Just off the Enchantment - casino non-smoking

[nbsjcruiser]

So we were on the Enchantment last week for the 4 day and when we boarded we noticed that they set the casino as non-smoking for the week as a test. Now, this upset a number of people because it was done without warning. I don't gamble on ships and I don't smoke cigs so it makes no difference to me either way but I did think it was a bit unfair not to let people know ahead of time what was going on. I'm sure there were a number of people that would have switched cruises.

 

For the record, I did wander through the casino every night and I can tell you that I have never seen a casino so empty. One passenger said he had talked to the casino hostess who said that when they set the casino as non-smoking (this apparently was not the first time they did this) were doing about 30% the business they usually do on a typical cruise. Certainly that number matched my eye test. On the last night it was less than 20% occupied. I couldn't believe how empty the place was especially on the last night when it its typically jammed and I couldn't help but wonder where all the non-smoking gamblers were. You had your pick of machines and tables.

 

BTW - I'll be posting some pics and a review of the cruise later in the week.

[Retired LEO]

They're doing the same thing on the Majesty. It's a 3 week test. They were already down 15% the first week.

Edited November 21, 2016 by Retired LEO

[slyster]

I wonder if non smokers knew there was no smoking all week long if the percentages would be different? I totally avoid the casino now just because I don't want a whiff of smoke. Did the cruise compasses say the casino was smoke free for the entire cruise?

[kontraxed]

I like to play the slots when cruising but I have a hard time with the smoke, so I like the sound of a smoke free casino. That being said, you think they could come up with a better solution. Why can't they get real air scrubbers to eliminate the smoke? Why not partition off a section of the casino for either the smokers or the non-smokers? Take some area of the ship and make it a smoke free casino. It's all about the revenue, so find a solution that will maximize both smoking and non-smoking casino revenue - oh, and make all your customers happy!

[billybob57]

Seems most people think smoking and gambling are linked, maybe they hog all the sun beds and pinch the towels also [emoji3]

I do none of the above [emoji56]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[dixieva]

I too would like to know if it was made known that the casino was going to be smoke free. On my cruises there are always many more non smokers than smokers in the casino so I am really surprised.

[Tee & Chilli]

I enjoyed the freshness of the casino when I sailed Celebrity. I can understand how this would upset some people. Changes never please everyone.

[mollyeilis]

I wonder if non smokers knew there was no smoking all week long if the percentages would be different? I totally avoid the casino now just because I don't want a whiff of smoke. Did the cruise compasses say the casino was smoke free for the entire cruise?

 

 

Exactly. People have to know this beforehand so they can plan to include gambling.

 

For us it's about making that money available so DH can have fun, but I'm not going to do that unless I know ahead of time that it's possible.

 

I remember the days of smoking sections in restaurants and even in the ones with good air systems it didn't work. So half smoking half non is laughable. We have a partially non smoking casino in our area and he won't go there. He knows it's nonsense. He doesn't want to harm me, so he doesn't go.

 

They are destroying the possibility of having a successful trial by not telling people well ahead of time.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[poncho1973]

I would tend to agree (I don't smoke or gamble) that the numbers would likely be skewed both directions.

 

Gamblers who smoke, likely don't travel as often on ships that don't allow it.

Gamblers who don't smoke, likely don't gamble as often on ships that do allow it.

 

Seems like random tests and no advance notice would make this a really dumb idea.

[Havingfun2010]

Gambling and Smoking are two different items. Those that smoke is in the minority on the ships. If you take away smoking from the casino, the smokers will still gamble. I remember, when they would say, no smoking in restaurants, would destroy their business, and the opposite happened. Business increased!

 

The same for casino's. The majority of people, who do not smoke will linger longer in the casino, spending more money. The minority might leave to smoke, but the reality is they will come back. More than likely, the change will increase revenue once people are aware that smoking is banned!

 

Hope this continue!

[Langley Cruisers]

I, for one, am glad to hear this. Sounds like they are testing this out, perhaps in response to an e-mail survey from a few months back. We hadn't just completed a cruise so I'm not sure why we got it, but it was about indoor smoking.

 

What's interesting is that Celebrity has a complete ban on indoor smoking, and their casino is packed every night. Maybe they should try it on other Royal ships, for longer cruises - just to be fair.

 

Anyway, I know smoking is always going to be a hot topic, but I am a non-smoker as is my husband, and we cannot bear the smell of cigarette smoke, actual or stale. We respect that, for now, Royal has mostly smoking casinos. We also know that we could choose X for a smoke-free environment. We'll see what happens in future. :)

 

.

[nbsjcruiser]

Exactly. People have to know this beforehand so they can plan to include gambling.

 

For us it's about making that money available so DH can have fun, but I'm not going to do that unless I know ahead of time that it's possible.

 

I remember the days of smoking sections in restaurants and even in the ones with good air systems it didn't work. So half smoking half non is laughable. We have a partially non smoking casino in our area and he won't go there. He knows it's nonsense. He doesn't want to harm me, so he doesn't go.

 

They are destroying the possibility of having a successful trial by not telling people well ahead of time.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

They did NOT tell anyone they were going non-smoking.

[nbsjcruiser]

I wonder if non smokers knew there was no smoking all week long if the percentages would be different? I totally avoid the casino now just because I don't want a whiff of smoke. Did the cruise compasses say the casino was smoke free for the entire cruise?

 

yep

[cruzinlady1947]

I can't handle the smoke in the casinos, so I only go in for a very short time, when I do. I think a lot of the problem is that I see a lot of people just standing around smoking and are not gambling at all. They only go in to smoke.

 

I would like to see it stopped, but, I can understand the feelings of those that smoke. But, I believe, if they stop the smoking altogether in the casinos, the gambling profits will be down for a while and will come back to normal at some point. Just like restaurants that went non-smoking, they lost some customers for a while, but now it is hard to find a restaurant that isn't packed most of the time. All casinos in Maryland are non-smoking and it does not stop people from going there.

 

People who like to gamble will always gamble, no matter what.

 

 

Gwen :)

[TheTruthCanHurt]

I can't handle the smoke in the casinos, so I only go in for a very short time, when I do. I think a lot of the problem is that I see a lot of people just standing around smoking and are not gambling at all. They only go in to smoke.

 

I would like to see it stopped, but, I can understand the feelings of those that smoke. But, I believe, if they stop the smoking altogether in the casinos, the gambling profits will be down for a while and will come back to normal at some point. Just like restaurants that went non-smoking, they lost some customers for a while, but now it is hard to find a restaurant that isn't packed most of the time. All casinos in Maryland are non-smoking and it does not stop people from going there.

 

People who like to gamble will always gamble, no matter what.

 

 

Gwen :)

 

I do not smoke. But my best friend that I often travel with does.

We both gamble. (truthfully we spend most of our time on board in the casino) that being said. Since the banning of smoking on the balconies, it has greatly limited the areas on board where a smoker can smoke.

Fortunately, he is able to smoke in the casino where we tend to spend most of our time.

 

Without smoking in the casino, he would have to go up to the pool deck or whatever area that may be and would certainly not be a quick thing. I truly believe the gambling revenue would go down... On the allure or oasis they have 1/2 smoking 1/2 not and I think it works pretty good but on smaller ships like the enchantment that of course is not possible. I seem to remember in the past (a couple years ago) that there were "non smoking" nights in the casino... seemed like a fair compromise to me..

[riclop]

They should have ships that are non smoking.

[nbsjcruiser]

They should have ships that are non smoking.

 

Carnival tried that and eventually gave up.

[Ourusualbeach]

Carnival tried that and eventually gave up.

 

Yes they did try and fail and gave up in 2003 however attitudes and regulations regarding smoking in public places have significantly changed since then.

[Coralc]

When Royal Caribbean banned smoking on balconies, they promised that there would be one indoor smoking lounge on each ship (US). That would be a place where smokers could drink and smoke inside.

 

I don't think that smokers would care if that indoor space was the casino, the Connoisseur Lounge or some other bar, as long as it is inside and out of the wind.

[CVU]

I, for one, am glad to hear this. Sounds like they are testing this out, perhaps in response to an e-mail survey from a few months back. We hadn't just completed a cruise so I'm not sure why we got it, but it was about indoor smoking.

 

What's interesting is that Celebrity has a complete ban on indoor smoking, and their casino is packed every night. Maybe they should try it on other Royal ships, for longer cruises - just to be fair.

 

Anyway, I know smoking is always going to be a hot topic, but I am a non-smoker as is my husband, and we cannot bear the smell of cigarette smoke, actual or stale. We respect that, for now, Royal has mostly smoking casinos. We also know that we could choose X for a smoke-free environment. We'll see what happens in future. :)

 

.

We avoid the casino because it is so smokey. We are also Non smokers too. We have NO smoking in public places here, so it is hard to go where there is so much smoke now.:eek:

 

Casinos are worse now that "balconies are Non Smoking", thank you RCL, we saw people in the casino smoking and not playing the machines. Just visiting with their backs to the machines smoking and chatting. It became a place to go for a smoke.

 

If they are doing a Test, then yes everyone should be aware Day 1 so it is a true test.

Edited November 22, 2016 by CVU

[Langley Cruisers]

Casinos are worse now that "balconies are Non Smoking"...

 

True, and NONE of the casinos were overhauled to ventilate the extra smoke. It is worse because it is worse. Simple. The thing is, the smoke does not just stay in the casino.... it filters out into the Centrum and up and down the decks on Radiance class ships, and it escapes from the rear of the casino and up into the Royal Promenade on Voyager class ships. Honestly, I don't mind smokers having some place to go, but there is inadequate ventilation within those places to make it bearable for non-smokers.

[BekkaW]

In Australia the casino is always non-smoking (it's the law here in all enclosed spaces) and always full

 

I suspect people will get used to it

[nbsjcruiser]

A simple solution is a divided/separated by glass or a wall casino. On one side, non-smoking. On the other side smoking with only slot machines and automated poker machines and roulette machines. That way, the only ones who want to be in the smoking sides are the smoking public. Will take some investment on the cruise line's part but they could do it when they drydock.

[Milwaukee Eight]

A simple solution is a divided/separated by glass or a wall casino. On one side, non-smoking. On the other side smoking with only slot machines and automated poker machines and roulette machines. That way, the only ones who want to be in the smoking sides are the smoking public. Will take some investment on the cruise line's part but they could do it when they drydock.

 

 

No, the simple solution is to BAN SMOKING in any indoor area non smokers could breath the smoke and after smoke stench.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[RonUSVI]

Just back on the Enchantment. There was smoking in the casino that had non smoking areas. There weren't that many smokers. Unfortunately the biggest one smoked at the 3 Card table I favored. It wasn't easy. She was conscientious about it, however it was smoke. Clothes smelled when I got back to my cabin. They had a second 3 Card table in the no smoking section that wasn't open the first night and on the second night it miraculously turned into Mini Baccarat which no one played!