Emerald -- How BAD is the smoking?

[trvlbug08]

I posted a thread earlier about being a loyal RCCL fan being a little apprehensive to try Princess. Thanks to all of the great responses we have decided to try the Emerald Eastern Itinerary in February, 2009. Only two things still concern me about the Emerald. First, how bad is the smoking in the public areas of the ship? I am sensitive to smoke and can stand a little but some made it sound like it is one big ashtray. The other concern is getting the early seating for dinner due to being a diabetic. We prefer the assigned seating not the freestyle dining. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[Toto2Kansas]

I posted a thread earlier about being a loyal RCCL fan being a little apprehensive to try Princess. Thanks to all of the great responses we have decided to try the Emerald Eastern Itinerary in February, 2009. Only two things still concern me about the Emerald. First, how bad is the smoking in the public areas of the ship? I am sensitive to smoke and can stand a little but some made it sound like it is one big ashtray. The other concern is getting the early seating for dinner due to being a diabetic. We prefer the assigned seating not the freestyle dining. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

Any answer as to smoking will be totally speculative, much will depend on how many smokers are on your sailing. There are smoking and non-smoking sections but they are mainly on outer decks. Keep in mind that some consider the ship one big ash tray if they see even one person smoking onboard.

 

As for early traditional dining, I would be surprised if there isn't already a waitlist for this sailing. Traditional dining needs to be booked long in advance anymore, and 6 months isn't all that far away.

 

Best of luck on this one.

[RickT]

We were just on the Emerald. Here are our views on the smoking. On the decks, one side (sorry, can't recall which side) was supposed to be non-smoking but we never saw anyone enforcing it and often wound up sitting next to someone who wanted to light up... All in all it wasn't too bad and not that much different than on our last Celebrity cruise.

 

The casino unfortunately has no non-smoking section so we rarely stepped inside. I think on the formal nights it went non-smoking and was definitely enforced.

 

As far as the public areas (lounges/etc) we were pleasantly surprised and never ran into a situation where we were in a non-smoking section and having to smell smoke... it was great.

 

As far as traditional dining, as the other poster mentioned, there is often a wait list but we've found that you can generally get traditional if that is what you want. So far we've always made it even when originally waitlisted. On our last cruise we were 168th on the list and still made it. Also, based on why you want it, I'm sure the maitre'd will accomodate your request. Just find him when you board and ask. At our table was a lady with some serious food alergies and they took great care of her.

[rcacace]

The smoke problem isn't all that bad (except for the casino & if a chain smoker has a balcony directly upwind of yours). I would prefer to see it stopped altogether but it's doubtful since their profits are hinged upon providing a vacation for everyone even if they do pollute the air around them. I don't think you'll fine it any worse than RCCL. The pc dining option usually begins an 1/2 earlier than traditional which can be turned into a traditional like seating at the same table each evening.

[Colo Cruiser]

We were just on the Emerald. Here are our views on the smoking. On the decks, one side (sorry, can't recall which side) was supposed to be non-smoking but we never saw anyone enforcing it and often wound up sitting next to someone who wanted to light up... All in all it wasn't too bad and not that much different than on our last Celebrity cruise.

 

 

I thought that one side thing was just on the promanade? :)

[cruzinchris]

I have asthma, and most smoking/burning materials are a major trigger. I steer clear of the casino, cigar lounge, smoking areas of entertainment venues, and side of the ship that's designated for smokers. Never had a problem with most of the public rooms on the ship but usually have to go indoors when there are smokers on adjacent balconies.

 

If you didn't request early seating when you booked your cruise, it may be too late to ensure that you'll get it now. That said, you would have a good chance of getting a regular table in one of the "anytime" dining venues if you speak to the Maitre d' (or a Head Waiter) about your medical/dietary concerns.

 

DH and I sailed on the Emerald in February of this year and will be back onboard for an alternate itinerary in January, 2009. We loved the ship and found the service to be the very best that we've experienced to date on Princess.

 

Bon Voyage!

Chris

[kylea_s]

Smoking, not an issue. They even have smoke free nights in the casino,

 

Dining time...Even though tradtional dining is probably full, you can easily arrange with the matre d' to eat each day at the same time and even at the same table in the the anytime dining room.

 

Enjoy Emerald, we've sailed twice on her, and enjoyed the experience very much.

[married with children]

Ship doesn't smoke too badly. Just on corners.

[rcacace]

Smoking, not an issue. They even have smoke free nights in the casino,

 

 

 

Enjoy Emerald, we've sailed twice on her, and enjoyed the experience very much.

 

You're right about the non smoking nights in the casion but the place still stinks like an old smokey saloon. The smoke doesn't dissipate from the carpets all that quickly.

[Richie2pies]

You're right about the non smoking nights in the casion but the place still stinks like an old smokey saloon. The smoke doesn't dissipate from the carpets all that quickly.

 

SO........ stay out of the casino.

[G'ma]

It REEKS, positively REEKS.........:cool:

[cdngrl]

i'm also very sensitive to smoke. i've had no problems on a balcony, or most public places on the ship. the outdoor pool has smoking on one side, non-smoking on the other and the smokers were very courteous about lighting up only on the smoking side. sounds like i've been lucky! the sapphire and diamond have a non-smoking section in the casino (thought the emerald would too?) and yes it stinks, but there was no clouds wafting around us.

 

my daughter is a diabetic and we eat early at home (between 5-6). we chose anytime dining and had no problems being seated that early. if you REALLY want early traditional get yourself on the waitlist to start and as others have said, the maitre'd i believe will certainly accommodate you.

 

you will have a great cruise. there's a reason (many reasons) we all keep coming back! :)

[rcacace]

SO........ stay out of the casino.

 

I do stay out- it's most likely there loss since I never win much anyhow. I've just resigned myself to the fact that it a smokers haven & let them have it.

[WCAB]

I find less smoking on the ship then in the general public. I do not like crowds so time my casino play to sea days, early in the day. Not only is the casino almost empy but few smokers. I have never noticed the smell of smoke, so they do a pretty good job of neutralizing any oders.

[4cats4me]

One thing I noticed about the Emerald that was different from the other

several Princess ships was they had permanent no-smoking sings plastered

around the pool areas.

I never noticed very much cigarette smoke at all while on board.

However, we had a cigar smoker next door to us and I swear, it seemed

he spent nearly all day out on his balcony smoking cigars, because we

spent a lot of time on our balcony, or at least tried to, before being

smoked out by his cigar.

I will take tobacco smoke over cigar smoke any day.:eek:

[KLLund]

I do stay out- it's most likely there loss since I never win much anyhow. I've just resigned myself to the fact that it a smokers haven & let them have it.

 

 

Thank you. That is nicely put and it seems a good solution.

[caber]

Last year I didn`t notice too much smoking at all and I am usually bothered by it.

[rcacace]

I find less smoking on the ship then in the general public. I do not like crowds so time my casino play to sea days, early in the day. Not only is the casino almost empy but few smokers. I have never noticed the smell of smoke, so they do a pretty good job of neutralizing any oders.

 

I fine it to be the opposite because because where I live it been eliminated from restaurants, shopping malls & at any get togethers or parties the smokers always go outdoors. In the local bars they have to go out to the patio's to smoke so I guess we're pretty well separated from the smokers in Florida & we even have a few beaches that I go to where it's been banned. On cruise ships I find that I'm closer to them than at home so it is more noticeable.

[nabby]

Just off the Crown, which is the sister ship to the Emerald. We did not have a balcony, so I can't speak to that. Smoking was not much of an issue. I don't do the casino but I did notice that a few nights were posted as non-smoking. The one time smoking was an issue was when we were sailing out of Stockholm; we went to the aft deck (above the terrace pool) to watch the sailaway through the Archipelago. There were quite a few people smoking and the smoke was really strong. We just moved to a different area - it is a big ship, after all. Problem solved.

[Host Caroline]

Asked and answered..number of smokers varies on each sailing anyway..