Ships with non smoking rooms, are there any?

[gracecarmo]

Here is my problem: We want to take our family of 15 (sons and their families) on a cruise. One of our grandchildren is severely allergic to cigarette smoke, and her parents are worried that she would have an attack if they had to stay in a room that the ventalation system would filter smoke from other cabins through.

I have tentatively booked the Mercury to Alaska, however, when my son called them to check on the availability of a non smoking room they said that there are not any on any Celebrity ship. Then, he called Carnival, and they did say that one side of the ship would be for non smoking rooms, but their itinerary to Alaska is not what we want. (would prefer RT Seattle).

Are there any other ships doing Alaska that have one side of the ship with non smoking rooms?

Ourselves, we have been on the Mercury, Summit, Infinity, and have never smelled smoke from any cabin, but can't convince our son and daughter-in-law that there would not be any smoke filtering in from other cabins.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I hate smoke (you can tell when you read any threads about smoking here) but we haven't had a problem with our cabins even smelling of smoke or tobacco. I would suggest avoiding getting a balcony. Also make sure the cruiseline you suggest has strictly no-smoking dining rooms. Smoking is not allowed in the Carnival and Princess dining rooms (you will have to research other lines).

 

Unfortunately, you will be able to tell when you walk past a smoker's cabin.

 

I have a feeling your son was told the wrong thing about Carnival having non-smoking cabins or just misheard. One side of the decks may be non-smoking (will have the signs up). Also usually around the kids' pools. But I have seen passengers lighting up even when there are signs posted. If that happens, point out the sign to the person (maybe also point out that the ashtrays are on the other side, too).

[Bonnie J.]

Air from one cabin is not sent to other cabins. Think of what wold happen if one person's germs were sent to many cabins. A ship would never sent everyone else's cabin air to other cabins!

We always ask for non smoking cabin. Once, think it was RCCL, we got to our cabin and my husband, with a nose to smell everything, could smell smoke. We went to the purser's desk and told them. They asked our cabin number and said they would take care of it. If we could still smell smoke after they were there, let them know. Then they would change curtains, clean carpet, wash walls! When we got back there was no smell of smoke at all! No need for them to do more. But on last month's cruise we had inside cabin. In one of the cabins across from us they would smoke pot. We could smell it in the hall but not in our cabin! Almost left them a note saying to please smoke it on the balcony! Don't know why someone said don't get balcony. We've never had a problem with smoke when we have balcony but have just on deck - we just moved away from smoker.

[cruisead]

Bonnie, if that's accurate, then why did we always smell the cigar smoke from the man in the room next door to ours? We didn't have a balcony, so it wasn't coming from there. You most certainly can get smoke smells from other cabins. You're sharing the same air conditioning ducts, just as the rooms in your house share the same ducts.

[Jane110]

Look at Oceania Cruises. They have a strict policy. Smoking is NOT allowed in any cabins nor on any balcony.

 

Smoking is only alllowed in a small corner of the bar and on one small section of an outdoor deck. No pubic rooms - dining, bars. casino, lounges, etc allow any smoking at all.

 

Jane

[lisiamc]

I don't think Oceania goes to Alaska, do they? And the OP doesn't say how old the grandchild is, but I don't think Oceania is very kid-friendly, either.

 

Otherwise, they look nice, although expensive.

 

Lisa

[gracecarmo]

To all that have responded: thanks so much for suggestions and info. My grandaughter will be 12 by the time we go on the cruise. Her mother (DIL) is very adamant that she be protected from cigarette smoke, and recalls one emergency they had when at a hotel where smoke filtered through the air cond. system.

I am going to do a final follow-up by calling my TA and having her call the cruise line and talk to someone with the cruise line that may know of the configuration of the ventalation system, and then relay the info to my son and daughter-in-law. That's the end of the issue for me. It is a shame to leave my grandaughter at home, but it it endangers her health it may be the only way, and also now my DIL will be so nervous on the cruise she herself would not have a good time.

Back to square 1 in finding a suitable family vacation?

[dkjretired]

Below is a link to cruise line policies on smoking from the latest cruise critic newsletter.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=225

[Jane110]

I don't think Oceania goes to Alaska, do they? And the OP doesn't say how old the grandchild is, but I don't think Oceania is very kid-friendly, either.

 

Otherwise, they look nice, although expensive.

 

Lisa

 

Lisa,

 

Don't know if Oceania goes to Alaska or not. The OP would have to check.

 

I didn't know the age of the OP's grandaughter, though now I know she's 12.

 

They allow kids, but you're right, they don't cater to them or offer any special facilities. However, with a port intensive itinerary like Alaska, it may not make a difference. On our two Oceania cruises, there were a few kids, but generally, these are kids who don't need special programs to keep them entertained. It's certainly not ideal for children, but if it's a choice of no cruise or one that keeps her away from smoke, it might be an option for them.

 

Jane

[1cat4jan]

the cabin steward is not going to "tell" on them - there goes the tip

 

unfortunately, when one has allergies, life is a crapshoot

 

personal experience? we are really sensitive to the smell of smoke but have not been bothered by smoke smells in our cabin on any of our 10 cruises - but that doesn't mean there weren't particulates in the air that would trigger an asthma attack

[prairie_fox]

I am going to do a final follow-up by calling my TA and having her call the cruise line and talk to someone with the cruise line that may know of the configuration of the ventalation system, and then relay the info to my son and daughter-in-law.

 

Good luck on having a travel agent find someone from bookings with the cruise line that knows about the ventalation system of the ship. I worked as one for years and most of the people we talked with could tell you room size, shower size and where the room was and that was about all. I hope they have changed from 2 yrs ago and know more now..I do have alergies to smoke and so far on all our cruises I have never had any problems with our room haveing any smell in it, only place we couldnt go to was the one bar that was 100% smoke all over and only from the half that could smoke. (moves about the whole room). Best of luck in planning your vacation.

[breenw]

There is no such thing as a non-smoking cabin on any of the cruise ships. Like one poster above said - it is a crap-shoot to get a cabin where someone has not smoked. Unfortunately, the cruise lines don't reserve smoking and non-smoking rooms like hotels do, so you just have to take a chance in the cabin you select.

[Bonnie J.]

Yes there is one set of ducts to get air/heat to cabins but I have never seen anyway to get air out of a cabin to recirculate it. Most homes have heat & air coming into them but air is not pulled out of a house and heated/cooled again. Been on 40+ cruises and only once did we smell smoke in the cabin and that was taken care of right away. If we ever do have a problem with cigar smoke or any smoke, I would ask for another cabin!

[gracecarmo]

My TA called her rep at Celebrity re this issue. He said that there is always fresh air going into the cabins, and not recirculated air.

However, TA is going to also call someone else to verify this.

I am hoping that we can get something in writing that states this (fresh air) and my son and daughter-in-law will agree to let my grandaughter cruise.

This has been an ordeal.

Also: I am wondering if a letter to the CEO of the cruise line (Celebrity) will get some results? He should know how his ships operate?

[imsulin2]

gracecarmo...I've been on 30 cruises (including Celebrity), work as a TA, and can pretty much assure you that will not get anything in writing as far as a guarantee of the "smoke" issue is concerned. And, NO...writing a letter to the CEO of Celebrity (RCI) will probably not do you much good, as you will most likely not get a reply, unless it's a form letter. I'm just stating the reality facts for you. Personally, I've never noticed any "smoke" smell in any of my cabins. However, every mass-market cruise line (including Celebrity) allows smoking in their cabins/balconies, and on designated areas of the ship for all passengers. Dining rooms, show rooms, most lounges, and buffets are non-smoking. There are designated non-smoking areas on open decks of the ship. However, there are designated smoking areas. If your DIL is that concerned about her daughter, I would strongly advise that she does not cruise with you. Trust me...you will not get any guarantee in writing about air-circulation/promise of no smoke/medical reparations. etc. Celebrity is a wonderful cruise line that offers great service, food, and general ambience. But...I will "guarantee" you that you will get no "guarantee" as far as a smoke issue. Good luck!

[Susa]

Just wanted to let you know...we just returned from the Century 10-day.

There was no smoke odor in our cabin at all, or in the dining room. The places I had trouble with (super sensitive to smoke) were outside elevators, walking from one end of Entertainment deck to other, and at times in outside deck areas.

[Cotton]

Grace - How nice to take your entire family on a cruise!:)

 

About Carnival - You were misinformed. There are NO non-smoking cabins on any Carnival ship (since the Paradise was changed from non-smoking), but the person was correct about one side of the ship being non-smoking. She should have said "on the outer decks".

 

I may be wrong, but I thought someone recently said that Disney cruiseline offers some non-smoking cabins???

 

I hope your granddaughter gets to go on the cruise. What a wonderful experience for a 12-year-old.:)

[VentureMan_2000]

Personally, I think you should continue doing due-dilligence... but you shouldn't sweat it if your son can't make it. I have a son with bad asthma, and I'm very protective of that. I do not take my son places or to peoples homes, family included, if they have triggers that can set my son's asthma off... animals being the big one..

 

You made the offer... and you may need to respect your son's choice at face value.

 

On the other hand... I wish I was being forced to go on a cruise...:D

[ucralum]

ALL Disney cabins are nonsmoking, but people can and do smoke on their verandahs.

[Arwenmark]

excellant reason to be in the first balcony cabin on the ship. The air flows backward.