WHY are cruise ships still in the dark ages about smoking?

[NYNYCruiser]

I live in NY where you can't smoke anywhere indoors- bars, restaurants, hotel rooms- yet every cruise ship I have been on has almost no restrictions on smoking. How am I supposed to keep safe from the smoke and not have my kids subjected to it? The casino is the worst and the bars all have areas where people smoke, some even cigars. Don't the ships have smoke-eaters in these places?

[maldemar]

I live in NY where you can't smoke anywhere indoors- bars, restaurants, hotel rooms- yet every cruise ship I have been on has almost no restrictions on smoking. How am I supposed to keep safe from the smoke and not have my kids subjected to it? The casino is the worst and the bars all have areas where people smoke, some even cigars. Don't the ships have smoke-eaters in these places?

 

1) a lot of lines are increasing their restrictions. Maybe not fast enough to suite you, but they are slowly getting there.

 

2) your kids are going to the casinos and bars?!?!

 

3) welcome to the free market, something that New York (and Ohio) forgot about. If the lines thought they could entice more people by offering non-smoking ships they would (the short lived smoke free CCL Paradise). In the mean time, their best chance to fill ships is by appealing to both side of the smoking debate while avoiding offending all but the hard core on both sides.

 

Don't want to admit this, but were in Laughlin NV, and one of the casinos offered a smoke free area. It was all but emptly most of the time while the main floor was packed. Seems vice follows vice.

 

I admit that I prefer a smoke free enviornment, but if I was overly concerned about my health, I wouldn't be in a bar... smoke filled or otherwise.

[vjmatty]

First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic :)

 

You are probably unaware of the controversy this thread may start... both sides of the smoking issue can get very hot under the collar and threads can go on for multiple pages. I was actually called cruel and stupid for smoking two cigarettes per week :rolleyes:

 

As far as answering your question, I think that if you stay out of the smoking areas you should be fine. I imagine you don't bring your kids into bars and casinos, so they should be exposed even less.

 

There are ships with more rules against smoking.. Oceana, Azmara to name a few, and RCCL has changed their policy starting next year. There was a thread on their new smoking policy but it was pulled. :(

[OURTIME]

if i recall there is no smoking in the eating areas unless it is partially outdoors, also there is a non smoking side on the ship i believe it is port side. i will be at the bar having a drink and a smoke. age restiction there is 21. remember not everything has to be like new york.. i do not smoke around my children and i do enjoy non smoking restaraunts so dont get me wrong, but i being a smoker or even when i quit believe that just because you smoke shouldnt mean you are banned from everywhere....

[eh2zed]

NYNY Cruiser, new restrictions by a number of lines have been announced recently. Most recently RCI. It will take longer for cruise lines because this a smokers residence so to speak for 7 or more days as opposed to going out to restaurant for a few hours. But there can be no doubt they will get there eventually. All marketing research points in that direction and no cruise line can afford to be too lenient because they do not want to encourage more smoking clientele. There will always have to be some form of accomodation for smokers but sooner or later it will be limited. Won't come soon enough for me.:) :D :) :D

[NYNYCruiser]

'You are probably unaware of the controversy this thread may start... both sides of the smoking issue can get very hot under the collar and threads can go on for multiple pages. I was actually called cruel and stupid for smoking two cigarettes per week'

Well it does show you aren't addicted, but that is a good thing! Thanks for the info and the heads up!

[vjmatty]

Well it does show you aren't addicted, but that is a good thing!

 

Well, I would smoke after sex, but two packs a day would kill me! ;)

 

:p

[OURTIME]

yeah that my problem as well..........lol

[Kudos2Fly]

Well I do have a cigar from time to time with my husband :D. We both had one every night in Italy... Anyways, I feel restricting anyones rights like NY has, is a bad ideal... What next will be restricted? Besides I don't think your kids are going in to the bars... Oh at least I hope not.

[sail7seas]

Most of the cruise lines have more limited smoking permitted than you may realize.

 

On HAL, there is no smoking permitted in any dining area. Not in the main dining room, not in Lido or by the burger bar/taco bar.

 

Some (not all) lounges have a smoking section that keeps getting smaller and smaller.

 

There is no smoking permitted in the show lounge, on elevators, hallways or under the glass dome where main Lido Pool is located.

 

You and your children could easily spend a week on a HAL ship and not be exposed hardly anywhere.

 

I live in Massachusetts and we have the same restrictions on smoking that New York has....actually I think we have had them much longer. Since July 2004, MA has not permitted any smoking in any indoor workplace. Just about everywhere you go is a workplace for someone. Bars, restaurants, shows, ballparks, some beaches, no indoor public smoking permitted anywhere. So, we, like you, are unused to being around smoke and the less the cruise lines permit, the better IMO

 

[agabbymama]

Maybe because they realize you can't dictate to people what to do.

Every law that is passed takes away some of YOUR FREEDOMS.

 

Some day they may just pass a law that takes away something

you enjoy or want to do. Let's see how you feel about that!

 

We could become a society like Germany was under Hitler, with the

Gestapo watching your every move. Lawabiding citizens of course

registered their guns when told to do so, so when Hitler moved in

he knew right where to go to confiscate those weapons.

 

We do still have some liberties. I don't particularly want to see or

hear all the kids on a cruise ship either, but I know they have as

much right to be there as I do, so I go to my cabin or a bar area

where kids aren't flocking. I suggest you do the same to stay

away from the smokers.

[jlp20]

I live in NY where you can't smoke anywhere indoors- bars, restaurants, hotel rooms...The casino is the worst and the bars all have areas where people smoke.....

 

OK, don’t care one way or the other, but here are a couple of FACTS.

 

Here in California, we now have similar laws as N.Y. However, years ago there was no state laws, but some cities took it upon themselves to pass anti-smoking laws. Bars reported lost revenue because smokers traveled a couple of extra miles to another city where there were no laws yet. When the state laws passed, the field was leveled and bars went back to the pre anti-smoking laws.

 

SO

 

If any one cruiseline were to go fully no smoking, that one section of the public that smokes would book elsewhere. The cruise lines themselves will never do anything that would affect the bottom line, profit.

 

There was a posting on the Princess board about 45 days ago. Forget the ship, but one night was designated no smoking in the casino. The poster, who hated smoke, was happy and couldn’t wait. She reported that she visited the casino and had a great time. The only problem was she felt intimidated playing any of the table games. It seems the place only had about twenty people gambling. Wonder how much profits dipped that night.

[PrettyLA]

Anyways, I feel restricting anyones rights like NY has, is a bad ideal...

 

So you don't want your "rights" restricted but feel that people who smoke should be able to harm others with their smoking?

[neverpar]

So you don't want your "rights" restricted but feel that people who smoke should be able to harm others with their smoking?

 

Stay out of the smokers space and they will stay out of yours...

[kidznp]

The only sure way to avoid second hand smoke is to completely avoid any area where smoking is allowed. Since there is no non-smoking cruise or ship available, you and your children can not be protected from the possible exposure to cigarette smoke. Until ships are made completely non smoking you are in danger and should rethink you plan to take a cruise. There are plenty of other vacations and trips you can take that do not include the risk of exposure to second hand smoke

[BruceMuzz]

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about smoking?

--It's all about money. Surveys show that only about 10% of Americans smoke; but 20% of American Cruisers smoke. If you owned a cruise line, would you be willing to chance chasing away 20% of your customers?

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about dress codes?

--It's all about money. Surveys show that the majority of today's cruisers still want some sort of dress up days/nights.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about television?

--It's all about money. Licensing for additional television channels is very expensive. The cruise lines are mostly unwilling to pay for it and then pass the cost onto the consumer - who they believe are unwilling to pay more for a cruise in order to watch television.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about sports coverage?

-- It's all about money. See above. Licensinig for televised sports events is even more costly that regular programming

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about internet speed and prices?

-- It's all about money. Marine satellite bandwidth is frighteningly expensive.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about entertainment?

--It's all about money. Producing high quality shows and hiring additional entertainers are very costly - AND they tend to take up valuable revenue cabins that the cruis elines are unwilling to give up.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about dining options?

-- It's all about money. Additional restaurants cost big money and take up large spaces that could earn far better revenue with other types of concessions.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about itineraries?

-- It's all about money. Just like the airlines, the cruise lines will only choose itineraries that are no risk, so far as filling up the ship EVERY week. If they are not guaranteed to fill up the ship 100% or more - EVERY CRUISE - they will rarely consider it.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about web pages?

-- It's all about money. Cruise Lines are not set up to sell large quantities of cruises to the public. They want the Travel Agents to take care of that expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming task. They would rather that you go to the travel agent instead of to their websites.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about ticketing?

-- It's all about money. Large volumes of tickets are expensive. The cheapest tickets will still be used. The cruise lines do not want to deal with it. E-tickets are on the way, if you are not using them already.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about check in?

-- It's all about money. American check-in agents are expensive - especially since most are part timers. American Labor laws require full benefits for many, even though they are barely connected to the cruise line. The cruise lines hire retirees, housewives, and others who are not qualified for better jobs elsewhere. They pay them rock-bottom wages -virtually guaranteeing high turnover and near zero loyalty to the company or to the passengers.

 

Why are Cruise Ships still in the dark ages about service from the head office?

-- It's all about money. See above. In-house reservation and service people are very costly in America. Cruise Lines pay ridiculously low wages to their in-house employees. If you get the chance to visit a Cruise Line Call Center at a Head Office, it usually looks like a shelter for the homeless. Turnover is more than 100% every three months. People rarely stay long enough to learn their jobs.

 

There is an easy fix to all of this. The cruise lines should double their prices, and use the profits to correct the items listed above.

 

Do you think it's going to happen?

It's all about money....................................

[SCDIVINGOFFICER]

I know what its like to sit in a car with the windows up with Dad & Mom smoking. It was tough asking a parent to roll down their window just a little, but Mom would back us up. At the same time if Dad had to make a quick stop Mom would stop our forward motion by extending her arm across our chests. 50 years have passed, Dad did die of Lung Cancer at 67, Mom still smokes off and on in her 70's. None of us three boys died of lung cancer or had breathing problems. Even made it through a few crashes without seatbelts. Point is to respect others, remember how you felt in that car full of smoke. At the same time don't always bust someone's balls about smoking near you. Sorry but I don't know anyone who has died from second hand smoke:confused: .

[BruceMuzz]

Why are Americans still in the dark ages about passports?

 

We all know that terrorism is a major factor in our lives (and deaths).

We all know that the rest of the world already requires passports for just about everyone.

We all know that requiring passports hinders terrorists.

We all know that if we all had passports, America would probably be a safer place to live.

 

So why is it that 7 years after 9/11, and after 7 years of the US Government prodding, threatening, pleading, cajoling, and otherwise trying to get the American Public to get a passport, only about 24% of Americans have bothered to get one????

 

It's all about money.....................................

About 75% of Americans would rather allow the terrorists complete their plans, than spend $80 to help guarantee their safety and peace of mind.

[bUU]

Great summary, BruceMuzz. And the same explanation can be used to explain (1) why cruise lines don't do more, and (2) why cruise lines do as much as they do. So they restrict smoking as much as they do because 80% of cruisers don't smoke and many of them don't like smoke. They relax the dress codes because a majority of cruisers want some dress code, but not as stringent as in the past. They are spending money on plasma televisions because some aspects of doing so are advantageous, but they will only do so much. And so on...

[vjmatty]

Why are Americans still in the dark ages about passports?

 

We all know that terrorism is a major factor in our lives (and deaths).

We all know that the rest of the world already requires passports for just about everyone.

We all know that requiring passports hinders terrorists.

We all know that if we all had passports, America would probably be a safer place to live.

 

So why is it that 7 years after 9/11, and after 7 years of the US Government prodding, threatening, pleading, cajoling, and otherwise trying to get the American Public to get a passport, only about 24% of Americans have bothered to get one????

 

It's all about money.....................................

About 75% of Americans would rather allow the terrorists complete their plans, than spend $80 to help guarantee their safety and peace of mind.

 

I am the opposite... I have dual citizenship and I am applying for a Greek passport for when being an American is dangerous.

[NOT my real name]

I live in NY where you can't smoke anywhere indoors- bars, restaurants, hotel rooms- yet every cruise ship I have been on has almost no restrictions on smoking. How am I supposed to keep safe from the smoke and not have my kids subjected to it? The casino is the worst and the bars all have areas where people smoke, some even cigars. Don't the ships have smoke-eaters in these places?

 

Non-smokers need to start standing up more for their right to breathe air not poisoned by second hand smoke. Here is an article about the death and disease that smokers cause to innocent victims especially children.

 

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/speeches/06272006a.html

 

Here are a few snippets:

 

I would like to draw your attention to several new conclusions that I have reached due to overwhelming scientific evidence.

• Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in adults and sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory problems in children.
  
• There is NO risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure, with even brief exposure adversely affecting the cardiovascular and respiratory system.
  
• Only smoke-free environments effectively protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure in indoor spaces.

[NYNYCruiser]

vjmatty that is the funniest thing I have read in a long time... the cab driver thinks I am nuts for laughing out loud all alone :o

[lvtotrvl1]

Hasn't this topic been beaten to death? Over and over and over....

[vjmatty]

vjmatty that is the funniest thing I have read in a long time... the cab driver thinks I am nuts for laughing out loud all alone :o

 

What is so funny about being Greek? :confused:

 

Kidding, I know what you meant.. good to see another non-smoker with a sense of humor, there are a few here. Nobody got my two-pack joke last time I posted it, or maybe laughing at a smoking joke gives you cancer :rolleyes:

 

Hope you have a great day :)

[bUU]

Hasn't this topic been beaten to death? Over and over and over....

 

How is that different from many of the other hot threads in this forum?

 

Why use a travel agent? What does a travel agent do?

Passport issues

"It seems that at least on all of the major lines the experience has been reduced to the lowest possible common denominator." (to be fair, that one was closed)

"Your number one tip..."

Hard-sell in the Spa

Motion Sickness

This cruise ship or that one? This cruise line or that one?

Travel Insurance

Gratuities