Discuss Implementation of Smoking Policy

[vjmatty]

But that's only for a short period on the embarkation day.

 

All it takes is one little mishap in the span of seconds....:eek:

[Charles4515]

All it takes is one little mishap in the span of seconds....:eek:

 

They could just close off the side of the ship they are refueling on during the refueling.

[highheel girl]

They could just close off the side of the ship they are refueling on during the refueling.

 

They do.

[cruiselvr1]

I have no problem letting guest services know, I can't stand the smell. I paid extra money for a balcony, I want to be able to use it.

[bbum]

Wow that's really strange that they have swapped smoking sides of the promenade on the Ruby. We been cruising Princess loyally for 15 years and it's always been port side for any smoking, except balconies when it was allowed. This could really put some people who have booked the Ruby on the wrong side, both smokers and non smokers. I wonder if anyone has noticed smoke rising up from the promenade if they had a balcony above or if it's a mute point.

 

Beachbum

[1 HappyCruiser]

Wow that's really strange that they have swapped smoking sides of the promenade on the Ruby. We been cruising Princess loyally for 15 years and it's always been port side for any smoking, except balconies when it was allowed. This could really put some people who have booked the Ruby on the wrong side, both smokers and non smokers. I wonder if anyone has noticed smoke rising up from the promenade if they had a balcony above or if it's a mute point.

 

Beachbum

 

If some people noticed it on the Emerald deck port side I'm sure the same problem will exist on starboard side as well. It's just the confusion of having to know which ships will change & which ones won't and not being taken by surprise. :(

[Mom33]

I wish to comment on our experience as non-smokers since the change in smoking rules on Princess Cruises.

 

We had no issues with smoke on this cruise. We were in a starboard Caribe balcony with no smoke residue odor in our cabin and no smoke drifting around on our balcony from neighbors not following the rules.

 

As to the issue of the Promenade deck, the port side of the Promenade deck is the smoking side on the Emerald Princess. We walk the Promenade for exercise every day at different times and never encountered more than one or two smokers,(sometimes none). This does not appear to be the favorite hang out of smokers as there were never any clouds of smoke for us to walk through.

 

We frequent the aft pool and smokers are present on the port side above the pool itself. Their smoke drifts upward and did not affect the pool itself or the starboard side of the deck. Once again, there are no clouds of smoke to walk through.

 

As for the port side of Lido, the smoking area is not near the food venues and therefore we had no need to go in that area.

 

The casino smells of smoke residue and the smell was detectable on deck 6 by passenger services. However, we never walked through clouds of smoke to lose our money :) One side of the casino was non smoking and we stayed on that side.

 

To sum up, the new policy has been in place for 3 months and appears to work fine. Bon Voyage!!

[wright1956]

I promised - so here it is. A "smokers report". Just got off the Sapphire today - 14 day to Hawaii. This was an experiment for us and my "smoker" parents who joined us. We all brought ecigarettes to help for urges in the cabin. We spent most of our time at the aft adult pool. There were 7 covered smoking tables, fixed bar chairs with a view and lounge chairs, all of which smoking was allowed. The area was always quite full and we made many friends (port side), we spent most of our time on-board hanging out back there (and booked and aft cabin for that purpose.

 

At the very start of the cruise a few people would wander out with food and sit down and start to comment on the smoking, someone would always politely let them know that the other side was non-smoking and they would go over there (those tables were mostly empty during the cruise). After that, we never had a single rude comment from anyone at the aft pool.

 

The Casino was another matter. There were two non-smoking nights (first and last formal), there was a section of about 7 tables, that yes did become the indoor smoking lounge. there were MANY MANY MANY people who would walk through doing the windmill thing or holding their nose, etc. For the first time it did not bother me at all. One lady was so ridiculous (these tables were on the side of the casino) she was wandering around SLOWLY holding her nose with her face scrunched up. Mind you, she was not walking through the center area of the casino, just wandering the edge right by all the smoking tables. All of us actually found her funny, and I made my own comment to her, I mean really she didn't even leave the casino, just kept wandering around holding her nose making a face.

 

Another time this group came through - well into the cruise- waving their hands around like maniacs. There was a large group of us smokers there and we started waiving our own arms around as well - we found it quite funny. Most, if not all of my family and "smoker friends" dealt with condescending behaviors in the casino. But like I said, none of it bothered me at all, I saw the same people over and over again running through the casino to get to the other side, I just couldn't figure out why they couldn't figure out that they could go up or down one level and they would not have to go through it.

 

Neptune's Reef Pool, the entire port side tables had ashtrays on them, although we did not spend alot of time there - MUTS was just too loud and anoying.

 

Promenade deck - now this I don't ubnderstand at all - so heads up be prepared. Dad and I walked out from the explorers lounge to smoke on the port side through the door we have ALWAYS used. Both of us lit a cigarette and all of a sudden realized there were no ashtrays out there, plus there were signs everywhere saying no smoking. We had NOWHERE to put them out - Dad ran into the door right by a bathroom and extinguished them in the sink. We walked out to the STARBOARD side and there were the ashtrays. I then saw an officer and asked him what the deal was. He told me that they had just changed the smoking side the week before - he would not explain why. I told him that was going to cause nothing but problems for the experienced Princess cruisers. His response was - "we say we have designated smoking areas, we don't specify WHERE they will be".

 

Lo and behold one of my friends later went out to the Starboard side and was smoking right by the ashtray. A woman came by, got mad and RAN inside the ship and brought an officer outside with her to point at my friend. The officer then explained to the irate woman that my friend was smoking in a designated smoking area. So I don't know what to say to all of you booking your balcony on the Starboard Emerald deck to be away from the smokers?????

 

So there it is - my "report". We had a lovely cruise and are already looking at the next to book, as well as my parents. We were fine and will book with Princess again. Inside cabins though, no reason at all to spend the extra money when we spent most of our time outside.

 

Happy Sailing Everybody!

Tammy

Thanks so much Tammy really good info for us smokers! We leave for a 14 day cruise to Hawaii next Saturday! Much appreciated review!!!

[sprinkles]

Your Welcome Wright, I really did just want to reach out to the apprehensive smokers out there. Have a great time, we loved it so much that we booked the Sapphire again for 28 days in October, Hawaii/Tahitti. Really not a big adjustment.

 

I did have one thought though that came to me on the cruise and I'm sure will come up at some point. It's never happened to us, but we have had friends who have been quarantined for three days while on a cruise. What happens if a "die hard" smoker gets quarantined? DH and I talked about it and really wondered, the ecigs "helped", but to be quarantined - then what? We both decided we would totally freak out!!!

 

I wonder if Princess has any decissions on that one. But then again, I don't really know anything about being quarantined (I don't even know if I'm spelling it correctly). Anyone have any thoughts on that one? Does your room steward basically act like a security guard and would you be "in trouble" for going out to have a smoke? Would you have to have an escort to ensure that you did not touch anything on your way to a smoking area - or would it be a new Princess At Sea Program - "Quit Smoking NOW" - LOL.

 

Happy Sailing Everyone!

Tammy

[lorima]

Very pleased with the new policy.... did not enjoy the smoke coming to our balcony on our last cruise. Hope it is enforced.:):)

[1 HappyCruiser]

Your Welcome Wright, I really did just want to reach out to the apprehensive smokers out there. Have a great time, we loved it so much that we booked the Sapphire again for 28 days in October, Hawaii/Tahitti. Really not a big adjustment.

 

I did have one thought though that came to me on the cruise and I'm sure will come up at some point. It's never happened to us, but we have had friends who have been quarantined for three days while on a cruise. What happens if a "die hard" smoker gets quarantined? DH and I talked about it and really wondered, the ecigs "helped", but to be quarantined - then what? We both decided we would totally freak out!!!

 

I wonder if Princess has any decissions on that one. But then again, I don't really know anything about being quarantined (I don't even know if I'm spelling it correctly). Anyone have any thoughts on that one? Does your room steward basically act like a security guard and would you be "in trouble" for going out to have a smoke? Would you have to have an escort to ensure that you did not touch anything on your way to a smoking area - or would it be a new Princess At Sea Program - "Quit Smoking NOW" - LOL.

 

Happy Sailing Everyone!

Tammy

 

I suspect they could make some special allowance in that case. After all how many cabins were really made uninhabitable when they did allow smoking in them?

[sprinkles]

Honestly not trying to "start" anything again. Just simply bringing up an honest question I had in keeping with the spirit of this thread - a discussion of the implementation of Princess' new policy and how it affects us on both sides of the fence. An issue - as evidenced by the number of views in the past couple of months - that is important to many of us.

 

So if anyone get's or already knows the answer to my question, I'll be interested.

 

Mahalo,

Tammy

[Mom33]

If one were quarantined with the norovirus, I would think they would be too ill to care about having a smoke. Any time someone leaves their cabin, it is recorded in a computer on the ship when they swipe

their card to get back in. Should they choose to leave their cabin , they risk spreading the virus.

 

Hospitals don't permit smoking. If they were in the hospital there would be no exceptions.

Edited April 7, 2012 by Mom33

[JulieRose]

Does anyone know where the smoking areas are located on the Crown? Sailing in 3 days and 3 of the 10 I'm sailing with are smokers and have been asking about this...

[contentsam]

Does anyone know where the smoking areas are located on the Crown? Sailing in 3 days and 3 of the 10 I'm sailing with are smokers and have been asking about this...

 

Lido deck port side by the pool, Eck 15 in back of ship, Deck 8, Port side I think, Church Hill lounge and the Casino.

Sam

[JulieRose]

Lido deck port side by the pool, Eck 15 in back of ship, Deck 8, Port side I think, Church Hill lounge and the Casino.

Sam

 

 

Wow! The do give some choices, which is nice. Thanks for the info.

[Retired Educator]

Thank you "Sprinkles" for your report. As a non-smoker with serious lung function issues I wonder how many of the arm wavers are aware of the side effects of too much perfume or after shave, room fresheners, laundry fragrances, etc can also have on many people? For some even the smell of coffee, mint or chocolate can trigger breathing issues. Those of us with serious problems know how to avoid trigger incidents that have us pulling out the rescue inhalers. Enjoy you smokes in the designated areas and I'll wave at you from the other side of the deck with a thumbs up! Happy cruising to all and to all a good night! :cool:

[TampaBayCruisingAgain]

Thank you "Sprinkles" for your report. As a non-smoker with serious lung function issues I wonder how many of the arm wavers are aware of the side effects of too much perfume or after shave, room fresheners, laundry fragrances, etc can also have on many people? For some even the smell of coffee, mint or chocolate can trigger breathing issues. Those of us with serious problems know how to avoid trigger incidents that have us pulling out the rescue inhalers. Enjoy you smokes in the designated areas and I'll wave at you from the other side of the deck with a thumbs up! Happy cruising to all and to all a good night! :cool:

 

 

I'm a former smoker, but I must admit not one of the "reformed smokers" who complains every time I get near a smoker. I stopped smoking several years ago due to asthma and recurrent pneumonia. I am fine with the new non-smoking policy as long as adequate smoking areas are provided for smokers. Because someone smokes, they should not be shunned if they are following the rules. I feel very strongly about this.

 

I do, however, agree with you about the perfumes, fragrances, etc. being excessive sometimes. More than once I have had to leave an elevator because the perfume was choking me or making me sneeze. Perhaps that issue should be addressed as well? There are a lot of people with lung issues, allergies or other breathing problems. I believe that everyone should be respectful of others around them, irregardless of the issue.

 

I am cruising on the Crown in nine days, and it will be interesting to see how the smoking restrictions are managed. Change is never easy for any of us! :)

[Retired Educator]

I'm a former smoker, but I must admit not one of the "reformed smokers" who complains every time I get near a smoker. I stopped smoking several years ago due to asthma and recurrent pneumonia. I am fine with the new non-smoking policy as long as adequate smoking areas are provided for smokers. Because someone smokes, they should not be shunned if they are following the rules. I feel very strongly about this.

I do, however, agree with you about the perfumes, fragrances, etc. being excessive sometimes. More than once I have had to leave an elevator because the perfume was choking me or making me sneeze. Perhaps that issue should be addressed as well? There are a lot of people with lung issues, allergies or other breathing problems. I believe that everyone should be respectful of others around them, irregardless of the issue.

I am cruising on the Crown in nine days, and it will be interesting to see how the smoking restrictions are managed. Change is never easy for any of us! :)

First off, I completely agree with you. Live and let live. As long as someone is following the rules there is no reason to make a fuss.

Secondly I hope no one feels I was suggesting they implement a "no fragrancy policy" LOL Remember that one little spritz is good, 73 spritzes no so much so :eek:

Lastly, have a wonderful cruise and enjoy every moment! Look forward to your report on returning.

[azseas]

First off, I completely agree with you. Live and let live. As long as someone is following the rules there is no reason to make a fuss.

Secondly I hope no one feels I was suggesting they implement a "no fragrancy policy" LOL Remember that one little spritz is good, 73 spritzes no so much so :eek:

Lastly, have a wonderful cruise and enjoy every moment! Look forward to your report on returning.

 

What a wonderful positive attitude about life! If all of us could take your views - there would be little issue. We always follow the smoking rules and feel it is respectful to all. Thank you!

[trojangirl90066]

We are on the Island in a suite on the Dolphin deck on the starboard side. Will we smell smoke on our balcony? Just wondering if we should switch to the Port side.

[-Lew-]

Are you referring to cigarette smoke? If so, it doesn't make a difference which side of the ship you're on if someone forward of you happens to be smoking on their balcony.

 

Since Princess didn't enforce their own non-smoking rules on my last cruise and apparently others as reported here on Cruise Critic, there's no way to tell what might be the best location for you. It's sad that the non-smoking rules are nothing more than lip service.

 

Lew

[Mom33]

Smoking was not an issue on the Emerald. We had a starboard balcony on Caribe and never smelled smoke.Very few people used the promenade deck to smoke either. Most cruisers are abiding by the rules. :D Bon Voyage.

 

PS. you can see more in the sticky thread at the top of the page about smoking rules and experiences.

[-Lew-]

 

Smoking was not an issue on the Emerald. We had a starboard balcony on Caribe and never smelled smoke.

It depends a lot on where your cabin is located in relation to those who may be smoking. On our B2B earlier this year on the Emerald, we had no issues at all on our first cruise; but did on the second.

 

We were three cabins aft of the offenders and couldn't ignore the smoke. I doubt if it affected cabins much further back.

 

Lew

[1 HappyCruiser]

Currently on the Crown the smoke problem have been VERY GOOD comared to what it used to be. People are abiding to the regulations much better than I assumed they would be- even at night time on the balconies. I spoke to the head of security & he even said that there have been very few problems with enforcement sine the new rule went into effect.:D :p:)