Update on the new Seabourn smoking policy: Live from Quest

[markham]

My TA says he will have the late 2015-2016 itineraries after 14 July. I hope he is right. Last year Seabourn issued the current one in September, as I remember.

 

Happy sailing!

[wripro]

Seabourn seems to lag behind the other luxury lines when it comes to their schedules.

[kiawahdon]

And smoking is allowed on cabin verandahs, so one runs the risk of having smoke float in from a neighbor's verandah. This indeed did happen to us on a recent Sojourn trip. We unfortunately had chain-smoking neighbors.

 

And this is why SB will not get another nickel of my cruise dollars until they kill veranda smoking. I will not spend thousands of dollars, only to have my cruise ruined. It is now a crap shoot- you may get lucky, or you could lose big-time. I would rather gamble in Las Vegas- at least you know the odds and game.:mad:

[alexandra cruiser]

I agree and you can see from my above posts, waiting to see IF IT WILL CHANGE before I book again.

So sad,because ex.for that I LOVED EVERYTHING else about the cruise and would go again on one in a minute.

But enough people must NOT FEEL same way or they would change.Its been 2 yrs.now and STILL WAITING.

Someone in management is not keeping up to date with rest of luxury lines,or is an avid smoker??What gives,others have said they try to court the European client ??:confused:

[lincslady]

I do tend to agree that it is to court the European (excluding UK, where few now smoke) client that smoking still continues to be allowed indoors in certain places. On our recent cruise, the smokers were noticeably largely from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. And Seabourn now attracts more people from these parts of Europe - generally a good thing, as it is pleasant to have various nationalities on board - but not if many of them smoke!

[tv24]

I agree and you can see from my above posts, waiting to see IF IT WILL CHANGE before I book again.

So sad,because ex.for that I LOVED EVERYTHING else about the cruise and would go again on one in a minute.

But enough people must NOT FEEL same way or they would change.Its been 2 yrs.now and STILL WAITING.

Someone in management is not keeping up to date with rest of luxury lines,or is an avid smoker??What gives,others have said they try to court the European client ??:confused:

 

I also wonder if Seabourn is catering to certain individuals who are frequent customers and who smoke? On our recent World Cruise segments, there was one smoking frequent customer. The urban legend on the ship was that Seabourn was continuing to allow smoking in the Observation Bar to accommodate her. Not sure if the legend is true. Also note that a few other smokers joined her in lighting up.

[Mr Luxury]

I also wonder if Seabourn is catering to certain individuals who are frequent customers and who smoke? On our recent World Cruise segments, there was one smoking frequent customer. The urban legend on the ship was that Seabourn was continuing to allow smoking in the Observation Bar to accommodate her. Not sure if the legend is true. Also note that a few other smokers joined her in lighting up.

 

I think an allowance has been made for the time being :rolleyes:

[2SailingNomads]

Yes, you are correct. And the person in question is a well loved member of the SB family. I had posted about her improved health after seeing her re-board in HI but my comments in that thread, were removed after another poster on these boards wrote very repulsive and vile comments about her and all related posts were taken down. The smoking policy, as I have heard from different crew members, for the current time is a little fungible so far as to appease long time (e.g., many $) pax.

[softsands]

No exceptions should be permitted. On the other hand, we all gotta go sometime.

[markham]

When someone goes is one thing. And it's something over which we have little control. But then there is the question of how we can at least try to prolong our own lives and enjoy it in good health. This is where I have an issue about smokers in my proximity.

 

I wish Seabourn would finally ban smoking in the Observation Bar. And this means all evening. There is nothing special about the 20:00 hour- unless Seabourn wants to make it a "smoking bar" to the exclusion of non-smokers. The same applies to balconies. Just stop it. The bottom line is I want to avoid carcinogenic smoke.

 

Note: this health issue has nothing to do with catering to the habits of one or more passengers based on their particular past revenue delivery to this company and/or some emotional personal connections that may exist. It does, though, have to do with the present and future health of the rest of us.

 

And as others in this thread well know, this is also about time... It's only a matter of time before Seabourn responds to commonsense logic and the demands of the vast majority who seek smoke-free cruising.

 

Happy sailing!

[tv24]

When someone goes is one thing. And it's something over which we have little control. But then there is the question of how we can at least try to prolong our own lives and enjoy it in good health. This is where I have an issue about smokers in my proximity.

 

I wish Seabourn would finally ban smoking in the Observation Bar. And this means all evening. There is nothing special about the 20:00 hour- unless Seabourn wants to make it a "smoking bar" to the exclusion of non-smokers. The same applies to balconies. Just stop it. The bottom line is I want to avoid carcinogenic smoke.

 

Note: this health issue has nothing to do with catering to the habits of one or more passengers based on their particular past revenue delivery to this company and/or some emotional personal connections that may exist. It does, though, have to do with the present and future health of the rest of us.

 

And as others in this thread well know, this is also about time... It's only a matter of time before Seabourn responds to commonsense logic and the demands of the vast majority who seek smoke-free cruising.

 

Happy sailing!

 

Markham: Very well-stated. Articulate, precise. I could not improve on this.

[Silver Spectre]

Bringing my e-cig with me...water vapor, no smoke, no smell!!! If you see a cloud on the balcony, sometimes it's not what you think!!

 

Sorry, forgot that I had already made a post about this.

 

Even though the e-ciggy ban was finally made public on a recent Silversea cruise, guess what, it was not being enforced.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Silver Spectre
Original duplicate post

[Emperor Norton]

Sorry, forgot that I had already made a post about this.

 

Even though the e-ciggy ban was finally made public on a recent Silversea cruise, guess what, it was not being enforced.

 

Pity. I can't stand sitting next to a vape-head.

[Portiamac]

Was on the Quest in April. Unfortunately has someone that smokes staying next door. So we had a 'time share' balcony - when my neighbour was out on his balcony, we went inside and vice versa. It was a shame, other than we couldn't use our balcony whenever we want to, we also did not get to know our neighbour better who appears to be a very nice guy when we spoke to him on the last day before disembarkation.

 

When we enquire with customer service whether there is another cabin we can move to, she told us guests are allow to smoke at all open areas including the balcony. She also said (without prompting) the policy is clearly stated in their website. No apology, nothing. The atitude was very much of that is the policy, deal with it. Needless to say, that was not the response I expected from Seabourn!

 

2 days later, we were offered a paid upgrade to another cabin by the cruise specialist (?), who didn't even bother to address us by the right name. We declined the offer out of principle - if I don't want to use the balcony, I will book a cabin without one. If I have already paid for a balcony then why should I pay extra just to use it!

 

Would have mention this in their post cruise survey but unfortunately we missed the deadline.

Edited May 9, 2014 by Portiamac

[Portiamac]

Yes, specifically from a verandah to verandah in this case:

 

Is anybody sending this photo to Seabourn?

[markham]

Portiamac,

 

I am wondering about the curt behavior shown to you by that member of staff.

 

I can only imagine this his/her defensiveness is driven by fatigue tinged with irritation. Who wants to defend a silly and frankly ridiculous policy on smoking.

Employees and especially passengers know the absurdity of situation.

 

The photo of that charred Princess ship was added earlier in this thread and pretty much says all that there is to say about fire risk from smoking on balconies. And then there are those pesky issues of customer dissatisfaction (which you articulated most clearly) and global trends demanding clean air for health benefits/cancer and other disease mitigation.

 

So let's hope that Seabourn changes its policies. This smoking on balconies business and permitting smoking at the (indoor) Observation Bar after 22:00 hours is ridiculous.

 

Happy sailing!

[lincslady]

Worse than that Markham - 20 hours, or 8 p.m.

[markham]

Lincslady,

 

Right you are. I guess I had irritated myself with this topic enough to distract me and so I mistakenly typed 22:00 and not 20:00.

 

As I have said before, I hope that in short order Seabourn resets its policy to cut out smoking in the Observation Bar all the time. No smoking at all- as has been imposed on Seabourn by the Brazilian authorities whenever Seabourn ships happen to be in Brazilian territorial waters. If they can ban smoking indoors, well, why can't Seabourn do the same thing?

 

Happy sailing!

[tv24]

Was on the Quest in April. Unfortunately has someone that smokes staying next door. So we had a 'time share' balcony - when my neighbour was out on his balcony, we went inside and vice versa. It was a shame, other than we couldn't use our balcony whenever we want to, we also did not get to know our neighbour better who appears to be a very nice guy when we spoke to him on the last day before disembarkation.

 

When we enquire with customer service whether there is another cabin we can move to, she told us guests are allow to smoke at all open areas including the balcony. She also said (without prompting) the policy is clearly stated in their website. No apology, nothing. The atitude was very much of that is the policy, deal with it. Needless to say, that was not the response I expected from Seabourn!

 

2 days later, we were offered a paid upgrade to another cabin by the cruise specialist (?), who didn't even bother to address us by the right name. We declined the offer out of principle - if I don't want to use the balcony, I will book a cabin without one. If I have already paid for a balcony then why should I pay extra just to use it!

 

Would have mention this in their post cruise survey but unfortunately we missed the deadline.

 

I find this a very disturbing story. I am very sorry for your experience, but I am afraid that Seabourn is not paying attention to you.

[Emperor Norton]

Is anybody sending this photo to Seabourn?

 

I've posted that a few times in Seabourn threads. Further 'THEY' know as Princess like Hal, Seabourn, Costa etc... are all Carnival ships.

[kiawahdon]

The atitude was very much of that is the policy, deal with it. .

 

I did! I have moved to Oceania and Azamara until Seabourn gets its head screwed on straight.

[oregon50]

When we enquire with customer service whether there is another cabin we can move to, she told us guests are allow to smoke at all open areas including the balcony. She also said (without prompting) the policy is clearly stated in their website. No apology, nothing. The atitude was very much of that is the policy, deal with it. Needless to say, that was not the response I expected from Seabourn!

 

2 days later, we were offered a paid upgrade to another cabin by the cruise specialist (?), who didn't even bother to address us by the right name. We declined the offer out of principle - if I don't want to use the balcony, I will book a cabin without one. If I have already paid for a balcony then why should I pay extra just to use it!

 

 

 

We had the same experience. I know it wasn't the same customer service person or HD, but the same story. Our travel agent went to their SB rep and within ten minutes all was well. A very unhappy HD and customer service manager for the remainder of time on board.

Edited May 12, 2014 by oregon50

[Sweetpea711423]

Was on the Quest in April. Unfortunately has someone that smokes staying next door. So we had a 'time share' balcony - when my neighbour was out on his balcony, we went inside and vice versa. It was a shame, other than we couldn't use our balcony whenever we want to, we also did not get to know our neighbour better who appears to be a very nice guy when we spoke to him on the last day before disembarkation.

 

When we enquire with customer service whether there is another cabin we can move to, she told us guests are allow to smoke at all open areas including the balcony. She also said (without prompting) the policy is clearly stated in their website. No apology, nothing. The atitude was very much of that is the policy, deal with it. Needless to say, that was not the response I expected from Seabourn!

 

2 days later, we were offered a paid upgrade to another cabin by the cruise specialist (?), who didn't even bother to address us by the right name. We declined the offer out of principle - if I don't want to use the balcony, I will book a cabin without one. If I have already paid for a balcony then why should I pay extra just to use it!

 

Would have mention this in their post cruise survey but unfortunately we missed the deadline.

 

 

I'm sorry, but I'm a bit confused here. If Seabourn's policy permits smoking on cabin verandas, and that policy is stated on its website, I am not at all clear why you are finding such fault with Seabourn in this situation. I don't really see what Seabourn would be apologizing for. Perhaps I am missing something.

[Flamin_June]

I think it is quite reasonable to ask if one can be moved to another cabin (suite), irrespective of the printed policy on smoking.

 

While current Seabourn policy does not include a ban on heavy snorers, or overly exuberant and vociferous honeymoon couples, I think I might ask about moving if we found ourselves next door to either such specimens.

 

I think the appropriate response should have been "I will see if there is anything available and let you know". A move to another, empty, suite of the same class ( e.g. another V class), even if on higher deck, would not cost Seabourn anything and there should be no question of an upgrade charge.

 

I think that if one were in a V1 and the only available accommodation was a Wintergarden suite, then an upgrade fee might be thought reasonable.

 

The only problem with being moved to another suite is that you don't know who or what you will then be faced with as a next door neighbour. You could end up with a couple who are both heavy smokers and hard of hearing so that you have to endure both their loud conversation AND their chain-smoking.

 

In fact the whole business of cruising is so fraught with potential pitfalls, from ghastly neighbours, to slow waiter service, to rough seas, to dull excursions, to aggressive laundry behaviour, that I wonder why we bother with it at all.

Edited May 13, 2014 by Flamin_June
speling mistak

[rl787]

You could end up with a couple who are both heavy smokers and hard of hearing so that you have to endure both their loud conversation AND their chain-smoking.

 

In fact the whole business of cruising is so fraught with potential pitfalls, from ghastly neighbours, to slow waiter service, to rough seas, to dull excursions, to aggressive laundry behaviour, that I wonder why we bother with it at all.

 

I may have been lucky but I have never had ghastly neighbours or even slightly ghastly, rarely slow waiter service, rough sees can happen but it is not SB's fault, I have enjoyed most of the excursions and I think the Laundry Service is excellent.....

Seriously, yes I have had a smoking neighbour but they were not bad, more occasional...... Of course as a non smoker I would ban it but to be fair they do need somewhere to smoke, maybe not on Balconies but some exterior space where we non smokers could avoid it. It is a shame that when they built the extra Spa suites they didn't think about a smokers room somewhere in the area.....