Smoking in the Casinos?

[davekathy]

58 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Why allow it inside on a cruise ship?

Great question for RC. I did mention that concern on both our PCS's from our recent B2B cruise on the Explorer. 

[Computer Nerd]

On 3/30/2022 at 9:29 AM, kokopelli-az said:

I'm on the Jewel right now.   I can't tell if there is a non-smoking side of the casino.    Smokers are sitting around the casino smoking at machines, but not playing them.  People are smoking in the casino even when it's not open.    

We always go to the casino early so for some reason haven't been that close to any smokers.   

 

There's a nice smoking area out by the pool but maybe smokers just go to the closest smoking area.   

There is a nice smoking area by the pool with only 6 tables and Super Mario is taking up one of those by himself. Doesn't leave much room for the other smokers on board.

[island lady]

21 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

"You can’t smoke inside a public building."  You can't smoke inside casinos on land??  All the casino offers are having to compete with land based ones. 

 

Your other points are very taken.  Thanks.

 

Casinos are a building unto themselves.  Nothing else attached, except the ones with hotels to cater to the gamblers.  

 

A cruise ship has living quarters, restaurants, shops, etc. in the same "public building".   If they would at least simply put closing doors to the entrances to the casino  on the ship...that would at help some to keep the smoke inside of it.  

[island lady]

21 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

"You can’t smoke inside a public building."  You can't smoke inside casinos on land??  All the casino offers are having to compete with land based ones. 

 

Your other points are very taken.  Thanks.

 

Casinos are a building unto themselves.  Nothing else attached, except the ones with hotels to cater to the gamblers.  

 

A cruise ship has living quarters, restaurants, shops, etc. in the same "public building" that houses all pax...gamblers or not...adults and children.    If they would at least simply put closing doors to the entrances to the casino  on the ship...that would at help some to keep the smoke inside of it.  

[Kmkub]

22 hours ago, fishernrex said:

  I'm using the USB fan as an example.  If I'm sitting at a machine in the smoking section and someone comes and sits next to me blowing a fan at me I'm not going to be happy.  It's rude and inconsiderate for the person smoking.  At the same time, using the casino solely as a smoking parlor is rude also. 

 

First of all, I was joking. Second, I would never sit down next to a smoker who is playing slots. I go somewhere else. 

 

The problem is when a smoker sits next to me and the smoke is blowing right into my face. In that case, it would be appropriate for me to blow my fan on my own face, to keep the smoke away from me. 

 

I was a polite smoker, and you are too. Not all smokers are polite. Some aren't even mildly aware that it smells putrid. Even when I smoked, I knew it smelled putrid. That's why I didn't smoke in my car or my home. It makes everything gross.

[happy cruzer]

7 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Casinos are a building unto themselves.  Nothing else attached, except the ones with hotels to cater to the gamblers.  

 

A cruise ship has living quarters, restaurants, shops, etc. in the same "public building" that houses all pax...gamblers or not...adults and children.    If they would at least simply put closing doors to the entrances to the casino  on the ship...that would at help some to keep the smoke inside of it.  

I think there are many casinos that are NOT buildings unto themselves and match your description of a cruise ship.  And the casinos on the ships compete with land based hotel casinos that have larger facilities and easier booking/cancellation terms.  Just as a cruise ship competes with land based resort/hotels that have larger facilities and easier booking/cancellation terms.  Any casino that can be open to public areas like lobbies, restaurants, etc. love that extra traffic...

 

Each cruise line decides who their competition is and how to compete for those dollars.

 

I too prefer Celebrity's smoking policy and hope the industry does go that way.

 

My point was the Casino offers on lines like RCCL, NCL, and Carnival helped restart cruising.  Only for a very short time were masks required in casinos.  So maybe things will change, but those casino offers do make a difference to the bottomline.

 

 

 

 

[Kmkub]

2 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

I think there are many casinos that are NOT buildings unto themselves and match your description of a cruise ship.  And the casinos on the ships compete with land based hotel casinos that have larger facilities and easier booking/cancellation terms.  Just as a cruise ship competes with land based resort/hotels that have larger facilities and easier booking/cancellation terms.  Any casino that can be open to public areas like lobbies, restaurants, etc. love that extra traffic...

 

Each cruise line decides who their competition is and how to compete for those dollars.

 

I too prefer Celebrity's smoking policy and hope the industry does go that way.

 

My point was the Casino offers on lines like RCCL, NCL, and Carnival helped restart cruising.  Only for a very short time were masks required in casinos.  So maybe things will change, but those casino offers do make a difference to the bottomline.

 

 

 

 

You're not wrong. The Vegas Strip is loaded with enormous spaces. We stayed at the MGM Grand for a conference my husband was attending. The casino seems a small part of the whole thing. Madonna was doing a show there, Cirque has a permanent show there, there's tons of high class shops and restaurants and insane outdoor spaces. The only place smoking is allowed is the casino.

 

The walk from our room to the conference area was around 2 miles, I think. These Vegas resorts are gigantic!

 

 

[takeabreath3]

On 3/29/2022 at 4:14 PM, RobInMN said:

Oh, the irony of your username.🤣

Just to peak your interest!  As a child I talked non stop (ok, 70 years later I still am) and my granddaddy used to say Judy, take a breath!!  The number 3 is in memory of Dale Earnhardt, Sr, the best that ever was or will be!

 

 

[Nessa1dc]

Here we go....

 

There are lines that dont allow smoking.  If you don't smoke and it bothers you....go on THOSE lines.  RCCL chooses to allow smoking in the casino.  I think that is the bottom line.  Bon Voyage.

[pdrcruiser]

On 3/30/2022 at 12:11 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

I don’t think that is a good idea. The casino always smells like smoke even on port days when it is empty. I wouldn’t  want there to be 2 or 3 locations inside that always smelled like smoke. Even if they tried something like you suggested, my guess is the Schooner Bar would be the last place they would let guests smoke since it is the piano bar on RCI ships.  

On Adventure right now and went into the Schooner Bar the other afternoon for a drink and it stunk so bad from the casino entrance next to it that we had to leave. So pretty much the Schooner Bar you can get a good smell of the smoke whether you like it or not. 

[PhillyFan33579]

23 minutes ago, pdrcruiser said:

On Adventure right now and went into the Schooner Bar the other afternoon for a drink and it stunk so bad from the casino entrance next to it that we had to leave. So pretty much the Schooner Bar you can get a good smell of the smoke whether you like it or not. 

That sucks. I have never noticed smoke in the Schooner Bar on any Voyager class ship, but I can see how it could happen based on the location of the Schooner Bar next to the casino. 

[davekathy]

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

That sucks. I have never noticed smoke in the Schooner Bar on any Voyager class ship, but I can see how it could happen based on the location of the Schooner Bar next to the casino. 

No it stinks. 🤣 The stench also goes up the stair case from the casino to the Promenade Deck.

[PhillyFan33579]

3 minutes ago, davekathy said:

No it stinks. 🤣 The stench also goes up the stair case from the casino to the Promenade Deck.

You could always go on Celebrity with their no smoking any where inside policy. 

[davekathy]

20 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

You could always go on Celebrity with their no smoking any where inside policy. 

We do. We always enjoy our RC cruises too. We don't cruise either line based on their non smoking/smoking policies. 

Edited April 3, 2022 by davekathy

[PhillyFan33579]

52 minutes ago, davekathy said:

We do. We always enjoy our RC cruises too. We don't cruise either line based on their non smoking/smoking policies. 

That’s good to hear. I enjoy both cruise lines. Celebrity cruises are great when you just want to relax and RCI cruises are great when you literally have too many things you can do during a cruise. 

[suzyluvs2cruise]

We're just off the Navigator. It was our 4th sailing on her and the 1st since smoking is allowed again in the Casino. The Schooner Bar is forward of the Casino and Bolero's is aft. Even in the a.m. for Trivia in the Schooner Bar the smoke smell was extremely strong.  In Bolero's in the evening the smell was prevalent. Smoke smell even drifted up a bit into the R Bar on deck 5. I've never noticed it to be as bad as it was this time. Were there more smokers? or was the filtration system not working properly? Who knows. All I know is that it wasn't good.  

[Casino Comp Chick]

On 3/26/2022 at 2:07 PM, island lady said:

I already miss the recent days when they required masks in the casino...which meant no smoking.  Gosh it was so fresh and clean smelling in there on Odyssey last week!  🤗

 

Now we are on EX...and even in the morning...cig smoke in there is horrendous.  Gag...will keep me from spending money in there again. 😮   Which is a good thing for me....loss for RCI.  😉 

How could you tell when you were wearing a mask? Haha

[Casino Comp Chick]

15 hours ago, Nessa1dc said:

Here we go....

 

There are lines that dont allow smoking.  If you don't smoke and it bothers you....go on THOSE lines.  RCCL chooses to allow smoking in the casino.  I think that is the bottom line.  Bon Voyage.

Amen to that!

[TexasRon]

We don’t have to accept smoking as something that will never go away in casinos; we can speak out against it and hope it goes away.  We can hope our favorite cruise line changes the policy and continue to sail with them even if they don’t.

 

Until it changes, I will just carry extra clothes and ask for extra towels so I can get rid of the smoke stench when I get back to the cabin.

 

I can put up with it.  I don’t have to like it.

[lovesthebeach2]

8 hours ago, suzyluvs2cruise said:

We're just off the Navigator. It was our 4th sailing on her and the 1st since smoking is allowed again in the Casino. The Schooner Bar is forward of the Casino and Bolero's is aft. Even in the a.m. for Trivia in the Schooner Bar the smoke smell was extremely strong.  In Bolero's in the evening the smell was prevalent. Smoke smell even drifted up a bit into the R Bar on deck 5. I've never noticed it to be as bad as it was this time. Were there more smokers? or was the filtration system not working properly? Who knows. All I know is that it wasn't good.  

thats why I don’t like Freedom or Voyager class ships, because Schooner is right outside the casino and the smell overwhelms the area. I understand the smokers perspective, I just wish there were doors from the casino to keep the smell inside there.

[deliver42]

We just got off the Wonder, and had to walk through the casino many times, but they must have put in a great exhaust because we couldn't smell any smoke. Really surprised us.

[Nessa1dc]

I'm really going to leave this subject alone...it just brings about bad feelings.  I should state that I am a smoker (working to quit).  I am respectful of others when I smoke and will only do so in designated areas.  I am understanding of those that dont like it, but I'm also aware that there are a number of lines and ships that have a total NO SMOKING policy, yet....those that do accommodate smokers, there is a problem.  You can't win.  You don't have to like it or agree, I get it....but there other avenues for you to take.  RCCL is a major corporation.  I'm sure they have done the statistics on their customers who smoke and who don't.  They have tested who gambles, and who don't gamble...I know they don't go with policies that lose them money (I'm sure of it)...with that being said, this is the model that works for them.

[island lady]

On 4/3/2022 at 4:36 AM, Casino Comp Chick said:

How could you tell when you were wearing a mask? Haha

 

Really?  You really think you can't smell anything when wearing a mask?  Exactly how do you breath?  

[graphicguy]

On 4/3/2022 at 1:34 PM, Nessa1dc said:

I'm really going to leave this subject alone...it just brings about bad feelings.  I should state that I am a smoker (working to quit).  I am respectful of others when I smoke and will only do so in designated areas.  I am understanding of those that dont like it, but I'm also aware that there are a number of lines and ships that have a total NO SMOKING policy, yet....those that do accommodate smokers, there is a problem.  You can't win.  You don't have to like it or agree, I get it....but there other avenues for you to take.  RCCL is a major corporation.  I'm sure they have done the statistics on their customers who smoke and who don't.  They have tested who gambles, and who don't gamble...I know they don't go with policies that lose them money (I'm sure of it)...with that being said, this is the model that works for them.

Appreciate your opinion on this.  It seems it's a contentious issue. Being vehemently for or against people who are or aren't smokers isn't really the answer.

 

I remember the days of having smoking and non-smoking areas in restaurants.  It was a poor solution.  Heck, I remember being in my local watering hole after playing softball, when they still allowed smoking in bars (living in Southern OH, very close to KY, where tobacco was a main cash crop, it wasn't all that long ago).

 

Would come home after being in that bar for an hour or so, and recall the "distinct" smell my uniform had, as well as what orders I had personally.  Truthfully, don't want to go back to that again.

 

That said, far be it from me to tell anyone what habits they should or shouldn't have.  Lord knows I've plenty of my own to worry about.

 

At first, it sounded like Royal was making the casino smoke free (still had designated smoking areas in the outdoors areas of their ships).  This is the way they do it on their sister brand, Celebrity, which seemed to work well.

 

NCL has a separate enclosed smoking area of the casino for smokers to use.  Seems to work well for them.

 

So, when Royal started allowing smoking in the indoor area like the casino, that really upset the apple cart.

 

What's the answer?  I don't know.  They had a workable solution and then discarded it.

 

 

[time4u2go]

On 4/3/2022 at 7:26 AM, TexasRon said:

We don’t have to accept smoking as something that will never go away in casinos; we can speak out against it and hope it goes away.  We can hope our favorite cruise line changes the policy and continue to sail with them even if they don’t.

Therein lies the problem.

 

The best way to "speak out against it" would be to stop cruising with them.  As long as enough people keep cruising with them, they are less likely to make a change.