How bothersome is smoking on NCL?

[latebloomer56]

I will be so disappointed if we can't use our balcony :mad: This will be our first cruise on NCL and did not realize that they still allowed smoking on balconies. We always book a balcony because we like to spend time there. I guess we'll have to hope for the best.

We had no issue due to being on a balcony away from others on NCL last May. However the smoking rules were not enforced as to non-smoking areas near the pool we had smoking on both sides, and just about anyplace somebody seemed to want to light up. Was OK though as the dining rooms were smoke free. Other areas we just went through on our walks. Princess did away with smoking on their balconies (thankfully) but when we had smokers next door I just asked them to give the wall a bang when they were all set. After all it's their vacation too. Only had 1 very nasty, mean and rude man once in several trips always on a balcony. I'm sure you could work it out with a neighbor on any cruise line if it's an issue. And yes it does drift to other balconies, my biggest issue was not even the smoke so much as you can avoid this. It was the butts and ash on my balcony YUCK.

Enjoy don't let smoking bother your vacation time just adjust, most folks are very nice about it, just remember they have the right to smoke in smoking areas. Hope NCL does better with enforcing this on the Dawn in 10 days :).

[mypleasure]

I am never bothered by it but it does seem a big issue to some.

 

If you want to avoid it find out where the smoking areas are and keep away. As easy as that.

[mrwilliamt]

Enjoy don't let smoking bother your vacation time just adjust, most folks are very nice about it, just remember they have the right to smoke in smoking areas.

Very well put. Thank you.

[omc329]

We originally switched to NCL from Carnival because of smoke issues on Carnival. I fell in love with the smoke free indoor environment on NCL.

 

Unfortunately, their new super ships all seem to put the casino in open areas and I've read a lot of complaints about smoke in those areas. We are giving the Epic a try this year. It will determine whether I book any further megaships with NCL.

 

We have a balcony booked on the Epic. So far we have been lucky. There was a smoker next door on our Sun balcony in May, but they only smoked occasionally, and it was not particulary bothersome.

 

I am concernced, as are apparently others, that with the RC change on their balconies, that an influx of smokers may throw the odds on getting a useable balcony on NCL in the future. I have been seriously debating changing my 2015 cruise on the Sun for a RC cruise. It would cost me $200 more for the same cruise, I lose the freestyle experience, and I lose my platinum perks. :(

 

If you are attempting to decide between lines, and you are asthmatic, I would not recommend NCL at this time.

[sweet1iad]

IMHO the smoke was pretty bad. I don't have asthma. I just really hate it. I could not lay by the pool on the outside deck without constantly smelling and breathing in smoke. You can move up wind, but on the dawn that puts you too far up on the ship and into the windy part. I did not have a balcony and I'm glad I didn't for the smoke reason. Casino was FILLED with smokers. That being said, I still had a great vacation! Now I am prepared for next time.

[dexddd]

As others have said, it depends. Generally it hasn't been too bad, sometimes a whiff on the pool deck as one side is usually smoking allowed.

 

Our last trip was on the Dawn last summer with a room on 10 with a front balcony and side balcony. We couldn't win. The folks on the side smoked a lot out on their balcony and even though we were in front of them it really didn't matter if we were moving, where the wind came from, it still came our way.

 

On the front it was a bit better and there only seemed to be one room with smokers and even though they were on 9 in the opposite corner, we would get smoke up by us.

[mpk218]

The Great Zombie apocalypse is said to begin when an alien mutated spore is carried on the wafting smoke from cigarettes .. Believed to originate on a cruise ship...

 

Beware ,,, it may already have begun :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

 

 

Ok , im going to wait in line for my new Health plan . wish me luck.

 

 

NCL Rules , .

[Sequim88]

HOWEVER, I am afraid of an influx of smokers due to the changes on RCI that may make this a little worse.

 

Wow, I have not been paying much attention to RCI's threads since booking NCL. What change have they made? Hopefully smoke free balconies.

 

Last cruise we had a morning to late night smoker next to us. A dedicated chain smoker. He was on several bus tours with us and could not get off the bus fast enough to lightup. Apparently he prefered to spend most of every sea day on the transatlantic on his balcony - smoking. We soon learned when he would be gone for meals or when he went to bed. I'm pretty sensitive to smoke (can smell it from smoker car in front of me on freeway in January) so it was pretty miserable.

[mpk218]

Wow, I have not been paying much attention to RCI's threads since booking NCL. What change have they made? Hopefully smoke free balconies.

 

Last cruise we had a morning to late night smoker next to us. A dedicated chain smoker. He was on several bus tours with us and could not get off the bus fast enough to lightup. Apparently he prefered to spend most of every sea day on the transatlantic on his balcony - smoking. We soon learned when he would be gone for meals or when he went to bed. I'm pretty sensitive to smoke (can smell it from smoker car in front of me on freeway in January) so it was pretty miserable.

 

You would be correct .. No smoking on balconies.. RCI

[Sequim88]

No smoking on balconies.. RCI

 

Great. But the bar just got raised for NCL impressing us enough to be a regular line. Especially if we are unlucky with balcony neighbors again.

[NoobCruise]

I am never bothered by it but it does seem a big issue to some.

 

If you want to avoid it find out where the smoking areas are and keep away. As easy as that.

 

That's not so easy if they're chain smokers on the balcony next to yours.

 

I'll just book with Celebrity. They don't allow smoking anywhere except the cigar bar and a couple of designated outdoor areas. No smoking on balconies. They don't even allow smoking in the casino.

[NoobCruise]

Wow, I have not been paying much attention to RCI's threads since booking NCL. What change have they made? Hopefully smoke free balconies.

 

Last cruise we had a morning to late night smoker next to us. A dedicated chain smoker. He was on several bus tours with us and could not get off the bus fast enough to lightup. Apparently he prefered to spend most of every sea day on the transatlantic on his balcony - smoking. We soon learned when he would be gone for meals or when he went to bed. I'm pretty sensitive to smoke (can smell it from smoker car in front of me on freeway in January) so it was pretty miserable.

 

No smoking on balconies. RCI still allows it in the casino though.

[SteveH2508]

No smoking on balconies. RCI still allows it in the casino though.

 

Effective 1st Jan 2014 BTW.

[kcwingwalker]

Effective 1st Jan 2014 BTW.

 

Are you referring to RCI?

[Macadian]

We have had some really enjoyable cruises with NCL but the last two have been marred by smokers on the balconies adjacent to ours. We are giving 'X' a try next cruise however we will sail NCL again but will get an inside cabin rather than a balcony. As has been mentioned thier may now be an a substantial increase in the number of smokers sailing with NCL who may have formely gone with such as RCL, which is great for NCL, but alas, not so good for non smokers cruising with them. Will be interesting to see how that pans out and how many more 'smoking' cruisers will sail with them because of their more liberal smoking policies. Time will tell.

[Solandria]

[quote name='setsail1975']
I really wish they would designate a section on balcony cabins for non smokers. [/QUOTE]

I couldn't agree more, put all the smokers on one side of the ship, all the non smokers on the other LOL

[Genny613]

I was in the Epic last January and did not notice the smoke smell )other than when we walked throughout the casino - which is to be expected). As for the stateroom, I had a studio and never smelled smoke. Perhaps my neighbors were non smokers too. Enjoy your cruise.

[Ericktina]

[quote name='cruisenuts4life']The smoke on the breakaway was so bad that I couldn't stay in casino and could smell as soon as you get off elevator on decks 6,7 and 8.[/QUOTE]
The smoke in the casino is not just due to the gamblers. In my opinion, it is because the casino is the ONLY place to smoke indoors--where there is a bar. (Not all the ships have cigar bars). I do not understand why NCL does not provide one smoking bar with good ventilation--to keep all the non-gambling smokers out of the casino.

[SteveH2508]

[quote name='kcwingwalker']Are you referring to RCI?[/quote]

RCI ban on smoking on balconies commences on all departures on or after 1st Jan 2014.

[kylenyc]

[quote name='Ericktina']The smoke in the casino is not just due to the gamblers. In my opinion, it is because the casino is the ONLY place to smoke indoors--where there is a bar. (Not all the ships have cigar bars). I do not understand why NCL does not provide one smoking bar with good ventilation--to keep all the non-gambling smokers out of the casino.[/quote]

The Breakaway Casino is divided into two sections connected by a hallway lined with slot machines, one section is smoking, the other is non-smoking. I have not noticed any smoke drifting from the smoking section to the deck above. Also the degree of smoke is better than on older NCL ships so the technology has improved. However, I have noticed a very subtle odor making it to the non-smoking section. This could be smoke or whatever chemical/deodorant they use to remove/mask the smoke. It's very mild but enough to bother me while I dined at the adjacent Shanghai's Noodle Bar.

The Breakaway does have a cigar bar but few cigarette smokers use it because they can smoke outside on the Waterfront.

I can't remember there being any bar in the smoking section of the Breakaway. Bar 21 is in the non-smoking section of the casino. AFAI can remember there is no bar where smoking is allow while sitting at the bar itself. For example, you can't smoke at the bar in Shakers or Maltings outside on the Waterfront but you can smoke at one of nearby tables.

[thescot123]

Have been over 6 NCL cruises and a strict non-smoker. The only place where I detect/smell cigarettes is in the casino. Luckily for me, I don't gamble so that is not an issue.

[mypleasure]

[quote name='Ericktina']The smoke in the casino is not just due to the gamblers. In my opinion, it is because the casino is the ONLY place to smoke indoors--where there is a bar. (Not all the ships have cigar bars). I do not understand why NCL does not provide one smoking bar with good ventilation--to keep all the non-gambling smokers out of the casino.[/quote]

This is a very valid comment. Smokers have to find somewhere to go, especially at night and when the weather is not conducive to going outside. On our cruise to the Canary Isles last winter it was cold in the day time too so the casino was very busy but not with people playing.