Non smoking ships?

[LHT28]

Just for fun.
Would you still sail on Oceania if they were completely NON SMOKING ships?

I am not saying I know anything it is just a question. ( I was bored)

[ECCruise]

There were 3 things that caused Renaissance Cruises to go bust:
1) Unwillingness, at the onset, to work with Travel Agents
2) 100% non-smoking policy
3) 100% non-children policy

Oceania did NOT make these missteps and, instead of going bust, is prospering. Smoking is, in my mind, a non-issue since the smoking areas are small, out-of-the-way, and I have never seen anyone bothered.

[dwelsh]

If it were all non smoking it would be our #1 choice without a doubt. I do hope that our soon to be fulfilled, first cruise on "O" will enhance the great
expectations we have as a result of reading this CC board. On the last cruises we have done the smoking pax in nearby staterooms and on balconies did annoy us a lot.

[spain]

Most of us are old enough to recall that smoking was permitted on airplanes for years. Finally the government realized what a health hazard and an imposition that smoking was on non-smokers, and banned it on all domestic flights. I dont think the government will ever fully prohibit smoking on cruise ships. But there will be further restrictions on it in the future in my opinion. If we see another incident like what happened on the Princess Star last spring, smoking will certainly gain the attention of regulators thats for sure. Smoking is not only unhealthy, but is downright dangerous on the open seas. A fire on a fast moving ship can be catastrophic as evidenced by the Star. So, we need to respect the smokers right to light up, while at the same time protecting the rights of all other passengers and the safety of the ship and everyone aboard.

[orchestrapal]

:mad: As quickly as O sells out it's cruises now I can't see how a few smokers
will or will not keep them in business. We hardly ever saw anyone in the two places on the Insignia where smoking was allowed.
Our vote is for ALL ships to be non-smoking..

[esther e]

I'll go one further: all ships and all lines.:)

Esther

[ProudFossil]

We were on the Diamond Princess, LA to Mexico, in November. After the first stop in Puerto Vallarta we sailed to Matzalan that night. We had a balcony stateroom and generally left the sliding doors open at night for breeze and fresh air. Around 11:00 pm my wife woke me up smelling smoke in the stateroom. We got up, switched on the lights and started looking for the fire. Finding nothing I walked out onto the balcony and noticed the other balconies where the Cuban cigars which had been purchased in Puerto Vallarta were being lit up.

We still laugh about it.

[Liv4cruzin]

Back in my 20's I was a smoker. But now I suffer from allergies to cigarette smoke. I have sneezing fits; & then get stuffed up. For the most part it is easy to avoid those smoking areas. What I feel strongly about is having cabins where no smoking is allowed. It settles in the drapery, upholstery & bedding. Trying to mask it w/ an aromatic spray only compounds the problem. I noticed recently on Crystal they "hide" the ashtray & matches in the lower cabinets where the ice bucket is kept. But if somebody wants to smoke, they're gonna smoke. So if a Pax on the previous sailing occupied my cabin, I will suffer the symptoms during my stay. :(

[conan]

If Oceania ships were to be totally non-smoking, they would be my first choice for a cruise over any others. Like liv4cruisin, I too react to latent smoke embedded in furnishings which no amount of air freshener can disguise, even if it says, "Non-smoking Room" on the door. I'm one passenger who applauds Oceania's strict no smoking policy for cabins and public areas. Recent cabin fires, for example, on brand new ships caused by negligent smoking passengers are an expensive and inconvenient consequence for all.

[BeBeReader]

Yes, yes, yes. Why should anyone have to put up with filthy, disgusting smoking. Going on a non-smoking cruise should be a good way to detox from killer tobacco.

Let's make the world a tobacco-free place.

Anyone who writes it is bad for business, should note that NYC restaurants and bars are doing very well.

There are enough nonsmokers to provide Oceania with plenty of business.

[dwelsh]

We are fortunate to ,live in Calabasas, CA, a city of about 28,000 on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Last year our city banned smoking in all public places. It is a pleasure to go to the local shopping centers and parks without that killer smoke to pollute our air. Now if we could only banish smog!!!!

[scdreamer]

The fact that Oceania restricts smoking more than other lines was a factor in our decision to book a cruise with them. I hope non-smoking will be the wave (sorry for the unintentional pun :o ) of the future!

[Leonid]

BeBeReader - I doubt that you will ever see a smoke-free society, especially in the U.S. The Federal & State governments are too "addicted" to the taxes that smoking generates. Can you imagine how much they would lose if everyone stopped smoking! Not being able to collect those taxes, as well as go after the tobacco companies, would cause other taxes to rise. All of us non smokers would have to make up the difference. If the feds were truly interested in our health, they would have banned smoking years ago. Sadly, they only pay lip service to the dangers of smoking.

[BeBeReader]

Leonid,

I know. So sad but true that a known killer substance such as tobacco is legal to use. Money speaks a lot louder than the interests of a healthy world.

But we have made a lot of progress in the last couple of decades.

Happy New Year!

BeBe

[Napi's Mom]

It was SOOO nice on the cruise we just took to be able to eat, watch the entertainment, and just walk about the ship without smelling SMOKE! The lack of tears running down my face from my more severe reactions, was just an additional plus.I have a problem with meds causing a cough, and I already had a problem with smoke which is now MUCH worse. Would love it if ALL ships, resturants, etc. would ban smoking. We've had rooms that reeked that were supposed to be non-smoking, both onboard and in hotels. Only non-smokers can realize how VERY bad that smell is (My DH will agree, as he WAS a smoker)

[PK227]

We are considerate smokers and that is why we chose and continue to choose Oceania. On a trip last year, we met really nice, fun people in the smoking section which was not very busy in the beginning. About half way through the cruise all of the sudden there were about 30 new people in our little section. Apparently they had received letters from the line telling them that if they didn't stop smoking in their cabin/balcony they would be put off at the next port. I totally support that. I knew and chose Oceania because my cigarette smoke would not bother anybody other than those who chose to walk through the 2 very well-marked smoking sections and complain. I have no sympathy for them. There is an alternative way into both areas and it felt like it was more like a statement than an inconvenience. I believe that Oceania has addressed the issue appropriately and hope that there are some totally non-smoking ships available for those that choose that option. I didn't and would not find it even mildly amusing if Oceania changed the rules before our baltic cruise in June. I often wonder why there are still so many of us baby-boomers still around when all of our parent's smoked. Seems like we should have all keeled over by now from our exposure to second hand smoke. Sorry! Couldn't stop myself. I would strongly recommend that if you smell smoke from surrounding cabins.....complain. They are breaking the rules that were made very clear to them and Oceania does respond to your complaints. Can't we all just get along??

[BeBeReader]

I often wonder why there are still so many of us baby-boomers still around when all of our parent's smoked. Seems like we should have all keeled over by now from our exposure to second hand smoke. Sorry! Couldn't stop myself. [/quote]

Your attempt at humor was in poor taste. In fact, there are many thousands of baby boomers who have "keeled over by now" from exposure to second hand smoke. Look at the statistics. You just don't see them because they died from the exposure caused by other people who subjected them to it. Many of the other so-far alive baby boomers will suffer a similar fate in the future.

As you, say: Sorry! Couldn't stop myself either.

Finally, why weren't the 30 who joined you thrown off the ship? They should have been. We had a similar problem this last summer on the Insignia. The smoking stopped and then started up again at the end of the cruise. We were deprived of the use of our balcony. Most importantly, the ship officers refused to search the cabin from which the smoking was coming.

I hope Oceania begins to do more than send letters to the offenders.

BeBe

[BeBeReader]

I often wonder why there are still so many of us baby-boomers still around when all of our parent's smoked. Seems like we should have all keeled over by now from our exposure to second hand smoke. Sorry! Couldn't stop myself. [/quote]

Your attempt at humor was in poor taste. In fact, there are many thousands of baby boomers who have "keeled over by now" from exposure to second hand smoke. Look at the statistics. You just don't see them because they died from the exposure caused by other people who subjected them to it. Many of the other so-far alive baby boomers will suffer a similar fate in the future.

As you, say: Sorry! Couldn't stop myself either.

Finally, why weren't the 30 who joined you thrown off the ship? They should have been. We had a similar problem this last summer on the Insignia. The smoking stopped and then started up again at the end of the cruise. We were deprived of the use of our balcony. Most importantly, the ship officers refused to search the cabin from which the smoking was coming.

I hope Oceania begins to do more than send letters to the offenders.

BeBe

[Leonid]

BeBeReader - Please cite the source of your statement "thousands of baby boomers who have "keeled over by now" from exposure to second hand smoke". I have been looking and have not been able to confirm your allegation. They may have "keeled over", but strictly from second smoke?

[LHT28]

Thanks everyone for indulging my boredom and voting on the poll!! :D

Looks like they may survive if non smoking ships were implemented.
If Oceania were to consider such a move. ;)
They could phase in the new cruises as non-smoking ones so as to not upset those smokers already booked.
Food for thought.
Many Provinces & States are now banning smoking in public places so cruise ships like airplanes may be the new venues to go smoke free.

[shoshona2]

Dear Bebe,

Glad I wasn't on your Insignia cruise where the people were smoking in their cabins. I thought the Room Stewards were supposed to report anyone smoking in their cabins. When we were on the Nautica's March 16, 2006 Beijing to Hong Kong cruise, a man lit up a cigar below us when we left Shanghai. I picked up the phone and it wasn't two minutes later when someone from the ship came up to our cabin to view the offender. While we were on that cruise, the Princess had that big fire. The offending person was complaining the next day on a shuttle we took into downtown Kobe how he was in an Owner Suite and had to stop smoking his cigar on "his" veranda. We were also smelling smoke in the hallway from the beginning of our cruise and started sniffing around. It was the crew smoking behind the "crew only" part of deck 7. Several of us called the desk and the smoking stopped for the rest of the cruise. After that, it was posted in the daily bulletin that anyone not obeying the rules would be escorted off the ship at the next port.

I really think if Oceania isn't going to stay on top of the smoking issue, the passengers will have to rally together and go to the General Manager. We had Yves Joubin on our cruise and he was very receptive to any problems.

Sheila

[BeBeReader]

Leonid,

Try this link: http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/archives/K/5/pub5207.html

I recall an article in the last several months about the dramatic decrease in deaths from lung cancer (and possibly other lung diseases) since the nonsmoking in public places law became effective.

I know there are studies that back up what I have said. The sources I see on the internet claim the effects of second-hand smoke to be extremely deadly -- sometimes more so than the effects of smoking itself for smokers.

BeBe

[digby]

"When we were on the Nautica's March 16, 2006 Beijing to Hong Kong cruise, a man lit up a cigar below us when we left Shanghai."

We were in the OS above this character, and I remember the incident well. All of us along the back of the ship were trying to hunt down the smell of smoke for days.

By the way, I have a 63 year old brother who starts chemo on Monday for lung cancer. He has been a heavy smoker his entire life.

[KatWag]

BeBe,

Bless you for taking the time; personally I wouldn't even bother to respond to the dig about your comment on second-hand smoking. Frankly that anyone would be ignorant of the dangers of second-hand smoke in this day and age is staggering.

I hope Oceania enforces the rules throughout the fleet - the primary reason we have booked them for our next trip is the restricted smoking. I'm really tired of paying for a balcony and having it spoiled by the smoker next door.

[sancarlos]

I am sorry but I have to put in my two cents. I am a smoker and would be very disappointed in Oceania discontinued allowing smokers on board. I have been on two cruises and found that the smokers were very considerate of the non-smokers on board. I would never think about smoking on my balcony or in my room on Oceania. Our first cruise one couple that both smoked received a letter saying they would be disembarked at the next port if they continued to smoke in non-smoking areas. I could just hear my non-smoking husband if we were kicked off of Oceans ship. We are allowed our two areas to smoke and as previous poster stated there are other ways to enter both areas. I think Oceania has developed a policy that is reasonable for both smokers and non-smokers. Our group (all others non-smokers) laughed both times that I had met more people on board than any of them, and the people that I had met were fun people. I guess us sinners do have more fun.

[spain]

I think that Oceania has adopted a very good policy with regard to smoking and I wish other cruise lines would follow suit. It allows for smokers to enjoy their tobacco, while at the same time protecting non-smokers from second hand smoke. And it limits the exposure of the ship from a potential catastrophic fire hazard. Their hard line stance on violators of the policy is refreshing and something that they absolutely must maintain in order to make the policy effective. Oceania seems to be on the right track here and I think their well thought out rules should be the industry standard.

[mike35]

I dont think the government will ever fully prohibit smoking on cruise ships. But there will be further restrictions on it in the future in my opinion.

Uhh - the U.S. government imposing smoking restrictions on foreign-flagged vessels?? I don't think so.

We just disembarked from our first HAL cruise - Statendam New Zealand to Australia. The passengers on both sides of our balcony were chain smokers, and it pretty much ruined our balcony usage. Smoking in the casino was also intolerable. Can't wait to get back to "O" on February 5 for our Hong Kong to Bangkok cruise!

Mike

[spain]

Uhh - the U.S. government imposing smoking restrictions on foreign-flagged vessels?? I don't think so.
Mike
You are correct Mike and I didnt even think about the fact that the US has no jurisdiction over most of these vessels.:mad: I dont even know who the governing body is of the cruise industry, if any. Or if it solely left up to the country of that particular ship.

I am sorry to hear that your HAL cruise was negatively affected by smokers. On our Princess cruise last spring, there were plenty of smokers out on the balconies as well. Thankfully, it never got to the point of really bothering me. The casino on the other hand, was like walking through a California forest fire.

Speaking of smoking, it has been more experience that Europeans all seem to smoke! Or should I say that Europeans are alot more likely to smoke than Americans. Thats why I wouldnt want to sail on a cruise line that caters primarily to Europeans. We have met many wonderful people from all over Europe, but they all seem to chain smoke. The only Americans you see smoking these days are ignorant white trash and just really old people who have smoked so long that they think that since it hasnt killed them yet, it wont kill them now. Obviously, this is an exageration, but seriously, most educated folks realize how truly dangerous this habit is to your health and those around you. Thankfully, smokins is alot less common than it was 20 years ago and is decreasing every year in the USA. In other places it seems to be just as popular as ever.

[shoshona2]

Hi Mike,

Welcome home! Except for the smoking issues on HAL, did you enjoy your cruise and HAL. My sister came back from a LA to Hawaii Celebrity cruise and couldn't enjoy her veranda either. They even had to put towels under the door to the hallway because the people in the cabin next to them were chain smokers. After the Princess had that fire which started on a veranda last March, I would have thought that the cruise lines would be concerned about smoking on verandas. But, then again, profit is everything these days!!! Looking forward to seeing you and Carol on a future Oceania cruise.

Happy and healthy New Year to you and your families.

Sheila

[mike35]

Hi Sheila and Irwin

Llike we've always said, there's no such thing as a "bad" cruise, and yes, we definitely enjoyed our first HAL cruise. The ship size, about double that of O, wasn't unwieldly, and embarkation and debarkation were flawless. Met lots of nice folks, but we definitely prefer anytime dining and no formal nights!! HAL didn't enforce the dress code, so while I was wearing my tux on the 3 formal nights, the guy next to me was in shirtsleeves. Oh well... Food was good, but the $30 per person cover in the Pinnacle Grill was about $29.95 too high, IMHO. Althought the table setting (Reidl crystal, Bulgari China, etc) was nice and the service above that in the dining room, the food was less than what we find in the Polo Grill. Entertainment was sub-par - a couple of corny comedians (about 1/2 the audience walked out on one of them), an accordianist, and some marginal singer/dancers. Ship officers seemed much more aloof than on O. And so it went - would we sail HAL again - the itinerary would be the decider here.

Happy new year to you and all of our fellow CC'ers!

Mike and Carol

[BeBeReader]

"Considerate smoker" is an oxymoron. Nobody who threatens my health, my well-being and that of others, and pollutes the environment can be considered considerate.

[Phoenix cruiser]

While I would love to see smoking banned on all ships, I think Oceania's compromise has been fair. The smokers have their areas and I have been able to enjoy our cruises without the problems experienced on other cruise lines. Noting that Ireland and Italy have instituted country wide bans on smoking in restaurants and pubs without the world coming to an end, I feel there is always hope for a more breathable future.

[covewomyn]

Sorry leonid the health care provider in me couldn't let this go.
Quote is from the Amercan Heart Association web site... Robert O. Bonow, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “Credible health organizations from around the world, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization and several U.S. Surgeons General, have all concluded that second-hand smoke is responsible for thousands of deaths each year.”

[PK227]

I truly would like this thread to end but I'm back one more time (and an x-health care provider). These quoted people (WHO, EPA, etc) expressing an opinion. These are NOT studies. There is NO reputable way to study the effects of second hand smoke. There are way too many more pollutants in the air. Perhaps if they got somebody in a bubble for 20 years with cigarette smoke surrounding them.....As I said before, if second had smoke was so lethal, those of us who lived for decades through the days of smoking in planes, trains, elevators, movie theatres, workplaces, homes, cars, resturants, etc. would all be dead. A recent spot on the news mentioned that 1/3 of the House of Representatives smoke and they have their own smoking lounge and smoke in their offices....so I believe that may negate the "ignorant white trash" comment. I have NO idea how the anti-smoking rhetoric got so over the top....perhaps another gift from our media. I will say, however, if Oceania decides to ban smoking (as the previous bankrupt owner did), they will lose 1/4 (at least) of their market. Even casual smokers will not choose to be trapped in a floating hotel with no ability to enjoy their perfectly legal passtime in peace and I truly hope that an anti-smoking war over the 2 small smoking sections doesn't break out while we're on our cruise. That just makes a nice vacation unpleasant for everybody.

[mike35]

A recent spot on the news mentioned that 1/3 of the House of Representatives smoke and they have their own smoking lounge and smoke in their offices....so I believe that may negate the "ignorant white trash" comment.

Hooray for Nancy Pelosi! It was announced today that she has banned smoking in the House or Representatives Lounge, with no apparent complaints from those Representatives who smoke. And are you implying that none of our legislators are "ignorant white trash":rolleyes::)

Mike

[BeBeReader]

Hooray for Nancy Pelosi! It was announced today that she has banned smoking in the House or Representatives Lounge, with no apparent complaints from those Representatives who smoke. And are you implying that none of our legislators are "ignorant white trash":rolleyes::)

Mike

EXACTLY my thoughts on the subject. Frank Lautenberg, the illustrious Senator from the not-so-ignorant State of New Jersey, was responsible for having smoking banned on US commercial airlines in the 1980's. He was in the vanguard of this movement. We have come a long way, baby.

And I'd like some authority on the specious claim that second-hand smoke is NOT dangerous to the health of nonsmokers. The fact that some people are impervious to this poison doesn't prove that others are not.
While we're at it, why don't we hear from the "iwt" who say that there should be no gun control laws, that abortions should be banned, that stem cell research is immoral, that we should send more troops to Iraq, and that gay marriage is perverse. That would help to complete the "iwt" picture.

BeBe Reader

[mike35]

Uhh - perchance does BeBeReader dislike Rush too?? While I love to engage in political discussions (usually on the side of BeBe), I'm not sure that Cruise Critic is the proper forum for this type of patter.

Mike

[esther e]

And how about a separate area for the bores on cell phones?

[BeBeReader]

OK, Mike, I have been appropriately chastised. :( I simply could not resist making the comment.:D

[BeBeReader]

OK, Mike, I have been appropriately chastised. :( I simply could not resist making the comment.:D

[mike35]

Now that "politics" is out of the way, can we discuss religion?:o Are "chastised" and "chastity" from the same root?

Mike

[shoshona2]

Dear BeBe, Mike and Esther,

Thanks! You all made my Saturday morning start off great!!!!!

Sheila

[LHP]

Those of us looking for a cruise line that offers a good compromise rely on threads like this to decide on cruises.

Personally, I appreciate those posters who give relevant information on what Oceania does and does not allow so that we can make an informed decision.

Thanks to everyone who provided current information on the subject.

[gillianrose]

Boo hoo. I missed the poll, but would I sail a TOTALLY smokefree ship?

You bet! I'd consider putting together some large groups on it, too. All our family and friends—yes, ALL—are nonsmokers.