Royal Caribbean Bans Smoking on Balconies

[alaska_planner]

disney cruise lines just recently announced the same thing - taking effect this november - no smoking on balconies.

[MR NW GUY]

FROM USA TODAY >>>>>

 

Add MSC Cruises to the list of cruise lines tightening smoking rules -- at least on one ship.

 

The Europe-based cruise operator says it is expanding smoke-free zones on the MSC Divina, which will cater heavily to North Americans when it moves to the Caribbean in November.

 

Effective Nov. 2, when the MSC Divina departs Venice for its new home in Miami, smoking areas on the 3,502-passenger vessel will be limited to just two areas: the Cigar Lounge and the port side of designated outside decks (away from all bars and food areas).

[Maryscooking]

My kids will think the days when......... are just a crazy story.

 

This is already coming true.

 

In Ohio, smoking is banned just about everywhere. You can't smoke inside any public place, and many places have banned smoking anywhere on their premises, inside or out. We have very few friends that smoke, and none of them will smoke in front of our children.

 

I guess all this combined has made it so that seeing a smoker is unusual enough for my daughter (6 yrs old, soon to be 7) to comment to me every time.

 

We'll go by, and as soon as she thinks she can say it without being heard, its "Mom, did you see that person SMOKING?" in about the same voice she'd say "Did you see that person NAKED?"

[Aurora2143]

Here's a real life "statistic" for ya instead of some study of a bunch of people none of us know.

I'm almost 40, my older sister is in her 50s. Our dad smoked in the house and in the car with the windows up when it rained all our lives. My sister and I both smoke, I'm an ex-ex smoker. Started at 12, smoked 18 years, quit for 5 and started again. Neither of us have any form of cancer and neither does my mother who is 70. So first hand, second hand or even the new third hand smoke has not affected us.

 

My husband and his 3 siblings. All non-smokers had parents that smoked. They passed away 2 years ago, mom from a car accident and dad from a broken heart. Both smoked since they were about 10. Neither had any form of cancer, and none of the kids either.

 

So the 2nd, 3rd 4th or even when they come up with the tenth hand smoke theory, I'm not going to buy it. My father's form of cancer was caused by agent orange and the military confirmed it.

 

I'm almost certain that all the anti-smokers are paranoid that they will get cancer from an occasional exposure to smoke on a 7 day cruise, but perhaps y'all need to look at the rest of your lifestyles.

 

And...as long as I'm ranting...

I've read the complaints of the smoke stink from us smokers...well, confine us to a small area that you healthy people want to walk through...you will have that stink too because the smoke will be that much more concentrated.

 

I'm one of those smokers that don't like to smoke in public places because I don't like smoking around non-smokers, and some always (even with their children) will find their way into the area (sometimes on purpose).

Like some other posters have mentioned that non-smokers occupy the seats in the smoking sections. What the heck are you doing there? Looking for something to complain about?

 

Ok, off my soap box now.

[RubyDog08]

Indeed, imagine the look on my kids' faces when I talk about the ashtrays that used to be in the waiting room at the doctor's office! :eek:

[MR NW GUY]

Here's a real life "statistic" for ya instead of some study of a bunch of people none of us know.

I'm almost 40, my older sister is in her 50s. Our dad smoked in the house and in the car with the windows up when it rained all our lives. My sister and I both smoke, I'm an ex-ex smoker. Started at 12, smoked 18 years, quit for 5 and started again. Neither of us have any form of cancer and neither does my mother who is 70. So first hand, second hand or even the new third hand smoke has not affected us.

 

My husband and his 3 siblings. All non-smokers had parents that smoked. They passed away 2 years ago, mom from a car accident and dad from a broken heart. Both smoked since they were about 10. Neither had any form of cancer, and none of the kids either.

 

So the 2nd, 3rd 4th or even when they come up with the tenth hand smoke theory, I'm not going to buy it. My father's form of cancer was caused by agent orange and the military confirmed it.

 

I'm almost certain that all the anti-smokers are paranoid that they will get cancer from an occasional exposure to smoke on a 7 day cruise, but perhaps y'all need to look at the rest of your lifestyles.

 

And...as long as I'm ranting...

I've read the complaints of the smoke stink from us smokers...well, confine us to a small area that you healthy people want to walk through...you will have that stink too because the smoke will be that much more concentrated.

 

I'm one of those smokers that don't like to smoke in public places because I don't like smoking around non-smokers, and some always (even with their children) will find their way into the area (sometimes on purpose).

Like some other posters have mentioned that non-smokers occupy the seats in the smoking sections. What the heck are you doing there? Looking for something to complain about?

 

Ok, off my soap box now.

Yea, what the heck does the United States Surgeon General know anyway!:cool:

 

Here is my real life story too vs a bunch of people none of us know.

 

My Mom smoked her life and died from cancer.

My Father smoked and died of Heart Diease.

My Father in law smoked and died of throat Cancer.

 

I am sure the smoking had NOTHING to do with thier early death.

 

And.... those warnings on the cigarettes... what the heck is up with that??

 

Just sayin.... Oh BTW... I smoked for many years... Clean for about 6-years now and love taking deep breaths, jogging and waking up in the morning without hacking. :rolleyes:

[Aurora2143]

Yea, what the heck does the United States Surgeon General know anyway!

 

Here is my real life story too vs a bunch of people none of us know.

 

My Mom smoked her life and died from cancer.

My Father smoked and died of Heart Diease.

My Father in law smoked and died of throat Cancer.

 

I am sure the smoking had NOTHING to do with thier early death.

 

And.... those warnings on the cigarettes... what the heck is up with that??

 

Just sayin.... Oh BTW... I smoked for many years... Clean for about 6-years now and love taking deep breaths, jogging and waking up in the morning without hacking. :rolleyes:

 

Please don't get me started on the "What does the government know anyways" debate. That's a whole different issue.

 

Congrats on being smoke free! It's an accomplishment to stay smoke-free. I'm very excited for you. And never think that "oh just one won't get me hooked back in".

But I'm sorry, now days if your toe hurts...oh it's because you smoke.

I'm so sorry about your family but there are many other contributing factors to those illnesses too. And I'm sure none of them are contributed to second hand smoke? My biggest gripe is the complaint of second hand smoke.

All that I listed on my post were exposed to second hand smoke their entire life. Yes, some of us smoked, but people make a huge deal about second and third hand smoke. I'm sure none of the anti-smokers have NEVER had a drink and gotten behind the wheel right? Because we're all perfect and would NEVER do ANYTHING to jeopardize our own or another human's life?

 

I'm not trying to start an argument, I'm just trying to state our family's experience. That's all. I have older family members that lived to almost 100 and smoked their entire lives...and no cancer from second hand smoke from immediate family either.

[KittyCat1Million]

At least it will reduce a little of the temptation for the recent quitters since it will be more of a chore to go find someplace to have that first morning cigarette. I guess smokers will now be booking cabins closest to the stairs/elevators that will get them to the nearest smoking area.

 

I lost one uncle to lung cancer when he was just 57. A second uncle is about to lose his five year battle with the disease and is 59. Both of them were lifelong chain smokers, one after another after another. I miss my one uncle, and will miss the other soon too. However, I don't feel as sorry for them as I do for the family they left/will leave behind. The uncle who is currently dying will leave behind a new baby grandson less than a year old, who will never know his grandfather. Yes, I know smokers don't give a rats patootie about any of this, but you can bet your non-smoking family members care.

 

With all the information out there anyone who continues to smoke is slowly committing suicide. Simple as that. Feel bad for their families.

[satxdiver]

I just love all the whining. However given the condition in most major US cities, smoking has become a real chore with no smoking in offices, buildings, restaurants, bars, airports, etc. Add to that smoking only allowed in designated areas which are few and far between and smokers must realize it is now inconvenient to smoke and getting worse.

 

So they can cancel and go to another cruise line or can they? Princess banned smoking quite awhile ago. The majority of mass market cruise lines have banned smoking in most areas with more like RCL climbing on the bandwagon every day. The writing is on the wall so to speak. Stay home and puff away or be inconvenienced.

[mn1111]

For me the issue is the mornings and late evenings. If they put a ban on balcony smoking from 9:00AM to 8:00PM, it wouldn't bother me at all. It just would be a real hassle to get dressed and go find a smoking section in the middle of the night. I probably won't book anymore RCI cruises after my next one in October for that reason (yes, I am that addicted).

 

I've heard the haven suites on NCL are really nice and they treat gamblers better than RCI as well, they just have really limited Caribbean itineraries for the times I like to sail so I never really considered them. I've gotten a few free cruise offers from them through my casino host at Foxwoods before, but never got around to using them.

 

However, if my niece gives me the puppy face and insists on an RCI cruise, I would probably suck it up and book one for her sake and just use e-cigs in the cabin.

[CRUZBUDS]

Some people will win playing Russian Roulette also, I don't really care what someone else does to their body, I just want fresh air on my balcony.

 

the health issue is irrelevant to many of us.

[cassamanda]

And it will be repeated again at the time in the future when Royal bans smoking in the casino, as they surely will someday.

 

I'll bet they don't! A lot of gamblers smoke. They're not going to hit themselves where they make money. To me, if 2nd hand smoke is the concern, that is the first place they should ban smoking not the last. Money is the name of the game.

FYI, smoking is banned in the Casino on all Australian & New Zealand Cruises including the TP from Sydney to Hawaii. This is due to Australia's very stringent no smoking laws in all enclosed spaces.

About time that RCL caught up with the rest of the world.

Remember when you could smoke in aircraft. Can't now but I bet you still fly.

[Elizanessie]

It's going to get awfully smoky up on the pool deck if that is the only outside area for smoking.

 

I hope they put up big signs so the non smokers will know which area is for smoking, otherwise they & their children could be walking through a long tunnel of smoke at times, far far worse than some smoke on the balcony.

[redcard]

Now I wonder if I will be able to get some OBC for their policy change. I booked a balcony cabin because I could have a smoke out there. I have several hundred dollars tied up in non refundable money (air plane tickets, non refundable hotel room) so I can't just cancel without penalty.

 

While the change in policy doesn't surprise me, I am disappointed. I won't stop cruising Royal, but I will stop paying the premium prices balcony cabins are charged, and go back to inside rooms. So in theory I can cruise more because of the change.

 

You have thousands and thousands of dollars tied up in the future of your addiction, yet you're worried about a few hundred?

 

Short-termism, I believe that's called.

 

Also, you can't smoke on the flights you booked, or in the airports you'll be waiting in. Strange that!

[southstaffs3]

It's going to get awfully smoky up on the pool deck if that is the only outside area for smoking.

 

I hope they put up big signs so the non smokers will know which area is for smoking, otherwise they & their children could be walking through a long tunnel of smoke at times, far far worse than some smoke on the balcony.

 

That's funny :)

[SteveH2508]

It's going to get awfully smoky up on the pool deck if that is the only outside area for smoking.

 

I hope they put up big signs so the non smokers will know which area is for smoking, otherwise they & their children could be walking through a long tunnel of smoke at times, far far worse than some smoke on the balcony.

 

I thought that the evil weed could be smelled from miles away (judging by some of the posts on here) so why would the non-smokers not detect 'a long tunnel of smoke' before they are in it? :confused:

[niko40]

Just think of all the upgrades we can get from the smokers who have cancelled their Owners suites and Grand suites because they cannot smoke on their balcony's:eek: :rolleyes:

[niko40]

I thought that the evil weed could be smelled from miles away (judging by some of the posts on here) so why would the non-smokers not detect 'a long tunnel of smoke' before they are in it? :confused:

lol but isn't it funny how some non smokers sit in the smoking areas and complain about the smoke never understood that:confused:

 

 

(a non smoker for the last eight months)

[A&L_Ont]

Ugh. What I wouldn't give for a dress code thread right about now. ;):D:p

 

Bwahahaha!!

 

Like.

[hairymelon]

disney cruise lines just recently announced the same thing - taking effect this november - no smoking on balconies.

 

Why did I read this as no smoking on bananas :eek::o

 

A new one on me :rolleyes:

[melbur]

I have a novel idea . . why doesn't someone start a new thread about smoking on the balcony?

[Aquahound]

Mario is a spokesman for Royal Caribbean.........and he will never allow himself to do something that Royal Caribbean does not allow. I have that from the horses mouth!

 

Also knowing Mario, I believe this 100%. Besides, on Majesty, he has access to a smoking area others do not. At least, during sail away he does. ;)

[Mark_K]

I remember when carnival paradise was Introduced as the first smoke free ship. That didn't last long.

 

 

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Six years.

 

 

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[Luvmesomeme]

Just think of all the upgrades we can get from the smokers who have cancelled their Owners suites and Grand suites because they cannot smoke on their balcony's:eek: :rolleyes:

 

This is funny...I was searching my cruise to see if I could snag a OS since they were all sold out and so many smokers are canceling but nothing has opened up yet.

[Mark_K]

Why did I read this as no smoking on bananas :eek::o

 

A new one on me :rolleyes:

Mellow Yellow.

 

 

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