A request to non-smoker with allergies to tobacco

I have a severe allergy to smoke and if I smell smoke I start coughing and wheezing. So please be mindful of people who have severe allergies to tobacco and if they ask you politely to move away then please be mindful of

that. Other than that I know what areas to avoid etc.

Its all too often that I have politely asked a smoker to please smoke away from me due to my allergy that they became defensive. I went on to tell them if someone had a severe peanut allergy or food allergy and they asked you not to open your peanuts you would do anything within reason to help them.

If anyone becomes defensive with me after making my polite request I will be reporting them to an officer especially if they smoke in an area that is deemed non-smoking.

There needs to be better signage with regards to the smoking and non-smoking areas and it should be enforced especially with people who have a severe allergy to tobacco.

There has a been a lot of times when I stat wheezing to the point of becoming tired and it took some time to catch my breath. Its not asthma as my doctor checked me out for it he says I have an allergy to the tobacco.

I am so thankful for being allergic to tobacco since I can save money for other things and not waste it on a cancerous item.

What I don't get is why can you bring on your own cigaretts but you cannot bring more than 2 bottles of wine to enjoy in your stateroom? I drink wine and beer because it helps my condition. I want RCCL to confiscate cigaretts if people can't follow the rules with smoking.

I was inside the solarium and people started smoking in the sitting area where it was not even open. I told them to please move as I was sitting on my lounger and I have an allergy to smoke. I was there before them and this couple was rude especially after being polite to them and saying how my allergy can cause me a severe reaction. They just laughed at me and continued.

This is why I think RCCL should have a section of balconys where you cannot smoke on your balcony so those with allergies to tobacco can enjoy their balcony and if you don't want your kids to breath in the secondhand smoke.

In my opinion smokers should be very aware of non-smokers and they should learn that when a person who has an allergy to tobacco to move away after being politely told of their allergy. Heck if someone told me they had an allergy to a food item I would do everything in my power to help them avoid the food. If I was a smoker and someone told me that they had an allergy I would put out my cigarette or move and apologize.

Sorry for my rant but this is a true and diagnosed allergy. I have taken so much time to learn where the smoking and non-smoking areas are and smokers who don't follow the rules should be kicked off the ship. In my opinion if you want to smoke do so in your designated areas. There are designated areas for a reason such as this.

I look forward to reading comments from both smokers and non-smokers and those with allergies to the smoke to see how you cope.

You state that you are thankful for being allergic to tabacco, but your rant does not really read that way, do you apply the same thoughts of dealing with this issue on land as well.

If anyone becomes defensive with me after making my polite request I will be reporting them to an officer especially if they smoke in an area that is deemed non-smoking.

I'm just quoting a portion of your post here, but I think you should be careful about what you're saying. I don't think you should be reporting anyone unless they smoke in an area that is non-smoking. By saying "especially," you imply that you would complain, whether it was a smoking area or not. But if you are hanging out in a smoking area, you shouldn't be asking someone next to you to stop smoking.

I, too, though am very sensitive to smoke and would also appreciate it if the balconies went non-smoking. That has, at times, been a problem for me on cruises.

If that happens again in a non-smoking area then tell a crew member. They shouldn't be smoking there to begin with.

You could threaten to to that to the belligerent smokers if they don't put theirs out.

I am sorry if my post reads differently that what you interpret it. I meant to say is if there is a smoker who is in a non-smoking area and after telling them about my allergy in a polite manner and if they do not move away after telling them politely that they are in a designated non-smoking area then I will inform a crew member so they are aware and to better enforce the policy as people with allergies to tobacco should be able to enjoy the cruise in a smoke free environment .

I drink wine and beer because it helps my condition

smoking may cause throat cancer, so does drinking wine, beer or spirits, so can't see how that would help your condition

I am a non smoker - 3 years free - however the smell of drink from some one sends me in to a coughing fit, so can I ask that you move away from me when you are drinking - JMO

I'm hoping the new WOW ships Quantum and Anthem are revolutionary in that they will have two decks for smoking, smoking balconies, smoking rooms, smoking lounges, smoking pubs, smoking sun deck, casino, etc., but the entire rest of the ship will be absolutely non-smoking.

Anyone can go to the smoking decks, but they do so at their own peril if they are non-smokers because they can't complain. On the other hand, smokers are welcome on non-smoking decks, but they had better leave their cigarettes in their special smoking deck cabins.

I hope this arrangement will end once and for all the bickering on this subject. I am a non-smoker, by the way, but believe smokers are going to smoke, so recognize the fact and give them their own space to do so. In return, non-smokers will have their own space to breath free, pure ocean air.

Oh good, another smoking thread.

There needs to be better signage with regards to the smoking and non-smoking areas and it should be enforced especially with people who have a severe allergy to tobacco.

On every ship that we've been on there are enough signs indicating where smoking is allowed and where it is not. Our experience has been that people adhere to the places where they are allowed to smoke.

Its all too often that I have politely asked a smoker to please smoke away from me due to my allergy that they became defensive. I went on to tell them if someone had a severe peanut allergy or food allergy and they asked you not to open your peanuts you would do anything within reason to help them.

How's this for a idea, from a person who has allergies for both Peanuts and Smoke. And hates the idea anyone would subject their own body to this poison.

Get up and move yourself.

It all comes down to who was there first. If you are, then ask them to move but dont think for one minute it's ok for you to come after and feel it's your right to tell them to stop.

To the OP: I, for one, would love it if RC adopted a more restrictive smoking policy. In the meantime, it is what it is. If a person is smoking in an area where the policy permits, such as their balcony, it is not my place to ask them to stop -- even if their smoke is affecting me. May I offer a suggestion that has worked well for me: try Celebrity. They now have no interior smoking at all, and no smoking on balconies. The outdoor areas where smoking is permitted are easily avoided. :cool:

It all comes down to who was there first. If you are, then ask them to move but dont think for one minute it's ok for you to come after and feel it's your right to tell them to stop.

No it doesn't. If you're talking about non-smoking areas of the ship, it comes down to following the restrictions, not who was there first.

And, I might add, the same goes for the smoking areas. If you don't want someone to smoke in a smoking area, tough luck, whether you got there first or not.

RCI does have something in place for non-smokers who want non-smoking balconies...

It's called Celebrity:) Their ships are quite nice and their smoking policy is more restrictive...

You could always try brining a small battery powered fan and blow the smoke away from you. Or try Celebrity! If someone is in a non-smoking area, you have every right to ask them to leave or notify staff, but if they are smoking in a smoking area, you are the one that needs to move.

I don't understand why someone that has a severe allergy to smoke or tobacco would risk their own health and life by booking a balcony. Not sure if OP would do that but I remember reading about a poster with a child with a very, very severe breathing condition and she was hell bent on reporting people and getting into a fight if anyone near her balcony dared to smoke on it and endanger her kids life. All I could think was YOU are the one endangering your kids life, lady! Smoking is allowed on balconies. If you don't want your kid to come in contact with smoke don't book one! Easy! :rolleyes:

It is well documented that there is no such thing as an allergy to cigarette smoke. Just google it.

That said. Life isnt perfect and lots of things annoy me or make me nauseous, I have a neighbor who cooks cabbage on my floor and it makes me gag. I live with it. I have a neighbor who wears so much perfume that i feel like i am going to choke and get sick in the elevator. I just deal with it. Its not the major part of my day. I dont smoke and I wish no one did, but I deal with it.

I don't understand why someone that has a severe allergy to smoke or tobacco would risk their own health and life by booking a balcony. Not sure if OP would do that but I remember reading about a poster with a child with a very, very severe breathing condition and she was hell bent on reporting people and getting into a fight if anyone near her balcony dared to smoke on it and endanger her kids life. All I could think was YOU are the one endangering your kids life, lady! Smoking is allowed on balconies. If you don't want your kid to come in contact with smoke don't book one! Easy! :rolleyes:

Shared ventilation makes it a bit harder to avoid.

But yeah... Celebrity is on my list to try out because less smoking.

RCI does have something in place for non-smokers who want non-smoking balconies... It's called Celebrity:)

LOL! Ouch, but yes. :D:p

OP, I am sensitive to smoke as well, but I know what I am getting into when I sail RCI and I just "deal with it". I don't have an alternative as long as smoking is permitted in certain areas.

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I generally try to refrain on posting on any of these smoking threads. I couldn't hold back this time.

The key is to act like a civil adult. I'm a smoker and I have to admit--the people that don't "say" anything and instead stand NEXT to me and start "fake coughing" really upset me. Now, if they asked civilly, "do you mind putting that out? Or blowing in the opposite direction", etc" then I respect them as they respected me by asking. I don't smoke in non-smoking areas--but I realize that sometimes the item to be watching/viewing, etc may happen to be in a smoking area and I am sensitive to sharing the space.

On the balcony, I try to meet my "neighbors" on the first day. I let them know the following "I'm a smoker. I don't sit out here all day and chain smoke. Does smoke bother you? If it does, then I ask them -- Can we make an agreement? If you walk out and I'm smoking, please wait a few minutes and I will finish shortly (it takes 7-8 minutes for me to smoke a cigarette so unless I just lit up the moment before they walked out then it's normally just a few minutes). If I walk out and you are already out on your balcony, I will promise to refrain from lighting up until you go back in or I will go to another spot on the ship". That generally puts everyone at ease. I also ask--If I do not notice you out here and I light up (I don't want to be looking around the glass and infringe on privacy either), then please just speak up. No bad feelings. I will put it out immediately. Just PLEASE DO NOT "cough, hack, or complain to your spouse".

Edit: I meant to add. I think many smokers are tired of hearing the excuses (real or not). Just ask pleasantly without making excuses as to 'why' you can't stand the smoke. And I agree, no smoker should be smoking in non-smoking areas. It could be a case of them not realizing it is non smoking (different ships have different areas. One ship on one line solarium type area may be smoking while on another it is not, etc. ). A simple "I'm sorry, it is non smoking 'here', would you mind going to a smoking area" will suffice. You don't need to provide any other reasoning or excuses. If they don't stop or go somewhere else, then it is perfectly within reason and a non smoker's right to inform a staff member. I would even do the same even though I'm a smoker.

How's this for a idea, from a person who has allergies for both Peanuts and Smoke. And hates the idea anyone would subject their own body to this poison.

 

Get up and move yourself.

It all comes down to who was there first. If you are, then ask them to move but dont think for one minute it's ok for you to come after and feel it's your right to tell them to stop.

Amen..

(and I'm in the NON group!)

I have a severe allergy to smoke and if I smell smoke I start coughing and wheezing. So please be mindful of people who have severe allergies to tobacco and if they ask you politely to move away then please be mindful of

that. Other than that I know what areas to avoid etc.

 

Its all too often that I have politely asked a smoker to please smoke away from me due to my allergy that they became defensive. I went on to tell them if someone had a severe peanut allergy or food allergy and they asked you not to open your peanuts you would do anything within reason to help them.

 

If anyone becomes defensive with me after making my polite request I will be reporting them to an officer especially if they smoke in an area that is deemed non-smoking.

 

 

ere needs to be better signage with regards to the smoking and non-smoking areas and it should be enforced especially with people who have a severe allergy to tobacco.

 

There has a been a lot of times when I stat wheezing to the point of becoming tired and it took some time to catch my breath. Its not asthma as my doctor checked me out for it he says I have an allergy to the tobacco.

 

I am so thankful for being allergic to tobacco since I can save money for other things and not waste it on a cancerous item.

 

What I don't get is why can you bring on your own cigaretts but you cannot bring more than 2 bottles of wine to enjoy in your stateroom? I drink wine and beer because it helps my condition. I want RCCL to confiscate cigaretts if people can't follow the rules with smoking.

 

I was inside the solarium and people started smoking in the sitting area where it was not even open. I told them to please move as I was sitting on my lounger and I have an allergy to smoke. I was there before them and this couple was rude especially after being polite to them and saying how my allergy can cause me a severe reaction. They just laughed at me and continued.

 

This is why I think RCCL should have a section of balconys where you cannot smoke on your balcony so those with allergies to tobacco can enjoy their balcony and if you don't want your kids to breath in the secondhand smoke.

 

 

In my opinion smokers should be very aware of non-smokers and they should learn that when a person who has an allergy to tobacco to move away after being politely told of their allergy. Heck if someone told me they had an allergy to a food item I would do everything in my power to help them avoid the food. If I was a smoker and someone told me that they had an allergy I would put out my cigarette or move and apologize.

 

Sorry for my rant but this is a true and diagnosed allergy. I have taken so much time to learn where the smoking and non-smoking areas are and smokers who don't follow the rules should be kicked off the ship. In my opinion if you want to smoke do so in your designated areas. There are designated areas for a reason such as this.

 

I look forward to reading comments from both smokers and non-smokers and those with allergies to the smoke to see how you cope.

I have the same allergies and am so pleased the laws have been changed so that we can breathe fresh air in a lot of places now. I feel for you and it is hard because people don't like being told that the smoke is hurting you. Maybe just talking about it will let people know it is not OK to smoke in Non smoking areas and that non smokers have rights as well. Good luck.

On every ship that we've been on there are enough signs indicating where smoking is allowed and where it is not. Our experience has been that people adhere to the places where they are allowed to smoke.

Really ..... I have posted this before, and I will post it again.

I have NEVER seen anyone smoke on a cruise ship in a non smoking area. And I mean NEVER.

Really ..... I have posted this before, and I will post it again.

 

I have NEVER seen anyone smoke on a cruise ship in a non smoking area. And I mean NEVER.

I agree, it's rare. However on our Indy cruise last December, we routinely saw people smoking on the non-smoking side of the deck 4 outside promenade. We saw it multiple nights, and the people were standing right next to the no smoking sign. Very unusual.

Really ..... I have posted this before, and I will post it again.

 

I have NEVER seen anyone smoke on a cruise ship in a non smoking area. And I mean NEVER.

You are very lucky, I've seen it on many of my cruises.

Amen..

 

(and I'm in the NON group!)

Agree with you and I don't smoke.