No smoking on balconies

Don't want to start a flame war about this, but am curious how the new rule of not being able to smoke on balconies is going for RCL?

As we all know, this rule recently came into play for CCL and NCL - beginning in Oct/Nov for both and it seems to be very quiet on those boards.

Just curious as to if RCL has arranged nice areas for smokers and enough of them....as there is not a peep on this board about it. And if not, what happened??

Thanks for your thoughts on the topic!

Cruiser303!

Search the forums, and you'll get a belly full. I think it works, but, neither side is actually happy with the results.

Our JS was downwind and 1 deck down from on the smoking side of the Legend on our recent TA. Every once in awhile we could smell the cigarette smoke from the pool deck. As far as smoking in the casino, it was right across from the theater and you could smell the smoke halfway down into the theater. Plus during the rainy weather, everyone barely stood outside the door to smoke and the smoke came right inside. It was ridiculous. I made sure and stayed far away from the smoking side of the ship.

Don't want to start a flame war about this, but am curious how the new rule of not being able to smoke on balconies is going for RCL?

 

As we all know, this rule recently came into play for CCL and NCL - beginning in Oct/Nov for both and it seems to be very quiet on those boards.

 

Just curious as to if RCL has arranged nice areas for smokers and enough of them....as there is not a peep on this board about it. And if not, what happened??

 

Thanks for your thoughts on the topic!

 

Cruiser303!

As mentioned, there are many of threads about this since the ban on balcony smoking came into affect January 1, 2014. Do a search and you will find them.

The outdoor smoking areas on all RCI ships are one side of the pool deck - as previously. (and typically also used is the Promenade deck as well on the same side.) Nothing new or "nicer" has been set up. No indoor venues permit smoking other than designated areas of the Casinos. Also on Freedom and Voyager class the Connoisseur Club - which is a dedicated indoor cigar lounge - also is frequented by cigarette smokers as well.

How has it worked out? As a non smoker, in our experience since the current policies have been in affect, fine.

We were on the Freedom, in a balcony cabin, in April. There were smokers outside next door to us on the first day. We reported them. Someone spoke with them and told them were they COULD smoke. Problem solved. No more smoke. They are serious about it - if you know where the smoke is coming from, the smoking will be stopped. Period. It was amazing how quickly the situation was solved. I loved it! Never a problem with the neighbor who was told not to smoke on the balcony either.;)

We were on the Freedom, in a balcony cabin, in April. There were smokers outside next door to us on the first day. We reported them. Someone spoke with them and told them were they COULD smoke. Problem solved. No more smoke. They are serious about it - if you know where the smoke is coming from, the smoking will be stopped. Period. It was amazing how quickly the situation was solved. I loved it! Never a problem with the neighbor who was told not to smoke on the balcony either.;)

Glad they are willing to enforce a rule.

We were on the Radiance earlier this month and someone began smoking on the balcony up wind from us. I reported it, a team came to our row of cabins, research the situation, spoke with the smoker, and the smoking on the balcony immediately stopped.

Several people threatened to cancel cruises because of it. Some said they did, but funny, I've seen most of them, a couple in particular, who are back with RCI cruises booked. Empty threats. I'm glad they imposed it because we have been on our balcony and had smoke from below or next to us bother us. I hope if I have to call, that they will enforce the rules.

We were on the Radiance earlier this month and someone began smoking on the balcony up wind from us. I reported it, a team came to our row of cabins, research the situation, spoke with the smoker, and the smoking on the balcony immediately stopped.

Good to know that they take the policy seriously.

My neighbor was smoking next to me on Majesty. I just leaned over and said, don't know if you know this but RCI no longer allows smoking on Balcony's.

Neighbor said I'm sorry I did not know that and put it out and thanked me for telling him. He did not smoke for the rest of the trip.

Glad they are willing to enforce a rule.

I was more pleased to see that the pax actually ABIDED by the rule once informed of it. too many smokers have the attitude of 'who is it hurting when we are underway' or 'it's my vacation too' and even after being told it is not allowed will still do so.

I was more pleased to see that the pax actually ABIDED by the rule once informed of it. too many smokers have the attitude of 'who is it hurting when we are underway' or 'it's my vacation too' and even after being told it is not allowed will still do so.

Yes, not all smokers feel this way - most of us want to abide by the rules. :)

I hope it is working well and RCI enforces it. We just booked a GS on Oasis for the spring. Husband will not tolerate a smoking neighbor.

We just got back from the Freedom and did not observe smoking on the balconies. My husband is a smoker and when he learned of the new rule, he was not happy. But, he did abide by the rules. There is an area on the 12th floor outside by lounge chairs that has an ash tray and you can smoke and you can smoke in the casino. It didn't seem to be a problem.

Saw this on our Indy cruise back in March one deck below us. Never bothered us so I didnt say anything. I probably should have....:(

We have been on twenty-four cruises and only three of them of been with RCCL. On our last cruise with them five years ago, we often had the choice of breathing second hand smoke on our balcony or retreating elsewhere. Thus, we vowed not to sail RCCL again until they adopted a 21st Century Smoking policy.

We are very pleased that the policy has been changed and as a result have booked a thirteen day cruise with a balcony on the Serenade of the Seas for next April.

My neighbor was smoking next to me on Majesty. I just leaned over and said, don't know if you know this but RCI no longer allows smoking on Balcony's.

Neighbor said I'm sorry I did not know that and put it out and thanked me for telling him. He did not smoke for the rest of the trip.

We had smokers on Indy Aft area, Jan. onward on each of our B2Bs, after it was in effect. Hope they are doing more about it now than then.

They said there were going to be no smoking decals for the sliding doors but not by March on IOS and not on Radiance in April. That seems to me to be a smart method. Otherwise how would you know? The compass had the Policy in it one day but you had to read the Compass.

We have been on twenty-four cruises and only three of them of been with RCCL. On our last cruise with them five years ago, we often had the choice of breathing second hand smoke on our balcony or retreating elsewhere. Thus, we vowed not to sail RCCL again until they adopted a 21st Century Smoking policy.

 

We are very pleased that the policy has been changed and as a result have booked a thirteen day cruise with a balcony on the Serenade of the Seas for next April.

We are D+ and also stopped cruising with RCCL due to a couple of balcony experiences ruined by neighbors smoking. After two years cruising with Celebrity we are going back to RCCL to celebrate NYE. Looking forward to enjoy our balcony!!:):)

Is it Starboard side that they are allowed to smoke? (In designated areas, of course)

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Is it Starboard side that they are allowed to smoke? (In designated areas, of course)

 

 

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It varies by ship. On recent cruises this year it was port on Independence and starboard on Grandeur.

Saw this on our Indy cruise back in March one deck below us. Never bothered us so I didnt say anything. I probably should have....:(

 

notice the wind catching embers and/or just so close to the wood on the balcony

Believe me, no one Hates smoke (of any kind) more than me. It makes my asthma really bad. My husband smoked, but never around me, in our home, or car. Now he uses the vapor cigarettes and is trying to quit that. You can purchase nicotine that has an oder, or without. So he chooses without. I wish he would be able to use that on the balcony, but he will adhere to RCL rules.

Saw this on our Indy cruise back in March one deck below us. Never bothered us so I didnt say anything. I probably should have....:(

 

Was on the Radiance in July and was happy to enjoy balcony. Unfortunately, walking up the stairs in the Centrum is smoky for at least 2 floors where I never noticed that before the smoking ban. Wish they could do something about this, but happy that I could enjoy my balcony.

I will be interested to see how this plays out with the 5 ships in Chinese waters next year, will RCI stick to their global plan or bend to meet Chinese needs?