Bliss - Smoking areas on ship

[TheTruth79]

And THERE it is!  The Cancer comment!

I was waiting for that one...

[funtimes88]

Absolutely!

[Oceangal711]

On 8/16/2018 at 12:57 PM, goofy4mickey said:

 

Same here.

Ditto, and won't do the escape again either.

[Oceangal711]

Those who have been on the Bliss curious to know if the casino was crowded in the non smoking. I do think that smokers are not cruising as much as they use to. I know we aren't, didn't cruise at all in 2018 went to Turks and Caicos instead. Did the Escape in January on CAS comp and with the smoking restrictions we couldn't convince any other couples to go with us.

[my3sonsnj]

On 8/19/2018 at 2:50 PM, BirdTravels said:

 

What is on the very out of date frequently asked questions is NOT policy.

 

What is posted on the ship IS policy.

As someone that participated and chaired a policy committee for over a decade, I would disagree with this statement.

 

If a company publicly publishes rules, that is their "policy & regulation".

 

If a company chooses not to review and update policy to eliminate conflicting statements, even after it has been brought to their attention, then they can't expect compliance.

 

Since the faq is linked to the Guest Conduct Policy https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy NCL is giving tacit permission for non-compliance due to conflicting statements. Someone with deep pockets and a lawyer could sue NCL if they smoked in an area published on the website but not allowed on the ship and they would win that lawsuit.

 

NCL needs to get their act together, just saying . . .

Edited February 15, 2019 by my3sonsnj

[my3sonsnj]

This could even be grounds for a class action lawsuit. Any lawyers reading this?? 😉😉

[Oceangal711]

3 hours ago, my3sonsnj said:

As someone that participated and chaired a policy committee for over a decade, I would disagree with this statement.

 

If a company publicly publishes rules, that is their "policy & regulation".

 

If a company chooses not to review and update policy to eliminate conflicting statements, even after it has been brought to their attention, then they can't expect compliance.

 

Since the faq is linked to the Guest Conduct Policy https://www.ncl.com/faq/guest-conduct-policy NCL is giving tacit permission for non-compliance due to conflicting statements. Someone with deep pockets and a lawyer could sue NCL if they smoked in an area published on the website but not allowed on the ship and they would win that lawsuit.

 

NCL needs to get their act together, just saying . . .

Agreed, just got the new paper brochure for 2020 and the verbiage is the word for word verbatim. Very misleading especially when I thought I read that smoking is no longer allowed on the waterfront on any ship.  

[graphicguy]

3 hours ago, my3sonsnj said:

This could even be grounds for a class action lawsuit. Any lawyers reading this?? 😉😉

I hope you're saying this in jest.

 

I have no dog in this hunt.  I'm not a smoker, but am willing to let bygones be bygones.  I don't agree with the zealots on either side of the situation here.  Don't blow smoke my way, and all's good.  I also don't believe the smokers out there should be made into some sort of pariahs, which seems to be the current social sport.

 

There are some very noxious people wearing tons of perfume, aftershave, cologne (or worse, BO).  They are more objectionable than smokers in my estimation.

 

Generally speaking, for informational purposes, it seems NCL is getting stricter and stricter on where folks can smoke.  I think this is a policy that reflects the steep downturn in the number of smokers in the general population.

 

Smoking on one's balcony has been prohibited for some time, now.  That should be a known fact.  I forget what the fee is, but if someone is reported smoking on their balcony or in their cabin, there's a pretty hefty amount you have to pay.  Probably wouldn't try that, either.

 

Anyone can take any cruise that they want.  I think what you're going to find is all of them are becoming much more restrictive in the areas someone can smoke. That's just reality.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2019 by graphicguy

[Two Wheels Only]

9 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 I forget what the fee is, but if someone is reported smoking on their balcony or in their cabin, there's a pretty hefty amount you have to pay.

 

"Smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony will result in a $250 USD cleaning charge added to your onboard account. If cigarette burns on furniture, linens, towels or carpeting are detected; guests will be advised and charged for the damages." -  NCL

[my3sonsnj]

On 2/15/2019 at 3:35 PM, graphicguy said:

I hope you're saying this in jest.

 

I have no dog in this hunt.  I'm not a smoker, but am willing to let bygones be bygones.  I don't agree with the zealots on either side of the situation here.  Don't blow smoke my way, and all's good.  I also don't believe the smokers out there should be made into some sort of pariahs, which seems to be the current social sport.

 

There are some very noxious people wearing tons of perfume, aftershave, cologne (or worse, BO).  They are more objectionable than smokers in my estimation.

 

Generally speaking, for informational purposes, it seems NCL is getting stricter and stricter on where folks can smoke.  I think this is a policy that reflects the steep downturn in the number of smokers in the general population.

 

Smoking on one's balcony has been prohibited for some time, now.  That should be a known fact.  I forget what the fee is, but if someone is reported smoking on their balcony or in their cabin, there's a pretty hefty amount you have to pay.  Probably wouldn't try that, either.

 

Anyone can take any cruise that they want.  I think what you're going to find is all of them are becoming much more restrictive in the areas someone can smoke. That's just reality.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I was speaking tongue in cheek!

 

However, I have been keeping a crowd sourced document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IwhHuxFGVf8GRxIe1V30Bj0elmkPLRuQUxOpmI8LiFE/edit?usp=sharing )  for all to locate designated smoking areas. This is an effort to help everyone either find or avoid these areas.

 

If you look at the second page of the document, it indicates how many people on a sold out cruise will be accommodated in the designated smoking areas, using the latest CDC data on the smoker population. If an area can accommodate 50 people but 200+/- are anticipated to use that area, that is not an accommodation and additionally it is safety concern. Just saying . . .

 

The additional problem is that if the designated smoking areas are not comfortable and conveniently located for use, there will be a percentage of smokers willing to accept a fine over inconvenience. Cruising is a vacation and everyone is expecting a comfortable environment.

 

All of these factors need to be considered in policy decisions if NCL wants guest compliance.

[Two Wheels Only]

5 minutes ago, my3sonsnj said:

If an area can accommodate 50 people but 200+/- are anticipated to use that area, that is not an accommodation and additionally it is safety concern. Just saying . . .

 

Much like the pool situation, it isn't realistic to expect an area to simultaneously accommodate all guests that would like to use it. Even if it is known that 200 people on-board are smokers, NCL isn't going to set aside an area that comfortably holds 200 people and use it for a smoking area. 

 

10 minutes ago, my3sonsnj said:

The additional problem is that if the designated smoking areas are not comfortable and conveniently located for use, there will be a percentage of smokers willing to accept a fine over inconvenience.

 

I agree...NCL should increase the fine. 

As for comfortable and convenient, the ship is too large for there to be convenient smoking areas for everyone. Even if there was 1 smoking area per deck, it could still be hundreds of feet to walk from the stateroom to that area. Some people will say "...that's not convenient...".

 

13 minutes ago, my3sonsnj said:

All of these factors need to be considered in policy decisions if NCL wants guest compliance.

 

Guest should comply with the smoking policy in any case. The idea of using the excuse of "I don't like the smoking area...so I'll smoke somewhere that doesn't allow smoking" is inexcusable. 

 

Smokers are allowed to smoke where NCL allows it.

Smokers are not allowed to smoke where NCL doesn't allow it. 

Their ship, their rules. 

[NLH Arizona]

On 2/14/2019 at 10:29 AM, funtimes88 said:

 At the pool area,  I found it very disgusting to walk by, see all those folks smoking, even pipes and cigars.  They even stand at the entrance to this glass room with door opened and blow the smoke outside into the pool area.  

They did the same on the Breakaway.  If smokers want non-smokers to be respectful and not complain about their smoking spaces on the ships, then they need to be respectful.  They should go inside the cube where smoking is allowed, instead of standing outside of it.  BTW, because this happened so much and smelled up the deck, I did complain.

[NLH Arizona]

7 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

I agree...NCL should increase the fine. 

 

I agree.  I also remembet when they made the no smoking on balconies change, posters on here said that the would continue to smoke on their balconies and that they would be will to pay the $250, because it wasn't that much.  Now, if the fine was much higher, I think folks would think twice before smoking on their balcony. 

 

On one of my cruises, there was a man smoking on the balcony, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and just said, you know there is a no smoking on the balcony and if you are caught it is a $250 fine.  I never saw him smoking again, but if he did, I would turn him in in a heartbeat.

[graphicguy]

@my3sonsnj.....commendable putting together the document showing where smoking is permitted.  I think NCL (as well as just about every other cruise company) is just reacting to a shrinking demographic....and it’s shrinking rapidly.  

 

The entire cruise industry is planning and implementing processes and policies based on those facts. 

 

As I said, I have no dog in the hunt.  I will say that I doubt I’ll seek out there areas that allow smoking just to avoid them, as there are so few.  So, your spreadsheet, while good, has no use to me.

 

For good or ill (depending on which side of the smoking debate you fall on), it’s not going to get better for smokers, regardless of the protestations.  Smokers are just too small of a minority to have any sort of clout, and their minority is getting smaller by the day.

[Wendy&Grumpy]

On 2/21/2019 at 12:21 PM, graphicguy said:

@my3sonsnj.....commendable putting together the document showing where smoking is permitted.  I think NCL (as well as just about every other cruise company) is just reacting to a shrinking demographic....and it’s shrinking rapidly.  

 

I always thought it was odd that half of the shaded public area on the pool deck was designated as smoking area - with tables  chairs rather than loungers - when smokers are such a small percentage of guests!  

 

It makes much more sense to have pool decks set up with loungers on both sides to accommodate all guests, including the ones who need shade. 🙂 

[funtimes88]

I am just thankful the cruise lines are gradually getting rid of the smoking areas all together.  It is coming. Carole

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, Wendy&Grumpy said:

 

I always thought it was odd that half of the shaded public area on the pool deck was designated as smoking area - with tables  chairs rather than loungers - when smokers are such a small percentage of guests!  

 

It makes much more sense to have pool decks set up with loungers on both sides to accommodate all guests, including the ones who need shade. 🙂 

And put the smokers outside in the rain?

[Wendy&Grumpy]

34 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

And put the smokers outside in the rain?

 

Nothing like going from 0 to 100 in the most negative way, is there? 🙄

 

There are many other options. 😏

 

But that's ok, we know smokers feel they're entitled to half of everything, even though they're only 15% of the population. 😉 

[funtimes88]

"0" seems like a great plan!

[Greenpea2]

On 2/14/2019 at 1:46 PM, TheTruth79 said:

It's so funny to see all these posts about how there shouldn't be smoking on ships. The original question's purpose was to know where to smoke as to not bother others. Thanks for all the opinions, although no one asked.. SMH

 

I agree. You were looking for an answer to a legitimate question, not a lecture. But some people just. can't. do it. 

[phissy]

Although there may be decline of actual cigarette smokers, there seems to be an increase in cigar smokers. Cigar rooms on ship are very busy. 

Vaping has really increased in the population, especially young people.Saw lots of this.

[coriemarie]

Very annoying coming here to see everyone posting negative about smoking - go somewhere else - you opened the smoking thread weirdo. Also many of you talking about smokers like were animals.

 

Anyways, this sucks. I know Bliss is a sister to the upcoming Encore, and there is no Spice on Encore so I am wonder where they are going to have a smoking area now.

 

This is a vacation for everyone, smokers too. And drinking all day, I want to smoke. We need options as well.

[HuliHuli]

Maybe they could add an area up by the ship's funnels and suck the secondary smoke up with the rest of the ship's exhaust. 🤔

[BirdTravels]

5 hours ago, coriemarie said:

Very annoying coming here to see everyone posting negative about smoking - go somewhere else - you opened the smoking thread weirdo. Also many of you talking about smokers like were animals.

 

Anyways, this sucks. I know Bliss is a sister to the upcoming Encore, and there is no Spice on Encore so I am wonder where they are going to have a smoking area now.

 

This is a vacation for everyone, smokers too. And drinking all day, I want to smoke. We need options as well.

You are welcome to smoke in designated areas so everyone can enjoy their vacation. 

[rick160158]

New Smoking area on ALL Ships....Reservations a Must as Space is VERY limited....There'll be a Small Dingy attached to the back of the ship, with a 200ft Tow Line. Rain Gear is recommended, along with some Motion Sickness Pills and swimming Goggles. VERY Sociable area.😎