IRONS/CANDLES vs. CIGARETTES

[cew1]

Would someone lite me a cigarette ?

[BottledRed]

My take on these three issues:

 

Irons:

Irons take a high amount of wattage (like all heating appliances). There is a limited amount of wattage available in your cabin. Having devices that use high wattage in the cabin increase the likelihood that you will blow a circuit (fuse) or cause a fire due to circuit overuse.

 

Travel irons are designed to use less wattage, and therefore don't heat up half as well or iron out wrinkles very efficiently. Even a travel iron can stress a system that is already stretched thin.

 

Candles: I think the open flame is just too obvious...on a rocking ship, too!

 

Cigarette smoking: sure, it's risky, but the risks are outweighed by the business smokers bring in. You won't outrage a large segment of the cruising population by banning irons, but you will if you ban smoking.

[Beffy1167]

Candles, well... that is just a given. The ship starts rocking, you have a candle... over goes the candle... room goes up in flames... that one is pretty much common sense.

This is a question, not a flame: Wouldn't the same potentially be true for a cigarette in an ashtray? Seems to me that if the ship starts rocking, a cigarette could easily roll out of an ashtray, too.

 

As said many times, the bottom line is is money!

[macusa19]

I agree with what you have just said. Lit cigs are just as much of a risk as a candle.

 

P.S. Why do people get so fiesty on these boards? It's just conversation.

[GoinCruisin]

Hmmm, I've yet to see anyone fiesty on this thread yet... Everytime someone answers, there is always a comeback, but that is not fiesty.

 

And the answer for the ashtray would be a "no" it's not the same thing. A, a candle is an open flame and when the candle falls, it can ignite within a second. A cigarette would take MUCH longer, and generally... well, I can't explain the way an ashtray works, but the ashtray "holds the cigarette"... as opposed to an open flame...

[L2J]

I'm not sure why the OP is having such a hard time understanding the concept of "one" thing being allowed and the "other" not. It makes perfect sense to me and needs no "justification".

 

Like another poster said - it's their ship/cruise line. We're not entitled to know what factors into policy decisions.

[ILov2cruise]

A cigarette is not a open flame. It would smolder, candle is an open flame.

 

I don't smoke, but I'd rather a whole ship of smokers before half a ship of candle burning people.

 

Irons, I don't think they are banned because they are a fire hazard. I think it's more for the safety of the cabin steward. She's cleaning and doesn't see its still plugged in and grabs it and can get a very bad burn.

 

I agree with LIV, the poster needs to accept the rule and move on.

[SallyMay]

I have to agree with GoinCrusin, livtojump, and Ilov2cruise. The cruise line have set rules and we should abide by them. We will always have different opinions on these three subjects and you will never receive the answer you want on them.

 

1. Irons - do not bring one, I iron enough at home and do not want to do it on a cruise. I usually bring a slinky style dress for formal night.

 

2. Candles - too risky - I bring a room deodorizer to make room smell fresh.

 

3. Cigarettes - I smoke - do not smoke in bed (never have and never will). enough said.

[macusa19]

I understand where everyone is coming from...I just don't think it's fair. That's MY opinion. I wasn't talking about the fiesty-ness of posters on this thread, I was talking in general. And blah, blah, blah....

 

All I wanted was to know everyone's thoughts on the subject, and I have had plenty of answers. Thanks everyone...

[L2J]

I understand where everyone is coming from...I just don't think it's fair.

 

Life's not fair. Fact of the matter is CCL allows smoking but doesn't allow irons/candles.

[tef43]

Life's not fair. Fact of the matter is CCL allows smoking but doesn't allow irons/candles.

I feel an email to Uncle Bob coming on. Think he'll give me a free cruise to compensate for the gross injustice of it all? :p

[karenh1127]

For all who have cruised before..........does it seem like most smokers are courteous around non-smokers and children? Meaning do they seem to sit in an area away from kids and not blow smoke in the direction of others? Just curious as we are bringing kids with us. We dont smoke and I know from the past that if I go to a bar...I come home reeking of smoke and I have to wash everything I had on!!! When you dont smoke the smell of cigarettes, etc. can make you nausous. Nothing against those who smoke....I just am not one. I do understand that there will be smokers on the ship and I'm ok with that, just wanted to look out for the kids.

[L2J]

I feel an email to Uncle Bob coming on. Think he'll give me a free cruise to compensate for the gross injustice of it all? :p

 

Free cruise? Heck he might give you the keys to your own ship!

 

Karen - Yes, MOST are very courteous. Some of the Bars and the Casino can be a bit smokey but it's not like the smoke is going to make a bee-line for your balcony.

[GoinCruisin]

There is a smoking side and non smoking side of the ship (on the deck) there are some places inside that don't allow smoking, and there is no smoking in the dining rooms. If someone sits down in a smoking area, you will be exposed to smoke... don't take your kids in the bar :p LOL. There are plenty of places for a non smoker to go... Smokers for the most part are very courteous, you do have your bad ones, just like with everything else. The casino seems to be very smoky... good luck and have fun!

[Beffy1167]

A cigarette is not a open flame. It would smolder, candle is an open flame.

 

I don't smoke, but I'd rather a whole ship of smokers before half a ship of candle burning people.

 

Irons, I don't think they are banned because they are a fire hazard. I think it's more for the safety of the cabin steward. She's cleaning and doesn't see its still plugged in and grabs it and can get a very bad burn.

 

I agree with LIV, the poster needs to accept the rule and move on.

My sense of the OP's question was not that they didn't "accept" the rules, but that they were trying to understand them. There is a difference.

 

According to Carnival's website irons, heating pads, and candles are banned for "safety reasons." Only they know the real reason for banning them. And although some people may name cigarettes as not being an "open flame," I know from experience (walked into 'em a few times as a child) that they're hot enough to cause third degree burns. Yes, they may smolder for awhile before causing open flames to burst, but "awhile" may be a short time if a lit cigarette falls onto a highly flammable fabric.

 

Irons would smolder first, too. And heating pads seem fairly harmless to me. I've fallen asleep at night with mine on and it has never been a problem.

 

Candles, on the other hand, are (it seems to me) the most harmful of the items listed. And like Ilov2cruise, I'd rather travel with a shipload of smokers than one candle-burner--and I'm also a non-smoker.

 

The OP was asking a question and it sparked conversation/discussion. If anyone is bored with it or finds it worthless, they do not need to participate, they can move on to other threads that are more interesting to them. And frankly, given the subject matter, I am very impressed with how politely it has been handled! I think all participants deserve a pat on the back for the courtesy here.....as most of us know, many discussions of this subject matter degenerate quickly into insult-hurling and flaming.

[Beffy1167]

And the answer for the ashtray would be a "no" it's not the same thing. A, a candle is an open flame and when the candle falls, it can ignite within a second. A cigarette would take MUCH longer, and generally... well, I can't explain the way an ashtray works, but the ashtray "holds the cigarette"... as opposed to an open flame...

I know how ashtrays work. And I also know that sometimes cigarettes DO fall out of them.....they're still a fire hazard. Not a banned one, but a fire hazard nonetheless.

[matchman]

I wonder if we have any electricians on the board,

 

my guess for irons is two fold. :D

 

One people are distracted on a cruise and much more likely to leave one un-attended or left on while at dinner and that can leed to a fire or they even bought the $2.99 iron from sales-r-us which doesnt have a built in shutoff. (I would guess the odds on this fire happening is probably close to that of a cigarette.) but more importantly I would bet the problem is wiring especially on older ships.

 

Yes you have your "one and only personnel iron on" and you stand glaring at it ready to pounce if it so much as thinks of combusting and so does Flo, Joe and Fred all in the same corridor as you and all using the same circuit. Now the poor old wiring on the circuit inside the wall were no one can see it really starts to get upset about all this usage and starts to smolder. Of course no one can see into the wall and when it decides to give up the ghost so to speak, nightmare or nightmares! you have a fire that is not yet visable and is capable of moving around the ship unseen and not easily detected by smoke or fire sensors which in turn can result in a devastating fire. (and remember the number 1 fear for Ships is a fire on board.)

 

Now I would guess the more modern ships use higher capacity wiring and also have many more indiviual feeds and circuit breakers. (As the trend in building industry has after seeing the explosion of electrical usage.) But the older ones probably don't have any were near this wattage capacity.

 

Now cigarette's can start a fire but consider A) it has to start, not that easy when most of the items are fire resistant and more importantly your cabin is fitted with a smoke sensor and sprinklers so if it does occurs theres a good chance the ship can locate it quickly and also put it out fast. But if you get a fire in a wall all bets are off!!

 

Candles are just a no brainer, as we often leave them burning and they are an open flame.

 

I think at the end of the day its based on insurance incidents and revenue, and cigarette smokers present a fire risk true (and I would guess it is a small risk.) but they present a large revenue stream that if the worst should occur have a good chance of being doused before too big a problem occurs, but I would hazard a guess people are deluding themselves if they think the only real danger from the iron is simply it melting and starting a fire.

 

So the next time you turn that iron on remember the fire doesnt have to start at the iron but as a result of you turning it on!

 

I should mention I smoke, and at that at least allows me to say I am addicted (medically) to a very bad habit that presents a fire risk!!! :( Can you say the same for using your candle or iron???

[macusa19]

Thanks again Beffy...Couldn't have finished this thread without you. :D

[SevenVII]

do not smoke in bed (never have and never will). enough said.

Now thats conviction! Lungs be damned but come hell or high water my sheets are gonna be fresh as roses :D

[sledman]

It would seem to me that a non-travel blow dryer uses more watts than a travel iron would. Yet they are not banned. Again, I think it comes down to $$$ they can charge you to iron your clothes.

[hstrybuf]

It's possible that the reason they don't ban non-travel blowdryers is because they provide one in the cabin on most ships.

 

It is as it is. Why? You'd have to ask Carnival and hope for an actual explanation. For me, I'll just accept it and go cruising!

[SevenVII]

Doesnt sound to me like anyone is contemplating the cancelation of their cruise over this. They are curious people looking for an answer that will make sense to them. Might not hear what they want, but people chiming in "Just accept it" really doesnt contribute much in the grand scheme of things:o

[hstrybuf]

I know Seven, but I'm not going to worry about why. None of us know why. Only Carnival can answer that. It's an honest question. All we can do is offer opinions. :)

[Lovebirds]

Regarding candles, there are just SO many problems. YOU might just light one candle, keep a close eye on it and put it out before you leave the cabin. I might decide that I want an entire shrine with 48 candles that must burn for the entire cruise. (Bad things will surely happen if just one candle goes out:mad: ). Now, where do we draw the line? Easy. NO CANDLES. Period. Any other policy and you get into trying to define what type of candle is or isn't approved, how many, where you can place it... the list goes on and on.

 

The rational for banning irons has been pretty well covered, but I think there might be another consideration. Electrical systems are designed to handle certain loads. The wiring to the cabins is designed to handle a certain AVERAGE load to a group of cabins. If there were an electric iron in every cabin, what would happen is there would be a huge strain on the system every night just before dinner. (Oh, I think I'll just touch up a couple of wrinkles) Add that to the increased load at that time that they already have from the hair dryers and things start getting strained. Then with the likelihood of the irons being left on in the rush to get to dinner, there is a real potential for disaster.

 

As a former smoker, I know that ALL smokers are absolutely the most careful and responsible people on the face of the earth:rolleyes: so there is absolutely no danger of fire, therefore no need to regulate. RIIIGHT.:) Seriously, it's still a matter of economics as so many others have pointed out. The cruiselines probably pay larger insurance premiums because they allow smoking, but as long as that is more than offset by the increased revenue from smoking passengers it won't be banned.

 

Yes, we've all read about the fires that start because someone fell asleep while smoking, but there are far, far more stories about the fires that start because of children playing with matches or from candles. There is no way we can eliminate all potential hazards from our lives, so we work on the worst ones first, taking into account the economic impact.

[SallyMay]

Yep, want those sheets to smell good.;) One thing I failed to mention is that I don't smoke in the elevators or while waiting on them, either. That way everyone smells fresh. LOL