RCCL New Smoking Policy Discussion (merged)

[EMTgoneNUTZ]

Excuse me but the last time I checked my stateroom is NOT a public area! There should be smoking and non-smoking staterooms to accomodate every single paying guest! Hotels that wish to be non-smoking are fine as far as I'm concerned. I can choose to stay with them or not, just as I am doing with RCCL.

 

And they might be able to move the goalpost but I do not have to abide! What an absurd statement. That's exactly why I cancelled and they informed me that I could expect a credit of my deposit on my Amex within 5-7 days.

 

Sharon

 

 

Hey Sharon, wonder how long it will be before RCCL bans "doing the nasty" on the beds because of the smell, mess, laundy, and potential "leakage" through to the mattress pad and mattress??? Maybe they could have Trojan police to make sure that can't happen too!:rolleyes: I mean, I wouldn't want the person after me to have to sleep in the same bed I just comsummated my marriage in:rolleyes: :p ;) Whatcha think??? lol

[ShedQueen77]

And having non-smoking everywhere is like having a bathroom with nowhere to poo!:rolleyes:

 

Cough..cough..sputter...spray of Dew on the monitor...oh God my sides hurt.... Nope, I'm not smoking a cigarette :rolleyes: , just LMFAO at that line and about the TROJAN POLICE!! :D :D Thanks for the laugh! Just for that, I should send you a carton of smokes! ;)

[Tocruise2]

I can not help but wonder what is going to happen to the cleanliness on the RCI after the “no smoking” policy is implemented. If you read the new policy carefully it states that there will be an additional charge for cleaning if they find that someone has smoked in the cabin….WHY? Does this mean that the cabins will not be cleaned as well if there is no smoking? Before the malls went to no smoking you would walk through them, albeit with a cloud of smoke hanging in them, but there were always people cleaning; now you seldom if ever see anyone with a mop, gloves, or dust rag. If you really look closely, business is business, and if there is a way for a company to save money they will. The No Smoking Policies are in part a way for a company such as RCI to save money by cutting back on the time the stewards spend cleaning and using cleaning products. I can only wonder, if in the future we will be booking cruises with and without cabin service!!

After all, if the cabins are cleaner and fresher because they are “smoke free” what will the stewards be doing with their extra time? Think about it…how many things in a ours lives have been implemented with great fan fare under one guise and have turned over the years to become something else….As I have stated in other postings…this new policy is a bunch of hypocrisy by RCI and is just a “feel good” “politically correct” thing to do. I am allergic to heavy colognes and perfumes….are they going to charge the person who has doused themselves in it for 7 days to get rid of the odor on the pillows and fabrics…I don’t think they will at this point, but it is coming. More fees or dirty stinkier cabins…and the sad part, we are all being sucked in under this feel good politically correct policy!!!!! What is next....charging if the rooms are messy and the stewards have to work around the personal belongings?

[brigittetom]

Hi, I did read thru half of these posts and then the boards wouldn't allow me to go to the next page so I haven't read the last half. It's late.

I do have one question. Obviously smokers are in the minority but when you pay attention on the pool deck, the smoking side is just as full as the non smoking side. I know the numbers always state that only 20% of cruisers are smokers. And I have paid attention to this on the last few cruises. It's not non smokers sitting in the smoking section because they can't find chairs in the non smoking section. There are ashtrays everywhere. That pretty much tells you that the smokers do still exist and RCL does book enough of them to where they are not going to ban smoking anytime soon.

My husband loves to spend sea days at the poolbar just people watching. He has observed on many cruises, always ladies, picking up ashtrays and hiding them, even going so far as putting them under the towel rack parked in the corners. As if anyone who was going to have a cigarette would let that stop them. I think that behavior is obnoxious and obviously all you have to do is ask the bartender for an ashtray. In my opinion, all these ladies are doing is making more work for the bartender. What exactly is the problem there? I don't think smoke travels across the ship in the open air and if they would just stay on the no smoking side instead of collecting ashtrays, they would be away from the smoke.

RCL is obviously making strides to get away from the smoking. On the Radiance a few years ago they had no ashtrays on the smoking side on the pooldeck. Just a little corner on the pooldeck with 3 tables and ashtrays. All the people who were on the deck had to use the ashtrays on those three tables. Not so much fun for the people who were having conversations at those three tables by constantly having people walk over and saying "Sorry, may we use your ashtray", others simply put them out on the deck. I would never think that was accecptable but in all fairness????? RCL, If you have a smoking side, provide ashtrays. My opinion has been divided by Celebrity and RCL, I'm guessing Celebrity wins after that three table expieience on RCL.

[Trainman-2]

It is a fact that the "anti-smoking" folks are more passionate and involved in limiting smoking than the smokers are about preserving their smoking areas.

 

Because of this, smoking will eventually be banned in all public areas.

 

Here in the USA, it is happening, State by State, City by City, business by business!

 

RCI made a business decision to limit smoking and eventually, RCI will eliminate smoking on all of their ships as will all of the other cruise lines.

 

My wife and I are both smokers.

 

We realize that smoking is an addiction but we also know that it is difficult to quit. I have tried every method and medication known and nothing has helped me.

 

My health insurance company is talking about raising my rates because I am a smoker but they will not reimburse me for smoking cessation programs or medications.

 

Here is the USA, millions of dollars are being spent every year studying smoking but almost no money is being spent on developing an effective program to help smokers quit smoking.

 

If you are passionate about eliminating smoking in public areas then consider:

 

- Contacting your health insurance company and demanding that they fund programs and medications to help smokers quit.

 

- Contacting your elected officials and demanding that they quit spending money studying smoking and instead spend money on finding a cure and helping smokers quit.

 

As a smoker, I am going to do two things:

 

- I will comply with RCI's new smoking policy.

 

- I will keep trying to quit.

 

I just learned of a company that specializes in hypnotic cures in a nearby city (100 miles away) and I have an appointment with them in two weeks.

 

Wish me luck! :)

[brigittetom]

Trainman-2, I wish you all the luck that there is. Good Luck. :)

[Mark_K]

The Princess line is taking steps to make balconies less susceptible to fire. Plastic furniture is now made of non-combustible material. Partitions which had been made of Polycarbonate are now aluminum. All balconies now have sprinklers. They have implemented a 24-hour watch on balconies and developed specific training on how to handle fires on balconies. They have also changed housekeeping procedures on balconies.

 

All of which should make balconies much less prone to the type of disaster caused by a smoker.

 

Look for RCI to implement many, if not all, of those types of procedures.

 

Hmmmmm back at ya....

If I remember correctly, RCI already had non-flammable furniture on balconies. As far as the rest, SOLAS passed new regulations covering balconies, RCI will certainly be following those - they don't have a choice.

[amjdcm]

Lets see what the real outcome of RCI new smoking policy is...

 

Rci wins because they sell more balconies at a higher price due to supply and demand. Rci wins because they will now force smokers to visit Rci's main money maker (the casino) if they want to smoke.

 

Non smokers lose because they will not be able to enjoy their overpriced balcony, and lose again because the casino, while smokey, was still usable for a shorty time, is now destine to be a smoke filled haven for all of the smokers. i can see people ducking into the casino to grab a smoke, while sitting at the slot machines taking up the space.

 

Smokers lose because they have lost areas to smoke at, and they lose again because they will be forced to pay more for balcony cabins....

[Captain Jake]

Yes exactly what side on which ship??? I want the royal suite side as smoking

and what of the aft, is it I got there first, so I can smoke??:D

It will never work. There will be complaint after complaint over non-smokers or smokers got the better side ;)

 

If you certainly work if they kept the side the same throughout the fleet its a better choice than banning smoking altogether.

[Captain Jake]

It is a fact that the "anti-smoking" folks are more passionate and involved in limiting smoking than the smokers are about preserving their smoking areas.

 

Because of this, smoking will eventually be banned in all public areas.

 

Here in the USA, it is happening, State by State, City by City, business by business!

 

RCI made a business decision to limit smoking and eventually, RCI will eliminate smoking on all of their ships as will all of the other cruise lines.

 

My wife and I are both smokers.

 

We realize that smoking is an addiction but we also know that it is difficult to quit. I have tried every method and medication known and nothing has helped me.

 

My health insurance company is talking about raising my rates because I am a smoker but they will not reimburse me for smoking cessation programs or medications.

 

Here is the USA, millions of dollars are being spent every year studying smoking but almost no money is being spent on developing an effective program to help smokers quit smoking.

 

If you are passionate about eliminating smoking in public areas then consider:

 

- Contacting your health insurance company and demanding that they fund programs and medications to help smokers quit.

 

- Contacting your elected officials and demanding that they quit spending money studying smoking and instead spend money on finding a cure and helping smokers quit.

 

As a smoker, I am going to do two things:

 

- I will comply with RCI's new smoking policy.

 

- I will keep trying to quit.

 

I just learned of a company that specializes in hypnotic cures in a nearby city (100 miles away) and I have an appointment with them in two weeks.

 

Wish me luck! :)

 

It is a disgrace that most insurance companies and employeers will not help smokers quit.My insurance has a wellness program to help with weight loss,and quitting smoking among other things.Its through our group insurance at work.You would think that more companies would do this as an healthy employee would take less time off than unhealthy ones.On the other hand some corps may feel death benifits are cheaper

[Captain Jake]

Lets see what the real outcome of RCI new smoking policy is...

 

Rci wins because they sell more balconies at a higher price due to supply and demand. Rci wins because they will now force smokers to visit Rci's main money maker (the casino) if they want to smoke.

 

Non smokers lose because they will not be able to enjoy their overpriced balcony, and lose again because the casino, while smokey, was still usable for a shorty time, is now destine to be a smoke filled haven for all of the smokers. i can see people ducking into the casino to grab a smoke, while sitting at the slot machines taking up the space.

 

Smokers lose because they have lost areas to smoke at, and they lose again because they will be forced to pay more for balcony cabins....

 

 

Agree except for casino.Instead of blowing money in the casino the non-smoker can enjoy a nice massage at the spa.If the balconies become to pricy,which I'm not sure I agree with,I could get two massages

[GottaLuvCruising]

Actually, this could be a good move for CCL....as I'm sure there are many smokers that will take their business to CCL because of this new policy.

 

I'd venture that many Carnival cruisers (myself included) will now be more likely to book Royal Caribbean because of this improvement.

[Trainman-2]

Speaking as a smoker, I think the Casino and any other place that there is only one of should be non-smoking.

 

We smokers can get by on our balconies and the smoking sides of open decks and the lounges that allow smoking.

 

We don't need the Casino!

[cooncat]

Remember, it was a smoker who caused a massive, deadly fire aboard a Princess ship a couple of years ago. I as a non-smoker is pleased with the changes. I was on the Freedom in May, and they allowed smoking totally in one of lounges and you couldn't even sit in there because of all the smoke. Do you smokers ever consider the health of the staff in these places when you smoke? I hate to be a downer and let the sparks begin. I realize that smoking is a bad habit and hard to give up.

 

Sorry.

[charlesjoy]

I'd venture that many Carnival cruisers (myself included) will now be more likely to book Royal Caribbean because of this improvement.

 

Or many smokers who cannot afford balconies or nonsmokers who don't like all that balcony smoke will be moving to Carnival? I have not understood why like most hotels, there are not smoking and non smoking rooms available.

[DC2OC]

The reason the Paradise failed it was the only non-smoking ship therefore it attracted all the non-smoking,non-drinking,non-gambling groups.It also visited the same old tired ports that veteran cruisers would not be interested in.Plus non-smokers have friends who smoked.It simply went too far.If they had 2/3 ships that limited smoking to a half the bars,half the outside areas it would have been a hit.Azamara ships with tight retrictions are selling well despite their high rates

[Schplinky]

Or many smokers who cannot afford balconies or nonsmokers who don't like all that balcony smoke will be moving to Carnival? I have not understood why like most hotels, there are not smoking and non smoking rooms available.

 

a lot of hotels have gone non-smoking so this doesn't coparison may be short-lived.

[tampagal61]

When Florida was going "smoke free", the smoking crowd cited several situations that would be created. One example being that the non-smoking crowd would encounter mobs of people, along with their second hand smoke, whenever entering and exiting restaurants. That restaurants owners would suffer because of lost revenues of smokers, etc.

 

But Florida has now been smoke free for several years. And it's great! None of the things the smoking crowd said would happen, happened.

 

I tend to take our smoke free restaurants for granted until I travel out of Florida. Then I'm taken back when asked, "smoking, or non-smoking", and then the odor hits me. Then I'm thankful to be living in Florida.

[Hypo]

Arkansas went non-smoking in restaurants and all business establishments (unless children under 18 were specifically escluded from those establishments). All of the dire predictions of drop in business for restaurants did not happen. Several restaurant owners that I know said that restaurant sales actually increased and they have been thanked by many new customers for instituting the policy. The restaurants did not do this on their own, it took an act of the Legislature to make it happen.

 

Hypo

[karena1]

When Florida was going "smoke free", the smoking crowd cited several situations that would be created. One example being that the non-smoking crowd would encounter mobs of people, along with their second hand smoke, whenever entering and exiting restaurants. That restaurants owners would suffer because of lost revenues of smokers, etc.

 

But Florida has now been smoke free for several years. And it's great! None of the things the smoking crowd said would happen, happened.

 

I tend to take our smoke free restaurants for granted until I travel out of Florida. Then I'm taken back when asked, "smoking, or non-smoking", and then the odor hits me. Then I'm thankful to be living in Florida.

 

 

I agree - I think the only thing we really have noticed is that more and more restaurants are creating "outside" seating so that those that want to smoke can. In addition, sports bars like Ale House put a sign on the bar by a barstool is the customer has gone outside to have a smoke. Other than that, we really haven't noticed much of a difference. We don't smoke, but my DH did smoke cigars when the law was first passed (doesn't anymore) and when we went out, we just sat outside or he did not smoke until we left, so it was no big deal.

[GottaLuvCruising]

I tend to take our smoke free restaurants for granted until I travel out of Florida. Then I'm taken back when asked, "smoking, or non-smoking", and then the odor hits me. Then I'm thankful to be living in Florida.

 

You're welcome! I helped collect petition signatures for the referendum in Florida. I'm also very pleased with the results and can enjoy dining out!

 

We fly in & out of Manchester NH several times each year to visit family in Maine. But New Hampshire still allows smoking in restaurants, so we won't even stop to dine there. Maine restaurants are smoke-free...they get our business.

[Elizanessie]

Thought folks might be interested on this report on Seatrade-

 

Smoke-free restrictions on ships under review by UK government

26/7/2007

On July 1, England joined Scotland and Ireland in becoming smoke-free making it against the law to smoke in virtually all enclosed public spaces, workplaces and public and work vehicles.

 

The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) is drawing up draft regulations restricting smoking on sea-going and inland waterway vessels carrying at least one passenger in the UK. On behalf of UK cruise and ferry companies, the Passenger Shipping Association raised some concerns at the consultation stage which it says the DfT has, in the main, taken note of.

DfT reports it received a very positive reaction to plans to introduce restrictions to sea-going and inland waterway vessels: ‘Those that were not supportive in some cases had misunderstood the intention of the proposals and had concluded that a full ban on smoking anywhere on the vessel had been proposed. In many cases, consultees indicated that they already had similar restrictions in place but would welcome the legal clarity that these regulations will bring.’

Most respondents agreed that provision should be made for designated areas where people can continue to smoke. ‘However, many respondents raised concerns about making cabins an area where smoking is permitted. The issue of fire safety was raised as well as the potential discomfort for a non-smoker moving into a cabin previously occupied by a smoker,’ notes the DfT.

DfT says it has been asked to take account of the following when allowing for designated smoking areas: cabins for passengers on cruise ships could be allocated to be smoking or non-smoking as for hotels in the Department for Health regulations, smoking on deck should still be possible where it is allowed at present and the master of the ship should be allowed the final discretion on whether to designate areas for smoking. Some consultees felt also that the master should be responsible for enforcement.

As to the scale of penalties many agreed that these should be consistent, reports DfT. Some questioned if it would be possible to issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) to a person on a ship which has left port. Others raised concerns about the issue of a FPN for failing to display signage particularly on very large ships. Using the ship's PA or TV system to inform of the smoke-free provision was offered as a solution.

Dft reports several consultees raised concerns about the scope of the regulations and particularly their application to foreign-flagged vessels and UK-flagged vessels outside UK territorial waters. Others felt that it could be problematic to apply the regulations to foreign-flagged vessels whilst some agreed that the regulations should apply to any ship calling at a port within the 12-mile territorial limit to prevent UK-registered ships being at a disadvantage. The draft regs will be published within a few months with final regulation coming into force in the first half of 2008.

 

Source: Seatrade

[vjmatty]

 

I do have one question. Obviously smokers are in the minority but when you pay attention on the pool deck, the smoking side is just as full as the non smoking side.

 

I think that the reason for that might be that many people who smoke on cruise ships are occasional smokers, like me for example... I don't qualify as a smoker and would not be in the 20% minority during my normal working life, but when I am on a ship and drinking more often I would spend more time in smoking than non-smoking sections.

[cooncat]

I don't think smoking should be allowed in any of the cabins. No matter what they can try and do, you cannot get the smell of smoke out of the materials. If you want to smoke go outside.

 

I was one of those who voted for the smoking ban in Florida.

 

I'm sorry to be so harsh but I object to being assaulted by smoke. I really don't enjoy going to bars because I don't like getting smoke in my system and on my clothes.

 

I think the Brits are going in the right direction. May all the countries follow.

[Aubiecruiser]

Speaking as a smoker, I think the Casino and any other place that there is only one of should be non-smoking.

 

We smokers can get by on our balconies and the smoking sides of open decks and the lounges that allow smoking.

 

We don't need the Casino!

 

 

As a smoker and a casino patron, it would probably save me a bunch of $$ if the casino was non-smoking, but I sure wouldn't like the idea.

Aubie