Balcony smoking complaint = free cruise?

[loxley]

You don't think Carnival has a tracking system that follows cruisers in this day and age of computers? Why would they reward someone for being a constant "complainer". And you don't think people lie on these boards day in and day out just to get their daily jollies, or to yank someone's chain?

 

If I believed everything written on these boards I think I'd be committed to the nearest looney bin by my concerned relatives.

 

Had a poster on here years ago, was a freq cruiser, stock owner, platinum, on and on, met some people, decided to go to dinner with them she said after they had informed the dinning room staff and was given the ok. Called to a meeting with the captain the next day and was banned from cruising carnival again. Have a feeling that was not the first time their names had popped up as uncooperative. Tried everything she could but it remained a no go. They were not put off, but were banned for life.

[singbluesilver1]

I don't understand what did that cruiser do to get banned

[Avril]

Had a poster on here years ago, was a freq cruiser, stock owner, platinum, on and on, met some people, decided to go to dinner with them she said after they had informed the dinning room staff and was given the ok. Called to a meeting with the captain the next day and was banned from cruising carnival again. Have a feeling that was not the first time their names had popped up as uncooperative. Tried everything she could but it remained a no go. They were not put off, but were banned for life.

 

Huh? Banned for just asking (and being given permission by the wait staff) to sit at a different table for dinner one night? :confused: Wow, seems a bit harsh. I don't think that's being uncooperative, people ask to switch tables, even dinner times all the time. I don't understand.

 

I don't understand what did that cruiser do to get banned

 

Neither do I. :confused: I'd love a better explanation.

[loxley]

Huh? Banned for just asking (and being given permission by the wait staff) to sit at a different table for dinner one night? :confused: Wow, seems a bit harsh. I don't think that's being uncooperative, people ask to switch tables, even dinner times all the time. I don't understand.

 

 

 

Neither do I. :confused: I'd love a better explanation.

 

You are no more confused than we were at the time it was reported, but I always suspected there had been more instances over the years that was not told, and that must have been the straw that broke the camels back.

 

The op did list a few complaints, problems they had had over the years, but nothing you would have thought they were on dangerous grounds. Of course, I highly imagine she picked and chose what she wrote.

 

I used to have the link to the thread saved but that was several computers ago.

[N7786W Flyer]

I remember a similar situation on Royal Caribbean about 3-4 years back.

 

But in that instance, the passengers (an elderly couple) had attained a reputation with the line for complaining repeatedly over several cruises to get discounts and then going online to tell everyone how they had manipulated their situation into getting said discounts....unfortunately (for them), the postings were noticed by the cruise line.

 

Subsequent to the line noticing the online postings, the couple were involved in some type of incident in the dining room and were finally told while in the midst of a cruise that they would not be welcomed back.

 

But, I'm going solely from memory here...YMMV.

 

Garnett

[loxley]

I remember a similar situation on Royal Caribbean about 3-4 years back.

 

But in that instance, the passengers (an elderly couple) had attained a reputation with the line for complaining repeatedly over several cruises to get discounts and then going online to tell everyone how they had manipulated their situation into getting said discounts....unfortunately (for them), the postings were noticed by the cruise line.

 

Subsequent to the line noticing the online postings, the couple were involved in some type of incident in the dining room and were finally told while in the midst of a cruise that they would not be welcomed back.

 

But, I'm going solely from memory here...YMMV.

 

Garnett

 

I remember that one too, it made national news, but they still did not get reinstated.

 

Apparently the one I was talking about was removed. But here is a thread talking about it.

 

http://forums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1413583&highlight=banned+for+life

[Wilgr]

I wish they would move all smoking areas to the open decks. Can't enjoy the casino because of all the smokers hanging out at the bar, smoking the entire cruise and never spending a dime in the casino...

 

If you would just move along and not watch what they are doing all day long the smoke probably wouldn't bother you so much.

[lido deck larry]

Are you sure the rhinestones weren't rocks? Because it sounds like this is all in her head. :)

Could have been.. I can't make this stuff up....

 

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

[marne001]

You don't think Carnival has a tracking system that follows cruisers in this day and age of computers? Why would they reward someone for being a constant "complainer". And you don't think people lie on these boards day in and day out just to get their daily jollies, or to yank someone's chain?

 

If I believed everything written on these boards I think I'd be committed to the nearest looney bin by my concerned relatives.

 

I allowed someone to sail with me, turns out we were more different than night and day. She broke 8 of the 11 items that will they say will get you kicked off. CCL bent over backwards, but she kept up. I was moved to another cabin. She was put off the ship in Coz and had to get a flight home, with her FOUR PIECES OF LUGGAGE for a 7 day trip. Guess, I was not around to help her schlep her luggage, haha. She was a very unhappy person before getting kicked off. CCL stated she is banned into perpetuity from sailing any CCL owned ship now and future vessels on all CCL lines. You betcha they track. CCL even checked me out, I am a Diamond so they could see my sailing record since before they kept records and nary a complaint.

 

She was a hater and there is one in every crowd.

[singbluesilver1]

What the heck did she do

[MCFTJCH2V]

I feel like I've visited the fake site, THE ONION today.

 

I neither believe that anyone got a free cruise, nor anyone was kicked off for a perfectly legal activity. I also put no credence in a post that states a roommate broke 8 of 11 items, whatever that means, without anything supporting such a statement.

[bobsfamily]

If you would just move along and not watch what they are doing all day long the smoke probably wouldn't bother you so much.

Now that's funny!

[linbobky]

I feel like I've visited the fake site, THE ONION today.

 

I neither believe that anyone got a free cruise, nor anyone was kicked off for a perfectly legal activity. I also put no credence in a post that states a roommate broke 8 of 11 items, whatever that means, without anything supporting such a statement.

 

like!:)

[love my grandkids]

Would like to hear more about why people have been banned for life.

 

There was a story a few years ago about some kids tossing chairs into the ocean off lido that caused them to be removed but dont know if they were permanently banned.

[cutiepiefred]

Smoking on the balcony is not legal, Its breaking the rules. Our neighbors were told about it more then once. They were caught by the room steward a few times. We got to first port and they were escorted off. So yes you can get booted off for smoking

[Havingfun2010]

[quote name='beachbum53']I'd say her claim about being compensated with a free cruise is B.S. If Carnival compensated every passenger that had a complaint about something by giving a free cruise, Carnival would lose a lot of money. Even though smoking on the balconies has been banned, it's kind of tough to enforce. There is no walkway along the outside of the ship where a security person could walk along looking for violators. And if you've got cabins above, below, and on either side of you, how can you pinpoint exactly where the smoke is coming from? If you happen to have a cabin that is directly below the designated smoking area on the ship, then the smoke wouldn't necessarily be coming from someone's balcony anyhow.[/QUOTE]

Smoking on balconies is easy to enforce. My next door neighbor on my last RCCL cruise was smoking and had an ash tray on their table. They were hanging out over the railing. This was before the ship left port. One quick call, and this was taken care of. Did not see, smell, or hear them again for the rest of the cruise.

The difference is that Carnival has a policy of to never enforce any rule they make. After all, the $50.00 a day room, is tough enough to fill without alienating too many people. :D

[JLee1973]

I've heard of people being banned from CCL for underage drinking. Not sure how true that is.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[RuthlessBoss]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Smoking on balconies is easy to enforce. My next door neighbor on my last RCCL cruise was smoking and had an ash tray on their table. They were hanging out over the railing. This was before the ship left port. One quick call, and this was taken care of. Did not see, smell, or hear them again for the rest of the cruise.

The difference is that Carnival has a policy of to never enforce any rule they make. After all, the $50.00 a day room, is tough enough to fill without alienating too many people. :D[/QUOTE]

Because of one rare incident, you've deemed catching a smoker is easy. Your neighbor was like a sitting duck in this incident. If they had known about balcony ban, I doubt they'd chance the smoking that soon in the cruise and so blatently bring their ashtray and put it on display as evidence.

[love my grandkids]

[quote name='RuthlessBoss']Because of one rare incident, you've deemed catching a smoker is easy. Your neighbor was like a sitting duck in this incident. If they had known about balcony ban, I doubt they'd chance the smoking that soon in the cruise and so blatently bring their ashtray and put it on display as evidence.[/QUOTE]

Some smokers cannot control their addiction

[RuthlessBoss]

[quote name='love my grandkids']Some smokers cannot control their addiction[/QUOTE]

If you are setting me up with that ridiculous statement, you accomplished that. I smoke, but I know about the balcony issue and hang out elsewhere. I would not be stupid enough to smoke while the ship is waiting to sail, most people hanging on the rail. So skip the addiction words, we know we are addicted without being told we are:mad:

[MCFTJCH2V]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Smoking on balconies is easy to enforce. My next door neighbor on my last RCCL cruise was smoking and had an ash tray on their table. They were hanging out over the railing. This was before the ship left port. One quick call, and this was taken care of. Did not see, smell, or hear them again for the rest of the cruise.

The difference is that Carnival has a policy of to never enforce any rule they make. After all, the $50.00 a day room, is tough enough to fill without alienating too many people. :D[/QUOTE]

I equate that with a shoplifter performing his feat out in the open. The only difference if that is illegal.

If someone is going to flaunt their smoking activity, it is very easy to ID. Doing it discretely, it's impossible to know if it's coming fore aft above or below.

[skyeman27]

[quote name='lido deck larry']She had a custom-made lanyard with "platinum cruiser" written in pink rhinestones. I'm assuming that is her status with CCL, but didn't ask.

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk[/quote]

Was she wearing a robe?

[lido deck larry]

[quote name='gklow']Was she wearing a robe?[/QUOTE]
She was too cranky to do something cool like wear a robe in the buffet line.

My g/f heard her berating staff members twice. Apparently they hadn't gotten the message about her platinum status...

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk Edited August 8, 2015 by lido deck larry

[marne001]

[quote name='MCFTJCH2V']I feel like I've visited the fake site, THE ONION today.

I neither believe that anyone got a free cruise, nor anyone was kicked off for a perfectly legal activity. I also put no credence in a post that states a roommate broke 8 of 11 items, whatever that means, without anything supporting such a statement.[/quote]

...this is quoting an article published on the Cruisecritic website, which listed the 11 things to not do if you do not want to be removed from the ship, e.g., kicked off. Kind CC readers may view the article at the URL below: [URL]http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1554[/URL]. Hopefully, that will be a interesting read for most and remedy the gentleman's request for 'documentation' to be 'credible'.

My traveling companion was not a friend, but a prospect that wanted to sail with me. Let me be clear, she pressed me on several occasions to allow her to sail with me. I had chosen the ship, its sail date and itinerary with the hope of a quiet week before returning to the pressure cooker of my job. The girl had issues that did not become clear until days before we sailed in Q4 2013 on a =>6 day itinerary. She was repeatedly warned by crew members to cease doing a number of things; distracting and irritating fellow passengers, drunk and disorderly, loud and I mean LOUD talking (read rantings), misrepresentation on her cruise documentation, etc. I cautioned her as well, but there was not change in her behaviour. In one port, there was a brief delay before the general "get off the ship" was allowed and only later did I learn, after a friend had lunch with the Captain, that she had been involuntarily removed from the vessel. At the proverbial end of the day, she simply failed to follow CCL crew' instructions and each culminated in her removal from the vessel.

Out of this sad sounding story, did five wonderful friendships arise; the Security Officer that was so kind to me and four ladies from our dining room table which all have become friends. In fact, I will be sailing with one of the ladies on our third cruise together in a few days.

The saddest part is that girl was informed by CCL that she will never be allowed on any CCL vessel and the cruise line included, "...into perpetuity..." on the letter provided to her. So even if she straightens up and sails right, it will never be on CCL, Costa, HAL, Princess, etc...

I will always be thankful for the way the CCL Security teamed handled this situation and the kindness + consideration that was extended to me. IMHO CCL was extremely lenient in this situation and gave the girl every chance to behave correctly.

Although the content of the letter provided the passenger when she was removed from the ship was only verbally shared with me, the gentleman who questions its veracity may continue to doubt its existence as I am unable to provide a photocopy thereof. My understanding from the CCL Security team is removal of a passenger is a rare matter and this measure only taken in the most extreme cases and always with attempts to work it out with the passenger. It is more common that a crew member is removed from an assigned vessel and ultimately the employment contract. That my CC gentle readers will be a story I share on another day. I have been sailing since the 1960s, and on average I sail four times per year (high stress job that pays for the cruises!) and I have >100 cruises under my belt; most of which are on non-CCL vessels; only 25 on CCL.

To the rest of CC's gentle readers, I wish you blessed sailings with "red sky at night, sailors' delight".

Marne, The Cruisin' Fool

[Earthworm Jim]

[quote name='flounder315']I wish they would move all smoking areas to the open decks. Can't enjoy the casino because of all the smokers hanging out at the bar, smoking the entire cruise and never spending a dime in the casino...[/quote]

They tried that experiment on the Paradise. It turned out there was a strong enough correlation between smokers likely also to be gamblers that revenue in a smoke free casino was way down.

So you're likely going to be stuck with the smokers in the casino.