FYI-smoking in restaurants

[HomeLover]

Finally all of Regent's ships are non-smoking in all the dining rooms, including the Compass Rose. The Voyager was the last with the 4/30 crossing. No information was given out ahead of time.

[dougburns]

That's not true! According to the e-mail I received from Mark Conroy less than 2 weeks ago the only ship that prohibits smoking in Compass Rose is Navigator. They are looking for a technical solution for both Mariner and Voyager that will satisfy both smokers and non-smokers. He also said that there is maritime safety legislation pending in both Europe and the U.S. that would, if passed, prohibit smoking in staterooms and on balconies for all cruise ships. If/when a change is made to the current smoking policy the new policy will be promulgated to all Seven Seas Society members.

[dougburns]

Well, It seems that there is a disconnect between Conroy and Christian. Just talked to my TA, who was on the Voyager Transatlantic cruise, and she said that Christian said that Mariner and Voyager are now non-smoking in Compass Rose. She also said that they are working on a technical solution to satisfy all. I take it that they're looking at a glassed in area similar to what Diamond had for smokers. Time will tell and I'm sure that info will be forthcoming to SSS members. My apologies.

[HomeLover]

Doug, thanks for the second post. Believe me, I just got off the Voyager, boarded right after the World Cruise. I am glad to know it was Christian who made the "snap' decision (a crew members term). The funny part was that I had heard that he was 'self important' and I had just met him before we took off in the Conniseur Lounge (no, he was not smoking).

[petlover]

Decided to pipe into this as I was on the Voyager for almost 4 months and disembarked April 30th from the World Cruise..From what was publicized during the last week of the world cruise from both Christian and Marc Conroy, they are planning to "glass" in the small, smoking area on the Voyager. The exhaust system in this part of the ship is already excellent (why this area was chosen in the first place) as it is tied in with the exhaust system of the kitchen. Most of the non-smoking passengers in C.R. aren't even aware that there is a smoking section!

 

If Compass Rose on the Voyager is currently non smoking, I'm GUESSING that this MAY be temporary until they can "glass in" this small area. From the Town Hall meetings on the WC, the smoking section in Compass Rose is the least of the problems. What they are working towards is a better ventilation system in the Voyager Lounge as this is the area that receives more complaints, not Compass Rose. It was also discussed making blocks of suites, smoking as not to bother Non-Smoking neighbors while in their suites. This is all to be determined.......

 

I can't speak for any other RSSC ships, I do know that Marc & Christian appreciate ALL LOYAL CRUISERS and wants to keep everyone happy and coming back. (Count us in amongst the "coming backs" and we sit in the Compass Rose main dining room and have never been bothered by the small smoking area)

 

According to Marc Conroy, smoking on private balconies may soon become a "No No" due to a Maritime Agreement within all major cruiselines (not just RSSC) due to last years' fire on the Princess ship which may have started by a cigarette on a private balcony.

 

We were also told by Marc Conroy that on a given 7-14 day cruise 12-15% of the passengers are smokers (younger passengers). On the full World Cruise this moves to 15-20% of all passengers smoking. I really admire Marc & Christian for a difficult job trying to keep both smokers and non-smokers happy.....wouldn't want that task! They are currently working on this determining if/what will be adjustments to existing policies.

 

We will be on the Voyager again in mid June and I'll report back should I hear any more updates.

[Hambagahle]

I really do wish RSSC could fix the ventillation in the Voyager lounge. The stink of cigars coming from under the door (or somewhere!) when we were waiting to enter the Constellation theatre was awful (do smokers realise that smoking stinks? Maybe they like the smell ...) I have been twice on the Mariner and twice - last year - on the Voyager and I have never been bothered by smoke in the Compass rose. But as I said, the odour coming from the lounge is too much!!:mad:

[JoAnne B]

Similar in the central corridor outside the Navigator cigar bar where smokers congregate. Even with the door closed the smoke smell seeps out making walking through a tad unpleasant at times. Not saying they should take it away, but improved exhaust might help.

 

JoAnne B

[beaniele]

Just off the Mariner. Non-smoking in the Compass Rose. Those guests who wanted to smoke were allowed to smoke just outside the door of the rest. Needless to say if sitting near the door the smoke drifted into the room.

[gillianrose]

Similar in the central corridor outside the Navigator cigar bar where smokers congregate. Even with the door closed the smoke smell seeps out making walking through a tad unpleasant at times. Not saying they should take it away, but improved exhaust might help.

 

JoAnne B

 

Well, I was told yesterday and today that the Voyager has as of a week ago (really, what took them so long?) does not now have and will not in the future have any smoking areas in any restaurant on the ship. I was also told that, yes, they are looking at other areas to ban smoking.

 

They should of course not permit smoking anywhere inside a restaurant and certainly not near a restaurant. No one should have to smell the odor of tobacco (cigarette, cigar, pipe, whatever), and especially not while dining!

 

RSSC has lost a lot of passengers (the vast majority of whom are nonsmokers) due to not banning smoking in more areas of their ships.

 

Oceania and Azamara are headed in the right direction with regards to smoking bans. RSSC should follow their lead.

[Travelcat2]

Lots of positive news for us non-smokers!!!:) When we were on the Navigator in March/April, the area we noticed smoke the most was walking past the Casino and the bar (forget the name) where you entered the main floor of the theater.

 

While I understand that some people need to smoke occasionally, it would be nice if it were only on the "open" decks (like the pool deck or above!)

JMO!

[gillianrose]

Lots of positive news for us non-smokers!!!:) When we were on the Navigator in March/April, the area we noticed smoke the most was walking past the Casino and the bar (forget the name) where you entered the main floor of the theater.

 

While I understand that some people need to smoke occasionally, it would be nice if it were only on the "open" decks (like the pool deck or above!)

JMO!

 

I agree that some people who are addicted to nicotine may need or wish to get nicotine into their system until they break their addiction—it takes a strong-willed person to go "cold turkey"—but they certainly don't need to do it by INHALING SMOKE and polluting the air that other people breathe. There are patches, pills, and other modes of delivery to get the nicotine into their systems, some of which are much healthier for them than inhaling the smoke into their lungs and then exhaling it into mine.

 

I am sympathetic to their long-developed addiction, and want them to get all the help they need to break their habit, but smoking is an anti-social behavior that harms and/or offends other people who have not chosen to be harmed.

[sundial]

We were on the Voyager from 5/26 until 6/12 and it was our understanding that the restaurants were nonsmoking. The only place we noticed any smokers was in the Voyager Lounge.

[RachelG]

Was on the Voyager June 2-12--no smoking in the Compass Rose. I smelled smoke on my balcony one night, so someone else must have been smoking on theirs. Also some smoky smell by the cigar lounge. Otherwise none at all. My husband spent plenty of time (money) in the casino and didn't complain ( and he is more picky than me).

[ChatKat in Ca.]

I have been a very loyal RSSC fan, but, after disembarking yesterday from the Oceania Nautica and being allergic to cigarette smoke, can say that the smoking issue is huge for me and tips the scale to Oceania. I like to play blackjack and the casino is a definite problem on the Regent ships for me as well as the balcony. I am so thrilled to hear of the pending legislation about them being non-smoking! I will be on Voyager on Nov 3rd and I would love to see Regent implement a program similar to Oceania's, where there are only two locations on the ship which allow smoking. It's not fair to make 80% of passengers have to deal the the unpleasantness of the habits of the other 20% and a limited smoking section is fair to all.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm surprised they are still allowing smoking on balconies (what about staterooms themselves?) But myself, I have never been bothered by smoke on a RSSC ship.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

should amend the above statement--on Navigator last year, the pool bar was dominated by smokers and I felt I had to stay away. But I am sympathetic to the smokers, they have rights too. My husband is a recovering nicotine addict, and he is bothered by smoke even more than me, but he is also sympathetic, and is happy to just move out of the way once in a while.