RCCL New Smoking Policy Discussion (merged)

[Micknmin]

Will the rules regarding smoking on the starboard side but not on the port side still apply? Or is that all thrown out the window as long as they smoke on their balcony?

[Alexis]

So non-smokers will now book inside cabins cheap and prepare for the free upgrade to a balcony they can't use.

 

Neither my husband or I smoke, but I am not cruising without my balcony.

I don't care what the smoking rule is, or the cost of an inside cabin.

Why would I go to an inside? Seems like I am being punished for not smoking. :D

That theory will never work with me.

[Little Elm]

Did they change the policy because of the non smokers, or did insurance coverage on the ships dictate the change?

[reallyitsmema]

Will the rules regarding smoking on the starboard side but not on the port side still apply? Or is that all thrown out the window as long as they smoke on their balcony?

That rule didn't apply to cabins, it is for outside decks. As far as I have read, that rule still applies.

[corkpopr]

having been on 21 cruises on 8 different lines i must say that i have never boarded a ship and entered my cabin smelling the prior guests smoke. neither have any other pax i have asked the question to.

i believe RCCL is making a big mistake as the number of smokers is dropping every year for the past 30 or so. even in europe the numbers of smokers are dropping each year as well. let the marketplace take care of the situation. as a kid i had to go outside if i didn't like all the adults smoking.

[Lynn the Cruiser]

It is probably true that some of the inconsiderate smokers are also just plain inconsiderate people in general. I also believe this will die down just as the one poster said. The rule is really not that much different. I can't imagine people just sitting around in their rooms smoking like fiends. Nor do I believe that having one or two cigarettes in a room per day will totally impermiate the room that it has to be specially cleaned. I have an amazing sense of smell and my allergies realllllllly act up when exposed to smoke, but I have never smelled smoke in any of my staterooms nor did it ever have that stale smoke odor.(not only in my rooms on 4 cruises, but also the other rooms I've been in...friends, other fam. members). Also I wonder where all of these smokers go to smoke at work??? I am sure most workplaces ban smoking. I am a teacher and our smokers (of which there are only 5) have to go between two modular classrooms, go up a hill, go through a hole in the fence and smoke on the railroad tracks...seriously...and they do it...in the rain, snow, sleet, temps below zero! Let's just be a little logical with this thread.

[KillaFee]

The OP has some pretty flawed logic. :rolleyes:

Not all smokers smoke in their rooms, and not all non-smokers are going to dart into their rooms if some smoke drifts their way when they're out on the their balcony. My fiance smokes, and every single cruise we've been on except the last one has been in an inside room and he's never once smoked in it. Just because someone is a smoker doesn't mean they've gotta light up in their room. My fiance (and all of my other friends that cruise in inside rooms and smoke, for that matter) goes up on deck when he needs a ciggarette. I really think you're jumping to conclusions and overall this won't have a huge effect on anything.

Laura

[ORANGEinINDY]

Also I wonder where all of these smokers go to smoke at work??? I am sure most workplaces ban smoking. I am a teacher and our smokers (of which there are only 5) have to go between two modular classrooms, go up a hill, go through a hole in the fence and smoke on the railroad tracks...seriously...and they do it...in the rain, snow, sleet, temps below zero!

This is why I think the smokers are upset about the new policy... it is all "baby steps", eliminating place by place, with the non-smokers saying "I applaud this, after all it's not like we're making it illegal, what are they getting so upset about?" ... Tell that to the employees of the hospital near me that outlaws smoking by their employees within a mile of their facility.... this includes in their car on property the hospital doesn't own. but, hey, they are not saying you can't smoke, after all, it's still legal....

[irish rover]

ME.... with the biggest, nastiest, smelliest cigars I can find.... and I don't even LIKE cigars. The nicotine police irritate me to no end. I keep my smoking in private... now we can't smoke in our staterooms AWAY from everyone else? I bet I aquire a taste for cigars by the time my next two cruises are over..... It's ok for you booze hounds to jump overboard and wreck my vacation... it's perfectly acceptable to get all ripped up and drive your car... booze is socially acceptible. My cigarettes aren't.... go figure. Maybe because I don't drink and don't like the smell of the beer that someone spilled on the carpet, maybe we should get the cruise line to ban alcohol? Nothing but KoolAide and Juice Boxes for you from now on... and yeah, I have had drinks spilled on me on cruises... why should I have to put up with that? Why should I have to explain to my kids why "that person is walking, acting so funny"?

 

Goes both ways. Hope you enjoy cigar smoke. I will make certain I am out there on my balcony more than usual... and on deck as well. Anyone care to join me?

 

you angry smokers never seem to understand that your habit affects the air that others breathe (and can make them sick )other folks do not want to join you in your habit. someone having a glass of wine has no effect on me

[Micknmin]

That rule didn't apply to cabins, it is for outside decks. As far as I have read, that rule still applies.

 

So people can smoke on their balconies regardless of what side of the ship they are on? I was hoping that the rule did apply to staterooms since we are non-smokers on the port side.

[aqhacruiser]

Sent e-mail asking them about their smoking policy. I asked if I can only afford ocean view, will they be paying the difference for a balcony (I don't think so). Also, reminded them that smokers do not jump overboard. I suggest all smokers e-mail them before this board gets out of hand. Let you know if I get a reply.

 

I emailed C & A yesterday. No response as of yet

[crusingdave]

I'm sure they thought of smoking and non-smoking rooms but realistically it will never work. It is virtually impossible to know how many rooms to designate each way. We just stayed in a hotel and they had no non-smoking rooms available - so they put us up one night in an overflow area - supposedly where they put the non-smokers when there are no non-smoking rooms available. The room smelled of smoke and we moved after the first night to a non-smoking room. I have never had a problem in a cabin in a cruise ship and we have stayed from inside cabins to suites.

[Sue L]

So people can smoke on their balconies regardless of what side of the ship they are on? I was hoping that the rule did apply to staterooms since we are non-smokers on the port side.

 

 

Until Dec 31 you can smoke in all cabins and all balconies. After that then only on the balconies, no matter which side of the ship you are on. The port/starboard thing applies to the outside decks like the pool deck and such.

[MaryZ]

So people can smoke on their balconies regardless of what side of the ship they are on? I was hoping that the rule did apply to staterooms since we are non-smokers on the port side.

 

yes. And you can bet they will be out there a lot more now that they can't smoke inside their cabin.

[TravlGrl]

Why?

 

The new smoking policy means smokers will no longer book inside or ocean view cabins because they can't smoke there anymore. They can smoke on balconies.

 

But....non-smokers will stop booking balconies. Non-smokers outnumber smokers 3 to 1.

 

So non-smokers will now book inside cabins cheap and prepare for the free upgrade to a balcony they can't use.:confused:

 

What a dumb new policy. It has often been said that smokers subsidize the cruise of non-smokers because they spend more onboard by drinking and gambling more. Now they'll spend more for their cabins while the rest of us are relegated to the worst cabins on the ship. This is a lose-lose situation - how DUMB of RCCL.

 

The logic here doesn't flow at all for me. I am a non-smoker, and this policy would not discourage me from booking a balcony. Plus, to think that "the rest of us are relegated to the worst cabins" sounds like you are saying the non-smokers are victims here. No one is forcing non-smokers to book an inside cabin. I am not following the logic of your post at all. If it was just meant as a vent, I get it, but to post such an absolutist statement makes no sense. Sorry! :o

[aqhacruiser]

I also run into this problem. I have a lot of fun playing in the casino on our cruises, but the smoking makes it very unpleasant. My husband has had lung problems when he was a kid and he is very sensitive to smoke. We actively avoid smokers in the casino, but it really doesn't help as the whole room basically reeks of it. And, unfortunately, we can't control who sits down next to us.

 

It really sucks to be lounging by the pool, enjoying the sun and the fresh air, only to have someone near you light up...basically ruining your good time and forcing you to relocate. Many of the events/activities are held in venues that allow smoking, restricting what we can participate in. It seems that we spend much of our cruise being annoyed by and avoiding smokers, regardless of if the person is a consider or inconsiderate smoker. As so many aspects of my cruise are affected by this behavior, I really can't feel sorry for smokers for not being able to smoke in their staterooms.

 

Smoke bothers you from the other side of the pool deck? Are you in the non smoking area? The two sides of the ship are pretty far apart for that to happen not to mention you are out on a open deck. That will still be the same on all ships on the starboard side which is where the pool smoking section will remain. As far as I can see the new policy doesn't change a thing for smokers that book balconys and suites and non smokers should be thrilled as smokers will never book interiors or OV's anymore so non smokers have all those cabins that are completely non smoking to choose from now. :) Many non smokers on here have been asking to book non smoking rooms and RCCL just gave them their wish.:)

[shipshape sam]

We travel with a smoker and she used to book oceanview cabins, but we always wanted balconies, so they tried it and now they pay the difference. For sure it is NOT only for the smoking, but for sure a good part of it is. :)

 

As to prices changing, I would think there would be more demand for balconies and thus could have some upward pressure on pricing.

 

I think RCL is NOT doing this change in policy for health reasons. They are doing it for business reasons of which we can all guess some potential ones:

 

lower insurance costs

lower cleaning costs

less complaints from non-smokers -never heard a smoker complain that the room did NOT smell of stale smoke and wanted to be moved to a room with a lingering smoke smell! :) . Lots of smokers are very good about not leaving a smell, like our friends, but enough smokers do.

[artk]

As a smoker, I'm glad I'm booked on the AOS this August... Next year, I'm going to have to seriously consider whether i stay with RCI (not ruling it out), whether i go to another cruise line, or whether i just give up on it and go back to land based vacations. Oh well, not going to worry about it now... going to enjoy my trip in 2 weeks, and figure it out when its time to plan for next summer

[gaileeh]

I hope that we here on the Royal Caribbean board will not sink to such lows as it reflects so poorly on us all as a group. Please may we all respect one another and our feelings.

 

I'm sorry but my respect stops when your second hand smoke starts to poison my lungs. DM died slowly of lung disease. It was a horible death. If you want to kill your self like that, go ahead, just don't pass on your second hand smoke to me. IMO this has been a long time comming and I hope they won't be abandoning this policy, our health is at stake people!

[dinojude]

Will smoking be allowed in the casino? I sure hope so or they won't be getting my quarters!

[Crazy Flying Fish]

I am not going to read back through this whole thread to hear everyone's social and political views on this subject. Flame Me, I really don't care! I am typically a non-smoker. When I go on vacation I drink alcohol and I smoke while I am doing it. I stay off your Island and don't bother you, so do not bother me if I am in my area and doing what I am aloud to do. If I don't want to smoke I go away from it. If I do want to smoke, I go to those areas.

If you or your kids have an alergy to something it is your responsibilty to know that, not the cruise lines. If you are appauled by the cruise, then don't go. I will make that choice my self one day.

The smoking section is not that large to begin with. You people ( and not all, some have made sense ), as I said I am not going to read the whole thread.

I'm sorry to do a flamming post but darn it folks, why can't we just go on vacation anymore. Why does everyone need a cause to Champion! Leave it alone and relax and enjoy your time. Sorry to say this, but without smokers, drinkers, gamblers and sponsers, the cruise industry will not grow and it will calapse. If you like economical cruising, then enjoy the fact that the people that are doing the smoking are paying the bills to keep your trip affordable!:cool:

[My2Kitties]

By the way, do you wear perfume? That can be just as invasive.;)

 

Suzanne

 

Perfume is the worse...if you are like me, people with perfume is horrible...can't breathe...at least outside I can adjust myself to get fresh air but in an elevator or car or closed space...ugh!

 

btw, hubby smokes, I don't anymore and it really bothers me so he smokes outside the house and on our balcony (only get balcony cabins)...on the one cruise that we had an OV instead of balcony he went out on the smoking deck...no problems! he accepts that and I as a non-smoker have to accept it...

 

ps: I make him put his clothes in seperate laundry so my clothes don't take on the smell...

[libertybelle41]

I wonder, as long as this board has been around how many times has the "smoking" debate come up???

[ORANGEinINDY]

I'm sorry but my respect stops when your second hand smoke starts to poison my lungs. DM died slowly of lung disease. It was a horible death. If you want to kill your self like that, go ahead, just don't pass on your second hand smoke to me. IMO this has been a long time comming and I hope they won't be abandoning this policy, our health is at stake people!

Where does second hand smoke and this policy come together... you probably should not be in their stateroom.

[libertybelle41]

Will smoking be allowed in the casino? I sure hope so or they won't be getting my quarters!

 

 

 

But, they would be getting mine...:)