A sincere question

[Clarkk W Griswald]

Otherwise ask the smoker nicely to stop smoking as you have a health problem.

 

But if the smoker is smoking in a place where it is allowed, why should the smoker stop? Why can't the one with the health problem move to an area where smoking is not allowed?

 

Now if a smoker lights up in an area where smoking is not allowed, that's a different story.

[nfused2cruze]

Non-smoker here. No big thoughts. I'm just appreciative of the fact that this thread is still going in a dignified manner. I also appreciate the comments from the smokers. This subject could easily start a war. :(

 

It did just dawn on me about smoking and non-smoking rooms. Never thought about the ships not designating rooms for this preference. That may very well be a suggestion for the cruise lines. ;)

[Alexis]

I mean know harm, and am putting on my flame retardant suit. But I have to know...

 

Can one really be "allergic" to cigarette smoke? Is it really an "allergy"? Can it be cured with weekly or monthly injections as such for other allergies? I feel that the term "allergic to cigarette smoke" is used by far too many people who just don't like cigarette smoke. How is one tested for this "allergy"? Do you get the pin ***** tests on your back as with other alleriges? I don't care for cigarette smoke myself and I am an ex-smoker for about 3 years now. But, I wouldn't say I'm "allergic" to it.

______________________________________________________________

 

Hi,

I have already given my posting of my thoughts on this thread earlier but I have to answer this one.

Yes, my son was given the pin ***** in the back at age 8 for smoke allergy. He is now 46 years of age. They knew way back then that smoke could be a thing to cause allergies.

I do agree with you that too many people use the word allergy even if they are not allergic to something. Makes the sentence more dramatic.

[Alexis]

Non-smoker here. No big thoughts. I'm just appreciative of the fact that this thread is still going in a dignified manner. I also appreciate the comments from the smokers. This subject could easily start a war. :(

 

It did just dawn on me about smoking and non-smoking rooms. Never thought about the ships not designating rooms for this preference. That may very well be a suggestion for the cruise lines. ;)

______________________________________________________________

 

There would be no way to enforce it. My husband has emphyasema and we always book hotel rooms that are non smoking. I would say that 40% percent of the time we smelled smoke in the rooms. There were times we were on a whole floor of non smoking rooms and the hallways stunk of smoke.

Years ago I asked the manager why they allowed it? His answer was that the person rents the room as a non smoker, but what they do in that room the management has no control over.

On a ship if someone wants a certain cabin, on a certain deck, they will lie to get it. They know the ship is not going to throw them overboard for doing it. The rules are overlooked on most ships for people who light up where they know they shouldn't. Except the theater and the dining room. Anything to please the paying public is the general rule. They usually let the other passengers try to handle it from what I have seen.

Don't forget that Carnival had the only non smoking ship in the cruiselines and it was never full. It is now a smoking ship.

[gr1634]

I just find it difficult to understand how someone could be bothered by a smoker on an open balcony with a 30 MPH wind blowing by. I suppose there might be a time when the wind was just right - but for the most part lets get serious. We have pushed smokers out of resturants, bowling alleys, offices, and now we want them to stop smoking outside??? Come on folks - prohibition didn't work either. It has gotten to the point that in todays environment there isn't much anyone can do that isn't "offensive" to someone. Don't drink, don't smoke, don't wear revealing clothing, don't cuss, don't be religious, don't be political, don't be gay, don't be straight, don't gamble, don't wear perfume or cologne...don't, don't, don't. Not saying we don't need to be couteous to each other but at some point we need to recognize that street runs both ways.

[Onessa]

I just find it difficult to understand how someone could be bothered by a smoker on an open balcony with a 30 MPH wind blowing by. . . .

 

I've discovered that restrictions placed upon where/when people can smoke have raised intolerance of smoking. And it is understandable, when one was regularly exposed to cigarrette smoke, it really was less objectionable. But, now that non-smokers are so rarely exposed to smoke it is so much more noticeable when they are.

 

Smokers also don't understand just how "bad" cigarrette smoke smells. A friend of mine quit about 6 months ago after having smoked for over 20 years - now that she's gone through a season of different clothing and so forth, whe was APALLED when she opened a storage box of some of her winter clothing that she put away while still smoking - even though it had been cleaned prior to putting it away, she had been smoking while storing it and it stank of stale cigarrette smoke. She couldn't believe that she had been "walking around smelling like THAT!" :)

 

Non-smokers are exposed to smoke and can find it irratating even while on a moving ship. They can smell the smoke on people in line at the store, you can smell the smoke in people's belongings - smokers don't really smell it and thus don't really understand that it is objectionable.

[DebNY13]

My husband & I quit smoking TODAY!!!!:( I can tell you that we quit once before for five years (before & during pregnancy and after that). When we were non-smokers, smoke never bothered us (we actually used to inhale deeply when around smokers...lol). However, when my mom quit, she took the exact opposite approach & was quite nasty with ALL smokers, me included!! I really feel, she had to do this or she wouldn't have been able to quit. When we returned to smoking, we were very aware of our surroundings and were very courteous to non-smokers. I'm hoping that I will still be courteous to smokers now that I am going back to the non-smoking "side". :)

 

Deb

[copnlpn2]

If I'm not mistaken, and I very well may be, RCCL has an industrial sized "ionizing" type thing (for lack of a better description) that they use on rooms where smoke or other odors have permeated the air. That's why so few non-smoking people notice they're booked into a room previously occupied by a smoker.

 

If for some reason, your room when you first enter, has a smoky smell from the previous cruisers, ask your room steward to use the ionizer thing on it for you and poof! No lingering smoke smell!

 

I'm not sure abour cruise lines other than RCCL, though...

[Onessa]

My husband & I quit smoking TODAY!!!!

 

Good luck to you both!

[PhoenixCruiser]

I was thinking of buying one of these.I was wondering if they worked.I smoke outside on my deck but it's getting pretty cold.Does it work well enough that I could use it in my garage and it wouldn't smell like smoke?

 

It won't totally eliminate the smell, however it does help. I think it was only $10 at Walmart.

 

###

[cruzfiend]

I think this thread is great!! I too, am a non smoker and wondered this same thing. We are getting a balcony again this cruise for our 30th anniversary and would really like to enjoy it. I'm hoping to have considerate neighbors when I board the ship, so maybe we can have a compromise or maybe I'll get lucky and have non-smokers for neighbors, now that would be great! ;)

 

Thank You Smokers for your honest replies, and for being considerate of others.

 

Also, good luck all you recent "Quitters". I have heard it is not easy, but you are doing the right thing for yourself.

[beth4652]

I just got off the Mariner last week and both me and my friend smoked. We had a balcony and smoked there. The people on either side of us made snippy comments instead of letting us know it bothered them where we could of worked something out. We had a balcony on the smoking side of the ship and always were on that side when we were by the pools and never smoked in the solarium. People complained on that side of the ship to. RC should advice people which side is the smoking side and book them accordingly. It would solve alot of that problem. We never smoke in the cabin.

 

 

 

Your post got me to thinking that my TA didn't even ask if any of us smoked. We are booked on the Mariner sailing 12/23. I just called RCI to ask about smoking vs non-smoking cabins. The agent I talked with said that there is not a smoking or non-smoking side for cabins.

 

I agree with the posters who say that an agreement can always be worked out if both parties are reasonable. For instance, if I always have a cigarette on my balcony at 10:00 p.m., my neighbor should stay inside. If my neighbor always enjoys a drink on his balcony at 5:00 p.m., I should refrain from smoking out there at that time. I try to be reasonable and smoke only in designated smoking areas. Outdoors, I try to be sure the smoke is not blowing in anyone's face. I don't think it's too much to ask that non-smokers allow me my vice without commenting on it with words or actions.

[creek42]

I am a smoker, but do not smoke in my home or most other indoor places, even on vacation, by my choice. I don't like to smell it! I don't like the after smell. Cigars are the worst, they take my breath away! But I would not say anything to anyone else who did, I usually move to another area away from it. As far as a balcony, these people may be the same way, and it is their only choice....but how long does anyone stay in their room on a cruise? Not me! I am going to enjoy the ship! I have had my day ruined before because a non smoker came into or walked through the smoking area and make rude coments, or feel that it was their first grader duty to tell me to put it out. I do not purposely set out to bother other people. and if in answer to your question, in your situation, and me as a smoker....I felt that my smoke were to bother you I would make other arrangements. But not all people are like that and it could make the situation much worse for you.

[nfused2cruze]

Thanks for that point Alexis - it was worth a try but reality set in!

And Deb - congrats! Don't allow a relapse to overcome you. Keep at it. :)

(I sure wish I could do that with a piece of cake!!!:p )

[Cruising89143]

The Carnival Glory was the smokiest ship I have ever cruised. Perhaps CCL attracts mor smokers as I found their policy very liberal. For me, a non smoker, I could not escape the stink of smoke, not on my balcony nor in the public areas.

 

I stayed in my cabin more than on any other cruise as it really was unpleasant overall.

 

I have to agree about the Glory. I know that it can change from one sailing to the next but you could not even walk down the promenade deck due to clouds of smoke. Also the passengers in the cabin next to us were chain smokers. They stayed on their balcony most of the time and I was not able to use mine. The smell of smoke was overwhelming.

[Cruising89143]

I was going to ask the same thing....have not been on a cruise yet but assume there are smoking and non-smoking staterooms. Why should the non-smoker have to go inside and wait for the smoker to finish when the smoker could go into their room and smoke while the non-smoker is outside?

 

I have yet to run across a cruise line that has non smoking cabins. They do designate a certain side of the ship for smoking in the public areas.

[Radio Head]

Smoker here. One of the reasons we book a balcony cabin is so we can smoke outside. We hate the smell in our room. We also book non-smoking hotel rooms for the same reason. I hate checking into any room having it smell like stale smoke. As far as offending a neighbor, I definitely would try to work out something that makes us all happy, but it would have to be a compromise. I would not be willing to refrain from smoking on the balcony all together. For example, I would not light up if I were to walk out on the balcony and find that they are already out on theirs. But I would not be willing to put one out if I were already out on mine, and they were to come outside after me. :)

[zuscruiserz]

Smoking not only affect the smoker, but everyone around them. My uncle was a non-smoker, but died of smoking-related cancer of the throat. It was a terribly slow and painful death. My MIL used to be a very heavy smoker, and has had cancerous tumors removed from her lungs three times in the past 2 years leaving her with only one lung. She no longer smokes, she gave it up while in the hospital, but cannot take a full breath, and wheezes when she speaks. She will die of lung cancer (even tho she is cancer-free at the moment), of this she is assured by her doctors, her time remaining is unsure.

 

I am a non-smoker and DH is a former smoker who quit around 8 years ago. We avoid smoking areas, but often there are smokers in places they are not allowed to be. We are the ones to leave, as we don't want to cause a dispute, but our health is important to us. Just, please be considerate if you do smoke, it does affect us all.

[beachchick]

I just got off the Mariner last week and both me and my friend smoked. We had a balcony and smoked there. The people on either side of us made snippy comments instead of letting us know it bothered them where we could of worked something out. We had a balcony on the smoking side of the ship and always were on that side when we were by the pools and never smoked in the solarium. People complained on that side of the ship to. RC should advice people which side is the smoking side and book them accordingly. It would solve alot of that problem. We never smoke in the cabin.

 

Just want to clarify that it makes no difference which side of the ship your cabin is located. The smoking/non-smoking side applies to public, outdoor decks. Anyone can smoke on their cabin's private balcony, regardless of location. So, if you were thinking something like "well, then why did they book on the smoking side of the ship" that doesn't apply.

 

That is why some people have suggested smoking and non-smoking side cabins. IMO, that is not a good idea because the cabins aren't a "fixed" location. Depending on itinerary and ship, one side can be preferred over the other. How do you choose who gets the "good" view side? Ditto for smoking and non-smoking decks. For many, many pax (including us) some decks are far preferred over others. Not to mention that certain categories can be located on only one deck. Then how do you decide who gets the suite deck, etc. Just wouldn't work.

 

I like the idea of the smokeless ashtray. I've heard those are quite effective. You really can smell drifting smoke from nearby balconies, especially in port. It's not that big a deal for us. If it becomes bothersome, we just wait a while. However, I truly wouldn't want to be next to someone who was out there basically 24/7 and chain smoking. But, we don't get to decide which pax are next us. I'd probably prefer the smoker to various other pax. So, we all just take our chances, hope for the best, and try to get along politely while keeping in mind that it's not our own private yacht.

 

beachchick

[CruiseFever]

That is why some people have suggested smoking and non-smoking side cabins. IMO, that is not a good idea because the cabins aren't a "fixed" location

 

True, that would also make the whole upgrade process much more complicated and, if it mattered to someone, cut down the available inventory of cabins from which to choose.

[PTarbay]

It won't totally eliminate the smell, however it does help. I think it was only $10 at Walmart.

 

###

Thank you.I think I'll pick a couple up today.

[PTarbay]

As far as working out something with your neighbor that doesn't always work.I tried an arrangement with my neighbor last time.We agreed if she was already out there I wouldn't light up and if i was out there first smoking she would wait until I was done.The problem is I wasn't out there that much but she seemed to always be.Almost every time I walked out there I heard ah ah ah I'm out here.By the third day I told her I'm sorry but this arrangement doesn't seem to be working out.

[ZPOOD@AOL.COM]

I do not smole anymore( 10 years now) and it does stink. My husband still smokes. We cruise 1 to 2 times a year. We always book a balcony room. That is where he smokes. Better stinky and smelly outside for a few minutes then the cabin absorbing all that smokeand odor.

 

We pay a pretty penny for our vacation as do you and we both have the right to enjoy it. So if you neighbor smokes outside, sorry. If it really is a health issue for you then book a non smoking ship.

[stargate fan]

I am sad to read that you were not please with Victory. We sailed on her last year and had the best time. I'll take the cruise for you if they pay you to go. :D

It's amazing how different groups of passengers can affect a cruise atmosphere.

As a pleased passenger of Carnival, please don't rate an entire cruise line by one ship/a group of stupid women.

 

I am a smoker but my husband has never smoked so he doesn;t have the dreaded ex smoker attitude. I try my best to not offend anyone with my smoking so If it did on the balcony bother someone I would appreciate it if they politely rang my phone and let me know.

We are just off the Carnival Victory ( never again even if they paid me to cruise Carnival) and we had a whole different smokers problem. Several times in the Casino and in the cigar lounge there was a group of rather loud women who made it their mission to belittle and degrade everyone they came in to contact with throughout the cruise who were smoking. I tried my best to ignore them the whole cruise but on debarkation I couldn't take anymore. These women had booked an 11:30 am flight out of fort Lauderdale (Victory docks in Miami) even though Carnival policy states not to book flights out prior til 2pm. The cigar lounge was designated for tours and early flights. A few people travelling together were having a cigarette while waiting for their tour and two of these women had the nerve to tell them to put their cigarette out while using profanities towards them. I let it be until the both of them started to use racial slurs and then I made sure I tore a strip of each one of them. Thankfully a Carnival employee came and removed them to somewhere that hopefully suited them better.

[stargate fan]

There are no more non-smoking ships. We did sail on Carnival Paradise before she was repositioned to the west coast and lost her non-smoking status.

 

I do not smole anymore( 10 years now) and it does stink. My husband still smokes. We cruise 1 to 2 times a year. We always book a balcony room. That is where he smokes. Better stinky and smelly outside for a few minutes then the cabin absorbing all that smokeand odor.

 

We pay a pretty penny for our vacation as do you and we both have the right to enjoy it. So if you neighbor smokes outside, sorry. If it really is a health issue for you then book a non smoking ship.