what is the smoking policy?

[smj]

Could soneone tell me what the smoking policy is on the ships and if it is inforced? I am concerned that the ships might be smoky due to the fact that it is not primarly marked to Americans.

Thanks,

Steve

[Magwa]

The smoking policy is the same as on the US lines & other European Lines, ie only in selected areas and none in the dining rooms. Yes, I have seen it enforced; well on the only one occasion I saw someone smoking where they shouldn't have been, and they took heed with apology.

 

In Europe as a whole the smoking prevelance is the same as in the US, but the higher smoking areas are in Southern Europe, it would depend on one's fellow pax mix. MSC market well to Australians who according to stats have the lowest smoking rates.

 

From now on it seems certain ships and itineraries may well be marked primarily to Americans anyway, out of Fl with Lirica & Opera.

[Guest alexMD]

Wow... I respect your opinion but I couldn't disagree more. The WHO (World Health Organization) statistics on smoking prevalence (i.e. the percentage of population currently smoking) shows that Europeans do, in fact, smoke more than North Americans

 

 

Country %Men %Wmn Date

 

Canada 31.0 29.0 '91

United States 28.1 23.5 '91

Austria 42.0 27.0 '92

Germany 36.8 21.5 '92

Greece 46.0 28.0 '94

Spain 48.0 25.0 '93

Switzerland 36.0 26.0 '92

France 40.0 27.0 '93

UK 28.0 26.0 '94

 

Furthermore, Europeans continue to smoke in public places such as restaurants, bars, airports, airlines, and workplaces, that Americans are now used to being smoke free.

 

Nonsmoking sections are typically NOT an option in European restaurants, whereas in the US more and more restaurants are smoke free.

 

Furthermore, social norms and taboos (for better or for worse depending on if you are a smoker or not) have meant that smoking in the US is frequently done in the privacy of one's own home or car. I almost never smell cigarette smoke when in public in the US anymore (and I live in NC, a bastion of tobacco use), whereas in Europe it is commonplace.

[Guest Anorak33]

I would respectfully point out that these figures you quote are up to 13 years out of date.

It is possible that percentages may have changed quite a lot since then.

If it bothers you then don't visit Europe or travel on ships with those Europeans aboard.

Recently Ireland has banned smoking in pubs and restaurants etc and England is thinking about it. Generally in England now there are either non smoking areas OR the ventilation has been improved so much that secondhand smoke is not a problem.

I cannot speak for the rest of Europe but I agree that smoking is more prevalent and that in some of those countries the tobacco they smoke is more pungent as well.

[Guest alexMD]

Anorak,

 

I wasn't trying to be needlessly argumentative. However, I travel enough to realize that smoking prevalences are quite different than what you describe. Many Americans have grown used to smoke free workplaces, hotels, dining rooms, shopping malls and other public places. For this reason I think it is important not to downplay the differences that one might expect on a cruise with a less-american demographic.

 

The figures I quoted above are the most recent I can find on short notice, however, they confirm my personal experience. If you'd care to reference statistics that can back up your statements, I'd gladly change my impression.

[Guest Anorak33]

Attitudes to smoking in some Northern European countries are changing fast. I would not expect anyone not living there to be aware of that as European news does not seem to reach US.

 

And I can tell you that aircon and forced ventilation is spreading even in England now so those cosy little dingy old smoke-filled pubs with a lot of character are now few and far between.

 

You could look here to just get a feel for the current sentiments and government action.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3763471.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3561483.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3765071.stm

http://www.smokefreeatwork.ie/

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=agLe11NQVTEo&refer=europe

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=599302003

 

It is worth remembering that EU law will apply to all EU countries so expect the ban to spread, even to those new member states. I somehow don't think some of them will police it well at the beginning.

 

And before some clever dick takes me to task for it I know Norway is technically not a member of the EU and is in Scandinavia but it still counts as Europe to most people.

 

I hate cigarette smoke myself and hope that Lirica won't be full of smokers lighting up around me.

 

It is true to say that the further south you go in Europe the more people seem to smoke heavily. Cigarettes tend to be cheaper as you go south as well.

 

From a Lirica cruise review on here it seemed the Austrians were the chief culprits - I have never met any so cannot comment but I do remember trying to breathe in a no-smoking airport full of Germans who were doing their best to develope lung cancer before takeoff. They would not obey the no-smoking signs no matter how politely or strongly they were asked.

[Heartsome1]

I live in Germany and I pray that they pass smoking bans here!!! But the EU Ban will leave the decision up to the individual countries, I hope more countries will follow Irelands lead. I am an american and I'm used to having at least the option of a non-smoking section better yet a smoke-free restaurant.... Its not so much the point that it bothers me personally, although it does bother my allergies... but that doesn't stop me from going to clubs and such so I can DEAL with it in restaurants.. But whats worse is that I have a young child and she also has allergies, and 2nd hand smoke is sooo bad I hate having to bring her in smoke filled restaurants... so we try to go early, since europeans usually eat later, and its helps a little.

 

But anyway I just got back from the cruise and didn't have any problems with the smoke... one side of the ship is non-smoking and restaurants are smoke free!

 

I think if they re-did the survey they would find more a discrepency because many americans are quitting smoking, then previously... whether its the increase in prices/taxes, or the hassle of non-smoking places... or just because of the health effects.... (I'm not sure its the same here...) but anyway - I can vouch that europeans smoke like its going out of style!!! Many of the people I see that DO smoke, are chain smokers... but thats just MY personal experience...

 

(The views represented here in no way represent the views of cruisecritic.com or its subsidiaries - Thank you!!!) :-D

 

~Christina Miller~

[lesleyfb]

I believe Italy has just brought in a no smoking in public places policy. Now we need the same in France, Germany & Spain. No kidding, I used to be a smoker and I just can't stand the smoky atmosphere in restaurants. OK in a bar ... but not where there are people eating. Drives me nuts.

[antcindee]

Getting back to the question regarding smoking on the ship, I just got off the Dec 28th sailing of the Opera and while in the daily program and other literature there is mention made of smoking only being allowed in certain lounges and on one side of the ship etc, I have to say I had an extremely difficult time due to the total disregard for some of these rules on the Opera. There were 2 lounges in particular where not only could I not sit in them at all but I could not stand to even walk thru them, cigar and pipe smoking seemed to be acceptable as well and I cant even begin to explain the amount of smoking in the ladies restrooms, I had to wonder if there was a fire in there one night due to the heavy smoke and by the second night of the cruise I felt I had no choice but to go to my cabin to use the restroom which was alot of times way out of my way. I cant imagine that people who smoke must do it in a restroom and cant wait to go to an appropriate area. The casino as well was quite smoky but I have found that to be the norm on most of the ships I have sailed on so I cant really comment on that.

[mapsmith]

So, it would be really nice if an Italian Cruise line were to obey the Italian Law about no smoking in public places!

[czechmate]

I unerstand that the Italian ban only applies to premises where there is inadequate ventilation.

Miust say I was disappointed to read the problems encountered on Opera. I am a non smoker and on Lirica and Melody we never encountered a problem at all. Let us just hope that it is the passengers themselves and every cruise will be different in the smoking regard.

[Claire O'Brien]

Having just spent 17 days on Lirica I can confirm there have been some problems with smoking/non-smoking.

The multi lingual and talented CD Franco made several announcements asking passengers to respect the nonsmoking sides of the ship and also published it in the Daily Program for several days.

Unfortunately some passengers who did not seem to be englishspeaking seemed not to understand and continued as they wanted to, smoking wherever except I did not see anyone smoking in the theatre or inside diningrooms.

The starboard side of the ship is meant to be smoking with the exception of the Pergola outside restaurant where it is the port side according to the program yet they have the ashtrays on the starboard side.

I never saw anyone smoking a pipe or cigar except on the open deck starboard side or in the starboard side of the Nelson pub, both officially allowed places.The Nelson pub has excellent ventilation and smokers are not a problem there.

[webdesigner]

.

The starboard side of the ship is meant to be smoking with the exception of the Pergola outside restaurant where it is the port side according to the program yet they have the ashtrays on the starboard side.

 

hello Claire

 

....and yes, it would have been so nice if they would have provided some ash trays on the outside starboard deck 6.

it makes it so much easier for us smokies to know where to belong to......

 

I caught myself once or twice on the wrong side of the ship for a smoke during dinner time on deck 6. no one there (passengers) - no ash trays either, and now I have to think what direction the boat goes (after a couple fo pre-dinner drinks, where the h... is starboard), realzing now if I am at the right or wrong place, and then eventually run in by pulling the door against 50 miles/hour winds, now cross the hallway with my already lightened up cig, then run out again through heavy doors where the wind could 'steal my cigaratte and blow it easily all the way in to the elevator ?.....hmmm....if there would have been just once one single tiny ash tray on the famous starboard side (deck 6 = promenade), I would have always remembered, I promiss - for ever !

unfortunately on this rare occassions I just went with the flow ... ;-)

 

But understand this:

you were not supposed to throw cigarettes overboard, especially burning once (understandable) and I assumed that concerns as well starboard promenade deck 6.

well, Lirica guys pls help! what you want me to do with my almost burned down cigarette ? Just use the floor and causing cigarette burns in the Lirica's beautiful decks, or maybe swollow the rest once it died out and burned my finger down ? hmmmmm

 

yeah I know, I should just stop smoking and I would not encounter those minor problems of life.........oh well.....you are right - alright ?

 

;-)