How bad is the smoking on Allure?

[Gonzo70]

Sorry Gonzo but that's a load of crap. Yes there were areas where we smelled smoke but they were far and few and easily avoidable. No one should buy what you're selling.

 

OP, comments like this should be a red flag as to how out of control the smoking is on Allure. RCI has a 20th Century smoking policy and the smokers realize the end is near before significant changes come and attack anybody who exposes the truth. I would never have sailed Allure had I known how smoky it was. Most of the Royal Promenade reeks because of indoor smoking at Boleros and the pub. The smoke drifts upstairs to the Diamond Lounge and Schooner Bar. The casino is atrocious and is open, so the smoke drifts right over to the nonsmoking side and out to the entrance to the MDR on deck four and entrance to the theater. All the lounges with late night activity (Bloeros, Blaze and Dazzles) have smoking areas. There is a crew smoking area near the fitness center that leads to the gym reeking, especially while the ship is in port. Booking a balcony is a crapshoot. Smoke from indoor areas is vented out to the nonsmoking Central Park neighborhood. On top of this lots of smoking in nonsmoking areas occurred on my sailing.

 

Do your self a favor and avoid RCI and especially Oasis and Allure until they modernize their smoking policy. Celebrity and Princess are good lines and have much, much, much better smoking policies.

[TravelerThom]

... So why, why, why, would any of the above posters who have such concerns with smoke bother cruising on a ship that permits smoking? Why take the risk? I'll never understand this, and I don't even smoke.

Since the demise of the Carnival Paradise I am unaware of ANY cruise ship that does not permit smoking in at least some areas. If I follow your thoughts, anybody that attempts to minimize their exposure to smoke should never sail. An extension of this logic would seem to be to not allow yourself to be born on this planet, since as far as I know every country allows smoking in at least some areas.

 

Thom

[yarlenna]

OK; I'm reading through this. I empathize with the posters over issues that are troublesome to them. So why, why, why, would any of the above posters who have such concerns with smoke bother cruising on a ship that permits smoking? Why take the risk? I'll never understand this, and I don't even smoke.

 

 

Teddie

 

Please tell me which ship that all the fun stuff for the young and young at heart. You know, I am looking for a ship with ice skate rings, FlowRiders, Zip line, Mini-golf course etc. How about some cartoon characters. Disney is not non-smoker friendly either.

If I am going to take a cruise - I want it to be fun. I would also LOVE to be able to enjoy all the things the ship has to enjoy without having to take something for asthma. I hope RCI is reading this stuff and thinks about the people who want to be able to breathe.

[mmcruise]

We loved Allure, don't get me wrong...BUT.... I'm a nearly-11-year ex-smoker, and believe people have the right to choose to do it in designated area if they want. But seriously, even my 9 year old smelled it when we took the spa tour and walked through the fitness center. Gave me a great excuse not to go there all week, but I can't believe some genius decided to put the smoking area right where it vents there. (Guessing it is the same genius who decided to put the free weight area in the gym right above the sauna/steam room/heated beds which are supposed to be a relaxation area. Here's how it works: you finally settle back on your heated bed, close your eyes and - BOOM! But I'm off topic).

 

I don't mind smoke and it even bothered me.

 

Not sure if it helps, but that's my observation.

[toxicfairy]

My husband and I went on our first cruise last May on Rhapsody to Alaska (Vancouver-Seattle). This was the first Alaska trip for the ship after arriving from Hawaii. For some reason the entire interior of the ship, from what I could tell, seemed non-smoking. I never smelled any in the casino or in the Viking Crown lounge (was only in there a few times during the day to read) and never spent any time in the Shall We Dance lounge. Maybe I just got lucky and just managed to avoid the smoke (except on the outside deck on the one side of the ship that I knew was the smoking side).

 

I have an allergy to tobacco smoke which makes me not fun at parties (more accurately parties not fun for me). Basically I get a mild asthma-attack reaction (coughing, little harder to breathe, etc) and do my best to avoid being around smokers.

 

I've been reading a lot of reviews on the Oasis and Allure after having booked an oceanview balcony for Oct 2013 on the Allure to prepare for our trip. I know the oceanview balconies on both sides are smoking so I picked a cabin closer to the front of the ship to help cut down on the number of people who could be smoking in front of us. I seem to be finding many comments lately about how prevelant the indoor smoking areas are on the Allure and I'm worried I wont be able to get from one side of the ship to the other without having to hold my breath.

 

I'm looking for honest comments on the extent of smoking on the ship so I can be better prepared or choose a different vacation. This trip is a very big deal for us as I am a horrible flyer and am expecting to have to take multiple planes from Vancouver, BC. We are also planning to stay several days pre-cruise in Orlando to make it worth while (hubby NEEDS to go to Harry Potter world).

 

Thanks :)

 

Hello You will get alot of crud around here for saying you are "allergic" to smoke from ciggaretts. I know exactly how you feel since a few years ago I found out I have asthma that is triggered by allergins. My doctor told me basically if it makes you cough it will trigger your asthma...a cold ....or any thing that irritates my throat. Once the coughing starts my air way constricts and my asthma takes over. I thought this was crazy and he was exaggerating ...found out he was not :( Good news is although ciggarett smoke does set me off (only if I linger around it) I have never had an issue on a cruise. There just has never been that much smoke in any one area that I could not get away from ! Out of 4 cruises and 3 of them having a balcony I have never not been able to sit out on the balcony. Even the casinos are not that bad and you can always walk out of a cloud of smoke. I have not been on the Oasis class yet (have to wait until August) but we have done Freedom twice (also a very large ship) and Navigator once and no problems!! You should be fine !

[teddie]

Since the demise of the Carnival Paradise I am unaware of ANY cruise ship that does not permit smoking in at least some areas. If I follow your thoughts, anybody that attempts to minimize their exposure to smoke should never sail. An extension of this logic would seem to be to not allow yourself to be born on this planet, since as far as I know every country allows smoking in at least some areas.

 

Thom

 

I think your extrapolation is a bit of a stretch. My actual point is that perhaps a cruise line with a more liberal smoking policy (i.e. RCI permits smoking on one's balcony) might not be the best choice for those who posted about an allergy or sensitivity to smoke.

 

Please tell me which ship that all the fun stuff for the young and young at heart. You know, I am looking for a ship with ice skate rings, FlowRiders, Zip line, Mini-golf course etc. How about some cartoon characters. Disney is not non-smoker friendly either.

If I am going to take a cruise - I want it to be fun. I would also LOVE to be able to enjoy all the things the ship has to enjoy without having to take something for asthma. I hope RCI is reading this stuff and thinks about the people who want to be able to breathe.

 

What cruise line you choose is up to you. If I was fearful of not being able to breathe, I would choose carefully. Your health should come first.

 

Teddie

[TravelerThom]

... My actual point is that perhaps a cruise line with a more liberal smoking policy (i.e. RCI permits smoking on one's balcony) might not be the best choice for those who posted about an allergy or sensitivity to smoke...

I readily concur with your point phrased this way. Fortunately there are a enough choices out there that [almost] all of us can find a ship to our personal tastes and needs [okay, I never have found a luxury cruise for $10/day:rolleyes:]

 

happy sails

Thom

[DON M.]

OP, comments like this should be a red flag as to how out of control the smoking is on Allure. RCI has a 20th Century smoking policy and the smokers realize the end is near before significant changes come and attack anybody who exposes the truth. I would never have sailed Allure had I known how smoky it was. Most of the Royal Promenade reeks because of indoor smoking at Boleros and the pub. The smoke drifts upstairs to the Diamond Lounge and Schooner Bar. The casino is atrocious and is open, so the smoke drifts right over to the nonsmoking side and out to the entrance to the MDR on deck four and entrance to the theater. All the lounges with late night activity (Bloeros, Blaze and Dazzles) have smoking areas. There is a crew smoking area near the fitness center that leads to the gym reeking, especially while the ship is in port. Booking a balcony is a crapshoot. Smoke from indoor areas is vented out to the nonsmoking Central Park neighborhood. On top of this lots of smoking in nonsmoking areas occurred on my sailing.

 

Do your self a favor and avoid RCI and especially Oasis and Allure until they modernize their smoking policy. Celebrity and Princess are good lines and have much, much, much better smoking policies.

 

The worst is when the smoke travels from the Casino, up to the Windjammer, over to the pool and then up to the top of the rock-wall, ,making it very uncomfortable for the

climbers.

[teddie]

I readily concur with your point phrased this way. Fortunately there are a enough choices out there that [almost] all of us can find a ship to our personal tastes and needs [okay, I never have found a luxury cruise for $10/day:rolleyes:]

 

happy sails

Thom

 

When you do find one, let me know :)

 

Teddie

[Kesstral]

Wow, I really wasn't expecting to get any responses. Thank you to everyone that shared their personal experience on the Allure, it is very helpful. I would definitely consider another cruise line down the road knowing what I do now about their smoking policies but I'm still going to be open to options for itinerary, price and ships.

 

OK; I'm reading through this. I empathize with the posters over issues that are troublesome to them. So why, why, why, would any of the above posters who have such concerns with smoke bother cruising on a ship that permits smoking? Why take the risk? I'll never understand this, and I don't even smoke.

Teddie

 

I guess I'm lucky that exposure to cigarette smoke is not debilitating to me, just an irritant. I spent a week in Northern Ireland in 2001 for a wedding and that was like being in an ashtray the entire time (that country enacted non-smoking policies in 2007 I believe). I know getting to and from Florida is going to be my biggest risk and I have a completely irrational fear that I'm going to die in a fiery plane crash (my husband tries very hard not to laugh at me when I cry on take-off, landing, making banked turns, turbulence, etc).

 

So why would I risk sailing on the Allure when I'm sensitive to cigarette smoke? Because no other cruise line has an Oasis class ship and because my husband has input on this vacation too and he wanted to try this class of ship. I can't avoid enjoying things in life because I might have to hold my breath once in a while. Instead just ask questions, do research, and make informed decisions.

 

I do understand the concern the OP asked about and the others who have posted on this thread.

But what I don't get is, and please, OP, I'm not trying to be rude to you, but how would ANYBODY know what the smoking situation will be like on your cruise??

To me, it goes in the same bucket as asking, "Will the seas be calm when I cruise?" or "What will the weather be like in ______________ in February of 2014 for my cruise?"

No one can look in a crystal ball and predict these things. You may have 15 cabins around you, ALL with smokers. But then again, you may no one around your cabin that smokes. How would anyone know???

 

I never expected anyone to be able to tell me what the conditions would be like for my cruise because that would be unreasonable. I know it's going to be a crap shoot with the rooms around us and we are taking a risk by booking an oceanview balcony but we simply do not want a boardwalk or central park balcony. I may have failed to word my original post clearly enough to convey that we were aware of the balcony risks and that I was looking for input on the indoor areas of the ship.

 

I asked for other peoples experience on the Allure so that I could set proper expectations on what conditions could be like and areas that I may want to avoid. I don't spend time in night clubs/bars and probably won't frequent the casino much so avoiding these areas for smoke won't be much loss. I won't cancel my cruise on one bad review but would take notice at an overwhelming majority of negative complaints. A healthy dose of skepticism is required on the internet when it comes to reviews. I generally read all the negative reviews on a hotel or product I am considering and decide if the legitimate concerns are something I could live with or address if it occurred while throwing out the unreasonable rants of trolls and chronic complainers (and posts with poor grammar, bad spelling, AND YELLING IN ALL CAPS).

 

Hello You will get alot of crud around here for saying you are "allergic" to smoke from ciggaretts. I know exactly how you feel since a few years ago I found out I have asthma that is triggered by allergins. My doctor told me basically if it makes you cough it will trigger your asthma...a cold ....or any thing that irritates my throat. Once the coughing starts my air way constricts and my asthma takes over. I thought this was crazy and he was exaggerating ...found out he was not Good news is although ciggarett smoke does set me off (only if I linger around it) I have never had an issue on a cruise. There just has never been that much smoke in any one area that I could not get away from ! Out of 4 cruises and 3 of them having a balcony I have never not been able to sit out on the balcony. Even the casinos are not that bad and you can always walk out of a cloud of smoke. I have not been on the Oasis class yet (have to wait until August) but we have done Freedom twice (also a very large ship) and Navigator once and no problems!! You should be fine !

 

I've spent my entire life being ridiculed for "coughing" around smokers, being told it's all in my head (even by my parents as a child) and it's reassuring to know I'm not alone (I finally have a specialists appointment booked, albeit not until next July). I thoroughly enjoy the non-smoking policies in BC and wish the "no smoking in a car with children under the age of 16" was around when I was growing up. I know I'm not going to be able to avoid smoke everywhere and smokers have their own rights to smoke (even though I have my own opinions on how bad it is) as long as they are mindful that the suspended particulate and gases they exhale get shared with everyone around them whether they want to share in it or not.

[dchillis]

Here we go again. Someone wants to stir the pot. Lol

Smoking is allowed on all ships some stricter then others its just a fact. Most normal non smokers don't really have a problem with it. Then there's the non smoking freaks that whine and act childish and try and come on here with percentages that show if you walk by someone smoking you will surely drop dead. Funny thing happened in the last go around a Dr. posted that its bunk. So to answer your question on how bad smoking is on the Allure depends on who you ask. Normal sensible person or fanatical compulsive complainer person.

[dchillis]

Go to a KOA campground!!!!

 

Avoid all ships!

 

A way for cruise lines to make more money. Rent out gas masks. Lol

[dchillis]

OK; I'm reading through this. I empathize with the posters over issues that are troublesome to them. So why, why, why, would any of the above posters who have such concerns with smoke bother cruising on a ship that permits smoking? Why take the risk? I'll never understand this, and I don't even smoke.

 

 

Teddie

 

Because their goal here is to try and get smoking banned on all CL's. There are sites on the Internet that tell cruisers the first thing they should do when they board the ship is go directly to a staff member and complain about smoking. These people know that they have better options but they want all the options. Bunch of selfish crybabies.

[Kesstral]

Here we go again. Someone wants to stir the pot. Lol

Smoking is allowed on all ships some stricter then others its just a fact. Most normal non smokers don't really have a problem with it. Then there's the non smoking freaks that whine and act childish and try and come on here with percentages that show if you walk by someone smoking you will surely drop dead. Funny thing happened in the last go around a Dr. posted that its bunk. So to answer your question on how bad smoking is on the Allure depends on who you ask. Normal sensible person or fanatical compulsive complainer person.

 

My apologies if my post came across to you as "stirring the pot". I explicitly asked for responses from cruisers who have actually been on Allure and what their experiences were with smoking so I could make an informed decision. I noticed in your profile that you've sailed on only 2 RCL ships, neither of which were the Allure.

 

The internet is full of people with opinions and incorrect facts. It's what happens when everyone can hide behind the anonymity of an IP address.

[dchillis]

My apologies if my post came across to you as "stirring the pot". I explicitly asked for responses from cruisers who have actually been on Allure and what their experiences were with smoking so I could make an informed decision. I noticed in your profile that you've sailed on only 2 RCL ships, neither of which were the Allure. Your experience across multiple lines is appreciated.

 

The internet is full of people with opinions and incorrect facts. It's what happens when everyone can hide behind the anonymity of an IP address.

 

Then why did you ask your question on the Internet. As someone said in a pervious post no one can tell you how it'll be on your cruise. And it looks like the answers so far prove that.

[dchillis]

Another vote for Celebrity or Princess. I was just on Allure a few weeks ago and was shocked by how many areas reeked of smoke. RCI is really catering to smokers and Allure and Oasis have several indoor smoking areas. The smoke spills into nearby nonsmoking areas and some smoke is even vented out in nonsmoking areas. Even the fitness center reeked of smoke from an adjacent crew smoking area. If you have a decent sense of smell and dislike smoke do not sail Allure. Unless you luck out and have a low number of smokers chances are your cruise will be significantly impacted.

 

Gonzo did you copy and paste that from the last smoking thread lol

[Kesstral]

Then why did you ask your question on the Internet.

 

So trolls don't starve.

[dchillis]

So trolls don't starve.

 

Trolls ah haha that really shut me up. You can call me a troll but at least I have a spine

[teddie]

So why would I risk sailing on the Allure when I'm sensitive to cigarette smoke? Because no other cruise line has an Oasis class ship and because my husband has input on this vacation too and he wanted to try this class of ship. I can't avoid enjoying things in life because I might have to hold my breath once in a while. Instead just ask questions, do research, and make informed decisions.

 

It's nice when an OP responds; your clarification is enlightening, and your final sentence says it all. Thanks for your reply, and happy sailing.

 

Teddie

[Booking It]

OP, comments like this should be a red flag as to how out of control the smoking is on Allure. RCI has a 20th Century smoking policy and the smokers realize the end is near before significant changes come and attack anybody who exposes the truth. I would never have sailed Allure had I known how smoky it was. Most of the Royal Promenade reeks because of indoor smoking at Boleros and the pub. The smoke drifts upstairs to the Diamond Lounge and Schooner Bar. The casino is atrocious and is open, so the smoke drifts right over to the nonsmoking side and out to the entrance to the MDR on deck four and entrance to the theater. All the lounges with late night activity (Bloeros, Blaze and Dazzles) have smoking areas. There is a crew smoking area near the fitness center that leads to the gym reeking, especially while the ship is in port. Booking a balcony is a crapshoot. Smoke from indoor areas is vented out to the nonsmoking Central Park neighborhood. On top of this lots of smoking in nonsmoking areas occurred on my sailing.

 

Do your self a favor and avoid RCI and especially Oasis and Allure until they modernize their smoking policy. Celebrity and Princess are good lines and have much, much, much better smoking policies.

I totally agree. The smoke from Boleros made that entire end of the Roual Promenade reek of smoke. Every time I walked through that end I actually tought to myself that it was such a shame that this beautiful area had to be ruined by the smoke. Luckily, that was my only major issue with the smoke on our cruise. The only other time I really noticed smoke was if I exited the Solarium on the port side and you get a woosh of smoke flying at you when the doors open. I learned very quickly to exit and enter on the starboard side! I don't have any allergies... I just loathe the smell (I grew up with a father who smoked and I do everything that I can to avoid it now that I am an adult and can choose where to go rather than being forced to be around it).

[Debde]

Please tell me which ship that all the fun stuff for the young and young at heart. You know, I am looking for a ship with ice skate rings, FlowRiders, Zip line, Mini-golf course etc. How about some cartoon characters. Disney is not non-smoker friendly either.

If I am going to take a cruise - I want it to be fun. I would also LOVE to be able to enjoy all the things the ship has to enjoy without having to take something for asthma. I hope RCI is reading this stuff and thinks about the people who want to be able to breathe.

 

Let's see-health issues verses mini-golf-it's all about priorities for some.

If I knew smoke could bring on an attack I'd be on Celebrity in a heartbeat!! Being hauled off the ship due to a medical emergency could not be any fun.

[FOXTROT]

Give me a break. You know where the smoking areas are - don't walk thru them. Yes you might smell smoke. We do sometimes leaving our favorite club & restaurant. Will we stop going there, heavens no. Itook the dog out this morning & still could smell my neighbors bonfire from last night. Should I call the hazmet team & not go out. ;)

[hubofhockey]

 

 

So why would I risk sailing on the Allure when I'm sensitive to cigarette smoke? Because no other cruise line has an Oasis class ship and because my husband has input on this vacation too and he wanted to try this class of ship. I can't avoid enjoying things in life because I might have to hold my breath once in a while. Instead just ask questions, do research, and make informed decisions.

 

I never expected anyone to be able to tell me what the conditions would be like for my cruise because that would be unreasonable. I know it's going to be a crap shoot with the rooms around us and we are taking a risk by booking an oceanview balcony but we simply do not want a boardwalk or central park balcony. I may have failed to word my original post clearly enough to convey that we were aware of the balcony risks and that I was looking for input on the indoor areas of the ship.

 

 

I'm the opposite. I don't want the balcony risk and can't understand why you would spend so much $ taking on that risk. You could get a view of the ocean and the aqua shows from your balcony as well. But even with your issues of second hand smoke, you "simply" dismiss that option. Now you know the various parts of the ship to avoid. The rest is easy. The ship is so big with so many venues that you probably won't even have time to enjoy the venues that are nowhere near or exposed to smoke. By the way, I agree with your comment on this ship class being unique. As someone who generally prefers smoke free venues, I see this RCI cruise as an exception. There is no doubt that our upcoming Alaska and Baltics cruises will be on Princess and/or Celebrity. But if we make it back the Caribbean, if we enjoy the Boardwalk balcony, we definitely would consider the Oasis.

[Aquahound]

My apologies if my post came across to you as "stirring the pot". I explicitly asked for responses from cruisers who have actually been on Allure and what their experiences were with smoking so I could make an informed decision. I noticed in your profile that you've sailed on only 2 RCL ships, neither of which were the Allure.

 

The internet is full of people with opinions and incorrect facts. It's what happens when everyone can hide behind the anonymity of an IP address.

 

I am a non smoker who hates the smell of cigarette smoke. To be honest, I was not bothered by it on both Oasis and Allure. If my experience was that bad, I would not be going again in 2 weeks.

[hubofhockey]

I am a non smoker who hates the smell of cigarette smoke. To be honest, I was not bothered by it on both Oasis and Allure. If my experience was that bad, I would not be going again in 2 weeks.

 

Thanks. I have read very few posts about problems with second hand smoke on the Allure. Hopefully, we'll enjoy our Boardwalk balcony cabins. I actually think those are nice options on the Allure since we'll be busy all over the ship during the day and enjoy the aqua shows from there at night and maybe even enjoy some drinks out there at night in that nice setting for people watching and atmosphere. We'll see.