Smokers: Will You Stay or Will You Go?

[Susan-M]

With the change in Celebrity's smoking policy, will you stay, are you undecided or will you change to another line. If you decide to change, please specify the line that you are most likely to move to.

 

For more info on smoking policies: http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=225

[dkjretired]

I voted other, doesn't bother me either way.

[Susan-M]

I voted other, doesn't bother me either way.

 

Oops ... sorry about the confusion.:o "Other" means "other cruise line". I guess that means you fit into the first choice ... staying?

[chasetf]

Darn..... looks like most of the smokers are heading toward Princess :(

[Shirley and Les]

I'm concerned about the validity of this poll.

As a former smoker, I would certainly have departed this board before the poll if I had continued the addiction. The policies adopted by =X= would have chased me away a few weeks ago.

So if I were a current smoker, I would not have read the post.

I feel you are only going to get responses from very casual smokers and not the die-hard (no pun intended or wished for) smokers.

If you are looking for results that show very few departures from Celebrity , your wish will be fulfilled. The 'nays' have already left the building.

Most of the resposnes will be from non-smokers so the results will be meaningless.

Les

[Addict]

I'm concerned about the validity of this poll.

As a former smoker, I would certainly have departed this board before the poll if I had continued the addiction. The policies adopted by =X= would have chased me away a few weeks ago.

So if I were a current smoker, I would not have read the post.

I feel you are only going to get responses from very casual smokers and not the die-hard (no pun intended or wished for) smokers.

If you are looking for results that show very few departures from Celebrity , your wish will be fulfilled. The 'nays' have already left the building.

Most of the resposnes will be from non-smokers so the results will be meaningless.

Les

 

Absolutely agree! And, as you say, most of the smokers have already departed this board, so who, exactly, is voting for "staying with Celebrity" - not smokers that's for sure. We have two cruises already booked and deposits paid, but after those we will be cruising with whichever cruise line still allows smoking at least on balconies. Apparantly Celebrity says "90% of cruisers are non-smokers" - I take that to read "90% of Cruise Critic cruisers are non-smokers" - if you were on Millenium recently and tried to get a seat in ANY smoking area on the ship you will realise that figure is laughable. I would truly love to know where they get their info from. As a matter of interest, when we last booked a cruise online - the "smoking" section of the booking automatically defaulted to "nonsmoking" and we were unable to change it - so perhaps they gather their mis-information from these TA websites.

 

Agreed, the poll is meaningless - don't mean to be rude, it just is - unless you can prove only smokers are voting.

[Susan-M]

I'm concerned about the validity of this poll.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about it since there won't be any decisions based on the results, and really...how many CC threads are meaningful?;)

[Susan-M]

As a matter of interest, when we last booked a cruise online - the "smoking" section of the booking automatically defaulted to "nonsmoking" and we were unable to change it - so perhaps they gather their mis-information from these TA websites.

 

 

I didn't realize that 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' were booking choices...which cruise line was it?

[Addict]

I didn't realize that 'smoking' and 'non-smoking' were booking choices...which cruise line was it?

 

Hi, it wasn't a cruise line, it was a U.K. online Travel Agent (which obviously I can't name due to CC rules).

[flashdog_1]

I love Celebrity and I love smoking on my balcony. I never smoke IN the cabin. I have read that smoke from one cabin's balcony affects neighbors. Maybe in port, I agree, but at sea with all the wind?

 

So as not to punish myself, since I love X's product, I will just book an interior or ocean view cabin and go to the designated smoking areas to smoke (booking the cabin nearest for convenience), and not totally boycott Celebrity!

 

I think X should have made, say, the very aft side cabins smoking ones so their smoke from smoking on balconies will only go toward the back to other smokers & therefore not offend any non-smokers. Cigars were always off limits on a balcony. I'm sure that would be a difficult job for handling reservations, though!

 

I generally book by itinerary and price anyway, and sometimes X doesn't win. But if all things are equal, I will choose X within a few dollars difference.

[gillianrose]

Most of the resposnes will be from non-smokers so the results will be meaningless.

Les

 

Though the temptation may be there to vote in this "smoker's poll" especially as I strongly suspect there are smokers who are voting in the "non-smoker's poll", I will refrain from voting in this one, as I am very definitely a non-smoker, and I am also interested in keeping the poll as unpolluted as possible, and I'll even refrain from making a sly comment about my own use of the word "unpolluted." ;)

[tbelian]

Cigars were always off limits on a balcony.

 

Not in 1997, 98, 99, 2000, 2001 ... actually, not until recently.

[flashdog_1]

Not in 1997, 98, 99, 2000, 2001 ... actually, not until recently.

 

Sorry, my "always" began with my first cruise in 2004 (unless you count a transatlantic in 1968 on a Greek freighter) and although Michael's Club was called the cigar bar they could not smoke cigars in there. If I'd used my brain instead of my fingers I'd realize that something called a cigar bar where cigars aren't allowed USED to be a legal cigar smoking area. Again, sorry for impetuosity.

[Blue46]

I am also one of those smokers that did not smoke in the cabin, but only on the balcony. I am sorry if my smoking offended anyone, but I am not a chain smoker and would only smoke one cigarette then go back in my room. I will most likely still sail with Celebrity but will try booking rooms closer to elevators, so I can get to smoking areas. I will still book balcony rooms as I also like to just stand or sit on the balcony and enjoy the water. I may also try RCCL and see how that line is.

[nmtraveler]

We just got off Millennium this week and the Captain's Club lady said the new smoking policy when it goes into effect will charge $850 fine for a cleanup fee for smoking in your cabin. Hopefully, they won't make any mistakes.

[agabbymama]

I booked my next cruise on Princess for the Med in Oct '08 long before this policy change took place.

 

Yes I am one of those die hard smokers, that won't be traveling on Celebrity. And I don't think HAL is far behind, they have already made all of their hotels in Alaska non-smoking. Didn't know that when I booked the cruisetour in Aug '07. Nothing on the website mentioned it, and it wasn't until I received my cruise docs that the itinerary stated "PLEASE NOTE ALL HOTELS ARE NON-SMOKING". I knew I wouldn't be able to smoke on the coach, but I was surprised I couldn't smoke in my room at the hotel.

 

If all the cruiselines adopt this policy, I will be finding other venues for my vacations.

[chasetf]

................So as not to punish myself, since I love X's product, I will just book an interior or ocean view cabin and go to the designated smoking areas to smoke (booking the cabin nearest for convenience), and not totally boycott Celebrity!...................

My experience (as an x-smoker) is there are different types of smokers. There are the chain smokers that cannot get out of bed without lighting up... or have a drink in their hand without a cigarette in the other.... or pull a slot handle without one burning in the other hand.

 

Then there are type that have an occasional cigarette, and can wait until then get outside to light up.

 

The chain smoker who has to smoke whenever it hits them are the ones that will be the most vocal and upset with the new policy. These are the same ones that said there was no way they would be able to fly 4-5-8+ hrs on an airplane. But... I guess most do to be able to get to the port.

 

The more casual smoker, as you seem to be, will be able to adapt and take their cigarette elsewhere.

[pmcgsan]

I feel sorry for the passengers that booked the cabin next to ours (1221) on the Century after our Transatlantic. The smoke from their cabin was gross. We met people on board who actually had to move to another cabin because it was so bad from the room next to them. We should have requested a move also. Smoking in a cabin on board a ship is an accident waiting to happen. My husband saw a smoking passenger throw a cigarette over the rail on the walking deck and it blew back at him and I saw a cigarette butt in in the hallway by the elevator. We would not cruise Celebrity again for more reasons than just the smoking.

[Costest]

I will try it on my 1/09 cruise - booked a veranda with the intent of smoking there in lieu of in the room - if too inconvenient to go up or down a deck will have to re-evaluate other lines. I am near heartbroken to think X won't work for me or evenutally all lines :(

[howndder]

Hi pmcgsanl

I am sorry that our smoking bothered you but I must tell you that the neighbors on the other side never moved anywhere. We were 1225 and yes we smoked. We personally never noticed a gross smell but then were smokers and don't notice those things. Again I'm terribly sorry if our smoking offended you. Why didn't you request a change of cabin?

howndder

[iowagirl411]

I have canceled my previously booked cruise on Celebrity & deleted it from my signature. I will probably cruise next on Carnival, since I've cruised with them before & am familiar with them. After that, I don't know.

 

I am not upset with Celebrity's decision. It's their business and their choice.

I am upset with the non-smokers who seem to enjoy pouring salt in our wounds and then rubbing it in.

[Susan-M]

I am upset with the non-smokers who seem to enjoy pouring salt in our wounds and then rubbing it in.

 

Hi Leslie,

I wasn't sure who you were referring to, so I apologize if posting this thread seems insensitive to you. I understand the dilemma that many are faced with now that Celebrity has changed their policy.

 

I think many people (both smokers and non) are curious to know what people will do in light of this change of policy. A poll seemed to be a less controversial way to get feedback since many people are willing to respond if they don't need to post and/or be identified.

 

I'm pleased that this thread has stayed friendly for the most part. :)

[foxyG]

Hi,

 

I agree that it makes a pleasant change to have a discussion on this topic without the usual acrimony!

 

As a smoker I can still exercise my freedom to spend my money with such companies as provide me with the opportunity to reponsibly enjoy a cigarette, whilst trying to minimise the impact on those who are sensitive to smoke or any other toxic substance (vehicle exhausts etc)

 

Celebrity have a right to pitch at whatever market they feel will maximise their business. Standard rule of supply and demand! Where they got it wrong for me was when they changed the rules after they had $400 of my cash and then said I didn't have a "justifiable" reason for cancelling! (Please note that in the UK we pay non refundable deposits) No advance notice! If it weren't for these boards I doubt I would have known until final ticketing!

 

Anyway; bottom line is that after a lot of pressure and communication I got a refund, so I'm now a happy "smoking" bunny! Change of policy was fine with me... method of both employing it and the lack of communication to customers was less than satisfactory!

 

I've got to agree that most of the reponses to this poll will be, as quoted, fron non smokers as the rest of us have jumped ship!

 

What's the betting that RCCI will change the policy before I sail with them? 50/50? Seems that the gambling starts before you hit the Casino :)

[Susan-M]

I've got to agree that most of the reponses to this poll will be, as quoted, fron non smokers as the rest of us have jumped ship!

 

 

You've jumped ship and you're still participating in this forum ... possibly there are a few others like you. Why would non-smokers feel the need to lie and participate in the poll?

[szdiver]

It would have been better had you put in one for non smokers in the poll.....you know how people like to vote on everything....

 

I do not smoke, consequently, do not have an opinion on this one. Just interesting to read....