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New Smoking Ban


AnonymousCruiser69
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Another poster mentioned a new smoking policy on a different thread, but I felt this was important enough of a change to warrant it's own thread.

 

Sadly, I will no longer be a Costa customer.

 

From Costa's website:

 

Is it possible to smoke onboard?

Smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes is not permitted on board, except in the “Cigar Lounge” area. Electronic cigarettes may only be used cabins and in the “Cigar Lounge” area. In public areas outdoors smoking is only allowed in specially designated areas that have ashtrays. We would like to remind you that smoking is not permitted in cabins, but only outside on private balconies. To avoid the risk of fire, cigarettes must be extinguished and left in the ashtrays provided and never thrown overboard when they are still lit. We would also like to remind you that on board the ships Costa Mediterranea, Costa Classica, Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria there are no indoor smoking areas.

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Bravo Costa. At last those of us who do not wish to suffer air polluted by the inconsiderate others are now to be taken into consideration. My husband has a terminal lung disease and does not need to suffer cigarette smoke added to his other problems. I might add that he doesnt smoke, doesnt drink alcohol and goes to the gym daily.

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Well I hope they actually enforce the new policy. On previous cruises I found that the entire side of outdoor areas was smoking with often not enough seats on the non smoking side. So if there are fewer smoking areas, I'll be very happy. I don't just dislike it, it often exacerbates my asthma.

 

Whilst I do appreciate that this is not going to be a favourable change for smokers, they're not banning it completely and most lines in line with many countries are restricting smoking areas.

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Bravo Costa. At last those of us who do not wish to suffer air polluted by the inconsiderate others are now to be taken into consideration. My husband has a terminal lung disease and does not need to suffer cigarette smoke added to his other problems. I might add that he doesnt smoke, doesnt drink alcohol and goes to the gym daily.

 

how many costa cruises have you taken? how many do you have planned? sailing on a ship that allows bans smoking isn't going to save your husband, now.

 

as for the 'inconsiderate' remark - i find that ironic coming from someone from france. your country has the reputation of being the rudest of all people according to this: http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2012/04/03/the-worlds-rudest-nations-for-travelers/ and http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/worlds-rudest-countries-travelers-309852. of the 50+ countries i've been to, it is the only one i don't care to return to.

Edited by AnonymousCruiser69
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how many costa cruises have you taken? how many do you have planned? sailing on a ship that allows bans smoking isn't going to save your husband, now.

 

as for the 'inconsiderate' remark - i find that ironic coming from someone from france. your country has the reputation of being the rudest of all people according to this: http://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbender/2012/04/03/the-worlds-rudest-nations-for-travelers/ and http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/worlds-rudest-countries-travelers-309852. of the 50+ countries i've been to, it is the only one i don't care to return to.

 

First of all, I probably shouldn't even respond to this, but since I just had surgery (no, not smoking related) I'm online a little more while I recuperate. Secondly, if you check the smoking policy on other lines, this one is very loose compared to the recent tightening up on smoking on most lines .... BUT, more than ANYTHING, not only is that remark 'inconsiderate' but totally RUDE, CRUDE and UNACCEPTABLE!! That is an awful thing to say to anyone. Try re-thinking what you say to people and think 'not nasty' for a little bit, you might like how it feels! And you might even apologize to that poor woman!

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I was on the Victoria from Shanghai in Oct. 2012 and Costa had banned smoking anywhere inside the ship. I estimate 90% of the pax were Chinese... so about 40% were male smokers who simply ignored the ban.

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First of all, I probably shouldn't even respond to this, but since I just had surgery (no, not smoking related) I'm online a little more while I recuperate. Secondly, if you check the smoking policy on other lines, this one is very loose compared to the recent tightening up on smoking on most lines .... BUT, more than ANYTHING, not only is that remark 'inconsiderate' but totally RUDE, CRUDE and UNACCEPTABLE!! That is an awful thing to say to anyone. Try re-thinking what you say to people and think 'not nasty' for a little bit, you might like how it feels! And you might even apologize to that poor woman!

 

Amen!

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Thank you AmoMondo and MMOMOM for your support. As you know, the presence of smoke causes immense physical irritation for those with breathing problems and can easily leave you gasping for breathe. Not a pleasant sight. Cigarette smoke does not restrict itself to smoking areas, its carried around in your clothes, hair and on your breathe so anything which reduces the overall unpleasantness is very welcome.

 

AnonymousCruiser69. We have taken many Costa cruises over the years and have another planned shortly. Pleased to hear you will not be on it. We will now be able to enjoy improved air quality due to this change. I also hope they police it properly.

 

What makes you assume that I am French? Why has my residence suddenly become a racist issue? The British are by far the largest group of tourists visiting France so obviously they are more open minded than you.

 

My husband works hard to stay physically stable and merits clean air.I leave others to judge your offensive remark about my husband.

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Wow, I am surprised at the change in smoking areas with the new rules. We've done two Costa cruises before this change, and found that many passengers were quite thrilled to be allowed to smoke indoors again, since it is restricted in so many places on land. There was enthusiastic smoking in the casino, the cabins, and every bar with a smoking area. It will be quite a (welcome, for us) change on our next Costa cruise with the new rules.

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Wow, I am surprised at the change in smoking areas with the new rules. We've done two Costa cruises before this change, and found that many passengers were quite thrilled to be allowed to smoke indoors again, since it is restricted in so many places on land. There was enthusiastic smoking in the casino, the cabins, and every bar with a smoking area. It will be quite a (welcome, for us) change on our next Costa cruise with the new rules.

 

Yes I'm also looking forward to it, provided passengers respect the policy and Costa enforces it if they don't.

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I also hope that Costa takes this seriously. If the Costa staff adopt a laissez faire attitude and do not pay enough attention to it then the non smokers amongst us need to react and not just sit there grumbling under our breath. Its perfectly possible to be polite in asking someone to move to the smoking area if they want to light up. Most people are civilised (although there is always the exception!) Presumably there will not be any ashtrays in use in non smoking areas so that should help.

 

Its not a question of victimising smokers - there is the cigar lounge and apparently smoking on the cabin balcony is still OK.

 

As far as I can see there could be many reasons why Costa has introduced these new rules. Either it is now Italian / International law (wouldnt know as I am not a lawyer). Or in line with many big companies these days they want to project an image with having a social conscience, or for pure commercial reasons ie Costa was losing too much business because of the continuous harmful publicity they were getting. You can decide which one you go with.

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Yes I'm also looking forward to it, provided passengers respect the policy and Costa enforces it if they don't.

 

They don't seem to enforce a lot of things so hopefully this won't be enforced either. If other lines have more restrictive smoking rules then I don't understand why avid non-smokers don't sail with them (just as I wouldn't dream of sailing on Celebrity - horses for courses).

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I am a smoker but have never smoked inside the cabin because I travel with a child.

 

I have only travelled in Asia with Costa- but previously the smoking areas were generally used by the shop's officers- a lot!

 

The new rules are not going to bother me much. Perhaps I will forget the after dinner night cap at the bar- less revenue for Costa and go to an outside area without buying a drink.

I am not a gambler but every time I entered the casino it was filled with smokers- not sure how that rule will impact on the profits of Costa- I guess that they have looked into it though.

 

But If I have paid for a balcony- I expect that I can smoke on it. It is outside after all.

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If i read this well, then there are only a few non smoking ships??

 

I am sailing on the Costa Serena in april. It looks like there are still inside smoking areas then?

 

Plus the balcony policy has not changed. I dont know if this really a big step forward..

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Yay !

 

Next they need to ban smoking on balconies so non-smokers can enjoy the balcony.

 

Be careful what you wish for! There were NO non-smoking areas outdoors on Costa Victoria (I'm guessing the other 3 ships are the same). We could smoke anywhere at all so long as it was outdoors.

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When I smoked , it was in the casino , my deck or the side they allow it on the sun deck. Smokers deserve rights just as much as non smokers. They work , they pay taxes and cruise like anyone else.

 

 

Geo

 

 

 

True. I agree with what you have written. However, as a non-smoker, I feel absolutely no sympathy when a 30 year, 2 pack a day smoker develops terminal lung cancer due to smoking. I mean it should be expected.

It must be awful being a drug addict addicted to nicotine.

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True. I agree with what you have written. However, as a non-smoker, I feel absolutely no sympathy when a 30 year, 2 pack a day smoker develops terminal lung cancer due to smoking. I mean it should be expected.

It must be awful being a drug addict addicted to nicotine.

 

I hate getting involved in these nasty discussions and I don't even sail Costa, but your comment just really rubbed me the wrong way! We'll blame it on my recovering from surgery (no, not smoking related since I don't!) but really, that comment was not only smug but degrading. Just because someone smokes does not make them a 'drug addict' any more than someone who drinks altogether too much is an 'alcoholic'. Name calling isn't nice and the way you put it sounded so condescending! I was always taught never to look down on anyone unless you're helping them up!! And, I have sympathy for any human being that is ill regardless of how it came about. Yes, it has been conceded that smoking is bad for you and it does bother other people. Most of the cruise lines are responding to it by changing the policies. I personally think that sometimes some people are a little over the top about it, but some people are just like that. Your statement just makes me want to ask you if you would also have no sympathy for someone dying from the MANY things alcohol contributes to as well as the totally overweight and sedate lifestyle person dying from diabetes, heart disease or stroke??? I mean really! No one is perfect, that's why we're called human. I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble just taking care of myself so that I really don't have the time to watch, criticize and judge what others are doing and how they are living. Just venting and didn't mean to offend you personally, but if I did sorry, but it just really hit me the wrong way.

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I hate getting involved in these nasty discussions and I don't even sail Costa, but your comment just really rubbed me the wrong way! We'll blame it on my recovering from surgery (no, not smoking related since I don't!) but really, that comment was not only smug but degrading. Just because someone smokes does not make them a 'drug addict' any more than someone who drinks altogether too much is an 'alcoholic'. Name calling isn't nice and the way you put it sounded so condescending! I was always taught never to look down on anyone unless you're helping them up!! And, I have sympathy for any human being that is ill regardless of how it came about. Yes, it has been conceded that smoking is bad for you and it does bother other people. Most of the cruise lines are responding to it by changing the policies. I personally think that sometimes some people are a little over the top about it, but some people are just like that. Your statement just makes me want to ask you if you would also have no sympathy for someone dying from the MANY things alcohol contributes to as well as the totally overweight and sedate lifestyle person dying from diabetes, heart disease or stroke??? I mean really! No one is perfect, that's why we're called human. I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble just taking care of myself so that I really don't have the time to watch, criticize and judge what others are doing and how they are living. Just venting and didn't mean to offend you personally, but if I did sorry, but it just really hit me the wrong way.

 

 

You can be offended all you want but I FIRMLY stand by my comments. Individuals are responsible for their own health. This is one of the reasons our healthcare system is in such shambles. So many health problems could be prevented! If someone smokes for 30+ years and develops lung cancer...it is entirely their own fault. No one forced them to suck on white cancer sticks day in and day out. If someone eats and eats and eats until they blow up like a blimp and weigh 500lbs. and develop diabetes and heart disease, etc....it is THEIR fault. Some of us are not "perfect" but we do have the willpower to realize we are making unhealthy choices and take control to make changes for the better.

 

And for your information.....YES..... smokers are DRUG Addicts.... and the drug they are addicted to is called nicotine. That is a fact whether you like it or not.

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You can be offended all you want but I FIRMLY stand by my comments. Individuals are responsible for their own health. This is one of the reasons our healthcare system is in such shambles. So many health problems could be prevented! If someone smokes for 30+ years and develops lung cancer...it is entirely their own fault. No one forced them to suck on white cancer sticks day in and day out. If someone eats and eats and eats until they blow up like a blimp and weigh 500lbs. and develop diabetes and heart disease, etc....it is THEIR fault. Some of us are not "perfect" but we do have the willpower to realize we are making unhealthy choices and take control to make changes for the better.

 

And for your information.....YES..... smokers are DRUG Addicts.... and the drug they are addicted to is called nicotine. That is a fact whether you like it or not.

 

Good for you, you seem to be 'one of those' and I don't care to argue, just thinking about a thing called 'compassion' for ANY other human being. If you can't do that, you can't do that. I'm not 'offended', just as I said, right now it rubbed me the wrong way to be so seemingly perfect and judgmental towards others. And my surgery btw, had nothing to do with smoking, drinking or eating ... but thanx for asking. I have nothing more to say. :)

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True. I agree with what you have written. However, as a non-smoker, I feel absolutely no sympathy when a 30 year, 2 pack a day smoker develops terminal lung cancer due to smoking. I mean it should be expected.

It must be awful being a drug addict addicted to nicotine.

 

I don't either....I'm just saying what I believe. You smoke....you know consequences!

 

 

Geo

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Well I'm indeed surprised to read that smoking is allowed on the balconies! I just got off the Victoria and had a German neighbour whinge to guest relations every time I had a cigarette on the balcony (I can assure you I wasn't the only one who did)....which wasn't very often as I actually thought I wasn't allowed to and guest relations would in turn ring me.

Well....I wish I could turn back time to annoy her the way she annoyed me. There is much more to this story but another time.....perhaps a new thread, "The cruise neighbour from hell"

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