Cigar Smoking on Princess Cruises

[JustVinney]

I am working if anyone can share their experiences of cigar smoking and the cigar lounges on Princess ships.

I have a cruise booked on the Crown Princess to Alaska, and would like to enjoy a cigar often, probably nightly.

 

How is the Speakeasy cigar lounge? Fully interior or any windows for an ocean view?

Is it best to bring my own cigars for the whole trip, or is there a humidor on board to purchase from? And what might the selection & pricing be like?

 

Any experience you can share would be appreciated. 

[mom says]

The Speakeasy lounge was a popular spot on our Crown sailing in Nov. It is fully interior, off the casino. There is a humidor, with a fairly decent selection, according to my DH, who is the cigar smoker. The waiter who serves the guests in the lounge  (drinks come from the casino bar) will help you with your cigar purchase.  Or you can bring your own if you are particular as to brand.

[Host Kat]

10 hours ago, JustVinney said:

I am working if anyone can share their experiences of cigar smoking and the cigar lounges on Princess ships.

I have a cruise booked on the Crown Princess to Alaska, and would like to enjoy a cigar often, probably nightly.

 

How is the Speakeasy cigar lounge? Fully interior or any windows for an ocean view?

Is it best to bring my own cigars for the whole trip, or is there a humidor on board to purchase from? And what might the selection & pricing be like?

 

Any experience you can share would be appreciated. 

 

Howdy @JustVinney and welcome to the Cruise Critic message boards!

 

Thank you for your new thread on the Ask a Cruise Question forum! However, it is the forum for general questions regarding cruising. Your inquiry concerns a specific cruise line and is off topic there.

 

To help you out I have moved your thread to the Princess Cruises forum where it will be on topic. The majority of your fellow Cruise Critic members that have sailed Princess frequent this forum and provide feedback here. Browse through the thread titles on this forum looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

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Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

[roboref]

Nice place to sit and smoke. If I remember correctly not any outside views. I always bring my own cigars, as there isn't a large selection and mostly overpriced and not always properly humidified. I go most evenings before dinner and it is a nice place to chat, read a book or watch TV. So many lines have eliminated cigar lounges inside cruise ships, so I am really looking forward to my cruise on Emerald Princess to Hawaii in May.

 

Edited February 13, 2023 by roboref

[JustVinney]

On 2/13/2023 at 12:09 AM, roboref said:

I always bring my own cigars, as there isn't a large selection and mostly overpriced and not always properly humidified.

Thanks @roboref - your reply was most helpful. Especially knowing those little bits about selection - I'll definitely bring my own for the duration of the trip with that info. Enjoy Hawaii!

[MrSchwump]

I have not been aboard the Crown for some time but my recollection of the Speakeasy lounge was that it might double as the ship’s mortuary if needed. Dark and drab. 
I confined all my cigar smoking to the permitted outdoor spaces. 
The selection in the humidor was limited and somewhat overpriced, I thought. I brought my own and picked some up on shore at a reputable tobacconist. 

[roboref]

7 hours ago, JustVinney said:

Thanks @roboref - your reply was most helpful. Especially knowing those little bits about selection - I'll definitely bring my own for the duration of the trip with that info. Enjoy Hawaii!

One other thing, you are probably already aware of. You can't fly with a torch lighter, which is the lighter I prefer. I just bring a bic type lighter, which you can bring in your carryon. A few lounges have a torch if you ask the attendant, they can bring it out for you! I certainly didn't feel the Speakeasy was drab, it was well lit, had satellite TV and frequently interesting people to chat with. 

I find it not as enjoyable to smoke outdoors, as they are generally unprotected from the wind, which with a bic style lighter makes it difficult to light and keep lit. Outdoors is great if there is some protection from the wind!

Enjoy your cigars!

[voljeep]

2 hours ago, MrSchwump said:

I confined all my cigar smoking to the permitted outdoor spaces. 

which areas are those - I thought those area's were limited to cigs...

[MrSchwump]

3 hours ago, roboref said:

One other thing, you are probably already aware of. You can't fly with a torch lighter….

I bring mine. I pack it and a couple of cutters in my suitcase. 

[MrSchwump]

3 hours ago, voljeep said:

which areas are those - I thought those area's were limited to cigs...

Back when I last sailed on the Crown, I think it was starboard side amidships. 
There’s a smokers page on a certain social media site whose name shall not be stated that lists smoking areas on all Princess ships. 

[roboref]

38 minutes ago, MrSchwump said:

I bring mine. I pack it and a couple of cutters in my suitcase. 

You can bring it, if willing to risk confiscation, which I am not going to risk an $80 Xikar. This from the the TSA!

Torch Lighters

Carry On Bags: No

Checked Bags: No

Torch lighters create a thin, needle-like flame that is hotter (reaching 2,500 F) and more intense than those from common lighters. Torch lighters are often used for pipes and cigars, and maintain a consistent stream of air-propelled fire regardless of the angle at which it is held.

[MrSchwump]

I got a $9.95 lighter on Amazon with a triple flame that does the trick. I’ve had Xicar and Prometheus lighters and have found the cheap ones to be just as dependable.

[JustVinney]

On the one hand, torch lighters are so much better than a regular bic / soft flame. On the other hand, I don't want to risk losing my favourite EDC torch. 

 

I have one day in Vancouver before getting on the Crown - hopefully a gas station or convenience store will have one of the cheap-o torch lighters I can pick up for a few bucks that day. Near me, they even sell some half decent ones at the dollar store. I'm sure they wouldn't last any amount of time or refills, but work well when new - so that's my hope. If I don't find that, a bic will have to work for the trip. 

 

I know torch lighters on planes are a no-go, but from what I've been able to find so far there's no issue as far as the ship is concerned. Confirmation or contrary information is of course always welcome! 

 

Thanks all for your input so far! 

[KreinKrunker]

Been traveling for years with my torch in checked luggage.  Although brand label has fallen off, I think it is a Colibri.

 

[roboref]

1 hour ago, KreinKrunker said:

Been traveling for years with my torch in checked luggage.  Although brand label has fallen off, I think it is a Colibri.

 

I have one of these, but it is not legal to transport regardless, the rules were changed! I am not sying you shouldn't or that it doesn't work, but just saying!

From TSA

Torch Lighters

Carry On Bags: No

Checked Bags: No

Torch lighters create a thin, needle-like flame that is hotter (reaching 2,500 F) and more intense than those from common lighters. Torch lighters are often used for pipes and cigars, and maintain a consistent stream of air-propelled fire regardless of the angle at which it is held.

[KreinKrunker]

22 hours ago, roboref said:

I have one of these, but it is not legal to transport regardless, the rules were changed! I am not sying you shouldn't or that it doesn't work, but just saying!

From TSA

Torch Lighters

Carry On Bags: No

Checked Bags: No

Dang!  Good thing I gave up cigars last month.

[roboref]

1 hour ago, KreinKrunker said:

Dang!  Good thing I gave up cigars last month.

No need to give them up, I will have at 15 to 20 for my 16 Day Hawaiian cruise, along with my Bic lighter. Sometimes I am lucky enough to find someone with a torch. But smoking that many on a trip then you ahve to bring butane to fill it and I sure enough would not try to fly with that. I really enjoy cigars on a cruise, especially with an indoor cigar room!