Unofficial Guide to Designated Smoking Areas on NCL Vessels

[GamblingHabit]

I just got off of the NCL Joy. There is no cigarette smoking allowed in the Cigar Lounge. NCL has signs up in the Cigar Lounge that say “Cigarette Smoking Is Prohibited”.

There is a glass enclosed area in the casino to smoke and one small area within Spice H2O - deck 17 Aft. The Spice H2O area measures about 8 feet by 25 feet and has 18 chairs. There is no cover when it rains.

When the casino is closed you can’t smoke in the casino area.

My cabin was in the very front of the ship. Right under the bridge. It was a great cabin but I counted 800 steps to get from my cabin to the back of the ship (where the smoking area was). I got lots of exercise during the week but probably wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Another thing that smokers should be aware of is that Icy Straits Point is a non smoking tourist area. They allow smoking only where there is a yellow butt bucket. I counted 3 as I wandered all over the area.

I’m on a cruise in December on the Encore. Does anyone have any information about smoking areas on that ship?

[BirdTravels]

On 7/31/2019 at 8:26 AM, coriemarie said:

ugh - so much concern for the Encore, with Bliss only having one single area and no talk on the Joy.

Joy Smoking Policy (from Freestyle Daily): Smoking in  public areas is only permitted in designated space of Spice H2O, in the Humidor Lounge (cigar smoking only) or in the Casino only when playing. Pies, Cigar smoking and tobacco chewing is strictly not permitted in the casino area. Smoking of any kind is prohibited in staterooms and balconies. A cleaning fee of $250 will be added to your onboard account if you smoke in your stateroom. Electronic cigarettes are governed by the same standards as regular cigarettes. 

 

The smoking area of the casino is very small. And the casino personnel remind people that it is not a smoking lounge (you need to be an active gambler). 

 

The ONLY legal cigarette area is an uncovered corner of Spice H20. 

 

Cigarette smoking is not allowed in the Humidor

 

 

 

[coriemarie]

17 hours ago, GamblingHabit said:

I just got off of the NCL Joy. There is no cigarette smoking allowed in the Cigar Lounge. NCL has signs up in the Cigar Lounge that say “Cigarette Smoking Is Prohibited”.

There is a glass enclosed area in the casino to smoke and one small area within Spice H2O - deck 17 Aft. The Spice H2O area measures about 8 feet by 25 feet and has 18 chairs. There is no cover when it rains.

When the casino is closed you can’t smoke in the casino area.

My cabin was in the very front of the ship. Right under the bridge. It was a great cabin but I counted 800 steps to get from my cabin to the back of the ship (where the smoking area was). I got lots of exercise during the week but probably wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Another thing that smokers should be aware of is that Icy Straits Point is a non smoking tourist area. They allow smoking only where there is a yellow butt bucket. I counted 3 as I wandered all over the area.

I’m on a cruise in December on the Encore. Does anyone have any information about smoking areas on that ship?

Well the Encore doesn't even have a Spice - so that leaves no where to smoke.

 

I'm cruising in April - Looking forward to first sailing to hear where the smoke areas are. I'm really bummed.

[GamblingHabit]

I submitted a post cruise concern on the NCL website today about the smoking accommodations on the Joy.  There is a “Contact Us” option under the Help button on the front page. From there  I used the “Guest Relations - After Your Cruise” option.

Smokers need to complain more about not being accommodated on NCL cruise ships. NCL caters to kids, teens, disabled people and cigar smokers ... but not cigarette smokers. The older smaller NCL ships accommodated smokers as well as non-smokers. I’m not sure why the newer mega cruise ships can’t do the same.

Just for everyone’s info I attached pictures of the Joy’s Cigar Lounge. Someone else posted a picture of the Joy’s cigarette smoking area. These two different smoking areas aren’t even in the same class. Probably not even in the same universe?

I also called NCL about smoking areas on the Encore (while I was pissing & moaning about the smoking area on the Joy). I was on the phone with them for about 45 minutes because they couldn’t tell me exactly where the smoking area would be. However once I got about 3 levels up in their management chain, I was assured that there would be an outdoor smoking area on the ship. They also explained that the deck plans that are shown for the Encore on their website aren’t exactly what the ship will look like (it actually looks like they copied the deck plans from the Joy). The ship is still being built. The maiden voyage for the Encore isn’t until November. 

[DCP]

We were on the Bliss in April, and they strictly enforce the cigar only rule in the Humidor lounge. Reason being, that is the ONLY place cigars are allowed. They are not permitted to smoke cigars anywhere else on the ship. Hubby is a cigar smoker that has never complained about the cigarette smoking, so he could have cared less. But be forewarned, they will make you leave the Humidor if you're smoking a cigarette. Side note - they had to use the area in Spice for a private event, and they allowed the cigarette smokers in the Humidor during that time frame. They came in and acted like it was the cigar smokers that kept them from using the room and were acting like childish teenagers....they literally were saying HAHAHA - we're ALLOWED TO SMOKE in here so there! (they actually said just that!)  I agree with the above poster - LET THEM KNOW YOU'RE NOT HAPPY THAT THERE IS NO SPACE FOR SMOKERS!! The cruise fare is the same for smokers as it is for non smokers. Let them know that they need to accommodate the smokers too! (and I am NOT a smoker, never have been, it just pisses me off that those who are get treated like 2nd class citizens on the ships!)

 

[coriemarie]

I am going to call and complain, thanks for the push, i've had the number ready to call.

 

one area really is NOT enough for a ship as large as the Encore (and bliss, and joy) - I am waiting for sailing and waiting to hear back, but my final payment is due 12/28 and if I am not happy I am going to have to switch ships. My BF and I agree we want the new ship, but we also don't want to be confined and unhappy.

[my3sonsnj]

On 8/11/2019 at 10:39 PM, GamblingHabit said:

I just got off of the NCL Joy. There is no cigarette smoking allowed in the Cigar Lounge. NCL has signs up in the Cigar Lounge that say “Cigarette Smoking Is Prohibited”.

There is a glass enclosed area in the casino to smoke and one small area within Spice H2O - deck 17 Aft. The Spice H2O area measures about 8 feet by 25 feet and has 18 chairs. There is no cover when it rains.

When the casino is closed you can’t smoke in the casino area.

My cabin was in the very front of the ship. Right under the bridge. It was a great cabin but I counted 800 steps to get from my cabin to the back of the ship (where the smoking area was). I got lots of exercise during the week but probably wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Another thing that smokers should be aware of is that Icy Straits Point is a non smoking tourist area. They allow smoking only where there is a yellow butt bucket. I counted 3 as I wandered all over the area.

I’m on a cruise in December on the Encore. Does anyone have any information about smoking areas on that ship?

Finally!!! Thanks so much for this information on the Joy. I have added your information to the spreadsheet.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IwhHuxFGVf8GRxIe1V30Bj0elmkPLRuQUxOpmI8LiFE/edit?usp=sharing

 

Do you happen to know if the Haven had a designated smoking area similar to the other Breakaway/Breakaway Plus category ships?

[my3sonsnj]

11 hours ago, DCP said:

We were on the Bliss in April, and they strictly enforce the cigar only rule in the Humidor lounge. Reason being, that is the ONLY place cigars are allowed. They are not permitted to smoke cigars anywhere else on the ship. Hubby is a cigar smoker that has never complained about the cigarette smoking, so he could have cared less. But be forewarned, they will make you leave the Humidor if you're smoking a cigarette. Side note - they had to use the area in Spice for a private event, and they allowed the cigarette smokers in the Humidor during that time frame. They came in and acted like it was the cigar smokers that kept them from using the room and were acting like childish teenagers....they literally were saying HAHAHA - we're ALLOWED TO SMOKE in here so there! (they actually said just that!)  I agree with the above poster - LET THEM KNOW YOU'RE NOT HAPPY THAT THERE IS NO SPACE FOR SMOKERS!! The cruise fare is the same for smokers as it is for non smokers. Let them know that they need to accommodate the smokers too! (and I am NOT a smoker, never have been, it just pisses me off that those who are get treated like 2nd class citizens on the ships!)

 

Thank you for your comment. I totally agree with you that intolerance is insidious.

 

It seems like we are seeing it more and more. I just read an article about an HOA preventing a veteran from flying a flag outside his home. Really?? 

 

I don't understand how we became a society of pick & choose what you tolerate/accommodate.

[GamblingHabit]

I wasn't in a Haven Suite on the Joy (out of my price range) and I never ran into any smoker that was in a Haven Suite so I'm not sure what their cigarette smoking accommodations were.

[iamaqt2]

15 hours ago, my3sonsnj said:

Thank you for your comment. I totally agree with you that intolerance is insidious.

 

It seems like we are seeing it more and more. I just read an article about an HOA preventing a veteran from flying a flag outside his home. Really?? 

 

I don't understand how we became a society of pick & choose what you tolerate/accommodate.

I don't think the cruise line moving away from accomodating smokers is intolerance.  Smokers are just a small fraction of their customers, and they'd rather please the highest percentage of their customers who don't want to smell cigarette smoke on their cruise. 

 

I'm not being judgy, I smoked for 17 years, and quitting was one of the hardest things I've done. 

The problem with cigarette smoke is that it doesn't just stay where you smoke it.  It travels around, and you also carry it on you right after you smoke.  Into the elevators and the halls. 

 

Ncl is going to limit unhappy passengers anywhere it can.. And smoking is just one aspect of that. 

[LaCal]

When we cruised on the Bliss we never once had a problem smoking in the casino even when it was closed....

[Jrlady]

On 8/13/2019 at 10:35 PM, GamblingHabit said:

I wasn't in a Haven Suite on the Joy (out of my price range) and I never ran into any smoker that was in a Haven Suite so I'm not sure what their cigarette smoking accommodations were.

 

I was on the Joy last week in the Haven.  Smoking is allowed at the very front on the sundeck where there are stools.  

 

Here is a pic of the area, there were usually two ashtrays next the middle most stools. IMG_0510.HEIC

Edited August 22, 2019 by Jrlady

[kMorgan]

4 hours ago, Jrlady said:

 

I was on the Joy last week in the Haven.  Smoking is allowed at the very front on the sundeck where there are stools.  

 

Here is a pic of the area, there were usually two ashtrays next the middle most stools. IMG_0510.HEIC

We are going to be on the Joy in 2 weeks, and as smokers we are worried about the lack of areas available.  We have a bid in for the Haven, but for now are in the Concierge level.  Is it true the cigar lounge does not allow cigarette smoking?  Is the indoor casino area for smokers available all the time, or only when the casino is operational?  

My biggest concern is it is me and my elderly mom-in-law that smoke and if we are outside, from other posts I read you are stuck out in the rain with no cover to smoke.  That is just absurd.  😞

[Sweetnspicy]

3 minutes ago, kMorgan said:

We are going to be on the Joy in 2 weeks, and as smokers we are worried about the lack of areas available.  We have a bid in for the Haven, but for now are in the Concierge level.  Is it true the cigar lounge does not allow cigarette smoking?  Is the indoor casino area for smokers available all the time, or only when the casino is operational?  

My biggest concern is it is me and my elderly mom-in-law that smoke and if we are outside, from other posts I read you are stuck out in the rain with no cover to smoke.  That is just absurd.  😞

 

From what i have been reading, No smoking in any of the cigar lounges on the ships. 

[GA Dave]

The Leonardo ships solution. 

 

[Two Wheels Only]

59 minutes ago, kMorgan said:

Is it true the cigar lounge does not allow cigarette smoking? 

 

Yes...

 

 

1 hour ago, kMorgan said:

Is the indoor casino area for smokers available all the time, or only when the casino is operational? 

 

Only when the smoker is gambling in the casino. 

 

 

[kMorgan]

8 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Yes...

 

 

 

Only when the smoker is gambling in the casino. 

 

 

Thanks for the info... I know we are like the lepers of society now, but at least give us a place to go!

[GA Dave]

So, this may be some good news for those cruising in the Haven on the Encore.  This picture someone posted on the Encore thread shows the same plexiglass walls at the front of the Haven sundeck that are on the BA ships where the smoking area is.

 

[RedwingHockeyFan]

Anyone been on any of the ships with the Waterfront lately that can confirm whether or not there is an area on that deck for smoking?  Last year on the Getaway there were people smoking outside at Syd Norman's.  The spreadsheet doesn't show that, can anyone else confirm?

[Fire Chief 2481]

I was on the Escape last month. No smoking allowed on the waterfront. 

[BirdTravels]

On 8/22/2019 at 12:00 PM, kMorgan said:

We are going to be on the Joy in 2 weeks, and as smokers we are worried about the lack of areas available.  We have a bid in for the Haven, but for now are in the Concierge level.  Is it true the cigar lounge does not allow cigarette smoking?  Is the indoor casino area for smokers available all the time, or only when the casino is operational?  

My biggest concern is it is me and my elderly mom-in-law that smoke and if we are outside, from other posts I read you are stuck out in the rain with no cover to smoke.  That is just absurd.  😞

No cigarette smoking in the Cigar Lounge. 

 

The smoking casino allows active players to smoke in the smoking section when the casino is open. If you are not gambling, they move you along. When the casino is not open (which includes any time you are in port and the last full day and night) the room is closed with a sign on the door that smoking is not allowed. 

 

The only place to smoke is in outside the Spice H20, starboard side. 

 

 

Joy Smoking Policy: Smoking in  public areas is only permitted in designated space of Spice H2O, in the Humidor Lounge (cigar smoking only) or in the Casino only when playing. Pies, Cigar smoking and tobacco chewing is strictly not permitted in the casino area. Smoking of any kind is prohibited in staterooms and balconies. A cleaning fee of $250 will be added to your onboard account if you smoke in your stateroom. Electronic cigarettes are governed by the same standards as regular cigarettes. 

Edited August 23, 2019 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

On 8/14/2019 at 3:00 AM, LaCal said:

When we cruised on the Bliss we never once had a problem smoking in the casino even when it was closed....

It was illegal. 

[Oceangal711]

5 hours ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

Anyone been on any of the ships with the Waterfront lately that can confirm whether or not there is an area on that deck for smoking?  Last year on the Getaway there were people smoking outside at Syd Norman's.  The spreadsheet doesn't show that, can anyone else confirm?

Smoking is no longer allowed on the waterfront of any of the breakaway class ships.

[Gershep]

On the Gem they allowed cigarette and cigar smoking in Bali Hai bar. On the Escape is there a place that allows for cigar smoking other than the humidor?

[Amadawn1]

Thank you, my3sonsnj for creating and updating your spreadsheet.  I last cruised NCL in early 2018.  I was shocked to see the changes to the designated areas since then.  I had seen a review of the Bliss and it looked like a great ship....until I saw only one designated area.  We can't afford the Haven and are not really gamblers.  My husband would never agree to sail on this ship.  We jumped back and forth between lines when the balconies became off limits.  The last was HA.  Now they only have one area on each ship (a second, small area on their larger ships).  So for now, we're pretty happy sailing the FUN ships.  We are treated well, and they keep the designated areas fairly clean.  There is also shade and protection from the elements to be had.  I am trying to attach their current policy across their fleet.  They also don't deviate from their website posted policy.  Thank you again for the spreadsheet!

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3490