Official : Celebrity Revamps Smoking Policy Effective 10/1/08

[Andy]

Hi Everyone !

 

Celebrity will revamp their Smoking Policy effective 10/1/08. Link to follow shortly.

 

Highlights of the changes are no smoking in Cabins or Balconies, and reduced public smoking areas when the new Policy goes into effect.

[RLM77]

The following is from the official RCCL press release. IMHO, good news:

 

MIAMI, April 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Cruise enthusiasts may praise the virtues of "sea air," but to many of them, what matters more is clean air. As more hotels and restaurants worldwide implement stricter smoking policies in order to promote healthier air, Celebrity Cruises also is taking action. Beginning October 1, 2008, guests on Celebrity's ships will enjoy fresher air as a result of a new policy that disallows smoking in Celebrity's staterooms or on stateroom verandas. The policy also will reduce the number of public areas in which guests can smoke onboard.

 

"We are proud to be the first premium cruise line to set a new standard toward creating an environment of cleaner air on our ships," said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "We pay careful attention to what our guests have to say, and approximately 90 percent of them have told us they are non-smokers. By increasing the number of smoke-free areas onboard while still designating areas for those who smoke, our aim is to make the onboard experience as pleasant as possible for all of our guests."

 

The new policy, created after Celebrity polled past guests, will result in a cleaner, fresher and healthier environment on Celebrity's ships. Designated indoor areas where guests can smoke cigarettes include the port side of one lounge per ship and a designated slot machine area in each ship's casino. The new policy also designates outdoor areas where guests can smoke. These include the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on each ship, the port side of the Sunset Bar on Celebrity Century and on Celebrity's Millennium class of ships, and the port side aft outside of Winter Garden on Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Mercury. Celebrity's new Solstice class of ships, launching with Celebrity Solstice late this year, will follow the new policy beginning with the first sailing. Celebrity Solstice's Lawn Club and the Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking. Violations to Celebrity's smoking policy may result in a $250 cleaning fee charged to the guest's onboard account and may also be addressed through the line's guest conduct policy.

 

The new policy will go into effect on Celebrity's fleet on the first day of the first sailing to follow October 1:

-- Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury - October 3 sailings

-- Celebrity Summit - October 4 sailing

-- Celebrity Constellation - October 5 sailing

-- Celebrity Century, Celebrity Millennium - October 6 sailings

-- Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox - upon ship launch

 

Celebrity currently allows guests to smoke in staterooms, on stateroom verandas and in a number of indoor and outdoor public spaces. The exception is Celebrity Xpedition, the 92-person mega-yacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands, which operates under a stricter policy than the rest of the fleet, allowing smoking only on the ship's outer decks, in designated areas.

[tbelian]

Is there a reason you did not include the link in the initial posting?

[Putterdude]

As a reformed smoker of some 30 years I say "congratualtions Celebrity and wait for other lines to have the courage to impliment the same type of policy".

[Andy]

Is there a reason you did not include the link in the initial posting?

 

Its not on Royal Caribbean's website yet. It is on the financial newswires, but I cannot publish the link for that. When it is on Royal's Website, I am sure someone will post it, as I will be in meetings the rest of the afternoon.

[excitedofharpenden]

Here you go:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/pressDetails.do;jsessionid=0000CajKB6iH1XP8rCJ8Pdkrd8w:12hdebcnj?pagename=press_room_details&event_date=2008-04-10&event_type=press_release&sequence_code=A

 

Phil

[Andy]

Hi Everyone !

 

Here are sailing dates this is effective :

 

Galaxy, Mercury, Infinity 10/3/08 sailing

 

Summit 10/4/08 sailing

 

Constellation 10/5/08 sailing

 

Century, Millennium 10/6/08 sailing

 

Solstice, Equinox - When ship launches

[GillCC]

wish this was coming into place sooner ....why wait! (but there again I am a staunch anti smoke ex smoker! - we are the worst! sorry)

[Andy]

Here you go:

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/aboutceleb/pressDetails.do;jsessionid=0000CajKB6iH1XP8rCJ8Pdkrd8w:12hdebcnj?pagename=press_room_details&event_date=2008-04-10&event_type=press_release&sequence_code=A

 

Phil

 

Thanks for the link Phil, they must have just put it up !

[dkjretired]

Below is a link to the official press release from RCI. There is a little more info on it than the OP.

 

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1128247&highlight=

[Deeliteful]

Great news - just wish it was sooner!

[tuggers]

Great! I applaud this new move. My lungs appreciate it!

Thanks Andy and Phil for the info!:D

[Andy]

Great! I applaud this new move. My lungs appreciate it!

Thanks Andy and Phil for the info!:D

 

Hi Gail !

 

You are welcome. Have a wonderful Cruise !

[eandj]

The thought of sitting on a veranda without someone else's smoke blowing my way, is wonderful! Now if they have the staff prepared to deal with rule breakers, I'll be happier.

 

When the rules were announced for the Azamara ships, the company lost a lot of bookings. Watch for deals on verandas now for the fall and winter cruises, when people start canceling and begin looking for veranda smoking lines.

[usha]

I'm tickled PINK!!!!:o

[dkjretired]

Probably have a lot of veranda cabins come open if the example of Azamara holds as there were a lot of cancellations. They also gave much more time than when they announced Azamara. Now, lets see if they actually enforce this rule.

[Gonzo70]

I am thrilled they are instituting this policy. It is so nice to see that the cruise lines are finally listening and taking actions to catch up with the rest of the world in restricting smoking. I just wish this was in affect for my transatlantic cruise later this month (but I certainly understand the need to provide people with notice).

 

Kudos to Celebrity! :)

[Gonzo70]

This is a great day indeed. I am so happy that Celebrity is doing this. They have now gone for the most permissive mass market cruise line to the least permissive in terms of smoking policy. Although they are bound to lose some customers, there will be many more that they gain as a result. Not only will cruising be more enjoyable for 90% of their passengers, but most of the crew will be healthier and happier, there will be less cleaning costs, likely lower insurance costs, and likely increased business.

 

Thanks for listening to us Celebirty! :)

[greeneg]

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. My source said after the Summer European Season and October 1st meets that. Wonderful news, Whoopppeeee!

[C 2 C]

Absolutely wonderful. On our B2B Constellation cruises in February we had a chain smoker on our neighboring balcony who prevented us from enjoying the fresh sea breezes we thought we had paid for. I had questioned the economics of a balcony purchase but life is going to improve greatly for us.:D

[lives to cruise]

Well, being as my better half and I quit smoking the first of this year, it looks like we picked the best Line to do our 1st Trans. Thanks Celebrity.:)

[Gonzo70]

I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. My source said after the Summer European Season and October 1st meets that. Wonderful news, Whoopppeeee!

 

Good prediction! :)

[wckdtrix]

Its a shame, we really liked X...it was our cruiseline of choice. I guess this is the end of our funtimes with Celebrity. Hopefully we will like one of the other lines that allow stateroom smoking as much as we enjoyed all of our Celebrity Trips. :( :( :(

[Kathie44]

YES! YES! YES! Why wait till Oct??? Port side on only ONE lounge? SWEET!! Do it now!

At least our next two cruises are after the start date.

I just think if people are not going be smart and do whatever it takes to kick their addiction, the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer. Don't they realize how much they smell? If they choose to switch lines, so be it. Go pollute somewhere else. :D

[barryod]

It will be interesting to see it being enforced. I haven't smoked for quite a few years and empathize with those still trying to quit. I will enjoy the casino a whole lot better. Wait til a little bit of liquid courage tells certain smokers that they can smoke where they want and an ex-smoker collide on the open seas. I'll try my best to just cruise and not allow X to turn me into thier morale guardian of the seas.

 

Barry