smoking in the cabins

[travmagic]

I need some help from you long time NCL cruisers.

I seem to recall that NCL used to allow smoking in the cabins on one side (starboard) of the ship only. I can remember several clients that made a big deal out of it. It used to be very plain in the brochure.

I just spoke to the TA desk and it was confirmed but I am still being told no way by fellow CC members.

[johnql]

Smoking has always been allowed in ALL cabins. The rule about smoking on one side refers only to out on deck.

[shoreguy]

Smoking has always been allowed in ALL cabins. The rule about smoking on one side refers only to out on deck.

 

Not always - back in the day they did publish only one side was smoking cabins. Not really the case since I ended up on the no smoking side and my cabin steward just brought me ashtrays.

 

As it stands today all cabins are smoking optional - BTW they do a great job clearing any hint of smoke not like hotel rooms. :(

[mbisson]

I'm fairly sensitive to the smell of cigarrette smoke (it doesn't especially bother me but I do notice) and even though it's allowed in the cabins, I've never been able to smell it there. I don't know just how they do it. BTW-the hallway outside the cabin can sometimes have a strong enough aroma that it's impossible to miss.

[travmagic]

Not always - back in the day they did publish only one side was smoking cabins. Not really the case since I ended up on the no smoking side and my cabin steward just brought me ashtrays.

 

As it stands today all cabins are smoking optional - BTW they do a great job clearing any hint of smoke not like hotel rooms. :(

Thank you, thank you! I knew I wasn't crazy!:D

[johnql]

Sorry - I should know better than to use absolutes like "always". I should have said that smoking has been allowed in NCL cabins for as long as I can recall and I've been sailing NCL for 7 years.

[travmagic]

Sorry - I should know better than to use absolutes like "always". I should have said that smoking has been allowed in NCL cabins for as long as I can recall and I've been sailing NCL for 7 years.

Don't worry about it. If I told you everyone else is saying the same thing would that make you feel better;) ?

[johnql]

Thanks, travmagic.

 

For future reference, here's a link to a good CC article outlining the smoking policies on most cruise lines:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=225

[shoreguy]

Thank you, thank you! I knew I wasn't crazy!:D

 

You are not crazy and it was the starboard side at least on the Seaward, Windward, and Norway in the 90s.

 

 

Funny thing most NCL ships today the port side is the smoking side on the decks and in the bars.

[F5Loar]

And that includes the balconies too! We (non-smokers) booked a wonderful outside cabin with balcony and wouldn't you know it out of 2600 people on board the Pearl last week we ending up with 6 of the most faithful balcony chain smokers next door to us, above us and below us. Oh well so much for enjoying your beautiful balcony smoke free while in Glacier Bay! It's true they do a great job at cleaning cabins between changes(I think it's called "smokeout" in a gallon jug) but they can do nothing about your chain smoking, coughing, gagging next door neighbor! You can choose the ship, you can choose where you want to go and with NCL you choose when and where to eat but you will never be able to choose the other 2598 people going with you!

[KarmaElectra]

We've been on both sides...balcony...Mom smokes and I do not...so on the first day, she grabs one of the ash trays from the pool deck and keeps it on our balcony. Not only did the stewards keep it there, they cleaned it out for her! So, I assume smoking is permitted. (Although I hope everyone is as careful as my mom, after the balcony fire on the Princess ship last year!)

[newmexicoNita]

We have been cruising NCL since the mid 90s and I cannot remember when smoking was restricted in the cabins. I guess there was a time but we must have missed it. I also have never been in a cabin or on a balcony where the smoke was an issue. As long as there is no smoking in the dining rooms or showroom I think most of us can handle the situation. Both smokers and non smokers have to learn to live together. NMnita

[F5Loar]

Smokers and non-smokers will live in harmony when they don't cross each others space. It's when they cross paths the problem arrises!

There is no inbetween on this issue. Because cruise lines offer smokers cabins with smoking privlages they should be equal and offer non-smokers cabins without ashtrays. I'd settle for half and half and then we shall meet in the middle because we each have our space.

[Cosmopolitan]

Smokers and non-smokers will live in harmony when they don't cross each others space. It's when they cross paths the problem arrises!

There is no inbetween on this issue. Because cruise lines offer smokers cabins with smoking privlages they should be equal and offer non-smokers cabins without ashtrays. I'd settle for half and half and then we shall meet in the middle because we each have our space.

 

Good point...but...what if the non-smokers and the smokers are all trying to book the same cabin?

 

How could they keep track of the smokers/non-smokers on each deck?

 

A smoker wants an AA suite..non-smokers do not. Should the line leave the AA suite empty to please the adjoining (non-smoking) balconies? Which are cheaper cabins?

 

I, personally, find the cell phone users on the ship and in land restaurants much more irritable. Take the cell phone OUTSIDE!

Cell calls and smokers alike should go outside.

 

I walked into a restaurant today for lunch. A woman was screaming into her cell phone! I would have preferred a smoker next to me;)

[F5Loar]

The majority of staterooms of the majority of ships made today are pretty much symetrical and you would have even number of smoking rooms and non-smoking rooms. I would bet my paycheck that today the non-smoking rooms would fill up first leaving non-smokers the problem of deciding to go into a smokers room. I've never been on a ship where it was a 50/50 split on the smokers issue. Now if you are a smoker and hang out at in the casino for half your cruise you probably think the smokers out number the non-smokers.

When you get out and walk around in the other public areas it's quite obvious smokers are now in the minority even on a cruise ship that allows it in 50% of the ship. While Carnival's Paridise experiment to build and sail an all non-smoking ship some 8 years ago was a failure then it's a matter of short time before the cruise companies will come to terms with the social issue of smoking and the family cruisers they are after today. Changes have already been made and more will come as the US changes it's smoking policies.

[Host CMLA]

Changes have already been made and more will come as the US changes it's smoking policies.

As long as there are smoking cruisers, cruise lines will accommodate them. Inevitably, there will probably be more restrictions on where you can smoke but you yourself hit on a big point. It seems smokers gamble a lot and contribute a lot to the bottom line.

[newmexicoNita]

The majority of staterooms of the majority of ships made today are pretty much symetrical and you would have even number of smoking rooms and non-smoking rooms. I would bet my paycheck that today the non-smoking rooms would fill up first leaving non-smokers the problem of deciding to go into a smokers room. I've never been on a ship where it was a 50/50 split on the smokers issue. Now if you are a smoker and hang out at in the casino for half your cruise you probably think the smokers out number the non-smokers.

When you get out and walk around in the other public areas it's quite obvious smokers are now in the minority even on a cruise ship that allows it in 50% of the ship. While Carnival's Paridise experiment to build and sail an all non-smoking ship some 8 years ago was a failure then it's a matter of short time before the cruise companies will come to terms with the social issue of smoking and the family cruisers they are after today. Changes have already been made and more will come as the US changes it's smoking policies.

Smoking policies on ships will always be a bit different than on land. yes, the ships policies are changing. One of the other websites just did a report on cruiseline smoking policies. It was on their front page yesterday. That being said and of course we all know non smokers certainly outweigh smokers today (that is a no brainer) it will be a long time before smoking will not be allowed on ships like some would love to see. Expecting someone not to smoke while in a restaurant or spending a few hours in a bar is one thing, asking them not to smoke for days on a ship is quite another. NMnnita

[just4now]

And that includes the balconies too! We (non-smokers) booked a wonderful outside cabin with balcony and wouldn't you know it out of 2600 people on board the Pearl last week we ending up with 6 of the most faithful balcony chain smokers next door to us, above us and below us. Oh well so much for enjoying your beautiful balcony smoke free while in Glacier Bay! It's true they do a great job at cleaning cabins between changes(I think it's called "smokeout" in a gallon jug) but they can do nothing about your chain smoking, coughing, gagging next door neighbor! You can choose the ship, you can choose where you want to go and with NCL you choose when and where to eat but you will never be able to choose the other 2598 people going with you!

 

This is really the one thing that concerns me. It's going to take a lot to "ruin" my cruise, but I shelled out a lot for my balcony, even including the deal I got to move up to the mini-suite, and if I have smokers like that puffing away on the next balcony it's going to be awful. (Yeah I know smokers will all dogpile now about how much THEY spent!) But keep in mind, smoke from next door will blow into balconies and cabins downwind!

 

I think the one side only smoking is/was/would be a fine idea.

[F5Loar]

There the smokers go on the defense. No one here has requested the do a total "smoke out" on ships only to allow non-smokers their space in the privacy of their cabins, particularly balcony cabins. Non-smokers want those smokers on ships to spend time in the casinos so the ship can make their huge profits keeping the cost down for the non-smokers. Sorry for the stereotype here but fact is fact, more people who gamble and drink also smoke. That's one big reason the Carnival Paridise didn't make the profit they needed to stay total non-smoking.

[mbisson]

There the smokers go on the defense.

 

 

I don't smoke however I don't see many smokers going on the defense (in this thread). But they're getting beat up enough (again-on this thread), I wouldn't blame them.

 

What I do see is people making statements and in most cases, from those statements, I can't tell if the person smokes or not.

[cliffd64]

This is really the one thing that concerns me. It's going to take a lot to "ruin" my cruise, but I shelled out a lot for my balcony, even including the deal I got to move up to the mini-suite, and if I have smokers like that puffing away on the next balcony it's going to be awful. (Yeah I know smokers will all dogpile now about how much THEY spent!) But keep in mind, smoke from next door will blow into balconies and cabins downwind!

 

I think the one side only smoking is/was/would be a fine idea.

 

The reason NCL and other lines went away from designated cabins for smoking and non-smoking was that it was impossible to implement and difficult and expensive to maintain and police. Even if one side of the ship was for smokers, what happens when all those cabins are booked up? No cruise line would turn away paying customers smokers or not. Cruiselines tend to make just as much if not more on smokers (who tend to buy duty free tobacco in the shops and bars in addition to spending more in bars and casinos) as non-smokers.

 

Unless there is some sort of global policy on cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc (probably not in this lifetime) then as a non-smoker you will have to endure it just like you used to have to in a bar and some restaurants prior to smoking bans. It would be a little inconvenient on a balcony if you had to endure it, but I suppose you have to consider both sides. There is no easy solution. Perhaps select an Aft cabin where it is unlikely to be as affected by wind blown smoke.

 

A couple of cruiselines experimented with non-smoking ships, but I don't recall how that ended up. One of them (Renaissance) is out of business, and I believe Carnival's non-smoking ship was converted back to smoking years ago. I think it was called Paradise.

 

 

I've been both... so I can relate to both sides :)

[shoreguy]

A couple of cruiselines experimented with non-smoking ships, but I don't recall how that ended up. One of them (Renaissance) is out of business, and I believe Carnival's non-smoking ship was converted back to smoking years ago. I think it was called Paradise.

 

 

I've been both... so I can relate to both sides :)

 

Oceania has the most restritive smoking policy I have seen. For those who want to avoid smoke look into it. They are off my list :D They have two public smoking areas on an open deck. The rest of the ship is smoke free including the cabins and casino. :eek:

 

There are choices ;)

 

What is the smoking policy of Oceania Cruises?

 

For the safety and security of all guests and staff onboard, Designated Smoking Areas are available on Deck 9, the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck, and Deck 10, in the aft, port corner of Horizons. These areas are comfortably furnished and conveniently located near food and beverage areas.

Smoking is expressly forbidden in all Staterooms and Suites, on verandas, or in any areas of the ship other than officially Designated Smoking Areas. Smoking in a stateroom or suite or on a veranda represents a serious fire and safety hazard to all guests and staff. Guests choosing to disregard this policy will be disembarked at the next port of call and may also be subject to additional fees that will be imposed to cover the costs associated with any damage to and the required cleaning of furnishings, verandas and surrounding deck and accommodation areas.

[just4now]

I don't smoke however I don't see many smokers going on the defense (in this thread). But they're getting beat up enough (again-on this thread), I wouldn't blame them.

 

What I do see is people making statements and in most cases, from those statements, I can't tell if the person smokes or not.

 

I don't see anyone on defense right now, nor do I see anyone getting "beat up". I have lots friends who smoke and every one of them lives by the creedo, "My right to smoke ends where your nose begins." I really don't see any reason to get upset if someone wants to enjoy fresh air on a balcony they've paid the same money for as your smokey one. That's not infringing on anyone's rights. BTW smoking isn't a "right" it's a "priviledge".

 

If keeping smokers to one side of the ship accomplishes that, what's the problem? Smokers can enjoy their smokes and the full benefits of their cabins and so can non-smokers. However, I suspect what an earlier poster said would prove true in that all the non-smoking areas would sell out quickly. In that case, if I paid for a cabin KNOWING it was on smoke-side, I wouldn't be in much of a position to complain.

[mbisson]

I really don't see any reason to get upset if someone wants to enjoy fresh air on a balcony they've paid the same money for as your smokey one. That's not infringing on anyone's rights. BTW smoking isn't a "right" it's a "priviledge".

.

 

 

Please don't assume 1) that I'm upset, 2) that I think smoking is a "right" or 3) that I smoke (especially since in my previous post I said I don't)

[just4now]

Please don't assume 1) that I'm upset, 2) that I think smoking is a "right" or 3) that I smoke (especially since in my previous post I said I don't)

 

Please don't assume that I meant you personally.