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

[dplusd]

I can't imagine taking a vacation where I could not enjoy a cigarette without going to a public smoking area. I just don't believe this is a big problem on a moving ship. I am always sensitive to the presence of neighbors when I want to have a smoke on my balcony and it's no problem for me to wait until they are gone. I think most smokers are like this and I think everyone should be considerate of their neighbors.

 

When Celebrity stopped smoking on balconies, I left them. Now that Princess stopped smoking on balconies, I've enjoyed my last cruise on that line. With RCI stock struggling and all those big ships to fill, I don't think they are going to drive away paying balcony customers by changing their policy any time soon. At least I hope not.

 

On my comment card, I thank them for their smoking policy and credit it (in part) with my loyalty.

[seatraveler24]

And for every down-grading smoker, there will be an upgrading non-smoker, who can't wait to have a smoke-free balcony finally. Just saying...

And that would be more revenue for the cruise line because there would be more non-smokers upgrading to balconies than smokers downgrading considering non-smokers are the majority!

[davekathy]

This morning, pulling in to Port Everglades on Liberty, some idiot on deck 10 flicked a lit cigarette from his balcony. The cigarette landed on the deck 4 walkway where it sticks out next to the dining room. It was still lit when it landed...laying there on the wood deck. Luckily, someone came walking through and immediately stomped it out. People like this shouldn't be allowed in public, let alone smoking on a ship.

 

I’m sure all of us (non-smokers as well as smokers) will agree on one post from this thread, that the smoker that flipped the cigarette is definitely an “idiot”.

[Tigress974]

And that would be more revenue for the cruise line because there would be more non-smokers upgrading to balconies than smokers downgrading considering non-smokers are the majority!

 

If you were that of the majority then there wouldn't be as many complains. Also if the revenue gain was that high, they would implement the same rules as Celebrity.

[Jman1118]

I do think that cruise lines should revise their smoking policies. I am very sensitive to smoke of any kind, whether it be cigar, cigarette, marijuana, or just plain smoke from a fire, it affects my breathing and makes me sick. I would be happy if RCL just made the top open deck the only place where people can smoke on board as I do not want to breathe in carcinogens while on vacation! :eek:. I know there is lots of smokers on this board and I understand, it is your choice, but there are some people who just dont want to be around it like me.

Let the flame war begin.

[teajak]

Smolking is legal. Smokers pay for many services nonsmokers take advantage of through the high taxes they pay. A carton that costs $15-20 in the caribbean costs $60-70 in the Chicago area. The boat has restricted smoking. No one lights up in the theater or the dining areas and other areas where people once smoked. Before you go "crazy" on me, I am not a smoker. My husband is. He has tried to quit many times over ther past 50+ years. He restricts his smoking to the balcony and designated areas. When he began smoking, there were doctors who recommended smoking to people. A friend of mine was told to smoke to keep her weight down by a doctor. These people are hooked, but legally hooked. Most try to be considerate.

Why not instead "restrict" the alcohol consumption?? People get "stupid" when they drink. Some become loud mouths. Offering drinks aboard can feed into an addiction also. Some drinker's behaviors annoys me. And after all isn't this, and the cruise, all about ME. Oh, and since smokers tend to smoke more when they drink, eliminating alcohol would cut down and eliminate some of smoking. Flame away all you self-rightous ones!

Your drinking affects your body,not mine.Your smoking affects not only your body but mine. That is not acceptable.:(

[cruiseorbust]

I had a wonderful balcony the last time I went cruising, but unfortunately it was unuseable due to the person next door smoking! I won't spend the money any more to get a balcony until the policy changes! Even when I would just open the door, the smoke came in :(

 

I think if people want to smoke, there should only be a limited area they have to go to. Even when I am in the casino I hate to have a smoker near me. I know they have a smoking side and a non smoking side, but the machines aren't the same.

 

Most people I sit next to if I ask them they will try hard to not have their smoke blow in my direction, some are even kind enough to put the cigarette out :)

[Pushka]

Why not instead "restrict" the alcohol consumption??

 

Because people can consume alocohol and not poison me from their very first drink. The same cannot be said for smoking.

 

And as most people dont get drunk enough to injure me (usually just themselves) then this is a specious argument. If they do get drunk, and then do something that harms me, then they are doing an illegal act and they will mostly likely face consequences for that.

[dln929]

I am a Brit and I can honestly say that I find it amazing that you think the British are a nation of smokers , I have to disagree , we are shocked when we visit other European countries at the amount of smokers especially in public places , we have a strict policy over here of no smoking in public places , bars , restaurants , in fact anywhere indoors , cigarettes cost a lot of money over here and have forced many people to quit smoking , we visit other countries and wish they too had smoking bans in public places ,as I hate sitting in a smokey place . I am on Indy soon so I will see for myself but I really am amazed that you saw so many smokers onboard .

 

Lotty, no one was more surprised than me about the level of smoking on the Indy. We thought it would be our cruise from Venice that would be smoky, but not so. I kid you not. The smoking side of the pool deck and the smoking side of Deck 4 reeked of smoke that couldn't help but stink up the surrounding areas inside the ship. This was because the weather was a little nippy. The smokers tended to hang around the doors so they could quickly nip back inside after they finished their cigarettes. Maybe in warmer weather they'd space themselves out farther away from the doorways? The cloud of smoke in the evenings in the passageway leading to the Cleopatra Lounge was really noticeable. It didn't do any good to stay away from Deck 4 when the smoke seeped inside and followed us around! I wish that if RCI doesn't have any intentions of altering its smoking policies that it would at least adhere to the guidelines many public places use, ie. "NO SMOKING WITHIN 15 FEET OF DOORWAYS." That would prevent smoke from coming inside. But in all honesty that policy probably would be just like the dress code, lip service and little more. Oh well.

 

Perhaps because there are so few places left to smoke in the UK where dining and drinking go on that all the smokers "celebrated" on the Indy by smoking with wild abandon? It certainly seemed so, at least on my cruise. I hope this was just an aberration but you'll shortly see for yourself. :(

[CMHCruiseCouple]

Just completed a Princess cruise under their new smoking policy. For the first time ever we experienced zero smoke on the balcony during a cruise. A huge improvement.

 

The casino, however, became the defacto smoking lounge. Except for the non-smoking night we could not get within 10 feet of the entrance because of the intense smoke. We are not huge gamers, but do enjoy shooting craps one or two nights.

 

Cheers!

[ehfl]

We've tried the balcony cabins, but prefer the inside. We too were bothered by smokers upwind and/or loud neighbors. We were always able to find a quiet, smoke-free place on deck. It just doesn't make any sense at all to pay more to be bothered by smoke and noise, when for a much lower price, you can have quiet and clean air.

[clean1owner]

This isn't discrimination against race, or gender, or disability. This is discrimination against someones choice to slowy kill themselves and in the meantime, force it into the lungs of nearby innocent people.

 

The IARC in a group study: "The group of 29 experts from 12 countries found second-hand tobacco smoke was carcinogenic to humans and that typical levels of passive exposure have been shown to cause lung cancer among people who have never smoked... non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke are between 20% and 30% more likely to develop lung cancer."

 

Meaning, every single time your father puffs on his cigarette and inhales carcinogens in his lungs, he is also exhaling those same carcinogens into the air where innocent bystanders lungs are inhaling and increasing their likeliness of cancer.

 

THAT is my problem with smoking. If smoking did not have this affect, and it only smelled - NO PROBLEM! Smoke to yours heart content on your balcony and do it all day. I actually don't mind the smell of cigarettes. But I wouldn't my child to be standing on the balcony I paid for, inhaling carcinogens because the smoker below couldn't take an elevator to a designated smoking spot where everyone can slowly kill each other together.

 

No second hand smoke studies were performed on cruise ship balconies. They were all in confined areas. There are also many many studies that contradict the "second hand smoke causes lung cancer" results you reference. You probably breathe in more carcinogens from the ships stack than from someones second hand smoke.

 

If only a smoker had to get a good whiff of a smell that is offensive to them (like smelling the sewage smell in their cabin) for a week and then maybe they would understand that to nonsmokers that don't smell that smell all the time and arent used to it, it is very offensive. To me it is even offensive when i can smell it on someone's clothes. I agree that having a section of cabins designated as smoking cabins would please more passengers! I hope and pray that we do not experience this on our cruise. It's our first balcony and we are looking forward to the views and the smell of the sweet salty air!

 

 

I have smelled plenty of offensive smelling perfume that I couldn't get away from. Some of it actually made me choke. Maybe that should be banned too. Or maybe RCCL should require all cruisers to take a shower with soap a minimum of once per day, and before entering ANY food area, as those with questionable hygene practices probably offend as many people as smokers do. I would need more than all of my fingers and toes to count the number of people who come into the buffet at lunch time straight from the pool area or exercise room stinking so badly I can smell them from 10 feet away.

 

 

I definitely think what people are smoking has to be a factor in this. Seriously, if people don't get that crap like Marlboros are just poison, then they need a smack in the face. Now, a high quality cigar or even natural cigs or heck even weed smell doesn't bother me. But the smell of a low quality cigarette is heinous. I promise I'm not anti-tobacco. I'm anti what they put in crap cigarettes, and it is proven.

 

I have found Camels to be some of the best smelling smokes.

 

 

First of all, I am a NON SMOKER

 

To everyone claiming that the smoke you are smelling on your balcony is going to cause you lung problems, quite frankly, you are completely out to lunch. My doctor friend, who happens to be a smoker, told me that what those studies don't tell you is that you have to breathe in heavily concentrated smoke filled air, for long periods of time, to even affect lungs with disorders. Just because you smell smoke, you aren't necessarily breathing it in. Anti smoking fiends are just like anti anything fiends. They will swear it "ruined our trip".

 

As far as I am concerned, smokers should be able to light up wherever they darn well please. If I dont like it, I can simply walk away. If I decide it will "ruin my cruise", I will simply find another line to sail with. These are called choices.

 

For all those who want to sail on ships with the smoking bans, go book on the ones that already have them. If RCCL sees a mass exodous to other lines because of their smoking policies, they will probably change it.

 

For those who posted that they are now sailing X because of the smoking policy, why do you care what RCCL does? You already have your smoking ban with your new line.

 

This is quite simply another situation of "I don't like what you do, so I want to force you to quit your legal activity by having the governing body join my side" What makes your "right to a cruise without having to smell smoke" any more important than someone elses "right" to be able to enjoy a legal product?

 

Smokers have been getting the short end of the stick for at least the last 30 years.