Smoking peace talks ....

[EnsignPulver]

By the way, why no complaints about barbeques on the deck and high sulfer marine diesel coming out the stacks?:confused:

[dinkydee718]

As I said earlier, I don't believe that a total ban on smoking is the appropriate response to this problem, but I definitely don't agree that comparing cigarette smoking to drinking alcohol is a workable analogy. The fact is that only irresponsible alcohol drinkers cause harm to others, while smoking affects others nearby in a closed off area like a boat no matter how careful you are. Having said that, I have never had any issues with people smoking on an outdoor balcony and I don't think that a typical smoker on a balcony would bother most non-smokers (Yes, I know others disagree with me about that). Still I do think a good argument could be made that NCL should modify their casino policy, at least based on what I have read on this site.

[Sauer-kraut]

Can we just put this to rest? There is no solution -- quite simple :)

[put me on a ship]

Instead of having the same old argument about why smoking is bad and how much I hate that it makes me sneeze or that its my right to smoke if NCL says I can .

We get it ..some hate the smell of smoke etc....some love to smoke and don't care if its unhealthy.....The question is how can we co-exist????????????????

 

The problem is, there are some people unwilling to co-exist, and as long as there are, it will never happen. Some people will complain no matter what. Personally, I like the idea of blocking off a section of rooms for smokers, but not sure that would ever happen.

[Diller12]

Sealed & ventilated rooms where smoke doesn't invade my airspace.

They could be a big as the casino if need be.

 

My airspace also includes the private/personal balcony I paid for.

If it isn't classified as private then take the partitions down and why not have one long open balcony.

I really don't think you wont to see me naked.!!!!:eek::eek:

[Blondie008]

i have never been a smoker, and i must be lucky, i have never been accosted by someone else's cigarette smoke....or maybe i just feel it is their right to smoke, just as it is my right not to. I agree with the posters who gave the advice, if you don't like smoke, or if you feel it is life threatening to you, choose a cruise line that is smoke free. It really doesn't get any easier than that.

 

hallelujah!!!! :d

[Casino Comp Chick]

The issue with smoking isn't that people use substances recreationally - it's that this particular form of drug use creates a giant stinking miasma that everyone in a hundred foot radius is subject to.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

You sound just like Bloomberg in your thinking (& no not in a good way). 100 foot radius? HaHa Just wondering though. If smoke & fumes are so bad why do we still have toll collectors on all bridges sucking up fumes? He (and most of the non smokers on here) just have a hard-on for smokers and that is the gist of it. He is just FOS certified. This is America and smoking is legal and people should just get used to it. If you want non smoking ships, just book elsewhere. It really is just simple as that.

[MommaBear55]

This is America and smoking is legal and people should just get used to it. If you want non smoking ships, just book elsewhere. It really is just simple as that.

 

Ummm, ships are not America. They sail under their country of registry. Ships have the right to make rules on their ships. There are smoking areas and non-smoking areas. We should each respect the rights of the others. I don't go to areas where people smoke. I would expect smokers not to smoke in nonsmoking areas.

[Casino Comp Chick]

Ummm, ships are not America. They sail under their country of registry. Ships have the right to make rules on their ships. There are smoking areas and non-smoking areas. We should each respect the rights of the others. I don't go to areas where people smoke. I would expect smokers not to smoke in nonsmoking areas.

 

Yes the cruise has rules, I follow them. The rule is, you can smoke on your balcony. I don't smoke in non-smoking areas. I do not smoke in my cabin. I do not go to the non-smoking side of the Lido deck. If the casino has a smoke free section I do not smoke there. The problem is non-smokers want it all and as long as nonsmokers try to infringe upon me their views and rules I will speak up. I had a woman scream at me on my balcony instead of politely asking if i would be out there long. You know what? I spent A LOT of my time on my balcony smoking. If she wasn't so nasty I would gladly have compromised. A little honey goes a lot further then vinegar. I have had people come into the smoking sections in Atlantic City casinos waving their arms, making comments etc. Yes I will blow my smoke at them purposely, They have 75% of the casino and your in my area complaining? What is wrong with this picture?

[Diller12]

Problem is non-smokers want it all and as long as nonsmokers try to infringe upon me their views and rules I will speak up.

"WELL SAID.!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NayRN]

I am a non-smoker and a severe asthmatic.....I know that by offering to help others quit is a waste of perfectly good, clean breath! I offer to assist smokers with their addiction on a DAILY basis....it's my job. Nothing I say or do will get a smoker to stop unless THEY want to stop. I have family members who smoke, got ill, ended up on a ventilator for days....had difficulty getting weaned from the ventilator....stayed in the hospital for 2-weeks without smoking. At this point, all the nicotine is out of their system. First thing they do when they get outside...yup! Light up a cigarette!! :eek:

 

My long-winded point is this....this is an old, stale argument that will never end in an agreement between smokers and non-smokers! It's not going to make a difference if we move all smokers to the top deck, next to the smoke stacks in a sealed room! Because the next argument from a non-smoker will be....THEY want THAT room because it has a better view of the scenery! :rolleyes:

 

I've never been next to a smoker on a cruise (that I know of) and have never been bothered by cigarette smoke except in the casino. If I make a decision to go to the casino, I go knowing I'm going to smell of nasty, stale cigarette smoke. But going to the casino was MY choice, just like staying away from the casino wold also be MY choice.

 

The only positive I find with those who smoke is....yup, job security! If that makes me sound hard-nosed and uncaring, you couldn't be more wrong! I've won national awards for my bedside compassion (the Daisy Award for Nursing...google it) and pride myself with the care I give to my patients and their family in the ICU. The difference is....I really know it's an addiction, just like over-eating and alcohol.....both of which run rampant on a cruise ship! Should we ban them as well???:confused:

 

Flame away! My skin is pretty thick.....remember, I work with arrogant physicians!!:eek:

[Starry Eyes]

The problem is, there are some people unwilling to co-exist, and as long as there are, it will never happen. Some people will complain no matter what. Personally, I like the idea of blocking off a section of rooms for smokers, but not sure that would ever happen.

 

Sad, but true.

 

A section of smoking balconies seems like an option, and I imagine the cruiselines have considered it. But it propbaly presents too many logistic issues. for example, there may be more smokers in balconies on some sailings than others. And if there is a scenic side for the sailing, does it go to the smokers or nonsmokers? and the travel companion of a light smoker (and some smokers themselves) may not be happy with a balcony surrounded in all directions by heavy smokers. And what of the balconies near the smoking section...who wants those...neither the smokers nor the nonsmokers. And the presence of a block of smoking balconies would devalue " guarantee balcony" category...again neither smokers nor nonsmokers would much want any old unspecified balcony.

 

I have had a balcony next to four chain smokers. I am a nonsmoker. I used the balcony far less because of the smoke. Still, I recognize that the smokers were within the rules, so I went elsewhere for fresh air. fortunately, that level of smoke is uncommon.

 

Not long ago, NCL allowed smoking in cabins. Though I never had a smelly cabin, I was glad when they disallowed cabin smoking. No matter how well one cleans a cabin, it is apt to stink if the previous guests smoked heavily in there for 10 or 14 days. As the proportion of smokers and behavioral norms change, maybe more policy adjustments will be made. meanwhile, if a nonsmoker feels their balcony is worthless if a smoker is next door, said nonsmoker should book an inside or OV cabin....or sail on a line like X that bans balcony smoking (but do research before selecting that cabin or you might get drift from a public smoking area).

[palikir]

Just got on this site before booking with Norwegian Epic for our first cruise. Really disturbed to read all the smoking comments. It seems like a lot of aggravation. Having second thoughts - I mean - how bad is this and do people tend to feel trapped in this situation and just have to endure an unpleasant and stinking problem??

[NayRN]

Just got on this site before booking with Norwegian Epic for our first cruise. Really disturbed to read all the smoking comments. It seems like a lot of aggravation. Having second thoughts - I mean - how bad is this and do people tend to feel trapped in this situation and just have to endure an unpleasant and stinking problem??

 

Don't worry! I've been on 6 NCL ships and have never had a problem with cigarette smoke with the exception of the Casino! :D You can't go to many land-based casinos without reeking when you leave....the cruise ships are no different!:rolleyes:

[SteveH2508]

Just got on this site before booking with Norwegian Epic for our first cruise. Really disturbed to read all the smoking comments. It seems like a lot of aggravation. Having second thoughts - I mean - how bad is this and do people tend to feel trapped in this situation and just have to endure an unpleasant and stinking problem??

 

4000 pax a week on Epic - maybe 1% or 2% are Cruise Critic members - maybe 1 thread a week complaining about this. Not many complaints as a percentage of passengers.

[Starry Eyes]

Just got on this site before booking with Norwegian Epic for our first cruise. Really disturbed to read all the smoking comments. It seems like a lot of aggravation. Having second thoughts - I mean - how bad is this and do people tend to feel trapped in this situation and just have to endure an unpleasant and stinking problem??

 

All cabin interiors are nonsmoking, so no matter what category you booked you should have a nice clean, fresh-smelling cabin. Isn't that most important, as you want to sleep well. the restaurants are also non smoking, so no worries there. likewise the shows and shops. and you'll be off the ship exploring ports some of the time. Between the above, that is most hours of the day for most cruisers.

 

if you go to the casino, you are apt to smell smoke. I think there is a small nonsmoking section, but it is small and sensitive people may well detect drifting smells. But casino time is optional and less smoke is likely if you select off-peak times.

 

if you have a balcony, you may or may not have a smoker on an adjacent balcony. most of the time I have not noticed any smoke odor at all on my balconies (I have done about 40 cruises, over half with balconies). sometimes I will smell a small amount of smoke from a nearby balcony, but usually not much odor and usually not that often (open air dissipates the smoke and most cruisers, including smokers, are out and about a lot). Only once did I have heavy, very frequent smokers next door....that was not NCL, but the same could happen on NCL. So, unless you are exceptionally sensitive to smoke, the odds are in your favor. If you are unfortunate enough to have smoke (or some other disturbance) interrupt your enjoyment of your balcony, you could try to politely talk with the neighbor (maybe you two will find a decent comprosuggest otherwise, I suggest you try to smile and get out and enjoy the rest of the ship...there is a lot to do.

[cv322]

Problem is non-smokers want it all and as long as nonsmokers try to infringe upon me their views and rules I will speak up.

"WELL SAID.!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Agree...very well said.

[NLH Arizona]

Yes the cruise has rules, I follow them. The rule is, you can smoke on your balcony. I don't smoke in non-smoking areas. I do not smoke in my cabin. I do not go to the non-smoking side of the Lido deck. If the casino has a smoke free section I do not smoke there. The problem is non-smokers want it all and as long as nonsmokers try to infringe upon me their views and rules I will speak up. I had a woman scream at me on my balcony instead of politely asking if i would be out there long. You know what? I spent A LOT of my time on my balcony smoking. If she wasn't so nasty I would gladly have compromised. A little honey goes a lot further then vinegar. I have had people come into the smoking sections in Atlantic City casinos waving their arms, making comments etc. Yes I will blow my smoke at them purposely, They have 75% of the casino and your in my area complaining? What is wrong with this picture?

Maybe the woman in the next cabin just had it up to here, because as you said, you spent a lot of time on your balcony smoking and she didn't feel that you were being a very compromising neighbor (sometimes you don't always have to be asked to compromise or be a good neighbor), since she was not able to use her balcony much. Sometimes people just reach their limit and scream at others or do rude things. Is it polite, no, but then again you said you purposely blew smoke in anothers face - seem like the two are pretty much the same. Sometimes we reap what we sow. At a casino, I usually don't make comments to a smoker (other than to ask if they could put their ashtray on the other side and the reaction is pretty much 50/50 - 50% are nice and have no problem doing it and 50% are rude and just blow smoke more in my direction), but if they blow the smoke in my direction or hold their cigarette on my side waving it around, so the smoke comes in my direction I will wave the smoke off - I should just let the smoke come at me, I don't think so. I go to Las Vegas a lot and I can count on one hand the times a smoker asked if I had a problem with them lighting up. I would and do say I don't, but could they please put the ashtray on the other side. Atlantic City must be totally different than the casinos in Las Vegas or here in Arizona or in Minnesota, because the non-smoking sections in there casinos are possibly at most 10% of the casino. I guess I'll have to make a trip to Atlantic City, would love to have 75% of the casino smoke free.

[NLH Arizona]

4000 pax a week on Epic - maybe 1% or 2% are Cruise Critic members - maybe 1 thread a week complaining about this. Not many complaints as a percentage of passengers.

I guess I look at it in two ways, (1) there is a small percentage of those that complain about smoking and (2) there is a small percentage of those that defend smoking on these threads. Since we have no idea how those that don't post on these thread or post on cruise critic feel, we have no way of knowing their feelings. So we can't assume that the are for or against smoking.

[soccersharon]

if you have a balcony, you may or may not have a smoker on an adjacent balcony. most of the time I have not noticed any smoke odor at all on my balconies (I have done about 40 cruises, over half with balconies). sometimes I will smell a small amount of smoke from a nearby balcony, but usually not much odor and usually not that often (open air dissipates the smoke and most cruisers, including smokers, are out and about a lot). Only once did I have heavy, very frequent smokers next door....that was not NCL, but the same could happen on NCL. So, unless you are exceptionally sensitive to smoke, the odds are in your favor. If you are unfortunate enough to have smoke (or some other disturbance) interrupt your enjoyment of your balcony, you could try to politely talk with the neighbor (maybe you two will find a decent comprosuggest otherwise, I suggest you try to smile and get out and enjoy the rest of the ship...there is a lot to do.

 

Great post.

 

I am a smoker, and always book a balcony. My choice of cruise lines tell me I'm allowed to smoke there. I will not smoke in areas designated non-smoking, because these are also rules.

 

I would hope however, that if I were bothering my neighbours next to me with my smoking, that they would politely say something, so we can both enjoy our balconies. I would never purposely ruin someone else's vacation.

[NLH Arizona]

Great post.

 

I am a smoker, and always book a balcony. My choice of cruise lines tell me I'm allowed to smoke there. I will not smoke in areas designated non-smoking, because these are also rules.

 

I would hope however, that if I were bothering my neighbours next to me with my smoking, that they would politely say something, so we can both enjoy our balconies. I would never purposely ruin someone else's vacation.

I think the problem is, is that it is a 50/50 chance of getting a considerate smoker or considerate non-smoker. I would never ask my neighbor (that's why I bring a fan, sorry for the noise of it) to stop smoking, in fear that they would be rude and/or retaliate in some way. Just as a non-smoker could rudely demand that someone stop smoking on the balcony and/or could retaliate in some way to the smoker. I think it is better to deal with it in a non-confrontational manner, thus my fan. I've seen people on both sides go off on a person on the other side and am not interested in being involved in this childish behavior.

[bluebelt]

I grew up begin told treat others as you would like to be treated and have tried to live by this motto. I think one of the biggest problems with today's society is people having a lack of consideration for others. So far I have lucked out and have not been bothered by others smoking in balconies next to me. I have had neighbors who smoked but were not out there all day and night smoking. I was on Oasis of the Seas in Aug and their casino had a smoking and a non-smoking side which was nice. Could you still smell some of the smoke, yes, but it was not overpowering. Their ventilation system seemed to work pretty well. I will be on the Epic in two weeks and have heard that the EPIC's casino is very smoky. I know I that if I want to gamble I will have to put up with the smoke and I think while people complain about this most understand it.

 

I think both sides have a problem with the balconies because people pay a premium to have a balcony cabin and expect to be able to use it. Most of the complaints I have read on this board are not about the occasional smoker but about chain smokers. I don't know how it could be enforced but maybe NCL could come up with a policy that would limit chain smoking. IE...stated policy that smokers are allowed to smoke on their balcony in one hour increments with so many hours off in between to give non-smoking neighbors time to enjoy their balcony or to establish smoking hours on the balcony. At least if someone was smoking on the balcony morning, noon, and night and it was bothering their neighbors at least that clause would give NCL leeway to ask the smoker in a nice and professional way to tone it down a little. I realize no matter what the solution is people will still complain. You cannot make everyone happy in life.

 

If everyone were considerate of others I believe the smoking issue would be a non-issue. I have been at casino tables when a smoker has asked me if it would bother me if they smoked. I truly appreciate the gesture and have always stated no it would not. Of course they also made an effort not to blow the smoke in my direction, which again was greatly appreciated.

 

Talk to one another in a polite and friendly way.:D

[che5904]

Maybe the woman in the next cabin just had it up to here, because as you said, you spent a lot of time on your balcony smoking and she didn't feel that you were being a very compromising neighbor (sometimes you don't always have to be asked to compromise or be a good neighbor), since she was not able to use her balcony much.

 

Well this one has me kind of pulled in 2 directions. I as well would spend most of my time on my balcony smoking now, because thats exactly one of the reasons why I would book a balcony cabin. I didn't when there was smoking in the cabins, because if our neighbors came out when I was having a smoke, I just stepped inside my cabin to finish it, in case they would be bothered by it. Now I can't move anywhere. The smoking sections now are so limited on the ships, that there are very few places to go, sit and relax, where I don't have to get every time I want a smoke and move and then return, not very relaxing to have to keep popping up.

 

Admittedly I used to be far more considerate a smoker than I am now, but that before we kept being pushed and pushed into smaller tighter naughty corners. I would just move away from the crowd to have a smoke.

 

Although many times, I have wanted to blow smoke directly at a pro-no-smoker being incredibly rude or making a huge deal, I do refrain. I have no problem with a polite no-smoker sitting beside me asking if I mind moving the ashtray to the opposite side. I do not hold my cigarette where it will directly go in someone's face, although in some casinos (depending on where you are sitting to the position of the fans), there is no place you can move it to where the smoke is not blowing on the person next to you, trust me I've tried. Those fans to clean the air can sometimes be a pain in the behind, to those near you.

[NLH Arizona]

Admittedly I used to be far more considerate a smoker than I am now, but that before we kept being pushed and pushed into smaller tighter naughty corners. I would just move away from the crowd to have a smoke.

 

And here in lies the problem. Smokers (as this one honestly admitted) are far less considerate because of their shrinking space, which, I believe, makes the non-smoker far less considerate.

[Fishbait17]

Yes the cruise has rules, I follow them. The rule is, you can smoke on your balcony. I don't smoke in non-smoking areas. I do not smoke in my cabin. I do not go to the non-smoking side of the Lido deck. If the casino has a smoke free section I do not smoke there. The problem is non-smokers want it all and as long as nonsmokers try to infringe upon me their views and rules I will speak up. I had a woman scream at me on my balcony instead of politely asking if i would be out there long. You know what? I spent A LOT of my time on my balcony smoking. If she wasn't so nasty I would gladly have compromised. A little honey goes a lot further then vinegar. I have had people come into the smoking sections in Atlantic City casinos waving their arms, making comments etc. Yes I will blow my smoke at them purposely, They have 75% of the casino and your in my area complaining? What is wrong with this picture?

 

Well said! I have the same problem in AC, but I think it's more like 90% non-smoking, 10% smoking by current law (with the "temporary" 10% exception to the actual 100% smoke-free law). And that little 10% area is always PACKED, with very few open machines.. Nothing worse than someone coming into the smoking section, waving their hands and coughing and making faces and asking the people near them to put out their smokes when they have 90% of the casino smoke-free, but they want it ALL, because their rights are far more important than anyone else's.... You have to remember that we have come a long way towards non-smokers rights, without giving anything in return to the smokers, and yet the non-smokers just want more and more and more.. Being forced into a corner has made a lot of smokers put up their defenses and fight back, most especially when they are bombarded by nasty looks and insults. We are all on this earth together, and we must all learn to get along, respecting everyone's rights as much as possible. A smoker shouldn't smoke in a non-smoking area, but a non-smoker shouldn't complain and hurl insults when in a smoking area. I spend a LOT of time in the casino when sailing, and would never sit down next to someone who is already playing and light up, but if I am smoking already, and someone sits down next to me and asks me to put put my cigarette, I might or might not but it's MY choice!. Bottom line is: It's rude to come into someone else's personal space and ask THEM to change it to better suit the "invader", no matter who is the smoker or non.

 

I don't quite understand the balcony issue - a cigarette lasts less than five minutes generally, and NO smoker can chain smoke one after another for hours without break.. I smoke maybe five-seven cigarettes on my balcony every day, and the rest of the time I rarely use the balcony, and I suspect most smokers are similar. So that gives my neighbors at most 35 minutes of total subjection to my smoke, leaving them 23 hours and 25 minutes completely smoke-free. How is this unfair? If you are enjoying a special moment or meal on your balcony and I come out to smoke, I usually don't KNOW you are there, much less what you are doin! A kind word or request to hold off for a little while goes a long way, coughing and loudly complaining just makes it more likely that I will stay and smoke. But give smokers a tiny break please! I have been on cruises where my neighbors were on their balcony almost EVERY waking hour, it seems, and I never felt comfortable exercising my rights on my own balcony because no matter when I tried, they complained, and that's just unfair! I am already stressing about my upcoming Breakaway sailing, because it's not the balcony I would have preferred (I always take balcony placement into account when booking my suites, being conscious of my smoking 's effect on neighbors). But you know what? I paid over $10k for that seven days, and I am going to smoke on my balcony probably five times a day and hope for the best.. I pray I have an understanding and kind neighbor who will let me know politely if I am bothering them.

 

I don't complain when your children are screaming in your cabin for maybe 30 minutes per day, or when your TV is so loud it drowns out mine, or when I cannot use the hot tub because your teens are using them 8-10 hours a day, because its their right to be there just as much as mine. I cannot drink the flavored waters on the ship because I am medically unable to tolerate the ingredients, but I would never expect them to replace them for ME, when others clearly enjoy them. A ship is a limited space environment, so we basically have a lot of people sharing a small area, making it impossible for everyone to have everything they want all the time. There are times when everything won't be perfect for YOU, but remember that others have the same experiences and that's just the way it is!