Smoking - Yacht Club - Europe?

[OzCanuck]

Ok - so the intent of this is not to start some sort of deep conversation about smoking, I am just looking for some objective comments.

 

We are considering a 14 day cruise on the Preziosa in 2017. We are all non-smokers, and will be traveling with a 5-yr old, in the Yacht club. I have cruised many times on NCL and traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, South America. There is your context.

 

In general, smoking does not bother ME much. I have never smoked. I prefer to be in places where there is no smoking. But whatever, I can live with it. My wife, and two other friends probably feel somewhat differently.

 

So if you are a non-smoker, would you avoid MSC in Europe? Would it spoil your vacation (speak from experience please..)

 

Is smoking allowed inside in the Yacht Club? In that lounge area? What about other areas of the ship?

 

If it makes a difference, we are looking at the North Cape/Longbearyen sailing so I imagine we will be inside a good part of the time.

 

Thanks in advance for your friendly, thoughtful comments.

[1fifthavenue]

The newer MSC Ships, such as Fantasia, Preziosa and Splendida are non-smoking with the exception of designated areas, you should have no problem really. There are a few areas inside and outside where smoking is permitted, but these are usually on their own or over the other side of the ship from non-smoking areas.

 

For example, the casino, which you wouldn't take your child in anyway, permits smoking, there is also a smoking room, and on the top deck along one side smoking is permitted

[Capricruiser]

There is a small smoking area in the Yacht Club Top Sail Lounge and another area up in the One Pool deck. The lounge area is well ventilated so you can't smell smoke in the rest of the lounge. Other than these, smoking is not permitted in the cabins or the YC restaurant.

Remember at the present time Yacht Club is present on only four MSC ships: Fantasia, Splendida, Divina, and Preziosa. The previous post addresses non YC areas of the ships.

[OzCanuck]

Thanks for your helpful replies.

[AmoMondo]

I hate smoking. It sets my asthma off. You'll. See from my signature I've sailed MSC a fair few times in Europe. It is far more restricted than it used to be and I find it fairly easy to avoid.

[Iluvcruising2]

I sailed on the MSC Preziosa our of Genoa and didn't have an issue with smoking. Seems to be very restricted, or not many smoked on my sailing.

[dst87]

It was interesting to read this thread. My husband and I are sailing in YC on Splendida in September and we would generally prefer not to be around smokers where possible.

 

I hope the Top Sail lounge is well ventilated if there is a smokers section there. Love to hear more experiences on this particular topic, so subscribing to the thread :)

[xxHadleyxx]

Great thread--I honestly was not thinking about a more European based line possibly being less restrictive with indoor smoking when we booked (we are also in the YC on Splendida in September and then in balcony rooms in Magnifica over Christmas).

 

Smoking in one part of the lounge sounds worrisome--it is good to hear it is well ventilated--I'd like to hear from others on that.

 

So far it sounds like, other than in the YC lounge, the policy is similar to those on other lines and shouldn't be much of an issue.

 

Thank you all who commented.

[Hunterri]

Just back from a week in the YC on the Preziosa. As Australians the smoking really got to us. It stank. As an asthmatic, it really played havoc with my lungs and I got sick. But that is me, other people may react differently.

 

We really didn't notice the smoking in the Top Sail Lounge as it was on the opposite side to where we usually sat and came in (it was on the even cabin side of the ship), there are cigars in the drinks menu. Once we figured out (thank you stinky cigar smoker) that it was there we moved further away again!

 

People can smoke on their balconies, that lead to a few quick trips inside after sitting out enjoying the view, they are not however permitted to smoke in their cabins, so in the residential parts of the ship you seldom notice it.

 

Avoided the casino, hated being taken through it to the restaurant. We quickly discovered that walking the residential decks was a good way to avoid smoking sections of the ship.

 

And tours, the moment some got off the bus they lit up.

 

As much as we love Europe, we hate the smoking.

 

The Yacht Club was a fabulous experience all told.

Edited June 7, 2016 by Hunterri

[plucasana]

People can smoke on their balconies, .

 

 

 

they can but they shouldn't:

"Because of the specific and proven risk of fire, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is not permitted at any time in cabins or on cabin balconies. If evidence of smoking is found, a special cleaning fee of 70 euro will be charged to the Guest’s account. "

 

on the divina we had smoking neighbours. Once we spoke about the annoyance of that to our butler Putra, and he recommended we should report the smokers immediately.

I know we should have done so, but somehow even though they are the ones who are unrespectful and egoistic, I cannot get myself to tell on them...

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mairead224]

I hang my head in shame and say that my husband and I are both smokers. Saying that we have 2 young daughters and ironically keep them away from smoking areas at all cost!!!

 

I will say that having sailed in MSC twice now with a third coming up in June, I was amazed to find so many smoking areas especially the bar above the casino where you could easily smell it. Also I did find neighbors smoking on their balcony which is something I wouldn't dream of. Did it hamper our cruise no .... would I prefer as a smoker to have to walk 5 mins to a designated smoking area so my kids don't have to inhale 2nd hand smoke ... NO PROBLEM!!!

[deliver42]

I'm in the US,so I hope I'm not intruding. On the Divina in the YC, the only place to smoke in port side at the 1 Pool. There is no inside smoking anywhere except the cigar lounge. Balcony smoking is also prohibited. The only other place to smoke on this ship is starboard side by the pool. The area is very well marked. In total, we're talking less than 1% of the ship. I only put this in for comparison, since I've never been to Europe.

[dst87]

I'm in the US,so I hope I'm not intruding. On the Divina in the YC, the only place to smoke in port side at the 1 Pool. There is no inside smoking anywhere except the cigar lounge. Balcony smoking is also prohibited. The only other place to smoke on this ship is starboard side by the pool. The area is very well marked. In total, we're talking less than 1% of the ship. I only put this in for comparison, since I've never been to Europe.

 

It definitely sounds like their policy varies based on where the ship is deployed. Someone currently on Splendida in Europe has confirmed to me that there is a small area of the Top Sail Lounge where smoking is allowed.

 

I guess the US market is less smokey than the European market. As someone who lives in the UK I'd suggest we're generally more aligned with the US than the rest of Europe on this!

[BermudaBound2014]

I'm in the US,so I hope I'm not intruding. On the Divina in the YC, the only place to smoke in port side at the 1 Pool. There is no inside smoking anywhere except the cigar lounge. Balcony smoking is also prohibited. The only other place to smoke on this ship is starboard side by the pool. The area is very well marked. In total, we're talking less than 1% of the ship. I only put this in for comparison, since I've never been to Europe.

 

Since the Divina was brought up, I must share my Divina experience as it was much different than Deliver42. The smoking policies are different between Europe and the US (more smokey in Europe), but I thought other than the smoke-free casino (which is amazing), the Divina was the 'smokiest' ship I have been on sailing from the US in years in terms of OPEN DECK public smoking space. 50% of the pool decks are devoted to smokers. The ENTIRE port side of deck 14 aqua park pool (50%) and deck 15 infinity pool (50%) was so smokey it was hard to avoid. And given that the entire starboard side of deck 14 pool area is devoted to shopping tables during sea days so you can't set up loungers, the ability to avoid smoke and be outside was challenging. To top it off, I had a smoker on my balcony :(.

 

I think guests of MSC should understand that this is a European line with a substantial population of European cruisers (even when sailing from a US port); therefore it is reasonable to expect more smoking. Again, the oxymoron is that the Divina had the ONLY non-smoking casino I've ever sailed in which was great!

 

Your mileage may vary :)