A Friendly question for smokers

[amybear912]

I quit smoking Christmas day 2006. I had the prescription for Chantrix..I did not like the pill so I quit taking it. I instead read the book "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking". it was written by a doctor and the instructions were to smoke while you read the book and he tells you when to smoke your last cigarette. I don't know why it worked but it did.My daughter had to read the book twice but she also quit, as did several of her co-workers. I could only find the book on line or at Borders. It is a small price to pay to be smoke free. I hope all of you wanting to quit are successful. one thing I can tell you is to keep trying. This was attempt # 5 for me..and I am sure this one will stick.

 

 

I too have heard people were successful with this book... can't explain why either...

 

Barnes and Noble sells this book in their stores and on their website... also available through Amazon.

[marle7]

I too have heard people were successful with this book... can't explain why either...

 

Barnes and Noble sells this book in their stores and on their website... also available through Amazon.

 

I have a friend who was successful with this book, but I wasn't. Maybe I should go read it again!

[telecruiser]

As for trying to quit, several years ago, I tried the patch. I was so, um, witchy that my friends actually went out and bought me a pack of cigarettes and told me to take the dang patch off.

 

 

Wow! With friends like that........

[Tucker in Texas]

Back to the original post:

 

I am a smoker. The "new" rules would not cause me to not cruise a certain line but if I was comparing "apples to apples" on a choice of cruises, I would go for the one that allowed smoking on the balcony. However, it is just a matter of time before all the cruise lines will adopt the same non-smoking policies (cabins and balconies) just like they did with no smoking in the main showroom and dining rooms. Ship lines, like airlines, let others "test the waters" and then they jump in when they see their are no negative results. Cruisers, for the most part, are not going to quit cruising as long as reasonable accommodations are made for them and I think now they have that.

 

Carnival found out that a non-smoking ship did not work--even charging a premium to make up for lost revenues in alcohol and gambling. They lost group bookings, their bread and butter, because Uncle Ernie smokes so the family reunion cruses, and, TA generated cruises, likewise, because one spouse smoked. I can personally attest to this when our large TA cruising group of 60 or 70 was booked on the Norway and the cruise was canceled when the ship blew up. The agent scrambled and booked the Paradise because it was leaving from the same port, had the same itinerary, and the same dates to salvage non-refundable air that people had already purchased. We canceled out. We had insurance so we got our air fare back (less the insurance money) because no way could I live with the Paradise's draconain smoke policy. This past week, I know of another couple who was booked on a group cruise on a Celebrity ship canceled because of their new smoking policies on balconies.

 

I stopped smoking in the cabin in the lat 80's as a courtesy to my non-smoking husband (I don't smoke in my house/car either) and the next occupants of my cabin. I do smoke on the cruise ship balcony but usually only after "peeking" around the partition to see if anyone was on their balcony. Most of the time it is empty or they are out there smoking, too.

 

On a trans-Atlantic cruise a couple of years ago, they were practically giving away inside cabins so we booked one--first time in years. I really didn't find it that much of an inconvenience. There were plenty of smoking areas both inside and outside that I could use. I missed not having a cup of tea and cigarette in the morning in my robe out on the balcony, I missed not having a smoke enjoying pre-dinner drinks. But I survived in the "mole hole" and, when "feeling sorry for myself," thought about how cheap I was getting my three hots and a cot. It was worth the trade off of finding a smoking section because the difference in price paid for another cruise.

 

What change in my cruising it would be is that I probably won't book balconies any more if smoking is banned on them. Now, if a balcony is more than I want to spend, I go with an inside. Having a window is just not worth $800 more dollars for the cruise. Having a balcony is worth the extra $800 depending on itinerary (a lot of sea days), a bigger "window," the convenience of stepping outside for a smoke, the enjoyment of relaxing on it with bathroom and drinks nearby and leaving the door open at night to listen to the sea slapping against the ship. Choices, always choices.

 

I think RCI is going to try it on the Celebrity (their smaller line) and, if they see a dramatic drop in balcony bookings (which I don't think they will), they will not move it to their other brands if there is a drop in balcony bookings, Celebrity, in my opinion, is not the best place to try it because it is a more 'upscale" line that attracts more affluent, i.e. older cruisers, with more disposable income, and they are they ones that smoke more so they might get a "skewed" graph line. That is a "plus" in the smoker's direction maybe.

 

Better yet, it may cause them to think how they can satisfy both the smokers and non-smokers by having a certain section of "smoking allowed" balconies available. By doing that, it might motivate smokers to book those "limited" smoking balcony cabins a lot sooner than they ordinarily would to make sure they got one rather than wait around to see how the rates go and their schedule might go. Book now, get the smoking balcony, if I have to cancel, so be it, I get my deposit back if before final payment, and if the rates go down, get an adjustment (not applicable on NCL, lol). Just like in the old days when balconies were so limited, if you wanted one, you had to book early. More deposits to sit in RCI's bank account longer gaining interest. If a last minute booker wants a balcony and all that is available are the "smoking" ones, they will be told that just like hotels tell you when non-smoking rooms are not available--make a choice. Street runs both ways, no smoking balconies available, you have to take a non-smoking one. It shouldn't take long for the "suits" to figure out just how many smoking balconies they can expect to sell per sailing, subtract a certain percentage off the number and allow some "wiggle room" to expand the number if demand warrants or subtract from the number if it doesn't. It is not like smoking on the balcony smells up a cabin if they require people to close the balcony door prior to lighting up. One week it could be a smoking balcony, the next week a non-smoking one.

 

O.K. off my soap box. I'm real good at telling businesses how to run them without any statistics to back it up (lol)

 

Tucker in Texas (hoping an RCI suit who is reading this will at least think about it)

[TYMAN]

My question though is: why don't non smokers now switch to Celebrity. Smoke free balconies - thats a dream.

 

I am certainly happy that some Celebrity cruisers will switch to RCI now.

 

Not all "non-smokers" dislike smokers....I'll cruise RCCL no matter what the smoking policy is. and I still think crusinmama06 is a real cutie! :D

[mark290]

""I think RCI is going to try it on the Celebrity (their smaller line) and, if they see a dramatic drop in balcony bookings (which I don't think they will), they will not move it to their other brands if there is a drop in balcony bookings, Celebrity, in my opinion, is not the best place to try it because it is a more 'upscale" line that attracts more affluent, i.e. older cruisers, with more disposable income, and they are they ones that smoke more so they might get a "skewed" graph line. That is a "plus" in the smoker's direction maybe.""

 

More affluent means less smokers. The higher the socioeconomic status

the lower the percentage of smokers. I believe this is why the new policy

is being implemented on Celebrity before being rolled out to the

other RCI lines.

[crusinmama06]

Not all "non-smokers" dislike smokers....I'll cruise RCCL no matter what the smoking policy is. and I still think crusinmama06 is a real cutie! :D

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks, I think. ;) :D

[TEXASMUNK]

Is occuring in the USA. But I wonder how this might impact, for example, Rhapsody of the Seas in their Asia itinerary. Smokers still outnumber non-smokers in that part of the world.

 

There are more smokers in Europe as well, so curious what impact it might have on European bookings.

 

All conjecture at this point, but a big thank you for everyone for staying on topic and keeping the conversation cordial.

[amybear912]

TEXASMONK...

 

Thank YOU for finally finding a way to start a smoking thread that has actually shown some benefit... I've really enjoyed reading everyone's experiences with trying to quit and/or quitting...

 

This should stay an active forum and maybe become a source of support to those of us who would like to quit...

 

and again... then once we do quit, we can all take a cruise together to celebrate!

[cs]

I quit for a year. Not a day went by in that year that I still didn't crave a smoke. I also gained a lot of weight that I couldn't take off. My choice was to be a happy normal weight smoker or an unhappy overweight non-smoker. I took the first choice and I'm smoking again.

 

If RCCL changes their policy to no smoking on balconies then I will be booking with other cruise lines.

 

I think that Carnival Corp (CCL, Princess, etc) will use this to their advantage. They will be picking up the smokers who used to be loyal to RCCL and Celebrity. Carnival Corp learned a while ago (the hard way) that money from smokers is just as good as money from non-smokers!

[long_shot45]

I was a smoker for 52 years. I quit a hundred times. I tried patches, Zyban, Gum, and everything else I could find. I too like many of you had no illness that required me to quit. I liked to smoke..... I have been smoke free for 15 months..... you must want to quit for you and no one else. I took chantix (sp) and it was a God send for me. It doesn't bother me to be around smokers and I don't even want one. All I am saying is, if you really want to quit, give chantix a try. It really works.

 

Mike

[TYMAN]

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks, I think. ;) :D

 

You're welcome....I'm sure. :)

[Batch5]

To be honest we would find another line if I was not able to smoke, it would not make me quit smoking just to go on a RCCI cruise there are many destination in the world to see and do besides a cruise.

My DW is currently a smoker and I am currently on Chantix in the 2nd phase (month) if cost me 32.00 dollars the first month and the second was 40.00. It really is amazing you forget you were even a smoker no cravings at all except for food and if it is not nailed down I am eating it but I am back to the gym to off set my new found love for food. I am also putting 25.00 dollars a week aside (not buying cigarettes) and this Friday will make 175.00 saved. In addition, if all goes well by the time we cruise in Oct I should have additional 600 dollars to send or even put a despot on another cruise.

Christopher

[Lushpuppy]

""I think RCI is going to try it on the Celebrity (their smaller line) and, if they see a dramatic drop in balcony bookings (which I don't think they will), they will not move it to their other brands if there is a drop in balcony bookings, Celebrity, in my opinion, is not the best place to try it because it is a more 'upscale" line that attracts more affluent, i.e. older cruisers, with more disposable income, and they are they ones that smoke more so they might get a "skewed" graph line. That is a "plus" in the smoker's direction maybe.""

 

More affluent means less smokers. The higher the socioeconomic status

the lower the percentage of smokers. I believe this is why the new policy

is being implemented on Celebrity before being rolled out to the

other RCI lines.

 

 

Oh Really...

I regard us as being rather "affluent", certainly in the disposable income bracket.. and we smoke... as do many of our "affluent" friends..

Celebrity from our corner has just lost two royal suites and one sky suite booking..and our last on board account was in excess of $10,000

 

I'd say celebrity has an older age group..and in fact, RCI rolled out the smoking changes first and we have just been told in writing, there will be no change to the already amended policy with RCI

[mark290]

Oh Really...

I regard us as being rather "affluent", certainly in the disposable income bracket.. and we smoke... as do many of our "affluent" friends..

Celebrity from our corner has just lost two royal suites and one sky suite booking..and our last on board account was in excess of $10,000

 

I'd say celebrity has an older age group..and in fact, RCI rolled out the smoking changes first and we have just been told in writing, there will be no change to the already amended policy with RCI

 

Yes Really.......

This does not mean "affluent" people don't smoke. It means exactly

what I said, people of higher socioeconomic status have a lower

percentage of smokers than do people of lower socioeconomic status.

This is not a statement to insult anyone. It is simply a statement of

fact.

 

Save that letter from RCI because you will have written proof

of the company lying to you. There is no way this is the last change

to the smoking policy. You might file that letter with the one stating

the rates will never increase, you will never need passports and the

ships will never get any bigger.

 

Congratulations on hitting five figures with your on board account.

I would consider you "affluent."

[Lushpuppy]

Yes Really.......

This does not mean "affluent" people don't smoke. It means exactly

what I said, people of higher socioeconomic status have a lower

percentage of smokers than do people of lower socioeconomic status.

This is not a statement to insult anyone. It is simply a statement of

fact.

 

Save that letter from RCI because you will have written proof

of the company lying to you. There is no way this is the last change

to the smoking policy. You might file that letter with the one stating

the rates will never increase, you will never need passports and the

ships will never get any bigger.

 

Congratulations on hitting five figures with your on board account.

I would consider you "affluent."

 

 

The letter only covers us for OUR cruise, its from our TA so its the best we can do... you are most likely correct, as long as we dont lose any more of our hard earned cash we are ok with that. Been a bitter blow to us, and we are still cruising with X on another cruise (until we find an alternative). In all honesty, the biggest spenders on board Celebrity, would be the smokers, party goers etc. There are loads of them on board who clear out after the show.. not many around the ship late at night. Our thoughts (and others we know who are cancelling) are that X wants to stop smokers going to their cabins as they will bring much needed revenue into the bars and nightclub which is empty some nights..Cant smoke in the cabins..might as well stay out in the bars..:rolleyes:

If you look at X's new policy, you will see the two places they are allowing smoking are the casino and the nightclub which is open late..wonder why:rolleyes:

Meanwhile..hopefully taking our chances with RCI.:)

If not..we will move on yet again..

[marle7]

You can count us in the affluent bracket as well. Add our two friends who also canceled the cruise on Celebrity they were taking with us..

[Theresa522]

I had tried for many years to quit and finally tried the patch. This August will make 3 years smoke free!! :D My dh who also smoked two packs a day quit. Was it easy HELL NO. I just kept telling myself it has been 1 week do you really want to go back?? Then two, three, four, so on and so on.

 

I thought I would HATE smoke but to be honest it doesn't bother me. Only when I am in a car and my sister starts to smoke. Then I do get sick, however, even when I smoked that would bother me, go figure :rolleyes:

 

Once you are ready, you WILL quit.

[nrdsb4]

But I have tried at least 6 times and nothing really seems to work. The longest I have been off of cigs is 57 days, not much I know but it was a good effort. There is a new thing out there I have seen, but a trip to the doctor is nessesary to get the scrip and on top of that my insurance won't pay for it. It is really sad, they all want people to quit smoking but then they won't pay for the aids to do it.

 

Hey, don't sell yourself short, that was a pretty valiant effort. I think it's despicable that any insurance company wouldn't pay for smoking cessation therapy. They would rather pay thousands upon thousands later when their clients suffer serious effects of smoking? Crazy!

 

If you try in the future, good luck. You never know, you might surprise yourself.

[gxchan]

Chantix works, or it did for my DH and i never thought he would quit.

 

First to answer the OP's question: If I were still smoking I would not sail on a line that greatly restricts smoking as the new Celebrity policy does b/c I would be cranky all the time! :D

 

Second, I smoked for 38 years, Chantix worked for me, too! The side effects were intense. I was only taking half the recommended dose and only for six weeks but it worked and that is what counts--over a year without smoking. While the health benefits are nice it is not having to find a place I can in smoke that I enjoy the most.

 

OP, I wish you the best of luck in quitting.

[craykclan]

Hey, don't sell yourself short, that was a pretty valiant effort. I think it's despicable that any insurance company wouldn't pay for smoking cessation therapy. They would rather pay thousands upon thousands later when their clients suffer serious effects of smoking? Crazy!

 

If you try in the future, good luck. You never know, you might surprise yourself.

 

I know it just isn't right, they nag at you to quit and when you decide to to that, they won't help you as far as the scrips go. I work for the state Government in Wyoming and you would think they would pay a little towards it, but not a dime. Go figure :rolleyes:

[nancy anne]

I know it just isn't right, they nag at you to quit and when you decide to to that, they won't help you as far as the scrips go. I work for the state Government in Wyoming and you would think they would pay a little towards it, but not a dime. Go figure :rolleyes:

 

What I don't understand is why no one is willing to pay for the Rx's----how much does a pack of cigs cost these days? I also don't understand why you think it's the government's responsibilty to pay in order to help you stop smoking. This comment comes from an ex-smoker who tried to quit at least 50 times before becoming sucessful--have been smoke free for 10 years.

[TEXASMUNK]

heck, I started it! LOL

But it is funny how goverment will forbid it, but then tax it excessively. Actually had one Ste senator when asked what would happen if the anti-smoking and high tax combination worked. He replied, "there are lots of other things we can find to tax"

Insurance companies rasie your rates if you smoke, but won't offer discounts to assist in quitting.

 

Does the world sometimes begin to resemble Alice in Wonderland???

 

Thanks to all for keeping on topic and keeping the conversation civil and polite!

[SomeBeach]

According to Mark, the smokers have a lower economic standing. I guess they don't have the $130 to shell out at one time but can afford to buy a pack at a time for $5/6. They'd have to quit for a month in order to get the RXs available. :rolleyes:

The real question should be, where is the money that was suppose to be generated from one of the many taxes that have been added to cigs for programs to help people quit? Have states have added so many additional taxes to cigs that this one has gotten lost in the shuffle.

[wrkfire911]

I'm a 'reformed smoker.'

 

The day my doctor told me to quit, I did. My situation made it easy for me: I was having heart palpitations and it was scary. A couple days after quitting, I got sick. really sick, pneumonia. I highly recommend it for getting over those first few days of heebie-jeebies. After that, it gets easier each day. I came up with some little behavior modification things, phrases to tell myself - "Light up and Die" was very effective. With morning coffee, "I don't do that anymore." Whatever works, eh?

 

For me, the trick is Mind over Body. I don't allow my Mind to permit my Body to go buy them. If I do not have them I cannot smoke them. Seems silly and simple. It is. find SOMETHING to distract yourself when you want that smoke. Situps, pet the dog, hop on the treadmill, call a friend, do some housework, whatever, until the urge passes. for me, doing something physical to become out of breath worked great.

 

But here's the thing - you have to kick it for the right reasons or it won't stick! Do it FOR YOURSELF.

 

If you really want to quit, you can. But you must want to. easiest to do while sick. Sore throat and cigs do not go well together.

 

I went cold turkey, others need another method. Find what works for you. It's actually not as hard as it seems. It's those first few days when the actual physical habit is screaming at you to cave in that you need to be VERY STRONG. Hold a pencil or a pretzel or whatever.

 

I'm no one special. If I can do it YOU CAN DO IT.

 

One year after 'being clean', what I would have spent on smokes paid for airfare for 2 of us to go spend a week in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

 

 

I was gonna say something VERY similar...sorry I am no longer a smoker and I'm prying in on your thread :)

 

I had my last cigarette on November 1st, 2004..about 3 1/2yrs clean now!

 

I took Wellbutrin for only 2 months..my Doc says if it doesn't work it 2months it wont work..for me, it DID help with the cravings HOWEVER you do have to have the will power to "want" to quit and until you set your mind to it it will not work..this was only my 2nd time with trying and I was determined....for myself, I found that I needed to change my habits..I had certain times when I would smoke ie: after a meal, first thing when I got into the car etc...when those times came I would chew on a straw or coffee stirer-was even known to take a drag on one from time to time LOL it was all about the hand to mouth action and that helped me..BUT they do say it takes 21 days to CHANGE A HABIT..I found that to be true and after I made my changes it became easier after those first 3 weeks...it wasn't "easy" per se BUT I did it...and I had smoked for 19 1/2 years.......

 

you can do it if you really set your mind to it...Good Luck to all that give it a try..and congrats to those who already have...cruising AND Traveling in general have become much easier being a non smoker..and more and more places are going all non smoking..I believe it is the wave of the future....but smokers and non smokers all enjoy their own set of rights