Smoking On Your Balcony But Our Vacation!!

[goofy810]

I am an ex-smoker for 40 years, I don't particularly like the smell of smoking on people, but the odd cigarette fume doesn't bother me too much. I am, however, a champion of fire safety onboard ships, having fought them myself, yet I will agree with BeachChik here, much to the annoyance of the anti-smoking crowd. Smoking on balconies is no more dangerous than smoking in the designated, outside areas of the ship. What is dangerous is what is done with the cigarette afterwards, and this applies to balconies and open deck smoking areas. If the butt is tossed overboard, there is a very good likelihood of it coming back against or into the ship in some area, which may cause a fire.

 

The Star Princess fire was assumed to be caused by a cigarette, since no other cause was found, but no evidence of a cigarette was found, and in testing, they couldn't ignite with a cigarette the Princess towels that were reported on the balcony.

 

I believe the fire ksuds is referring to is the Grandeur of the Seas. This fire has never had a cause found. It was at first thought to be caused by the crew smoking in the area, but the security officers who made the rounds that night never saw anyone on the aft mooring deck, and the video cameras there never recorded anyone either. There are some things that point to a possible electrical cause, but due to the damage this has not been proved definitively either.

 

 

I can tell you on the NEWER ships they have done things to make any smoking in the smoking locations much safer, On the anthem of the seas the smoking locations dont have the half height railings that you can toss a but off the ship from, they are all floor to ceiling glass so you cant toss a but off to cause a fire.

 

ALSO smoking needs to be banned, there are no benifits to smoking, and the number of folks that smoke vs the folks that will flock to whatever cruise line that is first to the game on banning all smoking is prob 50 to 1. So heres to hoping Royal is the first to ban it all out. What i mean is yes they may loose some folks that MUST smoke and if banned wont cruise with Royal anymore, however they will gain folks from many other lines that dont ban it so for every 1 they lose they gain 50. Also I would note I have been told by more then one Capt in the last year that Royal is planing to ban smoking on all US home port ships by 2018!!!!

[chengkp75]

I can tell you on the NEWER ships they have done things to make any smoking in the smoking locations much safer, On the anthem of the seas the smoking locations dont have the half height railings that you can toss a but off the ship from, they are all floor to ceiling glass so you cant toss a but off to cause a fire.

 

ALSO smoking needs to be banned, there are no benifits to smoking, and the number of folks that smoke vs the folks that will flock to whatever cruise line that is first to the game on banning all smoking is prob 50 to 1. So heres to hoping Royal is the first to ban it all out. What i mean is yes they may loose some folks that MUST smoke and if banned wont cruise with Royal anymore, however they will gain folks from many other lines that dont ban it so for every 1 they lose they gain 50. Also I would note I have been told by more then one Capt in the last year that Royal is planing to ban smoking on all US home port ships by 2018!!!!

 

I try to avoid posting on smoking threads regarding the right and wrong of it, and staying with the safety aspects. However, I'll just make a couple of comments about your idea to ban smoking completely. First off, your figure of 50 to 1 for those preferring a non-smoking ship would mean that only 2% of the cruising public smokes, and the figures for the US are between 5-6 to 1. Smoking for non-US people is a bit higher. I have heard that RCI is experimenting with banning smoking in the casinos, and this is what the plan may be for 2018, but I would be surprised if they did a total ban, and certainly by that date. Why? Because they know their quality of service will take a huge hit as they scramble to replace the crew and staff who smoke. Quality will suffer while retraining, and costs (and fares) will rise as the non-smoking crew know they can demand "premium" wages. This has nothing to do with right and wrong of smoking, or health issues or anything other than the bottom line of the company.

[goofy810]

I try to avoid posting on smoking threads regarding the right and wrong of it, and staying with the safety aspects. However, I'll just make a couple of comments about your idea to ban smoking completely. First off, your figure of 50 to 1 for those preferring a non-smoking ship would mean that only 2% of the cruising public smokes, and the figures for the US are between 5-6 to 1. Smoking for non-US people is a bit higher. I have heard that RCI is experimenting with banning smoking in the casinos, and this is what the plan may be for 2018, but I would be surprised if they did a total ban, and certainly by that date. Why? Because they know their quality of service will take a huge hit as they scramble to replace the crew and staff who smoke. Quality will suffer while retraining, and costs (and fares) will rise as the non-smoking crew know they can demand "premium" wages. This has nothing to do with right and wrong of smoking, or health issues or anything other than the bottom line of the company.

As for your numbers Not sure where you are getting them, but im using the first to the game point with my 50 to 1, what i mean is even though there may be say 1 smoker to every 5 or 6 none smokers or a 5 to 1 across all cruises, if Royal was first to the game on banning smoking out right they may lose some of the smokers to other lines, but will gain alot of new none smokers from other lines that dont ban it, (right now most lines has the same smoking policies, so switching to a new line doesnt help you ) on top of that gain of new to Royal folks, the loss of smokers wont be 100% ie just cause someone smokes and is part of the 1 to 5 ration doesnt mean they will stop going on royal if they ban it. Some of the smokers are causal smokers, others may have a spouse or partner that LOVES royal and doesnt smoke so they are told here is your time to quit smoking so combining all this is how my 50 to 1 is worked out. Next as for the crew, as has been said the issue is a mix of both fire safty and passanger comfort, so just because they ban passangers from smoking doesnt mean the crew will be banned, us passangers will NEVER smell smoke on a crew member, for 2 reasons the first is its Banned (crew are required to only smoke when not in uniform and to not have any smoke smell on them when around passangers), and the second reason is most of the crew that is on deck (around pasangers ie waiters, Guest Services, bar tenders, etc..) are none smokers allready. The crew that are big smokers are the support crew or below deck crew.

 

And I did ask about full on ban and was told the current plan is for all US home ports to ban 100% for passangers by end of 2018.

 

It should also be notted that this was tried on a Carnival ship back in the early 90s, i think the ships name was paridise or something, it floped and was lifted after 5 years, however that was a diffrent time (smoking was way more popular then) and also a diffrent cruise line, I think everyone can agree that Royal has a higher class passanger group then Canarvial.

[Clarea]

... and the second reason is most of the crew that is on deck (around pasangers ie waiters, Guest Services, bar tenders, etc..) are none smokers allready. The crew that are big smokers are the support crew or below deck crew. ...

Curious where you get this info?

[chengkp75]

As for your numbers Not sure where you are getting them, but im using the first to the game point with my 50 to 1, what i mean is even though there may be say 1 smoker to every 5 or 6 none smokers or a 5 to 1 across all cruises, if Royal was first to the game on banning smoking out right they may lose some of the smokers to other lines, but will gain alot of new none smokers from other lines that dont ban it, (right now most lines has the same smoking policies, so switching to a new line doesnt help you ) on top of that gain of new to Royal folks, the loss of smokers wont be 100% ie just cause someone smokes and is part of the 1 to 5 ration doesnt mean they will stop going on royal if they ban it. Some of the smokers are causal smokers, others may have a spouse or partner that LOVES royal and doesnt smoke so they are told here is your time to quit smoking so combining all this is how my 50 to 1 is worked out. Next as for the crew, as has been said the issue is a mix of both fire safty and passanger comfort, so just because they ban passangers from smoking doesnt mean the crew will be banned, us passangers will NEVER smell smoke on a crew member, for 2 reasons the first is its Banned (crew are required to only smoke when not in uniform and to not have any smoke smell on them when around passangers), and the second reason is most of the crew that is on deck (around pasangers ie waiters, Guest Services, bar tenders, etc..) are none smokers allready. The crew that are big smokers are the support crew or below deck crew.

 

And I did ask about full on ban and was told the current plan is for all US home ports to ban 100% for passangers by end of 2018.

 

It should also be notted that this was tried on a Carnival ship back in the early 90s, i think the ships name was paridise or something, it floped and was lifted after 5 years, however that was a diffrent time (smoking was way more popular then) and also a diffrent cruise line, I think everyone can agree that Royal has a higher class passanger group then Canarvial.

 

I'm not aware of any employment regulation by RCI banning smoking in uniform, so long as it is done in the designated crew smoking areas while off duty, nor about having a "smoke smell", but even if there was, having been to crew bar, I can tell you that the front of house staff are not non-smokers, they just do it on their time off. And one of the big reasons that Carnival's experiment failed was the problem in finding a full ship of non-smoking crew.

[troykahack]

Curious where you get this info?

 

Not going to mention a specific name, but my Senior Club Royale Representative told me Royal was and would be testing various NON SMOKING bans in the Casino. Already saw it on Enchantment, no smoking at the Casino Bar, and some testing with smoke free Casinos.

 

I was told, smoking in the Casinos was the biggest complaint by Club Royale VIP.

 

On 11 Night Serenade, by far, the largest crowds in the Casino were the two formal nights when the Casino was smoke free.

Edited December 16, 2016 by troykahack

[chengkp75]

Not going to mention a specific name, but my Senior Club Royale Representative told me Royal was and would be testing various NON SMOKING bans in the Casino. Already saw it on Enchantment, no smoking at the Casino Bar, and some testing with smoke free Casinos.

 

I was told, smoking in the Casinos was the biggest complaint by Club Royale VIP.

 

On 11 Night Serenade, by far, the largest crowds in the Casino were the two formal nights when the Casino was smoke free.

 

Not doubting this experiment, nor, I believe, is Bob, what we are questioning is the poster's claim that front of house staff are non-smokers.

[troykahack]

Not doubting this experiment, nor, I believe, is Bob, what we are questioning is the poster's claim that front of house staff are non-smokers.

 

I never doubt Bob or your knowledge of shipping regulations.

 

I will say, on Enchantment, crew were mostly from the U.K. and NON Smokers. On Serenade, most were Romanian, and many were smokers. Where they smoke, I have no clue.

[Clarea]

... Where they smoke, I have no clue.

There are crew rec areas were smoking is allowed. We were told by officers that there was a consistent problem with crew smoke infiltration into the guest fitness area on Oasis and Allure due to the proximity of a crew rec area. Not sure if that has been fixed.

[chengkp75]

There are crew rec areas were smoking is allowed. We were told by officers that there was a consistent problem with crew smoke infiltration into the guest fitness area on Oasis and Allure due to the proximity of a crew rec area. Not sure if that has been fixed.

 

Saw a post on the NCL forum where on the Breakaway, I think it was, at the turn-around of the jogging track (not a full circuit), there is a designated crew smoking area separated from the jogging track by a partial bulkhead and open doorway.

[NancyIL]

As for your numbers Not sure where you are getting them, but im using the first to the game point with my 50 to 1, what i mean is even though there may be say 1 smoker to every 5 or 6 none smokers or a 5 to 1 across all cruises, if Royal was first to the game on banning smoking out right they may lose some of the smokers to other lines, but will gain alot of new none smokers from other lines that dont ban it, (right now most lines has the same smoking policies, so switching to a new line doesnt help you ) on top of that gain of new to Royal folks, the loss of smokers wont be 100% ie just cause someone smokes and is part of the 1 to 5 ration doesnt mean they will stop going on royal if they ban it. Some of the smokers are causal smokers, others may have a spouse or partner that LOVES royal and doesnt smoke so they are told here is your time to quit smoking so combining all this is how my 50 to 1 is worked out. Next as for the crew, as has been said the issue is a mix of both fire safty and passanger comfort, so just because they ban passangers from smoking doesnt mean the crew will be banned, us passangers will NEVER smell smoke on a crew member, for 2 reasons the first is its Banned (crew are required to only smoke when not in uniform and to not have any smoke smell on them when around passangers), and the second reason is most of the crew that is on deck (around pasangers ie waiters, Guest Services, bar tenders, etc..) are none smokers allready. The crew that are big smokers are the support crew or below deck crew.

 

And I did ask about full on ban and was told the current plan is for all US home ports to ban 100% for passangers by end of 2018.

 

It should also be notted that this was tried on a Carnival ship back in the early 90s, i think the ships name was paridise or something, it floped and was lifted after 5 years, however that was a diffrent time (smoking was way more popular then) and also a diffrent cruise line, I think everyone can agree that Royal has a higher class passanger group then Canarvial.

 

That's a very snobbish assumption!

 

I'd be very happy if cruise lines banned all indoor smoking - especially the casino, as Celebrity does. I don't mind if smokers have designated smoking areas outdoors.

[dasi11]

I am a non-smoker and would love a non-smoking ship due to my severe asthma.

 

I sailed on Paradise 3-4 times when it came out. I loved it. Took my kids and got them hooked on cruising too.

 

Paradise was a Carnival ship that did not even allow smoking anywhere while they were building the ship. It was wonderful!!! But also not profitable.

 

I wanted to know why Carnival was changing it to a smoking ship years ago. It was because they made no money. The Casino was always empty. I love gambling and rarely do it now because of the smoke. I was always alone on Paradise in the Casino even in the evenings... I also was told, drinking gambling and smoking go together so to speak.. While I disagree, I was also told that the liquor take was 20% of what it was on other ships. It was not profitable for Carnival!

 

I also remember for a few years, Royal's formal nights were non-smoking in the Casinos. I LOOOOVED it. While I still had trouble breathing in the Casino, I had no trouble finding a spot at a table. The Casino was not as busy. It clearly paid to have Casino's a smoking environment. I am sure it has been studied to death by corporate.

 

I would love a non-smoking ship! But I don't think it would work for the industry. Royal just needs to enforce the rules in place for smoking!!! No second warnings... Fines and more fines.... and off the ship at the next stop! One warning only! Then take action if it is not obeyed.

Edited December 16, 2016 by dasi11

[tiessa]

That's what I get for posting from my phone while on a cruise. I misspoke. (mistyped? ;) )

 

 

 

No INDOOR smoking on Australia-based cruises. So the casino is smoke-free, as well as cabins and balconies, on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

 

 

 

If I STILL don't have it quite correct, I am sure that one of my Aussie friends will leap in. :)

 

 

 

 

That makes more sense. They aren't smoke free. They allow smoking in smoking areas outside just no smoking inside. That I'll buy.

 

 

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[knittinggirl]

I think they didn't charge the smoking cabin nearly enough. IF you're rich enough to book a GS, $500 not enough to draw much attention. Now, if they charge $250 per person per day, maybe they'd notice. Better yet. Third offense, drop them at the next port.

 

I can imagine smokers continuing to light up and paying the smoking fine at the end of the cruise.

[davekathy]

...I can imagine smokers continuing to light up and paying the smoking fine at the end of the cruise.

 

Another reason to kick the violators off the ship when they are first busted when smoking in any no smoking area of the ship. The hell with the fine. Everyone has already been warned in the contract under Consequences Section of the Guest Conduct Policy so just do away with the fine. Maybe that would get the attention of some.

Edited December 17, 2016 by davekathy

[RDC1]

I need to hear from a doctor who can show me where second hand smoke from outside air can cause this. Because I'm disbelieving.

 

Is your partner very obese? If so, it is more likely the ocean/sea distilled water causing fluid retention in the lungs, not second hand outdoor smoke. Talk to a doctor if he's obese because cruising may not be the best idea due to the water on board being desalinated but not 100% salt free. Even the coffee can cause this issue.

 

I took a large buddy on a cruise and he had similar sissies but no medical emergency. He takes a plethora of drugs to control his health issues related to his obesity and two of the pills say no added salt and his doctor told him no cruises due to desalinated water leading to a risk of fluid retention.

 

Smoking in balconies is wrong. Those cruises were a-holes. But I am doubting they put him in a medical situation.

 

Water on the ship is processed either by flash evaporation or by reverse osmosis. Water produced in this way is pretty close to distilled, and contains less salt then normal tap water on land. If it causes any problems is the lack of minerals, not excessive minerals (salt). It is treated and would contain some chlorine, but not salt. There have been some studies related to desalinated water and the impact of lack of minerals. One might pick up salt on a cruise (food for example, swimming in the ocean, etc), but not from the ships water.

Edited December 17, 2016 by RDC1

[lovelights]

Wow. What a horrible experience! I am so glad he is doing better.

 

We had smokers below us when we cruised on the Navigator. We did not suffer any serious effects, and didn't complain. We still used the balcony, and just put up with it when it happened. I imagine that happens a lot.

 

On an unrelated but related note, we avoid the casino because of the smoke. I wonder how much more gambling would take place on the ship if it were a smoke-free environment?

 

I recently went on a cruise line where there was no smoking allowed in the Casino. Every time we walked through the casino, during our 7 day cruise, it was always rather empty. Maybe just 3 or 4 people were in there.

 

Also, for the original poster.... where is there a non-smoking cruise line?

[lovelights]

 

It should also be notted that this was tried on a Carnival ship back in the early 90s, i think the ships name was paridise or something, it floped and was lifted after 5 years, however that was a diffrent time (smoking was way more popular then) and also a diffrent cruise line, I think everyone can agree that Royal has a higher class passanger group then Canarvial.

 

It almost seems like you're making a statement that a non-smoker is considered to be a high-class passenger, and a smoker is a lower-class passenger. Yes, It was Carnival Paradise that they tried to make a non-smoking ship from 1998 through 2003. Due to poor revenue, they changed it to allow smoking.

 

I recently went on a cruise ship, where there is no smoking allowed in the casino. During our 7 day cruise, I could count on my fingers, how many people were in the casino at any given time when we strolled through. Apparently non-smokers didn't gamble on this particular ship. Also, there was no smoking allowed on either side of the pool deck.

 

Smoking was allowed in 1 cigar bar, one side of the back of the ship at an outside bar, and outside on the promenade deck on the starboard side. That was it.

 

Yes, I am a smoker (I know, it's bad, and I've tried to quit several times), however, I hate the smell of casinos on ships where people were allowed to smoke, and how the smell from the casino wandered down the halls and into the elevators. But at the same time, if cruise lines ban smoking completely, I think they're going to notice a large drop in revenue. No smoker is going to go on a cruise that has 1 or 2 sea days back to back, and not be able to smoke at all. People that travel, are going to start booking all-inclusive vacations to the islands instead.

 

If smoking becomes banned on cruise lines, they're going to have to start lowering their prices, in order to fill the ships up.

[ReneeFLL]

On my last Allure cruise in 2013, smoking was allowed, and it was awful. Luckily my last two cruises in balconies did not have any smokers so I did not have to do anything.

 

But had this happened to me (even without the health issues), I would be asking for the Hotel director after the second time of nothing happening.

 

I would be quoting to them the smoking policy that is on the website that says this:

 

Unless the smoking stops in the first couple days, I would go up the chain of command until it stops.

 

Agreed. They should have also been put off the ship since they continued to smoke.

[mizLORInj]

. . .

 

, I think everyone can agree that Royal has a higher class passanger group then Canarvial.

 

oh my. Judgmental. . . but you're entitled to your opinion of course.

 

It seems that each cruise line has those who think they are "better" than those who cruise other lines.

 

As to the topic of smoking, I agree RC needs to make more effort to follow up when smoking on a balcony has been reported.

Edited December 18, 2016 by mizLORInj

[tiessa]

Another reason to kick the violators off the ship when they are first busted when smoking in any no smoking area of the ship. The hell with the fine. Everyone has already been warned in the contract under Consequences Section of the Guest Conduct Policy so just do away with the fine. Maybe that would get the attention of some.

 

 

They need to do the same with chair hogs!

 

 

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[The Sunset Glow]

There are crew rec areas were smoking is allowed. We were told by officers that there was a consistent problem with crew smoke infiltration into the guest fitness area on Oasis and Allure due to the proximity of a crew rec area. Not sure if that has been fixed.

 

 

Bob, I just got back from 2 weeks on Harmony and I can assure you this problem continues. It was so bad on Harmony you could not only smell it in the gym but on the section if the outdoor track on deck 5 near the gym door. I couldn't believe it!

 

 

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[island lady]

Just off Rhapsody and could not get away from the cigar smoke from the guy

on the balcony just below us. Surprised his neighbors did not turn him in, or

perhaps they complained and nothing was done. :(

 

What irked me the most, however, is when he would finish...he would throw

the nasty stub into the ocean. I finally yelled at him that he should be ashamed

at himself for that pollution of our seas. He most obviously did not care. :mad:

[S.A.M.J.R.]

As for your numbers Not sure where you are getting them, but im using the first to the game point with my 50 to 1, what i mean is even though there may be say 1 smoker to every 5 or 6 none smokers or a 5 to 1 across all cruises, if Royal was first to the game on banning smoking out right they may lose some of the smokers to other lines, but will gain alot of new none smokers from other lines that dont ban it, (right now most lines has the same smoking policies, so switching to a new line doesnt help you ) on top of that gain of new to Royal folks, the loss of smokers wont be 100% ie just cause someone smokes and is part of the 1 to 5 ration doesnt mean they will stop going on royal if they ban it. Some of the smokers are causal smokers, others may have a spouse or partner that LOVES royal and doesnt smoke so they are told here is your time to quit smoking so combining all this is how my 50 to 1 is worked out. Next as for the crew, as has been said the issue is a mix of both fire safty and passanger comfort, so just because they ban passangers from smoking doesnt mean the crew will be banned, us passangers will NEVER smell smoke on a crew member, for 2 reasons the first is its Banned (crew are required to only smoke when not in uniform and to not have any smoke smell on them when around passangers), and the second reason is most of the crew that is on deck (around pasangers ie waiters, Guest Services, bar tenders, etc..) are none smokers allready. The crew that are big smokers are the support crew or below deck crew.

You're still making a lot of assumptions. You're assuming a lot of people will switch to Royal from other lines SOLELY because they make a ship non-smoking. I'm assuming there's other reasons people sail on other lines (ship amenities, ports of call, price, length of cruise, etc). While I'm sure some would switch to be on a non smoking cruise, 50 non-smoking cruisers for every one smoker is a pipe dream (pun intended).

 

Or do you think Carnival would gain 50:1 if they banned smoking?

[Wine-O]

Just off Rhapsody and could not get away from the cigar smoke from the guy

on the balcony just below us. Surprised his neighbors did not turn him in, or

perhaps they complained and nothing was done. :(

 

Why didn't you turn him in?