Carnival adds new smoke-free casino to the Breeze, Magic and Dream

[SCBarker]

9 minutes ago, EngIceDave said:

Every smokeless casino or section I have ever played in seems to have the tightest games.

 

I believe they're tighter because the casino has to make up for the lower revenue the smokeless areas generate.

 

People say they want smokeless but they're always the slowest areas or casinos.

 

Carnival even tried entire smokeless cruises, and it failed.

 

I'm fine with having them, but I won't play in them

Yep. I think it's obvious that smoke-free casinos just don't bring in the money. I always look at the Las Vegas strip for what people really want. Their whole existence revolves around it. I believe Park MGM is the only non-smoking casino out of probably 35 on the strip. It's an experiment and it doesn't seem to be working very well from the few times I went in there this year.

[cruisingguy007]

1 minute ago, TNcruising02 said:

Let the market decide that it's ok for some people to contaminate the air around people who want to remain healthy?  Obviously, the cruise ships like the money that smokers bring to the casinos more than protecting the health of nonsmokers.  However, they really should enclose smoking areas.  I have no issue with smoking areas, but they should be fully enclosed.  That shouldn't be too much to ask. 

I grew up with parents who smoked and had no control over it.  I am an adult now and prefer to breathe clean air.  I like playing slots, but hate breathing in smoke and having my clothing smell like smoke. 

 

No one is forcing you to go on a cruise or visit the casino. Everyone has choices. The market is working as it should. There are smoke free cruise lines, why cruise on a line that allows smoking and cry about it? Choose the smoke free line if it bothers you so much. Vote with your wallet. You already have the choice you seek. You simply don't exercise it then complain about the results. Not everything people don't like needs to be banned. 

[TNcruising02]

1 minute ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

No one is forcing you to go on a cruise or visit the casino. Everyone has choices. The market is working as it should. There are smoke free cruise lines, why cruise on a line that allows smoking and cry about it? Choose the smoke free line if it bothers you so much. Vote with your wallet. You already have the choice you seek. You simply don't exercise it then complain about the results. Not everything people don't like needs to be banned. 

I am expressing my opinion on this thread.  People have a right to not like something about a cruise ship.  You don't like it that 100% of the population isn't vaccinated.  That's your right to have an opinion.  Maybe you should not cruise until 100% of the people are vaccinated.

[cruisingguy007]

4 minutes ago, SCBarker said:

Yep. I think it's obvious that smoke-free casinos just don't bring in the money. I always look at the Las Vegas strip for what people really want. Their whole existence revolves around it. I believe Park MGM is the only non-smoking casino out of probably 35 on the strip. It's an experiment and it doesn't seem to be working very well from the few times I went in there this year.

 

LOL, plenty of available tables and slots to be sure. Ghost town in there. A lot of the casinos are moving towards smoke free rooms though, that's a big change that even many smokers like. It also makes Cosmo balconies much more valuable to visitors. 

[mz-s]

I think we're still at least 10 years away from smoke free casinos being the norm anywhere, land or sea. The last thing the casino wants is someone leaving the casino to go smoke - better than 50/50 chance once they're done smoking they're not coming back in.

[cruisingguy007]

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

I think we're still at least 10 years away from smoke free casinos being the norm anywhere, land or sea. The last thing the casino wants is someone leaving the casino to go smoke - better than 50/50 chance once they're done smoking they're not coming back in.

 

Same reasons that cocktail waitresses are a thing. Good cocktail service keeps folks in their seats and playing. Problem is that many milked that out and abused it. Having a casino bar at least kept folks in the casino area and it was a happening place that delivered on the overall cruise experience (socialization). Two birds, one stone. Removing them will also be two birds, one stone but in the opposite direction. Gamblers will have to go further to get a drink (outside of casino) and not having a happening place to hang will reduce some cruisers cruise experience and drive traffic away from the casino. Real boneheaded move IMO.  

[jimbo5544]

51 minutes ago, toad455 said:

 

Doubtful. The Paradise was the first smoke-free cruise ship and it only last for fours years. The Paradise's casino would usually be empty on most sailings.

 

In the book "Selling The Sea", Bob Dickinson is quoted in saying:

Due to poor revenue, Carnival decided to discontinue the smoke-free policy in December 2003, claiming that non-smokers tend to not drink or gamble as much as those accustomed to smoke.

That was a long long time ago.  Back when you could smoke anywhere as opposed to now.  

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

That was a long long time ago.  Back when you could smoke anywhere as opposed to now.  

 

The most monumental point of change is when they separated smoking and dining. I'm not sure when that happened on cruises, but it was a big victory when it finally happened in Florida. We'll, with the exception of the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe!

[BeachDiva101]

I’m not a smoker.  I’m not a gambler.  I don’t visit the casino when I’m cruising.   But even I think it is stupid to take out the bars in the casino.   Good grief.   How can you have a casino without a bar!  Bad idea.   I didn’t read all the replies, but didn’t carnival Paradise have a non-smoking casino at one point and they got rid of it.  

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

35 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Ego is not liking something and thinking that because you don't like it that everyone else should change and adopt your position or that you have the right to insist the owners of that property or product cater to you by force of law, not economic demand. Add a little hypocrisy on top if you used to enjoy the same which you now condemn. Smoking isn't allowed in cabins anymore and they are providing a whole new area to cater to the dramatic. I guess some will never be satisfied or will constantly complain that their "standards" aren't being adopted by society fast enough. 🙄     

I smoked because it was cool back then in the 50s. A pack of smokes in my T-Shirt sleeve. You assumed because I smoked I liked it. Not something you should do. I condemn it because it is unhealthy not only for the smoker but for the second hand smoke. My dad smoked and died from lung cancer long after I quit. My mother would tell him when he smoked. Another nail in you coffin. It turned out to be true. Anyone that wants to kill themselves can do so. Just do not help me die. More and more places do not allow smoking. So much healthier.

[ledges1]

I don't smoke nor do I gamble. I do like to go there and people watch and have a cold beverage at night. This means nothing either way but the world is changing. Smoke free work environment, restaurants, etc.. Someone said earlier smoke free ships were at least 10 years away. That appears some recognition of change is on the way. On the MS Gulf Coast, there are two smoke free casinos. 

Edited July 18, 2021 by ledges1
Correct spelling

[rwilk1129]

Bravo Carnival!  So glad to hear this news. I have 4 cruises booked on Carnival but may need to switch to these ships.

[Kevin308]

I stay away from the casino because I am allergic to cigeratte smoke.  I would give a smoke free casino a shot.

[Steve551]

11 hours ago, kdr69 said:

Im more concerned about splitting of the gamblers and their money......It will definitely change the dynamics at the tables im sure by taking a group of people out of the mix.

Our local casinos have gone non-smoking. People were upset at first but they are still coming and playing. It's like every cruise you hear players complaining about the high rake. I always tell them then just go to another casino.....wait!  If it's the only show in town the gamblers will gamble. 

 

I only play poker. Poker rooms on land have been non-smoking/non-vaping for some time.  Carnival's Poker Pro tournaments are non-smoking (held in the conference room). I prefer playing in a non-smoking environment but I play in the Carnival casino regardless.

[hurricane0226]

Smoke free, but now people are vaping, so they will sneek a vape here and there, and get away with it since no ashtray is needed, and can be put in the pocket, will now have to have a smoking/vaping and mask police on the ships, good grief as charlie brown would say. 

[hgalls56]

I’m on the breeze now. We love the “casino annex”! My husband is all about the table games. He’s played in the regular casino and the annex on this cruise. It’s so clean and smells good in the annex. Both locations have been super packed with people so I’d say it’s a success so far. 

[Markmom18]

On 7/16/2021 at 7:46 AM, Joebucks said:

For as much complaining there is about the smoke, I am curious to see just how much of a market there really is.

    
    Whenever I visit my parents they always take me up to their nearby Casino. This is in Northern Idaho, by the Canadian border. 😂  I’m not a gambler, but I’ll toss away $40. 💸

 

   This Casino/Resort has 2 enclosed Casino areas for Smoking & Non Smoking gamblers. I’ve been visiting for over 14 years, Not once has either Casino suffered from a loss of patrons! 🎰🎰

 

 I personally have never smoked, so I do prefer the non smoking Casino.  However, I do split my BIG budget between the 2 casinos.  😁😁🤣🤣

 

🛳🛳

 Bobbi

[Markmom18]

1 hour ago, hurricane0226 said:

Smoke free, but now people are vaping, so they will sneek a vape here and there, and get away with it since no ashtray is needed, and can be put in the pocket, will now have to have a smoking/vaping and mask police on the ships, good grief as charlie brown would say. 

 
  Vaping IS producing smoke. Hopefully, Carnival will enforce and direct the capers to the smoking casino. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
 

🛳🛳

Bobbi

[Markmom18]

Just now, Markmom18 said:

 
  Vaping IS producing smoke. Hopefully, Carnival will enforce and direct the Vapers to the smoking casino. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
 

🛳🛳

Bobbi

 

[Honolulu Blue]

7 hours ago, hgalls56 said:

I’m on the breeze now. We love the “casino annex”! My husband is all about the table games. He’s played in the regular casino and the annex on this cruise. It’s so clean and smells good in the annex. Both locations have been super packed with people so I’d say it’s a success so far. 

 

Finally, a first-hand report!  Thanks for sharing.  Do you know if there's a cashier in the "annex"?  Thanks in advance!

[kdr69]

10 hours ago, Steve551 said:

Our local casinos have gone non-smoking. People were upset at first but they are still coming and playing. It's like every cruise you hear players complaining about the high rake. I always tell them then just go to another casino.....wait!  If it's the only show in town the gamblers will gamble. 

 

I only play poker. Poker rooms on land have been non-smoking/non-vaping for some time.  Carnival's Poker Pro tournaments are non-smoking (held in the conference room). I prefer playing in a non-smoking environment but I play in the Carnival casino regardless.

sure i have no problem with going non smoking i dont smoke myself but there is a difference between going non smoking fully and splitting a small amount of gamblers into two different areas of the ship.  In effect your splitting the money that someone in either group may bring to the table.  That was my point not about the whole smoking non smoking issue.

[lostsoulcruiser]

Is this really a nod to the desire of the non-smoker or an attempt to monetize a space not likely to be used in the next few years due to the pandemic's effect on corporate travel (or similar types of uses for this space)?  I say this because if demand for these rooms pick up in the future, we could very well see Carnival revert back to one casino.

[SCBarker]

1 hour ago, lostsoulcruiser said:

Is this really a nod to the desire of the non-smoker or an attempt to monetize a space not likely to be used in the next few years due to the pandemic's effect on corporate travel (or similar types of uses for this space)?  I say this because if demand for these rooms pick up in the future, we could very well see Carnival revert back to one casino.

Very much a possibility. Honestly I've never noticed the conference rooms use on any cruise I have been on.

[TNcruising02]

10 hours ago, hgalls56 said:

I’m on the breeze now. We love the “casino annex”! My husband is all about the table games. He’s played in the regular casino and the annex on this cruise. It’s so clean and smells good in the annex. Both locations have been super packed with people so I’d say it’s a success so far. 

That's great to hear!  Success.  Something for everyone.

[hgalls56]

2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

Finally, a first-hand report!  Thanks for sharing.  Do you know if there's a cashier in the "annex"?  Thanks in advance!

Hey there! There is not a cashier down there. There is still only the cashier desk in the main casino.