Brilliance Smell of Smoke

[HammockDreamer]

Please don't be harsh with me - I'm nervous asking anything pertaining to smoking, but for my husband's health I have to find out.

 

We just completed our 1st cruise on the Allure. We discovered that we love cruising, but we want a smaller ship with more of an ocean focus. My husband relies on a mobility scooter, so finding an accessible stateroom can be challenging. He also has severe scent-induced asthma. Yes, this is truly a medical situation. I have been in enough emergency rooms while he was suffering from respiratory distress to know that this is serious. We haven't traveled much in the past several years, but upon reading of Royal's smoking policy we decided to take a chance. Our very first visit to the MDR on Embarkation day revealed to us that we had much to learn and consider. We were seated at the doorway on the same level as the Casino---the combination of the smell of smoke and all the perfume/cologne from everyone that had to walk past us proved to be too much for him and he had a major asthma attack. After that, we were reassigned and everything was great....it was just something we had not considered.

 

We are now booked on our next cruise on the Brilliance sailing Dec 24 and we are in cabin #7110. I have read a couple of reports that the cigarette/cigar smell from the Casino wafts through the ship. Can anyone please give us some feedback on this?

 

Please know that we do not have anything against those that smoke. We just need to take everything into consideration and be as health-wise as possible. Thanking you in advance for any advice you may have.

Laurie

[HammockDreamer]

Yes, he has an inhaler---but often times he needs a nebulizer treatment. Sorry that you suffer like this, as well.

[leaveitallbehind]

We are now booked on our next cruise on the Brilliance sailing Dec 24 and we are in cabin #7110. I have read a couple of reports that the cigarette/cigar smell from the Casino wafts through the ship. Can anyone please give us some feedback on this?

 

Please know that we do not have anything against those that smoke. We just need to take everything into consideration and be as health-wise as possible. Thanking you in advance for any advice you may have.

Laurie

 

I cannot comment directly on Brilliance but can say in general you will likely be able to smell cigarette smoke near the casino entrance on most ships as designated areas within the casino is the only remaining indoor smoking venue permitted by RCI. And cigar smoking is not permitted there. But I would say in our experience that the smell from that proximity is not detected anywhere else on the ship.

 

Keep in mind that one side of the pool deck outdoors is also designated as a smoking area. This seems to usually be the starboard side so your stateroom location - which is a great choice IMO, given the limited accessible room locations - should be fine from that in terms of outdoor smoke traces, especially with no more balcony smoking permitted. Hopefully nothing from the casino entrance will reach you there either.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

Edited June 4, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[robflys]

I sympathize with your husband. Cigarette smoke, and aerosol scents set me off as well.

 

Some people will not understand this unless they experience it. Good luck staying away from the smoke on the ship.

 

I usually steer WELL clear of the casino for that reason. You may want to look for a cabin that is far away from the casino/smoking areas and NOT directly above them. Also, you may want to be near the front of the ship if possible if you have a balcony so the relative wind would tend to blow smoke rearwards when in motion.

 

Good luck!

Edited June 4, 2014 by robflys

[HammockDreamer]

yes its a terrible feeling , i sympathize with you and your hubby.

smoke especially will set me off, also wheat or cheese seem to trigger it, i keep a few inhalers nearby . seems to do the trick in a pinch. i couldnt possible book anything near a casnio. what about switching cabins to a different deck?

 

Oh my word, you truly understand ---- wheat is a MAJOR trigger for him as well. Tomato sends him in to anaphylactic shock - and even though we had contacted "Special Needs" prior to our cruise and spoke with the Food Manager, Head Waiter and our servers, he was served tomato on several occasions. We just have to be on alert at all times!

[Justmekaren918]

I am so sorry that your husband has these horrible issue, and I suffer with allergies can trigger mine.

 

I wouldn't think it would travel up to 7, but I would suggest that a travel air purifier close to the door. Since everyone is going right by your cabin! It was an amazing joy to have the 4 days! Too quick.

 

I would tell the dinning steward what worked and where you need to be to get it better for you the first time.

 

To get to WJ you will just go up and then cross.

 

The casino is not that far off that bank of elevators. Neither are all the great bars except the centrum bar and music was great on 4.

 

BOS is an amazing ship and I loved riding the outer elevator to dinner every night as the sun was setting.

[The Sunset Glow]

I too have similar issues - I have irritant induced asthma, which I got from mold in a workplace, so I sympathize.

 

Due to the problem you had with your previous table location in the MDR I suggest you email the dining room of your ship about 2 weeks prior to sailing and request a suitable table location. I've done this and they are very accommodating. Here is the email address - Just indicate your ship and sail date.

 

rcldining@rccl.com

 

Good luck!

[workingboy]

As an allergy sufferer, although not even close to what your husband goes through, I can sympathize. Have you thought of trying Celebrity instead? Their ships are 100% smoke free indoors. Brilliance is a great ship ( I have been on her 10 times), but you can not guarantee to be free from the smell of smoke.

[HammockDreamer]

As an allergy sufferer, although not even close to what your husband goes through, I can sympathize. Have you thought of trying Celebrity instead? Their ships are 100% smoke free indoors. Brilliance is a great ship ( I have been on her 10 times), but you can not guarantee to be free from the smell of smoke.

 

I thought Celebrity allows smoking on the balconies - I'm new to all of this, so I very well could be wrong about that!

[The Sunset Glow]

I thought Celebrity allows smoking on the balconies - I'm new to all of this, so I very well could be wrong about that!

 

Celebrity has a more restrictive smoking policy. No indoor smoking at all and no balcony smoking.

[workingboy]

I thought Celebrity allows smoking on the balconies - I'm new to all of this, so I very well could be wrong about that!

 

No quite the opposite. Celebrity does not allow smoking on balconies or anywhere inside the ship. There are certain outdoor smoking areas on each ship that like Royal, can be avoided. It might be a good alternative to look at.

[Starry Eyes]

I also think you should consider Celebrity. They do have a stricter smoking policy and have had their current restrictions for longer. They have had it long enough that they seem to draw fewer smokers than other lines.

[Langley Cruisers]

I can reply for Serenade (sister ship to Brilliance) as we recently did a back-to-back on her and noticed the terrible smoke. Since they have restricted smoking on balconies, many people do choose to smoke in the casino - absolutely their right to do so as it is permitted, but the smoke and smell are much worse now because of this. Serenade and Brilliance have both had their refurbs, so I think you will find the situation similar on Brilliance that we found on Serenade. The smoke drifts out of the casino and into the Centrum area and then up several decks. Much of the activity (music, dancing, aerial acts) is centered in this area so you and your husband may want to avoid the Centrum if you find it too smoky.

 

Brilliance has wonderful outdoor aft Windjammer seating, though - it's phenomenal to sit out there and enjoy the open air seating. :)

.

[CVU]

We found the same thing on Radiance. The casino smoke filtered into the Centrum.

 

If they are going to have the casino as a smoking room...:rolleyes:....perhaps they need to put doors on it? Then you won't want to walk through the casino to get to the Theater either!!

[HammockDreamer]

Thank you all for your replies. Sadly, my worries have been confirmed; especially since our stateroom is just off the centrum above the casino. There are no other accessible balcony staterooms so it appears we may have to rethink our Christmas plans.

[katrina915]

Thank you all for your replies. Sadly, my worries have been confirmed; especially since our stateroom is just off the centrum above the casino. There are no other accessible balcony staterooms so it appears we may have to rethink our Christmas plans.

 

I have been in 7114 and 7112 (right next door to 7010) on Serenade and other radiance class ship (which the Brilliance is). Both accessible cabins, but they were for my travel companion who has mobility issues. But I have asthma and very sensitive to smoke. I don't believe that you will have smoke coming from the Centrum (I did not smell smoke getting off/on 7th floor elevators and we exclusively used elevators), but I will be in 7010 on Radiance in July and can report back.

 

I have not been on a ship since new smoking policy, but smoking from other balconies did bother me (they are not supposed to do this starting this year). However, I did avoid the entire Casino area and that floor leading into the shows (went to shows on one floor up). I could not tolerate going to the cinema to watch a movie since the smoke came through the walls from the casino.

 

To keep the smoking issue in perspective, I did not find the smoke on the ship as bad as going to a European restaurant which I avoid since the smoke on the outside is bad enough for me.

 

However, my asthma has been controlled for years and only carry an inhaler as precaution and everyone has a different trigger level.

 

Good luck.

Edited June 5, 2014 by katrina915

[CVU]

Thank you all for your replies. Sadly, my worries have been confirmed; especially since our stateroom is just off the centrum above the casino. There are no other accessible balcony staterooms so it appears we may have to rethink our Christmas plans.

 

No smoking in Celebrity ships in the Casino or on board inside as far as I know......The bigger RCL ships won't have the Centrum to worry about........could you switch to another ship?

There is no smoking on Balconies on RCL as of Jan. 1/14

 

Write RCL and let them know, I mentioned this Centrum smoke in my comment for our April/14 cruise.

 

Good luck, hope you can find something for Dec.

Edited June 5, 2014 by CVU

[Nova24]

I was interested in this thread because I will be on the June 19th Brilliance Cruise.

 

I can't speak of the Brilliance yet, but in my experience between Enchantment of the Seas and many Celebrity ships, Celebrity has a MUCH better environment for non-smokers.

 

I will still sail on RCCL if other factors make sense, but the smoking policy, along with Aqua Class and a few other things, is why I prefer Celebrity over RCCL.

 

If I were you I would look at the M Class ships if you want a smaller ship.

[HammockDreamer]

katrina915 - thank you so much - I look forward to your report. I apologize for being so high maintenance, but I'm just trying to make it work.

 

I'm going to look at Celebrity to see if they have any accessible rooms available. We don't have to make the decision on the Brilliance until mid-Sept, so I still have time to figure this out.

 

Laurie

[jakenashleysmom]

I agree, Celebrity is probably the best fit for you. If I were you and decided to stick with Royal, I would think a larger ship would be a better option than a smaller ship smoke wise.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Forums mobile app

[Cindy]

I love Royal Caribbean, but I agree with those who say that since the balcony smoking ban the casino has become something of a de facto smoking lounge, and the smoke smell in and near the casino is quite pervasive. I hate going in there, because in a very short time my clothes and hair smell like I just went through a pack -- and I don't smoke!:eek:

 

I just got home from my first Celebrity cruise, and I loved the smoke-free indoor environment. There seemed to be ample spaces for the smokers, and I never saw anyone breaking the smoking rules. You might want to look at Celebrity...I believe they have the most restrictive policy in the industry.

[HammockDreamer]

I just wanted to let you know that we have booked a 5 day cruise on the Celebrity Constellation which sails on Dec. 22. We were able to book an accessible balcony. I don't know much about this ship- but I do think this is a better solution for our needs.

 

Thanks to all of you for your input - we needed to make the best informed decision possible and you all aided in this!

 

Laurie

[Langley Cruisers]

I just wanted to let you know that we have booked a 5 day cruise on the Celebrity Constellation which sails on Dec. 22.

 

Sounds nice. :) Come back and tell us how you liked it.

[xxHadleyxx]

I just wanted to let you know that we have booked a 5 day cruise on the Celebrity Constellation which sails on Dec. 22. We were able to book an accessible balcony. I don't know much about this ship- but I do think this is a better solution for our needs.

 

Thanks to all of you for your input - we needed to make the best informed decision possible and you all aided in this!

 

Laurie

 

We loved the Constellation (and it is the same base design as the Radiance class RCI ships--so basically what you had booked, but without indoor smoking :) )