Smoking Ban on Family Ships?

Recent reports indicate that the younger generation has fewer smokers than the older one. A series of both national and local regulations restrict the promotion, sale, and use of tobacco products in public places, especially where there are children ilikely to be present. Research indicates the harmful effects of passive smoking, particularly on children. Non-smokers and careful parents tend to locate 'up-wind' of smokers to avoid this. However, this is not always possible on a ship, other than going overboard!

It must be time for P&O to revisit their smoking policy, starting with those ships in the fleet that are promoted for families. No need to be draconian, a sensible start would be with the new-build, yet to be named family ship. Then gradually phasing the ban in succession to all family ships. In this way contributing to giving the next generation a more healthy start than many of us had.

I quote from a current P&O promotion:

WE ARE MACMILLAN. CANCER SUPPORT

49 cruises 17 ships 3 liners

While they're at it, how about promoting healthy eating by removing all cream and sugar, banning puddings, and limiting everyone's calorie intake?

I've never had a problem avoiding smoke. It's a very limited area where smoking is allowed, and none of it is inside.

While they're at it, how about promoting healthy eating by removing all cream and sugar, banning puddings, and limiting everyone's calorie intake?

 

I've never had a problem avoiding smoke. It's a very limited area where smoking is allowed, and none of it is inside.

I agree. Although I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, and even worse cigar or pipe, the only time I notice smokers is when I'm walking the Promenade deck. My partner has a lung condition so I am VERY anti-smoking but I'm pleased that as long as P&O enforces their policy, then they have significantly limited smoking and I think it's against people's rights to ban it completely. Just my opinion.

I have never smoked but I cannot see why P&O or any other cruise line would want to introduce a blanket ban on smoking on any ship. The smokers are limited to certain areas of the ships at the moment and it easy to avoid those areas. A ban would not only stop smokers booking with P&O but it would also mean that their friends and family who travel with them would also not book. No business would willingly reduce their customer base in this way.

My cousin ( a doctor who knows the problems associated with smoking ) is a smoker and when she cruises she goes with her husband, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and 5 grandchildren so should such a ban be introduced that would be 11 passengers no longer travelling with P&O. I am sure there are many other families like this and probably some families are even bigger groups.

It always amazes me how some people complain about smokers on a ship, out in the middle of the ocean bowling along at anything up to 20 knots. The smoke dissipates almost instantly.

One has to wonder how they managed to survive 15 or more years ago when smoking was allowed in pubs, restaurants, shopping centres etc. Life must have been unbearable.

Agree with the point dsrdsrdsr made if we are talking about health issues. There always seem to be a great many 'large' people on cruise ships permanently eating!

why stop there what about banning alcohol on family ships eh! would you like that I don't think so

I seem to remember another cruise line banned smoking completely, about a year later they changed their minds and allowed smoking again.

It had occurred to me that one day we may see smoke free ships, which as a smoker would not see me on board. We've already seen more restrictions on Britannia than on the other ships with no smoking in the midships pool areas, you have to go all the way aft to smoke at that level.

P&O certainly do seem to be cramming us smokers into smaller and smaller areas.

We were on Oriana at the beginning of the year on a 50 night cruise and almost all of the starboard prom deck was smoking.

We've just got off Oriana yesterday and now, just about a third of the prom deck is smoking, and they have changed it to the port side. Maybe non smokers complained that they couldn't sit at tables outside the pub without having smokers among them.

Perhaps we smokers need to fight back a bit when we fill in our guest comments.

P&O certainly do seem to be cramming us smokers into smaller and smaller areas.

We were on Oriana at the beginning of the year on a 50 night cruise and almost all of the starboard prom deck was smoking.

 

We've just got off Oriana yesterday and now, just about a third of the prom deck is smoking, and they have changed it to the port side. Maybe non smokers complained that they couldn't sit at tables outside the pub without having smokers among them.

 

Perhaps we smokers need to fight back a bit when we fill in our guest comments.

One of my favourite things about Oriana was that you could sit outside the pub and smoke. Our next cruise is on Oceana which if I recall had a similar set up, it'll be interesting to see how this has changed post refit.

Given that the latest stats report that smoking in the UK has declined by 6.5% since 2010, and 1.9 million in the last decade I can't see smoking area restrictions being relaxed, and the squeeze will continue.

Eventually non smoking ships are likely to be the norm.

Recently two smoker friends of ours who had discussed smoking with their GP had their 8 year old son's breathing tested for the elements of smoking. The result revealed he had 60% of the level of his parents.

With that sort of information on passive smoking the anti smoking lobby will drive for all areas where there are children to be smoke free.

jake 26 - I'm sure the anti smoking lobby will drive for all areas to be smoke free whether children are present or not.

However, I doubt whether the most zealous health professional would consider someone smoking 2 metres away on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean to constitute a health hazard.

I always find it amusing how many non smokers find they can congregate in the few smoking areas if the sun happens to be shining on that area Of course it means that we smokers now have nowhere to sit, but it's still us smokers who are deemed to be selfish!

You always get the odd one that covers up their face with their hands or a scarf and cry 'OMG we're in a smoking area' or something similar. Funnily, few if any move - don't want to lose their seat.

For the majority of them I believe it's complete affectation.

There is no scientific evidence that passive smoking affects those around smokers. . It is rediculous to ban smokers who occupy a very small area of the ship. Children are subjected to worse fumes in the back of a car when people fill up with petrol.

Get a grip P and O. We are not allowed to enjoy ourselves.....we are after all on holiday. And no I don't smoke and never have.

Have always hated the smell of cigarette smoke since I was a child and am more than happy that we no longer have to share our 'space' with those smoking in dining rooms etc etc.

Having said that, smoking is a life choice and we have no right to dictate to people what they do and do not do. We are supposed to be a democracy (though I sometimes wonder that there are so many hidden agendas that is makes me cringe).

I think that P&O have got the right balance at the minute.

Don't see what it's got to do with children. I hate the smoking too, but to ban it completely is a nonsense. I can keep out of the way.

I often smile about proposed smoking bans because I have noticed over the years that the people who want smoking banned are not usually those of us who are life long non-smokers but are ex-smokers.;p

According to someone who works on board Ventura, there was a fortnight when the smoking was stopped near the outside pool on 15 towards the end of 2016; it just lasted those 2 weeks, but has been reduced now to the last few tables.

It always amazes me how some people complain about smokers on a ship, out in the middle of the ocean bowling along at anything up to 20 knots. The smoke dissipates almost instantly.

One has to wonder how they managed to survive 15 or more years ago when smoking was allowed in pubs, restaurants, shopping centres etc. Life must have been unbearable.

Agree with the point dsrdsrdsr made if we are talking about health issues. There always seem to be a great many 'large' people on cruise ships permanently eating!

On most P&O ships the smoking area is on lido deck which we have to navigate past on the way to the buffet every morning, most of which are in port with no wind to disperse the smoke. As an ex smoker I know how addictive cigarettes are but surely smokers could wait until ashore before their first one of the day................just saying.

On the basis that I would outlaw smoking altogether (not just on cruise ships), I am unable to be entirely subjective on this one!

However, the proposal to ban smoking on family ships would render the adult only ships completely out of bounds for many of us, as they would end up with a disproportionately high number of smokers.

Although I absolutely detest the stench of cigarette smoke (it gives me a headache, aside from the health issues and making your clothes and hair stink), the current P&O policy seems to be a sensible compromise.

We find it relatively easy to avoid the smokers. The sole exception is the promenade deck where, if you are doing circuits, you can’t avoid it. The things that do annoy me are violations of the designated no smoking areas. I have often seen people (passengers and crew) smoking on the no-smoking side of the promenade deck and have smelt cigarette smoke on our balcony when there are no designated smoking areas anywhere near us. Unfortunately, as I can smell cigarette smoke from 100 yards, trying to trace the rogue balcony smoker is nigh on impossible!

It is illegal to smoke in your private car in the UK where you are transporting children. This is to protect them from the passive smoking issue. It is also illegal to smoke in company cars even when alone. There is a lot of legislation to stop smoking or restrict it. It makes no sense to me to completely ban smokers on cruise ships. They are currently restricted to a very few areas which are easily avoided.

Regards John

 

We find it relatively easy to avoid the smokers. The sole exception is the promenade deck where, if you are doing circuits, you can’t avoid it.

This is being phased out gradually on newer ships. Azura does not lend itself well to "circuits" due to having to "duck indoors" at the bow end for continuity and on Britannia they have eliminated the Promenade Deck altogether. This is the problem with different people's preferences you never get a good compromise.

Regards John

This is being phased out gradually on newer ships. Azura does not lend itself well to "circuits" due to having to "duck indoors" at the bow end for continuity and on Britannia they have eliminated the Promenade Deck altogether. This is the problem with different people's preferences you never get a good compromise.

 

Regards John

Yes, that’s true. On Azura and Ventura we tend to do ‘horeshoes’ rather than full circuits as the forward stairs are a challenge with a wheelchair! You still can’t avoid the smoking area though. That said, I would love to have a promenade deck on Britannia, smokers or not, as we really miss that facility when we cruise on her.

One thing that I forgot to say in my earlier post that we have noticed fewer smokers on our last few cruises than has been the case in previous years, even though they are squeezed into fewer and fewer areas. Perhaps the cost of smoking these days is as much of a factor in reducing the number of smokers as the health issues. I know that I would begrudge sending my hard earned money up in smoke, even if it wasn’t dangerous and anti-social.

On Princess ships there is a Speakeasy in the casino which is a sealed room where you can smoke to your hearts content with a TV and waiter service, seems sensible to me.

Good point CCFC. We were on RCI's Navigator of the Seas in July and they had a lounge for smokers and, every other night, you could smoke in one half of the casino.

A sensible compromise - as a smoker I've long since realised that I can't smoke where or when I like and, I don't expect to be able to, but I don't take kindly to being crammed into smaller and smaller areas of the outside decks on P&O cruise ships and still being subject to snide comments from non smokers who are sitting in designated smoking areas.

Earlier comments about smokers being antisocial really is 'below the belt' - just because someone doesn't like the smell of tobacco hardly makes it antisocial. Out in the open you ae far more likely to suffer problems from people driving around our towns and cities in old cars belching out far more noxious fumes than my poor little cigarette.

Any non smoker want to admit to driving a health hazard that shouldn't be on the road?

I won't my breath!

Yes as I said in my previous post. There are more toxic fumes inhaled by anyone in the back seat of a car when you fill up and from car fumes in a built up area than there are from the odd smoker outside . You can avoid smoking areas on a ship.

So why not ban drinking on board ship.......that's bad for your health as well . Is drinking classed as "antisocial"? I think not so why is smoking.?