Smoking on Oceania--is it a problem?

[Caroldoll]

We are currently on Crystal and are simply disgusted with the smell of smoke in all of the public areas. Is there a problem with this on Oceania. We have done Oceania once and never noticed it, but we have also done Crystal many times and never had this problem. Needless to say we are cancelling a lot of upcoming cruises.

 

I do believe in smokers rights, but they should have a room all of their own with good ventillation and a bar and this could be their own area. My opinion only.

[nooosey]

Hi Caroldol,

I also have been on Crystal and also "O" Riviera and Marina. I found smoke to be less of a problem on Oceania where there is a section at the end of the pool designated for smokers, there is also a room section in the corner of the deck 15 Horizons Lounge for smokers which helps to separate them. I did not notice much smoke elsewhere on the ships. Last time I was on Crystal I did observe smoking in The Crystal Cove and The Avenue Saloon, I am not sure if Crystal smoking rules have now changed or will be changed in the near future. I have not been on the smaller "O" ships so cannot comment on smoke on those ships.

[Benita]

The only times we have had problems with the smoke on Oceania, have been on the R class ships - we were on the Regatta in Alaska and the Horizons has a wall separating the smoking from nonsmoking sections. The smoking area was very crowded and although the smokers stayed in that area, their smoke did not and it was awful. After the first day, we skipped afternoon tea. The smoke wafted out of the Horizons and down the staircase, so we could smell it strongly a deck down. On the Riviera and Marina, there is a separate room in the Horizons, so the smoke was contained and the rest of the lounge was fine. There is a small area near the pool on all ships for smoking, but that area can be avoided.

Interestingly, we have been on all three of the smaller ships (I guess there are two now) and the only one we had a problem with was the Regatta. I don't know what it was about going to Alaska that attracted all those smokers.

[digtexas]

Carol,

On our TA on the Crystal Symphony this past September, the smoke in the Cove was indeed a problem. As you know, the casino and Avenue Saloon go smoke free on Jan. 1 but smoking will still be permitted in the Cove. We sail on the Riviera on Jan. 3 and I will report my impressions regarding this issue. O's smoking policy definitely sounds better than Crystal's.

Happy New Year Phillip.

[pacheco18]

Smoking is a BIG problem on O -- if you're a smoker!

[orchestrapal]

Smoking is a BIG problem on O -- if you're a smoker!

 

With only two smoking areas on the R ships they are very easily avoided.

On the O . ships they have, smartly, enclosed the one indoor smoking area

so that you won' t have to deal with any indoor smoke. You' 'll love Oceania's non- smoking atmosphere!

[Benita]

With only two smoking areas on the R ships they are very easily avoided.

On the O . ships they have, smartly, enclosed the one indoor smoking area

so that you won' t have to deal with any indoor smoke. You' 'll love Oceania's non- smoking atmosphere!

 

I was able to avoid the Horizons on Regatta, but that meant missing the best part of a sea day, which is the afternoon tea.

[LHT28]

I was able to avoid the Horizons on Regatta, but that meant missing the best part of a sea day, which is the afternoon tea.

I think it also depends on the number of smokers on your cruise

We have not really had a problem on the R-ships in Horizons the only time we noticed it was at tea one day we were later arriving & had to sit on the port side close to the smokers section but there were only 3 or 4 people there at the time

 

 

lyn

[hondorner]

We've never had a problem in Horizons on Regatta or Insignia unless we made the mistake of entering the lounge on the Port side. Perhaps we've just been fortunate that not many smokers were on our "R" ship cruises.

 

We've also learned to avoid the forward Starboard corner of the pool deck, especially if there are cigar smokers (they can't smoke cigars in the Horizons spot). Once you get in the habit of using the doors on the opposite side of the ship, you should not have any problems. There are no passenger cabins near the pool deck smoking spot that could be affected.

 

We once sailed on the Celebrity Mercury after smoking had been banned on their balconies. We thought we'd have no problem, especally because we had an extended Sky Suite balcony all the way up on Deck 12. Unfortunately, the outdoor smoking area on that ship was in the aft Port corner of the sun deck, just 10 feet forward of our Port side balcony. All the smoke blew on to our balcony and rendered both it and the possibility of openng the door unusable. That won't happen on an Oceana ship.

[dlouise]

We were on the Riviera last June and had no problem with smoke at all. The small area by the pool where smoking is allowed did not bother anyone. I am a reformed smoker of 20 years that can not tolerate the smell of smoke and I loved the smoke free atmosphere of the ship so much that we rebooked for this July and can't wait.

[HappilyRetiredToo]

On Riveria, there are ONLY two smoking places. Period. One was a lounge outside the Horizons lounge, forward, port side. You CAN smell it a bit when you go past. The OTHER is an area - ONE SMALL AREA - on the Pool deck - forward on the starboard side. DW and I were looking to play some cards on a sea day, and STARTED to grab a table in that area when the smell hit us, and we moved on to a different area.

[gillianrose]

We've never had a problem in Horizons on Regatta or Insignia unless we made the mistake of entering the lounge on the Port side. Perhaps we've just been fortunate that not many smokers were on our "R" ship cruises.

 

We've also learned to avoid the forward Starboard corner of the pool deck, especially if there are cigar smokers (they can't smoke cigars in the Horizons spot). Once you get in the habit of using the doors on the opposite side of the ship, you should not have any problems. There are no passenger cabins near the pool deck smoking spot that could be affected.

 

We once sailed on the Celebrity Mercury after smoking had been banned on their balconies. We thought we'd have no problem, especally because we had an extended Sky Suite balcony all the way up on Deck 12. Unfortunately, the outdoor smoking area on that ship was in the aft Port corner of the sun deck, just 10 feet forward of our Port side balcony. All the smoke blew on to our balcony and rendered both it and the possibility of openng the door unusable. That won't happen on an Oceana ship.

 

People who have had balcony cabins on the starboard side of Oceania ships nearest the smoking section on the pool deck (a deck below the smoking area there are balcony cabins) have reported smoke odor, so it can happen on Oceania, too.

 

As for the Mercury (which has left the fleet), a little research would have confirmed for you ahead of time that the smoking section was located almost immediately forward of the cabin you booked, so you were essentially doomed right off the bat. Your TA should have informed you of this, because it was well known that was one of the smoking areas, and the only one near cabins. I don't know if that smoking area is gone on the Mercury's sister-ship the Century, but I sure wouldn't book the area you did.

 

Wanting one of those large balconies on the Mercury (and Century), it is or was best to book either the starboard side of the ship or the last cabins on the port side, so that the smoke would not have affected you. Those balconies are fantastic, so I can understand you wanted one of them, but you just happened to get the worst one.

[hondorner]

People who have had balcony cabins on the starboard side of Oceania ships nearest the smoking section on the pool deck (a deck below the smoking area there are balcony cabins) have reported smoke odor, so it can happen on Oceania, too.

 

As for the Mercury (which has left the fleet), a little research would have confirmed for you ahead of time that the smoking section was located almost immediately forward of the cabin you booked, so you were essentially doomed right off the bat. Your TA should have informed you of this, because it was well known that was one of the smoking areas, and the only one near cabins. I don't know if that smoking area is gone on the Mercury's sister-ship the Century, but I sure wouldn't book the area you did.

 

Wanting one of those large balconies on the Mercury (and Century), it is or was best to book either the starboard side of the ship or the last cabins on the port side, so that the smoke would not have affected you. Those balconies are fantastic, so I can understand you wanted one of them, but you just happened to get the worst one.

I suppose it's possble that a random air current could take the smoker's odor up and out from under the sundeck, over the glass windows at the pool deck and down to the balconies, but I would have thought it unlkely, especally on Marina and Rivera where those balcones are under the overhang created by the pool deck.

 

It's a shame Mercury is no longer with the fleet, as it was (along with Century) the smallest remaining Celebrity ship, larger than Marina or Riviera but stll tolerable. I can't see myself on the larger ships. Also, Mercury had the best thalassotherapy pool of just about any ship, as far as I know. The suite included privileges to the pool and we enjoyed it every day. If I ever had the chance to sail ler again, I would book exactly the same suite but on the Starboard side. Lesson learned. I did not consult my TA on the placement of the cabin; I did my own research and simply flubbed it.

[Caroldoll]

five Oceania cruises. We loved Crystal until this and now we are over it completely. Because it is allowed in the Cove it goes up...and through the entire ship. They must be completely insensitive to it. Even the short wait to the MDR is horrible. Enough of this though...I will look forward to my time on Oceania!

[lahore]

My husband and I are both reformed smokers of the worst kind: vocal about it too! It's true that you don't notice how vile and nauseating the smell is until you give up (for us that's >20 years ago). We have spent over nine weeks on Oceania Nautica in the last four years and never had a problem with smoking. Yes you can smell it on the port side upstairs near the pool, but I just don't go near there: i do respect their right to have somewhere to kill themselves expensively :p. We often do Horizon's for afternoon tea and just stay right on the other side as far as humanly possible: never really noticed any smell.

[dlouise]

We were in cabin 12015, on the starboard side, in an Oceania suite on the pool deck and there was NO smoke aroma on our terrace. We had to walk past the smoking area to enter the ship from the pool, and were never bothered by any smoke. We certainly would not have rebooked the same suite for this summer if we had been bothered at all.

 

We have also sailed with Regent and we find Oceania far more smoke free.

[ORV]

My husband and I are both reformed smokers of the worst kind: vocal about it too! It's true that you don't notice how vile and nauseating the smell is until you give up (for us that's >20 years ago). We have spent over nine weeks on Oceania Nautica in the last four years and never had a problem with smoking. Yes you can smell it on the port side upstairs near the pool, but I just don't go near there: i do respect their right to have somewhere to kill themselves expensively :p. We often do Horizon's for afternoon tea and just stay right on the other side as far as humanly possible: never really noticed any smell.

 

Well up until now the discussion had remained free of the vitriol you tend to see on the Celebrity board in smoking discussions. I was even thinking of commenting on how nice it is to see a civil conversation on the subject. Oh well :(

[HappilyRetiredToo]

Well up until now the discussion had remained free of the vitriol :(

 

Orv - Methinks you have a VERY low threshhold for vitrol. This discussion has been VERY mild. But then, YMMV

[lahore]

Well up until now the discussion had remained free of the vitriol you tend to see on the Celebrity board in smoking discussions. I was even thinking of commenting on how nice it is to see a civil conversation on the subject. Oh well :(

 

Omg, you thought that my comment was vitriolic? Wow. Believe me, on a scale of my capacity for vitriol, it wasn't. Just an attempt at humour.

[ORV]

Just an attempt at humour.

 

In my opinion you failed, but I'm not here for an argument. I don't smoke cigarettes, I quit 15 years ago and haven't touched one since. I just hate to see the constant smoker bashing on CC. Yeah, I get it, most people don't like it.

 

I see no need to describe other people as vile, nauseating and giving them your permission to kill themselves.

 

But hey, that's just me. I think people can give their opinion and let others know they don't like something without attacks.

[gillianrose]

In my opinion you failed, but I'm not here for an argument. I don't smoke cigarettes, I quit 15 years ago and haven't touched one since. I just hate to see the constant smoker bashing on CC. Yeah, I get it, most people don't like it.

 

I see no need to describe other people as vile, nauseating and giving them your permission to kill themselves.

 

But hey, that's just me. I think people can give their opinion and let others know they don't like something without attacks.

 

I am not here to attack you, but to give my opinion, to state my dislike for smoking of cigarettes and cigars and to set the record straight, as you emphasized you don't smoke cigarettes and you "just hate to see the constant smoker bashing". Your post neglects to mention that you are an avowed CIGAR smoker and do smoke cigars on ships.

 

As much as I dislike the odor of cigarettes, I find the smell of cigars to be throughly nauseating. From comments I have read through the years here on Cruise Critic, I know I am not alone in that opinion.

[gillianrose]

My husband and I are both reformed smokers of the worst kind: vocal about it too! It's true that you don't notice how vile and nauseating the smell is until you give up (for us that's >20 years ago). We have spent over nine weeks on Oceania Nautica in the last four years and never had a problem with smoking. Yes you can smell it on the port side upstairs near the pool, but I just don't go near there: i do respect their right to have somewhere to kill themselves expensively :p. We often do Horizon's for afternoon tea and just stay right on the other side as far as humanly possible: never really noticed any smell.

 

Unless there has been a change, the smoking area near the pool is on the starboard side on Oceania. It's Celebrity (and maybe Azamara) that have the smoking sections on the port side.

 

To clarify my own post about the balconies that have sometimes been affected by smoke odor on Oceania were balconies on the "R" ships, not Marina or Riviera.

[ORV]

I am not here to attack you, but to give my opinion, to state my dislike for smoking of cigarettes and cigars and to set the record straight, as you emphasized you don't smoke cigarettes and you "just hate to see the constant smoker bashing". Your post neglects to mention that you are an avowed CIGAR smoker and do smoke cigars on ships.

 

As much as I dislike the odor of cigarettes, I find the smell of cigars to be throughly nauseating. From comments I have read through the years here on Cruise Critic, I know I am not alone in that opinion.

 

Doesn't change anything, the rules are still what they are. We're all welcome to our likes and dislikes. And yes, if I couldn't smoke a cigar on a cruise line I wouldn't cruise on it. It's a deal breaker. I've never made a secret out of it. But you'll only find me smoking in the places designated for cigars. Don't see your point in needing to bring it up. Does that make me a lesser person? Unfortunately in some people's mind the answer is yes. Still it never gives anyone the right to bash others. Expressing an opinion and saying you don't like it is fine. Unfortunately some feel the need to take it too far.

 

All I'm saying is the subject can be discussed without the holier than thou attitudes that are so frequently exhibited on CC. For the most part on this topic it was. Question asked, question answered. I'm done.

[fairbourne]

In my opinion you failed, but I'm not here for an argument. I don't smoke cigarettes, I quit 15 years ago and haven't touched one since. I just hate to see the constant smoker bashing on CC. Yeah, I get it, most people don't like it.

 

I see no need to describe other people as vile, nauseating and giving them your permission to kill themselves.

 

But hey, that's just me. I think people can give their opinion and let others know they don't like something without attacks.

 

My reading of Lahore's post was not that she found "people as vile, nauseating" but rather their smoke! Not that she needs me to defend her postings of course;):)!!

 

But it would be helpful if you would read what was written if you are going to make comment.

 

BTW I could care less whether you, or anyone else for that matter, smoked cigars or cigarettes, but like others here if you or anyone else infringes on the enjoyment of my holiday by smoking where you are not supposed to, then yes we'll make our views known! I am totally with Lahore on that.

 

As a cigar smoker, if you take offence at that, well so be it. But like the majority of people these days, we get that smoking kills and passive smoking kills!

[orchestrapal]

Unless there has been a change, the smoking area near the pool is on the starboard side on Oceania. It's Celebrity (and maybe Azamara) that have the smoking sections on the port side.

 

To clarify my own post about the balconies that have sometimes been affected by smoke odor on Oceania were balconies on the "R" ships, not Marina or Riviera.

 

We had on occasion, day one, when we smelled smoke from a balcony and quickly identified the cabin to our butler....Never happened again on a 29 day cruise. You don't ever have to suffer from smoke on R ships if you keep away from the two allotted areas. No problem. Hopefully this would be the same on the O ships.