New Smoking Rules In Effect

[brigittetom]

I have always wondered......who books a cruise and then sits on the balcony smoking all day and all night, ruining their neighbors cruise in the process.

 

Obviously it happens all the time because it's been mentioned on every smoking thread on Cruise Critic and obviously, people wouldn't exaggerate about something they feel strongly about.

 

On the bright side....balcony smoking is over. So what's next.....the 4 dedicated smoking tables on the pool deck.....where non smokers take the chairs to sit in the sun because they'd rather not use the vast amount of loungers? :)

[sarafinadh]

Really, in the middle of the ocean on an open balcony on a moving ship the concentration of smoke was SO severe as to make it uninhabitable for you?

 

Such delicacy is impressive. I can't imagine how many mattresses you must need!

[jomf]

Really, in the middle of the ocean on an open balcony on a moving ship the concentration of smoke was SO severe as to make it uninhabitable for you?

 

Such delicacy is impressive. I can't imagine how many mattresses you must need!

 

It must be my royal princess blood, but yes, we found the smoke intolerable. The passengers next door were both chain smokers and spent most of their day there.

Our balcony was downwind so the smoke blew towards us not out.

 

If it had not been so bad then I would not have posted that it was on this board!!

 

Oh and I ALWAYS need a bed topper!!!!!!

Edited May 21, 2014 by jomf

[capnpugwash]

I have always wondered......who books a cruise and then sits on the balcony smoking all day and all night, ruining their neighbors cruise in the process.

Obviously it happens all the time because it's been mentioned on every smoking thread on Cruise Critic and obviously, people wouldn't exaggerate about something they feel strongly about.

 

On the bright side....balcony smoking is over. So what's next.....the 4 dedicated smoking tables on the pool deck.....where non smokers take the chairs to sit in the sun because they'd rather not use the vast amount of loungers? :)

 

Brigitte; strangely enough with the smoking area changes that were made, you will find that many people did just that.

[brigittetom]

 

oh and i always need a bed topper!!!!!!

. :d:d:d

 

Sorry....those were supposed to be smilies but they didn't show up.

Edited May 21, 2014 by brigittetom

[jomf]

. :d:d:d

 

Sorry....those were supposed to be smilies but they didn't show up.

 

Thanks :)

[brigittetom]

Brigitte; strangely enough with the smoking area changes that were made, you will find that many people did just that.

 

That's too bad......I now feel that I want to defend myself as a smoker because I went out of my way to not disturb our neighbors. I never smoked more than 3 or 4 per day on the balcony....too many other things to do. I also, always, listened for neighbors and didn't light up when I heard others on their balcony. I never stood at the railing.....rather sat at the back so the smoke could dissipate........which it did, I tested it late at night when we had the spot light aimed at our sheltered balcony.

 

It's hard to be on a ship with inconsiderate neighbors..........on our RCL crossing we had a group of six next door who would start partying in their cabin at 3am until around 6am.....heavy smoking would have been a desired alternative. :D

[jimmybean]

Smoking onboard any ship is certainly a difficult subject.

 

DH and my sympathies extent to both sides of the dilemma.

 

We have close family who does smoke and won't/can't cruise because of the restrictions (which would make their lives uncomfortable). We (as long-ago x-smokers) don't like exposure ourselves (which would make us very uncomfortable).

 

Ships are confided spaces, needing to use every square inch (often) for many purposes. There aren't as many options for problem-solving on a ship as there is on dry land.

 

Ships we sail today were not designed to deal with smoking vs non-smoking issues. Most were built when smoking was allowed in more places and haven't been altered to accommodate changes to smoking policies.

 

My heart goes out to everyone who has issues with smoking as well as issues with smoking restrictions!

[brigittetom]

Jimmybean, I'm sorry that we didn't meet. I had meant to seek you out during the M&G and got sidetracked and forgot. I hope you had a wonderful voyage. :)

[jomf]

I have no issues with people smoking where the policy allows. Then we can avoid the area if we wish.

If the guidelines are clear and adhered to then smoking is not an issue.

 

We choose to cruise with certain lines knowing the rules will be acceptable to us as non smokers.

[jimmybean]

Jimmybean, I'm sorry that we didn't meet. I had meant to seek you out during the M&G and got sidetracked and forgot. I hope you had a wonderful voyage. :)

 

DH and I didn't make the M&G last week… A disappointment for me. All in all though, we did have a wonderful time as I'm sure you did. Great crossing!

 

Will look for you and Tom with delight the next time we are all on the same ship---which I hope won't be too far in the future.

[jimmybean]

I have no issues with people smoking where the policy allows. Then we can avoid the area if we wish.

If the guidelines are clear and adhered to then smoking is not an issue.

 

We choose to cruise with certain lines knowing the rules will be acceptable to us as non smokers.

 

I agree about rules being important… Cornerstone of civilization! I am all about following rules!

 

But, the ships weren't built with smoking restrictions in mind, so the rules may be difficult to follow on some ships and for some smokers. I think that could be an underlying reality.

 

Do I wish smokers could or would just stop smoking? If only it were that simple. It's not.

 

Smoking may not be my choice, but it is a legal activity and many very nice people do smoke. I don't want them to impinge upon my desire to live smoke-free, but I wouldn't want them excluded from the opportunity of traveling by ship.

 

Having greater restrictions on smoking--as noted in this thread--are new rules. That also makes it difficult for smokers who have enjoyed ship travel in the past, when smoking was handled in a different way.

 

I'm not saying I'm not in favor of these new rules. I'm saying I have sympathy for smokers who are now asked to adhere to them, because ships were not physically designed with smoking restrictions in mind. Had ship designers known there would be smoking restrictions coming, there could have been features which could have helped make both non-smokers and smokers completely satisfied and comfortable.

 

From a health standpoint, the world benefits from less smoking. AmTrak allows no smoking, anywhere, on its trains. Smokers get two puffs at quick station stops, then back on the train. Many hotels no longer offer any "smoking rooms." Stance on smoking has taken a dramatic turn.

 

None of that means (to me) that smokers shouldn't have rights and be treated with respect and understanding (on ships and elsewhere).

 

I'm not implying that you disagree jomf. Your post just started me thinking about rules and how new rules may take a period of adaptation.

 

You state very well that clarity of smoking rules is beneficial for everyone.

[jomf]

I agree about rules being important… Cornerstone of civilization! I am all about following rules!

 

But, the ships weren't built with smoking restrictions in mind, so the rules may be difficult to follow on some ships and for some smokers. I think that could be an underlying reality.

 

Do I wish smokers could or would just stop smoking? If only it were that simple. It's not.

 

Smoking may not be my choice, but it is a legal activity and many very nice people do smoke. I don't want them to impinge upon my desire to live smoke-free, but I wouldn't want them excluded from the opportunity of traveling by ship.

 

Having greater restrictions on smoking--as noted in this thread--are new rules. That also makes it difficult for smokers who have enjoyed ship travel in the past, when smoking was handled in a different way.

 

I'm not saying I'm not in favor of these new rules. I'm saying I have sympathy for smokers who are now asked to adhere to them, because ships were not physically designed with smoking restrictions in mind. Had ship designers known there would be smoking restrictions coming, there could have been features which could have helped make both non-smokers and smokers completely satisfied and comfortable.

 

From a health standpoint, the world benefits from less smoking. AmTrak allows no smoking, anywhere, on its trains. Smokers get two puffs at quick station stops, then back on the train. Many hotels no longer offer any "smoking rooms." Stance on smoking has taken a dramatic turn.

 

None of that means (to me) that smokers shouldn't have rights and be treated with respect and understanding (on ships and elsewhere).

 

I'm not implying that you disagree jomf. Your post just started me thinking about rules and how new rules may take a period of adaptation.

 

You state very well that clarity of smoking rules is beneficial for everyone.

 

I agree with you, and put very well.

I have no desire to exclude smokers and wish the cruise companies could please everyone. It must be very difficult to be a smoker on any ship these days.

Saying all that though the new rules do help us to choose cruise lines that we would not have looked at before.

Edited May 21, 2014 by jomf

[3rdGenCunarder]

For those who were on QM2 last week, did you notice that there was a smoke smell in the Commodore Club? It smelled like stale cigarette smoke, not pipe or tobacco smoke (if I remember the smell correctly from my FIL's stogies), and it continued a way down the hallway past Churchill's. That's the first time I've ever noticed that.

[capnpugwash]

For those who were on QM2 last week, did you notice that there was a smoke smell in the Commodore Club? It smelled like stale cigarette smoke, not pipe or tobacco smoke (if I remember the smell correctly from my FIL's stogies), and it continued a way down the hallway past Churchill's. That's the first time I've ever noticed that.

 

For years the air handling system used on QM2 in Churchill's has seemed much less efficient than those in use on both QE and QV, the age of the ship and more modern technology might be part of the cause but in my view it is something that should have been dealt with before now. Often the smell permeates the entire starboard side of the Commodore Club.

[jimmybean]

Yes, I was on the ship last week and the description of Churchill's and starboard side of Commadore's Lounge was exactly as 3rdGenCunarder described in her posting.

 

I agree with Capnpugwash' speculation that inadequate ventilation is an underlying cause for this situation.

[soc1965]

I agree about rules being important… Cornerstone of civilization! I am all about following rules!

 

But, the ships weren't built with smoking restrictions in mind, so the rules may be difficult to follow on some ships and for some smokers. I think that could be an underlying reality.

 

Do I wish smokers could or would just stop smoking? If only it were that simple. It's not.

 

Smoking may not be my choice, but it is a legal activity and many very nice people do smoke. I don't want them to impinge upon my desire to live smoke-free, but I wouldn't want them excluded from the opportunity of traveling by ship.

 

Having greater restrictions on smoking--as noted in this thread--are new rules. That also makes it difficult for smokers who have enjoyed ship travel in the past, when smoking was handled in a different way.

 

I'm not saying I'm not in favor of these new rules. I'm saying I have sympathy for smokers who are now asked to adhere to them, because ships were not physically designed with smoking restrictions in mind. Had ship designers known there would be smoking restrictions coming, there could have been features which could have helped make both non-smokers and smokers completely satisfied and comfortable.

 

From a health standpoint, the world benefits from less smoking. AmTrak allows no smoking, anywhere, on its trains. Smokers get two puffs at quick station stops, then back on the train. Many hotels no longer offer any "smoking rooms." Stance on smoking has taken a dramatic turn.

 

None of that means (to me) that smokers shouldn't have rights and be treated with respect and understanding (on ships and elsewhere).

 

I'm not implying that you disagree jomf. Your post just started me thinking about rules and how new rules may take a period of adaptation.

 

You state very well that clarity of smoking rules is beneficial for everyone.

 

This has got to be one of the most sensible & well balanced posts regarding the everlasting smoking issue that I have read across all the forums on here.

Neither judgemental nor damming to either side.

My husband is a smoker, I'm not nor ever have been; yet I've met some of the nicest & most interesting of folk who my husband encountered in days gone by when one could smoke outside of the restaurant area on a 'corner table' or in an enclosed room. I'm talking across many cruise lines, not just Cunard.

Of course times change & majority rules, as thus it should, but perhaps as new ships are built there should be at least a consideration for some kind of enclosed, air conditioned, air fragranced room which would allow smokers & their partners to mingle as per considerations given to other groups on board?