Severe allergies, options?

[ultracat]

Anyone with allergies have tips on what to bring to "sanitize" the cabin if need be? I was thinking a bottle of Fabreeze anti-allergy might help. Basically, I have a bad reaction to cigarette smoke. It doesn't have to be in my face; if the previous guests or next door are heavy smokers I may be affected. Note: I've already asked NCL to clean my room extra good. Anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

[OceanDreaming2]

Our friend has a severe dust mite allergy. They requested that NCL leave the bed coverings off - so they could enclose the mattress with a special dust mite barrier mattress cover. The cabin stewards were more than happy to comply.

 

They had a suite which had previously housed a smoker. It was very bad - NCL completely stripped the room. The drapes were dry cleaned, as well as the bedding. The carpet was also cleaned. Afterwards, the smoke smell was gone.

 

NCL will work with you; just ask. If you are lucky enough to have a concierge, he/she will make your requests happen.

[newmexicoNita]

Anyone with allergies have tips on what to bring to "sanitize" the cabin if need be? I was thinking a bottle of Fabreeze anti-allergy might help. Basically, I have a bad reaction to cigarette smoke. It doesn't have to be in my face; if the previous guests or next door are heavy smokers I may be affected. Note: I've already asked NCL to clean my room extra good. Anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

believe me, even if someone smoked in the cabin the sailing before you I doubt you will be aware of it. They really do a great job with eleminating any smoke residue. The only place you will be bothered is the casino..

 

Nita

[flashdog_1]

Anyone with allergies have tips on what to bring to "sanitize" the cabin if need be? I was thinking a bottle of Fabreeze anti-allergy might help. Basically, I have a bad reaction to cigarette smoke. It doesn't have to be in my face; if the previous guests or next door are heavy smokers I may be affected. Note: I've already asked NCL to clean my room extra good. Anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

 

I'm wondering what you do on other type vacations to help with the problem. Do you ask a hotel to do the same, like you asked NCL? What about public places where there might be smoking, like a park, or restaurants where it is still legal to do so? My husband is allergic to cigarette smoke and just tried to stay away from it. Thanks

[ketzelacruising]

A bit off topic- five years ago we were on the DCl. The cabin steward had informed us that the TV show " According to Jim" had just finished a two week sailing to film a show, and that our suite was the one Jim Belushi had. My DDW insisted that they change the mattress pads, spreads and shams. For some reason she felt a bit squeamish. They did happily change everything. I am sure any cruise line will accomodate this request.

She also Lysoled the heck out of everything!

 

We bring special pillow cases for one of our allergy kids-slip them right on and change a coiple times during the cruise/hotel stay.

Takes up no room but eases her sniffeling. For some reason the sheets don't affect her- proximity to the nasal orifi, I would presume.

 

Mike

[ultracat]

I'm wondering what you do on other type vacations to help with the problem. Do you ask a hotel to do the same, like you asked NCL? What about public places where there might be smoking, like a park, or restaurants where it is still legal to do so? My husband is allergic to cigarette smoke and just tried to stay away from it. Thanks

 

Thanks everyone. It sounds like NCL will be clean enough and if not I can request them to "deep clean" the room ;)

 

To answer your question Flashdog, I normally stay only at resorts that have dedicated non-smoking rooms. One of the worst experiences of my life we were on a road trip and out in the middle of nowhere and the only place we could find to stay for the night was a Motel 6 with NO non-smoking rooms. I almost died. Well, not really, but it was excrutiating for me. My throat and bronchioles close up, not completely hence the not dying, but still very far from pleasant. I can stand a little second hand smoke, I do just fine in the 'real world'. It's just being in an enclosed space with lots of smoke residue on the wall, curtins, etc. for hours at a time and it slowly chokes me.

[applequeen]

Thanks for this information. I'm booked on the Majesty and was horrified to learn that there were no non-smoking cabins available (after I'd booked the cruise). I'm not sure that in the end it would have mattered since the pros outweighted the cons when we were deciding whether or not we should book (although the smoking issue would have been a huge addition to the con category).

 

I'm not totally anti-smoking and I can tolerate it in bars and things like that (in small doses where I can walk out to get fresh air) but I can't tolerate it when it comes to hotel rooms and things like that where I have to spend a great deal of time.

 

Smoke in that situation (hotel rooms and such) triggers a severe migrane for me (so please don't think I'm just being whiny :) ) which I'd rather avoid on my vacation.

 

When I called NCL (to verify that we were booked in a non-smoking cabin... at which time I was told that all rooms were smoking.... in my opinion they should have been more upfront about this on their website and when I spoke to the booking agent).... I was told that I would not be able to tell that anyone had been smoking in the room before me.

 

I didn't really believe this (just seems impossible since the smoke always lingers in hotel rooms) but I feel much much much better after reading this.

 

So am I correct in assuming that it is unlikely I'll smell smoke in the room and if I do they will work with me to correct the problem?

[flashdog_1]

As of September 1st I think it was, Celebrity made all its cabins and balconies non=smoking. Penalty for breaking this is to be kicked off the ship!! There are still areas on the ship for smokers to indulge, but if you want to be sure there's no smoke residue in cabins, you might try X.

[applequeen]

X ?

[terrymtex01]

Thanks for this information. I'm booked on the Majesty and was horrified to learn that there were no non-smoking cabins available (after I'd booked the cruise). I'm not sure that in the end it would have mattered since the pros outweighted the cons when we were deciding whether or not we should book (although the smoking issue would have been a huge addition to the con category).

 

I'm not totally anti-smoking and I can tolerate it in bars and things like that (in small doses where I can walk out to get fresh air) but I can't tolerate it when it comes to hotel rooms and things like that where I have to spend a great deal of time.

 

Smoke in that situation (hotel rooms and such) triggers a severe migrane for me (so please don't think I'm just being whiny :) ) which I'd rather avoid on my vacation.

 

When I called NCL (to verify that we were booked in a non-smoking cabin... at which time I was told that all rooms were smoking.... in my opinion they should have been more upfront about this on their website and when I spoke to the booking agent).... I was told that I would not be able to tell that anyone had been smoking in the room before me.

 

I didn't really believe this (just seems impossible since the smoke always lingers in hotel rooms) but I feel much much much better after reading this.

 

So am I correct in assuming that it is unlikely I'll smell smoke in the room and if I do they will work with me to correct the problem?

 

NCL,well, your cabin stewards will do everything possible to make sure you are comfortable in your room. As someone else said, if your room smells like smoke, they will remove practically everything and clean all surfaces to eliminate the issue for you. They really do a good job.

 

I have got to say it isn't just non smokers who feel this way. My DDP and I both smoke but can not stand to be in a hotel room or a cruise stateroom that smells like smoke. We always only smoke in smoking areas or on our balcony. I know that bothers some people who have balconies next to us, but we always try to get Aft balconies so the smoke blows away from the ship instead of down the side and we try to be as thoughtful as possible and only smoke when we think no one else is out on their balcony. Not trying to defend our smoking by any means since as long as it is legal I don't feel I need to, just agreeing that the smell of a stale smoke filled room is not pleasant.

 

X ?

 

X = Celebrity Cruise line. 8-)

[applequeen]

You know... I really don't mind if people smoke. I don't even mind being in bars and places like that where I can choose to come and go if the smoke bothers me.

 

The only time it really bothers me is when I have to be around it for long periods of time (migrane trigger).

 

I really don't need (or even necessarily want) a non-smoking cruise... just a room that won't make me sick (whether it's a non-smoking room or a smoking room that has been well cleaned).

 

As long as I get that I'm happy :)

 

P.S. For many years I actually smoked from time to time (in grad school or when I was out with friends)...I never really developed the habit (could go weeks or months without one) so I'm really not anti-smoking at all. It's only been in the past few years that I developed the migrane issue (and haven't smoked since). All I want is to not get sick... not to force my non-smoking on everyone. :)

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks for this information. I'm booked on the Majesty and was horrified to learn that there were no non-smoking cabins available (after I'd booked the cruise). I'm not sure that in the end it would have mattered since the pros outweighted the cons when we were deciding whether or not we should book (although the smoking issue would have been a huge addition to the con category).

 

I'm not totally anti-smoking and I can tolerate it in bars and things like that (in small doses where I can walk out to get fresh air) but I can't tolerate it when it comes to hotel rooms and things like that where I have to spend a great deal of time.

 

Smoke in that situation (hotel rooms and such) triggers a severe migrane for me (so please don't think I'm just being whiny :) ) which I'd rather avoid on my vacation.

 

When I called NCL (to verify that we were booked in a non-smoking cabin... at which time I was told that all rooms were smoking.... in my opinion they should have been more upfront about this on their website and when I spoke to the booking agent).... I was told that I would not be able to tell that anyone had been smoking in the room before me.

 

I didn't really believe this (just seems impossible since the smoke always lingers in hotel rooms) but I feel much much much better after reading this.

 

So am I correct in assuming that it is unlikely I'll smell smoke in the room and if I do they will work with me to correct the problem?

 

unlike hotels, most cruise lines (mass marketed ones) do not offer non smoking rooms or cabins as they are called. The few lines that do offer non smoking cabins have more public smoking areas so it is a no win situation for some. The only time we have smelled smoke in a cabin was on HAL 2 years ago and even that was only the first minute or two we walked into the cabin. After a day or so the smell was gone.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

As of September 1st I think it was, Celebrity made all its cabins and balconies non=smoking. Penalty for breaking this is to be kicked off the ship!! There are still areas on the ship for smokers to indulge, but if you want to be sure there's no smoke residue in cabins, you might try X.

this is true but they have many areas on the ship where one can smoke..

 

Nita

[terrymtex01]

You know... I really don't mind if people smoke. I don't even mind being in bars and places like that where I can choose to come and go if the smoke bothers me.

 

The only time it really bothers me is when I have to be around it for long periods of time (migrane trigger).

 

I really don't need (or even necessarily want) a non-smoking cruise... just a room that won't make me sick (whether it's a non-smoking room or a smoking room that has been well cleaned).

 

As long as I get that I'm happy :)

 

P.S. For many years I actually smoked from time to time (in grad school or when I was out with friends)...I never really developed the habit (could go weeks or months without one) so I'm really not anti-smoking at all. It's only been in the past few years that I developed the migrane issue (and haven't smoked since). All I want is to not get sick... not to force my non-smoking on everyone. :)

 

I hope you don't think anyone is attacking you for anything you have posted on this thread. You don't have to justify your reasons.. 8-). No one would want to have bad headaches while on vacation...

[retired rascal]

be aware that there is smoke and smokers on the ship and there will be no way really to control it. on our 14 days on the pearl last year, there were heavy smokers a few doors down and the smoke would come into our minisuite's wonderful bathroom. when i opened the toilet compartment door at night, it was pretty bad. our stewards' bent over backwards to help eradicate the smell, but the smoke DOES travel through the ventilation system and under doors into the halls etc. also from balcony to balcony and thus into the sliding glass doors if the wind is right. ditto on the decks where there are smokers. i avoided any problems in the public areas but i really wished that smoking wasn't allowed in cabins. oh well. we brought alcohol and an empty spray bottle and sprayed alot of stuff. not sure fabreze does anything truly helpful for true allergy sufferers. probably worth getting medical product like allergen in spray form which they sell at specialty pharmacies.

[arpie05]

I've heard that CCL has what are called Spa rooms and they are non-smoking.

[G'ma]

Anyone with allergies have tips on what to bring to "sanitize" the cabin if need be? I was thinking a bottle of Fabreeze anti-allergy might help. Basically, I have a bad reaction to cigarette smoke. It doesn't have to be in my face; if the previous guests or next door are heavy smokers I may be affected. Note: I've already asked NCL to clean my room extra good. Anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

 

Smoke is not an allergen.....so no worries there. It is an irritant. If you suffer an allergic reaction, it's something else.

[*Wink*]

To the poster who's sailing the Majesty: On our last sailing on that ship, when we walked into our cabin, I could tell the previous guest was a smoker (I think cigars or pipe.) I'm not bothered by smoke too much, but no one wants to be in a smokey smelling cabin. The only request I made was to change our pillows, which stank!!

If you have a real issue with smoke, tell your steward you'd like your cabin ionized. You will have to be out of it for awhile, but it's worth it.. Or, let the ship know ahead of time that you'd like your room ionized.