Has Royal banned smoking in casinos on all ships?

[molsonschooner]

2 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Totally banning indoor smoking on the ship would be difficult because a much higher percentage of the crew smoke. 

I am not sure about the US but here in Canada employees are not permitted to smoke in doors while at work. They must go outside to smoke. As long as the crew can go outside to smoke I don't think there should be a concern with them

[larrywizzit]

5 hours ago, kidless said:

We heard smokers say that banning smoking in restaurants & bars would kill business.... but it didn’t. Most smokers will adjust and non smokers will spend more time in casino. Smoke free casinos are coming. Just like smoke free cabins/balconies and all indoor venues have switched to non smoking! 

To a degree this is true, but not entirely. I’m a smoker and a cruiser. It’s a bit difficult these days but not completely untenable. I do not expect an indoor space to smoke under any condition. I accept this is the new reality. 

 

That at being said, on our last Celebrity cruise on a Solstice class ship (Silhouette I think?) in March of this year they had eliminated all the covered smoking areas. We were entirely exposed to the elements be it blazing sun or pouring rain. 

 

I didn’t like that in the least. A relaxing cruise for me involves a large coffee, a good book and a pack of smokes, hopefully in a comfortable area. That was impossible. We have since discovered Holland America and we are very happy there. We returned today from a 19 day cruise with them including a transatlantic segment. 

 

So, yes we adjust, but within reason and we will change lines and loyalties if a certain line is crossed.

 

i would actually prefer though if they would eliminate casino smoking on all their ships. On this cruise it was allowed most nights and my wife dropped a small fortune. She spends much less when she has to leave for a smoke.

 

Edit: It was actually January when X limited smoking to exposed areas. Our first Holland cruise was in fact in March. 

Edited September 8, 2019 by larrywizzit

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, MamaFej said:

I mentioned smokers and gambling earlier. I know I have heard and read about the connection many times. A quick google search showed lots of evidence. However this, from the National Council on Problem Gambling website was one of the most concise lists, and includes citations:

GAMBLING AND SMOKING

• Gamblers have high rates of tobacco use and there is a linear relationship between gambling severity and both smoking frequency and nicotine dependency (Rodda et al. 2004)

• New Zealand study showed 58% of problem gamblers were daily smokers versus 22% of non-problem gamblers (Ministry of Health 2006)

• Gamblers who smoked daily gambled more days and spent more money than non-daily smokers. They craved gambling more and had lower perceived control over gambling (Petry & Oricken 2002)

• 41.6% of heavy gamblers are smokers versus 30.1% of recreation smokers and 21.3% of non smokers (Smith & Ferris, 1996)

• 62 % of treatment seeking gamblers in Connecticut and 69% in Minnesota smoked (Petry & Oricken 2002, Stinchfield and Winters 1996) as compared to 25% of general population (Reuter et al.. 1990)

• Smoking is powerful reinforcement for the trance-inducing rituals associated with gambling (Harper,2003)

 

Regardless, it would be nice if the cruise lines would find a way to create environments where non-smokers could be comfortable and still accommodate their smoking clientele. In my dream world, this would be on separate ships, but I don't think I'll ever be able to afford a Virgin cruise.

 

I do agree with a poster above that non-smokers would likely spend more time in the casinos if they were non-smoking. I've rarely seen a Celebrity casino that wasn't bustling. I avoid the casinos on other ships by traversing on different decks, away from the casinos.

Lots of the data above is old...  1990 x2, 1996...  heck I even smoked back then. Have been a non smoker now for 19 1/2 years. 

 

I’ve been in non smoking Casinos and plenty of people are playing. I disagree with you that both should be  accommodated. Smoking should only take place if necessary OUTSIDE and away from Non Smokers. 

[OSUZorba]

3 hours ago, proggieus said:

i would bet that they have studied it and I assume that more non smokers will gamble in a smoky casino then smokers will in a smoke free one

Every cruise I think I'll go play craps, but then I never feel like smelling the rest of the night and bringing it back to my stateroom. Therefore, I haven't stepped foot in a ship casino since 2013.

[mayleeman]

Not mentioned by anyone as far as I can see: Has there been a rise in smoking on balconies on Celebrity since it was banned indoors? Anyone notice?

 

Unfortunately, it would be hard for individuals to know the answer to this because not nearly as many people would be aware of it.

Edited September 8, 2019 by mayleeman

[cruisegus]

In our state the local bars said they would be driven out of business if indoor smoking was banned. It WAS and less than 2% closed because of the state wide ban, hard core smokers will find a way, even if they have to tread water to ENJOY their habit, so let them.

[sgmn]

8 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I am currently on the Adventure. Walked through the casino late this morning. We were still in US waters so it was closed. 

 

DOZENS of people sitting there, smoking. 

I agree, I think a lot of people use it as a place to smoke, not necessarily to gamble or drink.  But I do think (as a non-smoker) there should be somewhere away from a popular area they could smoke, not sure where but maybe an dedicated lounge or an outside semi enclosed/protected from the elements 'bus stop'. Otherwise I think you will get more people smoking (against the rules) on their balconies.  

[sgmn]

7 hours ago, molsonschooner said:

I am not sure about the US but here in Canada employees are not permitted to smoke in doors while at work. They must go outside to smoke. As long as the crew can go outside to smoke I don't think there should be a concern with them

Same here in UK.  Even at Heathrow where I work, there is no where for passengers to smoke inside.  Our First/Business class passengers get quite upset there is no smoking area in our lounge.     

[Lionesss]

Being an ex-smoker (8 years smoke free), I know all to well  how the smoking habit made me need a puff or two.

 

I was amazed when traveling through Atlanta airport that they provided indoor smoking rooms.

As I walked by them, they were filled with passengers.

I did not notice any cig smells when I walked by. 

 

On the ship, I do notice the smell in the casino (Allure) when on the non-smoking side.

I also noticed people sitting at machines when the casino was  closed smoking.  Whatever. 

 

I also agree that a safe, covered location needs to be provided that smokers can go to and have their breaks.

They are on a cruise and relaxing.  And cruises still permit it.

But no matter where the area would be, it would probably still make some unhappy.

 

But of course it is not a perfect world.

and

You cannot make everyone happy.

 

We are leaving on a land vacation to the house of mouse in Fl in a couple weeks.

I want to see how their new no smoking policy in the parks fares.....................

 

Safe travels.

 

 

 

 

 

[TeeRick]

11 hours ago, mayleeman said:

Not mentioned by anyone as far as I can see: Has there been a rise in smoking on balconies on Celebrity since it was banned indoors? Anyone notice?

 

Unfortunately, it would be hard for individuals to know the answer to this because not nearly as many people would be aware of it.

We sail often on Celebrity and smoking in the casino has not been allowed for quite a few years as others have said.  But there is no good way to answer your question about an increase of illegal smoking on balconies since the time it was banned in the casino.  There are exceptions (and reports here on these boards) but almost all passengers who smoke definitely follow the rules and go to designated outside areas.  We have run into a sneaky smoker or two on the balcony on Royal over the years but not yet on Celebrity.  But I'm sure it happens.

[mayleeman]

@TeeRick At least it is nice to know that we aren't seeing or hearing reports of a rash of it. 

[MamaFej]

15 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Lots of the data above is old...  1990 x2, 1996...  heck I even smoked back then. Have been a non smoker now for 19 1/2 years. 

 

I’ve been in non smoking Casinos and plenty of people are playing. I disagree with you that both should be  accommodated. Smoking should only take place if necessary OUTSIDE and away from Non Smokers. 

As I said, there is LOTS of evidence for the correlation easily obtainable online. I merely picked this particular page from the National Council on Problem Gambling website  because it was an easy cut and paste.

 

I positively despise smoke and am confident that my chronic lung issues are a result of living with smokers the first eight years of my life. I do believe that smokers are human and deserve rights, but that does not include the right to pollute air I need to breathe with carcinogens and irritants.

You say you disagree, and I respect that, but I do not see how accommodating smokers with smoking ships and non-smokers with non-smoking ships has to mean that "Smoking only take place if necessary OUTSIDE and away from Non Smokers." The non-smokers would be on a completely different ship. Presumably, non-smokers who deliberately book a smoking ship aren't annoyed by the smoke. I imagine if there were smoking and non-smoking ships, there would still be rules, but they would be more about safety than about protecting non-smokers on smoking ships.

 

I strongly support laws designed to protect kids from smoke, such as those regarding smoking in vehicles where children are present. My kids hate smoking as much as I do, and I frequently have to remind them that second hand smoke is nowhere near as prevalent as it used to be. Of course, then I take them to Europe, and they get a taste of what it used to be like in the US. Ugh. 

[CRUISEFOUR]

We were on the NCL Bliss last year and they had a separate glass-enclosed area in the casino for smokers. Worked well for both smokers and non smokers. 

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, CRUISEFOUR said:

We were on the NCL Bliss last year and they had a separate glass-enclosed area in the casino for smokers. Worked well for both smokers and non smokers. 

 

What a concept!  A non-smoke area as opposed to a non-smoking area.

[Milwaukee Eight]

2 hours ago, MamaFej said:

As I said, there is LOTS of evidence for the correlation easily obtainable online. I merely picked this particular page from the National Council on Problem Gambling website  because it was an easy cut and paste.

 

I positively despise smoke and am confident that my chronic lung issues are a result of living with smokers the first eight years of my life. I do believe that smokers are human and deserve rights, but that does not include the right to pollute air I need to breathe with carcinogens and irritants.

You say you disagree, and I respect that, but I do not see how accommodating smokers with smoking ships and non-smokers with non-smoking ships has to mean that "Smoking only take place if necessary OUTSIDE and away from Non Smokers." The non-smokers would be on a completely different ship. Presumably, non-smokers who deliberately book a smoking ship aren't annoyed by the smoke. I imagine if there were smoking and non-smoking ships, there would still be rules, but they would be more about safety than about protecting non-smokers on smoking ships.

 

I strongly support laws designed to protect kids from smoke, such as those regarding smoking in vehicles where children are present. My kids hate smoking as much as I do, and I frequently have to remind them that second hand smoke is nowhere near as prevalent as it used to be. Of course, then I take them to Europe, and they get a taste of what it used to be like in the US. Ugh. 

I would like all ships to be non smoking, period. That includes vaping. 

 

I do believe it would be a good start to eliminate smoking  in any indoor areas  The Casino is actually just a smoking lounge for some. We see smokers all the time smoking in the Casino when it’s CLOSED. Also have witnessed many who smoke in there while not playing. 

 

In my opinion 

Edited September 8, 2019 by Milwaukee Eight

[memafred]

On 9/6/2019 at 3:29 PM, Host Clarea said:

 

Yes, Celebrity has had smoking banned in their ship's casinos for years, and surprisingly they are still doing a good business.

we were on Celebrity last May 2018

you could still smoke in the casinos then

[Merion_Mom]

20 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I am currently on the Adventure. Walked through the casino late this morning. We were still in US waters so it was closed. 

 

DOZENS of people sitting there, smoking. 

 

12 hours ago, sgmn said:

I agree, I think a lot of people use it as a place to smoke, not necessarily to gamble or drink.  But I do think (as a non-smoker) there should be somewhere away from a popular area they could smoke, not sure where but maybe an dedicated lounge or an outside semi enclosed/protected from the elements 'bus stop'. Otherwise I think you will get more people smoking (against the rules) on their balconies.  

 

Ok, I have ANOTHER story for you.

 

I think that it was January 2018. (could easily have been 2016)

 

I book an obstructed balcony cabin on the Anthem, which are all on Deck 6 (except for a few all the way forward on 7 &  8. 

 

I also prefer starboard.  On the starboard side on the Anthem, on Deck 5, is the construction we call The Bus Stop.

 

It is a glass enclosed room with chairs and tables and some other furnishings.  It is for smokers.  

 

This Bus Stop does not bother me at all. Other people claim that they can't use their balconies, blah blah blah, the smoke comes in.  I have not experienced that.  And it's also not the point of this story.

 

So, we were in port in Martinique.  There was a guy out in the harbor "flying" on one of those hover board thingies.  (just looked it up, and they seem to be called "flyboards".)

 

Then a HUGE marching band with dancers came marching out the pier. (it was LOUD) The young people were WONDERFUL performers.  I went out on my balcony to watch.  As I stood there, enjoying their performance, something flew past my field of vision.  I looked down, and it was a cigarette butt, and it landed on top of the Bus Stop. 

 

I looked up, trying to find the person who had thrown that cigarette butt, and what did I see, as I surveyed the entire starboard side of the Anthem of the Seas?

 

AT LEAST a dozen people, leaning over their balcony railings, SMOKING ON THEIR BALCONIES.  In plain, unconcerned view of everyone.

 

Some days,

 

[akcruz]

2 hours ago, memafred said:

we were on Celebrity last May 2018

you could still smoke in the casinos then

 

Are you sure it was Celebrity?  We sailed in Feb 18 on Reflection and the casino was no smoking, thought it had been that was for years.

 

BTW this is one of the reasons we've been sailing on Celebrity over Royal lately.  Would love to see all ships eliminate indoor smoking.

Edited September 8, 2019 by akcruz

[coaster]

Empress is totally smoke free in the casino. Hope it expands to the rest of the fleet.

Edited September 8, 2019 by coaster

[Tom47]

3 hours ago, memafred said:

we were on Celebrity last May 2018

you could still smoke in the casinos then

We have been on 8 Celebrity cruises, 2010-2016.  All cruises with no smoking casinos, 7 different ships.

[Esmerelda]

All I can say is Ohio went non smoking about 13 years ago.  We have many land based casinos, everyone complained that they would be empty after this passed. Well, statistics have proven that completely wrong.  They have no trouble keeping the casinos full and the smokers have a place to go outside to smoke.  It’s so nice to go to any public building here  and not have to suck in smoke.  I would be overjoyed if RC ever did this.  I grew up with 2 chain smokers and I watched my dad take his last breath before he died of lung cancer 15 years ago. I have nothing positive to say about smoking. 😣

[The Sunset Glow]

On 9/6/2019 at 5:04 PM, Langley Cruisers said:

Not sure if it changes with itinerary, but just returned from Ovation to Alaska - no indoor smoking permitted anywhere in the ship, casino included. It was FANTASTIC. There were several outdoor smoking areas.

 

This is promising. We'll be boarding Ovation on Sept 20th for Hawaii and I and hoping the indoor smoking bans you encountered are the same for us.

[MamaFej]

1 hour ago, Esmerelda said:

All I can say is Ohio went non smoking about 13 years ago.  We have many land based casinos, everyone complained that they would be empty after this passed. Well, statistics have proven that completely wrong.  They have no trouble keeping the casinos full and the smokers have a place to go outside to smoke.  It’s so nice to go to any public building here  and not have to suck in smoke.  I would be overjoyed if RC ever did this.  I grew up with 2 chain smokers and I watched my dad take his last breath before he died of lung cancer 15 years ago. I have nothing positive to say about smoking. 😣

24 years for California. Of course, we had the same dire warnings, and "miraculously" business didn't shrivel up and die. 

It's getting better for outdoor smoking here, as well. Most outdoor restaurant seating is now non-smoking, and outdoor malls have designated smoking/vaping areas. Of course, there are those who firmly believe the rules don't apply to them, but it is better than it was before. 

 

I believe smoking is still allowed in Native American reservation casinos and restaurants, but I haven't been to one in years.

[Waterluv]

I just got off Allure last week if there is No Smoking in the Casino no one knows and it is not enforced. It is thick and terrible. They do have a non smoking side but the room is open so it is similar to when they used to try and separate the bingo parlors the smoke just drifts right on over 🤨 however Celebrity the last 2 sailings most recent was NYE on the Infinity and the Casino Is Smoke Free😊

[UKWLDCruise]

In the UK 15.1% of the adult population smoking according to the latest available figures but more interestingly indoor smoking in a public place is banned.  Even if you have a smoking shelter it can only have at most a roof and one wall so that if you have to smoke you won't be too comfortable doing so, basically indoor and out door smoking rooms are illegal.