I really wish RCI would change their policy about smoking on the balconies!

[dln929]

We just came back from a fantastic cruise on the Indy. We had cabin #7408, one of the coveted corner afts. You've all seen photos of those corner afts. They are every bit as amazing as legend suggests. However...smoking from other passengers did mar the experience a bit. We had two smokers in the cabins below us. On aft balconies, smoke rises right up to the balconies above. It's really noticeable. And smokers' cough. Ewwww. The coughing comes through loud and clear when you have an aft balcony on Deck 7. Not fun to be greeted with the sound of someone hacking away while you're wanting a quiet minute to enjoy your morning coffee. It's nasty. :(

 

I wish RCI would, like Celebrity, take away smoking privileges from balconies. I don't begrudge the smokers their smokes but Deck 4 offers a huge space for them to enjoy it, and if one doesn't like the smell, it's easy to avoid. When you're on your own balcony and the smoke comes billowing up, not so much so. I don't know about the safety of smoking on balconies, either. We found cigarette butts on our balcony on two separate occasions that could only have blown in as it would be impossible for anyone to have thrown them (the older ladies who were our next door neighbors did not smoke). What if they'd been lit?

 

And yes, I obviously knew that we'd run the risk of being bothered by smoke when we booked our cruise, but I still wish RCI would get with it and restrict smoking to designated smoking areas. That way smokers could still enjoy their smokes, and those of us who don't could enjoy their balconies at all times, not just when the smokers have gone inside.

[jlbkty]

I know you are going to get flamed, but not by me. We once had a man next door who was determined to smoke all of his cubans before we got back to home port. And he smoked non-stop (it seemed) the whole cruise. If we left our balcony door open for anytime at all, our room smelled like cigars. Didn't get to enjoy the balcony that trip . . . but I am glad the man next door enjoyed his!

[EMc]

That's the problem with you non smokers. Give you an inch and you want the whole ship.

How kind of you to "not begrudge" the smokers . As if they need your permission.

 

I bet those smokers would not only like to keep on enjoying smoking on their very own, bought and paid for, balcony but they are wishing they could still smoke in the same bought and paid for cabin. Wasn't that long ago that the non smokers were whining that the cabins stink... and it's not as if the smokers won't be able to smoke.. they can smoke on their balcony.

All you ever hear about is inconsiderate smokers...I think it is the non smokers who are inconsiderate.

 

I mean, who wouldn't want to run up or down to deck four every time you want a smoke, eh!

Gotta make sure you have the whole back "aft" corner of the ship to yourself!

 

 

EMc

[cb at sea]

I just don't understand....we've never been overrun or bothered by smokers on our balcony, especially at sea! Sure, once or twice we've caught of "whiff" of cigarette smoke, but it's so fleeting....

 

We don't leave the door open, as you really aren't supposed to....AC and all that, not to mention bugs, when in port!

[wwcruisers]

You are preachin' to the choir, brother (or would that be sister?) ;)

Since RC changed their policy a few years back, the balconies are where all the smokers seem to go -- and they frequently bring their inside/OV friends and family with them! :eek:

Funny thing, though -- we find lately that the aft balconies are the only place we can manage to escape the constant smoke. I've never figured out whether its the wind currents, or just the extra real estate between us and our smoking neighbors that makes a difference, though. Sorry to hear that you weren't even able to find any clean air back there! :(

Just one more reason that we're sailing more with X than RC, these days. :cool:

[Shekim]

That's the problem with you non smokers. Give you an inch and you want the whole ship.

How kind of you to "not begrudge" the smokers . As if they need your permission.

 

I bet those smokers would not only like to keep on enjoying smoking on their very own, bought and paid for, balcony but they are wishing they could still smoke in the same bought and paid for cabin.

 

I mean, who wouldn't want to run up or down to deck four every time you want a smoke, eh!

Gotta make sure you have the whole back "aft" corner of the ship to yourself!

 

 

EMc

Thanks EMc, if I didn't want to smoke on my balcony I'd have an inside cabin. And I have done that before...run up to deck 11 to have my smoke with my coffee. THAT'S why I get a balcony.

[cruisinp]

This is such a hot topic. I actually think that smokers should be allowed to smoke on their balconies. Before someone yells at me, no I do not smoke -- I gave it up some 35 years ago. I think that smokers should have a right to use their little area to enjoy a cigarette, cigar or pipe. I know that there are places on the ship to smoke. I believe that the rights of smokers are almost gone. And, please don't say the ship's are doing away with smoking on balconies because of health issues. If that were the case there would be no smoking in the casino. To me a much more confined area than a balcony. It's funny that the smoke does not bother me but a loud-mouth neighbor drives me crazy! LOL I still say that one side of the ship should be smoking and the other non-smoking. I know the issues, they have been discussed here before. Anyway, this is a hot topic and one that so many people are passionate about. Happy Cruising!

[Highboy90]

And yes, I obviously knew that we'd run the risk of being bothered by smoke when we booked our cruise, but I still wish RCI would get with it and restrict smoking to designated smoking areas. That way smokers could still enjoy their smokes, and those of us who don't could enjoy their balconies at all times, not just when the smokers have gone inside.

I have mixed feeling about this as I just booked a balcony for the view obviously AND for the fact that my companion smokes. If it wasn't for the balcony, she would have to exit the cabin and go down a level or two to get outside to have a cig. During normal hours, this might not be such a bad thing but first thing in the morning before "hair and makeup" time, probably would be though as a non-smoker, I can understand your comments.

 

On the other hand, when I booked a cabin, I considered location and areas that might be more prone to noise and such. Ending up spending more money for a AFT balcony. Perhaps knowing this, the OP might want to try and book the lowest possible balcony next time to perhaps lessen the smoke related problem? Dunno.

[uksimonusa]

We just came back from a fantastic cruise on the Indy. We had cabin #7408, one of the coveted corner afts. You've all seen photos of those corner afts. They are every bit as amazing as legend suggests. However...smoking from other passengers did mar the experience a bit. We had two smokers in the cabins below us. On aft balconies, smoke rises right up to the balconies above. It's really noticeable. And smokers' cough. Ewwww. The coughing comes through loud and clear when you have an aft balcony on Deck 7. Not fun to be greeted with the sound of someone hacking away while you're wanting a quiet minute to enjoy your morning coffee. It's nasty. :(

 

I wish RCI would, like Celebrity, take away smoking privileges from balconies. I don't begrudge the smokers their smokes but Deck 4 offers a huge space for them to enjoy it, and if one doesn't like the smell, it's easy to avoid. When you're on your own balcony and the smoke comes billowing up, not so much so. I don't know about the safety of smoking on balconies, either. We found cigarette butts on our balcony on two separate occasions that could only have blown in as it would be impossible for anyone to have thrown them (the older ladies who were our next door neighbors did not smoke). What if they'd been lit?

 

And yes, I obviously knew that we'd run the risk of being bothered by smoke when we booked our cruise, but I still wish RCI would get with it and restrict smoking to designated smoking areas. That way smokers could still enjoy their smokes, and those of us who don't could enjoy their balconies at all times, not just when the smokers have gone inside.

 

RCI does restrict smoking to designated smoking areas, and oceanview balconies are a designated cigarette smoking area.

[klingoncruiser]

Oh boy... breaking out the popcorn....:D

 

Lets have a nice clean fight..... no hitting below the belt, no pulling noses and definitely no kicking, gouging of eyeballs or blows to the back of the head.

[cruisegirl1]

Luckily we’ve never been bothered by nearby smokers. We have had very LOUD balcony neighbors. I’m not sure that people realize how much their voice carries in the open. Once we heard folks fight all week about sending their father to a nursing home. Once we were blasted by loud music. However, the best, was the woman who was telling her cabin mate graphic details of her enhancement surgery - size and all :eek:

 

We were recently on Celebrity and apparently there was a smoker on some balcony. I did not smell anything, but a women hollered “whoever is smoking – stop as it isn’t permitted. If I find out where you are, I will report you”

 

Not sure the outcome as I never smelled any smoke in the first place

 

 

M

[sredish]

This is such a hot topic. I actually think that smokers should be allowed to smoke on their balconies. Before someone yells at me, no I do not smoke -- I gave it up some 35 years ago. I think that smokers should have a right to use their little area to enjoy a cigarette, cigar or pipe. I know that there are places on the ship to smoke. I believe that the rights of smokers are almost gone. And, please don't say the ship's are doing away with smoking on balconies because of health issues. If that were the case there would be no smoking in the casino. To me a much more confined area than a balcony. It's funny that the smoke does not bother me but a loud-mouth neighbor drives me crazy! LOL I still say that one side of the ship should be smoking and the other non-smoking. I know the issues, they have been discussed here before. Anyway, this is a hot topic and one that so many people are passionate about. Happy Cruising!

 

 

I agree. I'm not a smoker either, but I don't agree with forcing another paying passenger to walk to a certain deck. Keep in mind many smokers are old school and from another generation, and many have mobility issues. My grandpa smoked, and died of a smoking-related illness, so I completely understand the risks and dangers involved. But to discriminate isn't the answer, either.

[bigbillfromchicago]

Ok I get t that smokers want to be able to smoke onthe balcony, but it is a problem for people like my DW who have asthma.

 

Why not restrict smoking to a section of balconies (like those on the port side only)? Then smokers could get their wish and those concerned with second hand smoke could avoid the area.

[bus man]

That's the problem with you non smokers. Give you an inch and you want the whole ship.

How kind of you to "not begrudge" the smokers . As if they need your permission.

 

I bet those smokers would not only like to keep on enjoying smoking on their very own, bought and paid for, balcony but they are wishing they could still smoke in the same bought and paid for cabin. Wasn't that long ago that the non smokers were whining that the cabins stink... and it's not as if the smokers won't be able to smoke.. they can smoke on their balcony.

All you ever hear about is inconsiderate smokers...I think it is the non smokers who are inconsiderate.

 

I mean, who wouldn't want to run up or down to deck four every time you want a smoke, eh!

Gotta make sure you have the whole back "aft" corner of the ship to yourself!

 

EMc

 

 

Your smoking damages my health and makes it unpleasant, or worse, to breathe the air in your vicinity. My lack of smoking imposes no such burden on you. Who then should be the ones to accomodate the other?

 

It wouldn't bother me in the least if the entire ship were made to be non-smoking. Failing that, there should be a way to create "smoking sections" that could be separated from the non-smoking areas, so that we all can enjoy our balconies in peace.

 

According to Wikipedia, about 20 percent of the U.S. population are regular smokers. Given that, instead of making an entire side of a ship smoking, I would suggest that if you're going to allow balcony smoking at all, allow it only on the aft section of one side of the ship. That way, the supply of smoking and non-smoking balconies would be more in balance with the overall smoking rate; and also, the smoke would blow rearward, and thus not affect people in the forward section of the smoking side.

[Patchwork Annie]

We must have below you on deck 6 and agree every time we wanted to sit out on the balcony all we could smell was smoke, and we had cigarette buts on our balcony. No sympathy with smokers. Will think twice about having a balcony in future, what the point when you can't use it.

[rickdent]

We both smoke. Before Celebrity banned smoking in cabins AND balconies, they did have one side of the ship smoking. Now, you'll notice, we're sailing RCCL. We always book a large suite, so I would certainly protest a ban on balcony smoking. I do think it's fair to limit smoking to one side of the ship, including bars and the casino, as well as balconies.

So, the OP, you can also book a cabin more fore, therefore less chance of smoke blowing your way.

[Langley Cruisers]

Oh boy... breaking out the popcorn....:D Lets have a nice clean fight.....

 

Not gonna happen! LOL

 

Anyway, FWIW I wish RCI would eliminate smoking on balconies, BUT I understand unless and until they do, smokers will be on their balconies and they are entitled to smoke there. Personally, I'd rather have them allow smoking only on the balcony only as opposed to in-cabin as well.

[griffy116]

On Deck 4, only one side is for smoking and yet you constantly see the stream of people rushing through the smoking area, holding their nose and making a big production of waving away the smoke. Even that doesn't satisfy the non-smokers. On our last cruise, we had a balcony that was pretty useless due to a large family that invited full access to about 12 family members who had inside cabins across from them. Loud, obnoxious, their conversations were disgusting and they were there when I got up in the morning and when I went to bed at night. There's no way to pick your neighbor.

[cruise pup]

We just came back from a fantastic cruise on the Indy. We had cabin #7408, one of the coveted corner afts. You've all seen photos of those corner afts. They are every bit as amazing as legend suggests. However...smoking from other passengers did mar the experience a bit. We had two smokers in the cabins below us. On aft balconies, smoke rises right up to the balconies above. It's really noticeable. And smokers' cough. Ewwww. The coughing comes through loud and clear when you have an aft balcony on Deck 7. Not fun to be greeted with the sound of someone hacking away while you're wanting a quiet minute to enjoy your morning coffee. It's nasty. :(

 

I wish RCI would, like Celebrity, take away smoking privileges from balconies. I don't begrudge the smokers their smokes but Deck 4 offers a huge space for them to enjoy it, and if one doesn't like the smell, it's easy to avoid. When you're on your own balcony and the smoke comes billowing up, not so much so. I don't know about the safety of smoking on balconies, either. We found cigarette butts on our balcony on two separate occasions that could only have blown in as it would be impossible for anyone to have thrown them (the older ladies who were our next door neighbors did not smoke). What if they'd been lit?

 

And yes, I obviously knew that we'd run the risk of being bothered by smoke when we booked our cruise, but I still wish RCI would get with it and restrict smoking to designated smoking areas. That way smokers could still enjoy their smokes, and those of us who don't could enjoy their balconies at all times, not just when the smokers have gone inside.

 

I think it's just a matter of time for this to happen on all cruise lines. As of January 15 Princess introduced a non-smoking policy in all cabins and balconies stating it was the preference of the majority of their passengers.

[pipeye1]

Your lungs............. My lungs !!!!!!!!!!! I care about my lungs..........

[wwcruisers]

We were recently on Celebrity and apparently there was a smoker on some balcony. I did not smell anything, but a women hollered “whoever is smoking – stop as it isn’t permitted. If I find out where you are, I will report you”

 

ROTFLMAO! Sounds like something I would do! :p

But, let me be clear that I would NOT do that on RC, because smoking IS permitted on balconies (whereas on X, smoking on balconies is banned).

 

We do love the large aft cabins on RC. Since the smoke back there is usually not blowing right in my face, it's easier to live with. What I would not tolerate for one second would be someone throwing cigarette butts onto my balcony! Not only is that prohibited behavior, but it defies decency and common sense. Anyone remember that deadly fire on Princess, a few years back? :eek:

[VacationsRme]

I am hoping our balcony neighbors on our cruise in May DO NOT smoke! We have spent a Hugh amount of money on this trip and my favorite thing is to sit on my balcony in the morning with my coffe and in the evening. Cigarette smoke will ruin it for me!!

[Karma5]

Second hand smoke causes more problems than just the lungs.............

[MadManOfBethesda]

Thank you so much for starting this thread. Your point of view is entirely unique and has not been addressed in any of the other 3,749,286 threads devoted to smoking on cruiseships.

[LESLIEKURZ]

I HATE smoking but I don't want to take it away from people who don't. Maybe a good compromise is to make balconies on one side of the ship smoking and the other side non?