Radiance of the Seas/ Honest Report on Smoking Policy

[lydco]

Hey all you seasoned RCI cruisers. I need a brutally honest person to tell me about where smoking is and is not permitted on this line. (cabins, bars, casino, corridors, lobby, pool etc.). If you are a non-smoker, do you find it uncomfortable? Would we notice the smoke of a nearby cabin's if they are smoking? Any thing on this topic would be appreciated.:)

[Honey's Gal]

I know smoking is allowed on one side of the ship in the pool area, in the bars and in the casino. I assume you can smoke in your cabin, but not being a smoker I do not know that. We do get a cabin with a balcony and have had smokers smoking on their balconcies. That isn't too bad as it is not in my face. In the bars there is a non-smoking area.

 

I am a non-smoker and one area it does truly does bother me is in the casino. Nothing is worse then sitting down at a slot machine, having a smoker sit next to you and light up blowing smoke in your face...I wish the casino would be NON SMOKING as not everyone is considerate, in fact, some are down right rude, thank goodness not all. You asked me to be honest.

[CL-JW]

We are non-smokers who were on Radiance in September. We noticed that almost all bars were either completely non-smoking or in the case of the bar in the back of Colony Club (forget the name) and Schooner Bar, there were smoking sections on one side of the bar itself (not the lounge, just the bar).

 

As the previous poster mentioned - the casino (and I belive the sports bar attached to it) were smoking. The starboard side of the main pool deck was smoking. The starboard side of the promenade deck was also smoking. So it seems that there are plenty of place for both smokers and non-smokers.

[FinelyCruising]

We were on Radiance and the above account is true. It is highly limited to just specific bars, and don't forget the Cognac Bar what ever it is called all the way up too.

[BEVGOO]

We just got off the Radiance on Sunday (insert whine hear) and one side of the Casino is non-smoking. I'm not sure how many many machines but I know about 8 nickle machines and probably 20 quarter machines at one the end of the casino had no smoking signs on them. When you walked past these and through the sports bar and around the corner, you then walked into the smoking section of the same type machines. I wasn't bothered by smoke in this section. When you entered the main entrance of the casino, you could smell the smoke but it still didn't bother me.

[cb at sea]

You will be fine. We haven't noticed that much smoking, regardless of where on the ship we were! (Fewer folks smoking these days!) There are non-smoking tables in the casino.--Actually, MOST of the ship, with the exception of the Starboard open decks and personal cabins and Schooner bar, is non-smoking.

You MAY smell a smoke odor in the hallways sometimes, but generally, it's not that bad. Once in your cabin, you'll be fine.

[pmshirl]

Even the POOL BAR on the Radiance is NON Smoking! Go figure! I found this ship to have the most non smoking areas than any of the ships I ever cruised on. Unless its the change of the future. This cruise was my most recent one. They also enforced the non smoking in the areas that were NON SMOKING.

[FinelyCruising]

Not sure exactly what the smoking policy in cabins is on Radiance as DH who does smoke was provided an ash tray from our cabin stewardess and was asked to smoke on the balcony, not in the cabin. But continue to agree with the poster who indicated this is not a smoking friendly ship, which is the good work to put out there for those who want exactly that. It is the best controlled smoking environments of any ship I have ever been on.

 

Good for them. They suceeded with their efforts.

[Murphy]

I am a non-smoker and was on the Radiance the first week of November. This is a very non-smoker friendly ship in many ways. There is definitely a non-smoking section in the casino (a first for me!) and most if not all of the bars have non-smoking sections. Usually I can't enjoy the Schooner bar because it is too smoky in the bar section (although all ships have some non-smoking tables in the Schooner bar) on the ship I found I could actually sit at the bar without any problem.

 

The only place we noticed smoking at all was on our balcony. Our neighbors were smokers and unfortunately we could not sit on our balcony without smelling it. You can't pick your neighbors however, so go and enjoy!

[lydco]

It was great to get all your feedback on this subject. I feel alot better now having read your comments. I do not object to designated smoking areas at all, but when we're dining, sleeping or enjoying a show/movie...a smoke free environment just fits our comfort level. Two in my family have an allergy to smoke so this is good news. Thanks again.

[DebbieO]

We were on the Radiance in February, and true, I find this ship to have the least amount of smoking areas (including the outdoor pool bar, which makes no sense at all). I am a smoker and enjoy sitting at the pool bar listening to the band, which we did not do the entire week. There was smoking in the Colony Club, but I have to admit it looked like they took all the junk furniture from other ships and put it in there. We were scheduled to be on her again in October, but I went to the Loyalty Ambassador and changed over to the Explorer.

[jjinx]

Does the Explorer have a more liberal smoking policy, and that's why you changed ships? My husband and I are both smokers and are sailing on the Explorer on Sunday. I would hate to think I can't sit at the pool bar and have a cigarette! :mad:

 

Thanx for any info...

[BillOh]

December 7th was the day in Ohio that smoking in ALL indoor public places became illegal, and I was a part of the campaign to make it happen, so you have some idea of my stance. That said, it was not a problem for us/me on our cruise. I haven't seen anyone address the part about nearby cabins.

 

There were smokers next to us, who I think were sharing a room with their kids and they would only smoke on the balcony The only time I even noticed it was if they were standing at the railing at the same time I was. When that happened, I just avoided the railing for a few minutes.

 

I would describe RCCI's smoking policies as fair for most people. You know you can't please everyone.

[DebbieO]

Yes jjinx -- that's exactly why we changed. Radiance is the only RCI ship I know of that has no smoking at the pool bar and actually had limited smoking areas. The Brilliance and Serenade are fine. I emailed RCI when we returned and they responded it was up to the hotel director and would check into it. Apparently it hasn't changed. The Explorer had a very liberal smoking policy and of course has more bars and lounges. The only thing is, I prefer Radiance class ships. We've been on the Serenade several times (and going again in January) and I'm going to check out the Jewel next year.

[beautifulbc2]

I just came off the Explorer last weekend, being a non smoker I found that the smoke was terrible in the casino, lounges/disco. I could hardly breathe in many of these areas so did not spend too much time there. I was on the Radiance last year and did not remember having an issue with the smoking. Reading this thread, I am glad that I have booked the Radiance again for next year.

[aqhacruiser]

Does the Explorer have a more liberal smoking policy, and that's why you changed ships? My husband and I are both smokers and are sailing on the Explorer on Sunday. I would hate to think I can't sit at the pool bar and have a cigarette! :mad:

 

Thanx for any info...

 

I'm not sure it has a more liberal policy but it is a bigger ship so there is more space. You can smoke in the pool bar, by the pool on one side of the ship, several bars have smoking sections, your cabin and balcony of course, the casino which also has non smoking slots and some tables so just be careful to stay out of that section. Areas are clearly marked and as long as you stay to the smoking areas you will be fine. I also smoke and I sail the Explorer and there seemed to be enough space and choices for both smokers and non smokers. One side of the ship on the decks has ashcans also. There is no smoking in any dining area including outside at Johnny Rockets or other public areas such as Studio B, internet cafe, theater, etc. But you'll find plenty of places to smoke. Enjoy your cruise! :)

[In the Pink]

Ex-smoker here, and as they say, we're the worst. I can't STAND being around smoke. I don't care that the bars have a non-smoking "side"--that doesn't help, it just means the smoke won't be blown in my face. When I walk into the room, it reeks of smoke and I can't stand the smell and my sinuses immediately close up. So, I don't do bars.

 

As for the smoking in the cabins, I have smelled smoke from cabins when walking down the hall; not very frequently, though. I have never had a cabin that smells like it has been smoked in, though. I do appreciate their efforts in that regard.

[Magicat]

We are ex-smokers and did find the smoke thick in some bars, like the Schooner. However the worst was we had an adjoining room with smokers and our room quickly filled up with smoke. Kinda disgusting and we have to really think about booking a guarantee again.