Is casino smoke a problem on NCL Pearl???

[Sha-Sha221]

Hi,

 

I have semi bad to pretty bad asthma when I'm around cigarette smoke. I'm looking into a Canada and New England cruise for a myself and a friend for Oct. 2024. Is the smoke from the casino a problem around the Pearl. I have heard other people say that on different ships on different cruise lines the smoke has been bad. I don't want to trap myself on a ship filled with smoke. I could get very sick. If anyone can shed light on this I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Shauna in Massachusetts 🌺

[don't-use-real-name]

If you are that sensitive to smoke - on any of NCL ships the Casino is going to pose a

problem for you - unless you can hold your breath for the 25 yard dash through the casino.

In addition to the Casino there are other areas to avoid - the pool deck usually has a section

off to the side for smokers - there are Cigar smoking chambers (the PEARL has one near the

Casino adjacent to Le Bistro restaurant).

 

PEARL deck plan:

 

 Norwegian Pearl Deck Plans, Layouts, Pictures, Videos (cruisedeckplans.com)

 

Avoid deck 6 midship to go around the Casino (smoking area)

Use deck 7 or go down to deck 5 and go to the forward elevators to avoid the Casino

Aft on deck 6 are the two MDRs use the nearby elevators (stairs) to avoid the Casino

 

On some NCL ships a small area of the Casino is relegated as smoke free -

but you will still have the drifting of smoke from the smoke areas - not much relief !

 

So with the deck plan you should be able to plot a course around the Casino

 

Note while in port the Casino is closed but you may still be able to get a whift of

the noxious nicotine crap no matter what cleaning precautions NCL has taken.

The worse case is being in an elevator with a person who reeks of smoke in their clothing ! 

 

Oh - I await the day for a smoke and mask free cruise - may be a while !

 

Don't let the smoking issue hold you back from your cruise just know where the

smoke is and avoid it. 

[phillygwm]

1 hour ago, Sha-Sha221 said:

Is the smoke from the casino a problem around the Pearl. I have heard other people say that on different ships on different cruise lines the smoke has been bad. I don't want to trap myself on a ship filled with smoke. I could get very sick. If anyone can shed light on this I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

The key here is "in" versus "around".  I can't play during peak times at most NCL casinos; it's just too smoky.  Though you don't have to go too far to avoid the smoke.  I've been on the Pearl and don't recall having issues once I left the casino.  Certainly not in the restaurants.

[Treasure Hunter]

Celebrity has smoke free casinos and Oceania is totally smoke free.

[Shellbelle28]

Inside the casino, it smells of smoke. Other areas of the ship did not seem to have carry over from the casino when I was on the Pearl. There are alternate routes wherever you need to go on the ship, so you don't have to walk through the casino, unlike some layouts where you almost have to go through the casino. 

Edited November 14, 2021 by Shellbelle28

[NLH Arizona]

Very Smokey during peak times.  I usually would go early to avoid the smoke, but it still smelled like smoke from the night before.

[Turtles06]

46 minutes ago, Shellbelle28 said:

There are alternate routes wherever you need to go on the ship, so you don't have to walk through the casino, unlike some layouts where you almost have to go through the casino. 

It’s really hard to fathom how anyone came up with the layout for the casino on the Breakaway. We just sailed on her two weeks ago for the first time. I’d previously read about the smoke permeating not just the deck where the casino is, but also the contiguous decks. However, until I personally experienced this, it was hard to believe how bad it was. And this was on a ship that was only at 38% capacity. What a terrible design. 

[BirdTravels]

Wear an N95 mask to filter the smoke. 

[Shellbelle28]

1 hour ago, Turtles06 said:

It’s really hard to fathom how anyone came up with the layout for the casino on the Breakaway. We just sailed on her two weeks ago for the first time. I’d previously read about the smoke permeating not just the deck where the casino is, but also the contiguous decks. However, until I personally experienced this, it was hard to believe how bad it was. And this was on a ship that was only at 38% capacity. What a terrible design. 

And it has supposedly upgraded air filtration post covid to boot! 

[MoCruiseFan]

Is casino smoke a problem?  Nope, no problem at all.  There are always enough smokers in the casino to ensure an adequate supply of smoke for everyone.

[Sand and Seas]

If the OP needs to avoid casino smoke, I would suggest they look at cruises on Joy, Bliss or Encore. 

 

These ships have an enclosed section of the casino for smokers.   We enjoyed the larger casino area that is non-smoking. 

[marluvs2go]

Specifically the Pearl.  Any up to date smoking area news? Pool 

deck? Others thanks 

[phillygwm]

1 hour ago, marluvs2go said:

Specifically the Pearl.  Any up to date smoking area news? Pool 

deck? Others thanks 

As stated above, the Breakaway Plus and Prima class ships have designated smoking areas in the casino.  I was on the Bliss and it was no issue at all.  Not coincidentally, I spent more time in that casino than any other.  Anything older than that will have some issues with smoke.

[cookrug]

We were on the Pearl last week.  Yes, the smoke in the casino was annoying.  We were in there

one night for just a little while and that was it for us.

We didn't notice it on the pool deck or anywhere else and we did a lot of walking around the ship.

[MoCruiseFan]

No problem at all.  There will be more than enough smoke for everyone.

[snoopysnake]

Okay, I can give you some advice on avoiding second-hand smoke on the Pearl.  Finished a cruise on it just 9 days ago.  I too am very allergic to cigarette smoke.

 

My trick to avoid the casino to get to the theater shows:  use a forward elevator from any floor except deck 6 (where the casino is) and go to deck 7.  Enter and exit the theater from the top on deck 7.

 

Avoid deck 13 above the pool area.  There is a bar on 13 that overlooks the pools on deck 12.  I didn't find any mention on NCL's website of this bar being a smoking area, but it was.  I try very hard to completely avoid the smoking areas.  The line, indeed all cruise lines, should have a page with more specific info on this matter.

 

Now, here is my real beef re: the cruise I just took and the casino.  One morning all passengers had to report to a particular restaurant for a customs check.  The crew ordered us only to use a particular route to get to it and chained off or otherwise barricaded numerous corridors, forcing everyone to go in one long, snaking line.  Guess what place it passed through?  You guessed right, C-A-S-I-N-O.  Thank God I wore a mask!  Now, the casino was closed that morning and no one was smoking in it, but still, a casino that allows smoking every night  is going to have second-hand smoke residue.  Okay, I understand why they have smoking in their casinos.  I just choose to stay out of them.  But, NCL, you should not be FORCING people to pass through them to get to other places on the ship.. 

 

 

[EvanBedar]

1 hour ago, snoopysnake said:

…but still, a casino that allows smoking every night  is going to have second-hand smoke residue…

 

But you can’t breath residue unless you wipe your hand through it and spread it under your nose like Vicks.  
 

You’re entitled to complain about stink.  But this is where your claims of allergies ends.  

[MoCruiseFan]

On 9/24/2022 at 3:44 PM, EvanBedar said:

But you can’t breath residue unless you wipe your hand through it and spread it under your nose like Vicks.  
 

You’re entitled to complain about stink.  But this is where your claims of allergies ends.  

The residual smoke and contaminates stink.  One does not have to rub anything.

 

[UKstages]

On 9/24/2022 at 3:44 PM, EvanBedar said:

But you can’t breath residue unless you wipe your hand through it and spread it under your nose like Vicks.   

 

that's not actually true. you can indeed breathe in toxins from what is known as "third hand smoke." that's the name for the residual contamination that smoke from cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, as well as e-cigarette vapors,  leave behind. the residue can re-emit (off gas) toxins into the air, exposing people to carcinogens and harmful chemical compounds long after the smoking has ended. one doesn't have to wipe one's hand through anything.

[EvanBedar]

On 9/26/2022 at 3:22 PM, UKstages said:

 

that's not actually true. you can indeed breathe in toxins from what is known as "third hand smoke." that's the name for the residual contamination that smoke from cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, as well as e-cigarette vapors,  leave behind. the residue can re-emit (off gas) toxins into the air, exposing people to carcinogens and harmful chemical compounds long after the smoking has ended. one doesn't have to wipe one's hand through anything.

Boy is this ever junk science.   
 

Care to link to an abstract of an actual study that you’re basing this hooey on?   
 
“third hand smoke”

 

ha ha ha ha ha ha 

[marluvs2go]

Thanks! So there is smoking in or near a bar on Deck 13 overlooking the pool on the Norwegian Pearl? right? one peson here is saying did not notice smoke on pool decks? thanks again 

[UKstages]

10 hours ago, EvanBedar said:

Boy is this ever junk science.   
 

Care to link to an abstract of an actual study that you’re basing this hooey on?   

 

is the google machine broken in your neck of the woods?

 

you'll find that third hand smoke has been discussed as far back as the 1950s.

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/third-hand-smoke/faq-20057791

 

https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2019/01/thirdhand-smoke-what-is-it-and-what-are-its-risks

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3040625/

 

https://news.yale.edu/2020/03/04/third-hand-smoke-no-joke-can-convey-hazardous-chemicals

 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/thirdhand-smoke/