Aft facing balconies & smoking

[Cruise Raider]

We were able to upgrade to an aft facing balcony on the Ruby on the dolphin deck and are just wondering if we’ve made the right decision.  We are both sensitive to cigarette smoke and are wondering if the crew smoking section is still all the way aft on the promenade deck below.  
I know they received a lot of complaints from those in aft facing balconies and suites.  And, since a large number of crew are smokers and I wouldn’t want to deny them their only outlet for their stress and hard work, we would consider moving to another location if smoking is currently problematic.   
However, we sure do love our aft facing balconies … what is the more recent experience for those on the Ruby?  
 

[t&atravel]

We just disembarked the Ruby on August 28th (RT SF Alaska)l. We had an aft facing suite on the starboard side deck 8 emerald so one below the deck you are considering.  Yes the crew are still smoking on the aft promenade.  We did not notice the smell during the 2 sea days to the 1st port and the 2 back to SF however during port stops and in between ports it can get bad.  So much so, we smelled it inside the cabin with both sliding doors closed!  We are not usually balcony dwellers so we were able to use it when we wanted too but having the smell inside the room was pretty bad.  

[Kay S]

I have done a few aft balconies on that ship class.  I don't remember ever being  bothered by smokers.  Maybe it was the direction of the wind or something, but I didn't realize there was a smoking section there until I chanced upon it.  

[t&atravel]

3 minutes ago, Kay S said:

I have done a few aft balconies on that ship class.  I don't remember ever being  bothered by smokers.  Maybe it was the direction of the wind or something, but I didn't realize there was a smoking section there until I chanced upon it.  

When Princess started up post covid they roped off the aft section of the promenade and designated it as crew smoking area.  They did not want the crew to be in a crowded indoor area and it is too windy in their area all the way forward.  So this is new.  Not sure when you last sailed.  The issue has mostly been discussed for the Ruby so I don’t know if it’s a problem on other ships.

[Papa Yoda]

We had D737 on the Grand in April (starboard aft corner) and never smelled smoke even in port.  Spent a lot of time on the balcony.  Maybe they removed the crew smoking restriction, but it was always a smoking area (Deck 7 starboard aft)

[Cruise Raider]

As much as we love the aft facing balcony cabins, we were bothered with it up on the Caribe deck on the Grand last year.  I scooped up that aft facing balcony on the Ruby for a cruise later this years, not even thinking about the smoking area below.  Then, I remembered … ugh!  I may ask to be moved to a port side balcony.  

[Mara4166]

Does anyone have any experience on the Sky?  We are in an aft corner suite on the Dolphin deck.  Sea days are the most critical since we plan on spending a lot of time on the balcony (avoiding crowded indoor spaces), but we may spend some port time on the balcony also.  Only 8 weeks to go so we will find out soon for ourselves, but it would be nice to have some recent views.

[Cruise Raider]

On 9/16/2022 at 1:02 PM, Mara4166 said:

Does anyone have any experience on the Sky?  We are in an aft corner suite on the Dolphin deck.  Sea days are the most critical since we plan on spending a lot of time on the balcony (avoiding crowded indoor spaces), but we may spend some port time on the balcony also.  Only 8 weeks to go so we will find out soon for ourselves, but it would be nice to have some recent views.

Dont quote me on this, but I do not believe the Royal class ships have wrap around promenade decks.  Is there even a place to get outside in the very aft on those ships.  Maybe so?  
 

Edit:  I just checked my photos of the Majestic and there does appear to be an area below the passenger cabins where crew can gather.  So, nix my statement above.  

Edited September 18, 2022 by Cruise Raider

[Cruise Raider]

So, I just learned from a friend that the crew smoking section is still designated for the aft section of the Ruby.  I'm debating on whether or not to try downgrading our cabin now.  So sad to hear they haven't changed this yet.  The aft section is where are some of the best balconies and suites are located ... I just don't understand why they put the crew smoking section right under those premium cabins.  Ugh!

In the meanwhile, I will be sure to write Princess about this.  

[HaveDogWillTravel]

Just off the Ruby yesterday.  The balcony on B755 was unusable due to heavy smoke over the course of several hours while in port.  At sea it was usually but not always ok. Our first and last days were sea days we had 4 port days. When the stewards got off at 9 pm regardless of at sea or in port the smoke was evident. I made 3 formal complaints regarding w separate occasions.  I was told by the daytime GS manager that they moved the smoking aft bc those in the forward balconies complained too much. That’s the first time I’ve been given that excuse. 

I asked GS to please log my complaints.  If this is a contest of who complains the most gets the crew smoking area moved then I suggest everyone in an aft facing balcony who can’t use their balcony due to smoke asks GS to log their complaint. 

 

For those who are curious I did not expect nor did I want any compensation other than the smoking to ceases. None was offered.  

[emairs]

On 9/16/2022 at 4:02 PM, Mara4166 said:

Does anyone have any experience on the Sky?  We are in an aft corner suite on the Dolphin deck.  Sea days are the most critical since we plan on spending a lot of time on the balcony (avoiding crowded indoor spaces), but we may spend some port time on the balcony also.  Only 8 weeks to go so we will find out soon for ourselves, but it would be nice to have some recent views.

We just returned from the TA cruise on Enchanted Princess, which is basically the same ship. We were on Dolphin deck in corner aft suite D726. It was wonderful. We spent a lot of time on the deck, a wonderful place to avoid crowded spaces!

[voljeep]

6 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Just off the Ruby yesterday.  The balcony on B755 was unusable due to heavy smoke over the course of several hours while in port.  At sea it was usually but not always ok. Our first and last days were sea days we had 4 port days. When the stewards got off at 9 pm regardless of at sea or in port the smoke was evident. I made 3 formal complaints regarding w separate occasions.  I was told by the daytime GS manager that they moved the smoking aft bc those in the forward balconies complained too much. That’s the first time I’ve been given that excuse. 

I asked GS to please log my complaints.  If this is a contest of who complains the most gets the crew smoking area moved then I suggest everyone in an aft facing balcony who can’t use their balcony due to smoke asks GS to log their complaint. 

 

For those who are curious I did not expect nor did I want any compensation other than the smoking to ceases. None was offered.  

we are in that same area (true aft, Baja) on the CB in November - not good news...

[1emerald1]

28 minutes ago, emairs said:

We just returned from the TA cruise on Enchanted Princess, which is basically the same ship. We were on Dolphin deck in corner aft suite D726. It was wonderful. We spent a lot of time on the deck, a wonderful place to avoid crowded spaces!

I'm going to be in that same suite on an upcoming Discovery cruise.  I see the overhang provided some shade, which is what I want.  Did it provide much shade during the day?

[emairs]

12 minutes ago, 1emerald1 said:

I'm going to be in that same suite on an upcoming Discovery cruise.  I see the overhang provided some shade, which is what I want.  Did it provide much shade during the day?

There was some shade, as you can see from the photo, but it was later in the morning. Most of the shade depended on the direction of the ship. We were on the TA going west, so we had direct aft sun in the morning from the East, and then it shifted to port side in the afternoon. The table and chairs were then in the shade. The suite on the other side of the ship received more shade on this particular cruise, as the starboard side was facing North. 
 

[1emerald1]

50 minutes ago, emairs said:

There was some shade, as you can see from the photo, but it was later in the morning. Most of the shade depended on the direction of the ship. We were on the TA going west, so we had direct aft sun in the morning from the East, and then it shifted to port side in the afternoon. The table and chairs were then in the shade. The suite on the other side of the ship received more shade on this particular cruise, as the starboard side was facing North. 
 

Thanks for the info!

[nini]

We just got off of the Grand (on it for a 12 night Alaska cruise). YES, the crew smoking area is still on the Promenade deck and it is quite annoying as the smoke drifts everywhere, including up to the aft Lido deck when trying to enjoy the fantastic views. I was very disappointed. Our cabin was very forward on the Caribe deck and I often went out on our balcony, just to smell smoke. The guy on the Dolphin deck (above us and one over), was smoking early on. Last night, it was quite pervasive from our forward Caribe deck balcony.

The casino smoke wafted everywhere, including into the Princess Theater.

I really wish Princess would get a handle on this issue.

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, nini said:

We just got off of the Grand (on it for a 12 night Alaska cruise). YES, the crew smoking area is still on the Promenade deck and it is quite annoying as the smoke drifts everywhere, including up to the aft Lido deck when trying to enjoy the fantastic views. I was very disappointed. Our cabin was very forward on the Caribe deck and I often went out on our balcony, just to smell smoke. The guy on the Dolphin deck (above us and one over), was smoking early on. Last night, it was quite pervasive from our forward Caribe deck balcony.

The casino smoke wafted everywhere, including into the Princess Theater.

I really wish Princess would get a handle on this issue.

Oh dear .. that’s even worse than I thought it would be!  
like you, I sure wish they would have some stricter rules about smoking areas.  
 

[nini]

On Deck 15, (the Grand), next to the Wedding Chapel, there is a lovely outdoor sitting area. Howevwr, it is for smokers and it also is destructive to the ship experience of others