No Hate Please-Just 2 specific questions for smokers who have been on Allure

[kimann]

We are looking at a last minute Dec 8th cruise on Allure and of course there are NO Ocean View balconies available. My husband is a smoker and I think we are going to have to book our first Boardwalk View balcony. Here are my questions:

 

1). Were you able to smoke on either (or both) of the "secret balconies" on decks 11,12 or 14? If only one which side?

 

2). Which side of the public decks are smoking? We've been on Oasis and I remember one area by the pools on deck 14. I guess I could book a cabin on deck 14 if I had to but I'd rather be on a lower deck if there were other options. There are cabins available on 8,11,12 and 14 right now.

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Kim

[Tapi]

When are you sailing? Remember that the smoking rules are going to be tightened on January 1st, 2014. Even if you could snag a regular balcony, you'd be banned from smoking there or face steep fines and penalties (including being kicked off the ship).

 

It's my understanding that smoking is not allowed in the secret balconies either, so you may be out of luck with that as well. :o

 

Here's the announcement:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/blog/royal-caribbeans-new-smoking-policy/

 

On the Allure, the "smoking side" will be Port side in designated locations. No smoking inside the ship except for the Casino and 1 or 2 other venues.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Tapi

[kimann]

We sail on Dec 8th 2013.

[reney313]

I haven't been on the Allure yet, and I myself was wondering about the "secret" public balconies. I haven't read anywhere if smoking was allowed there or not. I assume it is not allowed or someone would have mentioned it here about how they couldn't use the balcony.

 

That said, I did read in the current Live on the Allure thread that some changes were made this sailing for the indoor smoking venues, presumably to prepare for the Jan. 1 change in policy.

 

I believe smoking indoor is now only the casino (and they mentioned smoking was allowed on formal night, which is different than usual) and a section of Blaze. Previously, you could smoke in those venues as well as a level of Dazzles, the Promenade Pub and a few seats in Boleros. Those 3 venues are now non smoking, even before the new policy is enacted in January. (At least for this sailing, presuming they continue for future).

 

Outside smoking areas are port side deck 15 and 16. Also the After Deck Bar on deck 17.

 

Of course, currently smoking is allowed on OV balconies, and still will be on your Dec. 8 cruise. If one opens up, maybe you can snag one.

 

As far as staying on Deck 14 for the short trip out to the smoking area, my opinion has been it doesn't matter which deck but closer to the elevators to get up to the top.

[Merion_Mom]

We are looking at a last minute Dec 8th cruise on Allure and of course there are NO Ocean View balconies available. My husband is a smoker and I think we are going to have to book our first Boardwalk View balcony. Here are my questions:

 

1). Were you able to smoke on either (or both) of the "secret balconies" on decks 11,12 or 14? If only one which side?

 

2). Which side of the public decks are smoking? We've been on Oasis and I remember one area by the pools on deck 14. I guess I could book a cabin on deck 14 if I had to but I'd rather be on a lower deck if there were other options. There are cabins available on 8,11,12 and 14 right now.

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Kim

 

Kim, my fuzzy memory tells me the smoking secret balconies were on the starboard side, only because I've been on the port side, and there were no ashtrays.

[reedl]

Smoking is only currently allowed on private balconies, and the secret ones are not private so therefore smoking will not be allowed there.

[reedl]

Kim, my fuzzy memory tells me the smoking secret balconies were on the starboard side, only because I've been on the port side, and there were no ashtrays.

 

On the Allure and Oasis, the Port side is the smoking side on the pool deck. That is the only place outside (other than balconies until Dec 31) that smoking is allowed outside.

[kimann]

This is just the info I needed, thanks guys! Now everyone say a little prayer that an OV balcony opens up :)

[reedl]

As an FYI, the smoking area on the pool deck is the port side of Deck 15 near the main pool and sports pool. So booking on deck 14 does not give you a smoking area except for your balcony. There are no pools on deck 14. There are no cabins on deck 15.

Edited November 14, 2013 by reedl

[reedl]

...snip...

On the Allure, the "smoking side" will be Port side in designated locations. No smoking inside the ship except for the Casino and 1 or 2 other venues.

 

Actually, the only smoking location inside the ship will be the casino. There are no other places to smoke inside after Dec 31.

[Gennee]

Just off Allure in October and there were ashtrays on the Deck 11 secret balcony on the Starboard side. The Deck 12 port side secret balcony did not have ashtrays. I'm not sure enough about the others to say either way.

 

Deck 15 and 16 near the outside rails by the main pool and sport pools, the pool bar and sky bar, all on the port side, allow smoking. There is an area under the "bleachers" for the main pool with tables that is shady and out of the wind. There were no ashtrays around the pools themselves.

 

Indoors, smoking was allowed in the casino (one side), the casino bar and part of Boleros as far as I could tell. There may be other indoor smoking areas I did not observe.

 

I hope that helps.

[BillOh]

I haven't been on the Allure yet, and I myself was wondering about the "secret" public balconies. I haven't read anywhere if smoking was allowed there or not. I assume it is not allowed or someone would have mentioned it here about how they couldn't use the balcony.

 

The first week of May this year there were no ashtrays on these balconies. I think I remember no smoking signs, but I wouldn't bet my wife on that. We did spend a lot of time there as we had the last cabin before that area on starboard deck 12. We did have a neighbor too lazy to walk to other smoking sections come out regularly. He used the Atlantic ocean as his ashtray. He did this in front of the camera that was there :eek:

 

It is about a 100 yard walk from this aft area to the elevator or stairs up to the pool deck or other smoking areas.

[Lionesss]

During our sail away this past July there were people smoking on the secret balcony walking and smoking, they did not think to even go near an ashtray.

Saw no ship attendants.

Thank heavens for the strong winds, the puffs lasted only seconds, and then they were stoked out.

Sea Ya

[Trekker954]

There were ashtrays on the secret balcony on the Oasis and Allure a while back.

 

Then we did call security when our neighbor on our recent Allure was smoking on his boardwalk balcony (repeatedly). Security came up, knocked on his door, reminded him of the policy and said goodnight. He was up to it again the next night.

[ronandcarla]

For the last couple of weeks I have read all of these statements relating to smoking, etc., and I can tell you that we are frequent visitors to Disneyland/World where smoking is banned from mostly all of the parks public areas, only designated areas; and when we go to Florida we stay in the Grand Floridian and the smoking area as far as I know is somewhat near the front entrance. With all that said we still see some persons walking around or sitting on benches smoking, sometimes an employee will say something other times nothing is said. I would bet my life on it when the ban goes into affect relating to Balcony Smoking it will still take place for the reason that management doesn't want to upset well paying customers. Most of the members on this board have seen may rules and guidelilnes being overlooked on every cruise.

[kimann]

just off allure in october and there were ashtrays on the deck 11 secret balcony on the starboard side. The deck 12 port side secret balcony did not have ashtrays. I'm not sure enough about the others to say either way.

 

Deck 15 and 16 near the outside rails by the main pool and sport pools, the pool bar and sky bar, all on the port side, allow smoking. There is an area under the "bleachers" for the main pool with tables that is shady and out of the wind. There were no ashtrays around the pools themselves.

 

Indoors, smoking was allowed in the casino (one side), the casino bar and part of boleros as far as i could tell. There may be other indoor smoking areas i did not observe.

 

I hope that helps.

 

thank you!!

[BillOh]

This is just the info I needed, thanks guys! Now everyone say a little prayer that an OV balcony opens up :)

 

It happens, call daily as you get closer.

[Merion_Mom]

Actually, the only smoking location inside the ship will be the casino. There are no other places to smoke inside after Dec 31.

 

She is sailing in less than a month, on December 8.