SMOKERS BEWARE on CruiseTours !

[Poohb]

In everyway our cruise was wonderful. However our accomodations during the 1 week landtour we had in Alaska before cruising were disappointing. I checked with our TA 4 times prior to our trip to make sure we had smoking accomodations for my husband. On the bus, I also checked with our guide/director and he verified the smoking room to me. When we got to our room, 4 out of 5 were non-smoking. I went to the desk each time and requested a change. The 'pat' answer was 'We're sorry. We have nothing avialable. You can go outside to smoke'. Easy for them to say, but when you're on the 3rd floor of a dead end hallway..... During our cruise we booked the 'Mendenhall Glacier & Wildlife Quest'. The only smoking on the boat was lower level, stern in the middle of diesel fuel exhaust. My hubby asked if the was a reason why he couldn't smoke out on the upper deck near the rear and some deck hand said that it was CoastGuard regs...only lower deck. That's annoying since every other boat didn't have a problem with upper/outside smoking. I will be posting about our trip...all the good stuff but I wanted smokers to be aware that the hotels got the Celebrity business and then didn't accomodate the special needs of the guests. Celebrity should check into this and I will be notifying them also.

[dmarch@islc.net]

If you request a smoking room and the hotel is unable to accommodate, you have the right to smoke in the no smoking room. By law! I read that someplace.

[wv4891]

Hmmm, I would love to see that law, as I think it is regulated down to a municipal level in most places in the U.S.. :confused:

 

Bill

 

 

If you request a smoking room and the hotel is unable to accommodate, you have the right to smoke in the no smoking room. By law! I read that someplace.

[cruising with marti]

Hey, I have got the answere, stop smoking:D

 

 

 

Phil

[Happy ks]

Smokers Beware!!

 

I'm a little disappointed, so I have to agree with Phil.

[Hilary]

I find the smoking thing really interesting. We noticed that on our Alaska cruise we had far FEWER smokers on board the ship, which was mostly Americans and Canadians. When we cruise the Caribbean, we have a more international mix of passengers and far MORE smokers. It doesn't matter where we go in the Caribbean, there are just more smokers around and nobody seems to care where they smoke.

 

Just a cultural observation I guess.

[OCruisers]

Poohb .... Thanks for the warning! :D

 

Please be sure to tell us about the rest of your trip!

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[cruisinsince75]

I find the smoking thing really interesting. We noticed that on our Alaska cruise we had far FEWER smokers on board the ship, which was mostly Americans and Canadians. When we cruise the Caribbean, we have a more international mix of passengers and far MORE smokers. It doesn't matter where we go in the Caribbean, there are just more smokers around and nobody seems to care where they smoke.

 

Just a cultural observation I guess.

 

I think I found an answer to this dilemna.

 

click here

 

LOL :D

[catmand]

cruisn'.............got sound only with your link, even without a picture (if there was supposed to be one) it was very funny.

I read this op with mixed emotions. I too would love to see the law where you have to be supplied a smoking room. Now I live in California and there have been municipalities that have banned/tried to ban smoking on their streets. (stinks, makes a mess). I am an x smoker and yes, I had to walk/elevator down stairs to go out for a smoke. I would hardly classify a smoker as "having special needs." This is the price you pay for this habbit. I quit 15 months ago because I didn't want to go on our first cruise and worry about where I could smoke. OK, not everyone can do it. Not everyone is concerned enough about the heatlth risk to stop. But I promise you, a few days of headaches will give you the rest of your life smoke free.

[cruisinsince75]

catmand, no picture just the sound. I thought it was funny also, so just had to send it.

 

Don

[Bruin Steve]

The only smoking on the boat was lower level, stern in the middle of diesel fuel exhaust.

 

Oh, Kathy and Gil...

Don't you see the poetic justice in that?

Nothing personal, guys, but I absolutely love it...

I don't think anyone should be allowed to smoke ANYWHERE

 

There is NO law anywhere in the United States that requires anyone to accommodate smoking in non-smoking areas if smoking areas are not available.

 

The only such bizarre legal conclusion I know of was reached by one crackpot Canadian arbitrator who ruled that nicotine addiction fell under Canada's Disability laws:

 

http://www.filion.on.ca/pdf/caselaws/hr006.pdf

 

I think here in California, if a smoker cannot be accommodated in a hotel or other such establishment, we are legally obligated to kill the smoker... :)

 

Seriously, think about it, one of the main reasons for non-smoking rooms in hotels is that the smoke and the residue of the smoke lingers for months after the smoker is gone. People like ME (an asthmatic with high sensitivity to smoke) can have trouble breathing in a room weeks or months after the smoke has been left there. Once you allow a non-smoking room to be smoked in, it pretty much isn't a non-smoking room any more.

 

Kathy, Gil looks to be in decent enough shape to exit the hotel room and walk down the two flights of stairs and out to the parking lot!! But, really, I think you blew the big chance to break him of the habit...

 

One thing I've always noticed when travelling is that it is very hard to get accustomed to the idea that they let people smoke at all anywhere...Like states (or cruise ships) that allow smoking sections in restaurants and bars...Just ask yourself: How does the smoke know not to cross to the other side of the room?

 

On at least three occasions onboard the Summit, I witnessed smokers smoking on the WRONG side of a lounge or other public room...I saw one smoker go over to the smoking side of a bar, pick up an ashtray and walk balk to the non-smoking side and light up...

 

And, it does me a lot of good to be sitting in the non-smoking section and have the very next table be the start of the smoking section...

 

Also, wasn't there enough smoke in the air in Fairbanks from the brush fires? Gil could have left the cigarettes at home and gotten the same effect just breathing...

[Poohb]

Hi Just checked & thought I'd post a little. Only have 5 minutes while home on lunch break. First, a 40 year habit is pretty near impossible to break. 2nd, it is not MY responsibility to change my DH. I accept him for who & what he is. 3rd; I would have hoped that a least the hotels would have informed us before we went to the room with certain expectations. Last time I looked this is a country that seems to be trying to over control stuff. I haven't been out of the country much but I have noticed that ppl usually can smoke outdoors in open areas. Locally we now have no smoking in restaurants & bars. Some bar operators have said that revenue has decreased by 1/2 & the old 'regulars' don't come in. I'm sure for those who never smoked, this may not be a big problem and I think the feeling is always no big deal..quit. I wasn't looking for 'political' standings or opinions, I just wanted to make others in our situation aware of the possible disappointment & problems in accomodations. Back to work...will check in later. (Looks like I innocently started another big thread - like the 'sneakers' & 'the knob' 8-)

[wv4891]

Yes, we make them run up the carpool lane on the 405 freeway, at Wilshire, at 5:00P.M. Boy you should see them wheeze!!! :p Steve, you really a Bruin Fan? Does that mean there will be at least 2 in attendance at the Rose Bowl this year..;)

 

I think here in California, if a smoker cannot be accommodated in a hotel or other such establishment, we are legally obligated to kill the smoker... :)

[Mysteryreader]

I'm not making a blanket statement here: *some* smokers have a "world is my ashtray" mentality. Either they don't know how sensitive some non-smokers can be to tobacco smoke or they don't care.

 

Back when US air flights were still divided into smoking and non-smoking, my mother, a severe asthmatic, was seated in the non-smoking section. The man next to her got out a cigarette. My mother pointed out it was the n-s section. He said that he knew but it stank back there. My mother rang for a flight attendant who said she couldn't do anything to enforce the n-s rule even though my mother explained her health condition. By the end of the 4 hr flight my mother was in a full-blown asthma attack. But, gee, it *stank* back there so you can hardly blame the guy, right?

 

DE enacted one of the toughest no smoking in workplaces (which includes restaurants and bars) law in the country about 1 1/2 yrs ago. The bars and casinos were nearly hysterical--they'd go out of business, smokers would go to neighboring states (in a state this small you're never more than a short drive from a neighboring state), the sky was falling. After 4 mos. they could point to a sharp decline in business. Of course, they omitted the detail that it had been a particularly harsh winter, and the entire population in the NE was hibernating, waiting for a break in the non-stop cold and snow.

 

What happened in the end was that non-smokers in neighboring states were coming *here* to escape the smoky bars and restaurants back home. Dh and I were able to go to restaurants we'd avoided for yrs b/c of the smoke drift.

 

Dh and I bought a used car once that had been previously owned by a smoker. It was *yrs* before the stink was gone. We have refused to stay in a hotel rm that wasn't non-smoking.

 

I don't doubt that the original poster's spouse was a little inconvenienced by not having a rm where he was allowed to smoke, but those of us who are sensitive to tobacco smoke can be more than inconvenienced--we can be sick to the point of a visit to the ER.

 

M/R

[Happy ks]

My father quit cold turkey after 56 years of smoking. Of course, it helped that he was in intensive care for 14 days after a major surgery due to his life long habit. Unfortunately, the last 11 years of his life were plagued by the emphysema directly caused by his smoking. He would not have been able to enjoy Alaska, or any trip, he could barely walk across a room. Sorry, didn't mean to rant about this, you already know this stuff by now. I always try to steer clear of this subject because there are two sides and they will never meet.

 

Rights vs. Everyones health.

 

Most hotel policys are that you have requested a certain type of room, there is never any guarantee you will get your request fulfilled. They usually try their best to accomodate you, it looks as though the smoking rooms are in the minority now.

[Bruin Steve]

Steve, you really a Bruin Fan? Does that mean there will be at least 2 in attendance at the Rose Bowl this year..;)

 

MORE than just a "Bruin Fan", wv...I am a BRUIN...

UCLA Alum, Class of 1975...

 

You'll find me at EVERY game at the Rose Bowl...Section 5, Row 40, seats 7 and 8...just about the 50 yard line on the "sunny side"...Right behind Ben Howland and right next to Al Scates (UCLA Bruins will understand the references)...and, at Pauley, just find John Wooden and follow a line behind him about 18 rows into the middle level...

[wv4891]

good there are more than one of us this year out there. Section 17 for me on the shady side.

[Lady Jane]

POOHB...glad to see someone else in the same situation as I am...a non-smoker with a husband who's beensmoking for over 40 years and isn't about to stop. My husband tries to be very considerate when he smokes...goes away from non-smokers, sticks to the smoking side of the ship on cruises, never smokes in a non-smokers house, even if they say it's okay. We even often get non-smoking hotel rooms and he goes outside, because he knows how much I hate smoke.

Question Pooh....do you find it as difficult as I do always sitting in the smoking section on board? I sometimes will have a headache within 15 minutes of being there. We usually try to find a table on the edge of the smoking section so we're not "in the middle" at least!

[Danno]

 

The only such bizarre legal conclusion I know of was reached by one crackpot Canadian arbitrator who ruled that nicotine addiction fell under Canada's Disability laws:

 

I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT!!! Surely anybody this stupid can't be Canadian :D !!!

 

 

Just so you know, Canada is the home of stupid legal decisions...this is the country where a boss sent a female employee home from a company function IN A CAB as she had been drinking (he paid for the cab and insisted that they not bring cars to the function), upon getting home she got in her car and went out to a bar and drank MORE, was involved in an single vehicle accident in which she was the only person hurt...sued her boss, AND WON!!! It has been appealed last I heard!!

[Big Happy Sailor]

this is a quick response to PoohB and this person not wanting to interfere with a 40 year habit---while you haven't been able to influence your partner to stop smoking don't be surprised if a stay in a cancer ward(:cool: ) helps curb what is nothing more then a selfish addiction. In the last five years I have buried my mother, two aunts and a 44 year old sister , all of whom died from the effects of being addicted to nicotine ingestion from smoking.:(

[dkjretired]

I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT!!! Surely anybody this stupid can't be Canadian :D !!!

 

 

Just so you know, Canada is the home of stupid legal decisions...this is the country where a boss sent a female employee home from a company function IN A CAB as she had been drinking (he paid for the cab and insisted that they not bring cars to the function), upon getting home she got in her car and went out to a bar and drank MORE, was involved in an single vehicle accident in which she was the only person hurt...sued her boss, AND WON!!! It has been appealed last I heard!!

 

I mentioned this a couple of years ago and was laughed at when I posted it. Canada is not the only country with stupid legal decisions, in the US, alcoholics and drug addicts are eligible for Social Security Disability and depending where you are a whole host of other benefits.

 

The problem I have is all these people who keep pushing these laws on smoking is that eventually some smart lawyer is going to have smoking declared a disability and then cruise ships and other venues will have to provide special facilities for those addicted to smoking which may infringe on those who don't smoke. Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

 

Don

[Lakecpa]

As someone once said " a no smoking section in a restaurant is about as effective as a no peeing section in a swimming pool".

[Poohb]

Hi Lady J. We've been married for 31+ years and the smoke has never physically bothered me. Both my adult children have no smoking homes and they provide an area for their dad to smoke. I of course worry about the possible side affects on both of us but it is not a big worry (no more than him giving me his cold-when he gets one every 2 years).

 

BigH. I'm sorry for your loss. Even people with addictions make choices. Not always as we wish they would.

 

dkj. I believe you are right. Heck an addiction is an addiction.

 

I would like to see restaurants have their own choices in smoking, n-s, or sections of each. This should be left up to the owners. If you don't want to go there,,,,,DON'T GO. Maybe restauranteers who would like smoking in their establishments should change to becoming a private 'club'. I understand they would not have the same rules as other public restaurants. If you want to go to this smoking establishment, you pay $1/year dues to this club and you can smoke if you please. Of course I don't know all the laws, but around here the Elks, etc. are private and they have smoking. And they have parties and food too.

 

I really think this country is being 'lawed' to death. Our kids aren't our own either, but that's another 'board topic'.

[catmand]

See, now this is a nice thread, well I don't mean the subject but our responses on it. No one is yelling and screaming no name calling . This can be a hot topic and I think we all owe ourseves a pat on the back for keeping it civil. If any of you read my "lets think before we post" thread this morning you will know which soapbox I am on today.

Poo, I am sure you would probably love for your DH to stop but until he is ready.......you know the drill. My DW had to put up with my cigars for a number of years, yes I was a smoking R.N..telling my E.R. patients they need to quit smoking and then the Doc and I would go outside and light up. Like Happy ks's Dad, I too quit after a hospital stay, my wife told me if I got out alive and started smoking again she would see to it I wound up back in the hospital.

One thing I would like to add here: I know the ships do not have smoking/non smoking cabins. There was no indication of any smoke at all in either room on our cruises. Unlike the hotel rooms. We had a balcony on Star but an O.V. on Mercury, no windows! I wonder how they do that? I could sure use a hint on how to get the stink out of my car. Have any of you ever had problems with smoke stink in a stateroom?

[wv4891]

Danno,

 

You Canadians don't own the entire market on stupid legal descisions. I think my home turf of California and more specifically Los Angeles has it's fair share of stupid legal judgements. I don't wish to start a political debate here so I won't site any.

 

 

I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT!!! Surely anybody this stupid can't be Canadian :D !!!

 

 

Just so you know, Canada is the home of stupid legal decisions...this is the country where a boss sent a female employee home from a company function IN A CAB as she had been drinking (he paid for the cab and insisted that they not bring cars to the function), upon getting home she got in her car and went out to a bar and drank MORE, was involved in an single vehicle accident in which she was the only person hurt...sued her boss, AND WON!!! It has been appealed last I heard!!