Smoking? in Cabins

[WELLDOITAGAIN]

I was about to post a reply kind of patting myself on the back for only smoking on the balcony (and in other designated smoking areas) during my recent cruise, I was really shocked to see the recent complaints from people who's "neighbors" did so. I guess I could have closed up the door to the outside and stunk up the inside and the corridors.

 

With that out of my system, here's what I was planning to say. We recently went on a nice cruise on the Spirit, when we went into our stateroom there was no ashtray to be found. I went outside, had a smoke, didn't throw the butt overboard as we had been advised that doing so could cause the ship to burn to the waterline, possibly then having to be converted into the Virginia (or Merrimack). (I am going off the the walls here, aren't I?). I snuck inside and ran ran some water over the butt, but I didn't want to just toss it in the nice clean chrome wastebasket. Wrapped it in a napkin.

 

My loving wife, who quit smoking a year or so ago, went out and tracked down our room steward to ask for an ashtray, they got to talking and he explained that, under pressure from wife and kids, he'd quit a couple of years ago, and that although he knew it was allowed, he now really disliked it when people smoked in "his" rooms. Made me feel a little guilty, so for the rest of the trip I only smoked on the balcony, not only for my wife's sake, but for Reynoldo's. I probably would have done the same thing if that discussion hadn't happened, I really liked hanging out outside smoking and reading (and drinking beer}, but who knows for sure, especially if the weather had been bad.

 

Incidently, I really didn't notice any signs of residual smoke anywhere inside the ship, our cabin, the public places, or the corridors. We didn't spend any time in the casino, gambling being the only known vice I don't have, so I can't comment on that.

 

I think NCL is doing a pretty good job of balancing the rights of non-smokers with the needs of smokers. Remember that that this isn't like going to a non-smoking hotel where you can walk away for a smoke, it really upsets the routine if you do that on a ship. I do think they might want to consider making say starboard cabins completely non-smoking, just as the starboard sides of the pool and deck areas are. I can also see that as a logistical nightmare for them. I was also able to afford a balcony stateroom, not everyone who smokes and cruises can. Overall I didn't feel that I was overly restricted, and I also didn't feel like I was possibly offending anyone with my smoking. The walk to a smoking area from anywhere in the ship is not a lot worse than finding a public restroom, and I usually combined those trips. Beer out, smoke in.

[PacNwester]

Anybody see Kevin Costner's "Waterworld"? The bad guys were the "Smokers".

It's pretty amazing how quickly (20 to 30 years) society has changed toward smoking. Even though I'm a serious non-smoker, I do feel bad when I see people sent outside to smoke, like modern day lepers.

[blindrid]

Ok, so I was reading through some other threads about smoking being allowed in all of the cabins. Is there a non-smoking cabin area, as I am allergic to cigeratte smoke..... Then again, I will be sailing on the first cruise after Spirit comes out of dry dock, so then maybe it just want matter. Give me your opinion.

 

My wife doesn't like smoke (as I smoke). Never been a problem on a cruise. I think should be no problem for you.

[Steph27]

This is a very interesting thread. Everyone seems to be very thoughtful and respectful. As a non-smoker our biggest issue cruising is our ability to user the balcony. I have only cruised on Celebrity and Oceania. Had a horrible experiience with our neighbors on our last Celebrity cruise. They smoked incessantly on the balcony so ours was unusable. It smelled like a chimney. Of course Oceania has a great non-smoking policy and now Celebrity will be 95% non-smoking. We will be cruising in an AFT cabin on the NCL Jewel in December. I am hoping our neighbors do not smoke on the balcony. I know it may be impolite to ask but does anyone think we can bribe our neighbors to stop smoking on their balcony if necessary?

[above sea level cruiser]

This is a very interesting thread. Everyone seems to be very thoughtful and respectful. As a non-smoker our biggest issue cruising is our ability to user the balcony. I have only cruised on Celebrity and Oceania. Had a horrible experiience with our neighbors on our last Celebrity cruise. They smoked incessantly on the balcony so ours was unusable. It smelled like a chimney. Of course Oceania has a great non-smoking policy and now Celebrity will be 95% non-smoking. We will be cruising in an AFT cabin on the NCL Jewel in December. I am hoping our neighbors do not smoke on the balcony. I know it may be impolite to ask but does anyone think we can bribe our neighbors to stop smoking on their balcony if necessary?

 

Depends on what you look like and what you mean by bribe.:D

[peanutJMV]

Congrats on being smoke free. As a smoker I know how hard that is..

 

I have to say as much as we smoke, we can't stand to walk down the hallway when someone has been smoking in their cabin and it has bled into the hallway.. Nothing worse than the smell of stale smoke. Sometimes the casino even gets too smokey for us.

 

As far as smoking on the balcony, we do. But we try to be courteous to those with a balcony near us. We always get Aft suites, so hopefully we don't effect too many people. At this point all we can do is try to be aware of each other.. smokers and non smokers and try to "share the excitement" of having a balcony.

 

---Thanks, IM real proud of myself, I made an attempt to try to quit several times, so far this is the longest I went without a cig.

---Yes, its is soooo hard, yesterday I felt good, today all thought about was smoking....

 

----Agree with your comments 100%. We were always courteous to others while smoking as well. We were in the Casino on the Spirit, I didnt smoke in there at all and yes there was so much smoke it bothered me..

[PacNwester]

I'm courious. What's the difference between a courteous smoker and a discourteous smoker? On a cruiseship balcony?

[rcacace]

I'm courious. What's the difference between a courteous smoker and a discourteous smoker? On a cruiseship balcony?

 

They both stink, except one says I paid for my balcony & I'll do as I please & the other just smokes & doesn't say a word.

[beachbumforlife]

...well...as far as being out on the balcony goes.....I'd rather smell the smoke coming from someone elses balcony, than have to listen to them having whoopie out there!:rolleyes:

[terrymtex01]

I'm courious. What's the difference between a courteous smoker and a discourteous smoker? On a cruiseship balcony?

 

The same as a courteous nonsmoker as opposed to a discourteous nonsmoker. One is a ***** and one is a polite person who tries to respect the rights of others. For instance.. my DDP and I ,if we go out on our balcony to smoke and our neighbors are out on theirs and they are non smokers, we might very well just go up on deck and have a smoke there, etc. Of if we are out smoking and our neighbors come out we might put our cigs out. Not saying we are perfect and do that all the time, etc, but we do try to take others into consideration. One thing that AMAZES me is like when we docked in Acapulco.. we got off the ship to wait for the others in our excursion. We stepped WAY off the beaten path and way off to ourselves to have a smoke. Then.. about halfway through our smoke, a couple came up over to where we were standing and smoking and started to complain about our smoke. There was this whole pier and they choose to come over to where we were standing..way out of the way.. and then complain about it? I went into chain smoking mode.. LOL. I don't think the woman needed to worry about my smoke.. Im sure the cancer scare from her obvious 70 year love affair with the sun is enough of a cancer scare for her. She had the most tanned leathery horrible looking skin I have ever seen.

 

When we go into a casino, if I sit down next to someone at a slot machine, I will not smoke until that person or people have gotten up and left. I consider that to be curteous. I have the right to smoke but I don't since they were there first. Just like in the above situtation on the dock..if we are in a casino and i have a lit cig and someone comes and sits next to me and starts complaining about my smoke, etc, I will chain smoke and try to get as much smoke as possible over to their area. Curteous works both ways. Manners work both ways. Once in Lake Tahoe I had been sitting at a slot machine for probably an hour.. and this lady came and sat next to me and in the rudest tone said to me " Would you PLEASE not smoke". I turned to her and said "you saw me with a lit cig when you sat down, so I will smoke as much as I want.". and I did.

[terrymtex01]

They both stink, except one says I paid for my balcony & I'll do as I please & the other just smokes & doesn't say a word.

 

Boy do smokers love to get next to people like you. You may not realize it, but having your attitude like that cuts your nose off to spite your face. If a smoker is next to someone who comes across as a ***** like that, we will do every thing we can to get smoke blown in their face. Most smokers will try to keep smoke out of a non smokers area/face, etc if at all possible. But when someone obviously isnt courteous, why should we be?

[MrLee]

When are people going to understand the addiction of smoking? So far the only one who knows is my wife, but I was diagnosed with lung cancer in August. I knew the risks but when I started smoking (in the 50s) we didn't know about it. Next week I start chemo and I've already been through numerous tests, ( x-rays, CAT scans, biopsy, implant etc.) and have radiology to look forward to. It probably wouldn't make much difference now but I still smoke. It's an addiction folks and even though we try to be considerate of everyone around us we're still treated very rudely by a large share of the public. In another 50 years they probably won't even manufacture cigarettes but in the meantime there are going to be some (like me) who are just hooked.

[terrymtex01]

When are people going to understand the addiction of smoking? So far the only one who knows is my wife, but I was diagnosed with lung cancer in August. I knew the risks but when I started smoking (in the 50s) we didn't know about it. Next week I start chemo and I've already been through numerous tests, ( x-rays, CAT scans, biopsy, implant etc.) and have radiology to look forward to. It probably wouldn't make much difference now but I still smoke. It's an addiction folks and even though we try to be considerate of everyone around us we're still treated very rudely by a large share of the public. In another 50 years they probably won't even manufacture cigarettes but in the meantime there are going to be some (like me) who are just hooked.

 

My thoughts are with you Mr. Lee as you go through all of that, and of course, we are pulling for you to make a full recovery.

[*Wink*]

My thoughts are with you Mr. Lee as you go through all of that, and of course, we are pulling for you to make a full recovery.

Ditto!

[MrLee]

Thank you. I didn't post that for sympathy though, I was trying to make a point. Quitting smoking isn't like switching to decaf...it's a genuine addiction.

[Stillfloatin']

Quitting smoking isn't like switching to decaf...it's a genuine addiction.

 

A fact often conveniently forgotten by the self-proclaimed "smoke vigilantes." If society can have sympathy and a desire to rehabilitate cocaine, crank, alcohol, and heroin addicts and is willing to spend tax dollars to help them, why can't they have the same sympathy and desire to help nicotine addicts? The hardcore drug addicts cause far more crime, violence, and automobile deaths than the smoker, so cut the smokers a little slack, ok?

 

The same people who come up to smokers and berate them usually wouldn't dream of doing the same to a speaker at an AA meeting. Addiction is addiction, folks so try having a little more tolerance for the people who are genuinely trying to be respectful of you while smoking.

 

I've watched family and friends really struggle to free themselves of this horrible addiction, and I'm sure most people have witnessed this as well. Some smokers succeed, some fail, but none of them deserve your scorn and condemnation.

[blindrid]

This is a very interesting thread. Everyone seems to be very thoughtful and respectful. As a non-smoker our biggest issue cruising is our ability to user the balcony. I have only cruised on Celebrity and Oceania. Had a horrible experiience with our neighbors on our last Celebrity cruise. They smoked incessantly on the balcony so ours was unusable. It smelled like a chimney. Of course Oceania has a great non-smoking policy and now Celebrity will be 95% non-smoking. We will be cruising in an AFT cabin on the NCL Jewel in December. I am hoping our neighbors do not smoke on the balcony. I know it may be impolite to ask but does anyone think we can bribe our neighbors to stop smoking on their balcony if necessary?

 

Personally, if someone asked politely, I would not even flinch and put it out when they were out there. It's the same way in a casino as I normally asked the people around me if they care, if they say they do - no problemo.

 

The one's that normally get to me though are the condescending, bitchy people that make it a big deal. Those are not the one's I treat with respect.

[blindrid]

...well...as far as being out on the balcony goes.....I'd rather smell the smoke coming from someone elses balcony, than have to listen to them having whoopie out there!:rolleyes:

 

Now wait a minute . . . . what's the matter with you...........;)

[above sea level cruiser]

They both stink, except one says I paid for my balcony & I'll do as I please & the other just smokes & doesn't say a word.

 

Thanks for coming out. We appreciate your response. NOT! Turds will do as turds will do.

[PacNwester]

My mother started smoking when she was 10 and tried everything to quit. Acupuncture, acupressure, hypnosis, staples in her ears, Schick Center (after the third time, they returned her money) but she finally quit last year. Her secret? Three weeks in the hospital. She said it was the best horrible thing she ever went through.

It is a tragic, self distructive habit, some doctors say even more addictive than heroin. It's just that it's a shared habit, it impacts people who are next to you, or 50 feet away. We still inhale it along with you.

[G'ma]

My mother started smoking when she was 10 and tried everything to quit. Acupuncture, acupressure, hypnosis, staples in her ears, Schick Center (after the third time, they returned her money) but she finally quit last year. Her secret? Three weeks in the hospital. She said it was the best horrible thing she ever went through.

It is a tragic, self distructive habit, some doctors say even more addictive than heroin. It's just that it's a shared habit, it impacts people who are next to you, or 50 feet away. We still inhale it along with you.

 

Anyone who smokes can quit if they really want to. Smoking is a HABIT, not an addiction. Using the word "addiction" is simply an excuse.

 

My mother also started smoking around 10 years old. She smoked all her life and somewhere around age 55 she changed from packs of cigarettes to "roll-your-owns"..which apparently has a better flavor with none of the additives......anyway.

 

When she was 78, she quit...cold turkey. She said she got tired of rolling them and tired of smoking them. She put out the one she was smoking and that was the end of that. She never had a desire to smoke again..even though she said she liked the smell of others smoke....

 

She lived until age 88 and died of natural causes---

 

Her father, my grandfather, smoked all his life; quit at age 76 and lived until age 85...died of natural causes without ever smoking again.

 

Nobody can "make" someone quit; pills won't do it, patches won't do it, neither will hypnosis. Unless the person WANTS to stop, the smoking will continue.

[MrLee]

Anyone who smokes can quit if they really want to. Smoking is a HABIT' date=' not an addiction. Using the word "addiction" is simply an excuse.

 

My mother also started smoking around 10 years old. She smoked all her life and somewhere around age 55 she changed from packs of cigarettes to "roll-your-owns"..which apparently has a better flavor with none of the additives......anyway.

 

When she was 78, she quit...cold turkey. She said she got tired of rolling them and tired of smoking them. She put out the one she was smoking and that was the end of that. She never had a desire to smoke again..even though she said she liked the smell of others smoke....

 

She lived until age 88 and died of natural causes---

 

Her father, my grandfather, smoked all his life; quit at age 76 and lived until age 85...died of natural causes without ever smoking again.

 

Nobody can "make" someone quit; pills won't do it, patches won't do it, neither will hypnosis. Unless the person WANTS to stop, the smoking will continue.[/quote']

 

 

You really don't know what you're talking about here. It's true that not everyone who smokes is addicted, and almost every addictice substance has some who can use it without being addicted, but that doesn't mean it isn't addicting to many (most?) of us. There have been many studies done by experts in the field that contradict you.

[98Charlie]

Anyone who smokes can quit if they really want to. Smoking is a HABIT' date=' not an addiction. Using the word "addiction" is simply an excuse.

 

My mother also started smoking around 10 years old. She smoked all her life and somewhere around age 55 she changed from packs of cigarettes to "roll-your-owns"..which apparently has a better flavor with none of the additives......anyway.

 

When she was 78, she quit...cold turkey. She said she got tired of rolling them and tired of smoking them. She put out the one she was smoking and that was the end of that. She never had a desire to smoke again..even though she said she liked the smell of others smoke....

 

She lived until age 88 and died of natural causes---

 

Her father, my grandfather, smoked all his life; quit at age 76 and lived until age 85...died of natural causes without ever smoking again.

 

Nobody can "make" someone quit; pills won't do it, patches won't do it, neither will hypnosis. Unless the person WANTS to stop, the smoking will continue.[/quote']I think that the Surgeon General and most physicians would disagree that smoking is a habit and not an addiction.

 

Click Here for a link to the National Library of Medicine article entitled "The Health Consequences of Smoking: Nicotine Addiction: A Report of the Surgeon General". To save anyone from slogging through the 600+ pages, there is this:

Major Conclusions

1. Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addicting.

2. Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction.

3. The pharmacologic and behavioral processes that

determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that

determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and

cocaine.

 

Charlie

[crt37]

It's just that it's a shared habit, it impacts people who are next to you, or 50 feet away. We still inhale it along with you.

 

Exactly. Second hand smoke causes death and disease to innocent victims who do not smoke, including children. I have extreme sympathy for those non-smokers who die at the hands of smokers and their second hand smoke.

[Saveapenny]

Drink kills more people and is far more annoying to others to be around a drunk but hey whos banning that?

Cruise companies are forcing smoking on balconies by not allowing it in other places around the ship

If they had a designated smoking area in acouple of bars with good a/c, Most smokers would prefer to sit there

 

A friend of mine switched to the electic ones and a women walked passed screwing her noise up and waving her hand...best is no smell or smoke comes off them only water vapour. It just shows some people are picky for picky sake