Non Smoking Balconies are not really non smoking...

We just finished a 14 night Mediterranean cruise aboard the Adventure. Overall,it was a good trip and hopefully I can write a trip report soon. One gripe I have though, is we were THRILLED to get a corner aft balcony (7388) with a huge balcony. We spent tons of time out there and loved it.

However, what we were reeeeally happy about, is that Royal Caribbean is a non smoking balcony fleet. We definitely expected to go out there and not smell smoke. Well, we did...honestly almost every single time we were out there. We figured it would be a faint whiff here or there, but it was very strong.

When we called to speak to someone about it, they told us there was nothing they could do. So it's basically just "suggested" that it be non smoking.

To top it off, we finally realized that it was the CREW that was smoking out there! There's a crew area in the aft for them to take their breaks, and they all go out and smoke. So bad enough they advertise smoke free balconies, and don't enforce it....but they actually allow their own employees to smoke out there.

(It may have been other cabins too, but we saw the staff smoking because they were in front of us.)

It wasn't trip ruining, but it definitely felt like false advertising. For some people it may not bother them, but we hated smelling smoke the whole time. So just fair warning, if that's important to you, I would think twice about paying more for a balcony because they don't enforce this rule at all. Why have it then?

We just finished a 14 night Mediterranean cruise aboard the Adventure. Overall,it was a good trip and hopefully I can write a trip report soon. One gripe I have though, is we were THRILLED to get a corner aft balcony (7388) with a huge balcony. We spent tons of time out there and loved it.

 

However, what we were reeeeally happy about, is that Royal Caribbean is a non smoking balcony fleet. We definitely expected to go out there and not smell smoke. Well, we did...honestly almost every single time we were out there. We figured it would be a faint whiff here or there, but it was very strong.

 

When we called to speak to someone about it, they told us there was nothing they could do. So it's basically just "suggested" that it be non smoking.

 

To top it off, we finally realized that it was the CREW that was smoking out there! There's a crew area in the aft for them to take their breaks, and they all go out and smoke. So bad enough they advertise smoke free balconies, and don't enforce it....but they actually allow their own employees to smoke out there.(It may have been other cabins too, but we saw the staff smoking because they were in front of us.)

 

It wasn't trip ruining, but it definitely felt like false advertising. For some people it may not bother them, but we hated smelling smoke the whole time. So just fair warning, if that's important to you, I would think twice about paying more for a balcony because they don't enforce this rule at all. Why have it then?

I can understand your frustration, but that area below your balcony is one of the few outdoor crew rec/lounge spaces on the ship. If they can't smoke in their designated outdoor smoking area, where exactly do you propose they smoke? The passenger smoking areas aren't available to a lot of the crew.

Again, I'm not trying to minimize your issue, and I would be irritated also. I'm just wondering what you think would be a reasonable solution.

Did you actually see other passengers smoking on their balcony? If not, I suspect what you smelled was the smoke from the crew area as you identified and not so much other balconies. Perhaps the European itineraries are different, but the US based RCI ships we've been on since the January 1 changes have not had that issue at all.

We had the same cabin several years ago, out of San Juan. We did see crew members smoking below but never smelled any smoke. I guess wind currents are different in different seas!

I completely agree that the staff should have a place to smoke on their breaks. This ship sailed from Southampton and had smoking sections all over on one side (starboard, I think?). So I would say one solution would be that they could designate an area there for them. I would also be 100% ok if they had them smoking exactly where they were, if they just let the guests know that there is smoking and they will smell it on their balconies. I just didn't like that they advertise that the balconies are smoke free when they're not.

I'm sure wind, number of people smoking and where, all affects how bad it is. We couldn't see onto other balconies due to the angle of the ship, so I really don't know if it was just crew or passengers too.

Again, I know to some people it's petty, so I get the :rolleyes:. But as non smokers, I would just rather they not advertise one thing, when it's not what you'll get. If that info helps someone with their room choice in the future, that's great. We didn't expect smoke at all, but now we know that it's not enforced at all and can adjust our choices next time. We had a great time nonetheless! That balcony was amazing and we still really enjoyed it.

I'm sorry you were bothered by smelling smoke from the crew area. However, it is not a case of Royal Caribbean not enforcing the balcony no-smoking rule. There are still outdoor smoking areas on a couple of decks, and I'm sure that when conditions are right, other passengers on their balconies can smell smoke from these areas. It's unrealistic to think that no one anywhere is going to smell smoke from any of the outdoor smoking areas. I'm a non-smoker, but I support giving smokers some decent outdoor venues for smoking. And I'm thrilled that it isn't passenger balconies anymore.

I completely agree that the staff should have a place to smoke on their breaks. This ship sailed from Southampton and had smoking sections all over on one side (starboard, I think?). So I would say one solution would be that they could designate an area there for them. I would also be 100% ok if they had them smoking exactly where they were, if they just let the guests know that there is smoking and they will smell it on their balconies. I just didn't like that they advertise that the balconies are smoke free when they're not.

 

I'm sure wind, number of people smoking and where, all affects how bad it is. We couldn't see onto other balconies due to the angle of the ship, so I really don't know if it was just crew or passengers too.

 

Again, I know to some people it's petty, so I get the :rolleyes:. But as non smokers, I would just rather they not advertise one thing, when it's not what you'll get. If that info helps someone with their room choice in the future, that's great. We didn't expect smoke at all, but now we know that it's not enforced at all and can adjust our choices next time. We had a great time nonetheless! That balcony was amazing and we still really enjoyed it.

Well "smoke free" cannot possibly include a guarantee from wind born smoke from designated outdoor smoking areas and RCI is not a saying that you won't smell smoke on your balcony at all from these areas.

The intent as stated by the new policy is to not permit smoking on balconies and to limit smoking to one outdoor side of the ship and designated smoking sections of the casino. And as a non-smoker as well I appreciate these changes and can avoid the smoking areas as I wish.

The only way to have a true smoke free environment would be to ban smoking everywhere altogether on board, which they have not done.

I'm not aware of where RCI advertises their cruising environment to be "smoke free". The ships are designated as non-smoking except in the designated areas as identified.

I would think if you witnessed someone smoking on their balcony and you were able to point it out to a crew member, they would do something about it.

If you are in an area where smoke reached you from smoking areas, there isn't much you can do since the ships are not 100% smoke free. Just a bad luck of the draw in terms of location there.

Smoking on balconies is one thing, but smoke from the smoking areas is another.

Celebrity has banned balcony smoking for years but some on the lower balcony decks, port side get smoke from the outside public smoking area on deck 5. Cant help it, unless ALL smoking is banned, that would mean crew and passengers.

OP - thanks or the heads up for those who might be very sensitive to smoke. I doubt the "no smoking on a balcony" is a "suggestion" as you put it.

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we sail aft cabins every sailing (two a year for ten years). Yes, we are aft lovers and particularly enjoy the 7th deck corner afts of voyager and freedom classes. Believe it or not, I never realized that the crew break area was below us until our January cruise when lady adjacent to us saw a crew member smoke and said she was going to report it. Even after overhearing her, I never did catch a smell from below. I guess on all these cruises, I must have been enjoying my outdoor space and perhaps my sense of smell is not as accurate as some, even when sense of smell is activated by visual senses. Makes me wonder if I should go see a doctor about this issue.

Have not measurered, but the distance from the Aft 7th deck to the 4th/5th deck crew aft outside area is a far distance. Perhaps even equal to port side to starboard side. If this is true, I truly do feel for those that have such a high quality of sense of smell. Must be frustrating to not get away from this smell at all times even when avoiding smoking areas.

Believe it or not, I never realized that the crew break area was below us until our January cruise when lady adjacent to us saw a crew member smoke and said she was going to report it.

...where she would have properly been met with the response that the crew break deck is a designated smoking area for the crew.

Interesting that she felt that was her obligation to report something she saw a crew member do - as if they don't know what they can and can't do on board! :rolleyes:

Seriously, pick, pick, pick at smokers. Constantly. I detest the smell of frying, and you can constantly smell other people's burgers etc around the pool. But RCI allow burgers, so its my bad.

...where she would have properly been met with the response that the crew break deck is a designated smoking area for the crew.

 

Interesting that she felt that was her obligation to report something she saw a crew member do - as if they don't know what they can and can't do on board! :rolleyes:

God bless the" See something say something" crowd :(

It is absolutely amazing to me that anyone can be that bothered by ANYONE smoking OUTSIDE unless they are right beside you basically blowing smoke at you. :rolleyes: How in the world do you live with all the air pollution and other odors out there?

Where I live, and work, there is very little smoke smell around me. The only cigarette smell I experience is when some idiot is in front of me in a car flicking ashes out the window and the smell wafts to me.

Why should I have to experience that stench on a cruise ship balcony?