Other Peoples Smoke

I didn't realize that this was not a smoke free ship. We sailed on Oceania before and once smelled smoke from another balcany. Is this going to be a problem. I certainly don't dislike smokers, just their smoke and I don't want to be relaxing on our balcany and breathing it, nor do I want to have to keep our balcany door closed. What's the deal. Has anyone had any experience with this or is it a "Not to Worry" issu

Thanks again.

perhaps,you should inquire with line first to check their policys,there were I believe 2 ships one carnival and I cant remember the other,I do seem to remembering however that not enough non were booking on the carnival to make the venture profitable for the line.Suppose the line just dumped all smoking ,told 35% of their paying passengers to go away,would the non-smoking passengers be willing to absorb the additional sur-charge of possibly 50-100% tomaintain the line or would the posts read how such and such line was ripping them off. I wonder

I have been on all of the RSSC ships. I am a non-smoker and I am allergic to smoke (go figure - I smoked for a number of years). Anyway, even in Europe, it's never been a problem for us. One side of the ship's public areas are designated as non-smoking and only a very small section of Compass Rose is smoking in the back entry. I have never had a problem with a neighbor who smoked on their balcony.

Problems with smoke tend to be related to a particular smoker not abiding by the rules, not the ship. There are very few totally non-smoking ships because they are not economically successful (ala Carnival Paradise which abandoned it). If smoking is such a huge issue I would suggest you limit yourself to non-cruising vacations rather than potentially having what you would perceive as an ordeal. (If Oceania wasn't satisfactory I doubt any line could be. That is not a slam, but an observation.)

BTW, I am a non-smoking, hate smoke (especially when I am eating) and cruise many times each year...quite happily.

I have to agree with the others. I quit smoking almost 25 years ago and I never had a problem with people smoking on any Regent ship or for that matter in any other cruiseline or hotel worldwide. The fact that it is outdoors more or less eradicates the problem and really one must have a little tolerance and respect for smokers rights as it is a legal substance and they are entitled to their vices as much as the next person. Maybe we should all get up in arms about people that put on too much perfume or cologne or have offensive body odor. Jeesh, how about a little tolerance. If someone is invading your air, I would wager that if you asked nicely that they would cease and desist. Most smokers are very aware that they are now considered the bane of society and will bend over backwards not to have their smoke effect anyone. How about a little live and let live.

Pat

isn't there a movement in the cruise industry to dissuade balcony smoking after the princess incident? i thought i read something to that effect on this site.

I certainly did not mean to open a platform for public venting. I havn't smoked in 35 years, and I used to consider it merely a personal vice, however when someone starts to compare smoking to wearing parfume I have to speak up. No one ever died of second hand parfume aromas.

As far as cruise ship profitability, perhaps you might consider Oceania which are all non-smoking, even on your veranda. There may be a little corner on a deck somewhere on board where smokers can go for a cigarette. I am not intolorant of smokers, however when you say live and let live, I think you have gotten the point exactly.

I was only asking if it was a problem for non-smokers. Personally I feel badly for anyone who still smokes, but as someone said, live and let live, as long as I don't have to breath someone elses smoke.

There, I said my piece.

Bogie,

I think that you will find the answer to your question is a luck of the draw thing. It will depend on the number and type of smokers booked on your cruise and where they decide to smoke. We recently spent 4 months on Voyager. That made for several different segments and where we were exposed to smoke changed as the passenger makeup changed. We did not have a problem with smoke as we were able to make changes in response. For example, we found that seating anywhere in the aft port quarter of Compass Rose dining room that we could smell cigarette smoke if there was a group of smokers dining in the smoking area. So, unless it was an invitation to the Captain's or Staff Captain's table for dinner, we just declined to be seated in that area. Only smelled cigar smoke once or twice on our balcony, not regularly. If you find that you have a cabin next to a regular balcony smoker and the ship is not full, I am sure that a request and explanation of the problem to Reception and the Hotel Director could get you relocated to a smoke-free balcony.

Debbie

Other than Oceania, I believe all other cruise lines allow passengers to smoke outside on their own balconies. I'm guessing that many smokers actually smoke outside on their own balconies rather than inside their cabins. Like Debbie mentioned, it may vary from cruise to cruise as to the percentage of smokers. To be safe if you have allergies or an overly sensitive nose, you may want to stick with Oceania.

Hardly public venting......just giving the other side of the coin. As far as comparing smoking to perfume they are both obnoxious and bothersome to some people........and no you won't die from inhaling perfume but it can trigger an allergic response or migraines in some people and I have never heard of anyone that died from the limited amount of exposure you could possibly get on a balcony on a cruise from second hand smoke. Not like you are going to be out there inhaling it non stop for years at a time. Let's not embellish it. Your own statement that you were on Oceania and smelled smoke "once" on your balcony indicates to me that you are a little less then tolerant of other people's right to smoke. If the cruiseline permits it then smokers have every right to smoke on their balcony and any where else that is designated as smoking. Life is not perfect.

Adding......perhaps you should try Oceania again as they no longer allow smoking in the cabin and it is strictly enforced. Smokers have to go to a designated smoking deck area. That's the only cruiseline I am aware of at present that does not allow smoking in the cabin or on the balcony.

Debbie

Thanks for the input. I certainly don't want to give up a trip that we are anxious to take but what you say makes sense. If someone intrudes their smoke on us, we can move somewhere else. My reason for being so concerned is that although my husband and I are not relatively young, he recently came through a successful bought with throat cancer and we just try to keep away from second hand smoke as much as possible.

But, you are right, it's the luck of the draw and if there is a problem we can just close the veranda door, move to a different dining room, etc. I know our friends, one of whom still smokes, will go along with whatever we need to do.

Thanks again>

Having been on Voyager recently, I can't remember being bothered anywhere by smoke. I must admit, I hardly noticed anyone smoking, I guess they were off in some corner doing their thing.

Now airports in Europe, a different matter. Heathrow's pretty good, Frankfurt is terrible. In fact, the Lufthansa business lounges in both airports had smoking sections, which were not separated in any way, and not enforced. Ugh.

We just returned from the Voyager two weeks ago. Unfortunately, our forward suite on deck 9 had secondhand smoke that became progressively worse throughout the cruise. We contacted reception at least 5 times, an engineer came to the cabin as well as the guest relations manager. There were no smokers beside us, but the engineer said it came through the air ventilation system. The room attendent wanted to spray the room (which we refused) but they did bring an air filter machine that helped. We are back on the Voyager in October and hopefully we will have a clean smelling cabin!

Cheers, Pam

I certainly did not mean to open a platform for public venting. I havn't smoked in 35 years, and I used to consider it merely a personal vice, however when someone starts to compare smoking to wearing parfume I have to speak up. No one ever died of second hand parfume aromas.

 

As far as cruise ship profitability, perhaps you might consider Oceania which are all non-smoking, even on your veranda. There may be a little corner on a deck somewhere on board where smokers can go for a cigarette. I am not intolorant of smokers, however when you say live and let live, I think you have gotten the point exactly.

 

I was only asking if it was a problem for non-smokers. Personally I feel badly for anyone who still smokes, but as someone said, live and let live, as long as I don't have to breath someone elses smoke.

 

There, I said my piece.

May not have died of perfume aromas, but it makes my DH have something like an asthma attack. It closes his bronchial tubes right up. ( I do not wear perfume because of this). On the subject though, should not be a problem, except maybe in casino, as it is in any casino.

It really is luck of the draw...

I was recently on a 26 day Mariner cruise and my neighbors who were a really nice older couple... spent most of their time on the balcony enjoying cocktails and chain smoking.

I really dislike second hand smoke and was frustrated by the number of times I needed to exit my balcony and close the door. It was impossible to leave the door open while they were out on their balcony... the smoke smell would fill my cabin.

I should also note that this couple was probably exceptional... Several nites after retiring to my cabin very late and going out on the balcony to enjoy the night sky.... there they would be... smoking!

Good luck.

You may want to consider getting a cabin in the front of the ship so no one's downhill smoke will affect you. I have been next door to smokers before (I'm a non-smoker) but it never bothered me. Guess I grew up around enough that I'm somewhat immune to it affecting me one way or another. The area you may need to avoid is the casino. I really have never had a problem on any of my Regent cruises with smokers. I think they're considerate and smoke in the designated areas. Now getting in an elevator with ladies wearing strong perfume, that is what gives me a headache and wish would be banned.

I have been on all of the RSSC ships. I am a non-smoker and I am allergic to smoke (go figure - I smoked for a number of years). Anyway, even in Europe, it's never been a problem for us. One side of the ship's public areas are designated as non-smoking and only a very small section of Compass Rose is smoking in the back entry.

I am very surprised to read that smoking is allowed in the restaurant at all! :(

I have to agree with those who are bothered by heavy parfume. I am glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets headaches from it. There is nothing you can say when you are with friends, especially in a car, but when I had surgery some years ago a nurse came in my room during the night wearing a lot of parfune and she was offended when I asked her to leave.

As far as smoking in the dining rooms, I was rather surprised myself. In fact I was surprised to find out that the Seven Seas Group were "smoking ships". I can't imagine that this won't change at some point.

caviargal, I am also surprised that Regent allows a smoking section in the dining room and I look forward to the day when they no longer permit this. Smokers will tell you that the ventilation system is excellent and you will not notice, but I certainly notice. Once on the Navigator we had to sit near the smoking section and a couple not too far from us literally smoked through their entire meal, puffing between bites and our meal was permeated by their second-hand smoke. I now know to ask to be seated as far away from the smoking section as possible and that works well for me.

I am willing to share the entire rest of the ship with smokers but is it unreasonable to ask that the dining rooms be free of smoke?

caviargal, I am also surprised that Regent allows a smoking section in the dining room and I look forward to the day when they no longer permit this. Smokers will tell you that the ventilation system is excellent and you will not notice, but I certainly notice. Once on the Navigator we had to sit near the smoking section and a couple not too far from us literally smoked through their entire meal, puffing between bites and our meal was permeated by their second-hand smoke. I now know to ask to be seated as far away from the smoking section as possible and that works well for me.

 

I am willing to share the entire rest of the ship with smokers but is it unreasonable to ask that the dining rooms be free of smoke?

I really am still trying to absorb this info. I HATE smoke and most especially while I am dining. It is enough to make me reconsider my choice of Regent.:( I know of no other line that allows smoking in the dining room so it did not even occur to me to check.

caviargal, I did not mean to discourage you from sailing on Regent. I too am very uncomfortable around cigarette smoke (it gives me a headache and sometimes it turns into a migraine) but our cruises aboard Regent have been our best vacations ever. All you have to do is tell the maitre d' that you want to be away from the smoking section and all will be well.

The purpose of my post was just to express how odd I think it is that they allow smoking in the dining room at all. During that one dinner where we were exposed to smoke I should have asked to be reseated but it was late and I was tired. Had I made the request I am sure it would have been accomodated immediately because the staff understands this issue very well.

The only smoking in the dining room is in the far right hand corner when you enter Compass Rose. They place the smokers in a place where the smoke does not affect others, unless you are at the adjacent table. I never knew about smoking in the dining room until my June Baltic cruise and I have been on three other RSSC sailings.

Cheers, Pam

Like Pam, I never knew there was a smoking section in Compass Rose until I read about it here last year and I've been on quite a few Radisson (now Regent) cruises. It shouldn't be a problem or concern for you.

Caviargal, I think you should reconsider cancelling on the smoking issue alone. The Compass Rose dining room is large enough so that the 2 or 3 tables in one corner of the room are not going to affect you at all if you are placed in another area well away from the smokers. On certain cruises I have been on, I have been told there is no smoking anywhere in CR. It is definitely not allowed in other dining venues.