bayonnejoe Posted March 9, 2016 #1 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I am looking for some opinions from NCL cruisers about the smoking environment in the NCL Gem casino. DW and I have sailed Celebrity almost exclusively for years now. As you may know, smoking is prohibited in their casinos. We very recently cruised on the RCCL Anthem of the Seas. Their smoking policy in the casino is much like NCL. I found the casino to be unusable because of this. We do not spend endless hours in the casino but we may spend as much as an hour or two each day in there. We have a weeklong cruise scheduled for later this year on the Gem, and I would consider the inability to use the casino a big factor in deciding whether or not to go. I would appreciate any input. Thank you all in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol++ Posted March 9, 2016 #2 Share Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) Lots of cigarette smoke in the Gem casino. It is bad, in my opinion. But, the Breakaway is worse. ETA: Thank you for letting me know that Celebrity has no smoking in the casino! Is the whole ship non-smoking indoors? Sounds like that might be my next cruise! Edited March 9, 2016 by Carol++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonnejoe Posted March 9, 2016 Author #3 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Lots of cigarette smoke in the Gem casino. It is bad, in my opinion. But, the Breakaway is worse. ETA: Thank you for letting me know that Celebrity has no smoking in the casino! Is the whole ship non-smoking indoors? Sounds like that might be my next cruise! No smoking inside anywhere. Smoking is limited to a few port side areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisefan30 Posted March 9, 2016 #4 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Sailed Gem 8 times in recent years and there is smoking in the casino. Lots and lots of smoking. Sometimes it is unbearable, others not to bad. But smoking, smoking, smoking. I do agree it is still better than the Breakaway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted March 9, 2016 #5 Share Posted March 9, 2016 We sailed Gem last month - there were a couple of days when the smoking was so bad we had to leave the casino - others were unpleasant but bearable. The extreme variation, with about the same number of people, made me think that there were problems with the ventilation system on those very bad days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leavethekidswithmom Posted March 10, 2016 #6 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I never noticed any smoke at all in the casino but if that's your deal breaker, I would stick to Celebrity as NCL does allow players to smoke in the casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMH15 Posted March 10, 2016 #7 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Bayonnejoe, I was surprised on my last NCL cruise, (Jewel April 2015), how un-smoky the casino was all week. But this was not the norm. I like NCL but I expect the casino to be too smoky for me so I plan other things to do. There are plenty of fun things to do or not to do... As in just relaxing. If the casino is a must-do for you, I would not chance it. I am going to have to cruise Celebrity again. That sounds pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachys Posted March 10, 2016 #8 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Been twice on the Gem. Once it was unbearable, next time I did not notice it. As an asthmatic second hand smoke is quite harmful to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindaler Posted March 10, 2016 #9 Share Posted March 10, 2016 The worst part of smoking in the casino is the abusers. Its one thing to have the person sitting next to you light up while they are playing. I have been sitting there at my machine and had a group of five old ladies come over and have one or two sit and the rest gather around while everyone of them lights up. And none of them are playing. When someone asked to play the machine they were sitting in front of, they refused to move and said it was too windy to sit in the outside smoking area. They said they came down every twenty minutes or so to gather and smoke. To them the casino wasn't to play the machines, it was just a warm, lighted inside smoking area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvtheships Posted March 10, 2016 #10 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Lots of cigarette smoke in the Gem casino. It is bad, in my opinion. But, the Breakaway is worse. ETA: Thank you for letting me know that Celebrity has no smoking in the casino! Is the whole ship non-smoking indoors? Sounds like that might be my next cruise! After I use my 2 cruise next certs. I'm looking at celebrity as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol++ Posted March 10, 2016 #11 Share Posted March 10, 2016 The worst part of smoking in the casino is the abusers. Its one thing to have the person sitting next to you light up while they are playing. I have been sitting there at my machine and had a group of five old ladies come over and have one or two sit and the rest gather around while everyone of them lights up. And none of them are playing. When someone asked to play the machine they were sitting in front of, they refused to move and said it was too windy to sit in the outside smoking area. They said they came down every twenty minutes or so to gather and smoke. To them the casino wasn't to play the machines, it was just a warm, lighted inside smoking area. Ugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince_g Posted March 10, 2016 #12 Share Posted March 10, 2016 My last time on Gem I did my casino visits right after breakfast, and I'd leave once it really started getting smokey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted March 10, 2016 #13 Share Posted March 10, 2016 My wife and I were on the Gem last month.She suffers from asthma. However,we were in the casino nearly every night and never had a problem with anyone smoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaide612 Posted March 10, 2016 #14 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Gem casino was bad when you first walked in as people would just gather in that area to smoke - it was better towards the back areas. I had heard that Breakaway was terrible but not once did I notice it unless I wandered into a smoking area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Letsgo 2 Posted March 10, 2016 #15 Share Posted March 10, 2016 it depends, some days we were able to sit and play for a long time, other times there was a lot of smoking going on. There is a none smoking section in the Casino, but it might as well all be smoking.The Casino is small space so the smoke gets around.I respect the rights of the smoker and when it gets too bad for me, we just leave, but it does take away from our play. I'm an ex smoker and i do feel for smokers but I like my health more. Marion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayonnejoe Posted March 10, 2016 Author #16 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Thanks to all who gave me a serious response. I think my decision is an easy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minoushka Posted March 10, 2016 #17 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I think its time to have NCl ban smoking in the casino Please do Keep asking for it ...they will do it ..Princess and Celebrity did ...bravo Come on NCL you can do it too Escape was smoke frre on Transat ... Casino was booming ...so do it ...ban smoking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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