Smoke on Princess vs. Carnival

[Brudette]

Okay, I know there must be posts about this already, but after searching for 20 minutes, I just can't find them. My husband and I are debating between two cruises, one on Carnival Liberty, the other on Princess Crown. We aren't smokers, and my husband especially is very sensitive to smoke (headaches, etc.) How do these lines compare in how much you notice smoke, or whether or not smoking rules are obeyed? We cruised Royal Caribbean a couple years ago and didn't notice hardly any smoke. We'd also like to have some fun at night at clubs, but it seems that smoking is allowed in all dance and jazz clubs? What's left for us to do?

 

For the record, I realize that smokers need a place to go, I'm not trying to open up a smoker-bashing post, I just need to know what the atmosphere will be like because it might affect my booking. Thanks in advance!

 

Mary

[paul929207]

Princess has announced a new smoling policy for cruises starting after January 15. They are banning smoking in the cabins and on balconies. Specifics can be found on their website - http://www.princess.com

 

I believe Carnival recently made an announcement of a new smoking policy, but don't sail them, so I didn't pay any attention. I assume it is available on their site.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Other than the casino and occasionally near the pool the smoke problems will be ending shortly on Princess with their new policy. I doubt if you'll be bothered with any smoke unless you like to gamble. ;):D

[austinlw]

On our recent Ruby Princess cruise the only place where I was bothered by smoke was in or near the casino. Occasionally I would get a whiff on our balcony, but barely noticeable.

[2little time]

Okay, I know there must be posts about this already, but after searching for 20 minutes, I just can't find them. My husband and I are debating between two cruises, one on Carnival Liberty, the other on Princess Crown. We aren't smokers, and my husband especially is very sensitive to smoke (headaches, etc.) How do these lines compare in how much you notice smoke, or whether or not smoking rules are obeyed? We cruised Royal Caribbean a couple years ago and didn't notice hardly any smoke. We'd also like to have some fun at night at clubs, but it seems that smoking is allowed in all dance and jazz clubs? What's left for us to do?

 

For the record, I realize that smokers need a place to go, I'm not trying to open up a smoker-bashing post, I just need to know what the atmosphere will be like because it might affect my booking. Thanks in advance!

 

Mary

Even now that smoking is allowed, we have never had problems unless we went into the casino (choke)

[5:00_Somewhere]

To the best of my knowledge, the only in door venues on Princess ships where smoking is permitted are the Casino (and there are non-smoking nights offered on each cruise), Skywalkers disco (on the Grand Class ships), and the dedicated Cigar Lounge/bar. There is only one dedicated Cigar/smoking lounge or bar on those Princess ships where it is offered, and it is part of the Casino on the "super Grand" class Crown, Emerald and Ruby, so the majority of the in door smoking is concentrated in that one locale. On the "regular" Grand class ships, there is a dedicated Cigar/smoking Bar on deck 6 forward near the Princess Theater, but you can avoid this entirely by entering the theater from the doors on deck 7 if you prefer.

 

There used to be a small smoking section in the Wheelhouse Bar (where they do feature live bands playing traditional dance and/or jazz music), but on our recent cruises it has seemed that even this no longer exists; and, if it does, I strongly suspect it will go away after January 15th.

 

I am confident that you and your husband would have little or no problem avoiding unwanted exposure to cigarette smoke on a Princess ship, even now, but especially after January 15.

 

Hope that helps! Happy cruising! ;)

[VOR]

We just got off Sapphire, and found the starboard, rear corner of the International Dining room had some smoke smell (from Staff smoking near by). It was not a big deal, and was very localized.

[1 HappyCruiser]

There used to be a small smoking section in the Wheelhouse Bar (where they do feature live bands playing traditional dance and/or jazz music), but on our recent cruises it has seemed that even this no longer exists; and, if it does, I strongly suspect it will go away after January 15th.

 

 

It's gone.

 

We just got off Sapphire, and found the starboard, rear corner of the International Dining room had some smoke smell (from Staff smoking near by). It was not a big deal, and was very localized.

 

Very surprising since the crew can't even smoke in their own room as of last Oct.

They're getting even more strict with the staff about smoking, limiting them to only one small smoking room near the crew quarters and possibly their pool area.

[Brudette]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think we're leaning towards Princess. Also, I put this same post in both the Princess and Carnival boards, and the one on the Carnival board got way out of hand. People were making sarcastic/rude comments to me. Kudos to you guys on this board- thanks for just answering my question with good feedback and not getting all up in arms about someone actually being affected by smoke. If this is indicative of the kind of people I will meet on a Princess cruise, it's a good sign. :)

[1 HappyCruiser]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think we're leaning towards Princess. Also, I put this same post in both the Princess and Carnival boards, and the one on the Carnival board got way out of hand. People were making sarcastic/rude comments to me. Kudos to you guys on this board- thanks for just answering my question with good feedback and not getting all up in arms about someone actually being affected by smoke. If this is indicative of the kind of people I will meet on a Princess cruise, it's a good sign. :)

 

It might have gotten out of hand before they announced the new improved smoking rules but since then there's nothing much to say about it. The major problem on Princess was room odors & balcony smoke which will no longer be any problem. :)

[scomyrwil]

We have just returned from a wonderful cruise to Panama and have the following to report:

 

We beat the deadline for smoking in the room and balcony. While I am a smoking person, there were no complaints against me for smoking on the balcony. I did not smoke in the room, but could smell some smoke in the hall ways on other decks.

 

The smoking areas on the Island were on deck 15 near the Grille Bar (only about 10 tables), Deck 7 were you can walk around (only on the port side) as well as Churchill lounge where you can have a cigar and or pipe to smoke. Smoking was also allowed in the rear of the casino (by the penny slot machines)

 

Ran into a few officers of the ship and they said it will be very hard to enforce the new rule when it goes into effect. There is some talk about banning smoking in the rooms, but allow it on balconies only while sailing.

 

It is true that the crew cannot smoke in their cabins, but the area reserved for them is always packed and they seem to sneak one in the approved passenger areas.

 

The crew also said that it will be a real issue for the people sailing from Asia and Europe and they have no clue how to handle it.

 

This is just my 2 pennies from what I heard on the Island.

 

Scott

[happy cruzer]

The people on the boards do not represent the people that actually cruise the lines. The boards are a tiny per cent of the cruising public. They do tend to be the more passinate about cruising IMHO.

 

I've sailed both lines. Found that the demographics are pretty similar on 7day cruises that do similar itenaries. Both lines will have restricted smoking policies next year. Carnival will still allow smoking on balconies. I would just read the official smoking policy and go with the ship that meets your other needs.

 

If non smoking is your top priority, I would go with Celebrity which started restricting smoking the earliest and has the most restricted policy of all major lines.

[shepp]

Kudos to you guys on this board- thanks for just answering my question with good feedback and not getting all up in arms about someone actually being affected by smoke. If this is indicative of the kind of people I will meet on a Princess cruise, it's a good sign. :)

 

Oh, if you'd asked about the dress code for smokers on formal nights, you would have witnessed a whole 'nother reaction... ;)

[5:00_Somewhere]

Oh, if you'd asked about the dress code for smokers on formal nights, you would have witnessed a whole 'nother reaction... ;)

 

That truly made me laugh out loud. Thanks for the chuckle. :D

[hubofhockey]

The people on the boards do not represent the people that actually cruise the lines. The boards are a tiny per cent of the cruising public. They do tend to be the more passinate about cruising IMHO.

 

I've sailed both lines. Found that the demographics are pretty similar on 7day cruises that do similar itenaries. Both lines will have restricted smoking policies next year. Carnival will still allow smoking on balconies. I would just read the official smoking policy and go with the ship that meets your other needs.

 

If non smoking is your top priority, I would go with Celebrity which started restricting smoking the earliest and has the most restricted policy of all major lines.

 

I have been on both lines multiple times and disagree with you and will explain. Carnival's demographics skew younger and less affluent and that is reflected in pricing. The reason Carnival has a more lax smoking policy is that their customer base is comprised of more smokers.

 

I am not sure how Princess' new smoking policy differs from Celebrity's. But I'll take your word for it on that one.

[Tapi]

Also, I put this same post in both the Princess and Carnival boards, and the one on the Carnival board got way out of hand. People were making sarcastic/rude comments to me.

 

Mary:

 

I was going to post my response on the Carnival board, but I think you'll have a better chance to read it here since that other thread is going down the toilet fast! :rolleyes:

 

While I can't tell you how the smoking compares between Princess and Carnival, I can tell you about my experience on Carnival and how it compares with other cruise lines I've sailed on.

 

We sailed last December on the Carnival Fascination. The smoking was SO bad, that the experience almost made us decide to NEVER sail on Carnival again. Smoking was everywhere. You couldn't escape it. The ship stunk of stale cigarrettes. Even if you tried to stay in designated non-smoking areas, there were always several smokers drifting into the non-smoking areas. Nothing was ever said. To make things worse, several smokers were plain and simple rude. Some even blew their cigarrette smoke in our direction on purpose as soon as they realized that we were bothered by it.

 

We chose to sail again on Carnival again 2 months ago, this time on the much newer Carnival Dream (which also has a more restrictive smoking policy). The experience was MUCH better. While there were smokers, they were not as intrusive. The ship didn't smell like cigarrettes, and you could actually venture into the non-smoking side of the casino without having to breathe smoke coming from the smoking side. The only place where smoke still bothered us was on our balcony. The next door neighbors seemed to be out there puffing away during the entire cruise which many times rendered our balcony useless, unless we wanted to enjoy ocean views that smelled like cigarrette smoke. :rolleyes:

 

Ever since we sailed las October, Carnival has implemented even more restrictive smoking policies (not as restrictive as Princess though), but still it's a change that we are happy to hear about! :)

 

During the last year, we also sailed on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, and I can tell you that, even when compared to the more restrictive Carnival Dream, the experience is like night and day. MUCH better! Ship design, smoking policies and fellow passengers make for a much more enjoyable cruising experience. The ship smelled clean. The casino is tucked away down on deck 4 so there's no casino smoke drifting into other non-smoking venues. Literally, we spent an entire week without smelling cigarrettes once. It was absolutely wonderful.

 

If you choose to go with Carnival (it seems like you're not, but just in case), pick one of their newest ships, and also a longer itinerary. It's been our experience that shorter, cheaper cruises attract more smokers.

[dundalkspur]

Princess cruises are the best for you. I have been on most of the fleet and agree with the above comments re cigar room etc.

We have just come off the Queen Victoria and we had smokers either side of our balcony and we could not go out on our balcony .They also smoked at night in their cabins and the smell drifted through the walls.

[Rounder]

Okay, I know there must be posts about this already, but after searching for 20 minutes, I just can't find them. My husband and I are debating between two cruises, one on Carnival Liberty, the other on Princess Crown. We aren't smokers, and my husband especially is very sensitive to smoke (headaches, etc.) How do these lines compare in how much you notice smoke, or whether or not smoking rules are obeyed? We cruised Royal Caribbean a couple years ago and didn't notice hardly any smoke. We'd also like to have some fun at night at clubs, but it seems that smoking is allowed in all dance and jazz clubs? What's left for us to do?

 

For the record, I realize that smokers need a place to go, I'm not trying to open up a smoker-bashing post, I just need to know what the atmosphere will be like because it might affect my booking. Thanks in advance!

 

Mary

 

 

Hi Mary,

Hope this helps, enjoy your cruise. ;)

 

Carnival Cruise Lines

 

Where You Can Smoke: Cigarette smoking in public venues is only permitted in Carnival's dance clubs as well as in designated areas within the casino and casino bar. Smoking (including cigars) is permitted in designated exterior open deck areas (starboard side) of all ships. Additionally, smoking is allowed in the jazz clubs of the following ships: Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Victory, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Splendor.

 

Where You Can't: Everywhere but above enumerated spaces are non-smoking, including the dining room and most public rooms.

 

Effective December 1, 2011, smoking will be prohibited in all staterooms. Those guests in balcony accommodations will be permitted to smoke cigarettes and cigars outside on the balcony. Spa staterooms -- currently featured on Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic -- will continue to remain entirely smoke-free, including on the balconies.

 

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar smoking is permitted in the jazz clubs.

 

Princess Cruises

 

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, on the open decks and in designated areas in most public rooms. After January 15, 2012, smoking will continue to be allowed in the Churchill's cigar lounge, a section of the disco and casino and a portion of the open decks.

 

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in show lounges, elevators, dining rooms and all food service areas. Effective January 15, 2012, Princess will no longer allow smoking in cabins and balconies across its fleet.

 

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted only on the open decks.

[flamomo]

The only place smoking is currently permitted on the Princess ships' open deck is on the Promenade deck on the port side ONLY where there are cigarette disposal boxes that are attached to the exterior wall of the ship, and there are about three of them for the whole length of that deck. I have seen very few people occasionally smoking in those areas.

There is a smoking area on the port side on the Lido deck in the area of the uncovered pool, but not at poolside. Where it is permitted, there are ashtrays on the tables, and a small sign on each table stating "smoking permitted" or something similar. That will probably remain unchanged.

I imagine those two areas will be the go-to places for smokers after January 15th, and can easily be avoided by those wishing to not encounter cigarette smoke.

[Stevesan]

Keeping the comfort of our passengers a priority, and in consideration of consumer studies which show smokers are a small minority of passengers, Princess has implemented the following smoking policy:

Designated Smoking Areas

Clearly marked “Designated Smoking Areas” are available onboard and include a sufficient number of ashtrays that are emptied regularly. Generally, these areas include cigar lounges, a section of the nightclub and casino, as well as a portion of the open decks. As a safety precaution, passengers are reminded to properly dispose of cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco, which are never to be thrown overboard as this may be sucked back into the ship and cause fires.

Stateroom Smoking Policy Update

For all voyages departing after January 15th, 2012, Princess Cruises will prohibit smoking in passenger staterooms and balconies. This policy change reflects the preferences of a vast majority of our passengers who value having their primary living space (both stateroom and balcony) smoke-free. As balconies are a hallmark of Princess Cruises, we believe it is important to keep this peaceful space clear of smoke. Violations to this policy will result in a $250 fine for each occurrence, which will be charged to the passenger’s stateroom account. Keeping with the global trend toward more restrictive smoking policies and honoring the wishes of our passengers, we feel this change will enhance our onboard experience and do more to help our passengers escape completely.

[ibfern]

I just got off the Pacific Princess and was worried about the same thing, mostly because the new smoking policy had not taken effect, and I have to say that there were almost no places on the ship that smelled, maybe a few isolated rooms but I did not see anybody smoking at all. Even the Casino did not smell, this surprised me.

 

People everywhere are becoming aware of the dangers of smoking, I hardly noticed people smoking throughout Europe as well! Another surprise.

[caribill]

Princess Cruises

 

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, on the open decks and in designated areas in most public rooms. After January 15, 2012, smoking will continue to be allowed in the Churchill's cigar lounge, a section of the disco and casino and a portion of the open decks.

 

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in show lounges, elevators, dining rooms and all food service areas. Effective January 15, 2012, Princess will no longer allow smoking in cabins and balconies across its fleet.

 

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted only on the open decks.

 

Looks like they will need to rename the cigar lounge.

[Terre]

Carnival has designated one side of the ship for smokers and I seem to remember that Princess has too. In the lounges on Carnival there is one side designated for smokers, at least the last time we cruised Carnival. Of course, you can't get away from it in the casinos. We have never been able to smell smoke from past guests in any of our cabins on any ship.