Non smoking ships?

[spain]

I think that Oceania has adopted a very good policy with regard to smoking and I wish other cruise lines would follow suit. It allows for smokers to enjoy their tobacco, while at the same time protecting non-smokers from second hand smoke. And it limits the exposure of the ship from a potential catastrophic fire hazard. Their hard line stance on violators of the policy is refreshing and something that they absolutely must maintain in order to make the policy effective. Oceania seems to be on the right track here and I think their well thought out rules should be the industry standard.

[mike35]

I dont think the government will ever fully prohibit smoking on cruise ships. But there will be further restrictions on it in the future in my opinion.

 

Uhh - the U.S. government imposing smoking restrictions on foreign-flagged vessels?? I don't think so.

 

We just disembarked from our first HAL cruise - Statendam New Zealand to Australia. The passengers on both sides of our balcony were chain smokers, and it pretty much ruined our balcony usage. Smoking in the casino was also intolerable. Can't wait to get back to "O" on February 5 for our Hong Kong to Bangkok cruise!

 

Mike

[spain]

Uhh - the U.S. government imposing smoking restrictions on foreign-flagged vessels?? I don't think so.

Mike

You are correct Mike and I didnt even think about the fact that the US has no jurisdiction over most of these vessels.:mad: I dont even know who the governing body is of the cruise industry, if any. Or if it solely left up to the country of that particular ship.

 

I am sorry to hear that your HAL cruise was negatively affected by smokers. On our Princess cruise last spring, there were plenty of smokers out on the balconies as well. Thankfully, it never got to the point of really bothering me. The casino on the other hand, was like walking through a California forest fire.

 

Speaking of smoking, it has been more experience that Europeans all seem to smoke! Or should I say that Europeans are alot more likely to smoke than Americans. Thats why I wouldnt want to sail on a cruise line that caters primarily to Europeans. We have met many wonderful people from all over Europe, but they all seem to chain smoke. The only Americans you see smoking these days are ignorant white trash and just really old people who have smoked so long that they think that since it hasnt killed them yet, it wont kill them now. Obviously, this is an exageration, but seriously, most educated folks realize how truly dangerous this habit is to your health and those around you. Thankfully, smokins is alot less common than it was 20 years ago and is decreasing every year in the USA. In other places it seems to be just as popular as ever.

[shoshona2]

Hi Mike,

 

Welcome home! Except for the smoking issues on HAL, did you enjoy your cruise and HAL. My sister came back from a LA to Hawaii Celebrity cruise and couldn't enjoy her veranda either. They even had to put towels under the door to the hallway because the people in the cabin next to them were chain smokers. After the Princess had that fire which started on a veranda last March, I would have thought that the cruise lines would be concerned about smoking on verandas. But, then again, profit is everything these days!!! Looking forward to seeing you and Carol on a future Oceania cruise.

 

Happy and healthy New Year to you and your families.

 

Sheila

[mike35]

Hi Sheila and Irwin

 

Llike we've always said, there's no such thing as a "bad" cruise, and yes, we definitely enjoyed our first HAL cruise. The ship size, about double that of O, wasn't unwieldly, and embarkation and debarkation were flawless. Met lots of nice folks, but we definitely prefer anytime dining and no formal nights!! HAL didn't enforce the dress code, so while I was wearing my tux on the 3 formal nights, the guy next to me was in shirtsleeves. Oh well... Food was good, but the $30 per person cover in the Pinnacle Grill was about $29.95 too high, IMHO. Althought the table setting (Reidl crystal, Bulgari China, etc) was nice and the service above that in the dining room, the food was less than what we find in the Polo Grill. Entertainment was sub-par - a couple of corny comedians (about 1/2 the audience walked out on one of them), an accordianist, and some marginal singer/dancers. Ship officers seemed much more aloof than on O. And so it went - would we sail HAL again - the itinerary would be the decider here.

 

Happy new year to you and all of our fellow CC'ers!

 

Mike and Carol

[BeBeReader]

"Considerate smoker" is an oxymoron. Nobody who threatens my health, my well-being and that of others, and pollutes the environment can be considered considerate.

[Phoenix cruiser]

While I would love to see smoking banned on all ships, I think Oceania's compromise has been fair. The smokers have their areas and I have been able to enjoy our cruises without the problems experienced on other cruise lines. Noting that Ireland and Italy have instituted country wide bans on smoking in restaurants and pubs without the world coming to an end, I feel there is always hope for a more breathable future.

[covewomyn]

Sorry leonid the health care provider in me couldn't let this go.

Quote is from the Amercan Heart Association web site... Robert O. Bonow, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “Credible health organizations from around the world, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization and several U.S. Surgeons General, have all concluded that second-hand smoke is responsible for thousands of deaths each year.”

[PK227]

I truly would like this thread to end but I'm back one more time (and an x-health care provider). These quoted people (WHO, EPA, etc) expressing an opinion. These are NOT studies. There is NO reputable way to study the effects of second hand smoke. There are way too many more pollutants in the air. Perhaps if they got somebody in a bubble for 20 years with cigarette smoke surrounding them.....As I said before, if second had smoke was so lethal, those of us who lived for decades through the days of smoking in planes, trains, elevators, movie theatres, workplaces, homes, cars, resturants, etc. would all be dead. A recent spot on the news mentioned that 1/3 of the House of Representatives smoke and they have their own smoking lounge and smoke in their offices....so I believe that may negate the "ignorant white trash" comment. I have NO idea how the anti-smoking rhetoric got so over the top....perhaps another gift from our media. I will say, however, if Oceania decides to ban smoking (as the previous bankrupt owner did), they will lose 1/4 (at least) of their market. Even casual smokers will not choose to be trapped in a floating hotel with no ability to enjoy their perfectly legal passtime in peace and I truly hope that an anti-smoking war over the 2 small smoking sections doesn't break out while we're on our cruise. That just makes a nice vacation unpleasant for everybody.

[mike35]

A recent spot on the news mentioned that 1/3 of the House of Representatives smoke and they have their own smoking lounge and smoke in their offices....so I believe that may negate the "ignorant white trash" comment.

 

Hooray for Nancy Pelosi! It was announced today that she has banned smoking in the House or Representatives Lounge, with no apparent complaints from those Representatives who smoke. And are you implying that none of our legislators are "ignorant white trash":rolleyes::)

 

Mike

[BeBeReader]

Hooray for Nancy Pelosi! It was announced today that she has banned smoking in the House or Representatives Lounge, with no apparent complaints from those Representatives who smoke. And are you implying that none of our legislators are "ignorant white trash":rolleyes::)

 

Mike

 

EXACTLY my thoughts on the subject. Frank Lautenberg, the illustrious Senator from the not-so-ignorant State of New Jersey, was responsible for having smoking banned on US commercial airlines in the 1980's. He was in the vanguard of this movement. We have come a long way, baby.

 

And I'd like some authority on the specious claim that second-hand smoke is NOT dangerous to the health of nonsmokers. The fact that some people are impervious to this poison doesn't prove that others are not.

While we're at it, why don't we hear from the "iwt" who say that there should be no gun control laws, that abortions should be banned, that stem cell research is immoral, that we should send more troops to Iraq, and that gay marriage is perverse. That would help to complete the "iwt" picture.

 

BeBe Reader

[mike35]

Uhh - perchance does BeBeReader dislike Rush too?? While I love to engage in political discussions (usually on the side of BeBe), I'm not sure that Cruise Critic is the proper forum for this type of patter.

 

Mike

[esther e]

And how about a separate area for the bores on cell phones?

[BeBeReader]

OK, Mike, I have been appropriately chastised. :( I simply could not resist making the comment.:D

[BeBeReader]

OK, Mike, I have been appropriately chastised. :( I simply could not resist making the comment.:D

[mike35]

Now that "politics" is out of the way, can we discuss religion?:o Are "chastised" and "chastity" from the same root?

 

Mike

[shoshona2]

Dear BeBe, Mike and Esther,

 

Thanks! You all made my Saturday morning start off great!!!!!

 

Sheila

[LHP]

Those of us looking for a cruise line that offers a good compromise rely on threads like this to decide on cruises.

 

Personally, I appreciate those posters who give relevant information on what Oceania does and does not allow so that we can make an informed decision.

 

Thanks to everyone who provided current information on the subject.

[gillianrose]

Boo hoo. I missed the poll, but would I sail a TOTALLY smokefree ship?

 

You bet! I'd consider putting together some large groups on it, too. All our family and friends—yes, ALL—are nonsmokers.