QE 2 Smoking in Dining Areas

[carruthers]

I recently returned from the QE 2 three continents Adventure and found the service, food and staff all excellent. One thing that did annoy me however was their smoking in restaurents policy. Even though there are non smoking tables you can find your self right next to a smoking table with the result that you are breathing passive cigarette smoke like it or not.:mad:

[mufi]

When non smokers were in the minority we had to put up with it. Now restraunts ashore are banning smoking it is time that cruise ships did the same.

 

David.

[Allis154]

One thing that bothered me was the 'smoking sections' in the public areas. As you walked down the ship, you would come across a non-smoking area, a smoking area, then a non-smoking area. On the other side, it was the opposite. Why could they make one side of the ship smoking, and the other non smoking? At least then, those who didn't want to go through the smoking areas had a chance to do so.

[jckvpa0]

I don't think there are many cruise lines that permit smoking in the dining room. I am really surprised to hear this is allowed on the QE 2!!!

[Luv4dacruise]

When non smokers were in the minority we had to put up with it. Now restraunts ashore are banning smoking it is time that cruise ships did the same.

 

David.

 

 

Cruise ships have, every other major line does not allow smoking in its Dining Rooms. I don't agree with it personally, but hey, it aint gonna stop me from booking a cruise......

[dougnewmanatsea]

Why could they make one side of the ship smoking, and the other non smoking?

Unfortunately, this wouldn't work as there are many public areas that are entirely on one side of the ship or the other - e.g. the Chart Room, Golden Lion, etc.

 

On the other hand for full-beam spaces like the Grand Lounge, Queens Room and so on, it would work quite nicely and in fact I think that is how they do it. (At least I know it is in the Queens Room.)

 

Personally I am fairly sensitive to smoke but I found it pretty easy to avoid on QE2. We were in the smoking section of the Caronia Restaurant and while nobody at my table smoked, people at adjacent ones did - but they were still far enough away that I couldn't smell it. Perhaps this might be more of a problem in some of the other dining rooms where the tables are closer together, but in Caronia it did not bother me.

[Allis154]

I noticed that the venues that went from side to side on the QE2 did have different sections for smoking and non-smoking. The Queens Room smoking section was the opposite side from the Chart Room, which had a smoking section. Why couldn't they both be on the same side? Overall, the smoke wasn't too bad, but certianly was noticable, and in some cases, really bad.

[flandre58]

Personally I am fairly sensitive to smoke but I found it pretty easy to avoid on QE2. We were in the smoking section of the Caronia Restaurant and while nobody at my table smoked, people at adjacent ones did - but they were still far enough away that I couldn't smell it. Perhaps this might be more of a problem in some of the other dining rooms where the tables are closer together, but in Caronia it did not bother me.

 

I was at the same table and it bothered me ALOT! Had I known we would be in a smoking section I would have suggested to the maitre 'd the first day that our group be seated elsewhere. It does seem incredible that smoking is still allowed at all in the dining rooms. I was told by a friend in Queen's Grill that smoking was not allowed there at all. Could this be true?

[rjms74]

There is smoking allowed in the Queens Grill - everytime I dine there on QE2 I always request a non-smoking table but you still can smell smoke. It's because I think the tables are so close together!!! My next cruise onboard is in the Princess Grill so at least this is completely non smoking!

 

Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

[mufi]

Why do Grill passengers have to put up with tables that are so close together?

 

David.

[flandre58]

There is smoking allowed in the Queens Grill - everytime I dine there on QE2 I always request a non-smoking table but you still can smell smoke. It's because I think the tables are so close together!!! My next cruise onboard is in the Princess Grill so at least this is completely non smoking!

 

Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

 

Thanks for that information. Seems odd that only Princess Grill is smoke-free. Fortunately I've booked this for next year's April crossing, so I guess I'm okay.

[dougnewmanatsea]

I was at the same table and it bothered me ALOT!

You were sitting on the side of the table closer to the smokers ;) !

 

Why do Grill passengers have to put up with tables that are so close together?

They can get more for the same cabin if it's assigned to a Grill restaurant, so they cram as many seats as possible into the Grills.

 

Meanwhile Caronia is considerably larger than it needs to be - even when the ship is full there will be empty tables.

 

Seems odd that only Princess Grill is smoke-free.

PG is non-smoking because there is a smoking section in Britannia Grill.

 

If you have booked a P grade cabin and don't want to smell smoke, make sure you're assigned to Princess Grill and not Britannia Grill!

 

Princess Grill is also a nicer room (IMHO).

[emilygrace]

Does anyone know if they allow smoking in the Britannia dining room on the QM2? This is my first cruise with Cunard and I am shocked that they allow smoking in a dining venue.

[dougnewmanatsea]

Does anyone know if they allow smoking in the Britannia dining room on the QM2?

No, no smoking in the restaurants on QM2. It is allowed only on QE2.

 

Keep in mind that the majority of QE2 passengers are not North American, and at least until very recently it has been much more common in Europe to have smoking allowed in restaurants and such places. (I've been to plenty of restaurants in Europe where non-smoking sections don't even exist.)

 

I also imagine it has been quite difficult for Cunard to change a policy that's already in effect. With QM2, as a new ship, they had an opportunity to change. As an example, it is well known that one of Cunard's best customers is a gentleman who every year on the world cruise books both penthouses on QE2 - one for himself and his wife, the other for family or friends who visit him during the course of the journey.

 

When QM2 was being designed, this particular gentleman was shown plans for the ship, and he immediately objected to the location of the duplex suites, all the way at the stern. Rumor has it that his opinion was so important to Cunard that they actually redesigned the ship to include the forward-facing suites (the four named after Queens) largely because of him. However, when he found out that he would not be allowed to smoke in the Queens Grill on QM2, he refused to sail in her... So he has never used "his" suites on the new ship!

 

What he will do if and when they finally stop allowing smoking on QE2, or when she eventually retires, I don't know. He's not likely to find another ship that will allow him to smoke in the dining room!

 

So really this is a fine line that they have to walk here. With QM2 they do not have to worry so much about upsetting the "old guard" but on QE2 it is a different story. I can imagine the uproar that will be created if they do ever decide to ban smoking - QE2 passengers tend to be rather set in their ways and those who do smoke would undoubtedly not take kindly to these changes!

 

For what it's worth, when visiting QM2 I was suprised to notice a rather strong smell of smoke in many of the public areas (though not, of course, the restaurants, where it is banned). I actually found it much stronger than on QE2, where I did not notice it as much except for certain inevitably smoky areas like the Casino. As I said earlier, I also didn't smell it in the dining room even though we were in the smoking section, except perhaps for a little whiff here or there... But then I wasn't actually sitting near anyone who smoked. Paul (flandre58) was on the other side of my table, much closer to a "smoking" table (that is, one whose occupants actually smoked) and I'm not surprised that he could smell it!

 

In some of the other restaurants where the tables are quite close together (and even in some parts of Caronia which have small tables that are right near each other), I imagine it must be much more noticeable.

 

At any rate, for you this is a moot point as the restaurants on QM2 are all non-smoking, but prospective QE2 passengers should be aware of this now very unusual policy, and the fact that she does tend to attract quite a few smokers (as will any ship with an "international" audience).

[Skippyyyy]

For what it's worth, I 'heard a crew story' (and we all know how flakey they can be), that they had wanted to make Queen's Grill non-smoking but a particular guest who spends a lot (a lot a lot) of money on QE2 rang them and said he had cancelled his suite for the following year (and he meant the whole year). They quickly reversed the decision.

 

That said, I can see no reason why smokers can't nip out to the Queen's Grill lounge for a quick cigarette. I do. I find it rather convenient as I don't like being rooted to a dining room chair for two hours, so a 'wander' is rather nice.

 

I can fully understand that non-smokers find smoke objectionable, particularly whilst they're dining. Is it *so* hard for smokers to make that little effort to guarantee the comfort of the many non-smokers?

 

However, with Princess, Britannia, Caronia and Maurentania - it's not really *that* easy to nip out for a quick cigarette without looking like you've lost your way.

[mufi]

One of the nice lounges on QM2 is the cigar lounge. I had a look at it when no smokers were there. The biggest problem aboard for none smokers are cigars. Every afternoon on the boat deck a guy in the next deck chair lit up a monster. We always seemed to be downwind and did not stay there for long.

 

David.

[bigo]

I will be on the QM2 soon and look forward to the Churchill cigar lounge. Since it is the only true "smoking only area", I wonder if I can have dinner there?

[dougnewmanatsea]

they had wanted to make Queen's Grill non-smoking but a particular guest who spends a lot (a lot a lot) of money on QE2 rang them and said he had cancelled his suite for the following year

This is quite possible. If it happened, I'm sure it was the same gentleman I mentioned above who refuses to sail in QM2 since he can't smoke in the Queens Grill aboard her.

[colleency]

I will be on the QM2 soon and look forward to the Churchill cigar lounge. Since it is the only true "smoking only area", I wonder if I can have dinner there?

 

I thought there were more smoking areas that that. I had heard that there was smoking in the Lion's Head, which is a great disappoinment to me, as smoke gives me severe head pains. :( I had assumed there was smoking allowed in the casino as well.

[colleency]

Here's the faq from the Cunard site:

 

What is the smoking policy onboard Cunard ships? For the comfort and convenience of all guests, elevators, and some restaurants and public rooms have been designated as non-smoking. Many public rooms offer both smoking and non-smoking areas. Guests who enjoy pipes or cigars are accommodated in Churchill's Cigar Lounge onboard QM2, and in the Chart Room, Golden Lion Pub, Crystal Bar and open decks onboard QE2. We ask that guests refrain from smoking pipes or cigars in other enclosed public areas of the ship. Aboard QM2, each public room and bar have designated smoking sections and all restaurants are non-smoking. Aboard QE2, each restaurant provides a small section designated to cigarette smoking with the exception of the Princess Grill, which is non-smoking. Each public room and bar have designated smoking sections. The elevators, theatres and library are designated as non-smoking.

[tumeroll]

With so many Americans now kicking the smoking habit, it was a bit of a surprise to see just how many more Europeans smoke than Americans. However, I was extremely impressed with the air filter system on the QE2. Though I had tea every afternoon but one on the smoking side of the ship and many times sat near or in the smoking sections of the various lounges, I never was uncomfortable with anyone smoking. And I do not care for the smell at all. My cabin was totally smoke smell free.

 

During the full 14 days in the Caronia dining room on the NYC to LA segment of the world cruise I saw only one person smoking and they had a table way in the back of the room.. Guess, most of the folks on that particular portion of the cruise decided to hold off their smoking during dinner.

 

The only place where the smoking did bother me was in the casino playing black jack one evening. The person right next to me was smoking and that was too close but other evenings there was not a problem.

 

Overall I would rate the ship's air system excellent in controlling what was a fair number of smokers.

[mufi]

There is a shot of the QM2 cigar lounge here - http://ImageEvent.com/mufi/qm2crossingsjuly2005

 

David.