Deilmann to ban smoking on river cruises by 2008

[steamboats]

Here´s a press release

http://www.modernagent.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=26725

Deilmann is banning smoking in all inside areas on their river cruises by 2008. Smoking then will be only allowed on the outer deck space.

steamboats

[gillianrose]

Here´s a press release

http://www.modernagent.com/Resources/Editorial.aspx?n=26725

Deilmann is banning smoking in all inside areas on their river cruises by 2008. Smoking then will be only allowed on the outer deck space.

steamboats

That's wonderful news, Steamboats! Thank you for posting it.

I just logged on now to post some similar news, something which surprised me. I have been interested in taking a journey on one of the small Hebridean ships of Great Britain, and so I called today and asked them what their smoking policy is.

I was quite pleasantly surprised to learn that on their Hebridean Spirit there is absolutely no smoking in cabins or any interiors of the small ship whatsoever, and on the Hebridean Princess (which cruises to the Tower Bridge on the River Thames) there is, likewise, no smoking in cabins or any interior space with the exception of one smaller lounge called the Lookout Lounge (not the main lounge). On deck smoking is permitted on both.

These aren't river ships, and that makes it all the more surprising.

I'm thrilled that there are more healthy options available for more pleasant cruising, whether it be river or ocean or lake cruising.

[debbie p]

Personally, think they should ban smoking altogether! Was recently on a Viking trip and up on the top deck the smokers banned together with all their smoke wafting downwind to those of us sitting behind them. They were all huddled behind the captains area and protected from the wind.
They would also sit on the benches outside the lounge area and if you went out there, you'd again be assaulted with smoke.

Guess we nonsmokers just can't win................

[gillianrose]

Personally, think they should ban smoking altogether! Was recently on a Viking trip and up on the top deck the smokers banned together with all their smoke wafting downwind to those of us sitting behind them. They were all huddled behind the captains area and protected from the wind.

They would also sit on the benches outside the lounge area and if you went out there, you'd again be assaulted with smoke.

Guess we nonsmokers just can't win................

I agree with you, completely. Much, if not most of the enjoyment of a river cruise is "topside", and if there are groups of smokers banded together and chain-smoking (or smoking even one cigar), then that is going to make things miserable for those like us who don't want to smell smoke (or smell LIKE smoke in our hair or clothes). Have you written to Viking to complain? I am sure there are far more nonsmokers than smokers who cruise with them, and if they felt that they would lost future business from nonsmokers, they would either ban topside smoking (unlikely in the near future), or ensure that it could not affect the enjoyment of the cruise by nonsmokers, who are in the vast majority.

I would rather they set aside a tiny, totally enclosed, double-doored room where smokers could smoke (and nowhere else), at least for the next couple of years until smoking is totally banned, including outside than for us to smell smoke when we are lounging topside.

Eventually the smokers will either quit smoking, which really is in their best interest, anyway, or they will quit taking up the space that nonsmokers would be happy to fill.

I'm very disappointed to hear about all the smoking up on deck on Viking.

Three questions:

1. Does Viking (and other lines) AT LEAST prohibit ALL CIGAR SMOKING (even outdoors).

2. The benches outside the lounge to which you referred, are they topside, or on a promenade area below the sun deck?

3. I know that there is at least a couple of lines that don't permit smoking outdoors. Does anyone remember which lines they are?

[debbie p]

Three questions:

1. Does Viking (and other lines) AT LEAST prohibit ALL CIGAR SMOKING (even outdoors).


No, there was a guy toking on his big 'ol stogie uptop.


2. The benches outside the lounge to which you referred, are they topside, or on a promenade area below the sun deck?

The benches were on the promenade area below the sundeck/right outside the lounge area windows.

I noticed most of the crew were smokers! The ones I dealt with on a regular basis, including the cruise director, captain and hotel manager, and could easily recognize, I saw smoking at one time or another. I believe smoking is much more common and accepted in Europe than the U.S.