No more smoking in casinos, other updates

[publicpersona]

9 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

This will be a permanent policy shift,

 

While I hope you are correct (I am one of those who might spend time in the casino if it were not for smoke), the short-term policy is specifically to reduce the need to remove face masks while indoors. It had nothing to do with the smoke per se.

[Sunshine3601]

16 hours ago, rbell said:

This has started on ships now,This is because 54 casino worker on Odyssey tested positive,I can guarantee smoking will be back in the casino.It's all about the money sorry to say.

No, it is Not 54 casino workers that tested positive.  It started last weeks sailing (pre mask requirement) with 7 casino workers and others tested positive this week.  But some entertainers and other crew as well as a couple passengers were in that 54 or 55 positive count as of yesterday.

Edited December 23, 2021 by Sunshine3601

[livingonthebeach]

4 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

No, it is 54 casino workers that tested positive.  It started last weeks sailing with 7 casino workers and other trusted positive this week.  But some entertainers and other crew as well as a couple passengers were in that 54 or 55 positive count as of yesterday.

 

Yes the number is up to 55 and they are mostly crew members. (Apparently started spreading in the Casino -- smoking was allowed then)  Odyssey's crew had mostly J & J vaccine.  Apparently not as effective against omicron as Pfizer or Moderna. 

Edited December 23, 2021 by livingonthebeach

[Sunshine3601]

1 minute ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Yes the number is up to 55 and they are mostly crew members.  Odyssey's crew had mostly J & J vaccine.  Apparently not as effective against omicron as Pfizer or Moderna. 

Yes, unfortunately a lot of crew on various ships were given the one dose J&J as it made it easier at the time they were done.  Hopefully they have been getting boosters🤩

[PhillyFan33579]

9 minutes ago, publicpersona said:

 

While I hope you are correct (I am one of those who might spend time in the casino if it were not for smoke), the short-term policy is specifically to reduce the need to remove face masks while indoors. It had nothing to do with the smoke per se.

I think most people understand this is about masks now being mandatory inside. While people can debate what they think will happen, it will be an easy decision for RCI to make at some point in the future. If revenues go up in the casino while they are smoke free, no doubt they will continue to keep the casinos smoke free. If revenues go down, they will allow smoking in the casinos as soon as possible based on updated/revised COVID related policies. Personally it doesn’t matter to me. I am not a big gambler but when I do feel the urge to gamble while cruising, I book a cruise on Celebrity, which happens to be my wife’s favorite cruise line. 

[SRF]

14 hours ago, TechPotato said:

I doubt it. The smokers are vocal but in the vast majority. Claiming that the vast majority of people in the casino smoke, does not take into account the number of people who don't (or can't) go to the casino because of the smoke.
 

A strange thing happened in our Casinos and bars when they banned smoking: they got BUSIER... by a LOT!

Do the math, only 29% of Americans smoke (19% of American women), 17.5 % of Canadians (12% of women).

 

That means that at least two and a half times more people will go to the casino because it is non-smoking (than because smoking is allowed). Add to that the fact (depending on the source of the statistics) 72%-80% of slot players are women and that slots are the most profitable games (since the house can set the payout ratio to whatever they want) the casino that feared banning smoking will see their profits soar (5x more women are non-smokers). Profits are more addictive than either smoking or gambling. 

Once they find out how much more they make by having non-smoking casinos, they will never go back.

 

You logic is flawed.

 

You are assuming that 1) all the non-smokers do not go to the casino due to smoking. And you assume 2) that all the non-smokers will go to the casino if smoking is banned.

 

You need to find out the numbers of GAMBLERS that are smoking and non-smoking.  And how many non-smoking gamblers are not going due to the smoke.

 

I am a non-smoker, but I still go to the casino.

 

Another factor is, how much will those people gamble.  I see a lot of people walk through, put a dollar in a slot or $5 on the BJ table, lose and move on.

[OnTheJourney]

17 hours ago, rbell said:

It's all about the money sorry to say.

Money talks....always has, always will. NO casinos on Viking ships. Guess they make enough money without them just by the higher cruise fares. 

[livingonthebeach]

Some land casinos that have banned smoking have actually seen their revenue go up:

 

https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/non-smoking-does-not-impinge-on-casino-revenues/ 

[ReneeFLL]

17 hours ago, rbell said:

This has started on ships now,This is because 54 casino worker on Odyssey tested positive,I can guarantee smoking will be back in the casino.It's all about the money sorry to say.

It was only about 7 - 8 casino workers last time I read about it. The 54 included other crew and a few passengers. It’s all about money, but Celebrity does just fine with non-smoking casinos.

[Sunshine3601]

Now that everyone must wear mask in casino how about people that drink?

 

We are casino prime members and always sip our cocktails while playing slots for a couple hours each night.  

 

 

[livingonthebeach]

33 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, unfortunately a lot of crew on various ships were given the one dose J&J as it made it easier at the time they were done.  Hopefully they have been getting boosters🤩

 

Since the recent outbreaks have been mostly crew, they should focus on getting the crew boosted ASAP.

[Nemomof3]

20 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Now that everyone must wear mask in casino how about people that drink?

 

We are casino prime members and always sip our cocktails while playing slots for a couple hours each night.  

 

 

The wording in the policy says "actively drinking or smoking" how they enforce that will be interesting. Will they make people pull it back up if too long in between drinks? It's hard to tell I doubt it but maybe if people use it as a way to not wear masks? I saw a few on Symphony last month think they could walk the promenade with a drink in their hand and not wear a mask. They were told you must be sitting to eat or drink but that would be fine for those in the casino. That was also when masks weren't required in vaccinated only areas. How they enforce or not will be the thing.

[sandebeach]

48 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

You logic is flawed.

 

You are assuming that 1) all the non-smokers do not go to the casino due to smoking. And you assume 2) that all the non-smokers will go to the casino if smoking is banned.

 

You need to find out the numbers of GAMBLERS that are smoking and non-smoking.  And how many non-smoking gamblers are not going due to the smoke.

 

I am a non-smoker, but I still go to the casino.

 

Another factor is, how much will those people gamble.  I see a lot of people walk through, put a dollar in a slot or $5 on the BJ table, lose and move on.

Good point. I know people talk about gambling more, but they don't mention what their current gambling budget is, and what it will expand to with a non-smoking casino. If someone is currently playing $50/night, and they expand their budget to spend $100/night, that is not a huge revenue increase. 

[aberdeener]

23 hours ago, MommaBear55 said:

Royal Caribbean has just announced no smoking in casinos AFTER Jan 5, no more testing at disembarkation for foreign Travers and they are keeping the 30 day final payment through May 2022

 

https://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-update-on-re-entry-testing-casino-smoking-and-final-payment/62125

I see a lot of comments about the changes to the smoking rules. How about the change to the Covid testing prior to the end of our cruise. This will put cruisers at the mercy of the Airport testing sites which are the most expensive. This decision by RCCL will mean that at the end of their cruise passengers from other than the USA will be worried about whether or not they can get tested in time to make their scheduled flight. It also means they could face a cost of up to $250. each to get the tests done. This is a significant change and should not apply to cruisers who have already booked under terms that included testing prior to leaving the ship. 

We need to let RCCL know that they should not be changing this policy for cruises already booked.

What will they change next , no food, no shows, no ports. Obviously not but , if you book an all inclusive and they contract to include food and/or drinks etc and then they decide to discontinue those services wouldn't you be upset. 

 

 

[jonj]

Wrong thread

Edited December 23, 2021 by jonj

[davekathy]

When the smoke clears (pun intended) and if RC decides to open the casinos back up (hopefully they don't) as smoking lounges that at times allow gambling it would be nice if they followed the same policy for the casino when the ship is in port. When the casino is closed to gambling then the casino needs to be closed to smoking during that timeframe also. 

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, jonj said:

Wonder if testing at the port instead of testing in advance for vax passengers would help? I know Disney tests at the port and only pre-testing is for unvax children age 4 and younger. Not a debate just a thought, testing 2-3 days in advance may show negative and then at the port may be positive wether asymptomatic or not. 

Isn't NCL currently testing at the embarkation port? 

[jonj]

3 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Isn't NCL currently testing at the embarkation port? 

Not sure, we haven't sailed NCL in many, many years and don't have any plans to so haven't been paying attention. 

[davekathy]

Just now, jonj said:

Not sure, we haven't sailed NCL in many, many years and don't have any plans to so haven't been paying attention. 

I heard it on the news. Guess I should cruise on over to the NCL forum and see if there is any talk about it over there. 

[island lady]

Here ya go, problem solved for the drinking pax.  😉 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cbettua]

2 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

Money talks....always has, always will. NO casinos on Viking ships. Guess they make enough money without them just by the higher cruise fares. 

No casinos on Disney either. They make bank! 

 

I would go to the casino more if there were no smoking. I avoid it now. The smoke mask me sick.

[livingonthebeach]

The main difference between drinking and smoking is when you drink you are not exhaling your drink out into the air for others to inhale.  Since the outbreak on Odyssey apparently started in the Casino and CV is transmitted through the air for the most part and if you inhale CV laden smoke, chances are you will catch CV19.  They made a good call by banning smoking in the Casino — hope it’s a permanent ban.

[lovesthebeach2]

3 hours ago, SRF said:

 

You logic is flawed.

 

You are assuming that 1) all the non-smokers do not go to the casino due to smoking. And you assume 2) that all the non-smokers will go to the casino if smoking is banned.

 

You need to find out the numbers of GAMBLERS that are smoking and non-smoking.  And how many non-smoking gamblers are not going due to the smoke.

 

I am a non-smoker, but I still go to the casino.

 

Another factor is, how much will those people gamble.  I see a lot of people walk through, put a dollar in a slot or $5 on the BJ table, lose and move on.

1. We’re non-smokers and don’t go to the casino because of smoking.

2. We will go to the casino if it stays smoke free.

3. People go in there just to smoke and NOT gamble. I’ve seen it on sea days when it’s easier to stand in the casino to smoke than go outside especially if the weather isn’t wonderful.

[publicpersona]

2 hours ago, island lady said:

Here ya go, problem solved for the drinking pax.  😉 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That actually might be a good idea. I contrast that to a mask I actually saw someone wearing where there were cutouts for the mouth and nose. Also, people who pull their mask down when talking.

[TechPotato]

2 hours ago, aberdeener said:

I see a lot of comments about the changes to the smoking rules. How about the change to the Covid testing prior to the end of our cruise. This will put cruisers at the mercy of the Airport testing sites which are the most expensive. This decision by RCCL will mean that at the end of their cruise passengers from other than the USA will be worried about whether or not they can get tested in time to make their scheduled flight. It also means they could face a cost of up to $250. each to get the tests done. This is a significant change and should not apply to cruisers who have already booked under terms that included testing prior to leaving the ship. 

We need to let RCCL know that they should not be changing this policy for cruises already booked.

What will they change next , no food, no shows, no ports. Obviously not but , if you book an all inclusive and they contract to include food and/or drinks etc and then they decide to discontinue those services wouldn't you be upset. 

 

 

I agree, big problem for people from other countries, especially those who have a habit of booking tight departure flights. Hopefully they will see a rash of cancellations under cruise with confidence and change their mind. I added a day after our first cruise to deal with issues like this.