Why We Left NCL?

[che5904]

I am a former smoker and when I did smoke I was very conssiderate of people around me. There should be no smoking on balconies. There should be areas on top deck for smokers.

 

There are on other cruiselines, so it gives lots of choices if you wish a line that does not allow this.

 

Actually smoking on your own balcony is considered considerate to some, trying to stay out of the areas where there are more people that may be bothered. The smoking sections are very limited on a ship now. Therefore staying in your own little space away from people and their rudeness seems to be the way to go.

[NH Cruisers]

I don't smoke, never have. I am in my mid forties, grew up in the 70's when I think 90 % of adults smoked. Now the % are a lot less. I work on a construction crew and only 1 smoker out of 7. 10 years ago only 1 or 2 on the crew didn't smoke. In time I feel the population of smokers will dwindle to a point that it will be more viable for the cruise lines to go non smoking. Till that time people will have to respect the rights of both smokers and non-smokers. If the rules state you can smoke on a certain side of the ship and you are, it would be very rude for the non-smoker to chastize the smoker. And vise-versa, the smoker should not get pissed when they are told they are smoking in a non smoking area.

 

By the way, we cruised on Celebrity Solstice and they had no balcony smoking at the time. The folks next to us didn't care. We could not even sit out for more than a few minutes before they smoked us out. It sucked, but I did not say anything to anyone so I guess I was part of the problem. Folks will always break rules.

 

That same cruise I saw a mid 20 yo mother rudely chastizing a older man for smoking near her child. The guy was in the proper place and there first, that woman should have moved.

 

Some times I can't stand people.

[omc329]

Changing cruise lines won't work for me, at least not sensibly. X and Princess are out of budget. The only way they work is to get an inside. If I'm in an inside, I might as well take NCL.

 

I would like to see 25-35% of one back corner of the ship balconies designated as smoking, and the rest of the balconies non-smoking. If you must have a smoking cabin, book early. I would put the number above the 20% of the population, because non-smokers often travel with smokers, which would change the % of smoking cabins needed upwards from 20%.

 

Yes, that means non-smokers would have to lose some cabin options, as would smokers. At least the possibility of everyone having the air qualilty they choose would be there for all. Last minute bookers would have to deal with what is left, as would guarantee cabin holders. Those would likely fill any leftover smoking areas.

 

Truthfully, I'm with the smoker on here that says when they forced smoking out of the cabins, it went straight to the balconies. There were far fewer complaints about the smoke on the balconies before that change and it was rare to hear complaints on the cabins, (though the complaints rarely did come up on leftover smoke in a cabin that wasn't cleaned thoroughly).

 

If I had my rathers, I would cruise Princess or Celebrity in a balcony. I can't afford that. Some cruises I can't afford that on NCL. On those few times I splurge on a balcony on NCL, I really wish I KNEW I would be able to enjoy it, instead of wondering if I've wasted hard earned dollars.

 

I've made my choice, but that doesn't mean I can't complain and ask NCL to come up with a better solution. I want the product fixed so that I don't play the lotto when booking a balcony.

[che5904]

I want the product fixed so that I don't play the lotto when booking a balcony.

 

 

Fixed is all in perspective. We all have our wish list, I wish they'd put in back in cabins so I wouldn't have to listen to complaints from anyone and could go to my own "little world" (but thats not going to happen). I'm sure the smokers that now have to spend money on a balcony if they wish to smoke away from the majority of passengers wish it was back in their cabins as well.

 

But I guess like you not being able to change lines due to financial sensibilities, the smoker that wishes a balcony to be able to smoke in their own space and can't afford it will also have to make choices.

[crewser1]

IMO booking a balcony cabin on a ship that allows smoking on their balconies, and then complaining about the smoke is akin to renting an apartment over fish store and complaining about the smell of fish.

 

Not really. You know the fish store is underneath you before you rent the apartment. With a cruise, you have no idea who your neighbors are going to be until after you "rent" your cabin.

[che5904]

Not really. You know the fish store is underneath you before you rent the apartment. With a cruise, you have no idea who your neighbors are going to be until after you "rent" your cabin.

 

Sorry but if smoking is important to you, then you should know the cruiseline policy and therefore there is a chance this could happen. If you choose to take that chance then I guess that is a choice you make.

 

You may live over the fish place and depending on the winds may never smell it for months. I live in a farming community, by choice, depending on the winds I may not smell any farm smells for months. When I do, I don't complain to my community because there are farm smells that bother me. You can't predict the wind anymore than you can predict your neighbors on a ship. :rolleyes:

[4774Papa]

We have cruise three times on NCL and twice on Celebrity. We like both lines for different reasons.

We do give the edge to X for a few reasons. Most important is that the MDR food is superior on X. We do like the specialty restaurants on both lines and NCL had the variety.

 

Also, NCL tends to make the main pool area uninhabitable due to very very loud music. At least on Epic, we had the rear pool area.

 

X doesn't have the irritating announcements all the time.

 

Still, we like freestyle and pick cruises largely on itinerary. This is where X is superior. NCL doesn't go to Australia/NZ, Asia, South America, the British isles, Black Sea, etc.

 

The smoking policy is another irritation. We always get a balcony, and occasionally are hit with the second hand smoke. So far, it hasn't been terrible, just an occasional irritation.

[QuickieGlenn]

This is a no win situation

Smokers will defend their right to smoke and non-smokers will be pissed if they are forced to smell smoke

 

I don't smoke and cannot stand the smell but what can do

 

Maybe put a bucket of poop on the balcony with a fan blowing in the right direction

[zqvol]

This is what I don't understand. If such a small percentage of people smoke, how come everyone seems to have a smoker on the balcony either side of them as well as above and below :confused:

 

 

 

Because you only hear from the small minority who are bothered. Most people enjoy the balconies and never are bothered by their neighbors.

[goldmom]

Well, I'm guessing that this probably averages out. For every person who leaves NCL because of their smoking policy, others will book NCL because of it.

 

We have several friends who only sailed Princess and Celebrity who have now moved over to NCL because of the other lines changes to a more restrictive smoking policy.

 

Do research and choose a line that fits your needs the best.

[che5904]

Maybe put a bucket of poop on the balcony with a fan blowing in the right direction

 

If this is a new policy that NCL will allow (to poop in a bucket on your balcony). Will I know about this before I book? If so I guess then that is a choice I make. :rolleyes:

[Swells1]

Having a smoking side or deck won't work. Regardless of where a smoking area is designated, there's going to be a time when non-smokers are going to want to be in that spot. For even a moment, that exact place is going to be the single best spot on the ship.

[njhorseman]

This is what I don't understand. If such a small percentage of people smoke, how come everyone seems to have a smoker on the balcony either side of them as well as above and below :confused:

 

 

You're confusing a small number of people who voice a complaint with "everyone".

[NH Cruisers]

This is an example of a classic "Impasse". Smoker, Non-smoker. Commie, Capitalist. Conservative, Liberal. Cats lover, Dog lover. Goes on forever.

[QuickieGlenn]

If this is a new policy that NCL will allow (to poop in a bucket on your balcony). Will I know about this before I book? If so I guess then that is a choice I make. :rolleyes:

 

It is all a choice, complaining or not, inside or balcony,smoking or not

 

It is all a choice, my choice is a balcony, I have had smokers on both sides (my wife used to smoke, she made the choice to quit) but they asked us if the smoke was too much and they made the choice not to smoke when we were outside having coffee on the balcony.

 

Like I said it is a no win situation, smoke if you want, where you are allowed

[boopsahoy]

IMO booking a balcony cabin on a ship that allows smoking on their balconies, and then complaining about the smoke. Is akin to renting an apartment over fish store and complaining about the smell of fish.

 

If smoke may bother you from your neighbor smoking on their balcony, then don't get a balcony cabin. If the balcony is important to you, choose another line.

 

OP I think you made a wise move in choosing another line that suits your needs by prioritizing what is important to you.

 

Funny thing about life is we can't get everything we want, we have to choose to prioritize.

 

I agree. Its a well known fact (if you read CC) that they allow smoking on balconys ONLY.

[crewser1]

Sorry but if smoking is important to you, then you should know the cruiseline policy and therefore there is a chance this could happen. If you choose to take that chance then I guess that is a choice you make.

You may live over the fish place and depending on the winds may never smell it for months. I live in a farming community, by choice, depending on the winds I may not smell any farm smells for months. When I do, I don't complain to my community because there are farm smells that bother me. You can't predict the wind anymore than you can predict your neighbors on a ship. :rolleyes:

 

Sorry, but you never mentioned "if" or "wind blowing" and "knowing cruiseline policy" in the post I referenced. Reread your original analogy. Different than what you are saying in this post. :rolleyes: (I can do that too!). You said: IMO booking a balcony cabin on a ship that allows smoking on their balconies, and then complaining about the smoke is akin to renting an apartment over fish store and complaining about the smell of fish. I replied: Not really. You know the fish store is underneath you BEFORE you rent the apartment. With a cruise, you have no idea who your neighbors are going to be until AFTER you "rent" your cabin.

 

As another poster mentioned, it's more like lotto.

[time2cruise1]

It is all about choices. I would love to cruise X again but their current smoking policy makes that imposible. The good thing we all have choices. For those who want to cruise smoke free there are lots of options and for those that smoke or don't care options as well like NCL and RCI.

 

I think they have done a great job balancing things on NCL. 95% of the ship's indoor space is smoke free When I first cruised you could smoke in the dining room:eek: None of us can have things 100% our way all the time.

[djsdevine]

.....you would never have smoke smell from anyone since it would be going behind the ship. :cool:

 

wasiii

 

 

I had an aft balcony on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise and I can tell you that the smoke from my neighbor was overwhelming to the point where I had to go inside and close the door. It happened a number of times and it's not fun to suddenly interrupt your breakfast and haul it all inside. I'm not sure if the depth of the balcony makes a difference in airflow, etc. This was a very deep balcony.

[sdmike]

I don't think I've had a "smoke" issue on any of my cruises, other than the expected stench from the casino. This includes a trip 2 weeks ago on the Jewel after the new "balcony only" policy was created. Never once saw someone smoking on their balcony or smelled it. In fact, the only smokers I encountered were on the promenade deck out under the lifeboats in an area marked "smoking ok". Maybe it was the cooler weather and wind in AK.

 

I'd love to see ships (and other places) continue to reduce smoking more, but I'm also realistic. While only 20% of US adults smoke, the percentage is significantly higher outside the US and it would really curtail a budget line's ability to keep their ships full and generate drinking and gambling revenue. This would likely result in lower quality or higher fares, which might cause me to take my vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

So...I live with it and try to make the best of things. So far, so good (hope I didn't jinx myself) :)

[david_sobe]

Cruising is an international business. While Americans are growing more anti-smoking, many other countries are not. When I was in Germany a few years ago, they smoked EVERYWHERE. I was on a commuter train and there were smokers and ash trays everywhere. I dont believe there was a non-smoking area. So I think having a completely smoke free ship hurts business believe it or not.

I am in favor of a non smoking ship but just realistic about that happening.

[NJLVW]

Having a smoking side or deck won't work. Regardless of where a smoking area is designated, there's going to be a time when non-smokers are going to want to be in that spot. For even a moment, that exact place is going to be the single best spot on the ship.

 

Ah but then the non smoker knows that it is an approved smoking area and has a choice..if they choose to go there.

[Beaver1975]

Sorry, but you never mentioned "if" or "wind blowing" and "knowing cruiseline policy" in the post I referenced. Reread your original analogy. Different than what you are saying in this post. :rolleyes: (I can do that too!). You said: IMO booking a balcony cabin on a ship that allows smoking on their balconies, and then complaining about the smoke is akin to renting an apartment over fish store and complaining about the smell of fish. I replied: Not really. You know the fish store is underneath you BEFORE you rent the apartment. With a cruise, you have no idea who your neighbors are going to be until AFTER you "rent" your cabin.

 

As another poster mentioned, it's more like lotto.

 

...and by booking a balcony cabin on a line that you know allows smoking on said balcony, your chance of having a smoking neighbor are 50/50. Please show me a lotto with those kind of odds.

 

As with anything "facts" can be twisted to suit your viewpoint. This topic can be one of the most twisted that occurs on CC and it is really getting old considering it shows up almost weekly. But, the people bringing it up are getting better at disguising their true intent when posting about their anti-smoking bent.

 

And please don't tell me to just ignore it. This subject needs to be tended to by both sides of the discussion and not just the zealots.

 

John

[Richie2pies]

I choose to cruise NCL because they allow smoking on balconies. If and when they eliminate that, I will choose another line to spend my money. If all lines eliminate balcony smoking, I will stop cruising. EASY!

[graphicguy]

This is an example of a classic "Impasse". Smoker, Non-smoker. Commie, Capitalist. Conservative, Liberal. Cats lover, Dog lover. Goes on forever.

 

Yep.....add in perfume and cologne smells (yes, I can smell thm from my balcony), music playing, food smells, etc, etc, etc.

 

Courtesy should rule the day, regardless of what side you're on. This isn't a unique discussion with NCL, but with RCCL, CCL, probably the majority of other cruise linrs, too!