Heads up for non smokers thinking about Dawn

We found that half the ship was unusable for us because of cigarette and cigar smoke last week. If you are not very sensitive to it, you will be fine. However, with all open deck areas on one side of the ship and a cigar lounge beside Gatsby's and a constantly smoke-filled casino making that lower deck unusable, as well as the Asian restaurant directly upstairs, we decided we would not ever use the Dawn again. In fact, we are looking at other cruise lines with less of a pong in the air for future bookings.

Just telling you what I wish someone had told us.

thank you for letting us know. I can't stand smoke either.

wow. Good to know. Thank you

The casino was horrible ... there was no way to get away from the smoke ... Jan

My husband and I were on the Dawn 8/31 and were also bothered by the cigarette smoke. In previous cruises on the Dawn we spent alot of evenings in Gatsbys. This cruise we couldn’t enjoy it at all as the smoke was so bad . We could even smell it when passing by the area on deck 6.

We found that half the ship was unusable for us because of cigarette and cigar smoke last week. If you are not very sensitive to it, you will be fine. However, with all open deck areas on one side of the ship and a cigar lounge beside Gatsby's and a constantly smoke-filled casino making that lower deck unusable, as well as the Asian restaurant directly upstairs, we decided we would not ever use the Dawn again. In fact, we are looking at other cruise lines with less of a pong in the air for future bookings.

 

Just telling you what I wish someone had told us.

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry it so impacted your cruise.

I get headaches and congestion issues with too much smoke, so I checked out designated locations, and sure enough, one is right below my balcony. Not sure I can get a change, as it was a Sail Away booking, but I have asked my agent to look into a possible cabin move. Not holding my breath (ha ha), but fingers crossed. I'll be packing a hand fan just in case.

There is an entire thread on 'where to smoke' onboard various ships. It works both ways-for smokers, and non-smokers wanting to avoid the areas. Recently an entire spreadsheet is available for reference (page 15). However, it doesn't outline the designated outdoor smoking areas (just how many there are). post #44 does - for Dawn specifically.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2183488&page=3

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry it so impacted your cruise.

 

I get headaches and congestion issues with too much smoke, so I checked out designated locations, and sure enough, one is right below my balcony. Not sure I can get a change, as it was a Sail Away booking, but I have asked my agent to look into a possible cabin move. Not holding my breath (ha ha), but fingers crossed. I'll be packing a hand fan just in case.

There is an entire thread on 'where to smoke' onboard various ships. It works both ways-for smokers, and non-smokers wanting to avoid the areas. Recently an entire spreadsheet is available for reference (page 15). However, it doesn't outline the designated outdoor smoking areas (just how many there are). post #44 does - for Dawn specifically.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2183488&page=3

It's partly a medical problem for us, and asthma is quite common these days. If you can show that this is true for you, they might be required to give you a change. Worth a try. Our balcony got it pretty hard, and we weren't right above a smoking area.

It's partly a medical problem for us, and asthma is quite common these days. If you can show that this is true for you, they might be required to give you a change. Worth a try. Our balcony got it pretty hard, and we weren't right above a smoking area.

Not asthmatic, and my non-traditional allergist has recently retired, so not sure what I can pull up as 'proof' without a lot of retesting.

Was it bad even when underway?

Not asthmatic, and my non-traditional allergist has recently retired, so not sure what I can pull up as 'proof' without a lot of retesting.

 

Was it bad even when underway?

Yes. We could escape it for the most part on one side of the open deck, but the non-smoking rule for the other side was not consistently enforced. Inside, Bamboo, Gatsby's, the casino and sometimes our balcony were all very unpleasant even when moving. When we asked for help from the desk, we were told flatly that there was nothing they could do.

Yes. We could escape it for the most part on one side of the open deck, but the non-smoking rule for the other side was not consistently enforced. Inside, Bamboo, Gatsby's, the casino and sometimes our balcony were all very unpleasant even when moving. When we asked for help from the desk, we were told flatly that there was nothing they could do.

Thanks for the clarification.

To the OP: You might want to read up on NCL's Bliss. Smoking sections are isolated and/or remote. Enclosed area of casino, enclosed cigar bar, and one back corner of Spice H2O. We also hate 2nd hand smoke and found Bliss to be the most smoke free cruise we've ever been on. We hope NCL will model more ships after Bliss in this regards.

I found this thread and it is very useful for smokers and non-smokers. This way, when you step on a ship-no surprises. I just hope people keep updating it!!

Not quite sure Dawn deserves this 'dis' she just got:confused:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2183488&page=15

oops, forgot -it's old so just go to the last page for current info and a link to the google doc

To the OP: You might want to read up on NCL's Bliss. Smoking sections are isolated and/or remote. Enclosed area of casino, enclosed cigar bar, and one back corner of Spice H2O. We also hate 2nd hand smoke and found Bliss to be the most smoke free cruise we've ever been on. We hope NCL will model more ships after Bliss in this regards.

I second the recommendation of the Bliss for those sensitive to smoke. The only time I smelled ANY was when walking past the smoking section in the casino (which is glass enclosed so only if walking by the door as someone was entering/exiting) and once by a person smoking in their balcony :(. Honestly, if it is a concern for you, then the Bliss May be your answer. I also hope all future builds are modeled this way.

I was on the Dawn recently and did not have the same experience. The casino was smokey but I expected that. I sat many nights at Gatsby's and the smoke from the enclosed area did not bother us at all. Also, the smoking on the pool deck and deck 7 was contained to one side of the ship. I did observe staff directing smokers on the pool deck to the correct side on the first day.

On our cruise last year, the first night we sat in Gatsby’s I could not stand the smoke and we had to leave, I was so disappointed. Subsequent nights were ok though or maybe I just got used to it. The only other place where I remember it being really bad was the little cafe by the casino. There were a few nights I would have liked to have dessert there but it was too smokey. I remember wondering why they would put a food place right by the casino.

It’s hard to accommodate everyone. But if I had missed Gatsby’s the whole trip, that would have been enough for me, I just loved that place!

I think smoke is a factor for many and I could definitely see avoiding certain ships because of it so the information here is helpful.

The Dawn is no worse than any NCL cruise ship. People SHOULD expect smoke on smoking areas. It would be totally silly to expect anything less. Exposure to those areas can be minimized. BUT never avoided.

another reason to avoid this boring old ship

The Dawn is no worse than any NCL cruise ship. People SHOULD expect smoke on smoking areas. It would be totally silly to expect anything less. Exposure to those areas can be minimized. BUT never avoided.

Dawn is typical of many ships, but Bliss is much different and for those that want to avoid smoke, a very good alternative and on Bliss it is very easy to avoid the smoking areas.

While I respect the reaction to the OP, not everyone will have the same level of sensitivity. I have cruised on the Dawn the last two years: Thanksgiving and Christmas, so the ships were plenty full.

I would meet up with other solo travelers in Gatsby's before dinner/shows each evening. The smoke in that area generally was due to the door being open on the cigar room. I got up and closed it maybe more than once if needed. Usually the smokers noticed and did a better job of keeping the door closed.

I do enjoy the casino and really didn't have too much of an issue there. Generally people ask "will my smoking bother you?". I answer honestly, either yes or simply ask that they use the ashtray on the opposite side of the machine. If a smoker is there first well then I may just find something else play. Now if I were a card player it would be a lot tougher to sit next to a smoker and I probably wouldn't do that.

Point being, you can have a sensitivity that may lead to what the OP reports. Or you can assertive if need be and still enjoy yourself.

Bottom line, smokers cruise. Cruise ship casinos have smoking sections. If you're going to cruise develop strategies that allow you to enjoy your vacation: your time, your money, figure out your plan

Nola26 and others re: sensitivity to smoking issues We have traveled annually on the Dawn as long as she has been ported in Boston. Pre-renovation that music area made eating in the outer area of LeBistro a great experience. Post-renovation? Well, LeBistro is now across the area and the old sort of patio arrangement is not there for the Italian restaurant. But the addition of the cigar lounge with the absolutely awful air flow issues does impact people. The "Cigar Lounge" is usually packed with cigarette smokers so the vision that people would amble in and spend some time sipping bourbon and smoking a stogie is offset by people coming in and going out a lot with cigarettes. And often forgetting to close the door. The combination of cigar smoke and cigarette smoke compacted in a small room just expels fumes when the door is open. And of course it is most often filled in the evening when the music is best and you'd like to sit around and have a drink and talk in Gatsbys. Maybe they could figure out a better air-removal process but that could include venting it outside where people on the deck would get it, not to mention the balconies. I was a smoker so cigarettes smoked near me do not bother me but the situation of the smaller room with the larger group I think intensifies the whole issue. Cigarette smokers usually outnumber cigar aficionados 2 or 3 to one in the evening. It is, IMHO, like the dippy desecration of the paintings in the Venetian dining room, just poorly thought out design.

See now you've just gone too far. I like the painted over painting in the Venetian. To me they're whimsical.

The Cigar room is definitely an opportunity for NCL, smoke is overwhelming when the door is open.

... Cigarette smokers usually outnumber cigar aficionados 2 or 3 to one in the evening. It is, IMHO, like the dippy desecration of the paintings in the Venetian dining room, just poorly thought out design.

@Margretha - have not commentary on the post in general, but I do love your way with words (maybe we are related?! :') ). OMG :o “dippy desecration”. I love you :')

We found that half the ship was unusable for us because of cigarette and cigar smoke last week. If you are not very sensitive to it, you will be fine. However, with all open deck areas on one side of the ship and a cigar lounge beside Gatsby's and a constantly smoke-filled casino making that lower deck unusable, as well as the Asian restaurant directly upstairs, we decided we would not ever use the Dawn again. In fact, we are looking at other cruise lines with less of a pong in the air for future bookings.

 

Just telling you what I wish someone had told us.

Not that it will make any difference to you, but I am thinking you have absolutely no tolerance because we hate smoking and found absolutely no problem with smoking when we were on the Dawn a few months ago. We even had to wait to be seated about 20 minutes at Le Cucina's which is just outside the cigar bar and talked to a few that were going in and out. The tobacco smell didn't faze us. As for the casino, yes, we did notice it was a bit smokey. Otherwise no problems. Certainly we were totally unaware of any smoke filtering into the Asian restaurant form anywhere. I hope you don't play on sailing the Epic or Breakaway soon.

another reason to avoid this boring old ship

Have you been on this "Boring" old ship lately and how about the Breakaway ans the Epic? :rolleyes:

Not that it will make any difference to you, but I am thinking you have absolutely no tolerance because we hate smoking and found absolutely no problem with smoking when we were on the Dawn a few months ago. We even had to wait to be seated about 20 minutes at Le Cucina's which is just outside the cigar bar and talked to a few that were going in and out. The tobacco smell didn't faze us. As for the casino, yes, we did notice it was a bit smokey. Otherwise no problems. Certainly we were totally unaware of any smoke filtering into the Asian restaurant form anywhere. I hope you don't play on sailing the Epic or Breakaway soon.

So your point is that different people have different sensitivities to smoke or perhaps perfume. Perhaps different reactions to allergens. They will have to decide if it's worth the risk.