Vaping in Casino on Equinox

[wineoclock]

We will do our booked cruise & see. Then Will look around for our next one I think. 

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

12 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

Basically the “test” has soured me on Celebrity. Particularly since it is an idiotic change and unnecessary regression. I was impressed with a cruise I took on Oceania which has some kind of smoking room too but I never saw it. Not saying I am finished with Celebrity only that I will be putting them on hiatus and doing some other cruise lines. 

Celebrity is evolving. Virgin is eating up a lot of market share and Celebrity is trying whatever they can to not let that business (millennials) get gobbled up. It'll be tricky because Celebrity is still a family-welcome cruise line while Virgin is 18+. I think that Celebrity is willing to let the business from the boomer generation go in hopes they appeal to the younger crowd. As a millennial myself, I'm excited to see where Celebrity evolves to in the next decade.

[C4HCG]

Very disappointing if the test is over and vaping is here to stay. That said, it won’t stop us cruising Celebrity, don’t use the casino. 

[the penguins]

2 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

Celebrity is evolving. Virgin is eating up a lot of market share and Celebrity is trying whatever they can to not let that business (millennials) get gobbled up. It'll be tricky because Celebrity is still a family-welcome cruise line while Virgin is 18+. I think that Celebrity is willing to let the business from the boomer generation go in hopes they appeal to the younger crowd. As a millennial myself, I'm excited to see where Celebrity evolves to in the next decade.

 

2 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

Celebrity is evolving. Virgin is eating up a lot of market share and Celebrity is trying whatever they can to not let that business (millennials) get gobbled up. It'll be tricky because Celebrity is still a family-welcome cruise line while Virgin is 18+. I think that Celebrity is willing to let the business from the boomer generation go in hopes they appeal to the younger crowd. As a millennial myself, I'm excited to see where Celebrity evolves to in the next decade.

Virgin has 3 ships and a very limited range of itineraries. The last quarters figures for the Royal Group showed ships sailing at 102% capacity, at higher prices per passenger than the record 2019 rates and with higher onboard spend per passenger than the record 2019 levels and record forward  booking levels. The next set of results are due on the 27th.

Putting passengers and crews health at risk by introducing vaping in any indoor spaces or on balconies seems to be contrary to all current current worldwide trends.

We stopped booking X when it introduced compolsary AI, will stop gambling if vaping is permitted in the casino and will stop booking X if it allows vaping in any other indoor space or on balconies.

 

[wrk2cruise]

19 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Very disappointing if the test is over and vaping is here to stay. That said, it won’t stop us cruising Celebrity, don’t use the casino. 

 

I don't think Celebrity has stated the test has ended.  Just some people on here suggesting that the wording changes on the Web seem to indicate the change was pre-determined prior to the "test"

[wrk2cruise]

So when are we going to see this?

 

[wineoclock]

1 hour ago, wrk2cruise said:

So when are we going to see this?

 

Very funny!

[Georgia_Peaches]

7 hours ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

As a millennial myself, I'm excited to see where Celebrity evolves to in the next decade.

As a millennial, in what ways would you like to see Celebrity evolve?  I’m a GenXer and have been quite content with Celebrity. Just wondering what else may be in store for the brand as more millennials enter the cruising scene. 

[hcat]

20 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

As a millennial, in what ways would you like to see Celebrity evolve?  I’m a GenXer and have been quite content with Celebrity. Just wondering what else may be in store for the brand as more millennials enter the cruising scene. 

marijuana lounge?

tatoo parlor on board? 

that would be THE END for us!

[RedIguana]

43 minutes ago, hcat said:

marijuana lounge

Well I wouldn't be able to use it until after I retire (probably 10 years or so), but it might be a reality by that time. Not a bad idea though.

[WestLakeGirl]

Today is the 20th.  Do you think we’ll see any news about this issue?

[Silkroad]

1 hour ago, WestLakeGirl said:

Today is the 20th.  Do you think we’ll see any news about this issue?

This is an eight week trial. It won’t end until 20 August.

[CruisinBanka]

Testing through August 20th ………but I would be surprised if Celebrity announced anything at that time. 

[NJ Gal]

I sent a very long email to Celebrity about this & included my Captain's Club number for them to check our history with the company.  I did get back a form email which said absolutely nothing important.  It is the same email which most people got.  No phone call either.  Very disappointed.

 

Evelyn

[Charles4515]

13 minutes ago, CruisinBanka said:

Testing through August 20th ………but I would be surprised if Celebrity announced anything at that time. 

If they have changed the wording on their website it seems like they have made an announcement, The website does not say they are '"testing". This is bad whether it is temporary or permanent.

 

I would be pretty unhappy and expect compensation if I was on either of the two cruise ships where they are "testing" because I have been booking with the expectation that there is no inside smoking or vaping. To friends and family I have always touted Celebrity as being smoke free inside including the casino. Testing is okay but when the test is a change to the air quality we breath that is just wrong. The new CEO should be ashamed of herself. 

 

I can forsee a future  communication from her announcing vaping in the casino as a customer  enhancement. Pathetic.....

Edited July 20, 2023 by Charles4515

[clojacks]

9 minutes ago, NJ Gal said:

I sent a very long email to Celebrity about this & included my Captain's Club number for them to check our history with the company.  I did get back a form email which said absolutely nothing important.  It is the same email which most people got.  No phone call either.  Very disappointed.

 

Evelyn

Not to be snarky, but what made you think including your captains Club number and "history" would incentivize them to send you anything different from anyone else?

[NJ Gal]

6 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

If they have changed the wording on their website it seems like they have made an announcement, The website does not say they are '"testing". This is bad whether it is temporary or permanent.

. To friends and family I have always touted Celebrity as being smoke free inside including the casino. Testing is okay but when the test is a change to the air quality we breath that is just wrong. The new CEO should be ashamed of herself. 

I completely agree with you.  On our last cruise on the Summit in May, I spent more time than usual in the casino and enjoyed every minute.  First the casino, then other places on the ship is what we can expect in the future.  

[The_Big_M]

22 hours ago, RedIguana said:

Nah, I did not miss the information in the article. The author is using a common tactic to link a valid study to something non-related. PM 2.5's is just a particle size, whether it is something solid such as metals, wood, ash, stone, asbestos....or something innocuous such as steam. It is typically referenced as a potential health hazard due to wildfires and other solid particulate pollution. The PM 2.5's from a steamy shower are not going to hurt me, the PM 2.5s from wildfires, sanding, asbestos removal, etc. (solid particles) can cause me some serious issues. Not trying to cause a debate, but as someone who works in a scientific field I can't stand junk science reporting. 

 

Except it obviously isn't just "steam". Otherwise it wouldn't have the fragrance, for one. Plus steam is what you get from water only, but obviously e-cigarette users aren't just burning water, otherwise what would be the point. And it's not as though there is any reason to claim all the other components in the input liquid have just disappeared, and the only thing left is water.

 

So those particulates in the air do contain the toxic materials that went into the mixture as well, even if the specific composition is unknown - and will obviously vary depending on the maker/source.

[CruisinBanka]

I know when I included my Captains Club # on my email a couple of weeks ago I received 2 emails and a phone call from Celebrity. Without it I might have received a canned email back, but not a personalized one or a phone call. ……..After speaking with them I was convinced that this vaping “test” is a prerequisite formality exercise they decided to roll out before making vaping permanent. It’s a done deal. 

[PTC DAWG]

21 minutes ago, NJ Gal said:

  First the casino, then other places on the ship is what we can expect in the future.  

Which lines are allowing widespread smoking inside now? I don’t see this happening at all. 

[clojacks]

7 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Which lines are allowing widespread smoking inside now? I don’t see this happening at all. 

This "the sky is falling" hysteria and hyperbole is, um, interesting??? We're not going back to the 60's where if you didn't smoke everywhere, you were the exception, folks...

[RedIguana]

6 minutes ago, The_Big_M said:

Except it obviously isn't just "steam".

Um, yeah, the stuff caused by hot water in your shower is called steam. 

 

        I never mentioned what e-cig liquids were composed of. If you want to know though, it is a mixture of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, may or may not contain nicotine (yes, one of the way vapes are used to quit smoking is by reducing the nicotine content to 0 over time), and flavoring if added. BTW, propylene glycol or similar derivative is also what is used in the fog machines in the theatre. It is interesting that you assume toxic materials went into the mixture. To the best of my knowledge all reputable vape juice manufacturers use food grade FDA  approved (for US, other countries have similar departments) flavorings, although they are approved for consumption, not lung ingestion. I make this point because what is not toxic for consumption may be different when inhaled, and for toxicity studies to be valid the method of ingestion can be important. 

        One way you can tell if a vape study is just regurgitated clickbait is if you see the word Diacetyl. Diacetyl was used as a flavoring for popcorn, and it sickened a bunch of workers in a factory who were breathing it in 8 hours a day for a week at a time.  Some early vape juice flavorings used it, but it was banned in Europe (maybe just Britain) years ago, and no reputable vape juice manufacturer has used it in years.

          I am not saying vaping is safe or unsafe, or whether second hand vape is harmful or not. I do not have the qualifications or have done any analysis of the product. I deal more with nutrients and metals in liquids (although have done some basic toxicity work in the past). But I will call out what I consider bad science reporting.

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

5 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

As a millennial, in what ways would you like to see Celebrity evolve?  I’m a GenXer and have been quite content with Celebrity. Just wondering what else may be in store for the brand as more millennials enter the cruising scene. 

Good question. In general, I'm fairly pleased with Celebrity's onboard offerings, but when on the ship I feel like I'm in the minority being in my late 20s. My wife and I would love to meet more people in our age group onboard.

 

The general consensus is that X is a more laid back cruise line that caters to the older crowd. I agree about the more laid back approach, but disagree about catering to the older crowd. This is especially true for the Edge class ships. They literally have a club on the ship.

 

The shows onboard get an A+ in my book for the Edge class. The stage design and special effects are top notch. Eden has a cool vibe, but I don't think the space is utilized to its full potential. S and M class ships are nice, but certainly have a different vibe.

 

Honestly, the itinerary selection is what I see changing the most with Celebrity in the near future. We'll probably see higher volume of 3-5 night Bahamas cruises, maybe even on an Edge class ship. Royal Caribbean is going all in with this and dedicating Utopia, their next new Oasis class ship, to these short Bahamas cruises. I can see Celebrity following suit if bookings are strong.

 

Another thing is I feel the dining onboard is a little dull, even on their newest ships. Steakhouse, bistro, fine dining - boring. I'd like to see them shake it up a bit. More restaurants along the lines of Eden. Make dinner more of an experience than a meal. What about hibachi or a Korean BBQ? Instead of hot dogs and burgers at the mast grill, why not some variety like a gyro shaved meat option or some southern BBQ?

 

I'd also like to see some more variety in the entertainment. Vocalists, dancers, acrobatics, and comedians are fine, but I'd like to see something more. How about a stunt show, psychics/hypnotists, or maybe something risqué like burlesque (18+ obviously). I haven't been on enough cruises to know how much they shake things up fleetwide, but I know there's opportunities for greater variety.

 

Another thing that bothers me as a millenial is the huge amount of emphasis on marketing the Retreat. I get it, you've got a premium product and it's selling well at the moment.  But if you're trying to appeal towards millenials in your marketing, in general they are not the ones with that kind of cash. Heavy marketing of the Retreat can actually diminish the perceived value of the lower level rooms as a decent amount of the ship is off limits to the regular staterooms.

 

All I can say is that I'm intrigued to see what Celebrity does next and I'm certainly not going to eliminate them from my future vacation plans due to them allowing vaping in the casino.  Do I think that it's a wise move? No, and I feel for the people that have health issues regarding being around vapers. 

[zitsky]

4 minutes ago, NorthStarStateCruiser said:

Good question. In general, I'm fairly pleased with Celebrity's onboard offerings, but when on the ship I feel like I'm in the minority being in my late 20s. My wife and I would love to meet more people in our age group onboard.

 

The general consensus is that X is a more laid back cruise line that caters to the older crowd. I agree about the more laid back approach, but disagree about catering to the older crowd. This is especially true for the Edge class ships. They literally have a club on the ship.

 

The shows onboard get an A+ in my book for the Edge class. The stage design and special effects are top notch. Eden has a cool vibe, but I don't think the space is utilized to its full potential. S and M class ships are nice, but certainly have a different vibe.

 

Honestly, the itinerary selection is what I see changing the most with Celebrity in the near future. We'll probably see higher volume of 3-5 night Bahamas cruises, maybe even on an Edge class ship. Royal Caribbean is going all in with this and dedicating Utopia, their next new Oasis class ship, to these short Bahamas cruises. I can see Celebrity following suit if bookings are strong.

 

Another thing is I feel the dining onboard is a little dull, even on their newest ships. Steakhouse, bistro, fine dining - boring. I'd like to see them shake it up a bit. More restaurants along the lines of Eden. Make dinner more of an experience than a meal. What about hibachi or a Korean BBQ? Instead of hot dogs and burgers at the mast grill, why not some variety like a gyro shaved meat option or some southern BBQ?

 

I'd also like to see some more variety in the entertainment. Vocalists, dancers, acrobatics, and comedians are fine, but I'd like to see something more. How about a stunt show, psychics/hypnotists, or maybe something risqué like burlesque (18+ obviously). I haven't been on enough cruises to know how much they shake things up fleetwide, but I know there's opportunities for greater variety.

 

Another thing that bothers me as a millenial is the huge amount of emphasis on marketing the Retreat. I get it, you've got a premium product and it's selling well at the moment.  But if you're trying to appeal towards millenials in your marketing, in general they are not the ones with that kind of cash. Heavy marketing of the Retreat can actually diminish the perceived value of the lower level rooms as a decent amount of the ship is off limits to the regular staterooms.

 

All I can say is that I'm intrigued to see what Celebrity does next and I'm certainly not going to eliminate them from my future vacation plans due to them allowing vaping in the casino.  Do I think that it's a wise move? No, and I feel for the people that have health issues regarding being around vapers. 

 

Why not combine these?  Have fire breathers at dinner for the entertainment.  Might wake up those old fuddy duddies!!!

 

Burlesque in the theater?  It should be drag shows, this is 2023 not 1823.

 

Definitely stop selling cabins to people that spend $40,000 on a cruise.  We'll make up the difference with all the 3 day cruises we sell at a $1,000 each.

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

44 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Why not combine these?  Have fire breathers at dinner for the entertainment.  Might wake up those old fuddy duddies!!!

Why not, right?

45 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Burlesque in the theater?  It should be drag shows, this is 2023 not 1823.

I applaud the forward thinking.