**A Helpful RCCL Smoking Thread, Please read **

[tomko2]

I knew the day would come when RCL would ban smoking on balconies. I smoke and do everything possible to be considerate of non-smokers. If I heard my neighbours on their balconies I would extinguish my cigarette.

Since I now will need to go to a designated location, my husband and I have decided it can be on any ship not just RCL. Hence we are looking at booking on Celebrity and maybe Princess to try different lines.

We currently have nine bookings with RCL (Dec. 2013 - March 2015) some of which we will cancel as we try new lines.

Until this policy came we intended to stay loyal to Royal forever. It is what it is.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I suspect that within the next several years all major cruise lines will end smoking on balconies.

[blong2200]

The new policy would make me more comfortable spending the extra money to upgrade to a balcony cabin, knowing I'm not going to face the possibility of being chased inside by a chain smoking neighbor. Other than that, it will not change my cruise habits.

 

How many people do you actually think sit all day on their balcony and smoke? Maybe a smoke or two in the morning, a smoke before dinner and a smoke or two after dinner, but I don't consider that chain smoking.

[blong2200]

Did you really need to post three times in a row saying "happy no smoking" on a thread that was designed to discuss other options for smokers? That's kind of insensitive. The adult equivalent of a school yard "nah nah nah nah nah nah."

 

Amen! Amen! Amen!

[Maryscooking]

And what do you think polls taken during elections and other major events are? They are also a small sampling of the population (and they're usually accurate within a few percentage points).

 

I do believe that the poll does reflect the general sentiment of the cruising population. The overwhelming majority will continue sailing on Royal. And for every smoker that Royal looses, they'll probably gain a couple non-smokers running away from other cruise lines that still allow smoking on balconies.

 

This is true. And the thing is, I'd bet really good money that RCI has studied this in a reliable way, and has come to the conclusion that their bottom line won't be negatively impacted. They didn't just decide from reading a few guest survey comments. Having Celebrity as a model to look to also helps them understand what to expect. I'm sure they looked at all the different factors, from increased or decreased bookings to differences in how much money will be spent on board in the casino or bars.

[rkmw]

we sail princess a lot and they cut out smoking on the balcony about 18 months ago and everything is ok and they still sail full so when they bring in the new rule after awhile people will get used to it

[sandytxtx]

Why don't they have smoking on one side of the ship and nonsmoking on the other???????????? No one bothers anyone, that way and everyone is happy.

[Zigggypup]

I would be careful if I were anyone who went with the last option in the poll. You can't just pay the fine and continue to smoke on your balcony. Repeated occurrences can get you kicked off at the next port of call.

 

Where does RCI mention a fine? I see they talk about a $250 cleaning fee, but no fine is mentioned. But what is their to clean? The ashes are in the wind and the Cigarette butt is gone.

[boulders]

Where does RCI mention a fine? I see they talk about a $250 cleaning fee, but no fine is mentioned. But what is their to clean? The ashes are in the wind and the Cigarette butt is gone.

 

The smell of smoke lingers long after the cigarette is gone. It gets into fabrics and walls.

 

And here's the policy:

Smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom and any stateroom balcony. This applies to all stateroom categories onboard. If a guest is in violation of this stateroom policy, a cleaning fee of $250 USD will be applied to their SeaPass® account and may be subject to further action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of the Guest Conduct Policy.

 

So, although they call it a "fee", if you do incur this fee, they reserve the right to kick you off the ship, put you in the brig, or make you walk the plank or whatever is in the consequences section.

[dz9yvr]

Why don't they have smoking on one side of the ship and nonsmoking on the other???????????? No one bothers anyone, that way and everyone is happy.

 

 

Because less than 25% of the people are bothered with the new policy. Why should RCl resreve half the ship for smoking when 76% of the people agree with the new policy? I'm sure that RCL had this type of internal polling before they updated the smoking policy?

[mein18]

Because less than 25% of the people are bothered with the new policy. Why should RCl resreve half the ship for smoking when 76% of the people agree with the new policy? I'm sure that RCL had this type of internal polling before they updated the smoking policy?

 

Please state your source for these percentages quoted or did you make them up?

 

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[mein18]

Happy no smoking. Happy happy. Do not have to have my clothes and body smell like a smoke. And my family can have a good holiday if a smoking ship makes people happy then let them go to another ship:):):)

 

And this is coming from someone who probably never smelled a whif of smoke on a cruise. They just like to complain. What bandwagon will you jump on when the smoking threads fade away?

 

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[CaribeDiver]

Please state your source for these percentages quoted or did you make them up?

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Forums mobile app

 

Based on the results of the poll in this thread.

[Tapi]

Why don't they have smoking on one side of the ship and nonsmoking on the other???????????? No one bothers anyone, that way and everyone is happy.

 

This has been discussed at length.

 

Think about it. If you make half the ship smoking, that means that roughly 50% of the cabins will be smoking. But if only 15% of the passengers are smokers, that means that 35% of the non-smoking passengers are going to be stuck on the smoking side, and in bigger smoke concentration because all the smokers will be around them.

 

Many staterooms would go unsold because chances are high that a non-smoker will refuse to book a smoking balcony and will look at another cruise line.

 

And this doesn't even address side preference. On some itineraries, people specifically book one side of the ship because of the scenery (one example is Alaska).

 

The "one side of the ship" policy would NOT make people happy. If anything, it will probably anger even more people.

[JF - retired RRT]

I have to agree with keeping things in perspective on the polling, I just thought it would be an easy way, at quick glance see who was on what side of the arguement. There are so many factors that cant be considered. For examply "other revenue" if people can smoke, they would gamble longer and drink longer .. If they cant who knows how this could negatively impact the licquer and gambling profits??? Only time will tell. but the poll itself wont prove 100% of anything.. just a snapshot of the current mood. I have already contacted NCL telling them they would get all my bookings if they would match my RCCL status with comparable on their cruise line. But they think about it really hard.

 

I lived in California when the FIRST ban on smoking in restaurants (then later bars) was put in effect. The wailing and teeth gnashing could be heard to the Arizona border. Smokers: you are taking away our rights, we will stop going to restaurants/bars. Restaurant/bar owners: you will bankrupt us.

None of that happened. Smokers still smoke (altho the % is down from more than 25% to less than 18%), restaurants and bars are still in business and life goes on.

The only benefit for me is, I no longer have to walk into a restaurant and walk right back out again because the smell is so bad.

A smoker in a cabin leaves the odor behind for the next pax, even tho he/she didn't smoke IN the cabin.

[JF - retired RRT]

That's definitely the trend and it's expanding beyond the usual restaurants, bars and hotels. One of the strictest places I've seen recently was at the Indianapolis Int'l Airport. There's NO smoking inside the airport terminal, outside the terminal, on the sidewalks, parking garage, and pretty much ANYWHERE inside the airport's perimeter (even if you're standing on the grass, 1/2 mile away from the closest building). One of the members in my group lit up a cigarette while we waited for the hotel shuttle, and a security agent riding a Segway popped out of nowhere and made her put it out. She asked where was the closest place where she could smoke and the agent replied "on the expressway, outside the airport's fence".

 

So welcome to the new normal. :D

 

I bet that really cuts down on the litter pick-up.

Ever noticed how some smokers don't consider a cigarette butt to be litter?

[Zigggypup]

The smell of smoke lingers long after the cigarette is gone. It gets into fabrics and walls. quote]

 

Talking about smoking on the balcony with the cabin door closed. No fabrics to clean.

[SidneyOfEaston]

I'll take my chances and smoke on the balcony until I get caught red handed. I'll apologize and say it will never happen again in a polite tone. I am sure that their is a lot of discretion as to whether or not they will hit you with a fine. If they do, they do. If they don't they don't. Whatever

[tlatrice]

Hence we are looking at booking on Celebrity and maybe Princess to try different lines.

 

You can't smoke on the balconies on these lines either. Sorry.:(

 

OP, here's the info you're looking for

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=225

 

Finally, some people are really just being obnoxious. The OP is asking for alternatives. We've seen the stats on how many people smoke vs those who don't, we know smoking is being banned in more and more places. We get it. However, there are still people who smoke. And some smokers like to cruise. They just want to know if what their options are. If you can't help with that, then just move along.

 

I don't smoke, but I feel bad for the smokers because some of you are really just rubbing their noses in it. I'm sorry you lost a loved one to cancer (so have I). I'm sorry cigarette smoke makes your nose itch (me too), but so what? People lose loved ones to stuff EVERYDAY. Lots of people are allergic to lots of things. These guys still need a SOLUTION - not folks' self-righteous rhetoric.

 

You don't HAVE to understand why they would consider a different cruise line because of their smoking preference any more than you HAVE to understand why ANYONE chooses ANY line for ANY other reason. Just respect it. By and large, the vast majority of the smokers have been trying to gather their hurt feelings and just move on. But no - some people are questioning their logic, their sanity, their life choices. AND FOR WHAT??? Even if they give you an answer that you "understand" or that makes sense to you? Then what?

 

SHEESH!

 

*end of rant*

[papaflamingo]

First let me admit I have not read all posts on this thread so if I am repeating someone, sorry. I am a non-smoker and my wife is highly allergic to smoke. We have been on cruises where she has had to leave our balcony because of a smoker on an adjacent balcony. No, I didn't complain. But I do feel that some smokers are self-absorbed and just don't care that they drive others away. Some are very considerate, like one poster who said he would put out his cigarette if he heard someone else on their balcony. Most are in the middle, considerate but not overly. I don't complain because we just accept that smoking is allowed on balconies and my wife just goes inside. Too bad, but it hasn't happened all that often.

Another factor that I don't think has been explained is that Princess, a number of year ago, had a bad balcony fire. It was (I believed) started because a smoker flicked his cigarette over the side and it blew onto an adjacent balcony and caught in some towels that were drying on a chair. Result, significant damage, and one death due to heart attack from the fire. So, that may possibly also factor into the decision.

But my biggest point of this is that in the early 90's Delta Airlines banned smoking on all domestic (then finally international) flights. There was talk of mass exodus and the failure of Delta. Traffic actually rose! Delta is still one of the largest U.S. Airlines and one of the most profitable. All other airlines followed suit. My guess, Royal Caribbean is setting the bar, and all those "fleeing" Royal Caribbean for other cruise lines will find the reason we all prefer Royal Caribbean and will quietly come back and smoke in the designated areas.

Just my humble opinion, but, selfishly, I am glad for the new policy. I will now be able to enjoy MY balcony in the early morning and late night without "smoking" someone else's bad habit.

[KPfromCT]

And this is why I will continue to cruise exclusively on Carnival:D

According to their Brand Ambassador, John Heald, they have absolutely no intention of banning smoking on the balconies. At least nowhere in the near future. Not to say that couldn't change down the road, but for now, it's not happening. They tried the whole non-smoking ship, and they couldn't come close to filling it. Time will tell. Also, for all of you haters out there, believe it or not, there ARE considerate smokers.:rolleyes:

[TEXASMUNK]

1. Smoking is bad! OK? It has been said!

2. Everyone "hates smokers! OK?

3. Non-Smokers are far superior to anyone who smokes! OK?

4.The new policy was expected

5. The new policy is like dropping a 50 ton lead weight on a fly.

 

Why? When everyone wants someone to quit you hear all the "oh good for you", "good luck", "I am happy for you"...blah, blah, blah.

 

So, if all the righteous folks think it is a wonderful idea to ban smoking and you should quit, then why not offer assistance?

 

When medical professionals URGE smokers to use the e-cig to quit, why to the morally superior, righteous, indignant, pure non-smokers demand that the aid in quitting is still inferior and ban the e-cig?

 

Again, the policy is using that 50 ton lead weight to kill a fly.

 

The policy is great, with the exception of bending to the pure, superior members of the human race by banning the e-cig.

 

PS I enjoy a fine cigar in the the cigar lounge... not a cigarette smoker.....I am so worn out with the pompous!!!!!

[Tapi]

According to their Brand Ambassador, John Heald, they have absolutely no intention of banning smoking on the balconies. At least nowhere in the near future. Not to say that couldn't change down the road

 

And we all know that EVERYTHING that John Heald says is 100% accurate :rolleyes:. More than once, John has needed to do some damage control after saying something and then management doing something completely different. The statement "Not to say that couldn't change down the road" really means that he doesn't know what management is planning behind closed doors. I actually feel sorry for the guy. All he is, really, is Carnival's scapegoat. He gets roasted when Carnival changes something and some people even hold him personally responsible for the changes.

 

Remember when the new Past Guest Program was leaked out and John swore that it was fake, and that "brilliant changes" were on their way, only to learn a few weeks later that the leaked program was indeed accurate and that past guests were getting screwed? He lost a lot of credibility then, but I'm sure he lied because that's what management wanted him to do.

 

He will break the news to the public and act as surprised as everyone else. If the smoking policy on Carnival ever changed, I wouldn't be surprised if the information appears on Cruise Critic before John "officially" announces it. It wouldn't be the first time.

[papaflamingo]

PS I enjoy a fine cigar in the the cigar lounge... not a cigarette smoker.....I am so worn out with the pompous!!!!!

 

Man, you need to chill out. You seem to be going through nicotine withdrawl. Go have a cigar and take a break!

Oh, seems for someone "worn out with the pompous," you are mighty "pompous."

[KPfromCT]

And we all know that EVERYTHING that John Heald says is 100% accurate :rolleyes:. More than once,John has needed to do some damage control after saying something and then management doing something completely different. The statement "Not to say that couldn't change down the road" really means that he doesn't know what management is planning behind closed doors. I actually feel sorry for the guy. He's really Carnival's scapegoat.

 

He will break the news to the public and act as surprised as everyone else. If the smoking policy on Carnival ever changed, I wouldn't be surprised if the information appears on Cruise Critic before John "officially" announces it. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

Tapi, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. I value your opinions on these boards, and in no way was I looking to start a fight. I am just stating the facts as of today. If you re-read my post, you will see that I did state " time will tell ". I am not saying never, but today, and as of January 2014, I can smoke on my balcony on Carnival.:rolleyes: