NoobCruise Posted September 30, 2013 #1 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I have not sailed with NCL but am considering one of their southern caribbean itineraries. I really don't want to start an argument over what the smoking rules should or shouldn't be. I have asthma and am sensitive to cigarette smoke. I know Celebrity and Princess have stricter smoking rules, but I am interested in the informal experience on NCL, especially no formal nights. I would appreciate just hearing from non-smokers on what they experience on NCL with the current rules. Basically I just want to get a feel for how bothersome the current rules are to non-smokers. I see smoking is only allowed in the casino, cigar bar, open decks, and balconies. Are there typically a lot of smokers onboard NCL? Can you smell the smoke from the casino and cigar bar in other public areas or lounges? Does neighbor's smoking on balconies invade your balcony? Is smoking on the open decks everywhere or confined to one side of the ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luddite Posted September 30, 2013 #2 Share Posted September 30, 2013 It isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daffodiliaz Posted September 30, 2013 #3 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Does neighbor's smoking on balconies invade your balcony? Yes it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelDiva88 Posted September 30, 2013 #4 Share Posted September 30, 2013 i have not sailed with ncl but am considering one of their southern caribbean itineraries. I really don't want to start an argument over what the smoking rules should or shouldn't be. I have asthma and am sensitive to cigarette smoke. I know celebrity and princess have stricter smoking rules, but i am interested in the informal experience on ncl, especially no formal nights. I would appreciate just hearing from non-smokers on what they experience on ncl with the current rules. Basically i just want to get a feel for how bothersome the current rules are to non-smokers. I see smoking is only allowed in the casino, cigar bar, open decks, and balconies. Are there typically a lot of smokers onboard ncl? depends on the sailing. I'd say there were more non-smokers than smokers on my most recent cruise can you smell the smoke from the casino and cigar bar in other public areas or lounges? occasionally, depending upon the ship and the location. I'm an asthmatic and the breakaway has notorious problems with smoke drift, and i was fine does neighbor's smoking on balconies invade your balcony? depends on which way the wind is blowing :d is smoking on the open decks everywhere or confined to one side of the ship? confined to certain areas hth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gra2172 Posted September 30, 2013 #5 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I have not sailed with NCL but am considering one of their southern caribbean itineraries. I really don't want to start an argument over what the smoking rules should or shouldn't be. I have asthma and am sensitive to cigarette smoke. I know Celebrity and Princess have stricter smoking rules, but I am interested in the informal experience on NCL, especially no formal nights. I would appreciate just hearing from non-smokers on what they experience on NCL with the current rules. Basically I just want to get a feel for how bothersome the current rules are to non-smokers. I see smoking is only allowed in the casino, cigar bar, open decks, and balconies. Are there typically a lot of smokers onboard NCL? Can you smell the smoke from the casino and cigar bar in other public areas or lounges? Does neighbor's smoking on balconies invade your balcony? Is smoking on the open decks everywhere or confined to one side of the ship? Unless you go to the cigar bar or casino area, you wont notice the smoke. On the promenade deck you will find a bunch of smokers. When we did the alaska cruise they were all huddled together behind a pillar because of the cold wind. (We had a good chuckle at their expense):p On the upper decks we've never really noticed them. Im not a smoker, so I dont hang around them, but it seems to me that their numbers are shrinking. Each cruise seems to have less of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GORDONCHICK Posted September 30, 2013 #6 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I'm pretty sensitive to cigarette smoke (makes my eyes lids swell shut). We've not had a balconey so I can't speak to that, but in the public areas I've not had a problem. I've even been able to spend a short period of time IN the casinos in the front of them without much problem. Now, I did come out smelling like smoke but it wasn't enough to make my eye lids to swell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenuts4life Posted September 30, 2013 #7 Share Posted September 30, 2013 The smoke on the breakaway was so bad that I couldn't stay in casino and could smell as soon as you get off elevator on decks 6,7 and 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halos Posted September 30, 2013 #8 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I have had smoke bother me on my balcony...so I leave the balcony. It's never been an issue where I lost the balcony for an entire cruise but it does annoy me to have to leave. HOWEVER, I am afraid of an influx of smokers due to the changes on RCI that may make this a little worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solandria Posted September 30, 2013 #9 Share Posted September 30, 2013 We had smokers in the room next to us last year on the jewel.. and yes you can smell it on your balcony. It was annoying, but when they were out there smoking we would just close the balcony door and go inside. We didn't spend much time in the room at all so it wasn't too much of a bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ2002 Posted September 30, 2013 #10 Share Posted September 30, 2013 On my 2 NCL cruises, cigarette smoke was only evident in the casino and in the immediate area. It is luck of the draw if you get a smoker out on the balcony next to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debnjoe1438 Posted September 30, 2013 #11 Share Posted September 30, 2013 On the Epic in the Casino, I notieced more smoke than other ships I have been on. Could be due to the ships design with the Casino being in the center of the deck. IMHO it was heavy or bothersome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lah66 Posted September 30, 2013 #12 Share Posted September 30, 2013 If smoke bothers you, I would not get a balcony. Save your money and get an inside or oceanview. When we cruised on the Sun, we could rarely enjoy our aft balcony. We had neighbors who smoked constantly and seemed to never leave their room. At this time, you were still able to smoke in your cabin so we had to have the staff duct tape our door because their smoke was seeping into our room. They also brought in an air purifier because every time we opened our door, smoky air from the hallway would be sucked into our room. I understand that these people were not typical smokers but we will never chance it again. Until NCL changes their smoking rules, it will be insides for us! Smoke in the public areas did not bother us at all but we never go to the casino which seems the most difficult place to avoid smoke. I think smoking will become even more prevalent on NCL now that other cruise lines have changed their rules...just my opinion... Lauri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Nahoumi Posted September 30, 2013 #13 Share Posted September 30, 2013 The most prevalent smoke was in the casino. I would walk through it quickly, because as an asthmatic, I can't be exposed to smoke very long. The area behind the Bimini Bar near the pool is also used by smokers. I could only stay there for a little while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medtech2 Posted September 30, 2013 #14 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I have not sailed with NCL but am considering one of their southern caribbean itineraries. I really don't want to start an argument over what the smoking rules should or shouldn't be. I have asthma and am sensitive to cigarette smoke. I know Celebrity and Princess have stricter smoking rules, but I am interested in the informal experience on NCL, especially no formal nights. I would appreciate just hearing from non-smokers on what they experience on NCL with the current rules. Basically I just want to get a feel for how bothersome the current rules are to non-smokers. I see smoking is only allowed in the casino, cigar bar, open decks, and balconies. Are there typically a lot of smokers onboard NCL? Can you smell the smoke from the casino and cigar bar in other public areas or lounges? Does neighbor's smoking on balconies invade your balcony? Is smoking on the open decks everywhere or confined to one side of the ship? Depends a great deal on the ship. We just got off the Breakaway and would occasionally smell a slight waft through our open balcony door so there was a smoker nearby but not close. Up on deck the smokers tended to stick to certain spots and it never bothered me. HOWEVER, the interior public areas were absolutely RUINED by the casino smoke. It wafted everywhere. On the Epic that was not the case as the air cleaners they had more than kept up with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLW0520 Posted September 30, 2013 #15 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I will be so disappointed if we can't use our balcony :mad: This will be our first cruise on NCL and did not realize that they still allowed smoking on balconies. We always book a balcony because we like to spend time there. I guess we'll have to hope for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobCruise Posted September 30, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Thanks everyone for your opinions. Considering my asthma problems, and the negative impact it could have on my health and cruise experience, I think I will stick to Celebrity. If NCL ever changes their policy, I'll give them a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luddite Posted October 1, 2013 #17 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Thanks everyone for your opinions. Considering my asthma problems, and the negative impact it could have on my health and cruise experience, I think I will stick to Celebrity. If NCL ever changes their policy, I'll give them a try. You won't have a problem on NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdmike Posted October 1, 2013 #18 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I didn't have any problems avoiding smoke on my two trips, but the first time I'm significantly inconvenienced by it I'll probably try some other lines before giving NCL another shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwilliamt Posted October 1, 2013 #19 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I will be so disappointed if we can't use our balcony :mad: This will be our first cruise on NCL and did not realize that they still allowed smoking on balconies. We always book a balcony because we like to spend time there. I guess we'll have to hope for the best. You can still enjoy your balcony..just deal with the smoke. Jeez. It's open and windy..not like someone blowing it directly at you. The chance that people will be on their balcony smoking constantly is very slim. We hardly ever go to our room except to shower, change and sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMH15 Posted October 1, 2013 #20 Share Posted October 1, 2013 You can still enjoy your balcony..just deal with the smoke. Jeez. It's open and windy..not like someone blowing it directly at you. The chance that people will be on their balcony smoking constantly is very slim. We hardly ever go to our room except to shower, change and sleep. But not everyone is like you. Some like to lounge around on the balcony. A lot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younglegend Posted October 1, 2013 #21 Share Posted October 1, 2013 the long and short answer to your question is that it depends. it depends on how sensitive to smoke you are it depends on which ship you're on (Breakaway/Getaway and Epic casino designs allow for smoke to escape to areas around the casino) it depends on where you frequent on the ship (the casino will be smokey, the public areas not usually depending on answers to questions 1 and 2) it depends on the itinerary (European itineraries will have more smokers) it depends on whether those in your neighboring balconies also smoke (I've never smelled smoke on my balcony) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail1975 Posted October 1, 2013 #22 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Also very sensitive to cigarette smoke, my last 12 cruises have been with NCL. We did a balcony on the EPIC and let me tell you we had chain smokers on both sides of us. They sat out there and smoked morning, noon and night. I requested to have our cabin changed, but they were fully booked. I complained in my guest survey on my return. As soon as you opened the balcony door my room was overwhelmed with the smell of smoke carried in by the wind! Totally annoyed and decided I'm all set with future balcony cabins. Keep in mind that smokers will most likely book balcony cabins so they can smoke. Since there is no smoking allowed inside the cabins. I really wish they would designate a section on balcony cabins for non smokers. Depending on which ship you go on and where the casino is located I've always found the smell of smoke to be strong in and around the casino area. The open casino area concept on the Epic was horrible, I couldn't eat in the dining room by it. I will be going on the Breakaway in a few weeks and dread the thought of having to deal with that issue again. I will just avoid that area if I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobCruise Posted October 1, 2013 Author #23 Share Posted October 1, 2013 You can still enjoy your balcony..just deal with the smoke. Jeez. It's open and windy..not like someone blowing it directly at you. The chance that people will be on their balcony smoking constantly is very slim. We hardly ever go to our room except to shower, change and sleep. Not everyone is like you. We spend the majority of our sailing time on our balcony. We go out for meals and occasionally catch a show, but mostly prefer spending time alone together relaxing on our balcony. Our cabin and balcony are for more important to us than what the rest of the ship offers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younglegend Posted October 1, 2013 #24 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Not everyone is like you. We spend the majority of our sailing time on our balcony. We go out for meals and occasionally catch a show, but mostly prefer spending time alone together relaxing on our balcony. Our cabin and balcony are for more important to us than what the rest of the ship offers. do you find that on most of your sailings the people around you smoke enough to bother you on your balcony? I've never smelled smoke on my balcony, but am curious since you spend so much time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobCruise Posted October 1, 2013 Author #25 Share Posted October 1, 2013 do you find that on most of your sailings the people around you smoke enough to bother you on your balcony? I've never smelled smoke on my balcony, but am curious since you spend so much time there. Our last cruise we had neighbors that smoked frequently and we were right under the pool deck on the starboard side where smoking was allowed. It wasn't constant, but we could smell it frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.