Smoker don’t book bliss

[quickrate]

The latest statistics that I could find from the CDC shows that 15.5% of the US population smoked tobacco in 2016. So, let's say the downward trend has continued and we are in the 10-12% category in 2018, that means there are currently around 400 smokers on the Bliss right now. Having an outdoor smoking area that holds 20-30 people (from what I've read here on Cruise Critic) is just too small IMO. I understand those of you who are offended by smoke and the published health effects that go along with it. However, there are many of you who really shouldn't be casting any judgement or stones. As I like to say sometimes; "you pick your poison...I'll pick mine". Unless you NEVER use hairspray, perfume, cologne, aftershave, bug sprays with DEET, scented body lotions, air fresheners, etc., please refrain from telling me that my smoke from a cigarette being smoked outside, is doing more damage to you, than your nasty smelling, toxic chemicals that you apply inside of your cabins. Since both actions are still legal in the US, perhaps we should focus on trying to accommodate all people trying to enjoy themselves on their vacation. Smoking on a top deck, on the back of a ship seems like a reasonable concession for all concerned. Don't like the smoke, don't go to the top deck, rear of the ship. And to those in the aft rooms of the ship who will now jump down my throat...seriously?! Even with scrubbers, diesel exhaust will kill you first!

A typical response from a smoker justifying their addiction! and, I'm an ex-smoker, quit 30 years ago when I realized it was killing me! I'm excited to kmow there is a ship that has such limited spaces for smoking.

Pat

[tonit964]

I Agree, but... "show me the money honey", would be their theme. Right? They are focused on what's going on NOW and that trend is no smoking. It's why some lines are leaning toward a non-smoking casino, non-smoking ship and a totally non-smoking cruise line. I believe it will happen and soon and encourage those who still are addicted to smoking, as I was 10 years ago, to Stop smoking if they want to continue cruising. It's a well known fact that smoking kills. I have a friend who has just been diagnosed with lung cancer and they are not alone... unfortunately. So sad, really, my heart breaks for them. :loudcry:

 

 

I remember when they stopped allowing smoking in restaurants and bars, all the smokers said they will go out of business. Eventually, the smokers adapted to stepping outside for a smoke and no one went out of business.

 

The same will happen with cruising and the smokers will either quit or find another type of vacation.

 

My dad quit smoking 35 years ago and was diagnosed a few days ago with lung cancer and emphysema due to smoking for 34 years. Whatever treatment he gets, whether surgery or radiation, chemo is not even an option, will be really tough on him.

 

I hope people can get the help and support to just quit.

[njkate]

O/P as usual the holier then though non smokers will once again turn thread into bashing smokers.

Your post was beneficial to those that still smoke to decide on booking the Bliss or another ship with more smoking areas. The one poster even said of the 20 in his party 4 were smokers and he may rebook on a different ship or cruiseline, I'm sure he is appreciative of your post before they got on the Bliss..

[AnitaVacation]

Thanks for the info....I know how frustrating is can be to find a place to enjoy a smoke on a cruise ship and other places as well....trying to obey the rules and trying not offend any non-smokers....(even though they apparently don't have any trouble offending other people)

 

Fingers crossed for me, I've been on the patch and non smoking for approx 5 weeks now (with a couple of cheats in the beginning)...but I will never be the 'shaming' non smoker that tries to tell people how to live their lives....

 

Some people on this board need to take a good look at themselves before judging other people....you have as much right to a non smoking area as smokers do to have a smoking area....Nowadays, smokers have to go out of their way to find places to smoke... so to you non-smokers...If the smell of smoke has that much effect on your health, you may have to go OUT OF YOUR WAY to find a spot that is completely smoke free....smoke happens....

[my3sonsnj]

The latest statistics that I could find from the CDC shows that 15.5% of the US population smoked tobacco in 2016. So, let's say the downward trend has continued and we are in the 10-12% category in 2018, that means there are currently around 400 smokers on the Bliss right now. Having an outdoor smoking area that holds 20-30 people (from what I've read here on Cruise Critic) is just too small IMO. I understand those of you who are offended by smoke and the published health effects that go along with it. However, there are many of you who really shouldn't be casting any judgement or stones. As I like to say sometimes; "you pick your poison...I'll pick mine". Unless you NEVER use hairspray, perfume, cologne, aftershave, bug sprays with DEET, scented body lotions, air fresheners, etc., please refrain from telling me that my smoke from a cigarette being smoked outside, is doing more damage to you, than your nasty smelling, toxic chemicals that you apply inside of your cabins. Since both actions are still legal in the US, perhaps we should focus on trying to accommodate all people trying to enjoy themselves on their vacation!

Great post! (y)(y)

[AnitaVacation]

The latest statistics that I could find from the CDC shows that 15.5% of the US population smoked tobacco in 2016. So, let's say the downward trend has continued and we are in the 10-12% category in 2018, that means there are currently around 400 smokers on the Bliss right now. Having an outdoor smoking area that holds 20-30 people (from what I've read here on Cruise Critic) is just too small IMO. I understand those of you who are offended by smoke and the published health effects that go along with it. However, there are many of you who really shouldn't be casting any judgement or stones. As I like to say sometimes; "you pick your poison...I'll pick mine". Unless you NEVER use hairspray, perfume, cologne, aftershave, bug sprays with DEET, scented body lotions, air fresheners, etc., please refrain from telling me that my smoke from a cigarette being smoked outside, is doing more damage to you, than your nasty smelling, toxic chemicals that you apply inside of your cabins. Since both actions are still legal in the US, perhaps we should focus on trying to accommodate all people trying to enjoy themselves on their vacation. Smoking on a top deck, on the back of a ship seems like a reasonable concession for all concerned. Don't like the smoke, don't go to the top deck, rear of the ship. And to those in the aft rooms of the ship who will now jump down my throat...seriously?! Even with scrubbers, diesel exhaust will kill you first!

 

BEST....POST....EVER (y)

[DirtyDawg]

If you think the smoking area on Bliss is too small complain to NCL and more importantly, 'vote with your wallet'. Don't just book your next cruise on another NCL ship, switch to a cruise line who treats smokers better. NCL's decision regarding the size on Bliss' smoking areas is not about fairness, or health, it is about maximizing shareholders' wealth! (and who says corporate finance isn’t poetic? :D) So, until smokers hit NCL in the proverbial pocketbook they will not expand the smoking areas on Bliss.

[Sand and Seas]

Questions for those that have played in the casino on Bliss:

 

Is the smoking casino area too small for all that want to smoke there?

 

Does it have a limited selection of games to play in comparison with the rest of the casino?

 

Does it feel cramped and airless?

(I'm not a smoker, but do have friends who will want to spend some time in that casino)

[YVRBassElectric]

Questions for those that have played in the casino on Bliss:

 

Is the smoking casino area too small for all that want to smoke there?

 

Does it have a limited selection of games to play in comparison with the rest of the casino?

 

Does it feel cramped and airless?

(I'm not a smoker, but do have friends who will want to spend some time in that casino)

 

It wasn't packed on the Panama, but some smokers weren't happy with the slot machines that were available. Don't think I ever saw the tables being played.

[YVRBassElectric]

If you think the smoking area on Bliss is too small complain to NCL and more importantly, 'vote with your wallet'. Don't just book your next cruise on another NCL ship, switch to a cruise line who treats smokers better. NCL's decision regarding the size on Bliss' smoking areas is not about fairness, or health, it is about maximizing shareholders' wealth! (and who says corporate finance isn’t poetic? :D) So, until smokers hit NCL in the proverbial pocketbook they will not expand the smoking areas on Bliss.

 

 

I think the Bliss smoking area is in response to feedback about Breakaway & Breakaway+ class ships.

 

Actually I think LOTS of decisions for the Bliss have been made based on complaints - children's area on Deck 5, country music venue & theme night, evening shows are more adult than any others I have seen on NCL.

 

I REALLY loved the ship, but I am not the average NCL cruiser - 48 yo, travel with just my husband, non-smoker, non-drinker & not American - are they going to attract a different demographic or irritate their current loyal passengers?

[smplybcause]

If you got sick from smokers smoking OUTSIDE- then you’d get sick from

Smokers smoking OUTSIDE all the time, cruise ship or not. 🤷🏻*♀️

 

At home I can choose to go to clubs that don't let people smoke. On escape the only club is within the casino where people can smoke. At home I chose pools and water parks that don't allow smoking, on escape the adult only area and the adult pool both allow smoking near/around it. If they had an adult only area that allowed smoking that was cut off from the adult only area that's not smoking that'd be fine. But half of the adult only area on escape allows smoking and I had to go through that area to get to the bar and stay in that area while I ordered & waited for my drinks.

 

Plus, your comment is ignoring the fact that cigarette smoke does not immediately disperse into a small fraction of the air and negates the fact that multitudes of smokers in one area does not allow time for fresh air to come in.

 

I'm not against allowing smoking only areas, but on the escape they are not in places where there's a minimum impact on other guests. It's a bit better on getaway, but frankly I had to avoid the side of waterfront that allowed smoking since the area they allowed it was at the front so the smoke passed by all the areas behind it.

 

But yes, I have had adverse effects to smoke on land. I just have a multitude of other options without smoke. Something the escape did not offer.

 

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[armwinder]

We have not booked the Bliss as we thought it may be as bad as the Breakaway in regards to smoke. Looks like it may be OK though, time will tell. Need more reviews. Does anyone know if the waterfront is usable or is it similar to the Breakaway with smoke blowing down the side of the ship.

[YVRBassElectric]

We have not booked the Bliss as we thought it may be as bad as the Breakaway in regards to smoke. Looks like it may be OK though, time will tell. Need more reviews. Does anyone know if the waterfront is usable or is it similar to the Breakaway with smoke blowing down the side of the ship.

 

Reviewers are saying the Cigar Lounge is just for Cigar smokers, which means there won't be cigarette smoke on the Waterfront. There is a door from the lounge to the outside, I noticed smoke a couple of times during the Panama Cruise but they were allowing cigarette smokers to PACK into the Cigar lounge

[Cyclops32]

I think the Bliss smoking area is in response to feedback about Breakaway & Breakaway+ class ships.

 

Actually I think LOTS of decisions for the Bliss have been made based on complaints - children's area on Deck 5, country music venue & theme night, evening shows are more adult than any others I have seen on NCL.

 

I REALLY loved the ship, but I am not the average NCL cruiser - 48 yo, travel with just my husband, non-smoker, non-drinker & not American - are they going to attract a different demographic or irritate their current loyal passengers?

There are more people like you then you may think. We too are late 40's / early 50's also do not drink nor smoke, however we are Americans.

 

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[bluesea777]

We live and work in 99.99% smoke free place. The only area we smell smoke is when we walk past the allowed smoking areas - outside the restaurants we sometimes go to. Our work place used to have one outside the cafeteria but it's been moved elsewhere to a way out of place over a year ago where we do not frequent. This reduced the % from 96 to 100 for us.

 

So, the smokers need to understand that the majority of us live in places where it is way way under the 12% that smoke can smoke. Since we are used to living in and breathing mostly smoke free places we can get quite sensitive to whiffs of smoke when we travel. We can mostly put up with it on ships as I love to gamble in Casino and need to put up with cigarette smoke while I gamble, but there are a few cases that we do fall ill due to changes in air.

 

While we can understand the smokers needing to smoke and getting p'off when NCL try to reduce their smoking areas, they need to understand the non-smokers in us. We are in much higher majority.

 

P.S. happy to learn that the Humidor Cigar lounge is now banning the cigarette smokers. They are nowhere the same. We are non-smokers but we personally like the smell of cigar smoking - quite aromatic, and sometimes I just pop into the Humidor lounge just to have a few whiffs.

[fshagan]

We live and work in 99.99% smoke free place. The only area we smell smoke is when we walk past the allowed smoking areas - outside the restaurants we sometimes go to. Our work place used to have one outside the cafeteria but it's been moved elsewhere to a way out of place over a year ago where we do not frequent. This reduced the % from 96 to 100 for us.

 

This is important for us non-smokers to remember. Our sensitivity is enhanced because we are not used to smoke any longer.

 

I'm also convinced a lot of people are drama queens about smoking and have a form of hysteria that they say makes them "allergic" to the smell of cigarette smoke 150' away. Where were all those people when I was a kid and every public place had hundreds of smokers? Like a lot of hysteria, the reaction is real enough to the people experiencing it, and smells are one of the main triggers for hysteria. We had an incident in a hospital decades ago where the smell of MDSO on a patient brought into the ER caused MDs and BSn's to faint and pass out, and it was simply mass hysteria - as the smell mimicked toxic fumes even though the smell was 100% harmless.

[Maya1234]

This is important for us non-smokers to remember. Our sensitivity is enhanced because we are not used to smoke any longer.

 

I'm also convinced a lot of people are drama queens about smoking and have a form of hysteria that they say makes them "allergic" to the smell of cigarette smoke 150' away. Where were all those people when I was a kid and every public place had hundreds of smokers? Like a lot of hysteria, the reaction is real enough to the people experiencing it, and smells are one of the main triggers for hysteria. We had an incident in a hospital decades ago where the smell of MDSO on a patient brought into the ER caused MDs and BSn's to faint and pass out, and it was simply mass hysteria - as the smell mimicked toxic fumes even though the smell was 100% harmless.

 

I think that sort of hysteria is evolutionary like the tendency to assume bear vs branch in the wilderness in the dark.

[sheba2008]

The latest statistics that I could find from the CDC shows that 15.5% of the US population smoked tobacco in 2016. So, let's say the downward trend has continued and we are in the 10-12% category in 2018, that means there are currently around 400 smokers on the Bliss right now. Having an outdoor smoking area that holds 20-30 people (from what I've read here on Cruise Critic) is just too small IMO. I understand those of you who are offended by smoke and the published health effects that go along with it. However, there are many of you who really shouldn't be casting any judgement or stones. As I like to say sometimes; "you pick your poison...I'll pick mine". Unless you NEVER use hairspray, perfume, cologne, aftershave, bug sprays with DEET, scented body lotions, air fresheners, etc., please refrain from telling me that my smoke from a cigarette being smoked outside, is doing more damage to you, than your nasty smelling, toxic chemicals that you apply inside of your cabins. Since both actions are still legal in the US, perhaps we should focus on trying to accommodate all people trying to enjoy themselves on their vacation. Smoking on a top deck, on the back of a ship seems like a reasonable concession for all concerned. Don't like the smoke, don't go to the top deck, rear of the ship. And to those in the aft rooms of the ship who will now jump down my throat...seriously?! Even with scrubbers, diesel exhaust will kill you first!

 

 

I think you are right, diesel exhaust is very bad for all of us, so non smokers stop cruising because this is more damage then smoke from a sigaret.

[Cyclops32]

I think you are right, diesel exhaust is very bad for all of us, so non smokers stop cruising because this is more damage then smoke from a sigaret.

The problem is I have yet to smell the diesel exhaust while on the cruise but have smelled the smoke from. Smokers.

 

Using the numbers above of 400 smokers on board and 30 people in the smoking area at a time. Let's assume 5 Minutes for a smoke. That means there are 12 slots an hour. 30 in each slot means 360 smokers an hour. So you could have a smoke every 90 minutes and still have room..... Unless there are smoke hogs like there are chair hogs. Hmm maybe that will be the next thing people will complain about hogging.... ;)

 

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[Fincherson]

This is important for us non-smokers to remember. Our sensitivity is enhanced because we are not used to smoke any longer.

 

I'm also convinced a lot of people are drama queens about smoking and have a form of hysteria that they say makes them "allergic" to the smell of cigarette smoke 150' away. Where were all those people when I was a kid and every public place had hundreds of smokers? Like a lot of hysteria, the reaction is real enough to the people experiencing it, and smells are one of the main triggers for hysteria. We had an incident in a hospital decades ago where the smell of MDSO on a patient brought into the ER caused MDs and BSn's to faint and pass out, and it was simply mass hysteria - as the smell mimicked toxic fumes even though the smell was 100% harmless.

 

 

Yes! Thank you for this post. Hysteria at its finest. If someone is sick and put on steroids due to a waft of smoke while outdoors, I suggest they never leave their house and also never live in Los Angeles.

[newmexicoNita]

Perfect! One step closer to 100% smoke-free ships!

But as you can already see from the remarks, a totally non smoking ship will result in loss of passengers. As long as smoking is legal ships should have a place or a couple places for smokers. BTW, I am a non smoker.

[Costa canary]

This subject does seem to bring out a lot of extreme views on both sides , I would be happy if all inside spaces were smoke free , my wife suffers from asthma and if she’s in a room with a few smokers she will be on her inhalers later and probably spend most of the night coughing her guts up but if your sensitive to smoke your probably sensitive to lots of other things as well , she would certainly be even more ill if they started spraying them dry ice machines around , they’ve put her in hospital in the past . But neither of us have a problem with anyone smoking outside ( especially on a moving ship ) we spent a lot of time on the getaway sitting at the smoking area on the waterfront and spice h20 and had no problem ( and our 2 friends are smokers ), I do find it hard to believe when people say they can’t sit on there balcony because a nearby cabin are smoking on there’s .

[smplybcause]

Yes! Thank you for this post. Hysteria at its finest. If someone is sick and put on steroids due to a waft of smoke while outdoors, I suggest they never leave their house and also never live in Los Angeles.

The person who started this thread was complaining because the only area to smoke was a small area outside. So there's space for her to smoke, she just doesn't like it.

 

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[graphicguy]

Non-smoker....but I agree. There has to be some compromise.

 

I get watery and itchy eyes in the open with bus fumes, strong perfumes, dog/cat fur (which I is another heated topic....bringing pets onto cruise ships), etc.

 

I take allergy meds, which help. But, not all the time. When you combine cig smoke with strong colognes or perfumes, things get really miserable for me. I learn to walk (OK...jog) away from those scenarios when I come upon them.

 

Personally, I don’t think there are as many as 400 smokers on even the largest ships. Smoker stats may indeed by in the 15% range. But, it’s also true that smoking is more prevalent among those in lower socioeconomic-economic status’. Those folks don’t or can’t cruise because of their finances. I say the ratio of smokers who cruise are much, much lower.

 

Not meaning to demean those who are in higher income brackets who smoke. Just an observation given I cruise fairly often.

 

Sounds like the NCL Bliss is trying to accommodate smokers. And, I’m not certain if they’re succeeding. But, maybe something along the lines of a bar and an area of the casino that allows smoking? Maybe install better air filters in those areas? I know there have been ships I’ve sailed that seem to be better at filtering smoke than others. They must be employing something better to dissipate the smoke.

 

Kicking smokers to the curb is not the right answer.

[rbschultz]

Sounds like the NCL Bliss is trying to accommodate smokers. And, I’m not certain if they’re succeeding. But, maybe something along the lines of a bar and an area of the casino that allows smoking? Maybe install better air filters in those areas? I know there have been ships I’ve sailed that seem to be better at filtering smoke than others. They must be employing something better to dissipate the smoke.

 

Kicking smokers to the curb is not the right answer.

 

AFAIK theres an enclosed area in the casino for smokers AND a small area outside for them to smoke. That is definitely accommodating.