Royal Caribbean Bans Smoking on Balconies

[LBcruzman]

it really doesn't have to be the whole side of a ship. even if they picked one deck from mid ship to aft, that might be enough

 

ain't gonna happen...

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

As a former smoker, I think it's hilarious and bizarre that people are cancelling cruises and/or changing rooms. Yes as a smoker some things can be a priority, but to change cruise lines or rooms seems beyond comprehension............:rolleyes:

 

Same here. I've been scratching my head over it. They really must not have been over the moon for Royal in the first place.

[LBcruzman]

As a former smoker, I think it's hilarious and bizarre that people are cancelling cruises and/or changing rooms. Yes as a smoker some things can be a priority, but to change cruise lines or rooms seems beyond comprehension............:rolleyes:

 

It's called addiction.

[Donoiv11]

Not Good.

 

I agree that smoking inside isnt good, but I pay for a balcony room so that I can smoke!!

 

It's great news. Soaking is a bad habit that has impacts on others. When I pay fr a balcony, I don't want to find out that every time I go out to enjoy the fresh sea air, I get a lung full of scone hand smoke. What a great decision.

[Charger2008]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/09/06/royal-caribbean-cruise-smoking-ban/2775503/

[luvscruising2007]

Personally, I would stay out of it and not say anything. I mind my own business though and have never been one to "tattle tale" on anyone. There are other rules that I have seen broken on cruise ships every cruise but I dont go calling up guest services at the least little thing. If its not an immediate danger like someone sitting on the rail, Im staying out of it.

 

Someone else can rat out the perp but it certainly wouldnt be me.

 

Of course I dont stay in balconies anyway so wouldnt even know about it in the first place. Im just saying if I did, Im not gonna rat the person out.

 

I agree with this.

Do all of you who would report the infraction to guest services let RC know that CC posters are planning smuggle alcohol?

I would definitely stay out of it. I was taught not to be a tattle tale. And, at my age, I'm not going to start now.

[LBcruzman]

You have probably never booked an Owners suite in your life. I have on 4 cruises

 

What kind of comment is that? The same could be said about you. But it wasn't. Why the snide remark?

 

Interesting that non-smokers and former smokers are getting called bullies for being happy about this new health and safety policy. In reading here though it seems to be the smokers making the nasty comments.

 

I guess people get pretty defensive when faced with facts and truth.

[coordinator23]

Gotta admit that I did not read the whole thread, rather I went to USA today to see if it was true. Our last cruise will be in a Jr. Aft suite on Dec. 8th on Adventure of the Seas. When we get off we will be 7 days shy of Diamond+. This will be our last cruise with this line. Hopefully, we will run across some of you on other lines, such as Holland, in the future. If my DH is paying airfare from Chicago, and balcony costs and can't smoke, we will be looking at other cruising options/land options. At least I did hit my goal of traveling on every Voyager class ship (some more than once) and had a blast last May on our family cruise (Family suite, attached balcony, and family promenade room). I need to begin planning an extended family cruise (with a minimum of four cabins) for next summer/fall and have looked at a few things. I just need to look at other lines now.

Thanks for all of the port advice and friendship offered by all of you. Gotta get rid of my visa points now and get rid of the card. We have 50k+. Glad I haven't paid off the balance of my trip yet.

[Zigggypup]

Gotta admit that I did not read the whole thread, rather I went to USA today to see if it was true. Our last cruise will be in a Jr. Aft suite on Dec. 8th on Adventure of the Seas. When we get off we will be 7 days shy of Diamond+. This will be our last cruise with this line. Hopefully, we will run across some of you on other lines, such as Holland, in the future. If my DH is paying airfare from Chicago, and balcony costs and can't smoke, we will be looking at other cruising options/land options. At least I did hit my goal of traveling on every Voyager class ship (some more than once) and had a blast last May on our family cruise (Family suite, attached balcony, and family promenade room). I need to begin planning an extended family cruise (with a minimum of four cabins) for next summer/fall and have looked at a few things. I just need to look at other lines now.

Thanks for all of the port advice and friendship offered by all of you. Gotta get rid of my visa points now and get rid of the card. We have 50k+. Glad I haven't paid off the balance of my trip yet.

 

I wouldn't make any rash decision just yet. I heard through a reliable source that some modifications to the new policy change are in the works.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Retired Sparky]

I am not a smoker but wife and sister are, when I switched to Carnival this morning I dropped 7 cabins. I have sailed with Royal and Carnival some of my group wanted to go to Royal all agreed the Adventure is a nicer ship but Carnivals food is much better. Now 7 bookings at $2000 a cabin they are not going to change there new rules just for that. But if cruise lines keep bowing to all the cry babies soon no one will cruise. I think they should close all casinos because that is a sickness also, what about the bars ? I called Carnival and talked to a supervisor they are NOT going to stop the smoking on balconies anytime soon because they are getting so many Royal people coming over. They have Princes for there non-smokers.

[LBcruzman]

Gotta admit that I did not read the whole thread, rather I went to USA today to see if it was true. Our last cruise will be in a Jr. Aft suite on Dec. 8th on Adventure of the Seas. When we get off we will be 7 days shy of Diamond+. This will be our last cruise with this line. Hopefully, we will run across some of you on other lines, such as Holland, in the future. If my DH is paying airfare from Chicago, and balcony costs and can't smoke, we will be looking at other cruising options/land options. At least I did hit my goal of traveling on every Voyager class ship (some more than once) and had a blast last May on our family cruise (Family suite, attached balcony, and family promenade room). I need to begin planning an extended family cruise (with a minimum of four cabins) for next summer/fall and have looked at a few things. I just need to look at other lines now.

Thanks for all of the port advice and friendship offered by all of you. Gotta get rid of my visa points now and get rid of the card. We have 50k+. Glad I haven't paid off the balance of my trip yet.

 

Wow, you are going to give up becoming Diamond Plus and enjoying all the perks, extra discounts and fabulous coupons just because your husband has to smoke on the balcony? You are giving up a cruise line you enjoy so much just so he can smoke on the balcony?

 

If your family includes young kids, teens or young adults not sure how they are going to feel about sailing on HAL. Hope you enjoy whatever line you choose.

[LBcruzman]

I am not a smoker but wife and sister are, when I switched to Carnival this morning I dropped 7 cabins. I have sailed with Royal and Carnival some of my group wanted to go to Royal all agreed the Adventure is a nicer ship but Carnivals food is much better. Now 7 bookings at $2000 a cabin they are not going to change there new rules just for that. But if cruise lines keep bowing to all the cry babies soon no one will cruise. I think they should close all casinos because that is a sickness also, what about the bars ? I called Carnival and talked to a supervisor they are NOT going to stop the smoking on balconies anytime soon because they are getting so many Royal people coming over. They have Princes for there non-smokers.

 

Out of my 24 cruises I went on a Carnival cruise....once. Have fun.

[KeywestK]

OK, so this response is to OP's original post.....not the three pages that followed.

 

If I'm sitting on my balcony on Serenade in March, and I smell smoke nearby, I have no intention of telling the offender that he's breaking the rules. That's not my job. What I will do is call Guest Relations to report it and let them deal with the problem. I'll be a paying guest on the ship, and not a "law enforcer."

[sandbox]

It's great news. Soaking is a bad habit that has impacts on others. When I pay fr a balcony, I don't want to find out that every time I go out to enjoy the fresh sea air, I get a lung full of scone hand smoke. What a great decision.

 

Soaking!!So now I can not even have a bath or hot tub...What ever next :D

[CUTTERSAM]

As an ex-smoker, 35 years a smoker, the smell of cigarette smoke outside doesn't bother me. However when the smoker drops into the seat next to me with the old smokey clothes on and the butt breath I really want to pass out.

 

If you don't think smoking stinks...quit for a couple of days and then stick your head in your closet. I guarantee you'll never pick up another turd.

 

Cured me.

[Trainman-2]

Stubborn smokers (like me) will give up on the RCI brand. I have already cancelled the three cruises I had scheduled in 2014.

 

I sail on the Allure on Sunday and on the Brilliance over Christmas. I have cashed in all of my points from my RCI Visa card to use on the December cruise.

 

It has long been know that the anti-smoking crowd is more vocal objecting to smoking than the smokers are trying to preserve it. The writing has been on the wall for some time now. I expect the other cruise lines will follow RCI's decision in time.

 

But there are plenty of non-cruising vacation alternatives from all-in-one vacations sites to regular tourist areas across the USA and around the world. We will probably stay home and save our money next year. I really need a barn and the cost of our remaining two cruises would have paid for it.

 

I will start a "Live From..." post for our Allure Cruise tomorrow before we leave to drive to Fort Lauderdale. I will do my last one from an RCI ship in December.

 

For those of you who have enjoyed the Live Reports, check out my BLOG-like threads in the "Friends of Cruise Critic" section linked below. Many people asked me to start one and CC made it possible. My main thread about "Our New House In the Country" is now well over 100,000 views and has more than 1,500 posts.

 

I am sure that RCI will do well without me and my fellow smokers because they offer an excellent product at a reasonable price.

 

It has been great cruising with RCI but sooner or later, most good things some to an end.

[skiiergirl]

Is it too late to start a survey where posters can only vote once to make it fair, for or against the new smoking policy?

 

I haven't read this whole thread but wasn't Patti's smoking policy thread closed? Isn't this just about the same?

 

Any way, I'm happy with the new policy. :)

 

LOL....I was thinking the same thing earlier. Why close that thread down just to start this one. Same comments on both.

 

I find it funny that all of the smokers on here say they are "courteous" smokers. That may be the case....but they definitely have not been our balcony neighbors. LOL Maybe none of our chain smoking balcony neighbors are here on CC. We have definitely had chain smokers for neighbors. Someone commented earlier that people don't pay thousands of dollars just to sit on their balcony and smoke 24/7. I thought this was funny because Mr. Ski and I said the same thing back in May. We couldn't believe that the couple next to us had paid $XXXX (whatever they paid) to sit on their balcony 24/7 and smoke...but obviously that is exactly what they did!!!

 

As far as the "drunks" and other issues that this issue is being compared to....no one getting drunk is going to affect MY physcial condition. It is going to affect their physical condition...but it can't hurt me like the smoke does!!! Whether the smokers want to admit it or not, second hand smoke does give physical/medical concerns to folks around them. I am living example of how second hand smoke can affect non-smokers! (I am the non-smoker with physical/medical issues due to second hand smoke!)

 

Again, thank you Royal!!! Can you move the effective date up to 12/1/13? LOL

[jstraw20]

Smokers just don't realize how their odor really does offend people.

 

Generalize much?

[Maxiecat3]

I am not a smoker but wife and sister are, when I switched to Carnival this morning I dropped 7 cabins. I have sailed with Royal and Carnival some of my group wanted to go to Royal all agreed the Adventure is a nicer ship but Carnivals food is much better. Now 7 bookings at $2000 a cabin they are not going to change there new rules just for that. But if cruise lines keep bowing to all the cry babies soon no one will cruise. I think they should close all casinos because that is a sickness also, what about the bars ? I called Carnival and talked to a supervisor they are NOT going to stop the smoking on balconies anytime soon because they are getting so many Royal people coming over. They have Princes for there non-smokers.

 

Love this line. Their brand ambassador JH doesn't get all the info about changes, and you really believe a supervisor in a order taking department has inside knowledge of corporate decisions??

 

Gregg

[C 2 C]

As a frequent Celebrity cruiser who really appreciates the restricted smoking rules, we will now be booking an Allure cruise. If smokers make up roughly 20% of the N. American market, 80% will now take a closer look at the cruising experience offered by RCI ships.

 

The law of aerodynamics specifically states that balcony smoke always drifts to the neighbouring non-smoker. We are really thrilled by this change.

 

For every ticked off smoker who leaves, four will gladly occupy the vacated, non-polluted cabin.

[booze brothers]

Thank you RCL !!!

[riviera]

A couple of quick comments about the new policy. I am finding it amusing how many people say "we have been cruising for years and never got a balcony because of the smoking policy and now we can finally start booking a balcony room" IMHO, I think alot of those people didn't book a balcony because of the price difference and still won't book one, but they are jumping on the bandwagon about the new policy.

Also, I think they should start banning women who wear too much cologne from crowding onto the elevator. Now, that is a strong odor........:-)

[Eng23]

Having seen many threads in the past about smoking and the comment's from smokers that if Royal's smoking policy of allowing smoking on balconies bothered them they had a choice to sail other cruise lines. Now the tables are turned. If smoker's do not like the policy change they have a choice to sail on other cruise lines that allow balcony smoking.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Zigggypup]

Was talking to a reliable source today regarding this topic. He stated that RCI is taking a lot of heat for this total balcony ban. He also stated that some modifications to the recent smoking policy change is going to be made. He didn't want to be any more specific at this time. But he did say their is going to be some kind of stay of execution.

[setsail]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1909297