smoking...

[JimVrhovac]

If only life was a flower garden and everyone acted in a civilized manner.

 

DEFINITION OF STRESS:

The overwhelming desire to smak the living crap out of someone that desperately deserves it......

 

There are days.....

 

Sorry they were not more responsive to your request....

 

Have a great week...

 

Ruth & Jim

[Sow There]

True story.

 

On a cruise a few years back we were sitting out on the balcony around Noon during an At Sea day as we were passing some lovely small islands under some puffy clouds enjoying a glass of a very nice white bordeaux. We had some Mozart playing on the CD player.

 

My wife noticed a strange smell that we wrote off as being some sea borne detritus. But it lingered longer than we thought it should.

 

It seems the neighbors left their baby in a small crib out on the balcony whilst they took a nap...or whatever and the baby did what most babies do. But this one was nice enough not to cry after doing his/her thing. But the downwind aroma was just plain awful.

 

Finally the baby started to wail, but to no avail at all. So I knocked on the door of the next door cabin to let them know their baby was in some distress.

 

The father (I guess) answered looking like he had just awakened and not only did not thank me, but said it was his right to use the balcony any way he chose. He also said "the kid" was staying out there and could scream all he wanted. He invited me to change cabins if we didn't like it.

 

(His manner suggested that he had a very long night and was still nursing a hangover.)

 

That isn't the end of the story.

 

His wife (I suppose) knocked on our door about 15 minutes later and apologized profusely for both the noise and the man's behaviour and said she hoped we would enjoy the rest of our cruise.

 

Later that afternoon, a bottle of wine was delivered with a note with another apology from both of them.

 

We did enjoy the rest of our cruise. And we had no problem with noisy and/or stinky babies either.

 

The bottom line is that congenial and non-belligerent behaviour cannot be required by a cruise line but must be the result of basic human decency.

 

A cigar smoker has the right to puff on his stogie on his balcony, of course. But reasonable empathetic consideration should impel the smoker to check first on who might be affected by his activity.

 

Similarly someone affected by the activity should be non-belligerent in addressing his/her concerns.

[usha]

A reminder.

 

Here's the original topic.

 

Please note that the health aspects of smoking are not mentioned anywhere in that post, so please, please, stay on topic.

 

Thanks.

I would think that since the OP talked about being "highly allergic", that she was indeed mentioning the health aspects of smoking in that post.

[CalGal777]

Agree the balconies can be a problem.

 

WHat they need to do is POLITELY approach the smokers and try to work out a schedule or some type of arrangement. I always contact cabins next to us and tell them if they have a problem talk to us. So far have never been approached.

 

As long as everyone talks in a civilized manner accomodations can be made and everyone will be reasonable happy.

 

Jim

Sounds like a very reasonable and fair solution to me. Just don't hack and cough and make rude remarks from your balcony before talking to me. Then I might not be in the mood to be reasonable and fair. Now what to do on a 12 day trans atlantic on RCI next April. they have banned smoking in staterooms and you can only smoke on the balcony. This was done months after I booked. I will try to play fair, but am making no rash promises,lol

[usha]

Don't want to risk that my polite request could possibly start some sort of ugly confrontation.

No, thanks. Not on vacation.

I'd much rather take it up with HAL. They are the ones who make policy.

[pipedreams62]

[PandCAV]

As a non smoker for 32 years 2 months and 14 days 11 hours ( I may have cracked the habit now) I can still understand the need for smokers to have a place of their own.

I certainly do not subscribe to 'sharing' this space.

How does the segregated areas of public rooms work?

If the room has a smoker in it, surely the entire room is affected.

One could be at a table in the 'No Smoking' section immediately next to a table in the 'Smoking' area.

I have been in this situation in a restaurant and had smoke billow all around during our meal.

A polite request to stop whilst we ate fell on stoney ground with the following response -"we are in the smoking area, tough!"

I have only cruised one before and smoking was limited to 1 lounge, and outside.

It worked fine as we knew not to go into that lounge, or if we did, we knew what to expect.

If the smoke on HAL is sucked away by super powerful air con, then must my wife and I be prepared to bring our overcoats and sweaters to sit inside? (cynicism is not dead, just resting :) )

Spleen vented and winding up for the Noordam in September.

[abcten]

I don't think it is rude at all. It is just stating what are likely the facts. Do you think the smell of stale cigarettes is a pleasant smell? If so, you are in the extreme minority. It stands quite to reason smokers would try to cover up the smell and use too much perfume. Please show me the error in my argument if you are able.

 

Here is how I see it but please correct me if you see it differently. I suggest smokers fall into 3 camps (although I think there are very few that fall into camp 3).

 

Camp 1 knows that smoking will make their hair, clothes, body, mouth, tongue, etc. reek of cigarette smoke and therefore they take extra steps (including using too much perfume) to cover up the stink. I think most smokers fall into this camp.

 

Camp 2 also knows that smoking will make their hair, clothes, body, mouth, tongue, etc. reek of cigarette smoke but this group has thrown in the towel. They have decided over the years that no matter how you try to cover up the stench of cigarette smoke, it is really just not possible. So why even try. Their motto is, "To heck with perfume, I'll just choose to stink!"

 

Camp 3 is sort of the utterly oblivious group. Their sense of smell is so degraded and they are so out of touch that they are clueless as to whether or not they stink. They assume that stale smell of cigarette smoke is just a "normal" smell and have gotten used to it and assume everyone else is used to it as well.

 

Are there any camps I have missed? It seems like one of these 3 should catch everyone. By all means, present a counterargument if you believe this analysis incorrect.

 

 

It would be nice to have smokers weigh in as to which camp they fall into.

 

I agree with your categories or "camps". But I disagree that most would fall into category 1. My belief is most would fall into category 2.

[usha]

I think the "3 camps" theory post was obviously meant to be offensive, and should have been removed.

[Scorpiorose]

Hi from the OPer!!!

 

My original concerns were the level of comfort and safety as related to the smoking policy on HAL. I worry first about my allergies and perhaps present or lingering smoke in cabins, and places I may walk through. Obviously I would not sit in a bar - I just don't do it, it seems to be a smokers haven and I know that - their safe smoking place, so I dont go there. (casinos too)

 

I hate the smell, hate to smell in while trying to enjoy a walk on deck, but it also sets off allergic reactions that can may me sick, I go on cruises to relax and recover and regroup, I don't want to deal with allergies or stress while on board, I can stay at home for that for free.....my original questions concerned the smoking policy and how it is enforced to be reassured that I will be comfortable.

 

PS - I know things happen when traveling and I've been sick on board, but anything that can be done to minimize the chances of that - I'll go for!!!

[sail7seas]

Explorer's Lounge on all HAL ships is smoke free.

 

[Scorpiorose]

Now that I've read back through the threads all I can say is this:

 

I am not for preventing anyone from smoking........I just dont want to have to be impacted by it! I'd like designated spots (not cabins) where smoking is allowed. And smoking and non smoking cabins like hotels!!! That's not anti smoker!!! I can live with a smoker smoking on the balcony......geezzz, we all have to be reasonable!

 

Also.....to a poster way back.....the reasons non smokers care so much is it directly impacts others! I dont mind if someone dances all day, I don't want them to stomp on my feet while dancing though!;)

[schoolinmy3]

 

Also.....to a poster way back.....the reasons non smokers care so much is it directly impacts others! I dont mind if someone dances all day, I don't want them to stomp on my feet while dancing though!;)

 

I like that analogy! I just came back from the emergency room this afternoon where my 17 yo son was taken by ambulance during work from an asthma attack.:( It is true that smoking is unfortunately a behavior that affects others directly. None of us smoke in our family but the smoking of others does impact our health. Myself, my 8 yo daughter and my son have asthma and we have had asthma attacks from the cigarette smoke of others. I'm looking forward to our first cruise and fortunately we are not taking my children as I am not as sensitive to smoke as they are. I have to admit though, I am nervous as to whether we will encounter a smoker in the balcony next to ours or some similar situation.