Norwegian Cruise Line Bans Smoking on Balconies

[luvtheships]

Apparently you have never heard of corporate decisions being driven by competition and market research. You might send the suggestion that they can save lots of money by eliminating their market research departments and just make all new decision based upon regulatory changes.

 

Um ok No doubt the market research dept produced a report saying that" regs will soon be requiring us to make some changes and others already have done so. When should we announce our changes. "

 

Duh goes without say that the companies are on top of this stuff 24/7 from their R and D depts to their legal eagles

 

Sorry I didn't make it clearer in my post.

 

I thought that it was obvious

 

 

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Edited July 17, 2014 by luvtheships

[sjbdtz]

http://money.cnn.com/2014/07/15/smallbusiness/bathroom-time-penalty/

 

 

Company limits bathroom breaks to 6 minutes a day

 

Perhaps not!!!

 

 

This is the problem with over-reacting, one tends to ignore the fine print.

 

 

In this case, the company has claimed that 60 minutes over 10 days of WORK TIME used for bathroom breaks....that's IN ADDITION to their lunch time, and scheduled breaks.

 

The purpose of the scheduled breaks is to allow 'personal' time for things such as bathroom use.

 

So these employees were using their breaks for R & R, and then on-the-clock time for bathroom use. I'd be a bit annoyed if I were their employer, too.

 

When it's a necessity, I understand...but you can start to see a pattern of abuse, if it's daily.

 

 

.

[janet_t1]

My husband and I have cruised twice a year in suites for the last 10 Years.

My husband does not smoke cigarettes anymore but does use e cigs.

No E Cigs on balconies, no more cruises for us. Two Owners Suites to cancel.

We will spend our money on land.

 

Very bad business move for NCL.

[Cruzaholic41]

So NCL and Carnival are changing their smoking policies. Hmm. The sun does shine on a couple dogs' butts every now and then.

[declansdad]

My husband and I have cruised twice a year in suites for the last 10 Years.

My husband does not smoke cigarettes anymore but does use e cigs.

No E Cigs on balconies, no more cruises for us. Two Owners Suites to cancel.

We will spend our money on land.

 

Very bad business move for NCL.

 

 

Given that smokers make up a small percentage of the population, seems like a good move to me.

[Cruzaholic41]

Very bad business move for NCL.

 

No. Very bad business move for you. There's a difference.

[Macadian]

NCL will have done the math, otherwise they would not have made the change, without doubt a considered 'good business' decision by them. Being a cynical old fart, I consider health advantages etc, to have figured somewhere in the equation however I doubt it was the primary consideration.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Macadian

[linnealee]

Long overdue! I remember my Alaska cruise was ruined by a elderly couple next door who seemed to smoke 10 times a day, I am not kidding! Had to retreat inside as I am allergic to the smoke, so it rally was highly annoying. So glad NCL is following suit.

[Vyhanek]

The problem that non-smokers don't get is that a cruise ship is going to have to provide some reasonable place for the smokers to go smoke. Because they will smoke somewhere. A tiny corner in the casino which is probably several decks away isn't going to work. If they can't smoke on the balcony, where do you think they will smoke?! Do you think they will go up 5 decks to the tiny designated space in the back of the casino or do you think they will just go into their cabin and smoke there?!

 

Smokers will be forced to smoke in the cabins! We non-smokers do not want smoking in the cabins. Do you want to open your cabin door on the day you embark and realize that a smoker was in there last week? No. What you really want is a place that smokers can easily smoke away from us. Somewhere where we don't ever have to smell it.

 

Banning smoking on the balconies won't make the smokers stop. It will only force them to smoke somewhere else....like inside their cabin.

 

I learned this while working in HR for a big company that had banned smoking on the entire campus. What happens when you ban smoking like that is that it forces the smokers to go smoke in their cars at their lunch hour. In the winter this is a big problem because they are enclosed in their car and the smell gets all over their clothes. Then they come back after their lunch break reeking of smoke. Banning smoking on the entire campus backfired terribly!

 

Smokers must be provided with a reasonable place to smoke and that's for the benefit of the non-smokers!!

[KeithJenner]

But they don't just have the Casino. There are also designated outside areas for them to smoke in.

[gemsm]

But they don't just have the Casino. There are also designated outside areas for them to smoke in.

 

Which is useless in bad weather hence everyone goes to the Casino

[KeithJenner]

Which is useless in bad weather hence everyone goes to the Casino

 

 

Why would their balconies be any better?

[JasonV1]

I'll never understand why people don't "get" this.

 

These businesses know the exact cost of this ban, as well as things like the dining and drinks packages. They make these changes because it's profitable for them to do so.

 

(Unrelated) example: Apple doesn't insure packages sent to customers. They did the research, and the money saved outweighs whatever minimal losses they encounter.

 

I used to do contract work for a company who manufactured car parts. They knew the cost of doing a recall vs. paying out lawsuits related to a defect, and used that information to guide their decisions.

 

I feel for those impacted by the change, but that is just how things work. Someone did the math and realized that the move made sense.

 

And no, comparing overeating to smoking isn't a valid argument. The ship makes good money from their food, especially with all the specialty restaurants these days.

 

 

 

No. Very bad business move for you. There's a difference.

[FitchburgWIFamily]

On both our cruises on NCL, our balconies were permeated with the smells of the smokers on adjacent balconies.

Years ago, before states started to implement bans on indoor smoking, hotels had figured out they needed to offer smoking and non-smoking rooms. If this was only about smoke, it would seem as though with a little effort, NCL could have offered blocks of smoking and non-smoking balconies... Non Smokers could book smoking balconies, but would do it knowing that the chance of smelling smoke was pretty high on the balcony. But that wouldn’t address the safety aspect of this.

Our state implemented an indoor smoking ordinance. Businesses (taverns) said they would all shut down. Smokers vowed they would never go out to eat/get a drink/go indoors or whatever. It’s been years and years, and you know what? There are still bars on every corner, and smokers have not all become shut-ins. Everyone adapts.

Parents who wanted to smoke on their balcony while their child was in the stateroom will find that NCL has a great children’s club for children if they want to have a few moments to themselves. Cruisers who booked balconies just to have a cigarette will find that there is a social element to gathering in designated areas to have a smoke, and will use the opportunity to make new friends.

In a few years, when you travel on a ship that does allow smoking on the balconies, it will be just as much of a culture shock as it is today to go to Europe and see a store clerk smoking as she checks out your groceries. Because after all, a while ago in the U.S., store clerks here could smoke as they checked out your groceries, bakers could smoke as they baked your cakes, department store patrons could smoke as they rifled through the racks of clothes, and diners could smoke as they went through the buffet line.

We’ve come a long way, baby…and this is just a little farther we have to go.

[JulieAF]

On both our cruises on NCL, our balconies were permeated with the smells of the smokers on adjacent balconies.

 

Years ago, before states started to implement bans on indoor smoking, hotels had figured out they needed to offer smoking and non-smoking rooms. If this was only about smoke, it would seem as though with a little effort, NCL could have offered blocks of smoking and non-smoking balconies... Non Smokers could book smoking balconies, but would do it knowing that the chance of smelling smoke was pretty high on the balcony. But that wouldn’t address the safety aspect of this.

 

Our state implemented an indoor smoking ordinance. Businesses (taverns) said they would all shut down. Smokers vowed they would never go out to eat/get a drink/go indoors or whatever. It’s been years and years, and you know what? There are still bars on every corner, and smokers have not all become shut-ins. Everyone adapts.

 

Parents who wanted to smoke on their balcony while their child was in the stateroom will find that NCL has a great children’s club for children if they want to have a few moments to themselves. Cruisers who booked balconies just to have a cigarette will find that there is a social element to gathering in designated areas to have a smoke, and will use the opportunity to make new friends.

 

In a few years, when you travel on a ship that does allow smoking on the balconies, it will be just as much of a culture shock as it is today to go to Europe and see a store clerk smoking as she checks out your groceries. Because after all, a while ago in the U.S., store clerks here could smoke as they checked out your groceries, bakers could smoke as they baked your cakes, department store patrons could smoke as they rifled through the racks of clothes, and diners could smoke as they went through the buffet line.

 

We’ve come a long way, baby…and this is just a little farther we have to go.

 

Very insightful post!

[JulieAF]

I quit smoking in 1992 and have since used the money I save in not buying cigarettes, to go on a cruise every year. When I quit, cigarettes were $2.50/pack. Now that they're so much more expensive, I can now book better balcony cabins and travel more than once a year!

 

I deserve to breathe the fresh ocean air...without having to inhale or smell other peoples' bad habit.

[DaisyGoldberg]

I bet there were people who swore they'd never cruise again once they banned spittoons.

[Aquahound]

The problem that non-smokers don't get is that a cruise ship is going to have to provide some reasonable place for the smokers to go smoke. Because they will smoke somewhere. A tiny corner in the casino which is probably several decks away isn't going to work. If they can't smoke on the balcony, where do you think they will smoke?! Do you think they will go up 5 decks to the tiny designated space in the back of the casino or do you think they will just go into their cabin and smoke there?!

 

Smokers will be forced to smoke in the cabins! We non-smokers do not want smoking in the cabins. Do you want to open your cabin door on the day you embark and realize that a smoker was in there last week? No. What you really want is a place that smokers can easily smoke away from us. Somewhere where we don't ever have to smell it.

 

Banning smoking on the balconies won't make the smokers stop. It will only force them to smoke somewhere else....like inside their cabin.

!

 

Why would smokers follow the rules on their balconies, only to break them inside their rooms? That doesn't make any sense. If they're going to break the rules, why not just smoke on the balcony? :confused:

 

Sorry, but it don't agree with this hypothesis.

[sunflower47]

Why would smokers follow the rules on their balconies, only to break them inside their rooms? That doesn't make any sense. If they're going to break the rules, why not just smoke on the balcony? :confused:

 

Sorry, but it don't agree with this hypothesis.

 

 

They wouldn't risk getting thrown off the ship, plus have the $250 fine.

 

They will just be in their designated areas and there will be more of them then usual because they have no where else to go and it will look like this in every area:

[medic123]

I am not a person that enjoys large crowds. Because of that I cancelled a suite on RCL after their e-cig policy, then booked suite with Carnival and cancelled it after their e-cig policy. Luckily I hadn't gotten around to booking NCL yet. I am a cruiser that spends hours sitting on my balcony reading a book and enjoying the quiet. I do not blow large clouds of vapor, nor do I use nicotine. With this policy the reason I cruise is being changed, so I will cruise no more.:(

[Blondie008]

I am not a person that enjoys large crowds. Because of that I cancelled a suite on RCL after their e-cig policy, then booked suite with Carnival and cancelled it after their e-cig policy. Luckily I hadn't gotten around to booking NCL yet. I am a cruiser that spends hours sitting on my balcony reading a book and enjoying the quiet. I do not blow large clouds of vapor, nor do I use nicotine. With this policy the reason I cruise is being changed, so I will cruise no more.:(

 

Try a suite on Costa ex Miami - suite level is excellent on Costa - 10 day cruises out of Miami to the Caribbean - ecigs on balcony, inside cabin - and in the designated smoking areas. Costa's drinks package alone is worth it - $20 pppd for all inclusive ;) - ex Miami lot of USAers on board - different experience from that in Europe . Keep an open mind - we have done lots of costa cruises - surprises us all the time!

[NLH Arizona]

I am not a person that enjoys large crowds. Because of that I cancelled a suite on RCL after their e-cig policy, then booked suite with Carnival and cancelled it after their e-cig policy. Luckily I hadn't gotten around to booking NCL yet. I am a cruiser that spends hours sitting on my balcony reading a book and enjoying the quiet. I do not blow large clouds of vapor, nor do I use nicotine. With this policy the reason I cruise is being changed, so I will cruise no more.:(

Try HAL, I believe they allow e-cigarettes to be smoked in the staterooms and they allow regular cigarettes on the balcony, so I don't know why they wouldn't allow e-cigarettes.

 

SMOKING POLICY

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins),

showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated nonsmoking.

While smoking is not permitted in staterooms,

guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking

is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks.

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows

unless otherwise noted.

• Stateroom verandahs

• Casino (Active players only)

• Seaview Bar

• Outside Decks

ºº Sports Deck

 

ººObservation Deck (

ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam,

ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam,

ms Westerdam

, and ms Zuiderdam only)

areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as

smoking areas.

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the

ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking

is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic

cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public

[medic123]

Try a suite on Costa ex Miami - suite level is excellent on Costa - 10 day cruises out of Miami to the Caribbean - ecigs on balcony, inside cabin - and in the designated smoking areas. Costa's drinks package alone is worth it - $20 pppd for all inclusive ;) - ex Miami lot of USAers on board - different experience from that in Europe . Keep an open mind - we have done lots of costa cruises - surprises us all the time!

 

Thank you I will check on Costa,

[medic123]

Try HAL, I believe they allow e-cigarettes to be smoked in the staterooms and they allow regular cigarettes on the balcony, so I don't know why they wouldn't allow e-cigarettes.

 

SMOKING POLICY

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins),

showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated nonsmoking.

While smoking is not permitted in staterooms,

guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking

is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks.

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows

unless otherwise noted.

• Stateroom verandahs

• Casino (Active players only)

• Seaview Bar

• Outside Decks

ºº Sports Deck

 

ººObservation Deck (

ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam,

ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam,

ms Westerdam

, and ms Zuiderdam only)

areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as

smoking areas.

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the

ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking

is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic

cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public

 

Thank you for the information.

[jtdlmc]

Does anyone in this thread really think that posting here is going to change a thing about cruise lines' smoking policies or change the mind of anyoen else on the topic of smoking? Seriously people move on!

 

Carnival appears to look at what people have to say on these boards. John Heald has posted that the beards are now coming up with ways to improve smoking areas on Carnival ships and an announcement will be made within two weeks. No mention was made of this a week ago when they announced the balcony ban. He state it was due to feedback on facebook and Carnival's own forum, but I suspect they get most of their feedback from CC.

Edited July 17, 2014 by jtdlmc