Norwegian Cruise Line Bans Smoking on Balconies

[GrabMyWrist]

Interesting article on E-Cigs.

 

http://acsh.org/2014/07/international-review-e-cig-studies-shows-low-risk-huge-potential-benefits

 

Allowing EC to compete with cigarettes in the market-place might decrease smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Regulating EC as strictly as cigarettes, or even more strictly as some regulators propose, is not warranted on current evidence. Health professionals may consider advising smokers unable or unwilling to quit through other routes to switch to EC as a safer alternative to smoking and a possible pathway to complete cessation of nicotine use.

[richstowe]

I obviously ruffled feathers by a simple question that BTW I got answered. I did not criticize that poster, give an opinion on whether I thought the poster was right or wrong. I didn't say that poster could not express their views to the company or otherwise. So I'm not really sure why everyone seems to be jumping on this. :confused:

 

To answer your question, I have been "loyal" to many companies in my lifetime. And by definition of the word that is possible. And if you feel you only wish to be loyal to loved ones, have at her. I could care less.

 

Seriously folks, I guess this is why so many people have low posting counts but have been a member for longer, you ask a simple question and everyone seems to want to interpret it in a negative way.

Hmm. It seems I ruffled your feathers by asking a simple question to you.

I did not criticize you or give an opinion on whether I thought you were right or wrong.

I do however have another question. You have 4 posts as Skubi. How many posts do you have in all ?

[violettewaits]

Perhaps I am beating a dead horse in even replying to this very long, very active thread, but I am dismayed at NCL's change in policy.

 

I am a very casual smoker who specifically booked my first cruise ever with NCL because I would be able to sit on the balcony, enjoy a cocktail, and smoke a cigarette. This is exactly what I was able to do on my first sailing. When I wanted to book another cruise for myself and my parents, I knew I wanted it to be on NCL - partially because of this added advantage of being able to occasionally smoke on my balcony...and when I say occasionally, I mean smoking only with a cocktail, in the evenings. I am not a "full-time" smoker.

 

Since I have already put down a deposit for a March sailing, I feel like I am stuck in an unfair position - being that when I booked my cruise, the policy was different, and no change to it was announced. I understand that I can go to the designated areas to smoke a cigarette, but I truly feel that smoking there, you are so much more likely to bother other cruisers. At least on the Gem. The smoking areas are so high traffic, especially with small children, that I would absolutely rather smoke on my balcony the handful of times that I do, as opposed to being out there.

 

When I sailed in January on the Gem, in a mini-suite (deck 11), I got to talking to the people in the cabin right next to ours. They mentioned they were heavy smokers and to let them know if the scent ever bothered us. We were downwind of their cabin, and I spent a lot of time on the balcony reading. Maybe once or twice I smelled cigarette smoke wafting in the air, and it certainly wasn't lasting enough to be bothersome.

 

I know there is likely nothing that can be done, at this point, but I am really dismayed that I have to adhere to this rule even though I booked my cruise under different regulations. I know NCL doesn't "owe" me anything but I mean, how would you feel if you had booked a sailing under one set of specific terms only to have that changed on you? If I didn't have a sailing booked, I wouldn't be as upset.

 

Is it even worth it to contact them?

[NLH Arizona]

Perhaps I am beating a dead horse in even replying to this very long, very active thread, but I am dismayed at NCL's change in policy.

 

I am a very casual smoker who specifically booked my first cruise ever with NCL because I would be able to sit on the balcony, enjoy a cocktail, and smoke a cigarette. This is exactly what I was able to do on my first sailing. When I wanted to book another cruise for myself and my parents, I knew I wanted it to be on NCL - partially because of this added advantage of being able to occasionally smoke on my balcony...and when I say occasionally, I mean smoking only with a cocktail, in the evenings. I am not a "full-time" smoker.

 

Since I have already put down a deposit for a March sailing, I feel like I am stuck in an unfair position - being that when I booked my cruise, the policy was different, and no change to it was announced. I understand that I can go to the designated areas to smoke a cigarette, but I truly feel that smoking there, you are so much more likely to bother other cruisers. At least on the Gem. The smoking areas are so high traffic, especially with small children, that I would absolutely rather smoke on my balcony the handful of times that I do, as opposed to being out there.

 

When I sailed in January on the Gem, in a mini-suite (deck 11), I got to talking to the people in the cabin right next to ours. They mentioned they were heavy smokers and to let them know if the scent ever bothered us. We were downwind of their cabin, and I spent a lot of time on the balcony reading. Maybe once or twice I smelled cigarette smoke wafting in the air, and it certainly wasn't lasting enough to be bothersome.

 

I know there is likely nothing that can be done, at this point, but I am really dismayed that I have to adhere to this rule even though I booked my cruise under different regulations. I know NCL doesn't "owe" me anything but I mean, how would you feel if you had booked a sailing under one set of specific terms only to have that changed on you? If I didn't have a sailing booked, I wouldn't be as upset.

 

Is it even worth it to contact them?

Sorry for you situation, but a cruise line can change their policies at anytime. Since your cruise isn't until March, you can always cancel, get your deposit back and book a cruise line that allows smoking on their balconies.

[Macadian]

I have visions of such as HAL becoming a veritable 'Smoke stack'...How long before they follow the herd? Now if I was a betting man.....☺

[violettewaits]

Sorry for you situation, but a cruise line can change their policies at anytime. Since your cruise isn't until March, you can always cancel, get your deposit back and book a cruise line that allows smoking on their balconies.

 

Would I actually be able to? Everywhere I looked, they mention that if I cancel, I will lose my deposit, and that's quite a loss for me to take, since I have two cabins booked on this sailing. I will check again.

 

I understand that policies can change at any time, but still think it's rather frustrating as a booked customer to have it happen after a reservation is made with different expectations. Of course if I can cancel and retrieve the sum of my deposit, that would lessen the frustrations.

[RDC1]

Interesting article on E-Cigs.

 

http://acsh.org/2014/07/international-review-e-cig-studies-shows-low-risk-huge-potential-benefits

 

The article referenced must not have done a very complete literature search. For example it claims "to date there is no evidence of regular use by never-smokers or by non-smoking children"

 

Which ignores the results of several studies referenced in a literature review

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/129/19/1972.full

 

Contemporary Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine

E-Cigarettes

A Scientific Review

Rachel Grana, PhD, MPH; Neal Benowitz, MD; Stanton A. Glantz, PhD

+ Author Affiliations

 

Choi and Forster31 followed up a cohort of Midwestern young adults (mean age, 24.1 years) who had never used e-cigarettes from 2010 to 2011 and found that 21.6% of baseline current smokers, 11.9% of baseline former smokers, and 2.9% of baseline nonsmokers reported having ever used e-cigarettes at follow-up. Those who believed at baseline that e-cigarettes could help with quitting smoking and perceived e-cigarettes to be less harmful than cigarettes were more likely to report experimenting with e-cigarettes at follow-up (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–3.04; and adjusted OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.49–3.69, respectively).

 

Data on e-cigarette use among adolescents are more limited but, like for adults, show rapid increases in awareness and use in 5 countries (United States, Poland, Latvia, Finland, and Korea), with higher rates of trial and current use in European countries than the United States or Korea.9,10,32,33 In Korea, youth ever use of e-cigarettes rose from 0.5% in 2008 to 9.4% in 2011,10 and in the United States, it rose from 3.3% in 2011 to 6.8% in 2012.9 As with adult population-based studies, data suggest that e-cigarette use is most appealing and prevalent among youth who are also experimenting with or are current users of tobacco cigarettes. Dual use with conventional cigarettes is the predominant pattern of e-cigarette use: 61% in US middle school students and 80% among US high school students in 2011.9 These results indicate rapid market penetration of e-cigarettes among youth, with trial among US high school students (10.0%) in 2012 even higher than the 2011 rate for adults (6.2%).5 Despite a law prohibiting e-cigarette sales to minors, e-cigarette use among Utah youth (grades 8, 10, and 12) tripled between 2011 and 2013, with youth 3 times more likely to report current e-cigarette use than adults.34

 

Although dual use with cigarettes is high, some youth experimenting with e-cigarettes have never tried a tobacco cigarette, which indicates that some youth are initiating use of nicotine, an addictive drug, with e-cigarettes. In 2012, 20.3% of middle school and 7.2% of high school ever e-cigarette users reported never smoking conventional cigarettes.9 Similarly, in 2011 in Korea, 15% of students in grades 7 through 12 who had ever used e-cigarettes had never smoked a cigarette.10 The Utah Department of Health found that 32% of ever e-cigarette users reported that they had never smoked conventional cigarettes.34

[NLH Arizona]

Would I actually be able to? Everywhere I looked, they mention that if I cancel, I will lose my deposit, and that's quite a loss for me to take, since I have two cabins booked on this sailing. I will check again.

 

I understand that policies can change at any time, but still think it's rather frustrating as a booked customer to have it happen after a reservation is made with different expectations. Of course if I can cancel and retrieve the sum of my deposit, that would lessen the frustrations.

If you cancel prior to final payment, you can get your deposit back, unless you went through a travel agent and they have a cancellation policy that differs from NCL. I've had to cancel a NCL cruise and got 100% of my deposit back.

 

Hope something works out for you.

[richstowe]

Would I actually be able to? Everywhere I looked, they mention that if I cancel, I will lose my deposit, and that's quite a loss for me to take, since I have two cabins booked on this sailing. I will check again.

 

I understand that policies can change at any time, but still think it's rather frustrating as a booked customer to have it happen after a reservation is made with different expectations. Of course if I can cancel and retrieve the sum of my deposit, that would lessen the frustrations.

You get back 100% of your deposit up to final cancellation date.

There are a few TA's who charge a small cancellation fee but if you booked direct, that is not an issue.

Not too late to quit smoking. Never too late to quit smoking. Good luck.

Edited August 5, 2014 by richstowe

[Warm Breezes]

See RichStowe - you have an option/options. Smokers do not. Wouldn't it be great if EVERYONE had a choice? If HAL goes no smoking on balconies, there is an entire vacation lifestyle that is quite sadly after 20+ cruises off the books for me.

 

Actually smokers do have the same options everyone else has :rolleyes:. Nothing is stopping you from going anywhere on the ship, just like anyone else. You have the option to go whereever you want. We all have the same options there. There are just certain things we all can't do in certain areas. There are certain areas for you to play basketball, swim, play on a slot machine, and many other activities you choose to partake in. While the cruiselines limit where you can do these activities, you do have the choice to do them in their designated areas. Just like smoking.

 

Smoking is an activity option that you choose to do. Your option to smoke has not been taken away, the cruiseline has just limited the areas where it can be done. It is still your choice/option to smoke or not. You have not lost the use of your balcony. It is still there for you to use the same way everyone else does. You just are not allowed to smoke there... nor is anyone else.

[NLH Arizona]

NCL called me with regard to my email and in the conversation, I was advised that the $250 fee is per incident, not per cruise and that NCL intends to enforce the policy.

[jackson bernard]

Yes, I understand it is a never ending battle because some people refuse to believe that the world doesn't revolve around them. Some people seem to think that a business can't change the rules temporarily when in fact they can and the customer has no choice in the matter. Of course, they can (and I suspect do) complain about it till the cows come home and it will probably ruin their entire cruise, but a business can do pretty much whatever it wants as long as they don't violate certain laws. Temporarily relocating the smoking area for ship maintenance is not a violation of one of those laws. I will continue to follow the rules of those in charge instead of listening to some passenger whine because the ones in charge decided to change something.

 

You go girl....I am not even a smoker and I agree with you. Some if us non smokers are such whiner they make me sick!

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

[meglet]

You can choose to wake up with your coffee in your jammies and robe (or whatever) on your balcony. I can not. It feels like this - have you ever been a houseguest who typically wakes up with coffee? Gotta have coffee, even before a shower. Wasn't it kind of a pain that when you woke up you had to make yourself some degree of presentable before showing yourself in the kitchen to have/make coffee? I'm even talking about family situations. I don't feel comfortable showing up in the kitchen of my sister in law's house in my nightshirt even though I'm pretty sure my brother in law has seen a lot more and a lot more better looking. I really don't want to pay 5K to not be able to enjoy my vacation this way.

[JulieAF]

Color me impressed!

 

I just received a voicemail from Mr. Sheehan's office. It was in response to my email. I never gave them my cellphone number, so they must have looked me up by name!! They wanted to thank me for my positive feedback about the policy change, and for being a loyal NCL passenger.

 

:)

[cjnwildfire]

You go girl....I am not even a smoker and I agree with you. Some if us non smokers are such whiner they make me sick!

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

 

You give me hope that all people have not become self centered YayYays!

[JulieAF]

You can choose to wake up with your coffee in your jammies and robe (or whatever) on your balcony. I can not. It feels like this - have you ever been a houseguest who typically wakes up with coffee? Gotta have coffee, even before a shower. Wasn't it kind of a pain that when you woke up you had to make yourself some degree of presentable before showing yourself in the kitchen to have/make coffee? I'm even talking about family situations. I don't feel comfortable showing up in the kitchen of my sister in law's house in my nightshirt even though I'm pretty sure my brother in law has seen a lot more and a lot more better looking. I really don't want to pay 5K to not be able to enjoy my vacation this way.

 

I understand, but no one's health/well-being is affected if I sit on my balcony in my jammies.

[jackson bernard]

You can choose to wake up with your coffee in your jammies and robe (or whatever) on your balcony. I can not. It feels like this - have you ever been a houseguest who typically wakes up with coffee? Gotta have coffee, even before a shower. Wasn't it kind of a pain that when you woke up you had to make yourself some degree of presentable before showing yourself in the kitchen to have/make coffee? I'm even talking about family situations. I don't feel comfortable showing up in the kitchen of my sister in law's house in my nightshirt even though I'm pretty sure my brother in law has seen a lot more and a lot more better looking. I really don't want to pay 5K to not be able to enjoy my vacation this way.

 

I dont blame you.

 

I was on princess and they apparently dont allow smoking on balconies but they do in the casino and a smoking room.

 

Of course the smokers congregated in an area inside and from all the people opening and closing the door you could smell it halfway down the hall. It never really bother me that much but I can see how others wouls become inflamed!

 

Hope the same dont happen here.

 

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[EyeSeaEwe]

You can choose to wake up with your coffee in your jammies and robe (or whatever) on your balcony. I can not.

 

 

Yes you can.

[Aquahound]

Color me impressed!

I just received a voicemail from Mr. Sheehan's office. It was in response to my email. I never gave them my cellphone number, so they must have looked me up by name!! They wanted to thank me for my positive feedback about the policy change, and for being a loyal NCL passenger.

 

Last week, I sent a letter to both CCL and NCL thanking them for this new policy, as I did when RCI did it, Celebrity and Princess. I just received a very nice response from NCL in the mail. I'm not going to share it because I don't feel like typing it all out but lets just say, I'm happy they actually listen to and respond to passenger concerns. Bravo NCL. :D

 

Thank you...to both of you! :)

[Warm Breezes]

You can choose to wake up with your coffee in your jammies and robe (or whatever) on your balcony. I can not. It feels like this - have you ever been a houseguest who typically wakes up with coffee? Gotta have coffee, even before a shower. Wasn't it kind of a pain that when you woke up you had to make yourself some degree of presentable before showing yourself in the kitchen to have/make coffee? I'm even talking about family situations. I don't feel comfortable showing up in the kitchen of my sister in law's house in my nightshirt even though I'm pretty sure my brother in law has seen a lot more and a lot more better looking. I really don't want to pay 5K to not be able to enjoy my vacation this way.

There is no one stopping you from waking up with your coffee in jammies and robe and going out on your balcony except for you and your choice to have cigarette with your coffee. Again your choice. You are the one who chooses to have a smoke at that time instead of waiting until you are dressed and ready to go. It's just like if I wake up hungry and craving a hot breakfast. I'm not going to get out of bed and go up in my jammies and robe to get a hot breakfast like I would at home. I'm going to get dressed before going. Yes that may be a pain but if I'm hungry enough I'm going to get up and get dressed. If you want your cigarette bad enough you'll get up and get dressed to go to the smoking area to have it.....that still doesn't stop you from stepping out and enjoying your coffee on your balcony, just like everyone else does who has one.

[Tutankhamen]

Having a "no ecig use in the cabin" rule is about as productive as having a "no passing gas in your cabin" rule. Someone please tell we what they are accomplishing by having the no e-cig use in the cabin rule?

 

It is a crazy rule.

 

BTW, human gas is made up of the following:

Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Carbon dioxide, Oxygen, Methane

Edited August 5, 2014 by Tutankhamen

[jackson bernard]

Color me impressed!

 

I just received a voicemail from Mr. Sheehan's office. It was in response to my email. I never gave them my cellphone number, so they must have looked me up by name!! They wanted to thank me for my positive feedback about the policy change, and for being a loyal NCL passenger.

 

:)

 

Don't be that impressed. He invited the rest of us to dinner!

 

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[NLH Arizona]

You can choose to wake up with your coffee in your jammies and robe (or whatever) on your balcony. I can not.

Sure you can, no one is stopping you from going on your balcony in your jammies to drink coffee.

[NLH Arizona]

Color me impressed!

 

I just received a voicemail from Mr. Sheehan's office. It was in response to my email. I never gave them my cellphone number, so they must have looked me up by name!! They wanted to thank me for my positive feedback about the policy change, and for being a loyal NCL passenger.

 

:)

I was impressed and surprised when I got the call. I didn't put my phone number on the email, so they looked me up. We had a very nice talk, I had to leave, so it was only about 12 or 13 minutes. She told me that the decision was not made because of the Carnival announcement and that they had been discussing it for sometime, because of the overwhelming feedback they had been getting for some time. I was surprised when she said the $250 cleaning fee was per incident. We also talked about the casino and she said the active player rule will be enforced and agreed that if NCL saw a drop in revenue, they would be doing research as to why. Very impressed with NCL's customer service, since this was the first time I've ever emailed them.

[JulieAF]

Don't be that impressed. He invited the rest of us to dinner!

 

Awesome!! Enjoy your dinner. Lol. Too bad you won't be able to relax with a cigarette on your balcony afterwards. :p. ;) :D