smoking and non-smoking sections on ships!

[sailingnut]

Two times now I had a balcony and had to close my door due to smokers. What would everyone say that the ship has a smoker's side and a non-smoker's side. Cabins are one side that smoke and cabins on the other side that do not smoke (port and starboard). Any suggestions!:)

[njhorseman]

It's impractical. In the US there are far more nonsmokers than smokers, so you couldn't possibly divide the ship in half to shelter nonsmokers because too many would have no choice but to book on the smoking side in order to find an empty cabin.

[jake54321]

And the reverse can be said for the European sailings.

Live and let live.

[jemrtt]

While I agree that it would cause problems, I wish it could work. I don't like cigarette smoke either. But whatcha gonna do? (sorry smokers...no offense)

I can only hope I'm sandwiched between some non-smokers. I used to think that if we book forward cabins...hoping the smokers have mid-ship or aft...we wont smell it while the ship is moving. hahaha! now if only I could get that down to a real science!

[Starry Eyes]

there are cruise lines that ban smoking on balconies. Celebrity has banned it for a while, and I think Princess will soon. Maybe others, too, as lines have been updating their smoking policies. If smoke bothers you badly, consider your options. Of course, you might miss "freestyle" if you leave NCL.

[luddite]

Impractical and isn't gonna happen.

[chrispb]

It's impractical. In the US there are far more nonsmokers than smokers, so you couldn't possibly divide the ship in half to shelter nonsmokers because too many would have no choice but to book on the smoking side in order to find an empty cabin.

 

Not so sure about that. There were a lot of smokers on the 13 Nov sailing out of Tampa. Usually, there are just a few of us smoking on the port side but not this time, it was difficult to get a seat out there sometimes. Other people we chatted to also remarked upon it.

[che5904]

Not so sure about that. There were a lot of smokers on the 13 Nov sailing out of Tampa. Usually, there are just a few of us smoking on the port side but not this time, it was difficult to get a seat out there sometimes. Other people we chatted to also remarked upon it.

 

Truthfully this is a somewhat unproductive arguement. The numbers are based on statistics and polls from goodness knows where (I know I've never received a phonecall). I have done my own "poll" many times over in parking lots, in traffic line ups, at red lights, outside of restaurants and seriously I come up with totally different numbers than what the percentages claimed are.

 

The reason I say this is unproductive, is because those who wish to believe these "findings", will believe them whether they are true or not.

 

It all depends on the demographic of that particular cruise. And really hard to calculate because although there is very limited areas that smokers can smoke, they are not going to be in the same spot at the same time, so who really knows what the percentage of the ship is that are smokers.

[njhorseman]

Not so sure about that. There were a lot of smokers on the 13 Nov sailing out of Tampa. Usually, there are just a few of us smoking on the port side but not this time, it was difficult to get a seat out there sometimes. Other people we chatted to also remarked upon it.

 

You might want to check the facts. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2006 20.8% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes (there may be later data, but the overall trend for many years is a decline in the percentage of adults who smoke, so it's highly unlikely that the 20.8% figure has suddenly ballooned).

 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5644a2.htm

 

Cigarette Smoking Among Adults --- United States, 2006

 

One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to reduce the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults to <12% (objective 7-1a) (1). To assess progress toward achieving this objective, CDC analyzed data from the 2006 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that in 2006, approximately 20.8% of U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers.

[JMHAM1]

OP, are you trying to stir up trouble? :p

 

I am a non-smoker and would be upset if I could not use my balcony due to neighbors who were inconsiderate smokers. I will say that we have never had an instance in 20 years of cruising where smoke dramatically interfered with my cruise experience. (Except maybe in the casinos)

 

We love NCL but are trying Princess out later next year. I hear they have a new non-smoking policy going into effect in Jan but smoking on balconies will still be allowed. I was wondering if that would mean MORE smoke smell coming from there. We shall find out soon enough!

[che5904]

I am a non-smoker and would be upset if I could not use my balcony due to neighbors who were inconsiderate smokers.

 

I'm glad you haven't had any issues in all your years of cruising. Please tell me how smokers smoking where they are permitted to smoke (on their own balconies) is deemed "inconsiderate".

[downsized]

I've seen this kind of post for sometime now.

"I could not use my balcony because of the horrible smokers next door!"

Bull.

We smoke, and we do smoke on our balcony, but we do NOT spend 24 hours a day on our balcony. If our smoking bothers you, then go inside and close your doors, as we probably will only be there for 10 minutes...maybe an hour at the outside.

If it offends you horribly, tell us nicely, and we might even try to work our a schedule so that we do not offend you.

We were once on the POA which has only one smoking area (outside of our suite and balcony) to smoke, and we were accosted there by the "anti-smoking zealots"! They had the entire ship, but made it a point to come up to the aft deck and complain about our smoke.

[swedish weave]

Two times now I had a balcony and had to close my door due to smokers. What would everyone say that the ship has a smoker's side and a non-smoker's side. Cabins are one side that smoke and cabins on the other side that do not smoke (port and starboard). Any suggestions!:)

 

The cruise lines would not adopt this because it could result in an excessive number of empty cabins on one side or the other of the ship.

 

More likely is the banning of smoking in all cabins and balconies. (which some lines have done already)

[Bars7816]

Just pack protection against smoke. Like a battery-operated fan and a can of airfreshner! We've been lucky so far and have had no smoky balcony neighbors, but we arrive prepared.

[Rounder]

I smoke. I have always tried to be respectful of others. I been in hotel's, on the balcony next to someone else, and will ask if it bother's them. If i am standing up wind with a non smoker, i will move down wind, so it isn't blowing in their face. Just me. On the other side i have also seen smokers who just don't care. Same thing from non-smokers. There are some Cruise Lines that have no smoking, i stay off them. I guess it' a case of Live and let Live. We all can enjoy our cruises.

 

 

Below i copied and pasted a portion,of Cruise Line Policies, from Cruise Critic.

 

 

This issue is so incendiary (pun intended) that smokers often feel bruised and battered and slink away in shame, and non-smokers are often arrogant and self-righteous and ... well, just plain rude. On the other hand, there are non-smokers whose response is to live and let live and smokers who take the position that "hell, it's still legal, so leave me alone."

 

In the United States, the number of smokers is dropping -- and young people aren't starting to smoke as much as they used to -- but one in four adults still lights up. (In California, the number is closer to one in seven.) In Europe and Asia, smoking is much more prevalent, although that's changing too. In the last few years, the governments of France, Ireland, Italy and the U.K. have banned all indoor smoking countrywide. Still, any ship that sails with a large European or Asian contingent is bound to be smokier than a ship filled with North Americans.

 

Cruise lines, though, have generally taken a more moderate approach to smoking policies. Renaissance Cruises, an entirely non-smoking line, no longer exists. Carnival's Paradise, which started life as a smoke-free vessel and stayed that way for six years, now allows smoking onboard. But several major cruise lines have recently introduced very limiting policies, as have many small-ship "boutique" lines and river cruise vessels. But for other major companies, the policies are not nearly as restrictive as most non-smokers wish they were.

 

It's an issue of "spoilage" (the industry's lingo for unsold cabins) that keeps cruise lines from designating some cabins non-smoking, in the fashion of hotel rooms. "It would present an inventory mess," says a spokesperson for CLIA, the cruise industry's official trade association. "The cruise lines' yield management people want the ships to sail full at all times; you can't do that if you set aside non-smoking rooms."

 

 

Happy Cruising to all.

[Little Stinker]

Two times now I had a balcony and had to close my door due to smokers. What would everyone say that the ship has a smoker's side and a non-smoker's side. Cabins are one side that smoke and cabins on the other side that do not smoke (port and starboard). Any suggestions!:)

 

Even better would be to have all the balcony rooms smoking ( Balcony only) and all the interior and oceanview rooms as non-smoking. :p

[blindrid]

I've seen this kind of post for sometime now.

"I could not use my balcony because of the horrible smokers next door!"

Bull.

We smoke, and we do smoke on our balcony, but we do NOT spend 24 hours a day on our balcony. If our smoking bothers you, then go inside and close your doors, as we probably will only be there for 10 minutes...maybe an hour at the outside.

 

&

 

 

Two times now I had a balcony and had to close my door due to smokers. What would everyone say that the ship has a smoker's side and a non-smoker's side. Cabins are one side that smoke and cabins on the other side that do not smoke (port and starboard). Any suggestions!:)

 

My contention is that if one smokes on a balcony, the ship is either moving at 20-35 knots or the wind is typically blowing while in port. I can't see how one "had to close one's door" with diluted smoke blowing by. My wife hates smoke and she has yet to "had to close one's door". I think when one complains like this, they are being hypersensitive.

 

That and there was a PP that mentioned 20% of smokers in the US. I would suggest that a cruise lines' demographics would be greater than the US average thus averages mean nothing, especially if you consider the region that includes Florida. After you add any European, Asian and South American guests, they truly mean nothing.

[DMH15]

Thank you Bars. That was informative.

 

I have never smoked. And I don't like it. But some people I like and even love smoke or have smoked. They have feelings. I have learned over the years I have a choice to move or to handle a situation in a way that we can co-exist. For this reason I go to the casino in the daytime. If I am at a slot machine and someone sits down right next to me I might say, "I am a non smoker, would it inconvenience you to use the ashtray on the other side?". But only after I have smiled, said hello and asked how they were doing. I don't pounce on them. 99% of the time they are just as friendly back and are happy to oblige. NCL allows smoking so if they are following the rules they have every right to smoke. And they have every right to have their ashtray on the right not left. But I have found if I am nice they appreciate it and are willing to give me a little leeway so we can both enjoy the casino.

 

Do I wish I could enjoy a non smoking cruise? Yes. And I might go back on X or try Azamara... But I love NCL's suite life and in order to choose that I have to be willing to the possibililty of smokers on board also in pursuit of their idea of a great cruise

[Richie2pies]

DMH........ Great post. You make a lot of sense.

[bakerintn]

You should not have your balcony door open at all...smokers next door or not...you are burdening the Air Conditioning system..for your cabin and many others near you.

[che5904]

Thank you Bars. That was informative.

 

I have never smoked. And I don't like it. But some people I like and even love smoke or have smoked. They have feelings. I have learned over the years I have a choice to move or to handle a situation in a way that we can co-exist. For this reason I go to the casino in the daytime. If I am at a slot machine and someone sits down right next to me I might say, "I am a non smoker, would it inconvenience you to use the ashtray on the other side?". But only after I have smiled, said hello and asked how they were doing. I don't pounce on them. 99% of the time they are just as friendly back and are happy to oblige. NCL allows smoking so if they are following the rules they have every right to smoke. And they have every right to have their ashtray on the right not left. But I have found if I am nice they appreciate it and are willing to give me a little leeway so we can both enjoy the casino.

 

Do I wish I could enjoy a non smoking cruise? Yes. And I might go back on X or try Azamara... But I love NCL's suite life and in order to choose that I have to be willing to the possibililty of smokers on board also in pursuit of their idea of a great cruise

 

I have to say I used to try to be as considerate as possible years ago, moving away from a crowd etc, but the limitations of places to smoke doesn't give me that option anymore. And I will admit, I can't say I'm overly considerate anymore also due to the over dramatizing of so many non-smokers, and most of them are ex-smokers.

 

But I will admit if more people took the approach that you state you take, that would soften me to my old self of considering your feelings as well. I think a lot of the feelings in todays world come from one extreme pushing the other.

 

I also think Bars has the right approach, you can not push others to think or feel the way you do, you cannot control other people, only your own surroundings. And the fact that I can respect someone that feels they cannot control others, that would also make me consider that person, and probably try to avoid smoking much if they were on their balcony as well.

 

Face wavers, forced coughers, nose coverers, complainers, name callers only bring out the worst in a smoker's personality.

[Wecruise8]

OP, are you trying to stir up trouble? :p

 

I am a non-smoker and would be upset if I could not use my balcony due to neighbors who were inconsiderate smokers. I will say that we have never had an instance in 20 years of cruising where smoke dramatically interfered with my cruise experience. (Except maybe in the casinos)

 

We love NCL but are trying Princess out later next year. I hear they have a new non-smoking policy going into effect in Jan but smoking on balconies will still be allowed. I was wondering if that would mean MORE smoke smell coming from there. We shall find out soon enough!

 

Princess does have a new smoking policy going into effect in January 2012. Smoking on balconies/in cabins will no longer be allowed. For this reason we are moving to NCL. We wouldn't smoke in the cabin on any ship but spent a tremendous amount of time on our aft balcony (Ruby Princess) relaxing/reading/spending time together (with 6 kids and 3 1/2 grandkids, work and home tending we don't get much time together at home). Frankly, that was the best part of the trip and what we are most looking forward to on our NCL Star cruise in 2013, well that and the "suite life" we've read so much about.

[DMH15]

I have to say I used to try to be as considerate as possible years ago, moving away from a crowd etc, but the limitations of places to smoke doesn't give me that option anymore. And I will admit, I can't say I'm overly considerate anymore also due to the over dramatizing of so many non-smokers, and most of them are ex-smokers.

 

But I will admit if more people took the approach that you state you take, that would soften me to my old self of considering your feelings as well. I think a lot of the feelings in todays world come from one extreme pushing the other.

 

I also think Bars has the right approach, you can not push others to think or feel the way you do, you cannot control other people, only your own surroundings. And the fact that I can respect someone that feels they cannot control others, that would also make me consider that person, and probably try to avoid smoking much if they were on their balcony as well.

 

Face wavers, forced coughers, nose coverers, complainers, name callers only bring out the worst in a smoker's personality.

 

That's funny. We used to think the face wave, cough, was the way to go ten years ago. But it's not. Smokers for the most part appreciate the direct approach, and by that I mean a respectful one. Over the last five years especially smokers have been relegated to a little corner and they are trying to hold onto that. I imagine it was how we used to feel as non-smokers with our little corner. So, putting myself in the place of the smoker I try and think of how it feels for them.

[chrispb]

You might want to check the facts. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2006 20.8% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes (there may be later data, but the overall trend for many years is a decline in the percentage of adults who smoke, so it's highly unlikely that the 20.8% figure has suddenly ballooned).

 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5644a2.htm

 

Cigarette Smoking Among Adults --- United States, 2006

 

One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to reduce the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults to <12% (objective 7-1a) (1). To assess progress toward achieving this objective, CDC analyzed data from the 2006 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that in 2006, approximately 20.8% of U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers.

I'm just stating what I saw with my own eyes. Governments always have targets and will do anything to achieve them. Just remember the old saying "there are lies, damned lies and statistics". For the last few years there has been a purge here on diabetics - young and old - thousands are being diagnosed as type 2 - all down to targets yet again.

[njhorseman]

I'm just stating what I saw with my own eyes. Governments always have targets and will do anything to achieve them. Just remember the old saying "there are lies, damned lies and statistics". For the last few years there has been a purge here on diabetics - young and old - thousands are being diagnosed as type 2 - all down to targets yet again.

 

I'm not talking about "targets", I'm talking about the 20.8% who actually were cigarette smokers in 2006 based on US government data. You questioned my statement that there are far more nonsmokers than smokers in the US, and the data overwhelmingly support me, not you...almost 4 times as many nonsmokers as smokers in the US.

 

Your eyeball observation of smokers on one cruise doesn't qualify as meaningful evidence of anything.