Seems Royal caribbean is still losing bookings,because of smoking band.

Yes their name is Deep Purple and they only play Smoke On The Water.

Of course that song was not about smoking of any substance. It was about a fire that happened when the band was going to record an album. Everybody thinks it is about pot or the like, but it is truly a song which is about what the title says it is.

Yes their name is Deep Purple and they only play Smoke On The Water.

Really? not Boston? Smokin' was a hit of theirs.

My husband and I are not fans of smoking either, but I have never been bothered by people smoking on their balconies. In fact this last cruise our room was next to my parents and we had adjoining balconies where they could open the partition so we can share a large balcony and still didn't notice their smoke at all. The only place it sometimes bothered me was the casino.

Ahh, yes. The old "It has not bothered me, so therefore how could it have bothered anyone else?" statement.

Well, on my last cruise that I just got off of, my balcony was pretty much useless since I had five cabins next to me (all together since they had their dividers removed), who smoked all the time. When one was not smoking, another did smoke.

On My Jewel cruise in 2010 it was useless also.

From the third quarter earnings report just posted last week:

The company's booked load factors are currently ahead of the same time last year in all four quarters of 2014. Booked prices for the first quarter are in-line with the same time last year and are up for the second, third, and fourth quarters. Caribbean bookings have consistently been running ahead of the same time last year.

 

...

 

Booked load factors and rate are both up significantly year-over-year for Europe... Asian bookings are up considerably. Advanced bookings for Alaska and the company's other product lines are also providing encouragement for yield improvement.

Yeah, they're really suffering due to all the smokers cancelling.

Have to admit that when I was a smoker, I sure enjoyed lighting up on the balcony while watching the sea go by. I can see where some smokers are disappointed. Wouldnt stop me from cruising though.

Let me start by saying I am a smoker

Now I think Non smokers don't need to go into smoking areas if it bothers them so much. I also believe that if I am on my balcony then I should be able to smoke but if a cabin next to me told me it really bothered them then I would refrain from it out of respect for them and that they asked me and not whined to someone who worked on the ship I am all about adults talking to one another to solve problems I also will not blow my smoke in the non smokers direction and I'm conscious of non smokers around me and I do follow the no smoking rules in areas. Now the smell of beer on people makes me sick literally so should I demand that beer drinkers only drink on certain parts of the ship or within the beer drinkers space at restaurants? NO and I wouldn't be so ignorant to even ask that now for those who say smoking is worse second hand that beer smell. Well it depends on your beliefs and what makes you sick. Bottom line is whatever vice you have you should all be courteous of others around you who may be bothered by it. And yes I booked my cruise KNOWING that the new smoking ban on balconies and will respect that policy and smoke in designated areas

Jamie

Sorry, just find it interesting that I was sitting on the same balcony and the smoke never even came my direction. The people on the other side of me were also smokers and the only reason I know that is I saw them, never noticed from them either.

Look, I could honestly care less because it doesn't really affect me (well, other than when I want to spend time with my parents)...I don't smoke. But I think some of the non smokers do the best job they can to be really dramatic about it. Not saying all of course. But I have seen my mom just pull out a cigarette and someone will do the obnoxious fake cough and she hasn't even lit the thing yet. I have had folks sit next to me in the casino, light a cigarette and aim it my direction and I am bothered by it and move. Public spaces are one thing, private balcony is another. There is no reason when booking that people couldn't designate that they were smokers maybe so that non smokers could choose not to book next to them or something. Just seems like there could be a happy medium.

Ahh, yes. The old "It has not bothered me, so therefore how could it have bothered anyone else?" statement.

 

Well, on my last cruise that I just got off of, my balcony was pretty much useless since I had five cabins next to me (all together since they had their dividers removed), who smoked all the time. When one was not smoking, another did smoke.

 

On My Jewel cruise in 2010 it was useless also.

Let me start by saying I am a smoker

Now I think Non smokers don't need to go into smoking areas if it bothers them so much. I also believe that if I am on my balcony then I should be able to smoke but if a cabin next to me told me it really bothered them then I would refrain from it out of respect for them and that they asked me and not whined to someone who worked on the ship I am all about adults talking to one another to solve problems I also will not blow my smoke in the non smokers direction and I'm conscious of non smokers around me and I do follow the no smoking rules in areas.

Now the smell of beer on people makes me sick literally so should I demand that beer drinkers only drink on certain parts of the ship or within the beer drinkers space at restaurants? NO and I wouldn't be so ignorant to even ask that now for those who say smoking is worse second hand that beer smell. Well it depends on your beliefs and what makes you sick. Bottom line is whatever vice you have you should all be courteous of others around you who may be bothered by it. And yes I booked my cruise KNOWING that the new smoking ban on balconies and will respect that policy and smoke in designated areas

 

Jamie

Smoking produces smoke. Perfume, beer smell, etc. OTOH are generated by air that happens to pass by the offending odor.

See the difference?

Another hit and run yuckster poster to wind everyone up and it worked. :D

Boy did it.....lol

It can be taken as offensive to people who don't like the smell or scent or however you to choose to put it so the only difference I see is rude people and considerate people smokers or not

Jamie

I'm just wondering how many of us are having a really slow day.............

Another hit and run yuckster poster to wind everyone up and it worked. :D

And it works every time.:)

While I disagree with the OP that bookings are down (god I wish they were, I want to book the allure cheaply so bad!), I must say that I've smoked on my balcony periodically on my last probably six cruises. Never heard anyone else out there when I was, never heard a peep of a complaint. People who say we should just get used to the current social norms about smoking, the current social norms here in ny/nj is that outside is fair game. I'll adhere to the new policy of course because I would never risk getting fined or worse, but when people talk about where society is going with regards to smoking, they are saying keep it outside, which a balcony is.

RCI has a new smoking policy?

No Smoking yaaaaaaa love it why should I have some person blowing smoke in my lungs. Freedom to smoke do it somewhere else it is a company owned ship. It will pay dividends in the long run!

It's not the smoking ban that has bookings down it's those commoners that refuse to dress up on formal night dag nabbit . Also the fact that smokers are now akin to a lepar colony .:eek:

Sorry but this is incorrect as not everyone has the same penalty phase.

 

In UK/Europe for example folks who cancel even 365 days before their cruises, lose their deposits.

 

RCCL forgets sometimes about their International Guests.:(

Thanks for pointing this out because I get a little mad when people say RCI give enough notice of changes so that those who wish to change their plans don't lose anything, because from the minute we book in the UK, any change we make costs and if it is as a result of a RCI corporate decision, we just have to suck it up. That's unfair.

I actually pointed it out on Adam Goldstein's blog the other day when he said about announcing the change in the smoking policy in plenty of time before the penalty phase if guests wished to cancel ...my comment did not of course receive a reply.:rolleyes:

RCI has a new smoking policy?

Yea, first I'm hearing too. Go figure. ;):D

Which smoking band are you referring to? I know they have some good ones and then some ok ones, but for the most part, I've always enjoyed the entertainment on board RC ships. Some are more smoking than others, but still.. That IS what you meant by "band," isn't it?

If people are not booking on RC because of their (fantastic) smoking policy, then there is somehting wrong with some people. When cigarettes are more important than cruising, there is definitely a problem.

Just sayin'

[in full disclosure, I highly doubt there is anything wrong with RC's bottom line due to their (fantastic) smoking plicy. I think the OP just wanted to fan the flames some more]

Seems Royal Caribbean smoking policy is costing them.Could have been handled better. :)

I hope so! The less smokers, the better for everyone. :D

Just an FYI to all you people who say they are giving plenty of notice...last week on the Oasis you could smoke in Boleros and they stopped it this week. So they are taking it away before the Jan 1 deadline.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I love to see one smokin' band!

 

And on another note, so glad Royal has further restricted smoking on their ships. Anyone who does not like it has other options and those who were already booked were given more than adequate notice.

Ditto!!!!:D:D:D

Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the opposite will actually happen.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Seems Royal Caribbean smoking policy is costing them.Could have been handled better. :)

My parents were scheduled for August 2014 (Alaska). They cancelled when I told them the news of the new smoking guidelines and rebooked with Carnival. They smoke, I don't.

See? This proves it. ;)