Vaping in Casino on Equinox

[Baynanno1]

18 minutes ago, mbrust said:

Have no personal reference to it other than friends say vaping is happening for sure on other cruise lines outside the casino went it is allowed.

Just going with the human nature aspect . Also the last line of my form letter from X said " thank you for the feedback on our recent change". No word test in that statement which enforces my belief that " it's  a done deal "

 

Yes, the use of word change rather than the word test is a worry!

[mbrust]

My husband just reminded me that we could smell cigarette smoke on our balcony in Jan. on the Equinox . Could identify where it was coming from but were on deck 10 in a room on the hump so a large balcony.

No eveidence on 9 our day Alaskan cruise in May but pretty cool weather to be on a balcony!

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 hours ago, Silkroad said:

Has this happened on lines that have always allowed smoking in the casinos?

Honestly, not that I have seen.  But, on Norwegian the casino takes up an entire deck and meanders around in such a way that it is not in a single area...in other words, the casino is just about everywhere on deck seven and it even over looks one of the grand atriums so if you are dining or doing something on a different deck, the smoke meanders as well.  On MSC the casino is contained so this is not an issue so much.

[Silkroad]

1 minute ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Honestly, not that I have seen.  But, on Norwegian the casino takes up an entire deck and meanders around in such a way that it is not in a single area...in other words, the casino is just about everywhere on deck seven and it even over looks one of the grand atriums so if you are dining or doing something on a different deck, the smoke meanders as well.  On MSC the casino is contained so this is not an issue so much.

Thank you! This is exactly the kind of information I’ve been seeking. Due to recent Celebrity decisions, we’re seriously considering other mainstream lines. Having only sailed Celebrity, we haven’t the experience to separate the reality from the hyperbole when assessing posts about other lines. We don’t want to waste our time and money on a cruise that doesn’t have a lot more pros than cons. I’m having to rely on the thoughtful, even handed posters like yourself for my information. Looks like I’m going to owe you a few cocktails🍹😜

[swigso]

Have just spoken to a lady from the executive office who acknowledged our concerns and told us she had noted that our non refundable deposit would be refunded. Seems that this test is going fleet wide sooner rather than later.

Will be without us good bye Celebrity.

[Silkroad]

5 minutes ago, swigso said:

Have just spoken to a lady from the executive office who acknowledged our concerns and told us she had noted that our non refundable deposit would be refunded. Seems that this test is going fleet wide sooner rather than later.

Will be without us good bye Celebrity.

Well this is disappointing. Did she happen to say that everyone could have their non refundable deposit refunded? 

[mbrust]

So frustrating as had enjoyed Celebrity.. Fortunatly our 3 future cruises have refundable deposits. Have brought X so many new customers and been loyal to then for 20 + cruises but if this is their direction now we are saying good bye too.  Going on a Viking river cruise in Oct. so guess we will be looking to use Viking in the future. Less cruising for us because of increase in pricing but think they actually care about their past passengers. 

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

1 hour ago, swigso said:

Have just spoken to a lady from the executive office who acknowledged our concerns and told us she had noted that our non refundable deposit would be refunded. Seems that this test is going fleet wide sooner rather than later.

Will be without us good bye Celebrity.

Did she mention what would happen to cruisers after final payment date? Probably not. Just a rhetorical question.

Edited July 12, 2023 by CHEZMARYLOU

[BCHappyGal]

If This vaping policy goes fleet wide we will be talking with our feet - walking our $$ to another cruise line...

Now I do agree that finding a non smoking cruise line is hard but they are there - also finding the cruise lines smoking policies is not easy... but now that will become one of my first questions when looking to book - "What is yoru smoking/vaping policy"

 

Of the mass market lines there are realy only 3 where smoking/vaping is only allowed outside on the open decks... mostly one has to look for the smaller luxury lines ...  which I am actively researching itineraires on...  

Now as DCL is a mass market line that does not all w smoking inside - I may have to try DCL - to date I have avoided them as wanted a cruise with a more adult vibe... 

 

As I generally book a suite the price difference will not be that great for us...

 

To bad Celebrity is not concerned with there many loyal guests and seem to be happy to wish us "Goodbye"

 

Yes I talked to a representative from HO and I am very afraid our concerns are falling on deaf ears.... and in this 8 week test period they will not get accuarate results as guests booked and paid under the assumption that they would be enjoiying a smoke/vape free environment... Only those of us with future bookings that are over 3 months away can change with minimum damage to our pocketbooks...  I know I will definitely not be booking future sailings with X if this goes forward.... and will be cancelling those that are far enough out....

 

 

[dlh015]

2 hours ago, mbrust said:

but pretty cool weather to be on a balcony!

Not when you're a smoker...

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 hours ago, Silkroad said:

Looks like I’m going to owe you a few cocktails🍹😜

Haha. I’m certainly down to take you up on that should our cruising paths ever cross!! 

[1Virgo]

3 hours ago, mbrust said:

My husband just reminded me that we could smell cigarette smoke on our balcony in Jan. on the Equinox . Could identify where it was coming from but were on deck 10 in a room on the hump so a large balcony.

No eveidence on 9 our day Alaskan cruise in May but pretty cool weather to be on a balcony!

We were on Equinox in January and could smell “smoke”. Ditto while on Summit April/May

 

People will do what they want if no consequence 

[Silkroad]

3 hours ago, mbrust said:

My husband just reminded me that we could smell cigarette smoke on our balcony in Jan. on the Equinox . Could identify where it was coming from but were on deck 10 in a room on the hump so a large balcony.

We have had similar experiences on some of our cruises. Fortunately, the occurrences have been infrequent. If I can ascertain where the smoker is located, I contact Guest Services. Otherwise, all I can do is shrug and be thankful they’re not on one of the balconies adjacent to ours. 

[palmsandpines]

We are too late to rebook two cruises, but will look elsewhere next time. Seems weird that they would concentrate on a group that is 13% of the population and dropping, 50% of them have have not graduated from high school and 57% earn less than 50K per year. So maybe a target population of 6% of the general population. Maybe you can extract enough money from this group to make it worth your while, but that will come at a cost to some of the other 94%. 

[swigso]

8 hours ago, Silkroad said:

Well this is disappointing. Did she happen to say that everyone could have their non refundable deposit refunded? 

No not specifically but from her response I got the impression that they are willing to refund. We told her that my wife is asthmatic which may have been the reason. The test is not really a true reflection so maybe they will allow those 2 current ships to carry on after the test. I really do not know what they are thinking of allowing this.

We got the impression that they are just paying lip service and it will be fleet wide soon, but as people book so far in advance I really hope our B2B in March will not be affected. In any event we are looking elsewhere and will not be booking any more cruises with Celebrity. We have a cruise on Azamara in October and have been looking at Oceana, Seabourn and Silversea. I am also going to research Viking and Virgin Cruises. To sum up we really got the impression that they just do not care and the $$$ is all that matters to them 

[ohiojohn]

We have followed this thread with interest as we have 2 Celebrity cruises booked. We are on the Ascent in December and the Edge to Hawaii in Sep 2024, both in the Magic Carpet.  My wife is also Asthmatic.  The Ascent being a new ship with only a few cruises at that point, we will probably pay the final deposit towards the end of this August.  Now the Hawaii cruise only has a $200 deposit at risk.  When this thread began, I went to the Library to take out a few Hawaii travel books.  The books were returned, but I noticed Amazon Prime Day had one of the travel books discounted. Yep that book arrives tomorrow.  So why is this important, after 25+ Celebrity cruises we are realizing a land visit versus a one day cruise stop gives us varying degrees of immersion into the sites and cultures of local people when staying multiply days. Last year we did a Viking cruise to Iceland and Norway.  We arrived Reykjavik 6 days before the cruise and thoroughly enjoyed visiting Iceland, great people and just beautiful majestic sites, and NO rain for the 6 days while we were there.  Companies must earn a profit to stay in business, they do not owe us anything.  If you want that product go for it.  I must say pushing us out of our comfort zone has had good results.  We are thoroughly enjoying researching and planning for a land vacation in Hawaii.  Yes, I might add allowing vaping in Casinos on Celebrity has reduced the need to want the product Celebrity is now offering.  Also, we can not be sad or mad with Celebrity's business model change, yesterday we had a birth of another grandchild, so yesterday was a great day.

 

edited:  I just copied and pasted this post and sent it to Celebrity. I am now at 3 sent emails voicing my displeasure about allowing Vaping.

Edited July 13, 2023 by ohiojohn

[jelayne]

15 hours ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

Did she mention what would happen to cruisers after final payment date? Probably not. Just a rhetorical question.

I’m with you on that.  We have a final payment on 8/1.  Lots of $ committed for air and tours.

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, ohiojohn said:

yesterday we had a birth of another grandchild, so yesterday was a great day.

July 12th is also my birthday...congratulations on the newest addition to your family!

[Georgia_Peaches]

9 hours ago, swigso said:

I am also going to research Viking

We also looked at Viking and even had a hold on a cabin for a med cruise next year but they want their money up front instead of the typical deposit and I just couldn't see my way to giving them an interest free loan a year out from our sailing.  Beyond that, they certainly look great!  No casino, though...

[clojacks]

48 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We also looked at Viking and even had a hold on a cabin for a med cruise next year but they want their money up front instead of the typical deposit and I just couldn't see my way to giving them an interest free loan a year out from our sailing.  Beyond that, they certainly look great!  No casino, though...

We have felt the same way about Viking's River Cruise deposits and payment. At $20K for a river cruise, I can do a lot more with my money than they can...I hope! It's the worst final payment program in all of sailing.

[JLMcruise]

Will be on Mille for 2 weeks in August. Interested to speak with the staff on board and what they think regarding vaping. We have another final payment due on September 1st for the Equinox. We may not be making that final payment and asking for our deposit to be refunded if Celebrity does change the policy and regarding indoors vaping/smoking in the casinos. 

[Charles4515]

49 minutes ago, clojacks said:

We have felt the same way about Viking's River Cruise deposits and payment. At $20K for a river cruise, I can do a lot more with my money than they can...I hope! It's the worst final payment program in all of sailing.

I didn't book a Viking River cruise because of the advnnce payment and I won't book a Viking Ocean cruise if they have the same.

[CruisinBanka]

19 hours ago, swigso said:

Have just spoken to a lady from the executive office who acknowledged our concerns and told us she had noted that our non refundable deposit would be refunded. Seems that this test is going fleet wide sooner rather than later.

Will be without us good bye Celebrity.

Wow that’s great news about Celebrity refunding non refundable deposits. They didn’t mention that when they emailed me back twice and then called me. I will definitely be asking for that on the 5 cruises I have deposits on if they make casino smoking/vaping policy permanent after 8/20 “test”. 

[jelayne]

1 minute ago, CruisinBanka said:

Wow that’s great news about Celebrity refunding non refundable deposits. They didn’t mention that when they emailed me back twice and then called me. I will definitely be asking for that on the 5 cruises I have deposits on if they make casino smoking/vaping policy permanent after 8/20 “test”. 

Unless I misunderstood that was a comment made during a call, not in writing.  I’m the letter I wrote I said if they went forward with this I expected a full refund of all my deposits.  When the Executive Office called me, I reiterated the deposit expectation but the person won’t say anymore than I understand what you are saying and will pass your concerns on.

[swigso]

5 minutes ago, CruisinBanka said:

Wow that’s great news about Celebrity refunding non refundable deposits. They didn’t mention that when they emailed me back twice and then called me. I will definitely be asking for that on the 5 cruises I have deposits on if they make casino smoking/vaping policy permanent after 8/20 “test”. 

I think they advised this because my wife is asthmatic but I bet we will need to fight for it