Norwegian Cruise Line Bans Smoking on Balconies

[cookmg40]

A few years back several cruise lines eliminated smoking in cabins all about the same time. A similar situation with the balcony changes.

 

Considering that they are competing in the same markets, for the same passengers, it should not be surprising that their market research is drawing the same conclusions. You can expect that one company also has a pretty good idea about major changes that other lines are making.

 

The end result is the changes are due to competition and are intended to improve the companies ability to compete and make profits.

 

I expect HAL to also follow, but as with the ban on smoking in cabins, they will probably be about 6 months behind.

 

The reality is that fewer people smoke, more people are used to smoke free environments, more businesses restrict smoking, and more people are concerned about the health impacts of smoking. Bottom line no main stream cruise line wants to be perceived as the smokers cruise line. If there was big money in catering to smokers you would see a brand aimed exactly at that market.

 

Thanks for a logical, thought-out response! It's like a breath of fresh air!

[sunflower47]

3 an hour??...Lol...It doesn't matter, but I know quite a few people who smoke much more than that...Regardless, watching him come and go all evening just doesn't appeal to me.

 

 

I made a post back on page 5 that pretty much said the same thing-the coming and going is not much fun at all. My DH can be gone for a while once he goes to smoke. Starts chatting with other smokers, loses track of time, lights up another and another, etc., and eventually I may have to go hunt him down.

 

I don't really want to be scouting the cruise ship for him, it's not like walking out the front door of a hotel.

 

What happens on land vacations when you are at a hotel that doesn't allow smoking and he has to go outside? It's the same scenario for me there to. He is in and out several times.

 

Cancelling really isn't something I am thinking about since the in and out happens no matter where we go. It's just that the ship is so much bigger and cell phones will not be available to see where each other is at.

 

Smoking is a major addiction. It does affect everyone whether the smoker is really aware of that or not. It does not appeal to me either watching him come and go or smoke at all. I generally don't go to the smoking areas either.

[luvtheships]

The aft which is where we always book has been the worse for smoke because there is no wind. The smell and waffing of smoke is just disgusting let alone cigar smoke.

Thank god they have put a stop to ALL smoking on balconies. You can go smoke in the casino all you want.

 

In the casino only if the are sitting and actively playing

 

No more standing in there just to smoke

 

Per Ncl. Not me. Btw.

 

 

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[JulieAF]

I paid for a balcony on the Breakaway this past May and couldn't sit out there because I had chain smokers on the balconies on both sides. Not only that but I was on deck 8 just above the Waterfront where people walk and smoke. It was so unfair that my air was polluted whenever I stepped outside.

 

THANK YOU NCL!!!!!! Can't wait for my next cruise....with fresh air on my balcony!!

[untailored bostonian]

I completely agree Old Sole! As if the cruising industry is "concerned about the health & well-being of guests and crew" HA! No, they are just jumping on the "police state" bandwagon.

 

While some of the language of their statement, especially the add-on about e-cigarettes which could stand to be edited, this is more of a marketing decision and not concern over the health of the passengers. Smoking offends far more paying customers than the number of smokers that will have issues with these changes.

[Bulldog3777]

2 people have 2 different interpretations and you say 'you' read it correctly... who is 'you' that you are referring to?

 

this is like someone asking do you like blue or yellow and you respond 'yes'

 

could you tell us which 'you' you are referring to

 

Not YOU, that's for sure.

[untailored bostonian]

Police state....Please!!

 

 

Banning smoking has nothing to do with Big Brother.

 

Exactly! This interpretation is just "silly speak".

[untailored bostonian]

I imagine the e-cig market goes even higher now................

As one can vape right in the cabin , open the door immediately and no one knows forays there just is no smoke or odor

 

Do e-cigs set of smoke detectors?

[littlebluebook]

Unlike other things people are wailing about big brother trigger to clamp down on, smoking is invasive and affects other people around you. Someone chewing down on bacon, or enjoying a drink or two is not affecting you, your personal space or your health. I love having a balcony but everytime we have had smokers next to us and we cannot enjoy it, sit out there or leave a door open when they are puffing away. It is inconsiderate to others because you are affecting us whether you mean to or not. I think it is a sensible idea. I don't care whether you smoke or not, it's your choice too, but it's not your right to assault all my senses with your cigarette smoke surrounding me in my cabin,

 

Some other people have written amazing responses about cruise ships bottom line for business (the 80% non smokers etc)

 

Im over the moon! My husband and I will be very happy to sail ncl in November!

[Blondie008]

Do e-cigs set of smoke detectors?

 

No - they dont.

The rule on banning them inside cabins is stupid.

Other cruiselines allow them in the privacy of your cabin.

I have used mine (zero nicotine shisha pen) in MANY non smoking areas - airports, on planes etc - never ever had an issue

Its a ridiculous rule

We havent smoked in over two years - going on the transatlantic which leaves 26th October - I asked the question of NCL UK if it would affect our cruise and the reply was that it will come into place on November 1st (rather grey answer) so looks like halfway through our cruise they will change policy??? I dont think this person had her info correct - but will see - UK NCL is never a good source of info.

I am waiting on confirmation of this - to see - the wording says sailings ON and AFTER 1st November - which makes me think we are okay - but the reply I got was very "grey"..:(

[Blondie008]

I asked the question of NCL UK - our sailing is 26th October

(we do not smoke it was in relation to use of ecigs)

I was given a very grey answer merely stating effective as of 1st November -

as clear as mud. It says it will come into effect on all sailings effective 1st November which may imply that they will change it mid cruise?

If anyone in USA cares to call Miami please let us know??

We use zero nicotine shisha pens - no harm to anyone in privacy of our own cabin - its just stupid - other cruise lines allow the use of them in private. Its not a make or break for us , we are no longer dependent on nicotine - we just enjoy our shisha pens...

Edited July 17, 2014 by Blondie008

[untailored bostonian]

Okay, I get it. So everyone is okay with businesses and employers telling others that they can't smoke, what they can eat, drink, weigh, how active they can be. And I get it that these can be health problems. But is it really anyone else's business? And everyone is okay with it happening to someone else. But they go overboard when it happens to them. So go ahead and think that it's okay to do this, it will only be a matter of time until it happens to you. The US is no longer the land of personal freedoms. It's the nanny state where government, employers, and businesses try to control the things they should stay out of, and stay out of the common sense things they should control.

 

Really?

[negc]

I am a cigar smoker and enjoy smoking on my balcony late at night, always made sure i am not disturbing anyone ..even booking cabins at the back of the ship. What would be so difficult in making one side of the ship smoke free and the other to allow smoking on balconies .. I did cruise with NCL many times and currently hold 3 future cruise certificates, which i am now going to return. Back to a nice beach resort in the med or caribbean.

Never heard a single complain about people smoking at land based resort balconies .. funny world it is in 2014 ...

 

Since the number of smokers in the general population is regularly declining, allotting the same number of balcony cabins to smokers (one side of the ship) and non-smokers (the other side) wouldn't be justified and they would likely have to sail with empty cabins on the smoking side. Adjusting the number of balcony rooms to fit the number of smokers on a particular cruise would mean that some non-smokers would end up in rooms previously used by smokers and they would not be pleased, as anyone who has stayed in a hotel room previously occupied by smokers can attest to. Besides it is much simpler to just ban smoking on all balconies and "simple" is always preferable to "complicated".

[JasonV1]

Someone stole some of my thunder already but...

 

Only 20% of US adults smoke, and the number continues to decline. The WSJ had a good article on this yesterday. The article is pretty interesting.

 

NCL can say all they want about health, it is just a good business decision for them and other lines since 80% of US adults do not smoke. They wouldn't have done this if they felt it would cause a net loss in revenue.

 

 

I am a cigar smoker and enjoy smoking on my balcony late at night, always made sure i am not disturbing anyone ..even booking cabins at the back of the ship. What would be so difficult in making one side of the ship smoke free and the other to allow smoking on balconies .. I did cruise with NCL many times and currently hold 3 future cruise certificates, which i am now going to return. Back to a nice beach resort in the med or caribbean.

Never heard a single complain about people smoking at land based resort balconies .. funny world it is in 2014 ...

[negc]

Glycerin and vanilla, no nicotine That's it.

 

If that is the case, your e-cigarettes are the exception rather than the rule. Most of them include nicotine, probably because of its addictive quality as well as the fact that many smokers who are trying to quit need that dose of nicotine and can only get it with the patch or an e-cigarette that has nicotine in it. Besides they don't need to examine each e-digarette to determine whether or not nicotine is present when it is simply easier to just ban all of them wherever regular tobacco products are prohibited.

[untailored bostonian]

Do e-cigs set of smoke detectors?

 

No - they dont.

The rule on banning them inside cabins is stupid.

Other cruiselines allow them in the privacy of your cabin.

I have used mine (zero nicotine shisha pen) in MANY non smoking areas - airports, on planes etc - never ever had an issue

Its a ridiculous rule

We havent smoked in over two years - going on the transatlantic which leaves 26th October - I asked the question of NCL UK if it would affect our cruise and the reply was that it will come into place on November 1st (rather grey answer) so looks like halfway through our cruise they will change policy??? I dont think this person had her info correct - but will see - UK NCL is never a good source of info.

I am waiting on confirmation of this - to see - the wording says sailings ON and AFTER 1st November - which makes me think we are okay - but the reply I got was very "grey"..:(

 

I understand that secondhand smoke can offend, and in some cases, negatively affect other people even if it is just the residue on clothing. I do not understand the risks to the smoker of smoking e-cigs. That is an open question that is being debated and explored as the market for these products expand. Lacking evidence of secondhand effects from these products at this time, I have a more open mind towards their use.

 

So .. no smoke detector issues? Hmm?? Does this mean the stoners can smoke their hash oil with out any issues with the detectors?

[Blondie008]

I understand that secondhand smoke can offend, and in some cases, negatively affect other people even if it is just the residue on clothing. I do not understand the risks to the smoker of smoking e-cigs. That is an open question that is being debated and explored as the market for these products expand. Lacking evidence of secondhand effects from these products at this time, I have a more open mind towards their use.

 

So .. no smoke detector issues? Hmm?? Does this mean the stoners can smoke their hash oil with out any issues with the detectors?

 

I've no idea about hash oil and the use of it, One has to assume drugs on board are illegal anyway?

I know ours are shisha pens - zero nicotine - and they dont set off smoke detectors. I cant really speak for USA products as I do not know them well but would imagine much the same. Smoke is smoke - steam is steam. When one cooks in a kitchen does steam set off a detector - so I honestly cannot see any form of ecig setting off a detector.

Certainly has never been an issue for us.

[Blondie008]

If that is the case, your e-cigarettes are the exception rather than the rule. Most of them include nicotine, probably because of its addictive quality as well as the fact that many smokers who are trying to quit need that dose of nicotine and can only get it with the patch or an e-cigarette that has nicotine in it. Besides they don't need to examine each e-digarette to determine whether or not nicotine is present when it is simply easier to just ban all of them wherever regular tobacco products are prohibited.

 

 

Actually a lot of ex smokers move on to zero nicotine shisha pens - the idea of using ecigs to quit smoking is to start on a high doze of nicotine and reduce it. We ENJOY our shisha pens - and it beats reaching for candy or nibbles - we no longer need them - we just enjoy them. Zero nicotine is hugely popular now. Two years smoke free and never looked back!

[nbsjcruiser]

The aft which is where we always book has been the worse for smoke because there is no wind. The smell and waffing of smoke is just disgusting let alone cigar smoke.

Thank god they have put a stop to ALL smoking on balconies. You can go smoke in the casino all you want.

 

Have you ever had an aft balcony? If you did you'd know that in a great many instances black soot deposits itself on the deck and chairs from the stack. And you're worried about a cigar smell that will dissipate quickly?

 

Look, I don't smoke but my God I'm tired of hearing people complain that their neighbor had a smoke or a cigar and it ruined their cruise. The ship is sailing along at 20-24 knots. The smoke disappears so fast you can barely recognize it when you're out there. So much exaggeration and drama.

[KateQ22003]

Have you ever had an aft balcony? If you did you'd know that in a great many instances black soot deposits itself on the deck and chairs from the stack. And you're worried about a cigar smell that will dissipate quickly?

 

Look, I don't smoke but my God I'm tired of hearing people complain that their neighbor had a smoke or a cigar and it ruined their cruise. The ship is sailing along at 20-24 knots. The smoke disappears so fast you can barely recognize it when you're out there. So much exaggeration and drama.

 

Completely false. The smoke certainly doesn't disappear fast, and it has a tendency to fill your cabin if your door is open. I don't care one way or another, but let's at least be honest.

[gemsm]

There will be many smokers who will be upset and choose not to cruise as a result, but it is a numbers game for cruise lines and decreasing numbers of smokers, increasing public restrictions elsewhere and a general trend toward smoke free environments across the board will be coming to sea in the near future.

 

Actually just so you know...the smoking rate is actually increasing in the United States. Back up to 20% from 18% according to current estimates.

[luvtheships]

Actually just so you know...the smoking rate is actually increasing in the United States. Back up to 20% from 18% according to current estimates.

 

Influx of new immigrants I would imagine that are now being counted?

 

Many other possibilities as well

 

Not saying there hasn't been an increase just sayin that to understand valid stats one must understand where the variance( increase or decrease) came from so just saying there has been an increase is meaningless unless you know why it happened

 

Also where did your % come from?

 

Big tobacco or big brother ? Lol but it makes a huge difference

 

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Edited July 17, 2014 by luvtheships

[luvtheships]

Have you ever had an aft balcony? If you did you'd know that in a great many instances black soot deposits itself on the deck and chairs from the stack. And you're worried about a cigar smell that will dissipate quickly?

 

Look, I don't smoke but my God I'm tired of hearing people complain that their neighbor had a smoke or a cigar and it ruined their cruise. The ship is sailing along at 20-24 knots. The smoke disappears so fast you can barely recognize it when you're out there. So much exaggeration and drama.

 

Completely wrong

 

 

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[Macadian]

Until you are at sea, with smokers on either side of your balcony, one is in no position to judge the impact. I have, and on one cruise it virtually precluded the use of our balcony for much of the time, hence our move to 'X'. This new policy will ensure we will once more be cruising with NCL as we have never had a poor cruise with them, other than smoking issues.

[declansdad]

non-smoker. I think this is a very bad idea. For those that think it's a good idea, just remember that your legal freedoms will be next on the list of things to be banned. Once the door is open, it's hard to shut. Oh, and as an example, your employers are already well on the way to trying to control what you eat, how much you weigh, and how active you need to be. What will be next?

 

 

wow!