Why We Left NCL?

[WpgCruise]

Last year my husband and I splurged and got an aft facing balcony cabin on the Dawn. The ship is in port 2 1/2 days. We were so excited about this trip and our room. But we couldn't sit on our balcony because the guy next door smoked like a chimney.

 

I was very angry about it because we did not infringe on his rights while he was on vacation yet he infringed on ours.

 

Tracy

 

Actually, no he did not infringe on your "Rights". The cruise line policy is to allow smoking on balconies. He was acting within the policy of the cruiseline, so with respect how do you think he infringed on your rights?

[catlady461]

This second hand smoking has been fought to death. I smoke and my husband doesn't; he has been around my second hand smoke for over 30 years and he is still in good health at the age of 79. We book penthouses in the aft(usually at the end and on the top deck to avoid most problems with neighbors).

I try to be considerate but at times non smokers are the ones who are inconsiderate and don't take smokers rights into consideration.

If you are unhappy with a cruise line that allows smokers to smoke on their balconies; please try another cruise line for the sake of harmony.

[katiepe]

What is basically boils down to is..if you do not want to be exposed to ANY second hand smoke while on your balcony choose a line that DOESNT allow smoking on their balcones. X and Princess come to mind immediately!

We and many others have had to switch cruise lines because of smoking and non smoking policies..

[Ilovesailing]

This second hand smoking has been fought to death. I smoke and my husband doesn't; he has been around my second hand smoke for over 30 years and he is still in good health at the age of 79. We book penthouses in the aft(usually at the end and on the top deck to avoid most problems with neighbors).

I try to be considerate but at times non smokers are the ones who are inconsiderate and don't take smokers rights into consideration.

If you are unhappy with a cruise line that allows smokers to smoke on their balconies; please try another cruise line for the sake of harmony.

 

 

My beef is not the health issue but more about just down right nasty smelling

[GrandmaHofmann]

We've had about 25 balconies and have never been bothered by anyone's smoke. If it was a regular problem, I am sure that would not be the case. I am sort of jaded about there being only three groups of people who are totally ripped on: child molesters (have to agree with this one), fat people, and smokers. I tend to object more to people who are intolerant, arrogant, inconsiderate, or inept. Smokers and fat people, not so much. I think it is not my business to tell someone else what to eat or whether or not to smoke. Yes, I do not want smoke in my face. But there should be some place where smokers have sanctuary. It is not possible to say that there is any single spot on a ship at which no one will ever get smoke blown into him. It goes without saying that the smoker should move if he or she sees that smoke is blowing into someone's face. But if he does not, just move and reflect that some of your habits are undoubtedly disliked by others just as much and that you will do more than he did to make sure they bother others less. Personally, I would much rather see speedos and bikinis banned from all ships. I have seen far more of many people than I would want to.

[K L B]

What exactly is the smoking policy on NCL? I didn't research it in advance as I select my cruises based on the ship first, and the itinerary second (smoking policy would be way down on my list)- but what is it? I don't smoke at all, but my husband does like to enjoy the odd cigar in the evenings or with a beer during the day. So far, i have learned cigarettes are allowed on balconies.

[welove2cruise232]

It really annoys me when people cruise on Norwegian and complain about the smoking policy. It is what it is - if you don't like it there are other options... just saying... and yes, I smoke, and will be smoking on my balcony but will be courteous to our neighbors.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[DMH15]

Me too! :D

 

But then you would miss out from cruising with fun people like me!

[K L B]

It really annoys me when people cruise on Norwegian and complain about the smoking policy. It is what it is - if you don't like it there are other options... just saying... and yes, I smoke, and will be smoking on my balcony but will be courteous to our neighbors.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

Well thank you for being courteous about it. In MOST cases, that is all that a non-smoker asks for.

[DMH15]

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.

 

Sorry. I am a non and that is just not true. Please don't generalize. There are considerate smokers, inconsiderate ones and the in-betweens.

[KarmaElectra]

I'm a non-smoker and my traveling companion is a smoker...we greatly appreciate that on NCL, smokers can use their balconies. The room stays smoke-free for me...and honestly, I don't smell smoke on the balcony unless someone is smoking a cigar (yuck).

 

We were actually thinking of trying Princess last year, and decided against it because of their no-balcony-smoking policy.

[che5904]

I'm a non-smoker and my traveling companion is a smoker...we greatly appreciate that on NCL, smokers can use their balconies. The room stays smoke-free for me...and honestly, I don't smell smoke on the balcony unless someone is smoking a cigar (yuck).

 

We were actually thinking of trying Princess last year, and decided against it because of their no-balcony-smoking policy.

 

NCL prohibits cigar smoking on balconies. Cigarettes only.

[KarmaElectra]

I know I smelled a cigar once...probably many years ago...and probably someone trying to sneak one.

[njhorseman]

50% you are a smoker...50% you are a non-smoker. One way or the other does indeed equate to a 50/50 chance. It's like heads or tails!

 

Parse it any way you need to to feel smarter than everyone around you. But, it really is quite simple. ;)

 

John

 

Absolutely not. The data show that only about 20% of US residents are smokers...the same is true for Canadian residents.

 

I'm not parsing anything. You apparently don't understand some relatively simple mathematical concepts. I have no need to feel smarter than everyone around, but you're spreading misinformation and it should be corrected so that it doesn't propagate further misinformation.

[che5904]

I know I smelled a cigar once...probably many years ago...and probably someone trying to sneak one.

 

Perhaps, but it hasn't been allowed on balconies since at least the 2007 policy change and definately since the 2011 change. I couldn't find any policy recorded prior to 2007.

 

NCL has tried, every few years to update it's policy to appease the non-smokers but of course nothing seems to do that.

[mikeriv79]

I have a problem with the manner in which this thread was started. "Why we left NCL?" You initially stated that you hope NCL reads the post. I get the impression that you didn't contact NCL directly about your complaint. Also, you're leaving NCL because somebody in the balcony next to you smokes? I don't believe that. I think you have some bone to pick and decided to open a thread with a very misleading title. You make it sound like NCL did something wrong. They didn't.

[kylenyc]

In my NCL post-cruise survey, I told them I avoided the casino because of the smoke. If they don't want my casino business it's their choice.

 

If I had to face the OP's situation where I couldn't enjoy my balcony due to cigarette smoke, or their lax enforcement of designated non-smoking areas on the ship such as the Promenade jogging deck, then they would lose even more of my business. But that holds true for excessive noise in the middle of the night or anything that detracts from an enjoyable vacation.

 

I can only empathize with the issues smokers face, being an ex-smoker myself. However, realize what you have is an addiction to a mood altering drug called nicotine. It is not a "habit" like chewing your nails. When you say you "enjoy" the product and defend it, how much of it is your dependency talking.

[crewser1]

...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.

 

Excuse me for using a metaphor. Let me rephrase: there is no way in knowing if your cabin neighbors smoke cancer sticks prior to booking. That is a fact, unless of course you booked two balcony cabins next to each other or have family/friends who booked you know do smoke. And yes, I'm a member of the ~79% of americans who do not smoke. Let's see, that means roughly 19% are smokers "*Percent of adults 18 years of age and over who currently smoke cigarettes: 19.3%". *Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

I would think someone's chances of getting a balcony neighbor who smokes isn't quite 50/50.

[DMH15]

What matters is that on NCL you have a 100% chance of the possibility that one or more of your neighbors will smoke on their balcony, which is acceptable behaviour according to NCL rules.

[chill6x6]

I'm thinking a pretty big number of those that DO smoke DO book cruises because they CAN smoke. It's like one of the last great smoking frontiers...

 

BTW...I'm not crazy about smokers....and I'm not crazy about gluttons either. Both are bad habits.... I'm glad I don't have any!;) I am also tolerant of both.

[Kaye from Chicagoland]

We've had about 25 balconies and have never been bothered by anyone's smoke. If it was a regular problem, I am sure that would not be the case. I am sort of jaded about there being only three groups of people who are totally ripped on: child molesters (have to agree with this one), fat people, and smokers. I tend to object more to people who are intolerant, arrogant, inconsiderate, or inept. Smokers and fat people, not so much. I think it is not my business to tell someone else what to eat or whether or not to smoke. Yes, I do not want smoke in my face. But there should be some place where smokers have sanctuary. It is not possible to say that there is any single spot on a ship at which no one will ever get smoke blown into him. It goes without saying that the smoker should move if he or she sees that smoke is blowing into someone's face. But if he does not, just move and reflect that some of your habits are undoubtedly disliked by others just as much and that you will do more than he did to make sure they bother others less. Personally, I would much rather see speedos and bikinis banned from all ships. I have seen far more of many people than I would want to.

 

 

What a great post, Grandma Hofmann! I'm impressed with your opinion. I think everyone needs to read it again - in case they missed it the first time.

 

We are Princess platinum. We are now NCL regulars due to smoking regulations. Princess e-mails us everyday w/ something in the mail just about every other day in addition to daily fliers in the snail mail. Not so much NCL Sorry you lost us? - Your choice.

 

We are allowed to smoke on our balcony - so we did - limited on our last cruise due to the loud talking late at night and noise/music on either side of us. I think it goes both ways. There is always something people will complain about.

 

I went to a meeting (my homeowners association) the other night that drove me crazy - didn't stick to protical - people were shouting at each other and it was total chaos. I chose to leave.

[crewser1]

What matters is that on NCL you have a 100% chance of the possibility that one or more of your neighbors will smoke on their balcony, which is acceptable behaviour according to NCL rules.

 

That's a good one ;)

[jdarch]

I have a problem with the manner in which this thread was started. "Why we left NCL?" You initially stated that you hope NCL reads the post. I get the impression that you didn't contact NCL directly about your complaint. Also, you're leaving NCL because somebody in the balcony next to you smokes? I don't believe that. I think you have some bone to pick and decided to open a thread with a very misleading title. You make it sound like NCL did something wrong. They didn't.

 

Someone a few posts back said they were happy this thread hadn't gotten personal. So was I. I thought my original post explained things very clearly, and was looking for another option from NCL that would please everyone and still allow us to sail NCL - I flamed no one.

Looks like everyone else understood that; and we almost made it to 100 posts...

[Partyatsea]

What I don't understand is; there are cruise lines with smoke free balconies. If it really means that much too you book one of those cruise lines.

 

We have things important to us in our cabin choice. We go out of our way to get them, book way out and pay a premium.

 

I say again, smoking areas have been steadily reduced since my first cruise. I'm fine with it, it's the non smokers who are not. How did these people cruise back when smoking was allowed in so many more areas?

[dwjoe]

50% you are a smoker...50% you are a non-smoker. One way or the other does indeed equate to a 50/50 chance. It's like heads or tails!

That does not make sense. Just b/c there are two possibilities does not mean they are both equally likely.

 

There are many more non-smokers than smokers in the US population, so the chance of a given balcony neighbor being a smoker is much less than 50%.