smoking on cruise ships

[kstro135]

If smoking was banned on cruise ships would you still "cruise" or would you look for alternative vacation spots?

 

OR would you cruise more often if it was banned?

[BocaRoo]

As an x-smkoker (pun intended) I would be thrilled if smoking was banned on cruise ships. The news about the Princess ship - especially the interview I saw this morning on Good Morning America with one of the passengers was downright scary!

 

We used to live right on the ocean on Miami Beach. A few years back, I came home from work one night, walked through our front door to see that Carnival ship on fire straight ahead on the ocean... a terrible sight! I know that fire was not due to smoking, but at the time, I wondered about the cause.

 

When I see the threads about candles and irons in the staterooms I go nuts! While not everyone is careless, not everyone is careful, either and accidents do happen...

 

Oh well! It's too early in the day to get wound up... I'll stop now and get to work!!!

[TEXASMUNK]

Responders, a quick reminder, this is not a "I hate smokers" question, but one purely based on safety.

 

I would think, the industry is looking at the fact that the Carnival Paradise was not a financial success (it was 100% non-smoking). ALso the impact, not only on the US market but the rest of the world which has not caught up to the US in banning cigarettes in many places will play a part in their decision.

 

A really tough question. I would wish that the guessing would cease and the investigation be completed before a cause is speculated on.

 

Whatever the final outcome, there will be those pleased with the cruise industry response and those upset with the response. Then the consumer will decide, with their wallets, how they will react.

[chessbriar]

People would go on the ships and smoke anyway. In case you haven't noticed, X has a policy on dress code and there are people who do what they want because they paid for it. What makes you think it would be any different for smoking.

[DrKoob]

Responders, a quick reminder, this is not a "I hate smokers" question, but one purely based on safety.

 

I would think, the industry is looking at the fact that the Carnival Paradise was not a financial success (it was 100% non-smoking). ALso the impact, not only on the US market but the rest of the world which has not caught up to the US in banning cigarettes in many places will play a part in their decision.

 

A really tough question. I would wish that the guessing would cease and the investigation be completed before a cause is speculated on.

 

Whatever the final outcome, there will be those pleased with the cruise industry response and those upset with the response. Then the consumer will decide, with their wallets, how they will react.

 

Interesting that you state that other countries have not caught up with the US. Ireland, the UK and Italy all have more restrictive laws than about 80% of the US.

 

I for one would love it (I MEAN LOVE IT) if they banned smoking in all public spaces worldwide. The danger of second hand smoke is a proven fact. And obviously the fire danger has just been proven. And even if you don't believe in either of those, I can testify to the fact that inhaling any cigarette smoke gives me an instant and horrific sinus headache that can put me in bed for the rest of the day. No one should be able to inflict that on another person.

 

I say BAN IT! And as for those who continue to smoke, have them removed from the ship at the next port of call and sent home. Do exactly what you would do if they openly used heroin or cocaine. And this is not equivalent to the wearing of casual clothes on formal night. This is a true health-related issue. No one has ever died because PAX did not wear their tuxedos but many have died or been put into a night of agony due to second hand cigarette smoke.

[halos]

I'm a non-smoker. As much as I'd like to see it happen, for the life of me, I can't see smoking being banned from cruise ships. The cruise lines could never pull it off. Here in the US we may have a 'mission' of sorts where in most states, smoking is being banned from public places, but let's be real...we as self-absorbed Americans always forget there is a whole big world outside our borders and in that world the majority of people (who also cruise) smoke. The cruiselines would lose a HUGE amount of revenue.

The unfortunate thing is that even if the cruise lines tried to establish smoking areas on ships, there would be more than a few 'butt heads' (pun intended) that would still smoke in their cabins and on their balconies. It could never be enforced.

Smokers in general are not the REAL issue. The real issues are the sloppy smokers (AKA pigs) that toss their butts all over.

The only way the cruise lines are going to be able to make us all safer is to make ships safer. The cruise lines can't totally control their passengers (unfortunately)

[trcori]

in another generation this will be a moot question, as the percentage of smokers is down to something like 20% now. it's changed a lot even in my lifetime (I am mid-40s) -- when I smoked for a few years in my early 20s, you could still smoke pretty much everywhere, airplanes, workplaces, any table at a restaurant, and you didn't hear much about smoking bans. then as the '80s and '90s rolled on, it all started to change.

 

I know how tough it is to quit. My mother was a chain smoker from teenagehood till her horrible early death at 62 from pancreatic cancer (a virtually incurable cancer, for which smoking is a major risk factor) ... even after diagnosis, she couldn't quit. I think the tougher smoking laws, and higher taxes (here in WA, our cigarette taxes are so high, per-pack prices are something close to $5), have forced more people to gut it out and give it up. We also passed a tough indoor smoking ban in this state last year.

 

data points, TR

[halos]

in another generation this will be a moot question, as the percentage of smokers is down to something like 20% now.

 

in the US....like I said, there is a BIG world out there.

[tangerinebunny]

To answer the initial question: I'd choose a non-smoking cruise if given the chance.

[Lotsacruising]

absolutely ban the smokes!

[Doc]

Non Smoking Cruise, great idea.

Perhaps we should have non drinking cruises as well.

Come on people, lets be realistic.

[seagulls]

I would book a cruise on a smoke free Celebrity ship in a heartbeat.

[tserface]

I would book a cruise on a smoke free Celebrity ship in a heartbeat.

 

And afterwards you would still have a heart to beat ;) ... sorry couldn't resist. Obvioulsy, I'd go on a smoke free cruise as well (to answer the OP).

 

Tom

[esther e]

I would book a cruise on a smoke free Celebrity ship in a heartbeat.

 

Save a place for us in line.

[Susan-M]

Save a place for us in line.

 

OK ... because I'll be first in line:)

[Morisnfan]

What if there was no smoking in the cabins only but allowed on the rest of the ship? They could install smoke detectors which would (should) keep people more honest in the cabins. I'm a non -smoker and don't like the smell of smoke all around me, but realisticly I think some people would at least like to smoke in casinos outside of lounge areas. It freaks me out to think of people possibly in bed smoking in the cabins. I guess that still wouldn't stop people from smoking on the balconies though.

[Bourmatnov]

I would definatly choose a non-smoking ship if it was available. The cruise lines should make some ships non-smoking and you would find those ships to be the most popular. People would avoid the smoking ships and the market forces would drive cruise lines to offer more non-smoking options. This would be especially true for US based cruises.

[claud925]

. . . inhaling any cigarette smoke gives me an instant and horrific sinus headache that can put me in bed for the rest of the day. No one should be able to inflict that on another person.

 

Same thing happens to me with people wearing excessive perfume. I HATE it when people inflict this on me.

 

Can we start a campaign to ban the use of perfumes in public places, please?:rolleyes:

 

Also, let's please put a stop to people who use cell phones in public - I suffer from hypertension, and having this occur within my range of hearing really causes my blood pressure to soar dangerously . . . why should the behavior of others cause me to have a stroke?

[usha]

:D Wow, I would LOVE IT if Celebrity's ships were completely smoke-free!

[bilgeboyPa]

I don't beleive banning smoking on X will ever happen. There are way too many European's that cruise with X and they want to smoke when ever and wearever they want to. I am a smoker, down to half a pack a day from 2 packs, but I digress. If I had to go days without a smoke, I do think it would be difficult. Again, I don't think X would be able to enforce that policy. Heck, I complained about someone smoking Pot a few cabins down on my last cruise. It filled the passageway with that God aweful stench and security did absoulutly NOTHING!! So if they don't worry about drugs, I certainly don't think they are going to do anything about onboard smoking.

JMOHO

 

Jeff

[teedee]

I am a non smoker and would love to have it banned on ships, but Carnival tried it & it didn't work. I just wish the cruiselines would enforce the rules they currently have, smoking on one side of the ship. If only they did then those of us who don't smoke could remove ourselves from that area. Unfortunately cruiseline personnel are extremely reluctant to confront any cruisers about it.

 

Terri

[noblepa]

People would go on the ships and smoke anyway. In case you haven't noticed, X has a policy on dress code and there are people who do what they want because they paid for it. What makes you think it would be any different for smoking.

 

When Carnival had a no-smoking ship, the Paradise, passengers were put ashore (with no refund and no help getting home) for the mere possession of smoking materials, including lighters. If the cruise line was serious about enforcing such a ban, they could do it. But, you're probably right in that they wouldn't be much more serious about this than they are about dress codes.

 

OTOH, the Paradise was apparently not as successful as Carnival would have liked. When it was moved to Long Beach for three and four-day Mexican cruises, the no-smoking rule was dropped. It has never been duplicated on any ship in the Carnival family. The one time we sailed on her, during her non-smoking period, she was full.

[Drew B]

I am all for smoking being banned in cabins and all INSIDE areas (except, perhaps, the casino, where the cruise line would clearly lose revenue if people had to leave in order to smoke). I see no reason why certain areas of outdoor deck space can't be designated smoking areas, though. Anybody strongly opposed to contact with smoke could avoid those areas (which, being outdoors, wouldn't be that objectionable anyway), and the smokers would have a place where they can indulge their habit.

 

While I'm all for smokers being considerate and not inflicting their smoke upon others, I'm REALLY sick and tired of smug, sanctimonious people who talk about the damage other people's smoke is doing them. More than 50% of what we do as a society is going to have a deleterious effect on the world and our ability to live in it. While the link may not be quite as direct, I guarantee that our cars and our farming practices (to support an out of control meat industry) will kill MILLIONS more people than smoking ever has. But I'm not asking you to give up your car or your meat. Everybody has to make their own choices.