Coexisting with smokers?

[mountainmare]

Actually I answered because searching for info about potential smoke issues when picking an aft cabin would be difficult. The OP got an answer and we got some entertainment, it's all good.

Remember that one of the issues for aft cabins is that the wind is blocked so people in the cabin below will impact you also, so it's not a simple matter of asking next door. This has been our experience in an aft cabin.

Edited May 25, 2014 by mountainmare

[sp2]

To get back to the OP's original inquiry....this is just a thought, but if there are a lot of medical professionals on board for the course, plus a large group of runners on board, there may not be as many smokers among them anyway so it may not be an issue for you. Have you checked the roll call to get an idea of your fellow passenger demographic? Just a thought.

Have a great cruise!

[Richie2pies]

Very simple! When they stop allowing smoking on balconies, I'll stop cruising. I only book cruises on lines that allow it. I like Princess, but their smoking policy is a turn off. I'm sure that eventually lines will all ban smoking on balconies , if so, I'll give up sitting on my balcony, enjoying a glass of wine, and a cigarette and book a hotel that allows smoking on balconies.

[scm1848]

I'm with you, Richie. I've even stopped writing hotels in Europe to ask if I can smoke on the balcony, because the answer is always, "But of course". I think the most uptight people about smoking are US citizens, Canadians, and Australians. The rest of the world seems to shrug a little more about the whole issue, maybe because there are so many bigger issues!!

[mollyeilis]

 

Hopefully I am being too sensitive and you didn't mean to tell us non-smoking verandah cruisers we should give up our verandahs. Posters aren't usually that dismissive and condescending to each other. It clearly is not 'very simple, straightforward solution' to the issue or it would not be discussed as frequently as we discuss it.

 

It is just as simple for us to say HAL 'CHANGE your smoking policy' to suit the vast majority. Vast majority. Clearly, it isn't as simple as that or they would have done so.

It is just about as reasonable as saying "smokers - quit smoking.".

 

 

I don't see it as being dismissive and condescending, FWIW. I find it to be as simple as that. I'm a non-smoker who likes a verandah.

 

We recently sent my MIL on a cruise with a friend. We didn't realize that HAL still allowed smoking on the verandahs. We didn't realize that the friend talked my scared-of-balconies MIL into a verandah, not because it was Alaska, but because the friend wanted to smoke. We got to hear about it, through my MIL's unusual-for-her coughs, when we picked her up.

 

We had considered a HAL cruise. We aren't any longer. Simple, easy. So I don't find the suggestion to not book a verandah or to not book HAL bad at all. I find it to be the simplest, easiest solution.

[DeeBee76]

I'm with you, Richie. I've even stopped writing hotels in Europe to ask if I can smoke on the balcony, because the answer is always, "But of course". I think the most uptight people about smoking are US citizens, Canadians, and Australians. The rest of the world seems to shrug a little more about the whole issue, maybe because there are so many bigger issues!!

 

 

wow big statement, how can something that kills you not be a big issue?? I can say this as someone who has lost my father and uncle at a younger age than they should have due to smoking.

 

I have no desire to stop anyone smoking but non smokers should not have to sit in silence when losing their options to enjoy a holiday due to another not to mention having there health placed in jeopardy.

 

Everyone has the right to choose without being bullied or belittled for their choices or concerns

 

We were not told by our TA about HAL's policy and did not even think of it as a possible issue as it is illegal to smoke in most public places here (yes Australia), if it becomes an issue on our cruise HAL will most certainly hear about it

[Beefjerky]

HAL could consider a policy of all no smoking balconies on one side of the ship. The non-smokers could enjoy their balconies smoke-free, and the smokers enjoy their balconies with wine, cigarettes, cigars, and the view.

 

Yeah, I know. It makes too much sense to be implemented in the real world.

[Salsa49]

We were not told by our TA about HAL's policy and did not even think of it as a possible issue as it is illegal to smoke in most public places here (yes Australia), if it becomes an issue on our cruise HAL will most certainly hear about it

 

We are Canadians and this is our situation as well.

[3rdGenCunarder]

HAL could consider a policy of all no smoking balconies on one side of the ship. The non-smokers could enjoy their balconies smoke-free, and the smokers enjoy their balconies with wine, cigarettes, cigars, and the view.

 

Yeah, I know. It makes too much sense to be implemented in the real world.

 

I doubt 50% of HAL's balcony passengers smoke, so there would be nonsmokers having to deal with more concentrated smoke conditions than they have now. I suppose it would be an incentive to book early in order to get a cabin on the smoking/nonsmoking side of your choice.

[cruisemom42]

wow big statement, how can something that kills you not be a big issue?? I can say this as someone who has lost my father and uncle at a younger age than they should have due to smoking.

 

 

There's a world of difference between losing family members due to smoking and being exposed to some diluted amount of second-hand smoke in an outdoor setting for a brief period of time.

Edited May 26, 2014 by cruisemom42

[Lizzie68]

HAL could consider a policy of all no smoking balconies on one side of the ship. The non-smokers could enjoy their balconies smoke-free, and the smokers enjoy their balconies with wine, cigarettes, cigars, and the view.

 

Yeah, I know. It makes too much sense to be implemented in the real world.

 

Given the low number of smokers compared to non-smokers - I don't think that would work out. The only solution is to have "smokers only" ships and "Non Smoker" ships!:D:D

[LindaM]

Well, for what little it is worth, unless the OP is next door to a very big chain smoker (and I hope not), then I would politely knock and ask if there is a way that the two of you could co-exist without putting them out nor you. Most people do not sit on their verandahs 24/7 smoking. So, if you can find out when they tend to go out and work with them, it might come to a happy conclusion.

 

Keeping in mind of course that smoking is permitted on balconies, I think many people are happy to work with others. It certainly doesn't hurt to ask in my experience

 

Jacqui,

 

What concerns me about doing this is if your chain smoking neighbors are jerks. If a person booked HAL (particularly in the Caribbean or Alaska) where it would be easy to find a non smoking ship, I assume they booked it for the liberal smoking policy. If you confront them, even in the most pleasant way, they could go off on you. To me, that would be worse than living next to smokers. I understand smoking is an addiction, but there is still that group who are very defensive about their right to smoke. I don't want to get into it with them. I like the idea of the fan....I'm bringing one on our next trip, even though it will probably be too cold to be out much!

 

Linda

[richwmn]

HAL could consider a policy of all no smoking balconies on one side of the ship. The non-smokers could enjoy their balconies smoke-free, and the smokers enjoy their balconies with wine, cigarettes, cigars, and the view.

 

Yeah, I know. It makes too much sense to be implemented in the real world.

 

I doubt 50% of HAL's balcony passengers smoke, so there would be nonsmokers having to deal with more concentrated smoke conditions than they have now. I suppose it would be an incentive to book early in order to get a cabin on the smoking/nonsmoking side of your choice.

 

As someone who has never smoked but has been around smokers most of my life, I believe the solution of using one side of the ship for smokers would work.

 

Here is why. While those that are extremely anti-smoking constantly bring up that only around 20% of the population (US/Can) smoke, they erroneously assume that everyone who doesn't smoke shares their view. Fact is, with a normal statistical distribution, about 60% really don't care one way or another. So the smokers would be intermingled with those who have a "share and share alike attitude". As to those who insist on a particular cabin on the smoking side do so with the knowledge that they have a choice.

 

Another point - most smokers are no longer "chain smokers".

 

One last point, there is not a 100% correlation between cigarettes and cancer. Many things contribute to cancer, including family history. Everyone who smokes, or is around smokers, does not get cancer. At the same time, not everyone who gets cancer ever smoked.

[chrispb]

Of course. That is rather obvious.

EVERY decision a cruise line makes is predicated on $$.

 

What they are calculating is how many HAL cruisers/verandah cruisers are they losing because of their smoking policy vs. how many are moving on over to Ashtray of the Seas and are booking their verandahs because they cannot smoke on other cruise lines.

 

 

They are probably also calculating how many smokers they've lost. The number of smokers who posted here 2 yrs ago have disappeared, I'm assuming they no longer cruise on HAL. It's not just the smokers they've lost but also their friends/relatives.

 

It would seem that HAL can no longer please smokers or non-smokers and there is still no provision made for smokers if decks are closed off due to bad weather. As the casino is for gamblers only, where else can smokers go?

[KirkNC]

We have been sailing on HAL for a number of years and the smoking can be very hit or miss. Some cruises it bothers us, others it does not.

[mame42]

On my January NCL cruise, my veranda neighbors smoked. They politely inquired during sailaway if their smoke would bother me, to which I replied that I would let them know when and if. However, although we all spent hours daily on our verandas and shared several bottles of wine, I found that shifting my chair from one spot to another alleviated most of the smoke.

[mame42]

P. S. The smoke from the casino on the Maasdam was much more egregious. I found that I could not spend any amount of time on Deck 8.

[sail7seas]

I don't see it as being dismissive and condescending, FWIW. I find it to be as simple as that. I'm a non-smoker who likes a verandah.

 

We recently sent my MIL on a cruise with a friend. We didn't realize that HAL still allowed smoking on the verandahs. We didn't realize that the friend talked my scared-of-balconies MIL into a verandah, not because it was Alaska, but because the friend wanted to smoke. We got to hear about it, through my MIL's unusual-for-her coughs, when we picked her up.

 

We had considered a HAL cruise. We aren't any longer. Simple, easy. So I don't find the suggestion to not book a verandah or to not book HAL bad at all. I find it to be the simplest, easiest solution.

 

 

I see your point and understand why it might be simple and easy for you and some others, however, it is not quite so easy for those of us who have cruised with HAL exclusively for the last 20+ years. We have many friends on the ships. We like the comfort and familiarity especially as we age. I have over 80+ cruises with HAL, have recently become widowed and if I cruise again, it will be on my own. That certainly makes my circumstance not quite as easy and simple as it might be for others.

 

Perhaps that is why I felt that message was dismissive and condescending. We are all in different circumstances and cannot decide for others what is simple and easy. Because of my comfort zone on HAL, I will only consider cruising on HAL ships if I cruise again. With over 100 cruises (all the lines we sailed) we always had a verandah but for Zenith which had no verandahs. I would enjoy that verandah even more now.

 

 

 

 

They are probably also calculating how many smokers they've lost. The number of smokers who posted here 2 yrs ago have disappeared, I'm assuming they no longer cruise on HAL. It's not just the smokers they've lost but also their friends/relatives.

 

It would seem that HAL can no longer please smokers or non-smokers and there is still no provision made for smokers if decks are closed off due to bad weather. As the casino is for gamblers only, where else can smokers go?

 

 

Perhaps some of those smokers have passed on?

Perhaps they no longer cruise anywhere?

IF they are still cruising, why would HAL have lost them? HAL has a more liberal smoking policy than some of their competition. No smoking on verandahs on Celebrity or Princess, for example.

 

Edited May 26, 2014 by sail7seas

[Hlitner]

As someone who has never smoked but has been around smokers most of my life, I believe the solution of using one side of the ship for smokers would work. .................

 

QUOTE]

 

Interesting idea which we are sure has been considered. But the concept has a major flaw. With only a small minority being smokers (even among HAL cruisers) HAL might have a difficult time selling any cabins on the smoking side to non-smokers.

 

The result of such a policy could likely be many empty cabins on the smoking side. One can just imagine an HAL Promotion where they would offer 50% discounts to non-smokers willing to book a balcony cabin on the smoking side :)

 

 

Hank

P.S. DW had a thought that the ship might tip over because the non-smoking side would be full and the smoking side near empty.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Hlitner

[cruisin'girl]

NCL years ago had one-side-smoking, one-side-non-smoking cabins. Didn't work. Carnival tried a totally non-smoking ship. Didn't work.

[LindaM]

They are probably also calculating how many smokers they've lost. The number of smokers who posted here 2 yrs ago have disappeared, I'm assuming they no longer cruise on HAL. It's not just the smokers they've lost but also their friends/relatives.

 

It would seem that HAL can no longer please smokers or non-smokers and there is still no provision made for smokers if decks are closed off due to bad weather. As the casino is for gamblers only, where else can smokers go?

 

The reason why the smokers don't post is because they are tired of getting into it with people. If I were a smoker, I would not read any smoking threads. What would be the point??They are never going to win the argument. But...they ARE allowed to smoke on HAL verandahs. They've won!

 

The smokers are still here. Where else would they be? I think HAL is very accomodating by allowing them to smoke on verandahs. What other line could they have gone to? Doesn't make sense!

[sail7seas]

The reason why the smokers don't post is because they are tired of getting into it with people. If I were a smoker, I would not read any smoking threads. What would be the point??They are never going to win the argument. But...they ARE allowed to smoke on HAL verandahs. They've won!

 

The smokers are still here. Where else would they be? I think HAL is very accomodating by allowing them to smoke on verandahs. What other line could they have gone to? Doesn't make sense!

 

 

I agree except for the 'they've won' part. :)

I agree they've won, So far, as to verandahs. The conflict rages on. :D When we first started cruising, there were smoking

tables in MDR, Lido, every bar had smoking section, every cabin and verandah permitted smoking, casino, all decks, Lido Pool......

clearly, the non-smokers have won a number of bans on smoking being put into place.

 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2014 by sail7seas

[Chelly]

The reason why the smokers don't post is because they are tired of getting into it with people. If I were a smoker, I would not read any smoking threads. What would be the point??They are never going to win the argument. But...they ARE allowed to smoke on HAL verandahs. They've won!

 

The smokers are still here. Where else would they be? I think HAL is very accomodating by allowing them to smoke on verandahs. What other line could they have gone to? Doesn't make sense!

 

Just wondering...Does Carnival allow smoking on balconies? In state rooms?

[richwmn]

NCL years ago had one-side-smoking' date=' one-side-non-smoking cabins. Didn't work. Carnival tried a totally non-smoking ship. Didn't work.[/quote']

I know about the Carnival Ship, there were many reasons it didn't work out. Times have changed, it might just work now.

 

I was not aware of the NCL ship, could you provide a reference to it please?

 

As someone who has never smoked but has been around smokers most of my life, I believe the solution of using one side of the ship for smokers would work. .................

 

Interesting idea which we are sure has been considered. But the concept has a major flaw. With only a small minority being smokers (even among HAL cruisers) HAL might have a difficult time selling any cabins on the smoking side to non-smokers.

 

The result of such a policy could likely be many empty cabins on the smoking side. One can just imagine an HAL Promotion where they would offer 50% discounts to non-smokers willing to book a balcony cabin on the smoking side :)

 

 

Hank

P.S. DW had a thought that the ship might tip over because the non-smoking side would be full and the smoking side near empty.

 

As I mentioned in my earlier post, you (among others) seem to have the opinion that anyone that does not smoke shares your lack of tolerance toward smokers. It is not a black or white issue, there is a tremendous amount of grey involved. I, along with many other non smokers, would not be upset at being on the "smoking" side of the ship.

[cruisin'girl]

I know about the Carnival Ship, there were many reasons it didn't work out. Times have changed, it might just work now.

 

I was not aware of the NCL ship, could you provide a reference to it please?

 

.

Just a personal reference. When we sailed NCL in the late 80s-early 90s there was a smoking side and a non-smoking side. You chose when you booked your cabin. We then didn't sail NCL again so I have no idea when they stopped. We sailed NCL twice, once on the Dreamward when it was new and before the stretch when it became the Dream. Can't even remember the name of our first NCL ship.

Edited May 26, 2014 by cruisin'girl