. :cool:

[LiftLockCouple]

First let me admit I have not read all posts on this thread so if I am repeating someone, sorry. I am a non-smoker and my wife is highly allergic to smoke. We have been on cruises where she has had to leave our balcony because of a smoker on an adjacent balcony. No, I didn't complain. But I do feel that some smokers are self-absorbed and just don't care that they drive others away. Some are very considerate, like one poster who said he would put out his cigarette if he heard someone else on their balcony. Most are in the middle, considerate but not overly. I don't complain because we just accept that smoking is allowed on balconies and my wife just goes inside. Too bad, but it hasn't happened all that often.

Another factor that I don't think has been explained is that Princess, a number of year ago, had a bad balcony fire. It was (I believed) started because a smoker flicked his cigarette over the side and it blew onto an adjacent balcony and caught in some towels that were drying on a chair. Result, significant damage, and one death due to heart attack from the fire. So, that may possibly also factor into the decision.

But my biggest point of this is that in the early 90's Delta Airlines banned smoking on all domestic (then finally international) flights. There was talk of mass exodus and the failure of Delta. Traffic actually rose! Delta is still one of the largest U.S. Airlines and one of the most profitable. All other airlines followed suit. My guess, Royal Caribbean is setting the bar, and all those "fleeing" Royal Caribbean for other cruise lines will find the reason we all prefer Royal Caribbean and will quietly come back and smoke in the designated areas.

Just my humble opinion, but, selfishly, I am glad for the new policy. I will now be able to enjoy MY balcony in the early morning and late night without "smoking" someone else's bad habit.

 

Very well said. We are in a similar situation.

 

Following a bad experience on the Serenade Of The Seas , Feb 2012, we determined to not return to Royal until the policy changed. Our last two cruises ( Feb 2013 and May 2013 ) have been on Princess and Celebrity respectively. Our next scheduled is on Princess ( Feb 2014 ) but we now will again include Royal in choosing future cruises. We will never cruise HAL, Carnival, or NCL as long as they allow smoking on the balconies. Our first ever cruise was on NCL to Bermuda in 2004 from New York.

 

A friend was just on his first HAL cruise in Europe. They are frequent RCCL cruisers and were treated very well by HAL. He had lots of praise for the cruise line, service, and food. He didn't complain at all about smokers but had lots of problems with Perfume. Sometimes you have to take all the good with some bad to enjoy a great vacation. So even with the change in smoking policy it can still be a problem for the many who are sensitive to scents. A secluded cabin on a beautiful lake in northern Ontario will take care of all of that though !! :D

[KPfromCT]

I think the primary concern for all of us, smokers and non-smokers alike should be doing everything we can to reduce the onboard

FIRE RISK!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Banning balcony smoking is a good first step.

Now lets get rid of smoking in the casino. Lets face it, the ashtrays in there are full of napkins and smouldering cigarettes that someone was too lazy to fully extinguish....

 

 

Let me guess.....you are one of THOSE people that walk by a smoker and let out the fake coughs:rolleyes::rolleyes: How many cruise ship fires can you say were CONFIRMED being caused by a cigarette. I think this is just a BIT of a stretch:rolleyes: But, whatever. You are entitled to your opinion.

[ckrobyn]

Let me guess.....you are one of THOSE people that walk by a smoker and let out the fake coughs:rolleyes::rolleyes: How many cruise ship fires can you say were CONFIRMED being caused by a cigarette. I think this is just a BIT of a stretch:rolleyes: But, whatever. You are entitled to your opinion.

 

 

Fire risk because of cigarette smoking is not an opinion, it's a fact.

 

No, I'm not one of those people who lets out a fake cough when I walk by a smoker, I let out a REAL cough.

 

Nice try though :D

[nbsjcruiser]

I find it encouraging that so far 76% of the people will either cruise RCI more or the new policy will not affect their cruising habits at all. This is probably similar to what RCI was expecting/hoping.

 

So, in spite of the somewhat heated and sarcastic comments from both sides it still looks like this is a reasonable move on RCI's part (from a business perspective). I guess only time will tell, but I think if this works for RCI (often a trend setter) then other companies may consider it more.

 

Well, that's one way of looking at it. Lets assume for a minute that the 76% actually represented the true figure, it isn't of course because this is a biased poll (drawing on my old college Stats course now I am) and so 76% really means nothing. But for fun, lets assume it is the correct figure. The other way of looking at it is that 24% of the people will choose other lines or have their cruising altered in one form or another. So basically 1/4 of the cruising RCI population say it will affect it. That could be a sizeable chunk of lost cabins and revenues. Will it happen? Who knows, only time will tell I guess.

[KPfromCT]

Fire risk because of cigarette smoking is not an opinion, it's a fact.

 

No, I'm not one of those people who lets out a fake cough when I walk by a smoker, I let out a REAL cough.

 

Nice try though :D

 

The key word is RISK. I was looking for reality. :D

[ckrobyn]

The key word is RISK. I was looking for reality. :D

 

Lets hope you never find it.

[bigeagle12]

The key word is RISK. I was looking for reality. :D

 

Here is reality:

 

1. Insurance rates for cruise ships are based on risk and exposure. Cruise lines can lower their premiums by lowering their RISK. They can do this two different ways. First by reducing the number of smoking areas (cabins, balconies, lounges, etc) or second by making the entire ship non-smoking.

 

2. You do know that Homeowners insurance companies now offer a discount to non-smokers. Or put another way, they are charging the smoker more because of the increased RISK.

 

That is REALITY

[Tapi]

So basically 1/4 of the cruising RCI population say it will affect it. That could be a sizeable chunk of lost cabins and revenues.

 

But don't forget that, statistically speaking, for every smoker, there are 4-5 non-smokers. So chances are that 1 smoker leaving Royal will be replaced by 4-5 non-smokers coming to Royal specifically because of the new smoking policies. If anything, Royal's revenues might go up with this policy.

[KPfromCT]

Lets hope you never find it.

 

I'm really not trying to fight with you. I was just asking how many cruise ship fires have been confirmed to have been caused by smoking? It's always speculation, but to my knowledge, has not been confirmed.

[ckrobyn]

here is reality:

 

1. Insurance rates for cruise ships are based on risk and exposure. Cruise lines can lower their premiums by lowering their risk. They can do this two different ways. First by reducing the number of smoking areas (cabins, balconies, lounges, etc) or second by making the entire ship non-smoking.

 

2. You do know that homeowners insurance companies now offer a discount to non-smokers. Or put another way, they are charging the smoker more because of the increased risk.

 

That is reality

 

like!

[KPfromCT]

Here is reality:

 

1. Insurance rates for cruise ships are based on risk and exposure. Cruise lines can lower their premiums by lowering their RISK. They can do this two different ways. First by reducing the number of smoking areas (cabins, balconies, lounges, etc) or second by making the entire ship non-smoking.

 

2. You do know that Homeowners insurance companies now offer a discount to non-smokers. Or put another way, they are charging the smoker more because of the increased RISK.

 

That is REALITY

 

Are you in the cruise ship insurance business?

If not, I am curious as to how you know this.:confused:

[ckrobyn]

I'm really not trying to fight with you. I was just asking how many cruise ship fires have been confirmed to have been caused by smoking? It's always speculation, but to my knowledge, has not been confirmed.

 

If you knew me on these boards, you would know that I never fight with anyone :)

[bigeagle12]

Are you in the cruise ship insurance business?

If not, I am curious as to how you know this.:confused:

 

I have been in the insurance business for 30 years and worked closely with actuaries. Feel free to disagree or attempt to disprove .. but these are the facts.

[KPfromCT]

I have been in the insurance business for 30 years and worked closely with actuaries. Feel free to disagree or attempt to disprove .. but these are the facts.

 

 

Fair enough.:D

[akcruz]

Well, that's one way of looking at it. Lets assume for a minute that the 76% actually represented the true figure, it isn't of course because this is a biased poll (drawing on my old college Stats course now I am) and so 76% really means nothing. But for fun, lets assume it is the correct figure. The other way of looking at it is that 24% of the people will choose other lines or have their cruising altered in one form or another. So basically 1/4 of the cruising RCI population say it will affect it. That could be a sizeable chunk of lost cabins and revenues. Will it happen? Who knows, only time will tell I guess.

 

To look at it another way, since this is on the RC board this is how those cruisers feel. I wonder if you put this on another board what would be the response of cruisers moving over to Royal?

 

I agree with others, for every smoker that leave Royal there will be at least 2 other non smokers that come to Royal.

 

Think about the non smokers who currently sail on Carnival, NCL and HAL. With all the Royal cruisers moving over there they may be "jumping ship" to Royal.

[akcruz]

I have been in the insurance business for 30 years and worked closely with actuaries. Feel free to disagree or attempt to disprove .. but these are the facts.

 

I also work in the insurance industry and agree with you 100%. Have had the opportunity myself to spend some time with the actuaries :).

[nbsjcruiser]

I think the primary concern for all of us, smokers and non-smokers alike should be doing everything we can to reduce the onboard

FIRE RISK!!!!:eek::eek::eek:

Banning balcony smoking is a good first step.

Now lets get rid of smoking in the casino. Lets face it, the ashtrays in there are full of napkins and smouldering cigarettes that someone was too lazy to fully extinguish....

 

I would blame the person that threw a napkin in a ashtray. Maybe it was a lazy non smoker who threw the napkin in there but you are willing to blame everything on the smokers. If you were able to get smoking out of the casino ( which is highly unlikely ) what is the next thing you would want banned? I find it offensive when people wear perfume ( I am allergic and it does effect my health ) so lets go after them next.