Carnival follows RCI and others - bans smoking on balconies

[The Sunset Glow]

Just 9 months after RCI changed their policy to ban smoking on the balconies Carnival has followed suit. As of October 9, 2014 Carnival will no longer allow smoking on their balconies.

 

Now there is only NCL and HAL left in the mainstream cruise lines that allow balcony smoking. How long will they hold out, I wonder?

 

When we were on our last cruise in February on Oasis (the no balcony smoking policy was still new) we still experienced some people smoking on their balconies. I wonder if this is less of a problem now that the policy has been in effect for a while? Any recent cruisers that can report back on this situation?

Edited July 8, 2014 by The Sunset Glow

[Clarea]

Interesting news, thanks.

[akcruz]

Very interesting indeed. What I find the most interesting is that they are only giving about a 3 month notice, I know Royal did not give a lot but I think it was a bit more than that???

[Cruising89143]

NCL and HAL will not be far behind. This seems to be a big issue on the HAL board.

 

Glad to see the change but it still would not get me back on Carnival.

Edited July 8, 2014 by cruisingator2

[LMaxwell]

That's great. Wife will not consider any balcony on a ship where smoking is permitted. I have been wanting to try out a Cove balcony on Carnival. This removes a major barrier to that.

 

I think Carnival must have watched RCI bookings staying consistently full and higher priced that last year.

[Clarea]

Very interesting indeed. What I find the most interesting is that they are only giving about a 3 month notice, I know Royal did not give a lot but I think it was a bit more than that???

Not sure about the exact time of Royal's announcement. I have a note dated October 2013 that says Royal's policy goes into effect Jan 1, 2014. Might have been about the same amount of notice as Carnival.

[jules815]

That's great. Wife will not consider any balcony on a ship where smoking is permitted. I have been wanting to try out a Cove balcony on Carnival. This removes a major barrier to that.

 

I think Carnival must have watched RCI bookings staying consistently full and higher priced that last year.

 

The Cove's are nice balconies, and one of their lower priced as well.

[LMaxwell]

Not sure about the exact time of Royal's announcement. I have a note dated October 2013 that says Royal's policy goes into effect Jan 1, 2014. Might have been about the same amount of notice as Carnival.

 

Just going from memory it was around August 2013 that the announcement was made on this forum.

 

September 5, 2013 seems to be when most news outlets had a press release out

Edited July 8, 2014 by LMaxwell

[Clarea]

Just going from memory it was around August 2013 that the announcement was made on this forum.

Thanks, I had a feeling my note may not have been an accurate indication of the timing.

Edited July 8, 2014 by clarea

[crazyventures]

It was only a matter of time. I think all cruise lines will eventually eliminate smoking on balconies.

[The Sunset Glow]

Not sure about the exact time of Royal's announcement. I have a note dated October 2013 that says Royal's policy goes into effect Jan 1, 2014. Might have been about the same amount of notice as Carnival.

 

I received an email from RCI on September 9, 2013 about the smoking policy change. I think it took longer for others to receive it though - not sure why that was.:cool:

[bobinfl]

When we were on our last cruise in February on Oasis (the no balcony smoking policy was still new) we still experienced some people smoking on their balconies. I wonder if this is less of a problem now that the policy has been in effect for a while? Any recent cruisers that can report back on this situation?

 

We sailed FOS in May and our neighbor smoked regularly, in spite of warnings from the cabin attendant. He just waited until the attendant was on break. Was not caught in the act, so no consequences.

[BamaGuy44]

We sailed FOS in May and our neighbor smoked regularly, in spite of warnings from the cabin attendant. He just waited until the attendant was on break. Was not caught in the act, so no consequences.

 

Wow what a fun way to spend your vacation, trying to time the breaks of employees. :rolleyes: I bet when he lit up he really felt like a rebel "sticking it to the man"

 

There will never be 100% compliance with any rule, but hopefully disallowing it cuts out most of the balcony smoking.

 

I've actually been waiting for Carnival to make their smoking policies stricter so I can give them a try, so this is good news to me.

[mustangjoe]

So does this mean that most of the RC rebels that left and took their business to Carnival will be upset now with Carnival and will take the business elsewhere?:confused:

[BamaGuy44]

So does this mean that most of the RC rebels that left and took their business to Carnival will be upset now with Carnival and will take the business elsewhere?:confused:

 

Yep, the smokers will tell us these strict smoking policies are business suicide because of all the customers they'll lose. In 5 years or so when there is basically no smoking allowed on board any cruise ship, they'll all sail empty I guess :p

[Clarea]

So does this mean that most of the RC rebels that left and took their business to Carnival will be upset now with Carnival and will take the business elsewhere?:confused:

I know several very high point Royal cruisers that are now sailing on NCL. My guess is that NCL and to a lesser degree Holland got most of the former RCI cruisers.

[Cruising89143]

The thread over on the Carnival board sure is interesting. Has turned very nasty. Guess I should not be surprised as I remember the threads on this board.

[joepeka]

The thread over on the Carnival board sure is interesting. Has turned very nasty. Guess I should not be surprised as I remember the threads on this board.

 

Very true. I was browsing through a thread just now and it went "poof" before I even got to the last page. The tone of that one must have gone to a really dark place. :eek:

[cruisenfever]

Very interesting indeed. What I find the most interesting is that they are only giving about a 3 month notice, I know Royal did not give a lot but I think it was a bit more than that???

Emails were sent out on September 9, 2013 with January 1, 2014 as the effective date.

[Guest maddycat]

Now........it would be great if RCI went one step further and banned smoking in the casino. Celebrity does it and it's wonderful. No smoke drifting out of the casino and you can actually breath when you're in the casino.

[Adayatatime]

Now........it would be great if RCI went one step further and banned smoking in the casino. Celebrity does it and it's wonderful. No smoke drifting out of the casino and you can actually breath when you're in the casino.

 

Or close the casino. Get rid of all bad habits.

[Cruising89143]

Now........it would be great if RCI went one step further and banned smoking in the casino. Celebrity does it and it's wonderful. No smoke drifting out of the casino and you can actually breath when you're in the casino.

 

Agree. I love being able to walk through the ship without smelling smoke.

[Ladysilver]

All I can say is.....It's about time! :D

[jules815]

We sailed FOS in May and our neighbor smoked regularly, in spite of warnings from the cabin attendant. He just waited until the attendant was on break. Was not caught in the act, so no consequences.

 

I was on Carnival Dream during Hurricane Sandy. They had to bolt the doors to our cove balconies shut (they're on deck 2), and people were smoking in their rooms. We couldn't believe it.

[peteukmcr]

Great news for our first sailing on Carnival in 2015.