Balcony Smoking

[Warm Breezes]

I would guess you'll see that on Carnival Spirit to fall in line with Australian smoking laws.

 

I remember the glorious day smoking was banned in Australian casinos. I could go without returning with a burning sore throat, itchy eyes, and clothes that smelt like I'd just returned from fighting a tire fire.

 

:D I'm green with Jealousy :D

[MissDiva1]

I would guess you'll see that on Carnival Spirit to fall in line with Australian smoking laws.

 

I remember the glorious day smoking was banned in Australian casinos. I could go without returning with a burning sore throat, itchy eyes, and clothes that smelt like I'd just returned from fighting a tire fire.

 

Why:confused: They don't fall in line with the states here why would they in Austraila:confused:

[goldwinger88]

I really did not want to post in another useless thread by someone not taking time to read the FAQ's or search their topic as it had already been discussed to the beating of a dead horse.

 

BUT, as a smoker of over 40 years who has not had a tobacco cigarette since last Sept by switching to an Electronic Cigarette. I am going to add my 2 pennies worth.

Since last Sept my sense of smell, sense of taste and lung function have improved dramatically.

I can walk past a smoker and think to myself, "Phew, Did I really smell that bad"? well, I did, but not anymore.

I am not going to fault the smoker who steps out on the balcony to enjoy a smoke. Nor am I going to say anything to someone at a designated smoking area as that is where they are supposed to smoke. If I don't like it, I go elsewhere. So should all the other Anti's (Anti smoking, anti-anything type).

Just remember that a little politeness not political correctness goes a long way.

By the way, the E-cig is gaining popularity so do not be surprised when you see a plume of something resembling smoke in the Promenade or even in the MDR. It's not, its water vapor

To all the Anti's, before you say something that might get you embarrassed. Make sure there is no smell of smoke.

Shucks, it might even be me....

[Nemspy]

Why:confused: They don't fall in line with the states here why would they in Austraila:confused:

 

Well, they don't totally fall in like with The States, but they are a lot closer than they are to Australian laws and sensibilities. Australia has nationwide bans on smoking in all enclosed public areas, including bars, nightclubs, and casinos.

 

When I moved to the US in 2006 it was like stepping back in time with regard to smoking laws and it came as quite a shock. Given that the extreme majority of cruisers cruising out of Australia will be Australian, I would expect Carnival to implement policy that would fall in line with things Australians are comfortable with and used to rather than something they are going to find strange. Also expect the drinking age on board Spirit to be 18 for the same reasons.

[MissDiva1]

Well, they don't totally fall in like with The States, but they are a lot closer than they are to Australian laws and sensibilities. Australia has nationwide bans on smoking in all enclosed public areas, including bars, nightclubs, and casinos.

 

When I moved to the US in 2006 it was like stepping back in time with regard to smoking laws and it came as quite a shock. Given that the extreme majority of cruisers cruising out of Australia will be Australian, I would expect Carnival to implement policy that would fall in line with things Australians are comfortable with and used to rather than something they are going to find strange. Also expect the drinking age on board Spirit to be 18 for the same reasons.

 

So does California except for the Indian casinos and that is only because they are on reservations.......so why don't the ships on the west coast adhere to Calif. laws........

[Nemspy]

So does California except for the Indian casinos and that is only because they are on reservations.......so why don't the ships on the west coast adhere to Calif. laws........

 

Because Australians won't like it and Carnival will know this. It would be viewed (rightly or wrongly) as an American company reaching out to Australia, but inflicting archaic US attitudes toward smoking upon the clientele they hope to attract.

 

If New South Wales was the only Australian state to have a ban on interior smoking then -maybe- Spirit would keep interior smoking, but since it's nationwide and something Aussies are very used to I would expect the decision to be a no-brainer for Carnival.

 

Carnival runs P&O Cruises Australia which is entirely smoke-free in inside spaces. I would expect Spirit to operate in much the same way as she is targeting the same market.

[MissDiva1]

Because Australians won't like it and Carnival will know this. It would be viewed (rightly or wrongly) as an American company reaching out to Australia, but inflicting archaic US attitudes toward smoking upon the clientele they hope to attract.

 

If New South Wales was the only Australian state to have a ban on interior smoking then -maybe- Spirit would keep interior smoking, but since it's nationwide and something Aussies are very used to I would expect the decision to be a no-brainer for Carnival.

 

Carnival runs P&O Cruises Australia which is entirely smoke-free in inside spaces. I would expect Spirit to operate in much the same way as she is targeting the same market.

 

Wasn't aware that other cruiselines are honoring smoke free inside over there.....afterall the cruise is not stationary in Austraila.......good to know......hopefully it wiil eventually be like that here too........

[gemsm]

Because Australians won't like it and Carnival will know this. It would be viewed (rightly or wrongly) as an American company reaching out to Australia, but inflicting archaic US attitudes toward smoking upon the clientele they hope to attract.

 

If New South Wales was the only Australian state to have a ban on interior smoking then -maybe- Spirit would keep interior smoking, but since it's nationwide and something Aussies are very used to I would expect the decision to be a no-brainer for Carnival.

 

Carnival runs P&O Cruises Australia which is entirely smoke-free in inside spaces. I would expect Spirit to operate in much the same way as she is targeting the same market.

 

I highly doubt it as carnival is tryin to get non-australians to come cruise australia

[PA Dutchman]

Its a ship and its on water and it not owned by Australians. So don't look for the Spirit playing Australians rules.

[Nemspy]

I highly doubt it as carnival is tryin to get non-australians to come cruise australia

 

That's not why they are moving Spirit to Australia at all. They are moving her there to tap the Australian market where they know they can charge more than double what they charge in the USA for the same service and still have it be considered "amazingly cheap" by the locals - where Spirit would be by far the largest and most modern vessel around and where the economy is booming rather than struggling. In Australia a 12 night cruise in an OV cabin on an old vessel could set you back as much as $3000 Australian dollars (A bit over $3200USD) per person. Expect Spirit's pricing to reflect this to an extent. Carnival are much more likely to want to chase the Australian customer who would be stoked to pay the "bargain price" of 2 grand per head for an ocean view than the American who would probably pay $1200 but consider it really expensive. I strongly suspect that part of the reason you will only be able to book Carnival through the Australian website is so it's not mixed in with American pricing for American cruises, causing shock from both markets as they see what the other is paying.

 

If this was about "getting people to come and cruise in Australia" it would be cruising around ports in Australia instead of just out of one FROM Australia to Pacific Islands and New Zealand. Carnival Spirit's cruises from Sydney are no more "Australian cruises" than her previous Mexican Riviera cruises (out of a US port) were "USA cruises". They are cruising to NZ and to Pacific Islands because those are places -Australians- will want to visit rather than ports in their own country.

 

Tourism in Australia is currently doing very poorly as the Australian dollar is at a 29 year high against the US dollar. In the past year we've seen it go from 80 US cents per dollar to $1.08. A very strong Australian dollar is bad for tourism. Carnival would understand this - why would they move Spirit to a country which is currently struggling to attract tourists if that was who they hoped to get on board?

 

If any doubts remain as to who Spirit is aimed at - go take a look at http://www.carnivalcruise.com.au/

 

Not only is Carnival booking Spirit entirely out of a dedicated Australian website, the website is tailored for Australians. Notice the way Spirit, a somewhat out of date ship by US standards, is being "introduced" as new and amazing. Also look at the choice of models depicting cruisers on the website. Notice how, unlike the American site, there's NO black people, NO Hispanics, but almost entirely white people with a scattering of South East Asians - reflecting the Australian population.

 

They are pitching to the Australian market. Every press release about the move agrees with this.

[Nemspy]

Its a ship and its on water and it not owned by Australians. So don't look for the Spirit playing Australians rules.

 

So why does their entire P&O Australia fleet play by Australian rules?

 

They do it because the vast majority of the people sailing on those ships are Australians who would expect this and the same would be true for Spirit. To not do so would be to damage their appeal.

 

Carnival is a business - they aren't going to be keeping US standards in place out of some sort of principle when it would be a net negative for their appeal to the Australian market.

[PA Dutchman]

Carnival goes to Europe, they don't change there rules because they cruise from there. All the different cruise lines Carnival Corp owns have different perks and rules. If you think they will make the Spirit non smokeing good luck.

[MissDiva1]

Carnival goes to Europe, they don't change there rules because they cruise from there. All the different cruise lines Carnival Corp owns have different perks and rules. If you think they will make the Spirit non smokeing good luck.

 

To be fair he didn't say non smoking. He said no smoking inside.

[Nemspy]

Carnival goes to Europe, they don't change there rules because they cruise from there. All the different cruise lines Carnival Corp owns have different perks and rules. If you think they will make the Spirit non smokeing good luck.

 

Quoting Gerry Cahill himself "The shipboard experience will be tailored to the Australian market with onboard spending in Australian dollars and no tipping required."

So - if you think "tailored to the Australian market" means keeping a completely alien smoking policy then I'm not sure what evidence I can provide that will convince you. Note that tipping, considered so crucial in the US cruising market, but mind-boggling to most Australians is given the heave-ho. Why would interior smoking not follow?

 

Personally, I haven't checked what the smoking policy is for Carnival ships when they are in Europe, but how many ships are permanently based there? Spirit's move to Australia is a different kettle of fish.

[capndinghy]

People post these smoking treads just to stir things up. They do it on purpose so the d0 gooders can turn around and blame someone who happens to smoke.

Go Figure.

Mind you own business.

I see many non smokers are downright FAT! SO THERE! :D

PS: I don't smoke (anymore)

[Nemspy]

Mind you own business.

I see many non smokers are downright FAT! SO THERE! :D

 

What does that have to do with anything? I think you'll find that the vast majority of people who take issue with the smell of cigarette smoke have no problems whatsoever with what the smoking LOOKS LIKE or any other personal appearance issues with regard to the smokers.

 

I guess people consider something that impacts their enjoyment of their balcony to fall into the "their own business" category.

[steveNcindy]

People post these smoking treads just to stir things up. They do it on purpose so the d0 gooders can turn around and blame someone who happens to smoke.

Go Figure.

Mind you own business.

I see many non smokers are downright FAT! SO THERE! :D

PS: I don't smoke (anymore)

 

I am a fat smoker who smokes on his balcony drinking my smuggled booze but doesn't mind tipping.

 

Can I still cruise out of Australia:confused:

 

I do lift my chairs though when moving them and don't drag them if that makes any difference.

[Blind Squirrel]

Quoting Gerry Cahill himself "The shipboard experience will be tailored to the Australian market with onboard spending in Australian dollars and no tipping required."

So - if you think "tailored to the Australian market" means keeping a completely alien smoking policy then I'm not sure what evidence I can provide that will convince you. Note that tipping, considered so crucial in the US cruising market, but mind-boggling to most Australians is given the heave-ho. Why would interior smoking not follow?

 

Personally, I haven't checked what the smoking policy is for Carnival ships when they are in Europe, but how many ships are permanently based there? Spirit's move to Australia is a different kettle of fish.

 

 

That has NOTHING to do with smoking. It has everything to do with justifing the huge price hike you will see for a 7 day sailing.

[Nemspy]

That has NOTHING to do with smoking. It has everything to do with justifing the huge price hike you will see for a 7 day sailing.

 

Are you seriously suggesting that the removal of tipping from Spirit has absolutely nothing to do with falling into line with Australia's culture of non tipping, but is instead something intended to take the sting out of cruise prices? (there are no 7 day sailings out of Australia for Spirit - they will be 12 and 14 day itineraries)

 

To the Australian cruising market "no tipping" is a way of life - they won't consider the lack of something they never expect to pay anyway a "discount", particularly when Spirit's pricing, even if twice what it is in the USA, would be cheaper than what previously existed in Australia anyway.

 

The reason Spirit has no tipping in Australia is the exact same reason you don't tip for pizza delivery from US pizza chains in Australia - it's not part of the culture, even if Pizza Hut/Dominoes etc are American.

 

I have to say, it's quite bewildering to me why anyone would think for a second that Carnival Spirit would not cater to the culture that will make up the vast majority of her passengers. I hate to be the one to break it to you guys, but there's also no way in hell they will be showing The Superbowl and other US sports events on board on big screens. You'll get to watch the AFL (Australian (rules) Football League) finals, NRL finals, and important cricket matches, though.

 

Just as Gridiron, Baseball, streaky bacon, root beer, 21 year old drinking ages, and smoking in casinos fits their American demographic, Aussie Rules Football, Rugby League, cricket, back bacon, Bundaberg Ginger Beer, 18 year old drinking ages, and no smoking indoors fits their future Australian one.

[MissDiva1]

Are you seriously suggesting that the removal of tipping from Spirit has absolutely nothing to do with falling into line with Australia's culture of non tipping, but is instead something intended to take the sting out of cruise prices? (there are no 7 day sailings out of Australia for Spirit - they will be 12 and 14 day itineraries)

 

 

I wouldn't be so sure.......the culture in Europe is also no tipping so they just make everyone prepay tips on those cruises;) Believe me the crew will still be getting their tips on the Spirit because they can raise the price on the this new itinerary to compensate for it.......

Not sure what your point is about all the other details:confused::rolleyes:

[Nemspy]

Not sure what your point is about all the other details:confused::rolleyes:

 

My point is that all of these things are changes you could expect to see it as, as Carnival's CEO said, the ship would be "tailored toward an Australian market" - No indoor smoking is, just like the things I listed, something that would tailor the ship toward an Australian market. The arguments I'm seeing against this move here seem to revolve around the idea that Carnival is not an Australian company and would be at sea, with no reason given as to why Carnival should stubbornly refuse to change to fit with the market they are aiming at. Keeping smoking inside Carnival Spirit makes as much sense as keeping any of the other US-centric elements I listed. Also bear in mind that a significant portion of each cruise would take part in Australian or New Zealand territorial waters (if they take the most direct route out of Sydney to NZL only about 30% is "international waters) where Carnival would (presumably) be bound by their smoking laws anyway.

[MissDiva1]

My point is that all of these things are changes you could expect to see it as, as Carnival's CEO said, the ship would be "tailored toward an Australian market" - No indoor smoking is, just like the things I listed, something that would tailor the ship toward an Australian market. The arguments I'm seeing against this move here seem to revolve around the idea that Carnival is not an Australian company and would be at sea, with no reason given as to why Carnival should stubbornly refuse to change to fit with the market they are aiming at. Keeping smoking inside Carnival Spirit makes as much sense as keeping any of the other US-centric elements I listed. Also bear in mind that a significant portion of each cruise would take part in Australian or New Zealand territorial waters (if they take the most direct route out of Sydney to NZL only about 30% is "international waters) where Carnival would (presumably) be bound by their smoking laws anyway.

 

I guess time will tell......could end up being a total failure for all we know.......it wouldn't be the first time.....

[Nemspy]

I guess time will tell......could end up being a total failure for all we know.......it wouldn't be the first time.....

 

I don't think so - I have a lot of friends back home who are falling over themselves to cruise and are sick to death of the obsolete vessels that get sent to Australia.

 

Spirit, even though she's not my favourite class, is a really great choice to send over there - she's new enough to seem state of the art, she doesn't need a massive amount to fill her up and she will seem huge to Australians who are used to smaller, older ships.

[vfaris]

i'm not going to get into a long debate about this - but it really bugs me when other people worry about me and what i'm eating. Don't they think i'm self conscious enough without wondering what others are thinking and judging? I can't believe you had someone actually tisk tisk you....honestly.

 

I've seen many perfectly skinny folks with 3 or more plates of food in front of them, while i make my way to my table carrying one plate and wondering who might be judging me for eating at the buffet!

 

No one should have to feel anything other than pure joy and happiness that they are on a cruise, getting a break from real life (and the stresses that come with it) and are enjoying themselves how ever they choose - in the casino, at the bar, by the pool, doing karaoke, eating or puffing away on their smoke.....it's vacation people - worry about your own good time....

 

 

amen!

[inga418]

I don't smoke but my husband does.

He is considerate and does NOT smoke in the cabin. However he does smoke on the balcony.

I would much rather sit with him (he sits towards the aft LOL) and enjoy his company than watch him run up to a designated smoking area for his smoke.

I have watched people go by the smoking area where he is sitting and make snarky comments because they have to "walk thru the smoke", roll their eyes, etc. at him but since there are so few areas, my suggestion to the non-smokers would be to stay out of those areas.

 

 

We actually experienced this on our cruise last week. My husband lit up a cigarette on the lido deck smoking area and a man through a fit saying to his wife, " Great a smoker I am getting the H*** out of here I cant stand it"

 

Neighbors on both sides of us would be out smoking first thing in the morning on their balconies and I could not smell a thing. And it has nothing to do with being a smoker..I was not smoking at the time and I could not smell any smoke at all. I would think people would prefer smokers on their balconies opposed to the inside places that allow it. I am a smoker and every time I wanted a cigarette I would go back to my balcony out of respect for those on the lido deck, lounges and casino who do not smoke. I did notice on the non smoking side of the lido you could still smell it and some days smoke was blowing that way and understood how it would bother people.

As a smoker I could not stay in the casino when it was packed with smokers or the lounges and I guess that is because I always smoke outside.