Smoke on the Escape

Hi,

A question for those who have sailed on the Escape:

Is it very smokey? My husband is asthmatic and on the Getaway he was struggling with wheezing and constantly needing his inhalers. Is there and issue with smoke in the main areas of Escape too?

Hi,

 

A question for those who have sailed on the Escape:

 

Is it very smokey? My husband is asthmatic and on the Getaway he was struggling with wheezing and constantly needing his inhalers. Is there and issue with smoke in the main areas of Escape too?

we did the 12/5/15 cruise and smoke was pretty bad. If you are anywhere near either of the 2 atriums you can smell the smoke from the casino. besides those areas we did not notice smoke. If you guys go to le bistro make sure to get a table deep in. we had a table close to the door and we could smell the smoke the whole dinner.

Thanks for the quick reply! This is really unfortunate. I think we may just gave to cancel.

We were on the BREAKAWAY in the Haven. It was horrible when we went anywhere out of that area. Poor planning on NCLs part.

I had read a review a few weeks ago.. the person mentioned some "construction" happening in the casino with glass partitions?.. seemed like it was constructing a separate smoking area. Any truth to this?.. I don't quite understand why NCL wouldn't work on resolving the smoking concern. :confused:

I just got back. I felt the casino was smoky sometimes but not bad, and then near the cigar lounge in tobacco road bar obviously smelled like cigars.

I was on the Dec 19th sailing and the smoke wasn't that bad...but I guess difference of opinion.

Did I smell it in the casino and on the waterfront - yes (less so on the waterfront).

Was it choking bad - not really. I really don't remember it much but also, I didn't spend much time at the casino...

I had read a review a few weeks ago.. the person mentioned some "construction" happening in the casino with glass partitions?.. seemed like it was constructing a separate smoking area. Any truth to this?.. I don't quite understand why NCL wouldn't work on resolving the smoking concern. :confused:

Was this on the Escape? I recently read that they were doing some construction with glass partition doors on Epic......:confused:

Thanks. We have previously sailed Disney, RCCL and Princess and never were concerned with unavoidable second hand smoke. Sounds like it is an issue on the Escape, just as it was on the Getaway. We don't go to the casino, but I recall with the Getaway you were forced to walk through it if you wanted to go to O'Sheehans or what not.

Was this on the Escape? I recently read that they were doing some construction with glass partition doors on Epic......:confused:

It was reported on Cruise Critic that they are indeed building a walled off smoking section with special ventilation on the Escape and also eventually on the Epic, Breakaway, and Getaway. I have been on all but the Escape so far and I sail on the Escape in two weeks. The only ship that I really noticed the smoke on was the Breakaway, but it didn't really bother me that much. None the less this is an improvement that's a long time coming. I think inside another 10 years smoking will banned all together. There are still too many cruisers that smoke now that they don't want to lose the business, but eventually the $ factor will change as smoking habits do. I don't mean to offend smokers, I was one once myself, but the simple fact is that people are waking up to the danger involved and with that knowledge will come an eventual need for banning smoking in all public areas and conveyances. Cruise ships seem to be the last holdover anyway. There is already no smoking on trains, planes, and buses, as well as in taxis in many large cities. It is simply a matter of time.

It was reported on Cruise Critic that they are indeed building a walled off smoking section with special ventilation on the Escape and also eventually on the Epic, Breakaway, and Getaway. I have been on all but the Escape so far and I sail on the Escape in two weeks. The only ship that I really noticed the smoke on was the Breakaway, but it didn't really bother me that much. None the less this is an improvement that's a long time coming. I think inside another 10 years smoking will banned all together. There are still too many cruisers that smoke now that they don't want to lose the business, but eventually the $ factor will change as smoking habits do. I don't mean to offend smokers, I was one once myself, but the simple fact is that people are waking up to the danger involved and with that knowledge will come an eventual need for banning smoking in all public areas and conveyances. Cruise ships seem to be the last holdover anyway. There is already no smoking on trains, planes, and buses, as well as in taxis in many large cities. It is simply a matter of time.

As yes it may be a matter of time but you can't compare ships that are out at sea for days with no where to go to planes, trains, etc. because you aren't in those for days like a cruise ship. Have to disagree with this logic

We were on the Escape December 12. Didn't see any sign of plans for a walked off section. Casino smoke level varied, but was high much of the time. Smoke was very noticeable outside of Headliners and Le Bistro. A few times when we walked by Tobacco Road bar, smelled heavy smoke, probably from outside smoking area. Hopefully, NCL will take steps to improve the situation. We like time in the casino, but hate the smoke. The dealers are put in a bad situation, health wise. It's also a shame non-gamblers are subjected to casino smoke on these ships. We heard Celebrity's casinos are smoke free. That would be a welcome addition to NCL!

We were on the Escape December 12. Didn't see any sign of plans for a walked off section. Casino smoke level varied, but was high much of the time. Smoke was very noticeable outside of Headliners and Le Bistro. A few times when we walked by Tobacco Road bar, smelled heavy smoke, probably from outside smoking area. Hopefully, NCL will take steps to improve the situation. We like time in the casino, but hate the smoke. The dealers are put in a bad situation, health wise. It's also a shame non-gamblers are subjected to casino smoke on these ships. We heard Celebrity's casinos are smoke free. That would be a welcome addition to NCL!

Why don't u cruise on celebrity then

Why don't u cruise on celebrity then

As an aside, our last two annual cruises have been with Celebrity. Prior to that we sailed mainly with NCL. We switched primarily because of the smoking issue, at that time Celebrity being more non smoker friendly. Due to NCL moving closer to that model (no smoking on balconies) we have decided to give NCL another cruise, and at the same time, try out the new mega ships. This thread does not bode well for our concerns but time will tell, we sail on Escape in February.

we were on the inaugural sailing from Hamburg to Southampton and no smoking allowed in Casino-was noticeable how fresh the area was

friends continued on the Transatlantic and again no smoking in the Casino

since the regular runs from Miami smoking has been allowed and subsequent complaints of cigarette smoke smell

Sounds as if NCL succumbed to pressure from smoking gamblers.

Why don't u cruise on celebrity then

To date, we have cruised 9 times, all on NCL. We are big fans of NCL Freestyle and have enjoyed our cruises, including excellent service, food and entertainment. We have found the staff to be terrific. Apart from the smoke issue, we have enjoyed the casinos and have found the dealers to be fun to play with and accurate. Smoke from the casino is one factor among many for us. NCL has so many other positives. We may at some point try Celebrity or another line for a different experience if the fares and itinerary make sense. Hopefully the reports on CC of NCL planning to wall off the smoking areas are accurate. Design and ventilation could be improved so as to limit the spread of the smoke to adjacent ship areas.

U.S. Smoking Rate Falls to 15 Percent: CDC

Higher tobacco taxes, tough messages contribute to falloff, experts say

U.S. Smoking Rate Falls to 15 Percent: CDC

By Dennis Thompson

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. smoking rate continues to decline, with just over 15 percent of adults reporting they're current smokers, a new government survey reveals.

That's down from nearly 17 percent in 2014 and almost 18 percent in 2013. The falloff reflects a continued decline that started in 2010 after a decade of no progress against smoking, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday.

Higher tobacco taxes, tough anti-smoking messages and smoke-free laws that ban smoking from indoor and outdoor areas appear to be dissuading even hard-core, heavily addicted smokers from continuing the habit, said Patricia Folan, director of the Center for Tobacco Control at North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y.

"I hear from smokers all the time, 'When I can't smoke here, I can't smoke there, when people see me smoke they look at me like I'm a pariah -- it makes me want to not smoke anymore,' " said Folan, who applauded the continued decline of smoking in America.

The new data comes from the CDC's 2015 National Health Interview Survey, an annual survey that tracks a variety of public health issues.

The smoking rate has fallen dramatically since 1965, when 42 percent of adults smoked, the CDC said.

But between 2004 and 2009, progress stalled, and the U.S. smoking rate hovered around 20 percent. Anti-smoking activists wondered if there would be no way to convince the remaining diehard smokers to quit tobacco.

These [new] numbers show that America's current anti-smoking strategy works, and that we need to do "more of the same," said Thomas Carr, director of national policy for the American Lung Association.

Carr cited smoke-free laws as one innovation that's made a real difference. But he added that only one state -- North Dakota -- has passed a comprehensive smoke-free law within the last five years. There still are 22 states that haven't passed any limitations on where a person can smoke, he said.

"It could have an impact on the smoking rate, and definitely would protect more people from secondhand smoke," Carr said.

Carr and Folan also cited anti-smoking ads that feature smokers talking about the toll the habit has taken on their lives and their health.

"Smokers find them so painful to watch that they keep changing the channel, but these ads are running everywhere," Folan said. She's heard from smokers that these spots have motivated them to quit and to resist the temptation to resume.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's push to begin regulating other smoking products, such as cigars, hookahs and e-cigarettes, could also help further reduce the smoking rate, Carr added.

"That's something the Obama Administration needs to move on," Carr said.

Experts don't know whether e-cigarettes have played a role in the reduction of the smoking rate, as there haven't been enough studies conducted to assess their impact, Carr and Folan said.

"We haven't seen the evidence of that yet," Carr said. "Up to 75 percent of the users are dual users. They use e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes at the same time. That's not reducing your risk at all."

Who continues to smoke? More men smoke than women -- 17 percent compared with 13 percent, the CDC reported.

Race also plays a factor, with more blacks (18 percent) smoking than whites (17 percent) or Hispanics (10 percent).

Folan believes that future anti-smoking efforts will need to be more targeted. For example, people without a high school diploma, people with low income, and those struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse are all groups that have proven resistant to the anti-smoking groundswell.

Cliff Douglas, American Cancer Society vice president for Tobacco Control and director of the American Cancer Society's Tobacco Control Center, said the new numbers are "encouragingly consistent with the decrease we've seen since 2009, especially following the stagnation of the mid-2000s."

Douglas said the differences in smoking between men and women and between the races "highlight the importance of something that's crucial to us -- addressing disparities in the tobacco epidemic."

More information

For more on smoking, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCES: Patricia Folan, DNP, director, Center for Tobacco Control, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Great Neck, N.Y.; Thomas Carr, director, national policy, American Lung Association; Cliff Douglas, American Cancer Society vice president for Tobacco Control, and director of the American Cancer Society's Tobacco Control Center; Sept. 1, 2015, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Interview Survey

Last Updated: Sep 1, 2015

Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

I'm not terribly bothered by smoke, but on our inaugural 7 day the smoke was noticeable on 6,7 & 8. I hope they continue with the partition plan.

We were on the Escape December 12. Didn't see any sign of plans for a walked off section. Casino smoke level varied, but was high much of the time. Smoke was very noticeable outside of Headliners and Le Bistro. A few times when we walked by Tobacco Road bar, smelled heavy smoke, probably from outside smoking area. Hopefully, NCL will take steps to improve the situation. We like time in the casino, but hate the smoke. The dealers are put in a bad situation, health wise. It's also a shame non-gamblers are subjected to casino smoke on these ships. We heard Celebrity's casinos are smoke free. That would be a welcome addition to NCL!

Sounds like NCL isn't for you. Maybe you should stick to Celebrity, oh and stay away from Italy, France, Greece, and Las Vegas...way too many smokers for you. Actually, you should probably just stay home with your doors and windows closed and your air purifier on.

As yes it may be a matter of time but you can't compare ships that are out at sea for days with no where to go to planes, trains, etc. because you aren't in those for days like a cruise ship. Have to disagree with this logic

1) you will need to stay away from traveling on the VIA Rail Canadian that runs from Vancouver to Toronto. This trip is four nights on the train (spectacular scenery traveling thru the Canadian Rockies and excellent food) and there was an approximate 36 hour period where there were no smoking stops.

2) the logic is that eventually the needs and buying dollars of the few remaining smokers will be supplanted by non smokers that demand that they are not forced to inhale second hand smoke. The lines that cater to families (like NCL) will have to listen if parents start to take their business elsewhere because they don't want their children inhaling the second hand smoke as well. As I said it doesn't really bother me. Once they banned the smoking from balconies I was OK with the casino smoke as I spend very little time there, except when I am walking through to get from point A to point B. But if I had kids I think I would feel differently. I will stick with my prediction of it being banned entirely within ten years. I believe it to be reasonable.

U.S. Smoking Rate Falls to 15 Percent: CDC

Higher tobacco taxes, tough messages contribute to falloff, experts say

 

U.S. Smoking Rate Falls to 15 Percent: CDC

By Dennis Thompson

HealthDay Reporter

 

TUESDAY, Sept. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. smoking rate continues to decline, with just over 15 percent of adults reporting they're current smokers, a new government survey reveals.

 

That's down from nearly 17 percent in 2014 and almost 18 percent in 2013. The falloff reflects a continued decline that started in 2010 after a decade of no progress against smoking, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday.

 

Higher tobacco taxes, tough anti-smoking messages and smoke-free laws that ban smoking from indoor and outdoor areas appear to be dissuading even hard-core, heavily addicted smokers from continuing the habit, said Patricia Folan, director of the Center for Tobacco Control at North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y.

 

"I hear from smokers all the time, 'When I can't smoke here, I can't smoke there, when people see me smoke they look at me like I'm a pariah -- it makes me want to not smoke anymore,' " said Folan, who applauded the continued decline of smoking in America.

 

The new data comes from the CDC's 2015 National Health Interview Survey, an annual survey that tracks a variety of public health issues.

 

The smoking rate has fallen dramatically since 1965, when 42 percent of adults smoked, the CDC said.

 

But between 2004 and 2009, progress stalled, and the U.S. smoking rate hovered around 20 percent. Anti-smoking activists wondered if there would be no way to convince the remaining diehard smokers to quit tobacco.

 

These [new] numbers show that America's current anti-smoking strategy works, and that we need to do "more of the same," said Thomas Carr, director of national policy for the American Lung Association.

 

Carr cited smoke-free laws as one innovation that's made a real difference. But he added that only one state -- North Dakota -- has passed a comprehensive smoke-free law within the last five years. There still are 22 states that haven't passed any limitations on where a person can smoke, he said.

 

"It could have an impact on the smoking rate, and definitely would protect more people from secondhand smoke," Carr said.

 

Carr and Folan also cited anti-smoking ads that feature smokers talking about the toll the habit has taken on their lives and their health.

 

 

"Smokers find them so painful to watch that they keep changing the channel, but these ads are running everywhere," Folan said. She's heard from smokers that these spots have motivated them to quit and to resist the temptation to resume.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's push to begin regulating other smoking products, such as cigars, hookahs and e-cigarettes, could also help further reduce the smoking rate, Carr added.

 

"That's something the Obama Administration needs to move on," Carr said.

 

Experts don't know whether e-cigarettes have played a role in the reduction of the smoking rate, as there haven't been enough studies conducted to assess their impact, Carr and Folan said.

 

"We haven't seen the evidence of that yet," Carr said. "Up to 75 percent of the users are dual users. They use e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes at the same time. That's not reducing your risk at all."

 

Who continues to smoke? More men smoke than women -- 17 percent compared with 13 percent, the CDC reported.

 

Race also plays a factor, with more blacks (18 percent) smoking than whites (17 percent) or Hispanics (10 percent).

 

Folan believes that future anti-smoking efforts will need to be more targeted. For example, people without a high school diploma, people with low income, and those struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse are all groups that have proven resistant to the anti-smoking groundswell.

 

Cliff Douglas, American Cancer Society vice president for Tobacco Control and director of the American Cancer Society's Tobacco Control Center, said the new numbers are "encouragingly consistent with the decrease we've seen since 2009, especially following the stagnation of the mid-2000s."

 

Douglas said the differences in smoking between men and women and between the races "highlight the importance of something that's crucial to us -- addressing disparities in the tobacco epidemic."

 

More information

 

For more on smoking, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

SOURCES: Patricia Folan, DNP, director, Center for Tobacco Control, North Shore-LIJ Health System, Great Neck, N.Y.; Thomas Carr, director, national policy, American Lung Association; Cliff Douglas, American Cancer Society vice president for Tobacco Control, and director of the American Cancer Society's Tobacco Control Center; Sept. 1, 2015, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health Interview Survey

 

Last Updated: Sep 1, 2015

 

Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Cater to the 85% = Jim Crow Laws

Sounds like NCL isn't for you. Maybe you should stick to Celebrity, oh and stay away from Italy, France, Greece, and Las Vegas...way too many smokers for you. Actually, you should probably just stay home with your doors and windows closed and your air purifier on.

I see some folks have already started there new years resolution.:rolleyes:

1) you will need to stay away from traveling on the VIA Rail Canadian that runs from Vancouver to Toronto. This trip is four nights on the train (spectacular scenery traveling thru the Canadian Rockies and excellent food) and there was an approximate 36 hour period where there were no smoking stops.

2) the logic is that eventually the needs and buying dollars of the few remaining smokers will be supplanted by non smokers that demand that they are not forced to inhale second hand smoke. The lines that cater to families (like NCL) will have to listen if parents start to take their business elsewhere because they don't want their children inhaling the second hand smoke as well. As I said it doesn't really bother me. Once they banned the smoking from balconies I was OK with the casino smoke as I spend very little time there, except when I am walking through to get from point A to point B. But if I had kids I think I would feel differently. I will stick with my prediction of it being banned entirely within ten years. I believe it to be reasonable.

Thanks for the information. I'll make sure I dont travel on the VIA Rail lol

We heard Celebrity's casinos are smoke free. That would be a welcome addition to NCL!

Yes they are and that's why many choose to cruise Celebrity. Different ships have different options. We cruise the ship that meets our requirements.

Harriet

Cater to the 85% = Jim Crow Laws

Cater to the 15% = the French Revolution:rolleyes: