Smoking

[RWayne]

Our family of four cruised Princess Star, Western Caribbean, last month and had a wonderful time. However, cigarette smoking was bothersome - whether it was in the lounges for trivia or karaoke, or simply walking along on decks, it was irksome to be around so much smoke. Does Princess offer any smoke-free cruises? Or, does any other cruise line(s)?

[Charlene]

Princess does not have a "non smoking" ship, but you must remember smoking is allowed on the Port side (left side of ship) looking toward the front of the ship. The Starward side is all non smoking, so if there is a smoker on that side just ask one of the deck attendents to have the smoker move or put out the cigarette. Thats what I do and it works very well, I hate cigarette smoke .

[wrkfire911]

You want Carnival...they have a Smoke FREE ship !!

[ghgeckos]

In feb. I asked a deck hand to tell a smoker to put it out and was ignored. the deck hand did not want to confront the passenger.

[Druke I]

Wrkfire911

 

Carnival no longer has the ship (I think it was Paradise) smoke-free! Apparently they could not make a go of it.

[Cruisin' Chick]

The Carnival Paradise was one of our favorite ships because of the no-smoking policy. You had to sign a pledge not to even bring tobacco aboard. It just smelled clean and you didn't have to worry about that stale smell ambushing you as you walked down the hallways. Unfortunately Carnival didn't advertise and promote the ship (if you don't promote, what happens: nothing). I told many people about it as a great vacation choice for families and most people didn't know there was a no-smoking cruise.

Another problem is that they kept it in the Caribbean and many people don't always want to take the same cruise over and over again. They finally moved it over here to the west coast but dropped the no-smoking policy.

Of course, the bean-counting theory is that non-smokers tend to spend less. Duh, we're less addictive. Many of us (not all) drink less or not at all, don't gamble that much (even though part of that is that casinos in LV and on ships are very smokey from all the smokers) or play bingo to extremes.

I still would love it if a cruise line would decide to have a non-smoking cruise and really promote it to TAs, media (family magazines, etc.), and maybe it will turn on more people to cruising. JMHO

[geoherb]

A co-worker has talked about a Christian music cruise. They charter a ship and take over. The casino is closed and there's no smoking or drinking allowed.

[DEBNWIN]

I think part of the problem with the non-smoking cruise line is that even if you don't smoke, two of your group of 10 might..so you go on a ship that suits everyone. Vegas tried a non smoking casino (Silver City) and it couldn't make a go of it either. And there, you could just go outside and have a smoke...hard to step "off" the ship! :D

[Cruisin' Chick]

I don't mind anyone gambling or having a drink (my hubby will have a drink here or there and I've the free drinks as they are watered down enough so I don't get a migraine). It's the smoking...even when smokers think they are being considerate, they can't control wind gusts blowing their smoke around and the smell, don't get me started!

[RWayne]

Thanks for the replies. We went to a Trivia night after dinner in one of the lounges and a young man next to us was blowing smoke our way. I asked him politely if he wouldn't mind smoking for a few minutes as we were leaving immediately after the trivia. He was very cooperative. However, a friend of his sat down and immediately lit up. He asked his friend to postpone for a few more minutes and his friend told us we had a choice whether to come in or not, and we knew smoking was allowed. Rather than rain blows on him, we quietly endured his cigarette and left after the last question. It all came down to viewpoints - we were sickened by the smell; he felt he had a right to smoke and we were being inconsiderate asking him to hold off for 10 minutes.

 

I'm puzzled thinking that a cruise line couldn't make a go of it - smokers are in the minority. It would seem to me that a non-smoking cruise would be filled all the time.

[Hlitner]

I am a non-smoker, but like most folks, have learned to "live with it" and hope that 2nd hand smoke does not ultimately shorten my life. A few years ago there was a wonderful cruise line (Renaissance) which enforced a total no-smoking and no kids policy on all of its ships. It was good while it lasted (they went bankrupt).

 

Hank

[rickdeni]

I am an ex-smoker who believes in smoker's rights. We, the non-smokers, have banned their smoking in 75% of the places so when they find a place where they can smoke and someone asks them to put it out - I don't blame them for not doing it. Maybe your children bother some people - are we going to ask people not to bring their children to zoo so that people who don't like children can spend a day at the zoo (or onboard a ship). I am terribly allergic to flowers and certain colognes. When I enter a room and my allergies act up - I just leave the room. It is not your fault (nor would I ever ask you to not wear cologne) that I am allergic to it. I do not go out of my way to avoid smoke except when I have children with me. It is my decision whether I want to take them somewhere where smoking is permitted. If it is outside, I do not even debate the issue. Can't we learn to co-exist together.

[kruisey]

I am an ex-smoker who believes in smoker's rights. We, the non-smokers, have banned their smoking in 75% of the places so when they find a place where they can smoke and someone asks them to put it out - I don't blame them for not doing it. Maybe your children bother some people - are we going to ask people not to bring their children to zoo so that people who don't like children can spend a day at the zoo (or onboard a ship). I am terribly allergic to flowers and certain colognes. When I enter a room and my allergies act up - I just leave the room. It is not your fault (nor would I ever ask you to not wear cologne) that I am allergic to it. I do not go out of my way to avoid smoke except when I have children with me. It is my decision whether I want to take them somewhere where smoking is permitted. If it is outside, I do not even debate the issue. Can't we learn to co-exist together.

My answer is NO ,and for a very strong reason it is a health hazard.Second hand smoke kills. :(

Yet persons that smoke cannot get in to their heads the real reason why so many object to their habit. :confused: :confused:

[rickdeni]

I am suggesting you avoid the second hand smoke and therefore, smokers and non-smokers can co-exist. I gave up smoking for my health but do not feel walking through a room with smokers is as bad for me as walking outside where our air is full of chemicals. People on a daily basis walk through the train station where you choke from the smoke from trains but you do not hear any complaints. My husband recently had surgery. At the hospital they pointed out how healthy his lungs were since he had never been a smoker and lived with a non-smoker. When I informed them that I had smoked up to 2 years ago, they could not explain it.

[cyndepet]

Even though the Carnival Paradise is no longer a complete non-smoking ship, I understand that smoking is much more restricted on Paradise than on other Carnival ships. I have also ready that Disney cruises limit smoking more than the other lines. Maybe you could check one of them out?

[MaryKBB]

Oh my:eek: - smoking! I hate smoke. In fact one time, I waited almost 2 hours for a seat in a restaurant rather than take an immediate seating in the smoking section.

So where is smoking allowed??? Dining Rooms? Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe? The Princess Theatre? Bert Stratton's lounge? MUTS? the Solarium? Fitness Center?

Any information would be appreciated as for us to avoid these areas!:eek:

[Dreamer333]

So where is smoking allowed??? Dining Rooms? Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe? The Princess Theatre? Bert Stratton's lounge? MUTS? the Solarium? Fitness Center?

 

I had to lol at the image of someone smoking while running on a treadmill, or doing yoga!!!

[soft69]

Oh my:eek: - smoking! I hate smoke. In fact one time, I waited almost 2 hours for a seat in a restaurant rather than take an immediate seating in the smoking section.

So where is smoking allowed??? Dining Rooms? Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe? The Princess Theatre? Bert Stratton's lounge? MUTS? the Solarium? Fitness Center?

Any information would be appreciated as for us to avoid these areas!:eek:

 

That is amazing! You waited two hours to be seated? You must really, really like that restaurant! Tell us where it is so we can enjoy it. After all, If it is worth a 2 hour wait I would go a long way to eat there. :rolleyes:

[KatWag]

RWayne,

 

I can definitely sympathize. DH and I have learned that we basically can't enjoy a lounge in the evenings because of all the smoke. Every now and again you'll find one on a ship with better ventilation. Usually, though, events held in the lounges end up not worth it for us. I don't like the smell while I'm there, but I truly hate feeling like I need to shower and wash my clothes immediately upon returning to the cabin. Lovely experience you had with the courteous smoker's "friend". I have little or no tolerance for smokers who show so little consideration for others. He could have waited for 10 minutes.

 

We sailed Paradise and loved it. The bar staff there told us they made far less money on that ship than on others in the line. On our comment card, we had recommended that Carnival charge a small premium, say $100 per passenger on a regular balcony cabin, to make up the difference in tips and bar revenue. Never saw them try to make any adjustments like that, or to move the ship to other destinations.

 

Interestingly, I've read polls here on CC where non-smokers indicate that they would NOT be willing to pay even a small premium to have a smoke-free environment. If most cruisers feel that way, it's understandable that the cruise lines don't offer more non-smoking options. We need to be willing to put our money where our mouths are, IMHO.

 

To answer your original question about other lines: I have read reviews of Oceania which indicate that they restrict smoking to only a few designated areas. We haven't sailed them yet, but their smoking policy is putting them high up on our list.

 

Another option, in Europe, is Viking River Cruises. I understand that they also have very limited smoking inside the ship, if any. I've also read good reviews re: smoking for Windstar.

 

Best of luck!

 

Kathy

[Charles4515]

I am an ex-smoker who believes in smoker's rights. We, the non-smokers, have banned their smoking in 75% of the places so when they find a place where they can smoke and someone asks them to put it out - I don't blame them for not doing it. Maybe your children bother some people - are we going to ask people not to bring their children to zoo so that people who don't like children can spend a day at the zoo (or onboard a ship). I am terribly allergic to flowers and certain colognes. When I enter a room and my allergies act up - I just leave the room. It is not your fault (nor would I ever ask you to not wear cologne) that I am allergic to it. I do not go out of my way to avoid smoke except when I have children with me. It is my decision whether I want to take them somewhere where smoking is permitted. If it is outside, I do not even debate the issue. Can't we learn to co-exist together.

 

Blah. I don't believe you are an ex-smoker. You use the same old smokers lines including the one about being allergic to colognes. It seems all smokers are allergic to cologne and perfume. LOL. No, we can't coexist until smoking is banned in public places like all public areas on cruise ships. Second hand smoke is a health hazard for cruise passengers and cruise line workers.

[kruisey]

I am suggesting you avoid the second hand smoke and therefore, smokers and non-smokers can co-exist. I gave up smoking for my health but do not feel walking through a room with smokers is as bad for me as walking outside where our air is full of chemicals. People on a daily basis walk through the train station where you choke from the smoke from trains but you do not hear any complaints. My husband recently had surgery. At the hospital they pointed out how healthy his lungs were since he had never been a smoker and lived with a non-smoker. When I informed them that I had smoked up to 2 years ago, they could not explain it.

Yours was an exception to the rule......it has been proved that smoking and second hand smoke kills.

When all of the passengers around one are are not smoking why would one lite up anyway? Especially in an area of small tables with six at a table.....There are areas on deck especially for smokers?

I am not trying to deny anyone their right to smoke.....but let me add it has been scientifically proved to be a very unhealthy habit :cool:

[Dreamer333]

Yours was an exception to the rule......it has been proved that smoking and second hand smoke kills.

 

I am a healthy non-smoker, but I must add that the post above is not entirely true.

The benefits on quitting smoking begin after only a few days of quitting. The lungs are very "smart" and can heal themselves once someone quits.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I'm surprised that the ex-smoker above didn't start mentioning rights and freedoms and all the other rationization that smokers use. Even walk into a place that doesn't allow smoking, such as a grocery store, after a smoker has been there. P-u!!!!!! That's what their clothes, their car, their house smells like. And there is no health benefit whatsoever to smoking, unlike, say, having a glass of wine.

[bdjam]

How do some of you survive in the real world? Aren’t there smokers everywhere? I would say smokers are probably limited more on a cruise ship than anywhere else world wide. Princess does not allow smoking in restaurants or show lounges and in the smaller lounges, there are designated smoking areas as there are out on deck.

 

It’s interesting the number of people whose hair stands on end when it comes to cigarette smoke, but who think nothing of lighting up a barbeque or driving a polluting car to work every day…with no one else in it. How about that gasoline powered lawn mower? Burning coal and oil for industry? It’s also interesting that a good number of non-smokers regularly poison their livers with alcohol.

 

I believe that smokers should be considerate – but I believe the same should be said for non-smokers. Smoking isn’t the only unhealthy habit to rear its ugly head in this world and if we were all ostracized for our bad habits…well, no one would be on a cruise ship.

[WCAB]

I feel smokers need to be limited as to where they can smoke but also perceive that there are those that if a smoker had a 9X12 area and had to take turns to use the space, there are those that would ban them this one patch of space, if given the opportunity.