RCCL change in smoking policy

[Gopher1934]

Thanks much for the laugh!!! I needed that ... You and my husband would get along swimmingly .. You know us OCD women trying to plan the perfect trip ...

One thing you could check on is to see if you could move your cabin to an easy spot with stairs and deck close to where it is easy access to a smoking area. I used to do this all the time. and worked great for me. :):)

[Ourusualbeach]

Not looking to sue, not that kind of person. But just think in fairness maybe a ship credit or something for the lack of notification and inconvenience .. Yes inconvenience we were of the mind set of a relaxing vacation with excursions in ports with nights relaxing together on balcony key word together !

 

I did not think for a minute that that was your intent. The comment was directed to the other poster who suggested it. I agree that it is an unfortunate situation and I can relate as I used to smoke and would be just as upset if I were in your shoes.

 

I do not feel that it is up to RCI to offer any compensation. They did provide ample notice to everyone through their website and to travel agents. If you are looking for some compensation then I would turn to your TA as once you book with a TA it is only with them that RCI will communicate.

[Eng23]

Unless RCL can prove that they personally sent you and/or your TA notification of the change, you have a legal case. Simple as that. They sold a product and changed the product after it was sold.

And the printed cruise contract has language that allows their policies to be changed without notice. The policy change was noted in memo's to travel agents, Royal Caribbean posted the announcement of the change on their website. It has been common knowledge here on CruiseCritic since the official announcement.

 

Therefore there is no basis for a legal case.

[AidlEskimo]

I am not endorsing the use of a E-cig, just saying my experience from others around me. I do agree that someone seeing a e-cig could create a call to smoke police ;)

 

I enjoy my morning coffee on deck in the outside smoking areas and you tend to form a group after a bit.

 

similar to our disney stay, every morning it was the same group with our coffees, bed head, shorts and PJ's congregating discussing our prior day, where we were all from, jobs, kids, plans for that day and any advice or tips on what others did.

 

It was a nice meet and gather situation:cool:

[Travel beagle]

I did not think for a minute that that was your intent. The comment was directed to the other poster who suggested it. I agree that it is an unfortunate situation and I can relate as I used to smoke and would be just as upset if I were in your shoes.

 

I do not feel that it is up to RCI to offer any compensation. They did provide ample notice to everyone through their website and to travel agents. If you are looking for some compensation then I would turn to your TA as once you book with a TA it is only with them that RCI will communicate.

 

That is what I am hoping I will get from TA.. Above all else lesson learned travel plans and info must be checked, checked and rechecked..:)

[Harooni]

i wonder what the penalty is for sneaking a few cigs on your balcony. unless it blows to the next balcony of something then im sure no one would notice really.

[Langley Cruisers]

i wonder what the penalty is for sneaking a few cigs on your balcony. unless it blows to the next balcony of something then im sure no one would notice really.

 

Yeah, this has been discussed - it is a $250.00 fine and you could be put off at the next port. Seriously. Our Captain on Serenade made it very clear when we boarded that the smoking policy is not to be taken lightly - they are serious about it. And of course people will notice; it's not permitted. The smoke has to go somewhere. ;)

[Sitzmark]

i wonder what the penalty is for sneaking a few cigs on your balcony. unless it blows to the next balcony of something then im sure no one would notice really.

 

From RCI.

 

Smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom and any stateroom balcony. This applies to all stateroom categories onboard. If a guest is in violation of this stateroom policy, a cleaning fee of $250 USD will be applied to their SeaPass® account and may be subject to further action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of the Guest Conduct Policy.

 

 

Consequences

Failure to act in accordance with this policy, or if a guest's presence onboard creates a concern for safety or security, may result in:

 Intervention by Security, other management personnel, or law enforcement;

 Removal of certain onboard privileges, which may include being detained, quarantined or

confined in a stateroom or holding cell;

 Confiscation of illegal/contraband/prohibited items (may be turned over to law enforcement

authorities);

 Denial of boarding on the current or any future Royal Caribbean International cruise vacation;

 Reporting of incidents to government and law enforcement authorities for follow-on legal

action;

 Removal from a ship at the next port of call. Guests removed from a Royal Caribbean

International ship pursuant to this policy are responsible for their own accommodations and transportation home, at their expense. Documentation requirements for re-entry into the guest’s home country are also the responsibility of the guest.

[Harooni]

Yeah, this has been discussed - it is a $250.00 fine and you could be put off at the next port. Seriously. Our Captain on Serenade made it very clear when we boarded that the smoking policy is not to be taken lightly - they are serious about it. And of course people will notice; it's not permitted. The smoke has to go somewhere. ;)

 

ahh thats good actually , as someone allergic it is good news, we also charge $250 in our hotel rooms if someone smokes. added to their credit card to clean up the room, it takes a few days for the smell to go also.

[AidlEskimo]

I would think it is a fire risk as well

 

I feel safer knowing someone isnt getting a little too much beverage and accidently passing out or bad disposal of a cigarette in the stateroom.

or if someone was using an overfilled ash tray or something else on a balcony

 

we recently did a boat tour on a small river boat on the st lawrence 1000 islands. they said no smoking was permitted by the coast guard, due to size of vessel and not being large enough for designated areas.

Dont know if the boat capt was correct, but cant imagine he was wrong?

[CVU]

i wonder what the penalty is for sneaking a few cigs on your balcony. unless it blows to the next balcony of something then im sure no one would notice really.

We had a passenger put off in a port for it. It is noticeable from above, below and around that smoking balcony.

Edited May 22, 2014 by CVU

[Harooni]

I would think it is a fire risk as well

 

I feel safer knowing someone isnt getting a little too much beverage and accidently passing out or bad disposal of a cigarette in the stateroom.

or if someone was using an overfilled ash tray or something else on a balcony

 

good point

[Cruisin Kay D]

The no-smoking policy was put in place on Princess ships several years ago, so Mike has had to deal with it. We also sail on Celebrity which has this same rule. Holland has recently changed to no-smoking on balconies, as apparently has RC. Mike was at first mad that he couldn't smoke on the balcony, but he has adjusted!! He usually finds a smoking area on starboard (or sometimes port) on Promenade deck, and has found places outside behind the buffet on some ships or on one side near the swimming pools. It only takes a few hours once on ship to find these areas, either by just looking for ashtrays or asking at an outside bar. Thankfully that policy has not stopped my husband from cruising.

[LMaxwell]

Holland has recently changed to no-smoking on balconies,

 

 

Have they? I thought they were one of the holdouts.

[BopRN]

We are on Freedom now... they make it quite clear in the literature about the non-smoking on balconies and only designated areas. So I was sitting on my balcony on Day 2...and guess what? Someone is smoking close by. I looked around and sure enough, a guy and girl underneath and angled from us, were not only smoking, but standing by the rail where anyone could see them. This same couple fooled around during the Muster Drill making jokes of everything with loud behavior and not paying attention. So my gut feeling was that they were the type that didn't think the rules applied to them.

So....don't flame me... but I called Guest Services and explained what I observed. Within 5 minutes, security came to my room and asked me to point out the balcony... then they went down and talked to them. Haven't smelled anything since.

[LMaxwell]

So....don't flame me... but I called Guest Services and explained what I observed.

 

No flames. That's exactly the best way to handle it. Good for you getting it handled. I am sure others were inconvenienced and you likely helped them out too.

[xxHadleyxx]

Have they? I thought they were one of the holdouts.

 

As of right now, the policy on their own website indicates you are correct and HAL does allow smoking on their balconies:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard+Life&contentMenu=Onboard+Policies&contentSubMenu=Is+Smoking+Allowed+On+Board?

[Clarea]

We had a passenger put off in a port for it. It is noticeable from above, below and around that smoking balcony.

Wow, had not heard that before.

[Clarea]

Have they? I thought they were one of the holdouts.

Holland banned smoking inside staterooms a couple of years ago, but I believe they still allow smoking on balconies.

[davenew]

Apparently the scientific community has not yet concluded that they do no real harm. I believe that at a minimum they contain nicotine among other additives, so I don't think that anyone can conclusively claim that they are harmless.

There is also no proof or testing to say they doo no harm. They use ann oil which is inhaled.

Who wants to put unspecified chemicals into your lungs anyway??

[Sports Dr]

I have not played the casinos in several years.. in fact, I despise walking through them. Why can't smokers walk a few feet and go outside and smoke. Smoke stinks! When RCCL wakes up and eliminates smoking in the casino, I will return... And do not bore me with the merits of smoking and smokers rights.... It is disgusting.

[sunsetbeachgal]

The no-smoking policy was put in place on Princess ships several years ago, so Mike has had to deal with it. We also sail on Celebrity which has this same rule. Holland has recently changed to no-smoking on balconies, as apparently has RC. Mike was at first mad that he couldn't smoke on the balcony, but he has adjusted!! He usually finds a smoking area on starboard (or sometimes port) on Promenade deck, and has found places outside behind the buffet on some ships or on one side near the swimming pools. It only takes a few hours once on ship to find these areas, either by just looking for ashtrays or asking at an outside bar. Thankfully that policy has not stopped my husband from cruising.

 

Incorrect...Holland has Definitely NOT changed their policy as smoking is still permitted on balconies .just go to the HAL threads and you will see the discussions!!

Edited May 22, 2014 by sunsetbeachgal

[libertybelle41]

 

 

And while your hubby is enjoying his smoke, I'm having my relaxed time on my balcony ruined by it because I'm the unlucky one that got stuck in the cabin near yours. Yes, the smoke does travel!

Edited May 22, 2014 by libertybelle41

[papaflamingo]

I would think it is a fire risk as well

 

I suspect there are a lot of reasons RCI and others banned smoking from balconies. I'm sure that cleaning is one issue. It's likely that those who have said "I'll continue to smoke on the balcony until they tell me to stop," are the same ones who said "I'll continue to smoke in the room until someone catches me and tells me to stop." Smokers just don't understand the impact they have on those around them. We have had more than one cruise where my wife (highly allergic to smoke) has been unable to even walk out on the balcony that I also paid a premium for, because of someone smoking 2 cabins away. On one cruise many years ago our friend's room was so saturated with stale smoke that it could not be eliminated. It was in the curtains, bed covers, etc. The cruise line tried but was unable to get rid of it. The ship was full so no chance to change rooms. If it had been our cabin we would not have been able to make the sailing.

Anyway, one point.... a number of years ago Princess had a fire on a ship that was caused by a cigarette thrown from a balcony that blew onto another balcony and landed in some towels (I think) that were on the chair. The towels ignited and the fire destroyed the cabin and damaged other cabins around it. One person died of a heart attack due during the emergency station muster. I suspect this incident was also one of the reasons the cruise lines are now enforcing this policy.

[CVU]

And while your hubby is enjoying his smoke, I'm having my relaxed time on my balcony ruined by it because I'm the unlucky one that got stuck in the cabin near yours. Yes, the smoke does travel!

Definitely!!

Seem many hanging over the rail smoking in Jan. on our B2B when it was the new rule. The ship was sloooow to enforce it then.

 

Wow, had not heard that before.

We were told by an Officer on board, forget which ship we have been cruising a bit this year, as they would not quite smoking on the balcony....? just what we heard, so perhaps there was more to it?

 

Holland has smoking on the balcony.

We saw a Holland ship in port last week with 2 smokers on the deck, ship facing the dock. I checked when I got home and Yes they can smoke on the balcony. They had a special ashtray.