Do cruiselines usually follow each other on new policies?

[keishashadow]

Disney caters to families but I know adults w/o kids who sail it frequently too since the bring your own booze policy is very friendly and they enjoy the overall level of service. There are many adult only spaces, include a beach on their private island.

I've always thought a large portion of DCL's guests were somewhat 'under dressed' in such an elegant setting...now it's officially sanctioned.

I don't think RCCL will follow suit on shorts in MDR or prohibit smoking on the balconies although I don't understand why certain decks' balconies (entire or one side of ship) aren't designated smoke-free...especially when looking at the B1 & B2 balconies on Oasis and Allure where there isn't much in the way of partitions between them.

[Maxiecat3]

[quote name='keishashadow']Disney caters to families but I know adults w/o kids who sail it frequently too since the bring your own booze policy is very friendly and they enjoy the overall level of service. There are many adult only spaces, include a beach on their private island.

I've always thought a large portion of DCL's guests were somewhat 'under dressed' in such an elegant setting...now it's officially sanctioned.

I don't think RCCL will follow suit on shorts in MDR or prohibit smoking on the balconies although I don't understand why certain decks' balconies (entire or one side of ship) aren't designated smoke-free...especially when looking at the B1 & B2 balconies on Oasis and Allure where there isn't much in the way of partitions between them.[/QUOTE]

All Boardwalk & Central Park balconies are smoke-free.

Gregg

[caribbean sailor]

[quote name='Tucker in Texas']While I think the no smoking may have contributed to the failure of the Carnival Paradise, I think several other things played in the failure: 1) Same itinerary--been there, done that, kicks in; 2) Slightly higher prices than other ships doing similar itinerary; 3) not only no smoking, you couldn't even have smoking materials with you so you could smoke when in port away from the ship. If they found a lighter, pack of cigarettes, book of matches, on you or in the cabin, fined a lot of money and disembarked at the next port to pay your own way home; 4) revenues were down both in the casino and bars (may or may not be tied to smokers spending in those venues) but may have contributed to the higher price; and 5) group bookings (the bread and butter of the cruise line whether it be a family group or something a TA has organized) were down. Grandpa smokes, the whole family moves to another ship.

I think Royal will eventually go to no smoking on the balconies but I think they are going to sit back and let HAL, Disney, and Cunard "test the waters" (pun intended) first to see how much, if any, it impacts the bottom line. Maybe the smokers will start getting inside/ocean view cabins instead of balconies and suites if they can't smoke on them. Will the non-smokers fill up those balconies and suites? That, to me, would be the major impact on the bottom line. With the exception of Disney, which, to me, is a different product than then mass market cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer smoking on balcony alternatives for those that do not want to be restricted. Keep the money in the "family."

I find it interesting that both Celebrity and HAL lines that tend to attract older cruisers, restrict the smoking since many older people started smoking before all the negative information on smoking came out. Or, at their age, they want to "die happy" rather than quit (lol).

Royal and Carnival, on the other hand, attract younger passengers, many of whom have never smoked because they are well aware of the negativity of the habit. Yet, Royal and Carnival have more of the "bells and whistles" that younger folks like and older folks could care less about (rock climbing wall, ice skating, flow-rider, etc.)

But then, I'm not a financial analyst, either (lol).

Tucker in Texas[/quote]


What Royal Caribbean ship did you see a younger crowd funny.More walkers and scooter then young people. :D :D :D Keep dreaming about about balcony smoking.

[mjldvlks]

[quote name='Tucker in Texas']. . . I find it interesting that both Celebrity and HAL lines that tend to attract older cruisers, restrict the smoking since many older people started smoking before all the negative information on smoking came out. Or, at their age, they want to "die happy" rather than quit (lol). . . .[/quote]

Look at the demographics on smoking -- the number of smokers in the older age groups is way lower than younger ones.

[Maxiecat3]

[quote name='mjldvlks']Look at the demographics on smoking -- the number of smokers in the older age groups is way lower than younger ones.[/QUOTE]

Did you even consider that the percentage of smokers over 65 (most recent info is 9.5% in 2010 and 7.9% in 2011- much lower than the low 20% for the other age groups) is because the smokers have already died at a higher percentage than the other age groups.

Gregg

[keishashadow]

[quote name='Maxiecat3']All Boardwalk & Central Park balconies are smoke-free.

Gregg[/quote]

do people (I hope) adhere to the edict? was concerned re fire hazard.

[Maxiecat3]

[quote name='keishashadow']do people (I hope) adhere to the edict? was concerned re fire hazard.[/QUOTE]

I don't know if they do or not, but I am sure the $250 fine for smoking on those balconies would be a deterrent.

Gregg

[Tucker in Texas]

[quote name='caribbean sailor']What Royal Caribbean ship did you see a younger crowd funny.More walkers and scooter then young people. :D :D :D Keep dreaming about about balcony smoking.[/QUOTE]

On HAL we call the demographics "the elderly and their parents." You don't want to get between a scooter and the food trough (lol). On the Celebrity ships I have found fewer kids than on Royal.

My opinion is that Royal started doing more "family" marketing once they hired Vicki Freed away from Carnival which definitely has a younger demographics. The newer Royal ships have more bells and whistles for the young than Celebrity or HAL. I can't envision granny on a flow rider or going up the rock climbing wall (lol).

Tucker in Texas

[gerif]

[quote name='Maxiecat3']Did you even consider that the percentage of smokers over 65 (most recent info is 9.5% in 2010 and 7.9% in 2011- much lower than the low 20% for the other age groups) is because the smokers have already died at a higher percentage than the other age groups.

Gregg[/QUOTE]

I think you nailed it, Gregg.

[awhcruiser]

This....
[quote name='cabs']It was asked if you thought dress code would change to no shorts in dinning room and I answered that rule is already there. T[B]he question should read will they start to enforce the rule.[/B][/QUOTE]

[DirtyDawg]

[quote name='awhcruiser']This....[/QUOTE]

Will you be submitting This for your Master's thesis?:rolleyes:

[Barb Nahoumi]

[quote name='Tucker in Texas']On HAL we call the demographics "the elderly and their parents." You don't want to get between a scooter and the food trough (lol). On the Celebrity ships I have found fewer kids than on Royal.

My opinion is that Royal started doing more "family" marketing once they hired Vicki Freed away from Carnival which definitely has a younger demographics. The newer Royal ships have more bells and whistles for the young than Celebrity or HAL. I can't envision granny on a flow rider or going up the rock climbing wall (lol).

Tucker in Texas[/QUOTE]

"Oh you might be surprised," Sonny.

Boogie Boardn Granny

[mommabean]

[quote name='MAHA']That's wht Gina (Mommabean) has posted on another thread. She has mentioned potentially September 1 as the start date.[/QUOTE]

Actually the first date I was given was August 1. Then on the second ship when I asked I was told, "maybe" Sept 1. Then this past weekend on a 3rd ship I was told the date isn't firm but it will happen.

No smoking in crew cabins commenced on August 1 on all ships - it's official.

I will be on a 4th ship in less than 2 weeks and will ask if they have any date that may or may not be official.

Info on all 3 ships so far came from different officers in different positions on each ship. Two of those officers were of a very high rank.

Gina

[Barb Nahoumi]

Not just about smoking and dresscodes.

When NCL adopted "Freestyle," Dining, other lines followed suite with My-time and Any-time dining, in addition to their traditional scheduals.

[mommabean]

[quote name='Snooksi']It could possibly be an ANNOUNCEMENT date but I highly DOUBT it would be a "start" date as notice would need to be given so people would have ample opportunity to cancel any future cruises without fear of any type of penalty. Even DCL gave 90 days notice.

[COLOR="Red"]And Mommabean also originally stated it would be August 1st[/COLOR], but that date came and went without a word.

C'mon people. We are all adults here. This is how rumors start.

Let's just wait and see if anything is even announced rather than randomly throwing rumored dates out there based on nothing but conjecture thereby getting people's dandruff up.[/QUOTE]

I did not state it WOULD BE August 1. I stated I was TOLD it would start then. I do not create the rules or put them into effect. I was later told that all documentation has to be in agreement - whether geared to us in writing or on line or in crew information so that all mention of the rule states the same thing. I continue to be told it will happen. I'm not saying IT WILL happen. But I am saying I am still being TOLD it will happen.

It seems other cruise lines beat RCI to the punch line.

Gina

[Roadrage00]

[quote name='Gon2hwe']All the cruise lines that are banning smoking are just handing over customers to the ones who do. And they will be adding 25% more to their cruise fares to make up the difference. Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it![/quote]

I don't know if I agree with this.. I am allergic to smoke.. so I'd prefer to be on a cruise line that doesn't allow smoking - especially since we usually travel with our two young kids. Plus, it's difficult to get the smell of smoke out of a cabin if someone smokes on the balcony and leaves the door open (happens a lot). It'll probably cost cruise lines less money to just ban smoking then to allow it and have to clean out the smell between sails.

[mommabean]

[quote name='Roadrage00']I don't know if I agree with this.. I am allergic to smoke.. so I'd prefer to be on a cruise line that doesn't allow smoking - especially since we usually travel with our two young kids. Plus, it's difficult to get the smell of smoke out of a cabin if someone smokes on the balcony and leaves the door open (happens a lot). It'll probably cost cruise lines less money to just ban smoking then to allow it and have to clean out the smell between sails.[/QUOTE]

It will probably cost them a lot less money if just one future fire is prevented. A lot more than money could be lost in a fire.

I wonder how many people changed their airline when they began eliminating smoking completely. ;)

Gina

[Aurora2143]

I'm sorry, but I often have to wonder about the "allergic" comments. :rolleyes:
I'm allergic to people with bad manners...like many anti-smokers.

[Froggitt]

On Allure last week, it was pretty mank walking through the smokers on the wrong side of the boat......whether on the pool deck or in the casino. The UK is non-smoking in all public places now, so it was very noticeable on board.

Also, making the dining rooms "casual" and changing formal nights to "dress up or not" like NCL cant be far away.

[katrina915]

[quote name='Aurora2143']I'm sorry, but I often have to wonder about the "allergic" comments. :rolleyes:
I'm allergic to people with bad manners...like many anti-smokers.[/quote]

It's called "asthma" and it is a life threatening disease. And just because I have it, doesn't mean that I have bad manners. I don't discuss smoking with anyone on the ship, I just avoid those areas to the best of my ability.

[Tucker in Texas]

[quote name='Barb Nahoumi']"Oh you might be surprised," Sonny.

Boogie Boardn Granny[/QUOTE]

You go, Granny!

[LMaxwell]

[quote name='Aurora2143']I'm sorry, but I often have to wonder about the "allergic" comments. :rolleyes:
I'm allergic to people with bad manners...like many anti-smokers.[/QUOTE]

I could certainly understand some people having allergic reactions to smoke. I happen to personally believe many people use the word "allergy" instead of saying they just don't care for it instead so that they don't have to defend their viewpoint. But that said, it's really not hard to imagine some people being physically allergic to it. All you can do is take people at their word on the subject really.

[DirtyDawg]

[quote name='LMaxwell']I could certainly understand some people having allergic reactions to smoke. I happen to personally believe many people use the word "allergy" instead of saying they just don't care for it instead so that they don't have to defend their viewpoint. But that said, it's really not hard to imagine some people being physically allergic to it. All you can do is take people at their word on the subject really.[/QUOTE]

Some people are really affected by smoke. My DW is very sensitive to smoke. Is she 'allergic'? I don't know, but I can't count how many times we've had to change hotel rooms over the years because someone before us had smoked in a non-smoking room. I can never tell but she starts having breathing problems almost immediately. That said we have never had an issue on a cruise ship. Of course, the casino and any smoking bars are out of the question but we've never a problem on our balcony or any other places for that matter.

BTW, one reason I like cruising is that the DW won't set foot in the casino!:D

[LMaxwell]

[quote name='DirtyDawg']Some people are really affected by smoke. My DW is very sensitive to smoke. Is she 'allergic'? I don't know, but I can't count how many times we've had to change hotel rooms over the years because someone before us had smoked in a non-smoking room. I can never tell but she starts having breathing problems almost immediately. That said we have never had an issue on a cruise ship. Of course, the casino and any smoking bars are out of the question but we've never a problem on our balcony or any other places for that matter.

BTW, one reason I like cruising is that the DW won't set foot in the casino!:D[/QUOTE]

I went on a casino boat about five years ago; spent the entire time on the top deck outside. The interior of the ship was like living in an ashtray. I couldn't stand it. Eyes watering. Very foul stench. And I was a smoker at the time! (15 years smoking, now 5+ months quit, hands down best personal decision I have made).

[Aurora2143]

[quote name='katrina915']It's called "asthma" and it is a life threatening disease. And just because I have it, doesn't mean that I have bad manners. I don't discuss smoking with anyone on the ship, I just avoid those areas to the best of my ability.[/QUOTE]

I'm more referencing those that come into the smoking areas (some with their children) and complain that it stinks...cough or whatever it is that they do to make us smokers feel like horrible people for our habits.
And I apologize for those smokers that don't follow the rules and will smoke in the non-smoking areas.

I do understand that some people have sensitivities like asthma and COPD.