Smoking in the casino

[bburk00]

I get sick around cigarette smoke, on our last cruise both myself and my son went home with sinus infections due to smoke from the casino and we didn't even set foot in it (on the Pride in March). The smoke was so bad that it infiltrated the Piazza cafe and went up the staircase into the new arcade. My son could only spend 10-15 minutes in the arcade until he couldn't breathe due to the smoke. I spent just under 20k last year in casinos around me and cannot set foot in the ones on board. My parents allocate 100k a year just for gambling and refuse to cruise with us because they wouldn't be able to gamble, they are retired and it's pretty much all they do is go gambling.

 

If smokers are actually gambling, they aren't going to stop just because they can't smoke there. They will go out to smoke and come back. Where as there are many people like me that can't gamble at all and would love a chance.

[JerseyHorseLover]

The smoke is nasty in the casinos.  I was just on the Legend and hated walking through the casino.  People who aren't even gambling stand in there and smoke.  I would have played roulette, but kept walking.  Too bad since I would play a lot.  

[dsotm73]

Just sailed on the Celebrity Millennium and enjoyed their totally smoke-free casino. Seemed to stay pretty busy too.

 

So here's a question: if all the major cruise lines went to a non-smoking casino, what would you smoker-gamblers do? Stop cruising? Cruise without gambling? Cruise on a non-major (expensive!) that allowed you to smoke in their casino?

Edited June 6, 2019 by dsotm73

[Luckiestmanonearth]

1 hour ago, dsotm73 said:

Just sailed on the Celebrity Millennium and enjoyed their totally smoke-free casino. Seemed to stay pretty busy too.

 

We are Carnival Platinum and have had it with the Casino smoking.  We booked on the Celebrity Edge next March and looking forward to the smoke free casinos

[momof3cruisers]

On April 18, 2019 at 1:51 PM, sgttami said:

I just came back from a Premier cruise on Pride.  There were 177 of us.

Everyone wearing a Premier lanyard was smoking in the casino...and most were playing the $5 and $10 slots and were in there for hours on end.

A non-smoker sat next to me and put in a five dollar bill and cashed out at $3.00 and left.😄

Who do you think the casino hosts want in there?😍

 

Maybe they cashed out because the casino was disgustingly smokey. 177 smokers doing serious gambling sounds problematic.  I gamble far more in Vegas than I do on the ships. Unless I'm downtown. Same problem with the ship and the older casinos in Vegas. No ventilation. I like to gamble, I don't like the headaches I get from poorly ventilated casinos.

[Super27]

If they thought they were losing money by allowing smoking in the casino, they wouldn't allow it. Same goes for casinos in Vegas and basically anywhere else. Many land-based casinos have small non-smoking areas, which are usually empty. That should tell you something right there. Slot players, in particular, tend to be far more likely to smoke than the average person, and slots are where the casino makes all their money.

[sealpup]

On 4/17/2019 at 3:40 PM, Schoifmom said:

As a non-smoker, I completely understand that when I enter the casino, I am entering a smoker's environment.  There are very few non-smoking slot machines (not areas, machines) surrounded by other smoking-allowed machines.  I understand that, as well.  It's a choice that I make.  I do wish, though, that Carnival would (1) improve the ventilation system and (2) enforce the non-smoking designation at the non-smoking machines.  I have found that smokers tend to take over the entire casino as though they are entitled to it, including smoking at the non-smoking slots.  The casino hosts refuse to enforce it.

I live in southeast Indiana and have at least 6 casinos  that have non smoking areas have been to each of them.  It has been my experience that the  non smoking areas are fuller than the smoking areas.  I am a non smoker and the find the smell offensive.  Last years on the Dream was the worse  casino for smoke smell.  Three of the Casinos are on river boats and the smoke smell is never that bad.  I did not spend much time in the casino on the Dream.  

[AAAAmerican]

Smoke SIgnals should be sent to Carnival at our Next Annual Meeting and in Certified Letter Form. That way a record is held and given.

 

Once the Lawyers and Barristers get on this it will be a done deal;.

Costing of Smoke Eaters and Filter Replacements should be standard now in any refurb and/or new build.

[64funwhisper]

lets end this it is always going to be an issue with everyone thank goodness there are cruise lines that offer no smoking in the casino people take those stop complaining it gets old or deal with it Iam a smoker and I should have a choice just like you I follow the rules when on the ship and try to be respectful so enough Lets talk about something good and happy 

[mcrcruiser]

Can't stand smoking in ships casinos   .Imo they are loosing more allowing smoking vs non smoking & the replacement of soft   products   ,that become so smelly is another expense

[grandmarnnurse]

33 minutes ago, 64funwhisper said:

lets end this it is always going to be an issue with everyone thank goodness there are cruise lines that offer no smoking in the casino people take those stop complaining it gets old or deal with it Iam a smoker and I should have a choice just like you I follow the rules when on the ship and try to be respectful so enough Lets talk about something good and happy 

I really don’t think this will be the end of the discussion, as it has become a real issue with a much more enlightened society. Some argue that smokers gamble more, and I’m of the group that says non smokers WOULD gamble more, if there was no smoke. I am glad that you, as a smoker, respect the rules as to where you can smoke, but it doesn’t remove the problem of all the smoke in the casino. I have commented on countless threads on this subject, and I would suspect even on this one at some time in the past, but I will repeat what I said. Even though some cruise lines, Carnival included, tried a non smoking cruise line and it failed, doesn’t mean it would today. The general population is much more educated about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke, and much more health conscious. The overall amount of smokers has actually gone down. I wouldn’t be surprised to see cruise ships go smoke free in the future. Right now, Carnival is dealing with a lot of environmental changes, so I’m sure this issue will simmer on a back burner for now, but will be addressed someday. If not totally smoke free, at least a smoke free casino. I do not suspect for one second that their gambling revenue will decrease one bit. Smokers now days usually step outside to smoke, so they could continue to do so in a designated area. 

As a retired RN, I took care of smokers in my hospital. And as an oncology nurse and then managing a large cardiac floor, I saw the NUMEROUS devastation that smoking can cause, even with second hand smoke to family members. Try explaining to some dutiful wife why she has stage 4 lung cancer, but never smoked (but tolerated, and allowed a husband to smoke in their home). Or try taking care of the disfiguring wounds caused by oral and throat cancer, all caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Or treating a young child suffering from asthma due to a selfish parent continuing to smoke in front of them, even in enclosed cars. So, please, do not preach to me about “your rights”, because smokers that affect the health of other individuals have no rights in my book concerning their filthy habit. This is a VERY hot subject that we can beat to death in these forums, until FINALLY, cruise lines wake up, and do what is better for the health of their passengers. I do not think this one thread will be the end of this discussion. It will go on and on and on, until something is done.

[jamscckmc]

All Maryland casinos are nonsmoking and are packed. I love the slots but can't breath in Carnival's casinos. If it was only the players that smoked it wouldn't be so bad. It's all the people that light up and sit at machines not playing or just light up as they walk in and stand there chain smoking. I really feel bad for the casino workers being on there for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for months. I wonder if Carnival pays for their healthcare when they are diagnosed with cancer years later. 

[PhillyFan33579]

8 hours ago, grandmarnnurse said:

I really don’t think this will be the end of the discussion, as it has become a real issue with a much more enlightened society. Some argue that smokers gamble more, and I’m of the group that says non smokers WOULD gamble more, if there was no smoke. I am glad that you, as a smoker, respect the rules as to where you can smoke, but it doesn’t remove the problem of all the smoke in the casino. I have commented on countless threads on this subject, and I would suspect even on this one at some time in the past, but I will repeat what I said. Even though some cruise lines, Carnival included, tried a non smoking cruise line and it failed, doesn’t mean it would today. The general population is much more educated about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke, and much more health conscious. The overall amount of smokers has actually gone down. I wouldn’t be surprised to see cruise ships go smoke free in the future. Right now, Carnival is dealing with a lot of environmental changes, so I’m sure this issue will simmer on a back burner for now, but will be addressed someday. If not totally smoke free, at least a smoke free casino. I do not suspect for one second that their gambling revenue will decrease one bit. Smokers now days usually step outside to smoke, so they could continue to do so in a designated area. 

As a retired RN, I took care of smokers in my hospital. And as an oncology nurse and then managing a large cardiac floor, I saw the NUMEROUS devastation that smoking can cause, even with second hand smoke to family members. Try explaining to some dutiful wife why she has stage 4 lung cancer, but never smoked (but tolerated, and allowed a husband to smoke in their home). Or try taking care of the disfiguring wounds caused by oral and throat cancer, all caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Or treating a young child suffering from asthma due to a selfish parent continuing to smoke in front of them, even in enclosed cars. So, please, do not preach to me about “your rights”, because smokers that affect the health of other individuals have no rights in my book concerning their filthy habit. This is a VERY hot subject that we can beat to death in these forums, until FINALLY, cruise lines wake up, and do what is better for the health of their passengers. I do not think this one thread will be the end of this discussion. It will go on and on and on, until something is done.

 

Great post and I agree with your comments. However, if Carnival thought they would make more money by going smokeless, it would have already happened. 

[ontheweb]

13 hours ago, 64funwhisper said:

lets end this it is always going to be an issue with everyone thank goodness there are cruise lines that offer no smoking in the casino people take those stop complaining it gets old or deal with it Iam a smoker and I should have a choice just like you I follow the rules when on the ship and try to be respectful so enough Lets talk about something good and happy 

And with most of the rules that you follow, it is the non-smoker's fault for being in the wrong place, but the casino is different because the non-smoker has as much right to be there as you.  And it is not only gamblers who smoke there, but also others who are smoking because they can and are following the rules.

[grandmarnnurse]

4 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Your comment was very insulting to Carnival cruisers.  I do not consider myself "lower end" customer.  I am well educated, held a management position for 27 years for a major telecommunications company, never smoked and I prefer Carnival.  I am curious as to what your definition of lower end customer is.

Totally agree, as my hubby and I were professionals. He had 40+ years as the Director of Operations at a corporation, and I was an RN for many years before my retirement. I have a college degree, but added certifications in oncology nursing, Neonatal resuscitations, telemetry, Advanced Cardiac Life Support. I was a manager of a cardiac floor for 9 years prior to my retirement. We are far from what this person refers to as “lower end customer”. My daughter and her hubby are also Carnival cruisers, just reaching their Gold level. My son in law is completing his PhD in History, is a Captain in the USAF, and an adjunct professor for a university. My hubby and I have sailed RCCL, NCL, and Carnival, and we PREFER Carnival. I really take offense to that poster’s statement. If you ask me, anyone with that kind of negative attack on Carnival cruisers may just be the low end educated individual he was referring to.

[grandmarnnurse]

5 hours ago, jamscckmc said:

All Maryland casinos are nonsmoking and are packed. I love the slots but can't breath in Carnival's casinos. If it was only the players that smoked it wouldn't be so bad. It's all the people that light up and sit at machines not playing or just light up as they walk in and stand there chain smoking. I really feel bad for the casino workers being on there for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for months. I wonder if Carnival pays for their healthcare when they are diagnosed with cancer years later. 

Hey—maybe then they will take notice and prevent smoking in their casinos! I feel horrible for the staff subjected to that smoke day in and day out.

[PhillyFan33579]

5 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Your comment was very insulting to Carnival cruisers.  I do not consider myself "lower end" customer.  I am well educated, held a management position for 27 years for a major telecommunications company, never smoked and I prefer Carnival.  I am curious as to what your definition of lower end customer is.

 

I would have phrased it differently (the phrase lower end comes across as negative), but there are lots of studies that show individuals with lower incomes are far more likely to smoke.  Carnival attracts a lot of lower income passengers due to their consistently competitive prices, so statistically Carnival is far more likely to carry more smokers than more expensive cruise lines. 

[Thorncroft]

6 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Your comment was very insulting to Carnival cruisers.  I do not consider myself "lower end" customer.  I am well educated, held a management position for 27 years for a major telecommunications company, never smoked and I prefer Carnival.  I am curious as to what your definition of lower end customer is.

It's no secret that Carnival is chasing the lower end of the economic hierarchy.  That's their place in the cruising universe that they've chosen to target.  Not all of their customers fit that model, obviously, but that's their target demographic. It is what it is. Some rich people buy cheap cars, too. It's not an indictment of you, personally. 

 

[Steve551]

On 6/6/2019 at 4:11 PM, dsotm73 said:

Just sailed on the Celebrity Millennium and enjoyed their totally smoke-free casino. Seemed to stay pretty busy too.

 

So here's a question: if all the major cruise lines went to a non-smoking casino, what would you smoker-gamblers do? Stop cruising? Cruise without gambling? Cruise on a non-major (expensive!) that allowed you to smoke in their casino?

If the casinos were non-smokers gamblers would still gamble.  I play poker, mainly tournament poker. Most poker rooms, if not all, are smoke/vape free these days. During my travels I have played at smoke free casinos and they were packed!  If that's all that's available then the gamblers will play. It's just like the high poker rake on ships, we all complain but we still play.

[Butterbean1000]

16 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

 

I would have phrased it differently (the phrase lower end comes across as negative), but there are lots of studies that show individuals with lower incomes are far more likely to smoke.  Carnival attracts a lot of lower income passengers due to their consistently competitive prices, so statistically Carnival is far more likely to carry more smokers than more expensive cruise lines. 

Aren't a pack of cigarettes $5 a pack now?  How do these low income people afford to smoke and cruise?  Even if Carnival is a few hundred dollars cheaper, cruising is not cheap.  Look, I get what you are trying to say, I just don't completely buy into it.  Its still insulting.   BTW,  people saying carnival being the Walmart of the seas makes me crazy.  Granted,  that's not a stretch for me.😉

[Elaine5715]

7 hours ago, jamscckmc said:

All Maryland casinos are nonsmoking and are packed. I love the slots but can't breath in Carnival's casinos. If it was only the players that smoked it wouldn't be so bad. It's all the people that light up and sit at machines not playing or just light up as they walk in and stand there chain smoking. I really feel bad for the casino workers being on there for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week for months. I wonder if Carnival pays for their healthcare when they are diagnosed with cancer years later. 

Non gamblers who perch at the few non smoking machines and get pissy when asked not to smoke are the worst of the bunch.

 

[xDisconnections]

14 hours ago, Luckiestmanonearth said:

Allowing Smoking in the Casino is the true measure of a cruise lines place in the world

 

Carnival allows - caters to lower end customers

 

Celebrity does not allow - caters to higher end customers

 

I’ll likely get grief over this but this is truly how I feel (and I am Carnival Platinum)

 

7 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Your comment was very insulting to Carnival cruisers.  I do not consider myself "lower end" customer.  I am well educated, held a management position for 27 years for a major telecommunications company, never smoked and I prefer Carnival.  I am curious as to what your definition of lower end customer is.

 

1 hour ago, Thorncroft said:

It's no secret that Carnival is chasing the lower end of the economic hierarchy.  That's their place in the cruising universe that they've chosen to target.  Not all of their customers fit that model, obviously, but that's their target demographic. It is what it is. Some rich people buy cheap cars, too. It's not an indictment of you, personally. 

 

There certainly isn’t a way you can deny the fact Carnival targets households with a very low disposable income and other premium cruise lines target those who generally have higher incomes and are willing to spend more on their vacations and travel to exotic locations versus, well, Nassau. The onboard demographic certainly reflects the prices paid and is visible even on those premium mass market lines such as Princess.

 

There are many passengers on Carnival who are lucky to take one vacation with their family over a period of ten years.

 

***My post is not meant to insinuate every passenger on Carnival fits into this stereotype but their target audience is much different than premium or luxury lines***

[xDisconnections]

Just now, Butterbean1000 said:

I think it's more fair to say Carnival targets people who are looking for a more laid back, less formal style of cruising.  

If that’s how you want to phrase it 👌

[xDisconnections]

2 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I think it's more fair to say Carnival targets people who are looking for a more laid back, less formal style of cruising.  

Have you sailed on any cruise lines besides Carnival? I’d love to know more about how you compare smoking in the casino among the other lines you have experience with.

[Butterbean1000]

6 minutes ago, xDisconnections said:

Have you sailed on any cruise lines besides Carnival? I’d love to know more about how you compare smoking in the casino among the other lines you have experience with.

I have not cruised any other line. I was not the one who made the correlation between smoking and income.