QE Policy

[southwestie]

Turncoats spring to mind here. Think about it ....

 

Best

judy

 

 

lost me there ?????

 

But im sure they going back for a smoke rather than out on deck

[alibabacruisers]

I too just got back from the QE and smoking was definitely allowed in staterooms. As Capn said the passageways do smell heavily of smoke..it was like walking through the casino last year on QM2. Wish they could've used the "magic machine" to get rid of that...it was disgusting.

[KenC]

We too have just got off Queen Elizabeth and, although the ship is fabulous, we unfortunately had first hand experience of the 'smoking in cabin' issue.

 

There was a faint hint of cigarette smoke when we first went into the cabin and I made a mental note to mention it to the cabin steward. As time wore on however, the smell got stronger and I realised that it was in the fabric of the sofa, the cushions, the curtains and even the bed. When told, the cabin steward claimed that the previous passengers must have smoked on the balcony with the cabin door open - I enlightened him to the fact that they must have smoked heavily all around the cabin and in bed!! He assured us that he would 'wash' the cabin while we were at dinner.

 

Returning from dinner we noticed a more pleasant smell masking the previous odour of stale cigarette smoke. When questioned the following morning, the cabin steward explained that he had used a de-odouriser spray plus water and vinegar (go figure how that works) and asked us if we wanted to keep a bottle of the spray in the cabin!!! The stale cigarette odour was impregnated into the fabrics of the cabin enough that it was evident every day until the steward used the spray to mask it - and this in a ship that is only a few weeks old!!!

 

Whereas the smell wasn't so strong that it ruined our cruise (if it had we would have gone straight to the pursers office), it was a continuous annoyance and a disappointment given the price we had paid. It was also enough to convince me that the basic method of de-odourisering, which is no more than a 'febreze' spray which merely masks the smell, does not warrant the continued allowing of smoking in cabins. It was the first time we have encountered this problem and it must take a smoker of some inconsideration to leave a stale smell such as the one we encountered. So, a small minority can ruin it for the remainder because for the first time we left strong comments about smoking in cabins on our questionnaire.

 

Ken

[William Dean]

We too have just got off Queen Elizabeth and, although the ship is fabulous, we unfortunately had first hand experience of the 'smoking in cabin' issue.

 

If the cabin is the only place that one can smoke, does it not seem inevitable that stories such as this will increase?

 

And simply banning smoking at all will cut back on their customer base.

 

Surely having a few places around the ship where smoking is permitted actually suits everyone - as long as (a) the restaurants remain completely non smoking and (b) there is at least one nice bar that is completely non smoking.

 

Live and let live is a great maxim.

 

WD

[capnpugwash]

An alternative would be to ban smoking in the cabin, which is unpleasant for those unfortunates who follow the smokers and as WD suggests to have seperate areas on board where smoking is allowed. I agree that it unfair to expect smokers to trek the length of the ship to Churchill's. Provision should be made near the centre of the ship.

[Dorchester]

An alternative would be to ban smoking in the cabin, which is unpleasant for those unfortunates who follow the smokers and as WD suggests to have seperate areas on board where smoking is allowed. I agree that it unfair to expect smokers to trek the length of the ship to Churchill's. Provision should be made near the centre of the ship.

I totally agree with you Cap'n. As a non-smoker (but with a Wife who occasionally smokes cigarettes - but not in the cabin), let me put this question to you all; After leaving the QG dining room on QV, my Wife feels like a cigarette. So, what alternatives do we have? Churchill's is ruled out, as we have it in writing from Lesley Cardy (Cunard, Southampton) that Churchill's is for "Cigar smokers only". It is blowing a gale (literally) outside, and there are notices on the exit doors to open decks stating that "The open deck area is currently closed to guests for their comfort and safety"! The cabin balcony is therefore discounted for the same reason.

 

So, what alternatives remain? Only one - and that is to return to our cabin, which is the only location on the vessel where my Wife may 'officially' enjoy a cigarette!

 

Is it therefore any surprise when other guests comment that their cabin "reeked of the stench of stale tobacco", or that "stale smoke simply poured from the cabin and engulfed the whole corridor". Unless Cunard actually ban all smoking on all of their vessels, where can considerate smokers partake of their chosen habit inside Cunard vessels?

 

Incidentally, having some knowledge of air conditioning systems, it should be quite easy for the AC Engineers to adjust the airflow characteristics on board so that cabins are 'negatively pressureised'. This means that the general air flow is from the corridor into the cabin, which generally precludes 'cabin' air seeping into corridors. This 'variable pressure' system is used in most (if not all) hotels, whereby the stale air is always extracted from the bathroom, this causing a flow of air from the bedroom into the bathroom. This prevents any unpleasant odours from entering the bedroom area.

 

This is not Rocket Science, so why cannot Cunard use a little 'Engineering Common Sense', and thus (hopefully) make life easier for all!?

 

Regards,

David

[david,Mississauga]

...

 

Live and let live is a great maxim.

 

WD

 

I see this comment frequently on cruise discussion sites and find it mildly amusing considering we are talking about a drug which causes illness and death to a huge number of people.

 

Personally I have never encountered a problem with smoke in any cabin/stateroom that I have occupied but I would complain bitterly if I did. If hotels can have smoking and no-smoking rooms - and many hotels in Canada, the US and the UK have an all non-smoking policy - why can't cruise lines? Perhaps it could be determined what percentage of Cunard passengers wish to smoke in their rooms and come up with a ratio and set aside an appropriate number of rooms in each category. That might be a problem with some suite categories that have only two or three suites, but the vast majority of categories have dozens of rooms. Those "smoking" staterooms may end up reeking, but no-one would be forced to occupy a room so designated. There may be complaints to be sure. I arranged a train trip for one of my bosses, a chain-smoker, when there was still a smoking coach on VIA Rail trains. He complained that it reeked of smoke all the way. I almost burst out laughing until I realised he was serious.

 

I do agree that smokers should be accommodated, not only in designated smoking cabins, but with a reasonable sized and completely enclosed lounge.

[ocngypz]

I see this comment frequently on cruise discussion sites and find it mildly amusing considering we are talking about a drug which causes illness and death to a huge number of people.

 

Personally I have never encountered a problem with smoke in any cabin/stateroom that I have occupied but I would complain bitterly if I did. If hotels can have smoking and no-smoking rooms - and many hotels in Canada, the US and the UK have an all non-smoking policy - why can't cruise lines? Perhaps it could be determined what percentage of Cunard passengers wish to smoke in their rooms and come up with a ratio and set aside an appropriate number of rooms in each category. That might be a problem with some suite categories that have only two or three suites, but the vast majority of categories have dozens of rooms. Those "smoking" staterooms may end up reeking, but no-one would be forced to occupy a room so designated. There may be complaints to be sure. I arranged a train trip for one of my bosses, a chain-smoker, when there was still a smoking coach on VIA Rail trains. He complained that it reeked of smoke all the way. I almost burst out laughing until I realised he was serious.

 

I do agree that smokers should be accommodated, not only in designated smoking cabins, but with a reasonable sized and completely enclosed lounge.

 

 

It's been tried... by NCL..... years ago. Didn't work.

[KenC]

Smoker or non smoker, I think we all agree on one thing - Cunard needs to rationalise and come clean on its smoking policy!!! The way things are (until April 2011???), pax are being forced to smoke in their cabins as the only indoor area available to them (however I believe cigarettes were allowed in Churchills on QE). The alternatives available ????

 

1) continue to allow smoking only in cabins and open decks - This is unacceptable to the majority of non smokers who don't want to be in a cabin after a heavy cigarette smoker. It is also inconvenient for smokers when they are out during the evening and I know many prefer not to smoke in their bedrooms anyway.

 

2) only allow smoking on balconies and open decks - OK in warm climates, but what about transatlantics and winter cruises out of Southampton? Brrrrr

 

3) provide an indoor smoking lounge in addition to balconies and open decks but ban it in all other inside areas including cabins - Perhaps the fairest option, but costly to carve out a self contained, sealed and properly ventilated lounge large enough to accommodate all smokers who wish to use it. It is unlikely that Cunard would feel able to serve drinks in such a lounge because of the health implications on staff and it would probably become like one of those hermetically sealed smoking lounges to be seen in airport departure lounges around the world .... rather than the elegant panelled Smoking Rooms of the past!!

 

4) ban smoking on all ships - End of problem but not fair on the smokers who can't do without it and let's face it, it is an addiction and not some quaint social habit easily discarded.

 

Option 1 is in action now and doesn't seem to suit anyone. Option 2 seems to be the plan for all ships after the 2011 world cruises and will not go down well with smokers. Option 3 would seem to be the fairest but more costly solution and Cunard have given no hint that this has ever been a consideration - apart from 'Churchills' but then cigar smoking is a relatively minor frequency. I fear that Option 4 is the one favoured not only by Cunard but every other major cruiseline and that it is only a matter of a few years before it is implemented.

 

Not looking to inflame the debate just rationalise it!

 

Ken

[William Dean]

Smoker or non smoker, I think we all agree on one thing - Cunard needs to rationalise and come clean on its smoking policy!!! The way things are (until April 2011???), pax are being forced to smoke in their cabins as the only indoor area available to them (however I believe cigarettes were allowed in Churchills on QE). The alternatives available ????

 

1) continue to allow smoking only in cabins and open decks - This is unacceptable to the majority of non smokers who don't want to be in a cabin after a heavy cigarette smoker. It is also inconvenient for smokers when they are out during the evening and I know many prefer not to smoke in their bedrooms anyway.

 

2) only allow smoking on balconies and open decks - OK in warm climates, but what about transatlantics and winter cruises out of Southampton? Brrrrr

 

3) provide an indoor smoking lounge in addition to balconies and open decks but ban it in all other inside areas including cabins - Perhaps the fairest option, but costly to carve out a self contained, sealed and properly ventilated lounge large enough to accommodate all smokers who wish to use it. It is unlikely that Cunard would feel able to serve drinks in such a lounge because of the health implications on staff and it would probably become like one of those hermetically sealed smoking lounges to be seen in airport departure lounges around the world .... rather than the elegant panelled Smoking Rooms of the past!!

 

4) ban smoking on all ships - End of problem but not fair on the smokers who can't do without it and let's face it, it is an addiction and not some quaint social habit easily discarded.

 

Not looking to inflame the debate just rationalise it!

 

Ken

 

I am sure that a lot of bar staff smoke - perhaps only smokers could be allocated to the smoking bar? I think that might keep things going for a few years yet!

 

WD

[KenC]

I am sure that a lot of bar staff smoke - perhaps only smokers could be allocated to the smoking bar? I think that might keep things going for a few years yet!

 

WD

 

I'm sure they do, but Cunard may not want to put themselves in a position where they might face future claims for exposing their staff to the risks of second hand cigarette smoke. This after all is the basis of the No Smoking Law in the UK. A sealed smoking pod may be the only solution.

 

Ken

[capnpugwash]

I'm sure they do, but Cunard may not want to put themselves in a position where they might face future claims for exposing their staff to the risks of second hand cigarette smoke. This after all is the basis of the No Smoking Law in the UK. A sealed smoking pod may be the only solution.

 

Ken

 

Aren't you forgetting about the staff who work in Churchill's?

[StarFlyr]

Yes you should tell them, they should give them an extra clean

 

By an extra clean, do you mean rip the carpets out, toss out the bed spread, throw out the drapes (if installed) and repaint the walls? That's the only way to get the stench out (especially in a cabin that has been smoked in for a straight week or more.)

 

Then there's the perfume treatment which can make a room smell like either a stale fish factory or a "red light" room.

 

IF Cunard wants to market their cruises to smokers and limit smoking to either outside on the deck in certain areas or in staterooms, they should ONLY sell the smoker staterooms to smokers AND the smoker staterooms should all be together on a smoker's only deck.

[southwestie]

By an extra clean, do you mean rip the carpets out, toss out the bed spread, throw out the drapes (if installed) and repaint the walls? That's the only way to get the stench out (especially in a cabin that has been smoked in for a straight week or more.)

 

Then there's the perfume treatment which can make a room smell like either a stale fish factory or a "red light" room.

 

IF Cunard wants to market their cruises to smokers and limit smoking to either outside on the deck in certain areas or in staterooms, they should ONLY sell the smoker staterooms to smokers AND the smoker staterooms should all be together on a smoker's only deck.

 

 

Well, I agree with you 100 % and I am happy to discuss it anytime, also I can both boths of the debate, sadly many will just start getting uptight,

 

I know the problems that are caused by 2nd hand smoke, thrust me, I lived with a smoker for almost 25 years before they gave it up.