Smoke in the Casino? Non-smoking side?

[PokerDave]

Have heard a number of complaints about smoke in the casino. They are always smoky so is Epic more than usual? I realize they route you through it and some of the complaints are that...

 

I also heard that half of it is non-smoking. Does that work? Is it enforced and not too bad?

[coastalcarolinakid]

Unless I was sitting right next to a smoker, I didn't notice it at all.

[ColinIllinois]

On my cruise I was actually surprised (being a non smoker) how there were very few people smoking in the casino. It wasn't an issue for me.

[14ersco]

The problem on the Epic is that the casino is completely open and the machines are not limited to just the area marked casino on the deck plans. The most forward machines are within O'Sheehans, then there is a double row of machines along the length of hall from O'Sheehans back to the casino, the table games are within the area marked casino; then another double row of machines all the way along the hall back to the Cascades Bar; and then additional machines at that bar. There were ash trays on both sides of the hallways and in use.

 

So you have smoking occurring from wall to wall from the entrance to the Manhattan Dining Room, around the aft elevators, and almost all of the way forward to the doors of Headliner's; or as we referred to it: the Cancer Gauntlet. Also with the deck opening at the casino there was smoke on deck 7 in the area of the ice bar. NCL lost money on us since we avoided the smoke and all of the shops, bars and specialty dining on decks 6 and 7 that were not near the forward elevators.

 

The other issue with the casino is that the embarkation doors for half the passengers on the Epic is directly into the casino. We heard complaints from quite a number families that their first inside view of the Epic was a gambling table.

[coffeebean]

The problem on the Epic is that the casino is completely open and the machines are not limited to just the area marked casino on the deck plans. The most forward machines are within O'Sheehans, then there is a double row of machines along the length of hall from O'Sheehans back to the casino, the table games are within the area marked casino; then another double row of machines all the way along the hall back to the Cascades Bar; and then additional machines at that bar. There were ash trays on both sides of the hallways and in use.

 

So you have smoking occurring from wall to wall from the entrance to the Manhattan Dining Room, around the aft elevators, and almost all of the way forward to the doors of Headliner's; or as we referred to it: the Cancer Gauntlet. Also with the deck opening at the casino there was smoke on deck 7 in the area of the ice bar. NCL lost money on us since we avoided the smoke and all of the shops, bars and specialty dining on decks 6 and 7 that were not near the forward elevators.

 

The other issue with the casino is that the embarkation doors for half the passengers on the Epic is directly into the casino. We heard complaints from quite a number families that their first inside view of the Epic was a gambling table.

If the most forward machines are within O'Sheehans, is there smoking allowed at the machines that are in O'Sheehans???

[coastalcarolinakid]

There are no machines in O'Sheehans. They end before the entrance area. One note on O'Sheehans, on the bowling alley side, the tables nearer the machines have a host/hostess that seat you. On the other side, it is self seat. I found the service a little better on the host/hostess side, but never had a problem on the other side. Just had to wave down a waiter/waittress.

[coffeebean]

There are no machines in O'Sheehans. They end before the entrance area. One note on O'Sheehans, on the bowling alley side, the tables nearer the machines have a host/hostess that seat you. On the other side, it is self seat. I found the service a little better on the host/hostess side, but never had a problem on the other side. Just had to wave down a waiter/waittress.

Wonder what 14ersco was talking about then in his/her post when he/she said the machines were within O'Sheehans.

[coastalcarolinakid]

I don't know, but I was there. They are in sight, but definitely not IN O'Sheehans. Like I say, you will make what you want of it. I went with the idea that I was going to have a great time, and boy did I ever.

[coastalcarolinakid]

One other note. I hardly ever saw anyone even playing the machines he is referring to in the hallway just outside O'Sheehans. Most of those machines sat empty all week.

[14ersco]

There were a couple machines tucked into a corner in O'Sheehan's. Never saw them in play, but only went in there a couple times during the cruise.

 

The ones in the hallways were in use when we did our quick vertical pass through the casino. We found the quickest way to get past the casino if you were at Taste and wanted to go aft was to go up the escalators from 5 to 6 and then cut across to the stairs up to 7. Still had to pass smokers, but by not slowing down wouldn't inhale to much.

[14ersco]

I don't know, but I was there. They are in sight, but definitely not IN O'Sheehans. Like I say, you will make what you want of it. I went with the idea that I was going to have a great time, and boy did I ever.

 

It was not a great time I was worried about, but an allergy attack if I went on the aft half of deck 6. We all now know what can happen with an allergy attack on a cruise ship.

[intrepid_guy]

We all now know what can happen with an allergy attack on a cruise ship.

 

OH! So now you are saying you would have died on the ship. Thank God you are alright!! So lucky.

 

~Intrepid <-- by not slowing down wouldn't inhale to (sic) much!

[14ersco]

OH! So now you are saying you would have died on the ship. Thank God you are alright!! So lucky.

 

~Intrepid <-- by not slowing down wouldn't inhale to (sic) much!

 

No, but I read the intent of the previous poster was that I was looking for an excuse to slam the Epic and not have a great time. Also the same previous poster has retracted their statement about not being machines in O'Sheehan's, but they did not post the retraction in this thread. Look under this thread a couple posts below where you posted last night:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1256303&page=3

 

As I said under my review I have no problem with a casino and smoking in the casino. Many people do not want to consider others and their sensitivity to smoke. The Epic casino would be better located if it was on deck 5 (about same location as other NCL ships) and the reception atrium area was located around the chandelier on deck 6.

[sjbdtz]

The Epic casino would be better located if it was on deck 5 (about same location as other NCL ships) and the reception atrium area was located around the chandelier on deck 6.

 

I disagree. I spend a lot of time in the casino, and I really like that it's central and I can still see what else is going on.

 

 

What I think they SHOULD do, is reverse the smoking & non-smoking sections.

 

Make the central pathway non-smoking, and make the area off to the side, the smoking section.

 

That would be relatively easy to do, and would have a significant positive effect.

 

 

When we boarded however, I'm fairly certain it WAS on deck 5, not 6....so the first thing we saw was NOT the casino.

[O2cruise_again]

I really appreciate this thread but I'm not sure if the question was answered. If you are sensitive to cigarette (and other) smoke, will Epic's layout allow you to avoid the casino? This is a potential deal breaker for my group cruise in 2011 but it is difficult to get a straight answer. As a point of reference, I'm sailing with a group who was extremely disappointed when Carnival Paradise changes to a smoking ship. Don't want to infringe on anyone's rights, just need to know if smoking on Epic will have a greater impact on non-smokers than cigarette smoke has on most ships. Thanks.

[sjbdtz]

I really appreciate this thread but I'm not sure if the question was answered. If you are sensitive to cigarette (and other) smoke, will Epic's layout allow you to avoid the casino? This is a potential deal breaker for my group cruise in 2011 but it is difficult to get a straight answer. As a point of reference, I'm sailing with a group who was extremely disappointed when Carnival Paradise changes to a smoking ship. Don't want to infringe on anyone's rights, just need to know if smoking on Epic will have a greater impact on non-smokers than cigarette smoke has on most ships. Thanks.

 

Yes, it will.

 

 

The casino is only on deck 6.

 

Decks 4 through 15 all go fwd to aft....

 

 

Deck 6 also has a smoke extraction system designed to minimize the impact.

[sbark1]

The problem on the Epic is that the casino is completely open and the machines are not limited to just the area marked casino on the deck plans. The most forward machines are within O'Sheehans, then there is a double row of machines along the length of hall from O'Sheehans back to the casino, the table games are within the area marked casino; then another double row of machines all the way along the hall back to the Cascades Bar; and then additional machines at that bar. There were ash trays on both sides of the hallways and in use.

 

So you have smoking occurring from wall to wall from the entrance to the Manhattan Dining Room, around the aft elevators, and almost all of the way forward to the doors of Headliner's; or as we referred to it: the Cancer Gauntlet. Also with the deck opening at the casino there was smoke on deck 7 in the area of the ice bar. NCL lost money on us since we avoided the smoke and all of the shops, bars and specialty dining on decks 6 and 7 that were not near the forward elevators.

 

The other issue with the casino is that the embarkation doors for half the passengers on the Epic is directly into the casino. We heard complaints from quite a number families that their first inside view of the Epic was a gambling table.

 

You have to be kidding me.....the stuff that people find to complain about will never cease to amaze me....so, they saw a gambling table...did they become compulsive gamblers, start smoking and chugging 7&7's....lol.....amazing....:rolleyes: