Balcony and smokers

We have a balcony reserved for our cruise. We are not smokers. If by chance we end up surrounded by smokers with it coming over/up to us and bothering us do we have any recourse? I hate to "control" someone else, but I don't want to be "controlled" by their habit either. I would like to be able to enjoy my balcony too.

Really hoping not to have a problem but wondering about other peoples experiences with this.

We have a balcony reserved for our cruise. We are not smokers. If by chance we end up surrounded by smokers with it coming over/up to us and bothering us do we have any recourse? I hate to "control" someone else, but I don't want to be "controlled" by their habit either. I would like to be able to enjoy my balcony too.

 

Really hoping not to have a problem but wondering about other peoples experiences with this.

You will be flamed, flamed and flamed some more....

I decided to not get bothered by smokers and only book OV's or Spa balconies after being flamed here on CC...

You really have no recourse as Carnival allows smoking on the balcony. You knew this before booking (or should have) so you should have educated yourself by exploring other options as the poster above me stated.

But with all of my cruises I have never been smoked out (or off) my balcony.

actually I didn't know that one side was preferred in regards to smoking over the other, I may call and try and change sides due to that. I also would point out that you aren't asked about your smoking preference when you make a reservation. And no place in the reservation process does it say that one side or the other is designated smoking.

However why does their "right" to enjoy their balcony as they wish superceed my "right" to enjoy my balcony. I am not doing anything on my balcony that has the possibility of leaking over to another balcony.

I understand that people choose to smoke, and I know they can choose to that that to their hearts content in designated areas. I avoid those areas. I know that if I go to the cigar bar, or the casino I will have to accept that there is smoking allowed there. I can choose to avoid those areas or not, my choice. But if people are smoking "onto" my balcony it doesn't give me any choice now does it.

I am not trying to start a war, I am just looking for ideas of how to handle a potential problem, for me, better armed in advance than unprepared. Based upon the research I am doing I am probably going to bring ear plugs in case noise bothers me.

Realistically at this point, if you find yourself with neighboring smokers the only thing you can do is talk to them and try to come to some agreement regarding when they smoke on the balcony so you can avoid it. If they are not amenable, then as others have said you're pretty much out of luck. Balconies are one of the few remaining places smokers can indulge on-board.

It's pretty unlikely that a smoker will be out on their balcony 24/7.

Like others have said, if you have a smoker next to you and it's bothersome, have a polite conversation. You might be surprised.

It won't do any good to change sides of the ship. Both sides are smoking when it comes to balconies.

We have a balcony reserved for our cruise. We are not smokers. If by chance we end up surrounded by smokers with it coming over/up to us and bothering us do we have any recourse? I hate to "control" someone else, but I don't want to be "controlled" by their habit either. I would like to be able to enjoy my balcony too.

 

Really hoping not to have a problem but wondering about other peoples experiences with this.

Hey, Billy. It does seem like non-smokers might as well not book a balcony anymore because the smokers flock to them since they can't smoke in the cabins now. Ditto for the casino. It's very smoky too. Sorry, but there isn't much recourse that I can think of if you're already booked unless you can upgrade to a spa balcony cabin or ask to change to a forward balcony if possible where when the ship is moving the smoke will blow aft. Once onboard, there isn't much you can do since the ship will likely be full and changes impossible. Maybe in time Carnival will reconsider their policy that exposes non-smoking passengers and their employees to unhealthy smoke. Carnival needs those enclosed smoking booths like they have at the airports. :-)

You'll likely be flamed incessantly here on this board though.

actually I didn't know that one side was preferred in regards to smoking over the other, I may call and try and change sides due to that. I also would point out that you aren't asked about your smoking preference when you make a reservation. And no place in the reservation process does it say that one side or the other is designated smoking.

 

However why does their "right" to enjoy their balcony as they wish superceed my "right" to enjoy my balcony. I am not doing anything on my balcony that has the possibility of leaking over to another balcony.

 

I understand that people choose to smoke, and I know they can choose to that that to their hearts content in designated areas. I avoid those areas. I know that if I go to the cigar bar, or the casino I will have to accept that there is smoking allowed there. I can choose to avoid those areas or not, my choice. But if people are smoking "onto" my balcony it doesn't give me any choice now does it.

 

I am not trying to start a war, I am just looking for ideas of how to handle a potential problem, for me, better armed in advance than unprepared. Based upon the research I am doing I am probably going to bring ear plugs in case noise bothers me.

They do not have smoking or non smoking sides in regards to the balconies, that pertains to the open deck, where one side is smoking and the other is smoking.

As another poster said, they won't be out there 24/7.

I just got off Valor a few weeks ago and my DH smokes. He only went out on balcony very briefly to smoke only a couple of times. For the most part, people are out and about most of the day.

I am sure it will be fine...and ship is moving and wind is blowing if you are at sea.

Just be thankful you didn't have what we had...group of loud drunks blowing on life jacket whistles out on balcony next to us when we were in our cabin trying to sleep and blasting their music..thank GOD it was only for a couple of hours on very last day. I know I couldn't tolerate that all week.

I've never smelled anything worse than s faint whiff of smoke. Walking through the casino is much worse.

My wife and I are smokers and here is our own personal policies regarding smoking on the balcony. And, from what we've seen, most people seem to follow something similarly.

1. We try not to smoke too much when in port, especially if the wind is down.
   
2. We generally don't sit out there for much longer than to have one smoke then go back to what we were doing.
   
3. We always bring a brand new travel ashtray with a lid. This keeps the butts from flying off.
   
4. We never let the cigarette hang out over the balcony rail. This helps keep ashes from flying.
   

Now that's not to say you won't end up near someone who doesn't do these things but I think it's rare. You might get a whiff of some cigarette smoke but it won't be over bearing or long lasting. Now the casino might be too much if you're sensitive to smoke. If so, you might want to steer clear of that area.

My advice is to not focus too much on it and enjoy your cruise!!

Here is my solution - When you want a balcony, book Celebrity. Frankly if you really really hate smoke, book Celebrity.

Enjoying our balcony on the Summit was such a pleasure to say nothing of the smoke free casino and almost everywhere else.:)

DW and I will hesitate before booking a balcony on any other cruise brand. This is not specific to Carnival.

One smoker several balcony's away can really spoil breakfast on the balcony.

I don't want to pay the balcony premium just to be annoyed. Still waiting for one side of cruise ships to be non-smoking.

And waiting.:mad:

Sorry - just needed to vent.

My wife and I are smokers and here is our own personal policies regarding smoking on the balcony. And, from what we've seen, most people seem to follow something similarly.

 

1. We try not to smoke too much when in port, especially if the wind is down.
   
2. We generally don't sit out there for much longer than to have one smoke then go back to what we were doing.
   
3. We always bring a brand new travel ashtray with a lid. This keeps the butts from flying off.
   
4. We never let the cigarette hang out over the balcony rail. This helps keep ashes from flying.
   

Now that's not to say you won't end up near someone who doesn't do these things but I think it's rare. You might get a whiff of some cigarette smoke but it won't be over bearing or long lasting. Now the casino might be too much if you're sensitive to smoke. If so, you might want to steer clear of that area.

 

 

 

My advice is to not focus too much on it and enjoy your cruise!!

Well said :)

Princess no longer allows balcony smoking either.

I'm a smoker and my DW is not. She has asthma and several other issues. I have never had a problem with my neighbors due to my smoking a few cigs during the day or night. My DW had issues on our last cruise when the cigars came out next door and she went back in the room. I think the worst thing is the loudness of people at night, as in Music and parties and swearing and people hanging off their balconies at port cat-calling and just not respectful with the language used. I will keep on booking balconies for many more cruises to come. I agree with above, book a room forward enough that chances of smoke blowing downwind is less.

We have only ever had balconies and I never remember being bothered by smoke. Maybe we have just been lucky. We really aren't out there to much when the ship isn't moving. The casino is really bad, but I can take it.

recourse, dont complain about smokers having an open area in the back on one side of the ship to smoke. dont take away our few smoking areas so we are forced to only smoke on our balcony. i try to be polite but our areas are VERY limited

This has become a growing problem. And its not just smoking, if a person might be denied doing something. Regardless of how it effects the rights of others his/her right to do it wins out.

I believe booking a Spa balcony cabin would be the way for a non smoker to go as there is no smoking allowed on those balconies. Unfortunately, the complaining from the non smokers over the years has led to more and more public areas being marked as "Non Smoking", forcing the smokers to smoke on their balconies.

I'm very sensitive to smoke and never have been bothered by someone smoking on the balcony. I always have an aftwrap suite on Carnival and there definitely is no problem there. On my HAL cruises, the breeze took any smoke away.

My wife and I are smokers and here is our own personal policies regarding smoking on the balcony. And, from what we've seen, most people seem to follow something similarly.

 

1. We try not to smoke too much when in port, especially if the wind is down.
   
2. We generally don't sit out there for much longer than to have one smoke then go back to what we were doing.
   
3. We always bring a brand new travel ashtray with a lid. This keeps the butts from flying off.
   
4. We never let the cigarette hang out over the balcony rail. This helps keep ashes from flying.
   

Now that's not to say you won't end up near someone who doesn't do these things but I think it's rare. You might get a whiff of some cigarette smoke but it won't be over bearing or long lasting. Now the casino might be too much if you're sensitive to smoke. If so, you might want to steer clear of that area.

 

 

 

My advice is to not focus too much on it and enjoy your cruise!!

Very well said! I wasn't going to post on this since it's always such a nasty thread usually, but guess I'm just not caring tonite. First of all, you sound like considerate smokers. Not all smokers are. I am a former smoker, and always tried to be considerate doing the same things you stated, but smoking on the balcony always made me paranoid and intimidated because of all I read on the boards. Hmmm ... wonder if that is the real purpose of some of these posts???!! LOL!! I now use the e-cig and it makes me feel a lot better when I'm out on the balcony knowing I'm not 'infringing' on people. Of course, NOW there are some that complain about that too, which is ridiculous since it's not smoke, only water vapor and there are no tars or anything else burning! People will complain about anything. Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is, we all have rights and we all have responsibilities to be considerate of the other person, whether we are the smoker, or the one that doesn't like the smoke. It's a big world and we have to learn to live with and be respectful of each other, faults and all. Being a non-drinker I will say (and those that imbibe don't realize this, but it's true) .... alcohol smells awful too! And, as some posters have said, the behavior is ALOT worse many times than a little smoke. I've been in elevators that reek of stale liquor and sometimes even the lounges and casino smell of it. But, I can't expect people not to drink (whether to excess or not) just because it bothers me. It's too bad this is such an issue, a little tolerance would go a long way for all of us. But, until then, as long as it's is allowed, people that want to smoke should be able to without being condemned. And, if it's really that big of an issue with some, I agree, either don't book the balcony, book another line that doesn't allow smoking or find a way to deal with it. Nuff said! :D

Precisely the reason I changed to eCig. I don't have to worry about offensive smoke bothering anyone.

actually I didn't know that one side was preferred in regards to smoking over the other, I may call and try and change sides due to that. I also would point out that you aren't asked about your smoking preference when you make a reservation. And no place in the reservation process does it say that one side or the other is designated smoking.

 

However why does their "right" to enjoy their balcony as they wish superceed my "right" to enjoy my balcony. I am not doing anything on my balcony that has the possibility of leaking over to another balcony.

 

I understand that people choose to smoke, and I know they can choose to that that to their hearts content in designated areas. I avoid those areas. I know that if I go to the cigar bar, or the casino I will have to accept that there is smoking allowed there. I can choose to avoid those areas or not, my choice. But if people are smoking "onto" my balcony it doesn't give me any choice now does it.

 

I am not trying to start a war, I am just looking for ideas of how to handle a potential problem, for me, better armed in advance than unprepared. Based upon the research I am doing I am probably going to bring ear plugs in case noise bothers me.

They have the right because the cruise line says they do. They allow smoking on the balcony and there isn't anything you can do to make sure you aren't near a smoker. If you end up near a smoker you can politely ask them to work with you to not smoke when you are outside but they don't have to comply. Then can smoke on the balcony all day every day if they so chose.

I am not a smoker but I think people here make this more an issue then it really is. We were next to a smoker and as long as the ship was moving we would catch a whiff but it was gone just as quick. In port it might be more noticeable.

Precisely the reason I changed to eCig. I don't have to worry about offensive smoke bothering anyone.

i tried the ecig and like it as well but i found out i still cant smoke it in non smoking areas.....so i went back to regular ones

I know .... when I went on my last cruise the e-cig was relatively new and that was the rule, you still had to go to the smoking section, but I've been told that's changed. Maybe not on Carnival yet, but I want to say maybe RCCI? I'm not sure, but someone mentioned it. In any event, I still stuck to my e-cig, but followed the rules and when out and about on the ship I went to the smoking section. But, I felt a lot more comfortable when I was on the balcony. I just find that people seem to need something to complain about sometimes .... like I said, someone was complaining now about the e-cig! Go figure! :confused: