Vaping Signs Removed…My conversation with the Revenue Director

[TMLAalum]

Just sent my compaint off. I didn't include any info other than my full name so it will be interesting to see if the executive office digs deeper to make contact by phone.

[vickykay]

I actually just received a phone call from Adela at Executive offices.  She told me of the many emails, etc that they have received and will be taking into consideration.  Also how much they appreciated our input as valued cruises, yadayadayada.  I did review concerns ( health, etc) and one of the reasons we cruise Celebrity is no smoking.  I also mentioned that there are many places for people to smoke and I really didn’t think people would cruise or not cruise Celebrity because vaping is allowed in the casino.  

[hiccups]

I sent an email yesterday and got the same reply terrydtx received--glad to see they took out the part about it not impacting cruisers.

Even though I didn't include the date of my upcoming Equinox cruise, the response had our sailing date and reservation number in the subject line.

Edited July 6, 2023 by hiccups

[SunnySunflower]

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

While I do agree that it is a test.  I think that it is a test to see how best to deploy it to other ships.

It is yet another Celebrity money grab.

 

I will send my e-mail now though.

If they don’t care about the health risks maybe they would care about the fire risks?https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/tips-help-avoid-vape-battery-or-fire-explosions

[phoenix_dream]

Thank you Georgie_Peaches for your efforts in this.

 

I am also concerned that eliminating the signs but not the practice is not necessarily a good thing (although I am hoping it is!).  My cynical take on this is that fewer people will be doing it as many do not read the dailies I think, so fewer people will be complaining on social media, or complaining to Guest Relations or management onboard, so they can then more honestly say it is not adversely impacting people.  But over time it will become more of a common practice and people who came onboard without their vaping stuff in the future will bring it and then it gets worse and worse as they sneak it into the sailings.  I hope I am just being a cynical pessimist!!  

[zitsky]

7 minutes ago, SunnySunflower said:

If they don’t care about the health risks maybe they would care about the fire risks?https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/tips-help-avoid-vape-battery-or-fire-explosions

And just when I was going to start vaping.  😭

[mayleeman]

5 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Also, if it's just "word of mouth" what is to stop that word from going to other ships? And then if anyone is called on it, they can say "There were no signs, but we were told it's by word of mouth. We heard!"

 

"Word of mouth" is just an alias for "spreading rumors."

[CHEZMARYLOU]

26 minutes ago, SunnySunflower said:

If they don’t care about the health risks maybe they would care about the fire risks?https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/tips-help-avoid-vape-battery-or-fire-explosions

It's a point but Celebrity would have to ban e cigarettes on board and how do they police that? Would they be detectable in luggage like irons and steamers?

[SunnySunflower]

5 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

It's a point but Celebrity would have to ban e cigarettes on board and how do they police that? Would they be detectable in luggage like irons and steamers?

True and they would probably say they have fire suppression bags stationed throughout the ship. I have no idea if they have suppression bags for electronics but they should.  

[zitsky]

10 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

It's a point but Celebrity would have to ban e cigarettes on board and how do they police that? Would they be detectable in luggage like irons and steamers?

Well since all the vapers say there is no odor and some of us say there is, maybe the drug sniffing dogs could find the cartridges in their luggage.

[RedIguana]

36 minutes ago, SunnySunflower said:

If they don’t care about the health risks maybe they would care about the fire risks?https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/tips-help-avoid-vape-battery-or-fire-explosions

Anyone remember the Galaxy Note 7 fire issues? I vaguely remember them being banned from planes.

However many of the vapes I see on ships are the disposable ones. They are not rechargeable.

[goofysmom99]

Signage might be irrelevant (resistance is futile).  I don't remember this being the verbiage in previous X Code of Conduct; I'll have to look and see if I have something older.

 

Smoking and Restrictions on Purchase of Tobacco Products Onboard

For the comfort and enjoyment of our guests, our Celebrity ships are non-smoking. Hookahs and other types of water pipes are prohibited from use under this non-smoking designation.

Smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on any stateroom balcony. This applies to all stateroom categories onboard. Smoking is also not permitted in any dining venue, theater, bar, lounge, hallway, or elevator; on the jogging track; or in most other indoor areas. Furthermore, smoking is not allowed in certain outdoor spaces, including restricted areas, food venues, and kids play areas and pools. If a guest is in violation of this “No Smoking” policy, a cleaning fee will be applied to their onboard account.

Because we recognize that some guests do smoke, we have designated smoking areas on the ship. These smoking areas are identified by signage, and ashtrays are provided in these locations for smoking use. Guests may inquire about the location of the ship’s designated smoking areas at the Guest Relations Desk.    

In casinos on itineraries where smoking is allowed, there will be visible signage designating the areas for both smoking and non-smoking guests.

Cigar and pipe tobacco is limited to designated outdoor areas and cigar bars (if the ship has one). Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are only permitted within the designated smoking areas. 

Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard.

A guest must be at least 21 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco. During voyages that depart from international ports of call, local smoking laws will apply for the duration of said voyage."

 

[paulh84]

53 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

Signage might be irrelevant (resistance is futile).  I don't remember this being the verbiage in previous X Code of Conduct; I'll have to look and see if I have something older.

 

 

 

It's been the same since at least Nov 2020. It's mentioned e-cigs since at least 2015 also. Different wording, same overall message. 

[Shiba_Lover]

Here's the email I got.  Pretty much a garbage response.

[goofysmom99]

9 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

 

It's been the same since at least Nov 2020. It's mentioned e-cigs since at least 2015 also. Different wording, same overall message. 

I don't remember this sentence:  In casinos on itineraries where smoking is allowed, there will be visible signage designating the areas for both smoking and non-smoking guests.

[paulh84]

21 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

I don't remember this sentence:  In casinos on itineraries where smoking is allowed, there will be visible signage designating the areas for both smoking and non-smoking guests.

 

That exactly same verbiage has been there since early 2021. Definitely since April 2021, but it looks like the Jan 2021 timestamp is accurate. 

[Torfamm]

35 minutes ago, Shiba_Lover said:

Here's the email I got.  Pretty much a garbage response.

Being able to vape in bars, restaurants, staterooms, and all other areas of the ship would probably also enhance the experience of those who vape. Why not set aside an area that others don’t have to share?

[Peteymil]

On 7/5/2023 at 10:50 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

I felt like it was easier to start a separate thread so as not to get lost in the shuffle of the current threads on the subject of the new vaping policy. 
 

The Marketing & Revenue director took time to sit down with me and hear my concerns about the new policy. She was extremely engaging and took notes to pass along to corporate. While she maintained that this is only a test and no final decision has been made, she admitted that A LOT of feedback has been received and based on this, corporate has instructed that the signage be removed in favor of word of mouth instead. 
 

I raised several concerns including:

 

1. Enforcement of the “while actively playing” rule and mentioned the vapers who were vaping while watching the slot tournament. 
2. The awkward position it puts the crew in who have to enforce the policy. 
3. The health concerns for everyone. 
4.  The changing of the Celebrity brand and what attracted me to Celebrity in the first place

5.  What changes will this open the door to if this is implemented permanently?

 

Our conversation concluded with assurances that the feedback was valuable and would continue to be collected and analyzed. 
 

My take away from this is that they are already walking back on this little experiment by removing the signs. Experienced Celebrity cruisers already know the policy and those who are new will not know the difference as long as the signs remain hidden….hence, making word of mouth more difficult. 
 

She is also aware of the threads here on CC as well as other social media platforms. 
 

Don’t let up on the feedback…it’s working!

This sounds like a good discussion however, I am still concerned about. "word of mouth" caveat. I think we would've miles will spread very quickly I'm on vapers and I think it's still gonna be a problem.

[DingoMom]

Hmmm. So those who vape would have their experience enhanced by being able to vape in the casino. Presumably, X got this feedback on some post-cruise surveys. The following sentence is pure BS…why would a casino guest that is not a vaper say ANYTHING about vaping in the casino WHEN VAPING IS NOT ALLOWED? How many non-vaping casino guests did they ask? Those of us who do NOT vape DO NOT appreciate the vaper that turns their head to the side and exhales their vape on us. As a non-vaper, i would hope that the rest of my ilk would leave the table when a vaper sits down. Let the casino manager see it happen!  The ‘test’ began shortly after final payment on my Equinox cruise…and the cruise will be part of the ‘test.’

[PROCRUISE]

2 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

I don't remember this sentence:  In casinos on itineraries where smoking is allowed, there will be visible signage designating the areas for both smoking and non-smoking guests.

And the smoke will stop when it reaches the non smoking area - just like it did when smoking was allowed on airplanes!! LOL

[tomcruiser1234]

We sent our Email. I was quite polite but……

 

my question was ….what’s next. 

 

I asked do you really think the crew members will be able to say anything now that they have chosen to open this door. Regarding where people can vape. They had already started cheating. 

 

Saw some vaping in the show on April cruise.   

[CruisinBanka]

Thank you Georgia_Peaches!       I just emailed my dissatisfaction to corporate. Hoping they call me as they have others. 

[Dar & Bob]

4 hours ago, mayleeman said:

 

"Word of mouth" is just an alias for "spreading rumors."

Remember the whisper game where the first person whispers a phrase to the second and so on and what comes out on the other end????  Yeah you can smoke in the casino or you can vape thc....... make up your own ending LOL

[zitsky]

Who do you report violations of the smoking or vaping policy to?  Right when you’re breathing it or later.  Closest employee maybe?  What about Guest Services or Security?

[REEtired]

5 hours ago, hiccups said:

I sent an email yesterday and got the same reply terrydtx received--glad to see they took out the part about it not impacting cruisers.

Even though I didn't include the date of my upcoming Equinox cruise, the response had our sailing date and reservation number in the subject line.

Same with my response from the executive office. It had our Apex sailing this month and reservation number in the header.