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Discuss Implementation of Smoking Policy


CC Help Michell
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I was on the Emerald for a few cruises before the smoking change and the two cruises since it. Here's what I've noticed:

 

I've not smelled ANY smoke in the hallway outside of our cabin (an inside cabin) since the change, whereas I frequently smelled it before.

 

The casino, except on non-smoking nights, is smoky beyond belief. I can't even enter it. Unfortunately, passengers attending the 8:30pm Princess Theater shows and entering from Deck 6 are lined up through the casino on both sides every night, waiting for the 7:15pm show to end and the theater to empty.

 

The port side promenade is quite smoky, but not as bad as the casino.

 

The port side tables and chairs by the Neptunes Reef and Calypso pools are pretty smoky, but not as bad as the casino.

 

The Terrace Deck port side is no worse than it was before the 1/17 cruise. Thank God. That was my own biggest concern.

 

I would say that, on whole, it's a huge step in the right direction.

 

That's pretty much as I expected it to be. The one or two bad posts I did read were only about the port hallway on the Lido deck & a cabin directly over the promenade deck near the elevator.

Did you notice any smoke in the show lounge. That was a problem in the past from smoke filtering in the doorway entering on deck six. Depending on wind conditions it was sucked in through the hallway and could be smelled in the lower section.

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If a cabin steward were to look the other way when confronting smoking in the cabin, he would have to explain to his superiors why the next cruisers occupying the cabin are complaining about the tobacco smell.

If I were to walk in and smell the smoke, I would insist on a deep clean. The previous occupants would probably be billed.

 

The steward gets his tips from a pool whether you stiff him or not. If you are a smoker that would stiff him if he reminded you of the rules, then that doesn't say much for you.

 

There was plenty of advance notice to the new smoking rules.

 

I don't know if the Princess expects cabin stewards to report smoking in the cabin or not. I would not assume that they do expect that to be a stewards responsibility. Also there are others who check the cabins. The chief housekeeper for example to check that the stewards are doing their job.

 

One other thing. Once when I was on a bridge tour they showed me a board that was part of the fire detection system that they used to detect fires because they don't have the smoke detectors make an audible alarm in the cabins. Instead they have the alarms on the bridge. Some of the lights on the board were lit up and they claimed that those were detecting smoke from smokers in those cabins but that if the system detected higher temperatures the sprinkler system would go off. So they might be able to detect smoking without anyone reporting it.

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I'm looking forward to a smoke-free balcony. Our last cruise wasn't unbearable, we just got alot of used butts that landed on our balcony....thankfully nothing landed on us. :)

 

As for the casino, now I just have one more excuse to stay out of it and keep my money for other activities. :D

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I used to think about getting a balconcy cabin as a $1,000 gamble. I would be gambling $1,000 that I could enjoy the use of my balcony. Now, with my upcoming British Isles cruise this summer, that is my guaranteed smoke free place of relaxation. If this impacts too many other areas on the ship, we'll consider booking more on Celebrity. As it is, our 2013 cruise is on the Allure of the Seas and and I am back to hoping that we can enjoy our balcony with the smell of the ocean rather than the stench of cigarette smoke.

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I don't know if the Princess expects cabin stewards to report smoking in the cabin or not. I would not assume that they do expect that to be a stewards responsibility. Also there are others who check the cabins. The chief housekeeper for example to check that the stewards are doing their job.

 

One other thing. Once when I was on a bridge tour they showed me a board that was part of the fire detection system that they used to detect fires because they don't have the smoke detectors make an audible alarm in the cabins. Instead they have the alarms on the bridge. Some of the lights on the board were lit up and they claimed that those were detecting smoke from smokers in those cabins but that if the system detected higher temperatures the sprinkler system would go off. So they might be able to detect smoking without anyone reporting it.

 

I can attest to that being very true. We had lunch with one of the engineers one afternoon & he was explaining that they even get silent alarms from people smoking cigars on the balconies that they have to respond to in order to check it out. Of course that was prior to 1/15/12 and now I suppose it's even more critical to check since there are very few people smoking on balconies any longer.

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I don't know if the Princess expects cabin stewards to report smoking in the cabin or not. I would not assume that they do expect that to be a stewards responsibility. Also there are others who check the cabins. The chief housekeeper for example to check that the stewards are doing their job.

 

One other thing. Once when I was on a bridge tour they showed me a board that was part of the fire detection system that they used to detect fires because they don't have the smoke detectors make an audible alarm in the cabins. Instead they have the alarms on the bridge. Some of the lights on the board were lit up and they claimed that those were detecting smoke from smokers in those cabins but that if the system detected higher temperatures the sprinkler system would go off. So they might be able to detect smoking without anyone reporting it.

 

About six years ago, my hubby was taking a shower, but kept the bathroom door open. I got a call from the front desk (or from the bridge?) saying an alarm went off. From then on, my hubby made sure the bathroom door was closed.

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About six years ago' date=' my hubby was taking a shower, but kept the bathroom door open. I got a call from the front desk (or from the bridge?) saying an alarm went off. From then on, my hubby made sure the bathroom door was closed.[/quote']

 

What was the reason they told you the alarm was triggered? It couldn't have been that the bathroom door was open.

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What was the reason they told you the alarm was triggered? It couldn't have been that the bathroom door was open.

I worked for a company that made smoke detectors. If he took a really steamy shower with the bathroom door open, it is possible the detector read it as smoke.

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What was the reason they told you the alarm was triggered? It couldn't have been that the bathroom door was open.

Yes, it could have been the steam from a hot shower, with the bathroom door open.

 

Several years ago, we went to Alaska by small ship (less than 125 passengers) ... one morning, I showered early and went to breakfast. Then, DH took his shower with the bathroom door open ... the steam was enough to trigger a silent alarm, and the firedoors were closed and crew came to the cabin to check if there was indeed a fire emergency.

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Are there any outdoor designated cigar smoking areas?
The ONLY area designated for cigar smoking on Princess ships is the Cigar Bar/Room. Even when smoking was allowed in cabins and on Balconies that did not include cigars. However, there have been several posts about an experiment with "Cigars Under The Stars", a designated area on the port side of the Sun deck near the bar above the Neptune Pool. Don't know the long term future of CUTS.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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.......I too will vote with my wallet, and will think long and hard before booking another Princess cruise. I just don't need the snide comments from non smokers, when I'm on vacation.

 

BeachBum

 

I agree with you and same for me.

First, I truly don't intend to offend any non-smokers. I understand the whole thing about protecting the air you want to breath.

Wife and I just cruised on the Crown Jan 21-28. I smoke, she never did.

She saw how much I didn't enjoy having to go to one of the designated areas (instead of the balcony as I did in the past) whenever I had the urge.I wanted to sneak one on the balcony more than once but I just wouldn't.

I found that the designated smoking areas were pretty much constantly utilized by us smokers and obviously had the smell. Up on deck 14, portside many, many people walking by openly voiced their offense of the admittedly heavy odor (some with those snide comments).

Well geeze, what do want us to do??, follow the ship in a smoker's dingy?? ///sorry, just venting.

There were many smokers in the casino, myself included. I think that smoking was allowed in the casino during all open hours except for the formal nights.

At the aft terrace pool outside HC smoking was likewise allowed on the port side. As a matter of fact that was my favorite (for lack of a choice) designated area. I had seen some table sitters at the terrace bar in the center smoking without being bothered. I did see a cigar butt back there and even one gentleman enjoying his cigar.

Long story short, It, too, will take a long hard decision before booking another cruise with Princess again.

Maybe it's time to book at all inclusives for a while.

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WE are back from 20 days on Emerald ending Feb.6th. We had a balcony on Caribe (C231) and have to say this was the first time we had have ever smelled NO smoke whatsoever on the balcony.

We no longer use Gatsby's casino, as it is largely unbearable in there, even when it is closed.

Have to say the new policy worked well for us, no issues.

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Although I am NOT a smoker, are you not infringing on their right to smoke? Why not just have one side smoking and the other not? Seems fair. Of the 5 cruises I have been on...NEVER have I been on my balcony and had problems. Seems that the new rule will make the casino smokier.

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Although I am NOT a smoker, are you not infringing on their right to smoke? Why not just have one side smoking and the other not? Seems fair. Of the 5 cruises I have been on...NEVER have I been on my balcony and had problems. Seems that the new rule will make the casino smokier.

 

You've been quite lucky. Many people pay extra for a balcony & are denied use of it most of the cruise because of smoke. That doesn't seem quite fair, does it?

Yes the casino is a lost cause & probably will become the smoking room for a quick puff if a smoker doesn't want to travel far.

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We bypassed a balcony and chose a window suite when we found out hubby would no longer be able to enjoy his one-a-day cigar on the Princess balconies. While we were conveniently located to the Fiesta deck cigar lounge, it was the only place he was allowed to smoke them. The bar had such insufficient air handlers that I was unable to sit and join him if the bar was full. In an outdoor venue, I would have gladly kept him company. :(

 

We will not likely choose Princess again. Not so long as other lines continue to allow smoking on the balconies.

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We bypassed a balcony and chose a window suite when we found out hubby would no longer be able to enjoy his one-a-day cigar on the Princess balconies. While we were conveniently located to the Fiesta deck cigar lounge, it was the only place he was allowed to smoke them. The bar had such insufficient air handlers that I was unable to sit and join him if the bar was full. In an outdoor venue, I would have gladly kept him company. :(

 

We will not likely choose Princess again. Not so long as other lines continue to allow smoking on the balconies.

 

I think you might be happier on HAL since it's somewhat similar to Princess & still allows smoking on balconies although I'm not sure about cigars.

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I think you might be happier on HAL since it's somewhat similar to Princess & still allows smoking on balconies although I'm not sure about cigars.
It's likely we will go back to land-based AI's for the next few vacations. Hubby was very excited to hear about the February cigar festival in the DR. And I like knowing the bar tab is paid upfront! :cool:
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