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

[brigittetom]

The airlines don't own the airports. I suspect (and I'm just guessing) all the non-smoking at airports is because they're in municipalities that don't allow smoking

 

Obviously you are correct. :)

We booked a 14 day European cruise 6 months ago. A long flight to Frankfurt. Germany is obviously trying to cut down on smoking the hard way. They've designated a smoking area in the train stations away from cover by outlining a yellow square out in the open so if it's raining and cold, you decide. One mistake, since they don't allow smoking on trains anylonger in Europe nor in the trainstations, when you walk outside of the stations it's unbearable because they also don't provide ashtrays. Personally, I think they've taken the cart before the horse. It doesn't seem as if Euorpeans have cut down on their smoking that much. It just seems as if their area has been limited. Oh, that's right. Cruise Ships.

Usha, Congratulations. Good for you. Surprisingly, I had no trouble at all. I knew ahead of time I could not smoke on the flight. My only problem was the flight attendant yelling at me for walking up front and asking for a glass of water. Who knew we couldn't smoke or have water.

I am a smoker but if the rules change, so will we. :)

[ocngypz]

I have cruised with Celebrity from the beginning and they have never had non smoking rooms fleetwide since their inception. It is simply not the case but it is a moot point now.

 

 

100% correct.

 

It was NCL.

[CruiseParty]

I never understood the Celebrity policy stating Irons were not allowed in cabins because of the fire hazard they caused but allowed smoking in cabins. I also never understood the smokers debating "their rights" on Cruise Critic and equating it to meat eating (which to date has never been proven to harm the person sitting near me) or denying what has been medically proven. I also never understood why CC continued to shut down the thread because it got a little heated but.................................

 

THANK YOU CELEBRITY! Now do what Westin did---ELIMINATE IT!

[usha]

THANK YOU CELEBRITY! Now do what Westin did---ELIMINATE IT!

I don't see that happening, at least not for quite some time. This new restricted smoking policy is at least something that allows smokers some accommodation, while throwing non-smokers a much-needed and long-awaited bone. Let's let the heads stop rolling from this major change before expecting an all-out ban on smoking.

[CruiseParty]

Job well done Celebrity.I'll bet that Carnival Corporation will follow shortly. After all it's a worldwide trend. Celebrity just had the guts to start it.

 

Carnival will not allow smoking when Motel 6 does or when hockey arena's stop selling beer.

[Drew B]

THANK YOU CELEBRITY! Now do what Westin did---ELIMINATE IT!

 

 

And my prediction has come true! And faster than I expected, too. I KNEW that anti-smoking zealots were not interested in any form of compromise whatsoever (including one that is wildly favorable to them). Still, I thought they might be able to be happy for at least a full day before they went on the warpath to get more and more... I guess that type can ONLY be happy when they get exactly what they want, and to heck with everybody else...

[Captain Jake]

I don't see that happening, at least not for quite some time. This new restricted smoking policy is at least something that allows smokers some accommodation, while throwing non-smokers a much-needed and long-awaited bone. Let's let the heads stop rolling from this major change before expecting an all-out ban on smoking.

 

I agree.This has been a great change.Non-smokers should be happy but I can see Drew's point on the casino.

[JCDeck]

When we were on the Century last year there was one non-smoking night in the casino, The casino was packed....the same people sitting at the table with me smoking and gambling every other night were right there next to me on the non-smoking night with one or two exceptions but then there were others who took their places because it WAS a non smoking night. I think it will all balance out,as non smokers have just as many "Thousands of Dollars" as smokers do;) ,maybe more since they don't buy cigarettes.

I would think these decisions are not made lightly by a big company like this and the marketing/research people have given this a lot of thought. These things are not decided "Willy Nilly". Insurers have a lot of power now a days,I personally think this is the beginning of a trend,especially after the fire on the Star Princess last year. My father who recently passed away was a firefighter in a large city for over 30 years...There are no "maybes" in this day and age about the cause of a fire and I wouldn't want to be in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with a ship in flames. I'm sorry for the people who truly have an issue but I think they(the cruise line) are bowing to the pressure of the public and more importantly,their insurers.

[Captain Jake]

My pollen allergies have been Horrible today!My eyes are weepy and my head is full.I hope the state of California will recognize this and cut down all the trees and flowers that are responsible for my feeling terrible today.I have a headache that just won't quit!

 

It would help with your fires but cause more mudslides

[usha]

Hmmmm, if it really was the insurers who mandated the restricted smoking, then I would think we can expect to see a domino effect, with more and more cruise lines adopting much more stringent smoking policies.

[JCDeck]

I don't know if mandate would be the correct word but I think if the premiums went too far "North" that would have a great influence. IMHO.

[usha]

Higher premiums/mandate, same thing, right?;)

[Gonzo70]

People just got up and went outside of the dining room to smoke. There was ash trays right there. No problem.

 

Another thing I was thinking is 20% of the people are smokers, and 80% are not, then how come there are so many non smokers on balconies complaining about the people next to them smoking. sounds like more that 20% to me!

 

Because all it takes is one smoker to impact several balconies. :rolleyes:

[greatam]

Sorry, your argument that this will "narrow its market" doesn't fly. Here in the state of Washington smoking was banned in almost every public indoor area two years ago. Thousands of bar and restaurant owners said they would be out of business in no time. In reality, two years later--bars and restaurants who said they would be out of business are thriving. I think that this move will make X grow. I am betting that there are plenty of cruisers on Princess, Costa and HAL alone who may switch because like the majority of non-smokers who have posted on this thread, they are sick of smoke.

 

 

Your focus is too narrow. IF pax on cruise ships were all from North America, you would have a point. But once you get away from the Caribbean cruises so favored by North American pax, you start narrowing the market considerably.

 

The Mexican cruises are often filled with Mexicans and Central Americans. The South American cruises have large contingents of South Americans. Not to mention Asia cruises (X hasn't hit Asia yet, but RCCL has).

 

We Americans need to realize it is a GLOBAL world, not just us. And North Americans are the only ones RABID about smoking.

[Gonzo70]

Now "non-smokers" is hardly a narrow segment of the market. Still how many times is there a family group or another type of group with dozens of non-smokers and one or two smokers? Will THOSE groups still book Celebrity? I don't know. Only time will tell.

 

Keep in mind that many groups may have not booked cruises in the past because smoking was too pervasive and thus several group members would have been unhappy. Although some groups may now avoid Celebrity, this may very well open the door to other groups.

[hajekfam]

Sorry you are wrong, we have cruised with Celebrity for many years, and in the beginning they had non smoking rooms. Port side was for smokers and starboard for non smokers.

 

We have cruised Celebrity since 1992 and there were no non-smoking rooms. There were matches(on our first cruise) and ashtrays in cabins on both port and starboard side cabins.

[Drew B]

I'm not sure how smoking on any other deck is safer than on one's balcony, from a fire safety perspective...* I would think that if it was about pressure from insurance, the solution would have to be total elimination of smoking (or at least eliminating it except for distinct, controllable indoor locations)...

 

 

 

 

*I do see a potential increase in fire safety if they don't allow smoking in cabins, due to the risk of smoking in bed and falling asleep...

[Gonzo70]

I agree, and aside from the casino thing, that would be exactly how I feel. As long as other lines still allow smoking at some blackjack tables, those lines will automatically move ahead of X in priority for me. If that changes and other lines stop allowing smoking at the blackjack tables or if there is a specific reason for sailing X (say a family reunion or other group cruise), I may well reconsider. I hope so. I would hate to never again sail a line I've enjoyed.

 

*(however, I would prefer it if they would just tweak the new policy and throw a table or two into the smoking section of the casino...)

 

I'm with you on that. If they are going to allow smoking at some slots, why not allow it at some tables as well. Maybe they are trying to protect the dealers from second hand smoke is only reason I can think of. I'd rather they do something like formal nights are smoke free casino nights; other nights you can smoke there.

[Drew B]

I'm with you on that. If they are going to allow smoking at some slots, why not allow it at some tables as well. Maybe they are trying to protect the dealers from second hand smoke is only reason I can think of. I'd rather they do something like formal nights are smoke free casino nights; other nights you can smoke there.

 

That would be a very noble reason. I've already written to Captain's Club. If they respond that that is why they decided as they have, I will respect it.

[Gonzo70]

That would be a very noble reason. I've already written to Captain's Club. If they respond that that is why they decided as they have, I will respect it.

 

If you don't mind, let me know what they say.

 

Thanks.

[JCDeck]

Drew, I think it's an issue more of control than elimination. Personally I think the falling asleep with a cigarette is probably a big Insurers concern.Just a thought.

[Drew B]

Drew, I think it's an issue more of control than elimination. Personally I think the falling asleep with a cigarette is probably a big Insurers concern.Just a thought.

 

I agree. As it should be. However, that doesn't really speak to the ban on balcony smoking. I guess folks might fall asleep on their balcony, but they could also fall asleep in a lounger on a public deck. I don't think the risk is that different.

 

Off-topic, but does anybody know if there have ever been any cruise fires caused by smoking in the cabin? I know that the Star Princess fire is believed to have been caused by throwing a cigarette overboard and it landing on a balcony...

[deeva211]

I'm with you on that. If they are going to allow smoking at some slots, why not allow it at some tables as well. Maybe they are trying to protect the dealers from second hand smoke is only reason I can think of. I'd rather they do something like formal nights are smoke free casino nights; other nights you can smoke there.

 

I would like to go to the casino every night; not just on formal nights! Plus, smoking on non-formal nights makes the casino stink 100% of the time.

[GramaFran]

Due to this new smoking policy - We will be freeing up a Sky Suite

on the Millie for Feb 09 - My DH is a smoker but he only smoked

on the balcony or in the bars that allowed smoking. So now with

this new policy - Celebrity is loosing our business which was over $12,000

Yes you will probably Flame me but he has smoked for over 50 years

and not about to stop but he is very considerate of others.

Francine

[hajekfam]

I would like to go to the casino every night; not just on formal nights! Plus, smoking on non-formal nights makes the casino stink 100% of the time.

 

It's not only going to the casino, it was walking through it to the theater or having to make a large detour to avoid it. Unfortunately, the casino was not an enclosed space like it was on the Zenith and has major walk-through traffic each evening. I figured that they designed it so that you had to walk through to lure more people into the casino especially when they got rid of the British consortium and started running their own casino.

The casino on our first Zenith cruise was really something - the dealers in tuxes and black gowns with British accents.