No more smoking in casinos, other updates

[OnTheJourney]

3 hours ago, cbettua said:

I avoid it now.

I'm not even real fond of walking through them to get from one part of the ship to another. Usually we avoid it by going out on the deck but sometimes don't think of it and just traverse the length of the ship inside. If we have a free slot pull or something like that, we'll do that. I was fond of the old days in Vegas where you could play craps for like .50 and other tables had only $1 minimum. Had some good times in casinos out there back in the 70s. The $3 buffets too!!  Those days are gone. 

[Sunshine3601]

5 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. 

 

 

Can you bring your own "at home" test kits with you to satisfy your travel requirement?

    

The US is having a huge issue with testing right now and plenty of people are having trouble finding free locations with availability.    As of right now my local CVS pharmacy is booked up thru January 5th.        Even the places that are charging $100 pp have waiting lines.     

 

If you can bring your own test and do onboard the last day of your cruise that be great otherwise you will end up paying $100 pp like the rest of US citizens have to do when we cannot get the free tests.   

[Another_Critic]

21 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Can you bring your own "at home" test kits with you to satisfy your travel requirement?

I think people have posted that they need a PCR test, not an antigen test.

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Another_Critic said:

I think people have posted that they need a PCR test, not an antigen test.

It all depends on the country.   There is a long list of countries that are accepting antigen tests to enter.   

i.e. in UK you can purchase a "My Travel Kit"  for approx $32 USD or 24 pounds and use the test remotely as your pre-departure test to fly back into the UK then they must take a PCR within 2 days of their arrival in the UK.    

[RICCruisers]

Back to the original topic. While I agree that making the casino smoke free for the next week or two is a great idea, unfortunately the smell of stale smoke will be quite evident in the carpets and any other cloth material. To me, stale smoke is a worse smell than “fresh” smoke. 

[bgoff60]

On 12/22/2021 at 10:45 AM, Another_Critic said:

 

Robert McGillivray needs to proofread his article before posting.  🙄

 

The policy clearly states on or before Jan. 5th, not from Jan. 5th.

[JollyDad]

3 hours ago, RICCruisers said:

Back to the original topic. While I agree that making the casino smoke free for the next week or two is a great idea, unfortunately the smell of stale smoke will be quite evident in the carpets and any other cloth material. To me, stale smoke is a worse smell than “fresh” smoke. 

I agree that the smell of stale smoke is bad but it has never made me and my clothes smell like an ashtray like being a in a place with active smokers has.  I'm a poker player and glad most poker rooms are smoke free.

[LGW59]

8 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Can you bring your own "at home" test kits with you to satisfy your travel requirement?

    

The US is having a huge issue with testing right now and plenty of people are having trouble finding free locations with availability.    As of right now my local CVS pharmacy is booked up thru January 5th.        Even the places that are charging $100 pp have waiting lines.     

 

If you can bring your own test and do onboard the last day of your cruise that be great otherwise you will end up paying $100 pp like the rest of US citizens have to do when we cannot get the free tests.   

Why should a “free” test be offered to go on a vacation?  In real life sure, why do so many want it all for free!

[Computer Nerd]

On 12/22/2021 at 7:12 PM, 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're making the assumption that all smokers gamble and all non-smokers stay away only because of the smokers. That assumption would be incorrect.

[Computer Nerd]

6 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Why should a “free” test be offered to go on a vacation?  In real life sure, why do so many want it all for free!

Because they are lazy and would rather someone else to work hard to pay for what they want instead of working hard themselves to pay for it. NOTHING in life is free. SOMEONE had to work for it.

[boogybaby]

13 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

It all depends on the country.   There is a long list of countries that are accepting antigen tests to enter.   

i.e. in UK you can purchase a "My Travel Kit"  for approx $32 USD or 24 pounds and use the test remotely as your pre-departure test to fly back into the UK then they must take a PCR within 2 days of their arrival in the UK.    

Thank you for this information, I have been able to order my test kits, janice

[SRF]

19 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

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.

 

Valid points, but not a complete logical argument to ban smoking.

 

How much would you gamble (lose) if you did go to the casino?

[OnTheJourney]

17 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

will end up paying $100 pp

Say what? Who's charging $100 for a covid test? I'm probably out of the loop a bit  having paid little attention to the actual details of what the cruise lines are doing in the way of testing protocol being that I don't cruise till March...well...maybe. Flip of a coin at this point. 

Edited December 24, 2021 by OnTheJourney

[not-enough-cruising]

9 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Why should a “free” test be offered to go on a vacation?  In real life sure, why do so many want it all for free!

 

3 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

Because they are lazy and would rather someone else to work hard to pay for what they want instead of working hard themselves to pay for it. NOTHING in life is free. SOMEONE had to work for it.

If you are an American citizen, you have paid for the tests through your taxes (CARES act), it is your test to take regardless of the reason. Widespread testing is a big part of the current administration’s abatement plan. Why would I pay for a required test, when I have already funded a universal testing program?

[island lady]

20 hours ago, publicpersona said:

 

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.

 

LOL...cut outs for the mouth and nose??!!  😲

 

Of course that type of idiot could simply wear this one and pretend they are Zorro.  😄 

 

 

 

[lovesthebeach2]

47 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

Valid points, but not a complete logical argument to ban smoking.

 

How much would you gamble (lose) if you did go to the casino?

look at #3…..  some bet nothing, it’s just a smoking lounge.  
Smoking inside - which is harmful to everyone including smokers - isn’t smart. 

[Moltar]

17 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

 

If you are an American citizen, you have paid for the tests through your taxes (CARES act), it is your test to take regardless of the reason. Widespread testing is a big part of the current administration’s abatement plan. Why would I pay for a required test, when I have already funded a universal testing program?

Are you flying to a different country immediately after your cruise? Then chill, your tests are and will be free. Leave the USA, ya gotta pay.

[not-enough-cruising]

5 minutes ago, Moltar said:

Are you flying to a different country immediately after your cruise? Then chill, your tests are and will be free. Leave the USA, ya gotta pay.

I don’t really understand your post, it seems you are wanting an argument or disagree in some way.  No one ever mentioned testing outside the USA; the comment was all about getting a free test to travel FROM the US. 

[Moltar]

15 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

I don’t really understand your post, it seems you are wanting an argument or disagree in some way.  No one ever mentioned testing outside the USA; the comment was all about getting a free test to travel FROM the US. 

The feelings mutual. You dont make sense. Your arguing for no reason, when you come back from your cruise and go to Texas your test is free. Ok? Do you live outside the US too? Are you going to Chile or something immediately upon disembarking?  No Then why are you complaining about getting a free test when you will be getting a free test if needed in TX or wherever in the USA. Again, its an issue if you have a international flight immediately upon end of said cruise. Did Texas get annexed by Mexico or something?

 

Edited December 24, 2021 by Moltar

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, Moltar said:

The feelings mutual. You dont make sense. Your arguing for no reason, when you come back from your cruise and go to Texas your test is free. Ok? Do you live outside the US too? Are you going to Chile or something immediately upon disembarking?  No Then why are you complaining about getting a free test when you will be getting a free test if needed in TX or wherever in the USA. Again, its an issue if you have a international flight immediately upon end of said cruise. Did Texas get annexed by Mexico or something?

 

You are making an argument for something that no one on this thread is discussing. So, my initial assessment is correct; you are just looking for an argument. 

[TechPotato]

6 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

You're making the assumption that all smokers gamble and all non-smokers stay away only because of the smokers. That assumption would be incorrect.

I am not making that assumption. I am noting that anecdotal observations on the percentage of smokers in the casino is self selecting and can be discounted. This borne out by the evidence from countries like Canada, Australia, UK, France, and many other countries where smoking in casinos has been banned for years.

If you were to go into a casino in Canada, UK, etc., you could equally conclude that nobody who goes to a casino smokes.

[Computer Nerd]

58 minutes ago, TechPotato said:

I am not making that assumption. I am noting that anecdotal observations on the percentage of smokers in the casino is self selecting and can be discounted. This borne out by the evidence from countries like Canada, Australia, UK, France, and many other countries where smoking in casinos has been banned for years.

If you were to go into a casino in Canada, UK, etc., you could equally conclude that nobody who goes to a casino smokes.

If I were to conclude as such I would be making an incorrect assumption as well. As I stated, there and many smokers and non-smokers who don't go to a casino simply because they don't gamble. So you have no evidence at all to conclude that removing smoking from a casino on a ship will produce 2 to 3 times the revenue. It might increase, it might decrease, it might stay roughly the same. Until it's done you won't find out how many non-smokers care about gambling to begin with.

[davekathy]

3 minutes ago, Computer Nerd said:

If I were to conclude as such I would be making an incorrect assumption as well. As I stated, there and many smokers and non-smokers who don't go to a casino simply because they don't gamble. So you have no evidence at all to conclude that removing smoking from a casino on a ship will produce 2 to 3 times the revenue. It might increase, it might decrease, it might stay roughly the same. Until it's done you won't find out how many non-smokers care about gambling to begin with.

Agree.

 

You can bet RCG does. 

[TechPotato]

Just now, Computer Nerd said:

If I were to conclude as such I would be making an incorrect assumption as well. As I stated, there and many smokers and non-smokers who don't go to a casino simply because they don't gamble. So you have no evidence at all to conclude that removing smoking from a casino on a ship will produce 2 to 3 times the revenue. It might increase, it might decrease, it might stay roughly the same. Until it's done you won't find out how many non-smokers care about gambling to begin with.

I am sorry I gave the impression that I was coming to a conclusion. I was merely presenting math to support a hypothesis, ignoring self-selecting data and replacing it with general population statistics. 

 

I do have observational evidence, since I live in BC, Canada where smoking in casinos and bars has been banned for decades. There was much crying and gnashing that the industry would be destroyed if they banned smoking, but they became busier. 

 

 

[steveru621]

RCI stopped smoking on Anthem this week.