RCCL New Smoking Policy Discussion (merged)

[shipknotshore]

ME.... with the biggest, nastiest, smelliest cigars I can find.... and I don't even LIKE cigars. The nicotine police irritate me to no end. I keep my smoking in private... now we can't smoke in our staterooms AWAY from everyone else? I bet I aquire a taste for cigars by the time my next two cruises are over..... It's ok for you booze hounds to jump overboard and wreck my vacation... it's perfectly acceptable to get all ripped up and drive your car... booze is socially acceptible. My cigarettes aren't.... go figure. Maybe because I don't drink and don't like the smell of the beer that someone spilled on the carpet, maybe we should get the cruise line to ban alcohol? Nothing but KoolAide and Juice Boxes for you from now on... and yeah, I have had drinks spilled on me on cruises... why should I have to put up with that? Why should I have to explain to my kids why "that person is walking, acting so funny"?

 

Goes both ways. Hope you enjoy cigar smoke. I will make certain I am out there on my balcony more than usual... and on deck as well. Anyone care to join me?

 

What a nice guy. :eek:

[Sue L]

Dena, I really don't follow your logic. In many large cities, smoking is banned in public places including restaurants and bars. At home, my hubby only smokes outside in the driveway. On the ship, he only smokes on the balcony or designated smoking area.

 

I disagree with your statement "...non-smokers will now book inside cabins cheap and prepare for the free upgrade to a balcony they can't use"? Why wouldn't a non-smoker be able to use a balcony? By the way, I am a non-smoker and allergic to smoke, and have never been bothered by people smoking on the ship.

Suzanne

 

 

Thank you so much for saying that! It is amazing that some people have posted on here that their cruise was ruined because someone 3 floors down and 8 cabins away was smoking on their balcony and the smoke came right into their rooms.

[alcheme]

I am a nonsmoker and I think the new policy is absurd.

 

Do I like smoke, NO. Do I like the smell of others smoking, NO. Is it fair to not allow smoking on ships other than a specific lounge, NO.

 

I think the new policy stinks (no pun intended).

 

Tim

 

You may have misread the new policy. There will be a specific non-smoking lounge, plus all the same designated smoking areas in other lounges and on open air decks and all balconies.

[reallyitsmema]

Can I get one of those dirt cheap balconies on the Mariner please? Would prefer 6/15/08 but for a good price, I could be flexible.:rolleyes:

 

As a non-smoker and an asthmatic, I would never consider booking either an OV or an inside cabin. We did not encounter any smoking issues on our balcony in June and I hope we have a similar experience next June. I don't think you will see non-smokers avoiding balcony cabins, once a balcony snob, always a balcony snob:eek: :p

[Lynn the Cruiser]

Wow...smokers are sure passionate about their addiction!!!!!!:rolleyes: :D

[ilovecruises1972]

hi all this is what i found on the rccl board. i hope this help to evetubody que < Back to Onboard Policies

Onboard Policies

Print This Page document.getElementById('printablePageSpan').style.visibility = 'visible'; document.getElementById('printablePageSpan').style.display = 'block';

 

Q: What is the Smoking Policy onboard?A: Effective January 2008, smoking is only permitted in designated areas and outdoors on the Starboard side of the ship (contact the Guest Relations Desk for details). Smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, theater, hallway or corridor. Smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom, however, it is permitted on private outdoor balconies of balcony staterooms. A $250 penalty will be applied to the SeaPass for guests found smoking in staterooms. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard.

 

The new policy will go into effect aboard 18 of 21 ships initially, with Legend of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas following suit with the 2008 summer season. stions

[ilovecruises1972]

wow sorry that came out so bad . i meant everybodys questions LOL . im sorry typed to fast

[SharonCruise]

I have emailed them as well....I want to know if I can cancel and get my deposit back. In the UK we lose our deposit if we cancel. When I booked my May 2008 cruise, my brochure said "smoking is allowed in all staterooms". I didnt move the goalposts!!!!!

 

Chubbas XX

 

Really? No deposit back if you cancel? WOW!! I would be on the phone so fast. Although, I don't doubt you at all, I don't see how they can enforce that rule when, like you said, they changed the rules.....Please let us know what you find out?

[xpcdoojk]

Perhaps MRPie...You would just like to buck the heck up and use your real screen name...:rolleyes:

 

Problem with your theory...Drinkers don't leave the stateroom dirty stinky stained and burnt. .....Trust me if they did...They would eliminate that...

Everyone is sick of the smell....So as long as you are stinking up someone eles stuff (RCI) they have the right to make you stop...

 

 

Careful there Cathy, Frankie used that expression and some of the rocket scientists that watch for things to be offended by thought she was saying something bad and triangled her and her posting priviliges were removed for saying .... the heck up. :rolleyes:

 

jc

[Dena]

At home, my hubby only smokes outside in the driveway. On the ship, he only smokes on the balcony or designated smoking area.

 

I disagree with your statement "...non-smokers will now book inside cabins cheap and prepare for the free upgrade to a balcony they can't use"? Why wouldn't a non-smoker be able to use a balcony? By the way, I am a non-smoker and allergic to smoke, and have never been bothered by people smoking on the ship.

 

Suzanne

 

Umm. Because the smoke doesn't know it's supposed to stay on the smoker's balcony.

 

Your "allergies" must be very mild indeed, because your husband's clothes, hair and skin will be permeated with smoke. Unless, he strips and showes before coming back into your home.

[lv2bcruzin]

We all know the policies of RCCL and we all know that when it comes down to it they usually don't enforce them unless it is beyond blatant and out of control or there is some element of danger. Do you really think that no one will smoke in their cabin? How many $250 fines added to peoples SeaPass account will actually show up? I personally like the idea in concept, but reality is a lot of people will still smoke in their cabin. I do think that eventually smokers will have only one or two spots on a ship to smoke perhaps even no place at all in the next 5-10 years.

 

I don't think this will effect many people as far as what cabins are booked. I think smokers will still cruise and non-smokers will still book balconies. In other words... Much ado about nothing..

[corona5657]

I was on another cruise line 6/23/07. I had booked the cruise 8/06. In April of 06 I get a notice that we could not smoke in our rooms or our balconies. They gave us 2 areas (small) to smoke in. We originally booked on the Zenith got switched to another ship. We couldn't switch vacation weeks, so we went anyhow. I posted about how I am a considerate smoker, etc etc well, I got so much flack about that. Some people were down right rude. One suggested I put a bubble over my head and breathe my own second hand smoke!! I just felt I should have been able to smoke on the balcony at least. I feel for you people. Been there, done that.

[NOT my real name]

Wow...smokers are sure passionate about their addiction!!!!!!:rolleyes: :D

 

I think smokers realize they are going the way of the dinosaur but want to postpone it as long as possible.

[Marley-Bop]

Hi Sharon

 

I will post the outcome of this and have full intentions of cancelling my cruise. I would never have booked the cruise if this smoking policy had been in place at the time of booking. I would have chosen somewhere I can relax and enjoy my holiday.

 

Chubbas XX

[libertybelle41]

These threads can go on and on and on (and prob will).......It's bringing out the WORST in everyone.......smokers will never competely understand the way non-smokers feel and visa-versa....

[reallyitsmema]

I have emailed them as well....I want to know if I can cancel and get my deposit back. In the UK we lose our deposit if we cancel. When I booked my May 2008 cruise, my brochure said "smoking is allowed in all staterooms". I didnt move the goalposts!!!!!

 

Chubbas XX

Question from the other side of the pond, does that mean you didn't change the rules? Just wondering:)

[alcheme]

Don M is actually correct. The carcinogens in the smoke do not become cancer all by themselves. They must first interact with a human cell, and there very well may need to be certain genetic traits within those cells for that interaction to result in cancer. But if you cut through the technicalities, does it really matter whether the smoke causes the cancer or contributes to the cancer?

[Marley-Bop]

Question from the other side of the pond, does that mean you didn't change the rules? Just wondering:)

 

 

Sorry, yes :)

 

It means they changed the rules not me.

 

Chubbas XX

[ORANGEinINDY]

I'm not sure why people are giving RCCL so much kudos... Except for the smoke free bar it's a lose/lose situation

 

Smokers can't smoke in rooms = lose for smokers

More smoke in casino = lose for non smokers

More smoke drifting from balconies = lose for non-smokers

I don't really think so. According to the interview with RCI management, they have had a large volume of requests for non-smoking cabins. I know that I have made similar requests to the purser's desk and customer service. I haven't asked for all non-smoking cabins, but at least some so that people with allergies have a choice in the matter. For us, this is one of the reasons that I'll return to RCI and sail with them.

 

One of the problems that I had on the Carnival ship was the breadth of where smokers were allowed to smoke. The ultimate "insult to injury" situation was when I tried to use their Internet cafe which happened to be connected to the Onyx bar. It was a part of the Onyx bar. In addition to "live jazz music" playing for long blocks of time, the end of the bar immediately next to the computers (about 5-6 feet from the first computer) was where the staff chose to set up their smoking station. There wasn't a time when the Internet cafe did not smell of smoke and there were no other options if you needed to check e-mail or as in my case, I had to go and book an excursion myself because the excursion was sold out at the excursions desk.

 

I have to say the vast majority of my friends (including those with smokers as one half of the couple) would prefer non-smoking facilities as long as there were allowances made for smokers, like RCI has done.

By saying I don't think so are you saying:

 

1- there WON'T be more smoke in the casino?

2- there WON'T be more smoke drifting from other balconies?

 

and those are not a lose situation for non-smokers?

I'm not bashing you.... just curious

Frankly this doesn't effect me, my wife doesn't smoke in the cabin ...I'm in the casino for about 45 min per cruise.

[CFIGuy]

I am surprised that no one mentioned the money aspect from RCI's point of view. That's what I think truly shaped this policy. Cleaning smoky rooms cost money (equipment and time, although labor cost is minimal) and takes away labor hours from other tasks. As for the new non-smoking bar, I think that most people would agree that the Champagne Bar is the quietest bar on board (and with no evening entertainment). If they would have changes Schooner or Viking Crown or Boloeros maybe this argument wouldn't hold true. The impact to RCI's pocketbook is a gain and that's what determined it. Good PR doesn't hurt though.

 

By the way, I am a non-smoker, but I am fine with having smoking areas. I just wish that all of the night (non-show) options were not smoking. Having one non-smoking (even on a rotating night basis) venue would be great.

[Gracie115]

OK.......I am NOT a smoker.....and the passion (or should I call it panic) on this board is not coming from the smokers......

 

Oh --- Trainman - I still think your best option is the duct taped butts to the balcony divider...think what fun your stateroom attendant will have with that one.......:D

[isujim]

Hi Sharon

 

I will post the outcome of this and have full intentions of cancelling my cruise. I would never have booked the cruise if this smoking policy had been in place at the time of booking. I would have chosen somewhere I can relax and enjoy my holiday.

 

Chubbas XX

 

Well since RC changed the rules, I would certainly think you would get your deposit back..........as with the others, let us know how this one turns out.........and keep that old brochure:)

[aqhacruiser]

We all know the policies of RCCL and we all know that when it comes down to it they usually don't enforce them unless it is beyond blatant and out of control or there is some element of danger. Do you really think that no one will smoke in their cabin? How many $250 fines added to peoples SeaPass account will actually show up? I personally like the idea in concept, but reality is a lot of people will still smoke in their cabin. I do think that eventually smokers will have only one or two spots on a ship to smoke perhaps even no place at all in the next 5-10 years.

 

I don't think this will effect many people as far as what cabins are booked. I think smokers will still cruise and non-smokers will still book balconies. In other words... Much ado about nothing..

People will just dispute the credit card charge and unless caught smoking in a cabin by an employee of RCCL, the cleaning charge will be non existence. I think the majority already smoke on the balcony anyway already. I agree, it really hasn't changed a thing as far as balcony/suite guests go. Much ado about nothing is correct. I would love to see the prices on the suites drop but I know better than to hope for that:) If anything they'll probably book faster and I wouldn't be a bit surprise to hear of people upgrading to a balcony/suite for cruises already booked after 2008.

[AFT_LOVER]

All Stockholders email now! When we will be charged for smokers trashing our stateroom with their smoke. We get the clean up charge when we are non-smokers???? Talk about unhappy stockholders!!!!!

 

Non-smoking other than the Cigar Bar would be just fine. Even ballparks are non smoking to get the cheap insurance. So balconies are part of the stateroom so NO SMOKING! When the whole USA is non-smoking indoors then ships will all do it.

 

Thanks you RCCL for keeping us healthy, remember to get servers in the buffets to cure NIRO.

 

Definitely a step in the right direction. It will be even nicer when they disallow smoking on cabin balconies.

 

I do understand the addiction and I sympathize with smokers privileges becoming stricter. I just don't care to be forced to breathe their second hand smoke. When they are allowed to smoke on balconies, non smokers have absolutely no rights to clean air and the balcony they also paid for becomes useless.

[ORANGEinINDY]

OK.......I am NOT a smoker.....and the passion (or should I call it panic) on this board is not coming from the smokers......

 

Oh --- Trainman - I still think your best option is the duct taped butts to the balcony divider...think what fun your stateroom attendant will have with that one.......:D

As I said the policy doesn't effect me since my wife smokes but not in the room, but I thin the passion and panic is what leads RCCL to implement ALL staterooms, instead of leaving 20 o 30 percent of the interior rooms as smoking

The panic as you say IS the smokers

The passion is the non-smokers that are happy (almost with glee) that a room they will never stay in (the potential 20-30%) will remain smoke free.