What ships have the best Cigar Bars?

We are fairly new to cruising and are wondering what ships have the best cigar bars...thanks!

The best cigar bars I have seen are on Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Freedom Class ships. They are on deck 5, forward, at the lounge entrance. It's called the Aficionados Club.

Many cruise lines have nice cigar rooms. I would first narrow down your cruise to itinerary and a few cruise lines that are in the price category that you want and then go from there.

Keith

The best cigar bars I have seen are on Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Freedom Class ships. They are on deck 5, forward, at the lounge entrance. It's called the Aficionados Club.

We agree--and we haven't smoked even cigarettes for decades! My sister and BIL (both non-smokers, except my BIL has the occasional cigar) decided they "had to" experience Cuban cigars one cruise. On Mariner, it's called the Connoisseur's Lounge. In any case, we all went together after dinner one night. The lounge is elegant and understated with a ventilation system that is out of this world. We could barely smell the smoke anywhere in the lounge, not even right across the table, because the filtration/ventilation was so efficient. My DH has asthma now and didn't have the slightest issue. We had a very nice time.

beachchick

Everyone complains about the cigar bars on Carnival's Conquest-class ship because of their horrid layout in that it is near the dining room (people try to cut through then complain of the smoke) and has the ship's internet cafe hidden in the back. With these downsides, however, I've been on the Glory several times and appreciated the live jazz that was played in the lounge ... an improvement over the tiny room on Royal Caribbean ships in my opinion (though not as well ventilated). :)

Loved the one (Churchill's) on the Island Princess.

MaryAnn

We agree--and we haven't smoked even cigarettes for decades! My sister and BIL (both non-smokers, except my BIL has the occasional cigar) decided they "had to" experience Cuban cigars one cruise. On Mariner, it's called the Connoisseur's Lounge. In any case, we all went together after dinner one night. The lounge is elegant and understated with a ventilation system that is out of this world. We could barely smell the smoke anywhere in the lounge, not even right across the table, because the filtration/ventilation was so efficient. My DH has asthma now and didn't have the slightest issue. We had a very nice time.

 

beachchick

I'm curious, you had Cuban cigars on an american ship ?

i loved the cigar room on mariner of the seas. I took my own cigars as the ones on the ship are quite expensive. Order from thompsoncigars.com or get them local before you go on the ship. The cigar lounge has cutters but you may cut them on before you go.

Everyone complains about the cigar bars on Carnival's Conquest-class ship because of their horrid layout in that it is near the dining room (people try to cut through then complain of the smoke) and has the ship's internet cafe hidden in the back. With these downsides, however, I've been on the Glory several times and appreciated the live jazz that was played in the lounge ... an improvement over the tiny room on Royal Caribbean ships in my opinion (though not as well ventilated). :)

Unfortunately, when we sailed on Glory in February what used to be the cigar bar (the Ivory Lounge) had banned cigars - they were limited to the sports bar by the casino. (They also did away with the jazz group - we had a classic rock group instead.) However, DH and I have enjoyed that lounge on both the Conquest-class and Destiny-class ships. Our personal favorite is the Ionian Lounge on Victory - really comfy leather chairs and a Greek decor.

I'm curious, you had Cuban cigars on an american ship ?

Mariner of the Seas is not an American-flagged ship; RCI is not an American company; the ship cruises in international waters. So yes, they were able to purchase Cuban cigars at a non-US port and smoke them on the ship. The cruise lines always "remind" passengers that they may not bring Cuban cigars into the United States upon returning to the destination port. (Yes, I know that US citizens are not legally "allowed" to smoke Cuban cigars even when they are outside the US, but I'd love to see them try to enforce that law.)

beachchick

p.s., Small point of clarification. We did not have Cuban cigars onboard the ship; we only accompanied others to the lounge. I have no idea if the cigars were as special as people say they are because I have no desire to try a cigar.

Cunard.

Cheers

Mark

I agree with Aquahound about RCI's cigar bars. The club on Freedom of the Seas was not only a great space with wonderful ventilation (DW said she never smelled smoke on DS & I) but the attendant that was there in Feb, 2009 was the absolute pinnacle of servie. Her name is Chan (pronounced Chun) Not only did DS and I give her a tip but I wrote a note on her behalf and talked to her boss the last night on board. I hope to have the fortune to run into her again. We were also on Legend of the Seas in 2008 and the cigar bar there seemed like and after-thought. It was tucked away in the rear of the Viking Crown Lounge area. Adequate, but nothing like Freedom.

As to Cuban's, I think they are vastly overrated. The only thing they have going for them is they are "forbidden" in the US. I find a good Honduran or Dominican as fine a smoke as a Cuban. Have I and will I smoke Cuban's? Yep, if they are comparably (sp) priced and quality of my liking. That last comment sounded really snobby but cigar smokers have their own individual standards as to what we like in a cigar. Long winded answer and comment over.

Happy Cruising and Smoking to all.

Mariner of the Seas is not an American-flagged ship; RCI is not an American company; the ship cruises in international waters. So yes, they were able to purchase Cuban cigars at a non-US port and smoke them on the ship. The cruise lines always "remind" passengers that they may not bring Cuban cigars into the United States upon returning to the destination port. (Yes, I know that US citizens are not legally "allowed" to smoke Cuban cigars even when they are outside the US, but I'd love to see them try to enforce that law.)

 

beachchick

 

p.s., Small point of clarification. We did not have Cuban cigars onboard the ship; we only accompanied others to the lounge. I have no idea if the cigars were as special as people say they are because I have no desire to try a cigar.

Thank you beachchick for the information. I wouldn't have taught of the ship registration, I believed it was the Company it belongs to that counts.

The US Goverment has ruled that if a cruise line has a single office in the USA, NONE of their ships - regardless of where they are flagged or where they sail - can sell cuban cigars onboard.

NCL got into a lot of trouble a few years ago when they tried to sell Cuban Cigars on their ships that did not call at US Ports.

The US Government threatened a $1Million fine.

They stopped the Cuban Cigars very quickly.

The US Goverment has ruled that if a cruise line has a single office in the USA, NONE of their ships - regardless of where they are flagged or where they sail - can sell cuban cigars onboard.

 

NCL got into a lot of trouble a few years ago when they tried to sell Cuban Cigars on their ships that did not call at US Ports.

The US Government threatened a $1Million fine.

They stopped the Cuban Cigars very quickly.

This is an area where I think the US Government has seriously overstepped and is acting like a bully. Not all passengers on the ships are US citizens, but our government feels it's appropriate to force them to follow our rules regarding Cuban cigars on non-US flagged cruise ships (many owned by non-US companies) while those ships are in international waters. While I am proud to be a US citizen, I am not proud of this. (Shakes head and sighs)

beachchick

This is an area where I think the US Government has seriously overstepped and is acting like a bully. Not all passengers on the ships are US citizens, but our government feels it's appropriate to force them to follow our rules regarding Cuban cigars on non-US flagged cruise ships (many owned by non-US companies) while those ships are in international waters. While I am proud to be a US citizen, I am not proud of this. (Shakes head and sighs)

 

beachchick

I am proud to be a British Citizen and am very happy to follow the laws of other countries when I am upon their soil. I look forward to smoking a nice Cuban cigar when I am in the Caribbean next winter.

I am proud to be a British Citizen and am very happy to follow the laws of other countries when I am upon their soil. I look forward to smoking a nice Cuban cigar when I am in the Caribbean next winter.

I quite agree. Unfortunately, the Cuban cigar ban on cruise ships extends US law onto non-US soil and sea. It's not just while the ships are in US ports; it's that they're not allowed to sell Cuban cigars at all if they have even one US port. It's akin to requiring British citizens to follow US law while they are visiting Canada if they have an airport layover in New York on the way to Quebec.

beachchick

I quite agree. Unfortunately, the Cuban cigar ban on cruise ships extends US law onto non-US soil and sea. It's not just while the ships are in US ports; it's that they're not allowed to sell Cuban cigars at all if they have even one US port. It's akin to requiring British citizens to follow US law while they are visiting Canada if they have an airport layover in New York on the way to Quebec.

 

beachchick

There is plenty I could say on this but I won't.

Unfortunately, when we sailed on Glory in February what used to be the cigar bar (the Ivory Lounge) had banned cigars - they were limited to the sports bar by the casino. (They also did away with the jazz group - we had a classic rock group instead.) However, DH and I have enjoyed that lounge on both the Conquest-class and Destiny-class ships. Our personal favorite is the Ionian Lounge on Victory - really comfy leather chairs and a Greek decor.

Good for me to know that things have changed, though I'm saddened by the news. :(

PS ... I agree that Cuban cigars can be over-rated and over-priced, especially in cruise ports that are specifically overcharging ignorant American cigar smokers.

Its illegal for a US national to possess a Cuban cigar anywhere in the world...Its a stupid rule.

The trading with the enemy act prohibits any entity that calls in the US from having any trade in the US. So the choice for the cruise lines is to either have US ports or no Cuban cigars.

I have smoked Cuban cigars. I actually know where to buy them illegally in the US. Don't ask I won't tell. What is legal are what is know as Cuban seed cigars that are made mostly in the Dominican Republic from Tobacco plants from Cuban seed that predate Le revolution. Unfortunately most real Cuban cigars are overpriced for what you get(you know its like prohibition).

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba.shtml

if you buy Cuban cigars pay cash there is no reason to create a paper trail....

I see this thread is a few years old. Just want to see if anyone had any updates/experience on cruise ship cigar lounges.

Thanks!

I'm curious, you had Cuban cigars on an american ship ?

You can smoke them on the ship but you can't take them back to the USA with you. ;)

Loved the one (Churchill's) on the Island Princess.

MaryAnn

Yes, and in a great location! :)

Speakeasy (cigar lounge) on Crown/Emerald/Ruby Princess is a favorite meeting place for those who smoke. :)

Best was Churchill's on Cunard Queen Elizabeth, due to comfy chairs for a long smoke. Ventilation was weak.

The Grand Princess need's more comfy chairs IMO. Their chairs are ok for a short cigarette smoke, but I found them lacking for a long smoke