Is It Time For a 100% Smoke-Free Cruise?

[Bigdasher]

That statistic is quite the red herring. True, reports are that smoking is slightly on the rise worldwide. But only in poor, third world countries. All the developed countries that have a rich enough economy that it's residents can afford to cruise have seen significant drops in smoking in the last decade.

 

Since it's people from the more affluent countries with dropping smoking rates who spend money on cruising, it is no risk to the cruise lines with restrictive smoking policies that smoking is increasing in the demographics that can't afford to spend their meager income on a cruise.

 

Let's keep the facts relevant and not spin them to make an invalid point.

 

 

 

The fact that the first thing you do when considering a ship is where the smoking areas are makes it quite clear why you trot out such dubious statistics in the first place. I pity you that your first decision is on where the smoking ares are rather than on the itinerary or the other amenities of the ship. :rolleyes:

 

I think you sloopsailer need to understand the how addictive nicotine is and why the smokers first priority would be to find somewhere where they can have their next "fix". The hold that tobacco has over a smoker is intense, and I have seen smokers walk five miles to a shop at three in the morning to get cigarettes and push their hands down the back of the sofa to find change to buy cigarettes. I've seen mothers give birth and the next thing they do is go and stand outside the hospital for a cigarette. Such is the power of the addiction. Its not a filthy habit, it is an addiction.

[zoncom]

Agree with Chez MaryLou. I also remember how hard it was to quit so kind of respect he rights of the few smokers left.On O Insignia they had a little glassed in view room adjoining the upper lounge where smokers could look out and also get drinks served. Very cool.

[perditax]

I would pay a small premium for both a smoke free cruise and an adults only cruise.

[Flatbush Flyer]

No it is not acceptable to ostracise smokers like this. If we are going to have smoke free cruises, then perhaps we ought to have alcohol free cruises too. The public health cost of alcohol and its externalities far outweighs that of cigarette smoking, but alcohol drinking is so socially acceptable ( in fact you are viewed as having something wrong with you if you don't drink), whereas if you smoke, you are treated like a leper.

 

 

 

And by the way, I am not a smoker

 

 

How you got from "smoke free" to "alcohol free" defies logic. If the person next to me has a drink and I do not, I suffer no ill health effects. If he smokes and I don't, I am subject to the harmful effects of the toxins in his second hand smoke. NO THANK YOU!

 

In light of all the clear evidence that smoking kills, how anyone can continue to do so is just so unbelievable!

[perditax]

How you got from "smoke free" to "alcohol free" defies logic. If the person next to me has a drink and I do not, I suffer no ill health effects. If he smokes and I don't, I am subject to the harmful effects of the toxins in his second hand smoke. NO THANK YOU!

 

In light of all the clear evidence that smoking kills, how anyone can continue to do so is just so unbelievable!

 

 

You're safe on a cruise ship, sure, but on land it's a drunk-driving free for all.

[SantaFeFan]

China isn't the "bulk" of Asian peoples? They are the bulk of the world's people. :p

 

Nope! Not even close!

 

As of July 1, 2015, the total population of just Asian countries is estimated to be 4,372,286,000. The population of China is estimated to be 1,370,793,000. That's only 31% of the Asian population. At 1,299,499,000, India has almost the population as China, and will soon surpass it. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asian_countries_by_population)

 

The world's population as of November 18, 2015 was 7,381,381,043. That means that China has only 18.5% of the world's population. (Source: http://www.geohive.com/earth/population_now.aspx)

 

An interesting web site to watch is one showing the real time population clock. It is quite astonishing to see how quickly the world's population is growing. http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

Edited November 19, 2015 by SantaFeFan

[perditax]

Yep, the ol' planet is pretty much screwed. :/

[sloopsailor]

I think you sloopsailer need to understand the how addictive nicotine is and why the smokers first priority would be to find somewhere where they can have their next "fix". The hold that tobacco has over a smoker is intense, and I have seen smokers walk five miles to a shop at three in the morning to get cigarettes and push their hands down the back of the sofa to find change to buy cigarettes. I've seen mothers give birth and the next thing they do is go and stand outside the hospital for a cigarette. Such is the power of the addiction. Its not a filthy habit, it is an addiction.

 

Sorry, but I strongly believe that this is just an excuse to justify continuing to smoke. Both of my parents smoked heavily, each at least two packs a day. I clearly remember going to the drive-in theater as a family, with my brother and I in the back seat, watching through the haze of cigarette smoke created by my parents in the front seat. Even though my brother and I were raised in a home where smoking was the norm, neither one of us ever smoked. About the time both my brother and I left home to start our own families, both of my parents quit. My father did it quite dramatically. As we were pulling out of our driveway for a cross country road trip, he stopped at the end of the driveway, paused for several minutes, then threw his cigarette out the window. That was the very last cigarette he ever smoked. He went from a two pack a day smoker to complete abstinence in mere minutes. My mother quit a few years later, but not so suddenly.

 

So, no, don't use that "addictive" line on me. I lived first hand how easy it was to not start in the first place despite growing up in a smoking environment, and observed how people with actual will power can quit if they truly want to.

Edited November 19, 2015 by sloopsailor

[perditax]

Assuming your personal experience trumps statistics and actual science is sloppy thinking. "Strongly believe" is a key clue that you're thinking with your emotions and not broader information. Just my opinion.

Edited November 19, 2015 by perditax

[sloopsailor]

Assuming your personal experience trumps statistics and actual science is sloppy thinking. "Strongly believe" is a key clue that you're thinking with your emotions and not broader information. Just my opinion.

 

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions, no matter how misguided they are. Your opinion is no more nor no less valid than mine. That is why it is called an "opinion" and not a "fact". ;)

Edited November 19, 2015 by sloopsailor

[Bigdasher]

How you got from "smoke free" to "alcohol free" defies logic. If the person next to me has a drink and I do not, I suffer no ill health effects. If he smokes and I don't, I am subject to the harmful effects of the toxins in his second hand smoke. NO THANK YOU!

 

In light of all the clear evidence that smoking kills, how anyone can continue to do so is just so unbelievable!

 

OMG - yes smoking does kill, but how many more deaths are caused by alcohol?...how many innocent people are assaulted by drunks?, how much domestic violence is caused by alcohol, how many children are traumatised by drunk parents. Then there are the deaths of caused by drink drivers ( such as a family member of mine) Just because there are drink driving laws doesn't mean there aren't drivers who get behind the wheel of a car. We all personally know victims of "second hand drinking" - I however can't think of a victim of second hand smoking who I personally know.

[Bigdasher]

About the time both my brother and I left home to start our own families, both of my parents quit. My father did it quite dramatically. As we were pulling out of our driveway for a cross country road trip, he stopped at the end of the driveway, paused for several minutes, then threw his cigarette out the window. That was the very last cigarette he ever smoked. He went from a two pack a day smoker to complete abstinence in mere minutes.

 

So your father had never tried to stop smoking before, and he succeeded in quitting the very first time?. That's remarkable..he was very lucky and didn't have the failures that so many people who try to quit have

 

 

My mother quit a few years later, but not so suddenly. [/color]

 

Why not - if giving up is so easy?

 

So, no, don't use that "addictive" line on me. I lived first hand how easy it was to not start in the first place despite growing up in a smoking environment, and observed how people with actual will power can quit if they truly want to.

 

Well based on your sample size of two, I bow my head to your epidemiological expertise and knowledge of tobacco addiction. Enjoy life in your ivory tower!

[Karysa]

I think there should always be one designated spot on the upper deck out of the way to smoke for as long as it is legal in the departing country.

 

I absolutely hate smelling the smoke but it's legal and therefore I think folks should be able to smoke onboard in a designated spot affect others as little as possibly, if at all.

[pseudoware]

No doubt, alcohol is a dangerous drug, but the analogy in this case makes no sense.

 

We're talking about second-hand exposure, primarily from strangers. No one is at risk from sitting in a lounge near a dude throwin' back a few.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Karysa]

No doubt, alcohol is a dangerous drug, but the analogy in this case makes no sense.

 

We're talking about second-hand exposure, primarily from strangers. No one is at risk from sitting in a lounge near a dude throwin' back a few.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

I was on a ship several years ago where a drunk 20 something year old man went in the kids club and punched one of the male crew members in the face. I would imagine that fights and possibly in all likelihood assaults including those of a sexual nature occur on cruise ships. So if not used responsibly alcohol can cause issues to others on board.

[clairebearinaus]

I'm one of those annoying ex-smokers who now REALLY hates the smell of smoke. I can detect it from a long way away and it really irritates my eyes and nose.

 

Yet, when I took my first cruise a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I wasn't the least bit bothered by the outdoor smoking areas, once I figured out where they were. Even waiting at a poolside bar which was half smoking and half not, I found the ship's movement dissipated the smoke to the point that I didn't even notice it. For that reason I believe non-smokers and smokers should be able to peacefully co-exist on a ship.

 

I'd like to see smoking banned indoors though, partly because for sensitive people like me the casino and sports bar become totally off-limits, but mostly for the welfare of the ship's staff. We know beyond a shadow of doubt that passive smoke is damaging to health and it's not fair to the staff who have to put up with it for hours on end as part of their jobs.

[Velvetwater]

I would also like to add a smoke free cruise ship benefits everyone in more ways than first thought and this is due to eliminating '3rd hand smoke'. Which is the Toxic residue left on clothes,hair,furniture and whatnot from a smoking session.

 

It is all well and good for a smoker to think 'Oh I am smoking it outside on a patio/ship etc so its ok' when actually you are bringing harmful chemicals on yourself. An inside smoking room would leave residue everywhere throughout the ship and everyone has to deal with it as well as furniture needing to be replaced more often especially as the residue can last a while on surfaces. I feel sick when I see people stubbing out their ciggarette then going to have close contact with kids.

 

If one is addicted to smoking then they should seek help as anyone would with an addiction. Talking about your rights really doesn't hold up when you read the above and other medical thoughts in this thread.

 

A google on 'third hand smoke' will come up with lots of reading btw, in case you think I was making the above up.

[moniquet]

Third hand smoke. Hahaha. Better than marijuana which many places are trying to legalise.

[Velvetwater]

Third hand smoke. Hahaha. Better than marijuana which many places are trying to legalise.

 

I dont see how the above relates to the debate especially when it has its own 'third hand smoke' residue. Yes we all know its worse for you than ciggarettes but hey.

 

Why do smokers (and smoker sympathisers?!) always try and direct attention to the ills of something else while avoiding evidence and solid cases put to them?

[rkmw]

if they ever bring in a smoke free cruise they could also bring in a alcohol free cruise also, might upset a few people

[Doug S]

So let me get this straight - you are going to write off cruising to a large part of the world (some very interesting parts), because you might get a whiff of tobacco smoke?:confused:

 

No, I am a non smoker but not overly militant about it. Not talking about an occasional whiff, but not interested in cruising in a smoke box. I've just heard certain routes are more dominated by smokers bringing smoking back into bars, and such to appease the travelers in those markets. I am just going on what I have heard, but I have plenty of other itineraries to cross off my list, and Asia is not yet high on my list, only partly due to the smoking.

[Doug S]

We cruised from Singapore to Hong Kong in February this year on Celebrity. Never had an issue with smokers on board. Even the smoking areas were not that busy. I dob't recall seeing a large number of Asians aboard. I suspect that the majority of passengers were not from Asia, but from the US, Canada, Australia and Europe.

 

We spent a week on land prior to our cruise, visiting Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. Never had issues with being near local people smoking. There were some, but didn't seem to be that many. Of course, we were mostly in areas that tourists would visit, which may be the reason fewer smokers were evident.

 

Good to know. Did X keep their same smoking policy on those routes?

[Doug S]

Interesting list. It is noteworthy that contrary to what Doug S claims, many Asian countries appear to smoke LESS than the Unites States, where he is from. The majority of Asian countries smoke less, including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, to name a few. And some significantly less. Japan and China do smoke more, but they aren't the bulk of Asian peoples.

 

That stereotypical myth that Asians smoke more is false.

 

I should have just been more specific and said China. I sailed Mariner the week before she went to China and saw the transition of the ship and crew. Not a really positive change IMO. I was thinking about that ship specifically but said Asian to generalize because they sailed to other ports in the region. Going by what I heard on here and from friends in the crew.

 

Never intended to make a blanket statement about stats in every Asian country out there, but this is CC so I shoulda known someone was going to burn up google trying to win the internet.

 

No biggie, just trying to join in the conversational, and mention what I thought might be a possible exception.

 

I'm out.

[SantaFeFan]

I....but this is CC so I shoulda known someone was going to burn up google trying to win the internet.......

 

Seriously? You think that posting accurate and factual information instead of vague and incorrect generalizations is "trying to win the internet"? When did posting correct information become a competition? :confused:

Edited November 20, 2015 by SantaFeFan

[perditax]

I dont see how the above relates to the debate especially when it has its own 'third hand smoke' residue. Yes we all know its worse for you than ciggarettes but hey.

 

Why do smokers (and smoker sympathisers?!) always try and direct attention to the ills of something else while avoiding evidence and solid cases put to them?

 

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2012/01/11282/marijuana-shown-be-less-damaging-lungs-tobacco