If you cruised with new smoking policy, what do you think?

[BigDfromTN]

The one thing we did notice on our last trip on the Glory was that the "new" designated Cigar smoking bar (old Jazz club) was shut down for Private Parties a significant amount of time on the trip. Since it was raining and foggy out, this wasn't exactly the best facility for them to shut down when there were other empty venues the parties could have been held in.

 

On our Triumph trip this week. We had a private party in the Jazz club. Some of our guests were smokers and they were not allowed to smoke in there during a private function:eek:. Go Figure!!!

 

 

For the record. This party was booked prior to the change when this was a non-smoking venue. Upon the change I emailed and offered to change venues to accomodate any other smokers on-board. They declined and we had it there.

[hillorama]

This is interesting, to all the non-smokers, if you really want this policy to stick, you better pay up and start buying in the venues. It seems like non-smokers are not doing that and eventually Carnival will re-evalulate their decision to make certain venues smoking again to bring in the dollars. Yes, it's nice to not smell tobacco, however, you have to spend money on the ship as well. It goes both ways. If the non-smokers do not spend their money on the ship but just want to breath fresh air it's not going to cut it with the "beards".

 

Agreed.:)

[MissRabbit]

,

 

And the money being spent will just be redistributed to different smoker friendly locations as well. Unless..........Maybe the smokers are so mad that even more of them will start smuggling!!:eek: Lol It's just not very logical to think that the smokers have stopped spending on booze because there are a few new places they cant smoke, so why would a non smoker suddenly have to start spending MORE?. Just silliness:D

 

 

The only reason i can see sales being down is if the different venue affects how a smoker will drink. For example, are they more likely to constantly have a drink in their hand if they are listening to music in a piano bar, than if they are outside on the pool deck with the sun and noise? That might make a difference, i don't know. For the most part, though, i agree with you. Sure there are a few less areas to go to smoke, but those areas are just as capable of taking a smoker's money as the piano bar.

 

As for the empty non-smoking areas...just reading the reports in this thread, it appears we are getting just as many reports that it depends on the cruise/time of year etc. That the piano bar may be empty during the day but not at night...or empty on one sailing but not another. I think, for the most part, smokers are assuming the emptiness is because of the smoking policy change and using that as ammunition against the change, but were people really looking at the capacity before the change to compare it?

 

One last thing to consider...most of us at CC are aware of the policy change and what areas of the ship are affected. What about the majority of the passengers who don't visit CC? Obviously, non CC smokers who go on their cruise, are made aware of it as they are either told not to smoke (or there are signs?). But what about non CC folks who don't smoke? How are they made aware of it? My first 2 cruises, i wasn't part of CC. I only found out the hard way that piano bars = smoking havens and learned quickly to stay away from them. So on my upcoming cruise, if i had not been part of CC, I would have just assumed the piano bars were still the smoking havens i remembered and simply stayed away from them. This could explain why one month into the new smoking policy, the piano bars and other newly non-smoking areas, appear to be sparcely populated.

 

Give it 6 months for the non-smoking cruising population to be made aware of the new non-smoking areas...then if the piano bars are still empty, the smokers might be on to something.

[cruisenanny]

The only reason i can see sales being down is if the different venue affects how a smoker will drink. For example, are they more likely to constantly have a drink in their hand if they are listening to music in a piano bar, than if they are outside on the pool deck with the sun and noise? That might make a difference, i don't know. For the most part, though, i agree with you. Sure there are a few less areas to go to smoke, but those areas are just as capable of taking a smoker's money as the piano bar.

 

As for the empty non-smoking areas...just reading the reports in this thread, it appears we are getting just as many reports that it depends on the cruise/time of year etc. That the piano bar may be empty during the day but not at night...or empty on one sailing but not another. I think, for the most part, smokers are assuming the emptiness is because of the smoking policy change and using that as ammunition against the change, but were people really looking at the capacity before the change to compare it?

 

One last thing to consider...most of us at CC are aware of the policy change and what areas of the ship are affected. What about the majority of the passengers who don't visit CC? Obviously, non CC smokers who go on their cruise, are made aware of it as they are either told not to smoke (or there are signs?). But what about non CC folks who don't smoke? How are they made aware of it? My first 2 cruises, i wasn't part of CC. I only found out the hard way that piano bars = smoking havens and learned quickly to stay away from them. So on my upcoming cruise, if i had not been part of CC, I would have just assumed the piano bars were still the smoking havens i remembered and simply stayed away from them. This could explain why one month into the new smoking policy, the piano bars and other newly non-smoking areas, appear to be sparcely populated.

 

Give it 6 months for the non-smoking cruising population to be made aware of the new non-smoking areas...then if the piano bars are still empty, the smokers might be on to something.

 

Well said & I think you have a great point.

[babies12]

The only reason i can see sales being down is if the different venue affects how a smoker will drink. For example, are they more likely to constantly have a drink in their hand if they are listening to music in a piano bar, than if they are outside on the pool deck with the sun and noise? That might make a difference, i don't know. For the most part, though, i agree with you. Sure there are a few less areas to go to smoke, but those areas are just as capable of taking a smoker's money as the piano bar.

 

As for the empty non-smoking areas...just reading the reports in this thread, it appears we are getting just as many reports that it depends on the cruise/time of year etc. That the piano bar may be empty during the day but not at night...or empty on one sailing but not another. I think, for the most part, smokers are assuming the emptiness is because of the smoking policy change and using that as ammunition against the change, but were people really looking at the capacity before the change to compare it?

 

One last thing to consider...most of us at CC are aware of the policy change and what areas of the ship are affected. What about the majority of the passengers who don't visit CC? Obviously, non CC smokers who go on their cruise, are made aware of it as they are either told not to smoke (or there are signs?). But what about non CC folks who don't smoke? How are they made aware of it? My first 2 cruises, i wasn't part of CC. I only found out the hard way that piano bars = smoking havens and learned quickly to stay away from them. So on my upcoming cruise, if i had not been part of CC, I would have just assumed the piano bars were still the smoking havens i remembered and simply stayed away from them. This could explain why one month into the new smoking policy, the piano bars and other newly non-smoking areas, appear to be sparcely populated.

 

Give it 6 months for the non-smoking cruising population to be made aware of the new non-smoking areas...then if the piano bars are still empty, the smokers might be on to something.

 

As a smoker, I totally understand what you are saying. So I guess, it's a wait and see type thing. No need to get into the what if's. I'm perfectly fine with the way it's been incorporated, but it would be a shame to see the nightclubs dead when I go on my next cruise. Here's hoping that won't happen.

[cruisenanny]

As a smoker, I totally understand what you are saying. So I guess, it's a wait and see type thing. No need to get into the what if's. I'm perfectly fine with the way it's been incorporated, but it would be a shame to see the nightclubs dead when I go on my next cruise. Here's hoping that won't happen.

I'm honestly curious.. As a loooong time former smoker, not being able to smoke in a lounge wouldn't keep me from enjoying the entertainment there. I would just step outside to have an occasional smoke. If hubby & I were afraid to lose our seats then we would take turns going. Not as convenient/fun as being able to smoke right there but not bad enough to keep me from enjoying something I say I love. Like everyone says how they USED to love the piano bar when they could smoke there...... Really? I sincerely don't get it.

[Havingfun2010]

Years ago, and Florida, when the smoking laws were changed, all the smokers were saying how all the businesses such as restaurants will suffer, because no smokers will go out and eat etc. These comments were everywhere. After a short while, business started to boom, or just the opposite. Why, because the smokers still went out to eat, and many more people started to enjoy going out more also. Everyone adapted.

 

For all the posts on this board, it is obvious who smokes and who does not. The piano bar is empty because of the policy. No one is in the clubs? Carnival is losing money? None of this is true. Yes, some shifting has occurred, but unles you a chain smoker, the policy will not bother you, nor will it be any different from many of the smokers while they are on land.

 

Carnival will not lose money, because the "majority" of people are non-smokers. Yes, that is right. So when a business caters to the majority, profits go up. It's a smart move for Carnival. If this was 10 to 20 years ago, then it would have been a risk, but now, it is the trend, and has already been proven to be a profitable trend.

 

Within the next few short years, a whole new generation of young adults will be forking over their money and that generation has a extremely small percent of smokers. Peer pressure, is anti smoking today for the young adults.

[JPH814]

It doesn't take affect until December 1, 2011.

 

 

I am pretty sure this is not correct. I believe it is already in effect.

[JPH814]

I have always LOVED the piano bar but have never been able to stand it for mor than a half hour due to the smoke. I am very happy to see that it is now non-smoking and HOPE that on my upcoming cruise, there are lots of others enjoying the music as well. The Paradise didn't fair well with its no smoking policy so we can only hope this policy is accepted fleet wide.

 

 

My sentiments exactly. I love the piano bars but could not stand even walking by the place on our last cruise - the Dream in April. In two weeks we will be on the Glory. I am really looking forward to it.

[JPH814]

Laugh away, however, the people here on CC are only a tiny percentage that really can't even represent the amount of cruisers on Carnival lines. That being said, I believe there are far more smokers on Carnival than non-smokers. Smokers will adjust, go to the venues where allowed and spend. The non-smokers will need to do the same, spend their dollars in the venues that don't allow smoking. As read in the threads, it seemed that quite a few bars were dead while the smoking bars were hopping and areas that allowed smoking were hopping. I'm just saying... And it looks like I'm going to be getting flamed for this, so my flame suit is on LOL! I know this is a sore subject for non-smokers.

 

 

Not flaming you, but questioning your statement that I highlighted above. A recent Gallup poll found that 23.5 percent of men and 18.8 percent of women smoke. I am not sure why cruise passangers would be all that different from the population as a whole.

[JPH814]

the same amount of smoke will occur on every cruise. it is just redistributed, but still on the ship.

 

 

I am not sure you are correct. Studies have shown that as society has restricted the places where smoking is permitted, people smoke less and more have quit smoking altogether. Partly because of the inconvenience. Partly because some people are more inclined to smoke when they are around other smokers.

 

Mr H8...: We again are on opposite sides of an issue.

[evandbob]

Not flaming you, but questioning your statement that I highlighted above. A recent Gallup poll found that 23.5 percent of men and 18.8 percent of women smoke. I am not sure why cruise passangers would be all that different from the population as a whole.

 

 

Don't know about cruisers/smoking %, but I work in the chemical dependency field and 85 - 90% of alcoholics, addicts and those with mental health issues smoke. Smoking is actually the biggest cause of death in the recovering population.

[JPH814]

Don't know about cruisers/smoking %, but I work in the chemical dependency field and 85 - 90% of alcoholics, addicts and those with mental health issues smoke. Smoking is actually the biggest cause of death in the recovering population.

 

 

Yep - I am aware of that as well. So maybe the population in bars may be a little more inclined to smoke than those is the general population, but still not enough to say the majority.

 

And unless someone considers cruising an addiction, I doubt there is a correlation to what you see.

[Ratt]

Not flaming you, but questioning your statement that I highlighted above. A recent Gallup poll found that 23.5 percent of men and 18.8 percent of women smoke. I am not sure why cruise passangers would be all that different from the population as a whole.

 

While I don't question the gallop poll, I would think that there is a good chance that Carnival cruises would have a higher percentage of passengers that smoke than what the poll says or what the national average is due to the fact that Carnival is pretty much the cheapest out there and it's no secret that a higher percentage of smokers are in the lower income brackets.

 

The fact that Carnival has / had the most liberal smoking policies of all the major lines would also cause the number to be higher.

 

I have a couple of friends who smoke that are in the higher income brackets and they prefer Carnival over other cruise lines so I do think smokers are drawn to Carnival.

 

Another factor that would cause the percentage of smokers to be higher on some sailings would be shorter cruises which of course are cheaper.

 

Just my two cents.

[Flynlo]

Apparently (according to Corporate) the number one alcohol sales entertainment venue is (and has been for years) .... karaoke.

 

(which is nonsmoking) .... so much for the theory that non-smoking venues don't produce....:rolleyes:

 

More non smoking rants!:rolleyes:

[JPH814]

While I don't question the gallop poll, I would think that there is a good chance that Carnival cruises would have a higher percentage of passengers that smoke than what the poll says or what the national average is due to the fact that Carnival is pretty much the cheapest out there and it's no secret that a higher percentage of smokers are in the lower income brackets.

 

The fact that Carnival has / had the most liberal smoking policies of all the major lines would also cause the number to be higher.

 

I have a couple of friends who smoke that are in the higher income brackets and they prefer Carnival over other cruise lines so I do think smokers are drawn to Carnival.

 

Another factor that would cause the percentage of smokers to be higher on some sailings would be shorter cruises which of course are cheaper.

 

Just my two cents.

 

 

And considering the number of kids on mostcarnival cruises, this would skew the numbers lower.

 

Regardless, smokers are clearly the minority on cruises. 20 %, 30% maybe. but certainly not in the majority.

[Ratt]

And considering the number of kids on mostcarnival cruises, this would skew the numbers lower.

 

Regardless, smokers are clearly the minority on cruises. 20 %, 30% maybe. but certainly not in the majority.

 

Completely agree that they are the minority.

[gimpysfamily2]

My husband and I sailed on the Imagination over the July 4th weekend. The ship was overfull. I definitely noticed a difference in the casino. Nonsmoking sections were a lot less smoky unless they were next to smoking section on slots. They had one nonsmoking and one smoking BJ table. Both crowded and well marked. All machines were signed with smoking or nonsmoking. There was noticeably less smoke overall but I admit I try to avoid smoke if I can. I can't remember how they did the craps table if one side was smoking and the other not. I played both sides and don't remember anyone smoking on either side.

 

I don't smoke but do have friends that do. Of course, I encourage nonsmoking (work in health care) but also know it is a personal decision and very difficult to quit. That being said I do appreciate a less smoky environment. Chantix anyone?:)

[KNowme1st]

Little off topic, but still about the non smoking policy/We canceled our cruise for June of 2012 due to the non smoking policy now in effect.

< sigh> I don't smoke

[popsec]

I am a smoker and just returned from the Dream. These are my observations.

Most of the clubs were empty. I never, not once, saw anyone in the Casino/Sports bar area. The Piano bar was empty every night that I passed by...........now, granted, I never went into the Piano bar at any time, so I do not really know how it was later in the evening. The Lanai/smoking area was always packed. We spent most of our evenings at Ocean Plaza listening to the BlackJack Band (absolutely EXCELLENT entertainment) and I used my ecig/vaporer. No one ever said a word to me. The casino we played in every night. It is my understanding that you are not allowed to just "stand/sit and smoke" unless you are playing. Many nights, I would sit and play slots briefly and smoke; but then get tired of playing and wait on DH from the Blackjack tables and continually sat at the same slot machine, smoking, without being told to leave. LIDO DECK - both sides always filled to capacity. Did not see any more folks on one side or the other; but did see lots of smokers filling starboard side lounge chairs and occasionally getting up and walking over to the smoking side to have a cigarette. No smoking at all on Serenity; but I did vape and no one ever said a word to me. Disco - no smoking; but vaped and never a word said. Not crowded in disco at all at midnight.

 

If you have any specific questions - I'd be happy to try and answer.

 

I was especially interested in hearing your comments about vaping on the ship. Since I've been using an e-cig for over 2 years now and had always using my e-cig everywhere on the ships except dining areas, I was curious if they'd be enforcing the "e-cig use only in smoking areas" rule. Sure hope not as that would severely affect the time I'll spend in the casino or the amount I'll be willing to "donate" if I'm forced into the smoking area.

[B and C Blake]

Apparently (according to Corporate) the number one alcohol sales entertainment venue is (and has been for years) .... karaoke.

 

(which is nonsmoking) .... so much for the theory that non-smoking venues don't produce....:rolleyes:

 

the following was posted on CCL forum

take note of karaoke

 

weakfade posted on Tue Jul 12, 2011 at 12:22 AM

 

My wife and I just returned yesterday from a week on the Legend. Let me say that we had a Great time. Good weather, GREAT service and the BEST ship. Having cruised 4 times with Carnival,on 4 different class ships,this was by far my favorite. There was never a time when it seemed crowded. There was always enough seats, reasonable lines at the buffet, and plenty of walking space. It seemed a lot less crowded than the Dream did last year. I guess there's just more space per guest. Beautiful ship! We loved it! Now for the unintended consequence. Under the new smoking policy, there are only 3 indoor smoking spaces, half of the casino, lower level of the disco, and inside Satchmo's bar. This is where the karaoke is held EVERY night. My wife and I love karaoke but we couldn't attend because of the smoke. Since the disco doesn't get going until late, and not everyone gambles, this left Satchmo's. It seemed that all of the smokers congregated here, understandably. We tried to listen from outside but the smoke just came out the open doors, so we had to leave. One night it was so bad it looked like a gas chamber. I know smokers need their place to smoke but there has got to be a better way. Especially when John Heald commented that karaoke bars were big money makers for Carnival. Maybe the sports bar next door would work, it joins the casino and I never saw more than 2 people in there, just a thought. We did get to enjoy Rockstar Live though, and it was great. The Firebird is a beautiful lounge. Anyway, maybe some adjustments to the areas will be made so everyone can enjoy karaoke!

[Chris41]

i remember how shocked i was smelling a cigar that someone was smoking on the fantail.

 

other than that, i never smelled cigar smoke until i went through the cigar bar.

 

now i expect to smell it any time i go out to my balcony.

 

 

 

You probably will if you are next to me as I plan on following the rules set down by the company.

[H82seaUgo]

You probably will if you are next to me as I plan on following the rules set down by the company.

 

i have a better chance of smelling dw's cigarettes, and dirty ashtray.

[Chris41]

The only reason i can see sales being down is if the different venue affects how a smoker will drink. For example, are they more likely to constantly have a drink in their hand if they are listening to music in a piano bar, than if they are outside on the pool deck with the sun and noise? That might make a difference, i don't know. For the most part, though, i agree with you. Sure there are a few less areas to go to smoke, but those areas are just as capable of taking a smoker's money as the piano bar.

 

As for the empty non-smoking areas...just reading the reports in this thread, it appears we are getting just as many reports that it depends on the cruise/time of year etc. That the piano bar may be empty during the day but not at night...or empty on one sailing but not another. I think, for the most part, smokers are assuming the emptiness is because of the smoking policy change and using that as ammunition against the change, but were people really looking at the capacity before the change to compare it?

 

One last thing to consider...most of us at CC are aware of the policy change and what areas of the ship are affected. What about the majority of the passengers who don't visit CC? Obviously, non CC smokers who go on their cruise, are made aware of it as they are either told not to smoke (or there are signs?). But what about non CC folks who don't smoke? How are they made aware of it? My first 2 cruises, i wasn't part of CC. I only found out the hard way that piano bars = smoking havens and learned quickly to stay away from them. So on my upcoming cruise, if i had not been part of CC, I would have just assumed the piano bars were still the smoking havens i remembered and simply stayed away from them. This could explain why one month into the new smoking policy, the piano bars and other newly non-smoking areas, appear to be sparcely populated.

 

Give it 6 months for the non-smoking cruising population to be made aware of the new non-smoking areas...then if the piano bars are still empty, the smokers might be on to something.

 

 

I myself read where I can smoke in the funtimes.

[Chris41]

i have a better chance of smelling dw's cigarettes, and dirty ashtray.

 

 

To be honest I will try not to enjoy a cigar on my balcony if I know my neighbor is out as most people don't enjoy the smell of one. I did this before the new smoking policy was announced and will in most cases still try to be nice.