A sincere question

[Cruising89143]

Double post.

[jtmalt]

Ruskatab,

Which side of the ship is smoking on Mariner, port or starboard? Just curious, and I know it varies from ship to ship.

 

For what it's worth, I'm an ex-smoker (3 years), and was one of those that would get angry and belligerent if asked to put it out. I would smoke in queues, open areas, restaurants, etc. , as long as it was not specifically designated as non-smoking. I doubt that even a courteous request would have been greetly warmly by me.

 

I never, ever realized just how offensive smoke could be to a non-smoker, even in open air. On my recent cruise, I found it irritating that people would light their smokes while queuing up for coffee at the poolside beverage stations in the morning with no regard for others in the vicinity. Then I realized that I used to do exactly the same thing. I always thought the non-smokers were making a big deal over nothing, and that my smoke could not possibly be as annoying as they made it out to be.

 

I don't think any smoker can ever truly appreciate just how pervasively irritating cigarette smoke can be to many non-smokers until they've quit for a while. I don't know what the solution is, though. If I were still a smoker, I too would probably insist on smoking on my balcony.

[breal6]

Let me start by saying I am a non smoker. But i do have to take issue with this subject. i know smoking is bad for the health of not only the smoker but those around him/ her. Laws have been passed that prohibit smoking in a lot of places, but not outside. I live in Florida and smoking is banned in most public buildings. A smoker must step outside to have a cigarette, and i like this law. If I saw someone light up in a public building I would be the first to point out that we are in a non smoking building. But I must say I would never say a word to someone smoking outdoors. And balconies on cruise ships are outdoors.

 

I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my post.

 

Now let's discuss the smell of coffee. YUCK. It literally turns my stomach to smell coffee.

 

We each have something we don't particularly care for. To the OP, I'm sorry you suffer from asthma, but as a sufferer, you know steps that have to be taken to avoid the thing that bothers you. If the smoke is coming in your open door, then i agree with clark, just close it. And that was the original query, what to do if the smoke was coming in.

[Cruishappy@aol.com]

Now it is my turn to ask a SINCERE QUESTION -- this is not meant to be sarcastic but --- why is it on previous posts - it is suggested that the smoker shuts his doors and go instide to have his smoke --- it does not make sense to me --- after it is the non-smoker that is having the problem - the smoker should be allowed to enjoy his balcony and vacation that he is also paying for --- I agree completely that smokers should stay in their smoking area -- but do not believe that they should be subjected to the non-smokers with the coughing - and waving of hands --- that is what I consider rude ---there are a verly limited amount of spaces for a smoker to go to and they should not be denied whatever space they have by the rolling eyes - etc --- the only thing worse that a rude smoker is a rude non-smoker ---- and this is my .02 cents - so please do not trash me ---

[goneclear]

Let me start by saying I am a non smoker. But i do have to take issue with this subject. i know smoking is bad for the health of not only the smoker but those around him/ her. Laws have been passed that prohibit smoking in a lot of places, but not outside. I live in Florida and smoking is banned in most public buildings. A smoker must step outside to have a cigarette, and i like this law. If I saw someone light up in a public building I would be the first to point out that we are in a non smoking building. But I must say I would never say a word to someone smoking outdoors. And balconies on cruise ships are outdoors.

 

I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my post.

 

Now let's discuss the smell of coffee. YUCK. It literally turns my stomach to smell coffee.

 

We each have something we don't particularly care for. To the OP, I'm sorry you suffer from asthma, but as a sufferer, you know steps that have to be taken to avoid the thing that bothers you. If the smoke is coming in your open door, then i agree with clark, just close it. And that was the original query, what to do if the smoke was coming in.

 

Breal6, You hit the nail on the head. Those are the facts and so be it. There will always be two sides to this story so let the law guide us. If you are in on open area. (top pool deck) and someone's smoke is bothering you, It is you who should move. If you see someone smoking in an area that is designated non smoking, You should complain to the person.

[Kissara22]

my two cents worth,

I quit smoking a couple of years ago and I have the utmost respect for both smokers and non-smokers. When I did smoke, ..and if someone would come up to me kindly and say something to the affect of "I hate to bother you, but your smoke is entering my stateroom, balcony, etc. and I'm allergic or what have you. Would you mind refraining for awhile", ..I would've put it out in an instant and sparked up a conversation. I love meeting new people...smokers or not. Also, ..many smokers that I do know ....ask others if their smoke will bother them, ..I think non-smokers are more obliged to say "no problem" because they were given the common courtesy. I like the idea of knocking on the doors of cabins next to you and ask them if they smoke, and that you're allergic, and you've heard awful rumors how the smoke could linger unto the non smokers balcony. Smokers or not, ...that would be a great icebreaker. You could meet friends for life. :)

[Andros]

To the OP. I smoke like a chimney. However, I would not be offended by a phone call, knock on the door, kind note left on my door, etc. I would simply just find somewhere else to go. I have smoked for over 25 years and have never not stopped or moved somewhere else when a non-smoker is offended by my smoke. I've always felt this was just common courtesy;) .

[Nessa1dc]

My husband and I are both smokers. I would probably be offended if someone asked me to put out a cigarette that I was smoking on my balcony, but we always try to be considerate of others. My suggestion would be to go inside and close your door until they are done. They won't be in the cabin always.

 

Thank you for being so kind in your question. Often, non-smokers can be really nasty about smokers.

[alicia68]

I am a smoker but my husband has never smoked so he doesn;t have the dreaded ex smoker attitude. I try my best to not offend anyone with my smoking so If it did on the balcony bother someone I would appreciate it if they politely rang my phone and let me know.

We are just off the Carnival Victory ( never again even if they paid me to cruise Carnival) and we had a whole different smokers problem. Several times in the Casino and in the cigar lounge there was a group of rather loud women who made it their mission to belittle and degrade everyone they came in to contact with throughout the cruise who were smoking. I tried my best to ignore them the whole cruise but on debarkation I couldn't take anymore. These women had booked an 11:30 am flight out of fort Lauderdale (Victory docks in Miami) even though Carnival policy states not to book flights out prior til 2pm. The cigar lounge was designated for tours and early flights. A few people travelling together were having a cigarette while waiting for their tour and two of these women had the nerve to tell them to put their cigarette out while using profanities towards them. I let it be until the both of them started to use racial slurs and then I made sure I tore a strip of each one of them. Thankfully a Carnival employee came and removed them to somewhere that hopefully suited them better.

[stbmom]

Okay, I have a question. To the smokers that tell the OP to go in her room and close the door - I have a question - why don't you smoke in your room?

I am really just wondering.

 

I have to admit I had a VERY bad experience with a smoker. Being obviously pregnant at seven months I had someone BLOW SMOKE IN MY FACE and I could have beat the living crap out of them. To me, it is like spitting in my face - and the face of my child since that crap is transferred to my baby when ingested.

 

I just can't understand why their can't be a compromise. Especially if someone is sitting on their balcony smoking the entire cruise - do you never get to use your balcony?

[hawt1]

Okay, I have a question. To the smokers that tell the OP to go in her room and close the door - I have a question - why don't you smoke in your room?

I am really just wondering.

 

I have to admit I had a VERY bad experience with a smoker. Being obviously pregnant at seven months I had someone BLOW SMOKE IN MY FACE and I could have beat the living crap out of them. To me, it is like spitting in my face - and the face of my child since that crap is transferred to my baby when ingested.

 

I just can't understand why their can't be a compromise. Especially if someone is sitting on their balcony smoking the entire cruise - do you never get to use your balcony?

 

I was going to ask the same thing....have not been on a cruise yet but assume there are smoking and non-smoking staterooms. Why should the non-smoker have to go inside and wait for the smoker to finish when the smoker could go into their room and smoke while the non-smoker is outside?

[ElvisandTracey]

I find this whole thread very interesting because I am an avid non-smoker who hates smoke, but I must tell you that I would never, ever ask my neighbor to stop their smoking on their balcony just because it bothers me-and it is a health concern as I have athsma, but I still would not inconvenience others just because I have health issues or a hatred of smoke!!

 

They way I look at it, they paid their hard-earned money for their cabin just like me, and as long as RCI allows smoking on the balconies, then they have every right to do so, even if I hate it-and trust me, I hate smoking.

 

But I love Vegas, the smoking capital of the universe-so when I go each and every month, I suck it up (literally) and deal with it-if I really don't like the smoke, I guess I can stay out of the casinos-but I choose to go and suffer, because the benefits (gambling, if you can call that a benefit) outweigh the suffering (smoke).

 

The funniest thing is this-if I were a smoker, smoking on my balcony, and someone next door asked me to stop, knowing my own temperment the way I do, I would probably smoke more, and purposely blow it in their direction, just to bother them more. It's kinda the reaction people get from me when I am on vacation on a public beach or on my hotel balcony playing music, and they ask me to turn it down-the way I look at it, as long as I am not breaking any rules, that's their problem, and they can like it or leave it-all they do is cause me to turn it up, just to be difficult.

 

You guys can flame me or call me a meanie or whatever, but that's the honest truth-you can't subject others to your likes or dislikes as long as they arn't breaking any rules-just learn to deal with others, or stay home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trishalee]

90% of public areas are now smoke free, and yet some are still not satisfied. They insist on coming into the few smoking areas and complaining. My pulmonary specialist (allergies, asthma, other chronic lung diseases) truly believes that all this second-hand smoke stuff is "a bunch of bunk!" He says that drinking a glass of whole milk per day does more harm to overall health than any amount of second-hand smoke. Of course he strongly discourages anyone from smoking, it's just the second-hand stuff that he desregards. If you were paying atention at the time, you would remember that any study which showed second-hand smoke to be relatively harmless was absolutely excluded from the study. Whatever you believe, just use a little personal responsibility and sensitivity and we'll all ger along.on our cruise!

[Clarkk W Griswald]

I mean know harm, and am putting on my flame retardant suit. But I have to know...

 

Can one really be "allergic" to cigarette smoke? Is it really an "allergy"? Can it be cured with weekly or monthly injections as such for other allergies? I feel that the term "allergic to cigarette smoke" is used by far too many people who just don't like cigarette smoke. How is one tested for this "allergy"? Do you get the pin ***** tests on your back as with other alleriges? I don't care for cigarette smoke myself and I am an ex-smoker for about 3 years now. But, I wouldn't say I'm "allergic" to it.

[ElvisandTracey]

I can't beleive that no one has flamed me for my post, or called me an evil name-how boring!!! I guess a lot of you agree with me afterall?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Valentine's Mom]

As far as I know no ship has smoking and non smoking rooms.

[hstrybuf]

I was going to ask the same thing....have not been on a cruise yet but assume there are smoking and non-smoking staterooms. Why should the non-smoker have to go inside and wait for the smoker to finish when the smoker could go into their room and smoke while the non-smoker is outside?

 

Don't assume. ;) The cruiseline does not designate certain cabins for smoking or non-smoking. It depends on the occupants at the time and whether or not they smoke.

 

I posed this question to DH. We both smoke and we always book a balcony cabin. We agreed that we would be willing to compromise if approached politely. However, if we were treated rudely, don't expect any compromise whatsoever.

[PhoenixCruiser]

The funniest thing is this-if I were a smoker, smoking on my balcony, and someone next door asked me to stop, knowing my own temperment the way I do, I would probably smoke more, and purposely blow it in their direction, just to bother them more.

 

 

LOL, I think we have the same temperment :D However, I am a smoker ;)

 

We picked up a smokeless ashtray at Walmart, I think it works great.

 

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[wmorrell35]

Personally, DH & I do not smoke in our cabin, mainly because I know the smoke travels, and out of respect for neighboring cabins, not knowing if they are smokers or not, I don't want the smell traveling and offending. So, we smoke on the balcony where the wind will blow the offending smoke away within a few short minutes. We don't even smoke in the casino's and personally don't feel it should be allowed. What really bugs me, and I can get a little obnoxious about it is when these self rightous non/ex smokers feel the right to invade my space and treat DH or myself with no respect at all. I understand the secondhand smoke issue, and firmly believe that smoking should only be done in well ventalated areas, such as outdoors... so as NOT to contribute ill health onto another..I really think most (not all) smokers are equally considerate. We understand the dangers full well, mainly because we are constantly being told the hazards by "well meaning" non/ex smokers.

[rockster]

My DH quit smoking three weeks ago. I still smoke but I've cut down. I try to be courteous if I smoke in public. Even when I'm smoking in the privacy of my car and the car next to me has their window rolled down, I am careful to not blow smoke out my window towards them. I know it's a bad habit, but I am not disciplined enough to quit. Kind of off topic and I don't want to start anything here, but I would think the emissions from cars is a lot worse than secondhand smoke. (I don't mean this in a way that people complaining about secondhand smoke shouldn't be complaining, I think you have every right to complain)

 

The way society looks at smoking now, I always feel apologetic when I light up. Now that DH has quit, it pressures me more to quit. I just don't think I want to start my vacation by quitting smoking..

 

to answer the OP's question, If I were smoking and someone asked me to put it out rudely I would be mad/defensive/ashamed. I really hate the waving the hands and cough cough routine, that might even make me want to smoke more. If someone in the next balcony cabin asked me nicely, 'would you mind not smoking, I have health concerns, can we work out some kind of compromise and have some kind of smoke shift' I would be happy to oblige and probably would not smoke out at the balcony anymore.

 

wmorrell35, I work in a department of "well meaning" non/ex smokers. They till me how bad it is, and how easy it is to quit.. It drives me nuts.

 

As for offensive BO and heavy perfume, it seriously makes me feel nauseous. So does cigar smoke. But I probably wouldn't say anything.

[beachchick]

I mean know harm, and am putting on my flame retardant suit. But I have to know...

 

Can one really be "allergic" to cigarette smoke? Is it really an "allergy"? Can it be cured with weekly or monthly injections as such for other allergies? I feel that the term "allergic to cigarette smoke" is used by far too many people who just don't like cigarette smoke. How is one tested for this "allergy"? Do you get the pin ***** tests on your back as with other alleriges? I don't care for cigarette smoke myself and I am an ex-smoker for about 3 years now. But, I wouldn't say I'm "allergic" to it.

 

No flames from me. The answer is technically that it's not the "smoke," it's the chemicals and chemical components of the smoke that are allergens. It's kind of like saying "I'm allergic to cats." Actually, the allergy is to dander (various chemical components) and the like. So, yes one can certainly be "allergic to smoke" in the sense that we use the term allergy. One could certainly have the skin tests done for the various components in smoke.

 

For many (perhaps most) people smoke is more an irritant than an allergen. Many of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are universal irritants, and, as we know, many of them are poisons. IMO, this accounts for why many are admamently opposed to smoking anywhere, especially those who have watched family members or friends die from complications of smoking. This does not, however, give anyone leave to berate someone who is smoking in a place where it is legal to smoke.

 

OTOH, when I used to smoke (light smoker and quit 20 years ago), I couldn't stand smoking in a small space (such as a cruise ship cabin would be). So there is the balcony option, but then I would've asked myself if my smoking would bother those around me. Non-smokers have the right to enjoy their balconies too. I would have wanted to know, politely, if I was bothering someone. A simple "I'm sorry, but your smoke is bothering me" would have been fine. I would've waited until the "coast was clear" or gone elsewhere or simply figured it was just as well that I smoke less (because I knew when I started that smoking wasn't good for me). A berating would have angered me though--common courtesy is a two-way street.

 

beachchick

[TITISSA]

On my last cruise on the Norwegian Dawn this past August, my next door neighbor would always smoke his cigar on his balcony. I am a non-smoker and pretty much detest the smell of cigarettes and cigars. However, he had the right to smoke in his own cabin and I never complained about it. If I couldn't handle the smell I would just go in and use my balcony when he wasn't there.

[PTarbay]

LOL, I think we have the same temperment :D However, I am a smoker ;)

 

We picked up a smokeless ashtray at Walmart, I think it works great.

 

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I was thinking of buying one of these.I was wondering if they worked.I smoke outside on my deck but it's getting pretty cold.Does it work well enough that I could use it in my garage and it wouldn't smell like smoke?

[caviargal]

 

We were just on the Carnival Triumph, and it was loaded with smokers, and the only non-smoking area on the ship was the dining room.

 

We couldn't escape it, even when we went in our room it seemed the smoke would find it's way in.

 

She never went out on the balcony, because it seemed the smoke was always coming in from one side or another.

 

But she did just that, she never went out there.

 

In the future we're only sailing RCI because in our years of cruising NEVER until this cruise did we feel trapped from smoke.

 

I too would be interested to hear how smokers feel about this.

 

I tend to say it's my problem and we just avoided it. We got our drinks in the bar and drank them in the hall if the bars were crazy smokey. We just made the best somehow.

 

WC

 

 

The Carnival Glory was the smokiest ship I have ever cruised. Perhaps CCL attracts mor smokers as I found their policy very liberal. For me, a non smoker, I could not escape the stink of smoke, not on my balcony nor in the public areas.

 

I stayed in my cabin more than on any other cruise as it really was unpleasant overall.

[maurick]

I think if smoking would bother me that much, I would get a inside cabin. Why spend the extra bucks on a balcony if you know you might have smoking neighbors that is going to affect your health.

 

Otherwise ask the smoker nicely to stop smoking as you have a health problem.