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

[esther e]

Interesting, the Princess board is discussing these changes to Celebrity's smoking policies, and many, many posters are talking about seriously considering Celebrity BECAUSE of the stricter smoking policy.:)

 

They will book the suites that have been canceled.;)

[mafig]

Do you think

Celebrity would change their No Smoking in cabin/balcony policy if a group booked the entire ship and requested that the policy be waived?

 

Just wondering how far their commitment to health and clean air will go.

[Captain Jake]

They will book the suites that have been canceled.;)

 

 

I haven't canceled my suite and neither have the non-smokers who book 80-90% of them

[JCDeck]

i do think everyone is ignoring the fact that it may well have been the Celebrity's insurance companies that are ultimately responsible. Those premiums have got to be enormous. I don't think complaints by anyone have done this, if it did how about all the other things that are complained about.

[JCDeck]

They will book the suites that have been canceled.;)

 

Gosh, I"m surprised there are any suites left for the Non smokers. :eek:

[claud925]

Do you think

Celebrity would change their No Smoking in cabin/balcony policy if a group booked the entire ship and requested that the policy be waived?

 

I think you might be onto something here....

[FinelyCruising]

i do think everyone is ignoring the fact that it may well have been the Celebrity's insurance companies that are ultimately responsible. Those premiums have got to be enormous. I don't think complaints by anyone have done this, if it did how about all the other things that are complained about.

 

If Princess had the fire and did not ban smoking on the balconies and installed sprinklers on the balconies....don't they have a bigger fleet than X...;)

[Coco Creek]

Interesting, the Princess board is discussing these changes to Celebrity's smoking policies, and many, many posters are talking about seriously considering Celebrity BECAUSE of the stricter smoking policy.:)

 

And the same is happening on the Holland America boards where I visit since I have an upcoming cruise on the new Eurodam ship.

[usha]

If Princess had the fire and did not ban smoking on the balconies and installed sprinklers on the balconies....don't they have a bigger fleet than X...;)

Yeah, but you can bet that Princess will probably be tightening up on smoking policy in the near future, too.

[JCDeck]

If Princess had the fire and did not ban smoking on the balconies and installed sprinklers on the balconies....don't they have a bigger fleet than X...;)

 

 

yes they do but their fleet I THINK is certainly younger as a whole.....They may have also opted for a different business decision, who knows. If they were going on just complaints.....then thier profits are going to soar because I guess then the majority of their customers got what they wanted( even if they don't spend any money) If the was the insurance carriers then the business decision was made on the money they will save. I don't think it depends what Princess or any other line does. It's celebritys decision.

[FinelyCruising]

Usha - To put that kind of commitment into the cost of upgrading their systems, they are concerned about safety measures, not smoking desires of guests per se. I think the decision might have been driven by factors other than what X has done and there is no 'need' for Princess to change it's smoking policy as a result. Could be completely wrong and Time will tell.

[FinelyCruising]

yes they do but their fleet I THINK is certainly younger as a whole.....They may have also opted for a different business decision, who knows. If they were going on just complaints.....then thier profits are going to soar because I guess then the majority of their customers got what they wanted( even if they don't spend any money) If the was the insurance carriers then the business decision was made on the money they will save. I don't think it depends what Princess or any other line does. It's celebritys decision.

 

Could be ante up one way or another...and look who chose not to alienate their guests.

[JCDeck]

I'm going out back,sit by the pool and have a Mango Margaurita (sp):p It's 90 degrees today and I'm feelin' it. I cannot waiot for my May 3rd TA on the Galaxy!!!!! How about you, Rox, (Claude 925):D

[JCDeck]

Could be ante up one way or another...and look who chose not to alienate their guests.

 

 

Some guests.

[Karynanne]

i do think everyone is ignoring the fact that it may well have been the Celebrity's insurance companies that are ultimately responsible. Those premiums have got to be enormous. I don't think complaints by anyone have done this, if it did how about all the other things that are complained about.

 

 

We do know of one instance that occured on Mercury in 1999. A person had been smoking in bed, and fell asleep. The bedding caught on fire, and all the sprinklers went off, flooding that cabin...the cabins on either side, and the cabin on the deck below. Damage was extensive. The passenger was put into the brig, until a bond was arranged to pay for the damages. So even though Celebrity's Insurance may cover some of the costs...ultimately the passenger (in this case) was responsible.

[JCDeck]

We do know of one instance that occured on Mercury in 1999. A person had been smoking in bed, and fell asleep. The bedding caught on fire, and all the sprinklers went off, flooding that cabin...the cabins on either side, and the cabin on the deck below. Damage was extensive. The passenger was put into the brig, until a bond was arranged to pay for the damages. So even though Celebrity's Insurance may cover some of the costs...ultimately the passenger (in this case) was responsible.

 

Expensive Smoke

[usha]

Could be ante up one way or another...and look who chose not to alienate their guests.

Celebrity might have alienated a small percentage of their guests, but they've definitely thrilled the pants off the vast majority of us!:D

[FinelyCruising]

Let's see about the fire....4 cabins versus a halt to an entire ships progress for a medical event.

 

What do we hear more about???

[Karynanne]

I find it quite strange that although there are supposedly only 1 in 5 smokers in any given group, everyone here who has ever had a balcony is totally inundated with smoke wafting (billowing) into their cabins from next door !!!!

 

Maybe it's because only those that have been affected by smoke while out on their verandah's, have responded to this thread.

[chopper825]

Having just got off the Century I have to say that the only night the Casino was packed was the no smoking night. Couldn't get near a table. Every other night, it was half empty. The smoke was horrible. I certainly would spend much more time in the Casino if I could breathe. I am sure many others would as well. I applaud this decision.

[Drew B]

If there was the chance to sail on just one smoke-friendly cruise ship, I would patronize it. I imagine plenty of other people would, too. I bet that ship could be quite profitable, particularly in the casino and bar lounge venues (where major chunks of revenue are generated). Maybe this is an idea whose time has come.

 

Most other lines have more smoke-friendly ships. Why not try them? What is it about X that would make you choose ONE smoke-friendly ship with them rather than have the entire fleet on Carnival/Princess/HAL, etc. to choose from? On all of those lines, you can smoke in any cabin, any balcony, many (if not most) bars/lounges and in the casino (although before Gonzo has a chance to chime in, I hear that HAL has some non-smoking nights in their casino).

 

If you want to protect your ability to smoke on cruises, make sure to book cruises on these other lines and notify them that the permissiveness of their smoking policy was a deciding factor. If not, they will probably follow suit with X and smokers will have NO alternatives...

[FinelyCruising]

Having just got off the Century I have to say that the only night the Casino was packed was the no smoking night. Couldn't get near a table. Every other night, it was half empty. The smoke was horrible. I certainly would spend much more time in the Casino if I could breathe. I am sure many others would as well. I applaud this decision.

 

I do believe this is the largest issue that needs to be resolved. The casino is an interior public room, but the engineers have made caluclations for air flow and volumes based on the need to condtion smoked air. Overall the casino does not smell smelly. The problem in this room is the burn of the tobacco and how it can be managed when in close proximity.

 

Heaven knows the cruiselines build ships around planned intended routes and guests are forced to travel through the casino form point A to point B. Passing one burning cigarette can definately create discomfort since the aisles and oppotunties to pass are tight at best.

 

That's just for passing though. Guests at tables where cigarettes are burning at probably among the largest group who want to play and the I think I would idea but get rid of the smoke first.

 

In compromise, I'd say since this is a cruise ship and not a hard core casino with the major draw the cruise itself and not the gambling venue/casino, limit the smoking hours and make it opportune for those who want to enjoy the entertainment value of the room while on board.

[Hondu]

What about groups?

 

I thought groups were a cruiseline's bread and butter.

 

Don't you thing Celebrity will lose a portion of the group business because of this decision?

 

I gave up smoking 11 years ago (April 2, 1997)...however, I don't really remember having a major problem with smokers....some problems, yes, but nothing that would make me choose another line.

 

I guess I'm weird but smoking has never bothered me that much.

 

 

 

I also went on Carnival Paradise. This was Carnival's no-smoking ship.

 

 

Some people say it was old. However, it WAS new once, and it came out of the shipyard as a non smoking ship.

We were on her when she was a few years old.

 

Spotlessly clean.....don't know if it was because no one smoked on her or not.

 

We also did the standard western itinerary on her. You know, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Ocho Rios. MANY ships do that itinerary year after year and still command top prices. Paradise was very cheap....not reasonable....cheap...... We did have a good time on her.

 

The Paradise was a total nonsmoking ship but Celebrity is a line that have limited smoking areas. Big Difference. Should be no effect on groups since smokers can still light up in assigned areas. It is very academic.

[Host Walt]

SEVERAL POSTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

 

Once again...and for the very last time, I repeat a post I made twice already.

 

The rules, policies, enforcement and changes are all legitimate and appropriate topics for Cruise Critic. Frankly, if people would read the OP carefully and stay on topic without inserting gratuitous commentary, we'd all be happy.

 

For future reference, please keep in mind that this forum is designed to be a place to discuss cruising, not the moral, legal, legislative, medical and/or social aspects of smoking.

 

The topic, in this case, is a legitimate subject for open discussion. However as seems all too frequently to be the case, a discussion about smoking policies turned into a forum on smoking.

 

There is an appropriate place for such discussions and it isn't Cruise Critic.

 

TRY THIS - http://www.smokinglobby.com

 

OR THIS - http://www.smokingpassions.com/forums

 

We intend to enforce the guidelines rigidly regarding off topic posts involving smoking. If you are not familiar with our guidelines, I strongly suggest you spend a few minutes reading all of them

 

Thanks.

 

 

[hajekfam]

Celebrity might have alienated a small percentage of their guests, but they've definitely thrilled the pants off the vast majority of us!:D

I am sure that Celebrity is getting complaints about the new policy.

Those of us in favor of their new very limited smoking areas should also write, call, or email Celebrity with a "way to go!" so that they know that there are those welcoming their new policy. When I had called on another matter, I let the captain's club rep know how pleased I was that I won't have to hope and pray that I get a non-smoker in the forward cabin next to my balcony cabin.