Balcony Smoking on Carnival

[luv4cruises]

Someone else's obesity does not affect the innocent bystander, perfume can be annoying, but neither is a documented health hazard to others whose air is polluted by smokers.

[StartrainDD]

But PLEASE, Holland America, don't follow Carnival because then my excuse to my DW for booking "Outsides" rather than Balconies goes away. I like my "Outside" smoke-free cabin!

[chrispb]

20 years from now this will be a one sided debate and it will sound exactly like one hand clapping.

 

Fearless prediction; HAL announces smoke ban in early 2015; implements by mid 2015.

 

Just as cannabis is being legalised in many states:D:D:D Now that's even funnier. Don't blacken your lungs but fry your brains!

[LMaxwell]

Just as cannabis is being legalised in many states:D:D:D Now that's even funnier. Don't blacken your lungs but fry your brains!

 

Cannabis, or more to the point, THC, can by put into other products, such as prescription Marinol or in to baked goods, ask any cancer patient with a prescription. One does not have to burn it like a cigarette. Also, cigarettes contain hundreds of chemical additives that make them particularly injurious to the user.

 

And just like the public poo-poo's cigarette smoking, they seem to be coming around on cannabis; mostly because it is non-lethal and the tax revenues already in Colorado are staggering, far above any estimates. So you have minimal health risk, majority voting establishment asking for it, and gov't making a bundle off of it versus silly old war on drugs wives tales.

 

I'd rather be on a balcony and have a pot smoker next to me than a cigarette smoker! Cigarette smoking is on its way OUT at HAL. Bookmark this post.

[SeaBands]

since the last 2 banned balcony smoking we sail HAL as my partner smokes. We have never had a neighbor ask her to stop or she would. We voted with our $$ and those who have a problem w/smoking can do the same and not demand the company change for their reason against smoke. I have seen more obese passengers on the ships than I have seen smokers, even in the casino. HAL should limit the amount of food anyone can order at a meal so I don't have to look at really fat people which spoils my vacation. I guess I will suggest that on my post disembark form. Our next cruise sails from Seattle so I might do a little shopping there and join her on our balcony and the neighbors can't complain about the tobacco odor

Edited July 9, 2014 by SeaBands

[cruz chic]

I'm simply amazed how some folks feel the need to go into attack mode on these threads. Wow! How sad.

Edited July 9, 2014 by cruz chic

[Lizzie68]

I'm simply amazed how some folks feel the need to go into attack mode on these threads. Wow! How sad.

 

The post before yours shows a distinct lack of class, especially given the post submitted by 1of4.

[midwest 852]

since the last 2 banned balcony smoking we sail HAL as my partner smokes. We have never had a neighbor ask her to stop or she would. We voted with our $$ and those who have a problem w/smoking can do the same and not demand the company change for their reason against smoke. I have seen more obese passengers on the ships than I have seen smokers, even in the casino. HAL should limit the amount of food anyone can order at a meal so I don't have to look at really fat people which spoils my vacation. I guess I will suggest that on my post disembark form. Our next cruise sails from Seattle so I might do a little shopping there and join her on our balcony and the neighbors can't complain about the tobacco odor

 

Hi Steve sorry to tell you this but your next cruise is going to be spoiled by fat people!:) see you Aug.

[freestyling]

I am wondering why I spent the time reading this entire thread. Some parts were very comical other just sad. I feel blessed that we have the right to read and voice our options. Many a brave person fought for us to have this privilege. I am a non cigarette smoker but do enjoy a cigar with an adult beverage. I typically have this on my balcony after 11:00pm. To date on each cruise ship I inform the balconies folks near me that I see that this will occur IF they have no problem. If they do...I go top aft deck...no big deal.

[anniegb]

We'll that wonderful news now all of the above should book on Carnival!

 

Ps

I don't smoke, I hate the smell. But I'm so sick of the bashing of smokers by some of the posters!

Do you have nothing better to do with your time.

 

I could not agree more.

 

Annie

[iancal]

I think that HAL will follow in the not too distant future.

 

I also think that HAL will do away with the formal attire rule in the optional dining venues on formal nights. The Lido is OK but the hours of operation are less than appealing. Customers want this...along with a good anytime dining program that runs for 5-8.

Edited July 10, 2014 by iancal

[sapper1]

I am wondering why I spent the time reading this entire thread. Some parts were very comical other just sad. I feel blessed that we have the right to read and voice our options. Many a brave person fought for us to have this privilege. I am a non cigarette smoker but do enjoy a cigar with an adult beverage. I typically have this on my balcony after 11:00pm. To date on each cruise ship I inform the balconies folks near me that I see that this will occur IF they have no problem. If they do...I go top aft deck...no big deal.

 

I see you are on the NA with us in December. We are never on our balcony after dark so if you are next to us feel free to light that cigar. :)

[mrscopper]

I think there are some other perspectives to this issue that are being missed. People have other problems that are effected by second hand smoke. Asthma is just one, copd and others who physically can not move around the ship as easily, they would appreciate some conversation with neighbors about when it is safe for them to enjoy the balcony. I am sure I would be willing to do this so that we can all enjoy. What I worry about most are ashes and sparks. Fire is one of the biggest issues on cruise ships. I have seen people just throw lit cigarettes off the balcony, can you imagine if you are using oxygen and it lands in the face. I am hoping HAL changes it's policy.

[kazu]

since the last 2 banned balcony smoking we sail HAL as my partner smokes. We have never had a neighbor ask her to stop or she would. We voted with our $$ and those who have a problem w/smoking can do the same and not demand the company change for their reason against smoke. I have seen more obese passengers on the ships than I have seen smokers, even in the casino. HAL should limit the amount of food anyone can order at a meal so I don't have to look at really fat people which spoils my vacation. I guess I will suggest that on my post disembark form. Our next cruise sails from Seattle so I might do a little shopping there and join her on our balcony and the neighbors can't complain about the tobacco odor

 

I sincerely hope this is tongue in cheek, but I fear not.

 

Seriously?

 

I can be evil at times but I would never justify it with such a statement. Oh, and for the record I am relatively slim. Suggest you read 1 of4's post carefully a

[freestyling]

I see you are on the NA with us in December. We are never on our balcony after dark so if you are next to us feel free to light that cigar. :)

 

DW and I are looking forward to this cruise and Thanks for prior approval :)

[doublebzz]

Anybody have statistics on obesity vs. smoking and guns??

 

I don't have any statistics on these specific issues but I am aware of the statistician who drowned crossing a river with an average depth of 2 feet.

[scm1848]

As a smoker, I, too, worry about fire. Besides the wonderful spin-type ashtrays that HAL provides, I encourage all smokers to put their ashes in water in some container. I don't like the fact that the HAL's ashtrays allow ashes to blow, plus I don't like having to spin the damned thing after every flick of an ash. I use water, and only use the "spinner" to contain my water-extinquished butt.

 

I encourage all smokers to be courteous.

 

I also encourage all of us to be more tolerant of others. When they get done eliminating smokers from public places, I suspect being rude in the faces of fat people will follow, along with the accompanying government regulation of fatty foods.

[Djptcp]

DH and I sent a letter to the Carnival Corp. CEO yesterday telling him how ludicrous it was to ban smoking on the balconies. It's outdoors, it's windy, so we just don't get what the fuss is about? We have cruised 33 times and almost always with a balcony/suite and it has been our experience that we go out on the balcony and rarely is a neighbor on either side of us there. Usually it's when the ship leaves port. And don't say it's because I am out there smoking - I'm talking about when we go out on the balcony and no one is there. We told the CEO we have been loyal Carnival cruisers since 1995, but no more. We are booked on the Nieuw Amsterdam the week of Thanksgiving in a SS suite and hope HAL doesn't follow suit, at least not before that cruise. If so, it looks like we'll return to NCL on which most of our first cruises were. Now if they would just ban kids from cruise ships.........

[CRUZBUDS]

DH and I sent a letter to the Carnival Corp. CEO yesterday telling him how ludicrous it was to ban smoking on the balconies. It's outdoors, it's windy, so we just don't get what the fuss is about? We have cruised 33 times and almost always with a balcony/suite and it has been our experience that we go out on the balcony and rarely is a neighbor on either side of us there. Usually it's when the ship leaves port. And don't say it's because I am out there smoking - I'm talking about when we go out on the balcony and no one is there. We told the CEO we have been loyal Carnival cruisers since 1995, but no more. We are booked on the Nieuw Amsterdam the week of Thanksgiving in a SS suite and hope HAL doesn't follow suit, at least not before that cruise. If so, it looks like we'll return to NCL on which most of our first cruises were. Now if they would just ban kids from cruise ships.........

 

Your choices are narrowing quickly, I suspect you'll be a land-lubber before long, or reconsider how necessary smoking on your balcony really is to you.

 

I'm still surprised that Carnival is ahead of HAL on the issue. Carnival's demographic should skew to a higher percentage of smokers than HAL. Age alone would mean higher income for HAL cruisers and the higher the income the less chance you're a smoker. (smokers tend to hate that fact)

 

On the Carnival board, it's the same silly rhetoric from some smokers. "I'm a rich smoker and I'm highly educated so the statistics must be a government lie" (paraphrased)

 

Where we live smoking is down to around 13-14% and if you take the poor folks out, who would unlikely cruise with HAL -- the numbers are even lower. The Carnival smokers that jump ship, will send HAL smokers ratio up, but most seem to be saying they're heading for NCL :)

 

It was exactly the same when Royal banned balcony smoking, and it will be the same when HAL and NCL do. It will be interesting to see who will be the last one to go with smoke free balconies.

 

We'll be considering HAL again when they do!

[babyher]

Your choices are narrowing quickly, I suspect you'll be a land-lubber before long, or reconsider how necessary smoking on your balcony really is to you.

 

I'm still surprised that Carnival is ahead of HAL on the issue. Carnival's demographic should skew to a higher percentage of smokers than HAL. Age alone would mean higher income for HAL cruisers and the higher the income the less chance you're a smoker. (smokers tend to hate that fact)

 

On the Carnival board, it's the same silly rhetoric from some smokers. "I'm a rich smoker and I'm highly educated so the statistics must be a government lie" (paraphrased)

 

Where we live smoking is down to around 13-14% and if you take the poor folks out, who would unlikely cruise with HAL -- the numbers are even lower. The Carnival smokers that jump ship, will send HAL smokers ratio up, but most seem to be saying they're heading for NCL :)

 

It was exactly the same when Royal banned balcony smoking, and it will be the same when HAL and NCL do. It will be interesting to see who will be the last one to go with smoke free balconies.

 

We'll be considering HAL again when they do!

 

Why is it OK to label all smokers as poor, or uneducated , but God forbid someone uses the term geriatric to describe senior citizens everyone gets up in arms.

 

There are many middle and upper income and educated smokers as well . Just as there are many miserable grumpy old fogies as there are life loving , young at heart seniors

[CRUZBUDS]

Why is it OK to label all smokers as poor, or uneducated , but God forbid someone uses the term geriatric to describe senior citizens everyone gets up in arms.

 

There are many middle and upper income and educated smokers as well . Just as there are many miserable grumpy old fogies as there are life loving , young at heart seniors

 

I didn't label smokers as anything, it's just a fact that the more education and money a person has, the less likely they are to be smokers. This poll is a bit old, but it shows the trends. Of course there are wealthy smokers and poor non-smokers, it's about the averages.

 

[DaveOKC]

Overview - CDC report based upon 2012 data.

 

An estimated 42.1 million people, or 18.1% of all adults (aged 18 years or older), in the United States smoke cigarettes.1 Cigarette smoking is more common among men (20.5%) than women (15.8%).1

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths, or one of every five deaths, each year.2

More than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking.2

Overall smoking prevalence declined from 2005 (20.9%) to 2012 (18.1%).1

National Estimates

 

Percentage of adults who were current* cigarette smokers in 2012:1

 

Overall

 

18.1% of American adults are current smokers

Represents about 42.1 million Americans

 

By Gender

 

20.5% of adult men

15.8% of adult women

 

By Age

 

17.3% of adults aged 18–24 years

21.6% of adults aged 25–44 years

19.5% of adults aged 45–64 years

8.9% of adults aged 65 years and older

 

By Race/Ethnicity

 

21.8% of American Indians/Alaska Natives (non-Hispanic)

10.7% of Asians (non-Hispanic; excludes Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders)

18.1% of Blacks (non-Hispanic)

12.5% of Hispanics

19.7% of Whites (non-Hispanic)

26.1% of Multiple race individuals

 

By Education

 

24.7% of adults with 12 or less years of education (no diploma)

41.9% of adults with a GED diploma

23.1% of adults with a high school diploma

9.1% of adults with an undergraduate college degree

5.9% of adults with a postgraduate college degree

 

By Poverty Status

 

27.9% of adults who live below the poverty level

17.0% of adults who live at or above the poverty level

[Linda&Vern]

FYI - The Today Show short news segment just said that Carnival ships announced they will ban smoking on balcony due to so many of their cruisers requests.

 

Meanwhile, on another popular social media site, cruisers are begging HAL to NOT follow Carnival with the non-smoking balcony change. Interesting?

Edited July 10, 2014 by Linda&Vern

[luv4cruises]

Obesity, guns, perfume, income level!

 

The case against smoking remains the well documented evidence that smoking, and second- hand smoke are hazardous to your health. It is a practice that is not only harmful to the innocent bystander, but also leaves a nasty odor in the air and all porous fabric including clothes long after the smoker has extinguished his/her cigarette.

 

There is no logical rationale for smoking in places that pollute the very air an innocent bystander breathes!

 

Not to mention the fire danger. In 2006 a fire occurred on the Star Princess due to a cigarette flicked from an upper balcony, landed on a lower balcony which caught fire killing one passenger and burning 100 cabins.

 

I imagine that Carnival's insurance rates will go down now that balcony smoking will be prohibited.

 

I don't want to start a fire danger thread, because the documented scientific evidence that second-hand smoke is hazardous to the innocent bystander is strong enough rationale for banning smoking on cruise ship balconies.

[Lizzie68]

DH and I sent a letter to the Carnival Corp. CEO yesterday telling him how ludicrous it was to ban smoking on the balconies. It's outdoors, it's windy, so we just don't get what the fuss is about? We have cruised 33 times and almost always with a balcony/suite and it has been our experience that we go out on the balcony and rarely is a neighbor on either side of us there. Usually it's when the ship leaves port. And don't say it's because I am out there smoking - I'm talking about when we go out on the balcony and no one is there. We told the CEO we have been loyal Carnival cruisers since 1995, but no more. We are booked on the Nieuw Amsterdam the week of Thanksgiving in a SS suite and hope HAL doesn't follow suit, at least not before that cruise. If so, it looks like we'll return to NCL on which most of our first cruises were. Now if they would just ban kids from cruise ships.........

 

I wonder how your letter will stack up against all those that have been sent now and in the past asking that smoking be banned. Just a thought. There are members on here who have cruised way more times than you who have repeatedly asked for restrictions on smoking. But I don't expect any of those letters really make any difference on one side or the other.