RCCL New Smoking Policy Discussion (merged)

[GAV BOY]

Actually, by the looks of this thread, it's not the smokers who are up in arms. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the large majority of these posts are from non-smokers who are forecasting doom because RCI hasn't gone far enough. Some people just can't be pleased and, no matter what happens or how many bars and cabins are smoke-free, they will always have something to complain about.

 

That makes sense ! :confused:

[SherriZ366]

Wonder how this will affect RCI's marketing to Europeons where smoking prohibitions are not as prevalent as they are in the US. RCI is putting a lot of tonnage into Europe with Voyager, Navigator, Independence, Splendor and the soon to be year-round Brilliance.

[Cruising89143]

Wonder how this will affect RCI's marketing to Europeons where smoking prohibitions are not as prevalent as they are in the US. RCI is putting a lot of tonnage into Europe with Voyager, Navigator, Independence, Splendor and the soon to be year-round Brilliance.

 

 

From the news release.

 

Feedback from our guests was a driving force behind the new Vitality

program and our focus on wellness," said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice

president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "Results from online

polls as well as input from all of our international offices worldwide,

show very strong support of the new smoking policy.

[NOT my real name]

Sounds like a group of childish people to me. Smokers are going to have to understand that the MAJORITY of people do not want to be around smoke. Royal Caribbean is listening to the majority. This is the future and this is just another move to eventually move all smoking venues outdoors where they should be in the first place.

 

You are exactly right. Only about 20% of the adult population smokes. Many of the other 80% do not appreciate those that uncaringly spew their cancer causing exhaust into the air for their victims (including innocent children) to breathe.

[DON M.]

So, I leave my balcony door open, and the smoke from the people on the adjoining balcony "travels into my room", I am going to get charged $250.00 for a cleaning fee- yea right. And all of those people who claim that the smoke from the 4th deck casino travels through the cement and halls to their 3rd floor cabin, boy are they in trouble.

[twocc's]

Thanks RCCL, you did the right thing.

[Cruising89143]

So, I leave my balcony door open, and the smoke from the people on the adjoining balcony "travels into my room", I am going to get charged $250.00 for a cleaning fee- yea right. And all of those people who claim that the smoke from the 4th deck casino travels through the cement and halls to their 3rd floor cabin, boy are they in trouble.

 

 

There is a huge difference between someone sitting in a closed up cabin puffing away and someone having smoke enter their cabin from the balcony. :rolleyes: Also if a smoker is stupid enough to keep their balcony door open when smoking then they deserve to pay a fine.

[mill creek cruisers]

In the last year, we had two disturbing smoking issues. In one case, our room smelled so bad from the prior cruise (smoker) that we refused it twice, until they finally cleaned it up and changed the bedding. This new policy will cure that hopefully. I am all for non-smoking in the cabins. To be fair, maybe 20%-25% of cabins should be set aside for smokers on one aft side of the ship, but with only those cabins allowing smoking on the balconies.

 

But, why allow smoking on any balconies or outside on any ship. Remember the Princess fire last year, that they suggest started from a cigarette.

 

My major problem occurred last year as I was sitting on my balcony in Malaga enjoying a glass of wine when a large cigar butt landed at my feet. :( So, I have the butt and the cigar smell to contend with and no apology from the smoker. Kind of put a dampen on the afternoon.

 

RCL SHOULD BAN SMOKING ON THE BALCONIES AS WELL.

 

Dave

[DON M.]

There is a huge difference between someone sitting in a closed up cabin puffing away and someone having smoke enter their cabin from the balcony. :rolleyes: Also if a smoker is stupid enough to keep their balcony door open when smoking then they deserve to pay a fine.

 

I dint say I was smoking on my balcony with the door open.

[rcicruiser]

Smoking should not be allowed on the balconies either. If you smoke and do not like it because there are rules now where you can smoke then you maybe in trouble. Alot of cruiselines are changing where you can smoke. Some will not let you smoke on the balconies. I hope Royal caribbean changes that too. Too the smokes I say it is ok if you want to kill yourself but why kill the rest of us too.

[Cruising89143]

NCL also changed their policy recently according to some of the NCL regulars on the NCL board. Did not go the the extreme of the cabin but most of the public rooms are now smoke free.

 

We want you to be comfortable on board, so public areas throughout all NCL ships are smoke free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so in your stateroom, on your balcony, in the casino or Cigar Bar (where available). If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Also, you can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks (just not around food venues, sport decks, kids’ pool areas and other designated non-smoking areas).

[DON M.]

Actually in reality, they are only restricting smoking in cabins that don't have balconies. So if you can't afford a balcony, you can't smoke in your cabin.

Because we all know, that if you leave your door open on your balcony and smoke outside some of the smoke is going to get back into your cabin ;)

At least marriott doesn't say, hey pay $600 more a week and we'll give you an ashtray and you can sit on your balcony and smoke.

Either no smoking in all cabins or leave it the way it is. Don't say, well you have a balcony so you can smoke out there. People will still go inside with the cigarette to get something or whatever. People are never that concious of what they are doing.

I can't imagine them not pulling back the smoking policy for when their ships are in europe.

 

As I read the policy, its ALL staterooms and suites, with or without a balcony.

[Lightsluvr]

what % of smokers will be willing to pay an extra 600 a cabin to smoke on balcony? I sure a lot don't smoke in the cabin now out of respect for non-smoking spouse

 

Probably the same percentage of smokers who will pay $35 for a carton of cigarettes.

 

LL

[dc-snoopy]

First, for those that leave their balcony doors open, note that you are violating another one of those pesky rules. There are signs in the staterooms that specifically ask that you not leave your balcony doors open. This costs them a lot of money in environmental controls as the A/C runs and most of that cool air is sucked out into the Caribbean. So, the smoke should only be wafting in when you open and close your door. That amount of smoke is unlikely to cause problems or linger. If you leave your balcony door open, then you are in danger of being charged a cleaning fee **SHOULD** smoke happen to get in and permeate the porous surfaces to the point that someone in the future would complain. Usually, that amount of smoke would not be an irritant.

 

FYI, Marriott does accommodate some smokers. Most facilities have a number of rooms on the first floor that have walk out patios. As long as those rooms are available, they use those to accommodate smokers who can then go out on the patio to smoke. Those patrons can go in and come out and provided they don't leave the patio door open and sit right outside blowing their smoke into the doorway, it doesn't seem to contaminate the room. I have spoken to smokers who have had this option and have yet to hear of anyone that has been charged a cleaning fee for smoking out on the patio.

 

This is just another straw man argument. If you don't break the rules by smoking inside or leaving your balcony door open, then you shouldn't have a problem. If you break either rule and get "caught" then you shouldn't complain. If the policy is that repugnant to you, then as with some of the other smokers, choose another line. I, personally think that the number of smokers affected will be significantly smaller than the roughly 24% of the American public that is reputed to be smokers. I personally think that you are talking about significantly less than 5% of the cruising population will be affected and care. Compared to the significantly larger population of non-smokers who care and who have communicated with RCI, I think that RCI has made the right move for the majority of their business patrons.

[MaryZ]

As I read the policy, its ALL staterooms and suites, balconys are not.

 

Right. But you don't really believe that smokers are going to make sure they never walk from their balcony into the room do you?

So it's a policy that winks at people who can afford to go up to balcony or suites and comes down hard on those who can't.

Me I never sail without a balcony, and my husband enjoys cigars occasionally.

[MaryZ]

The last few marriotts we stayed in, they had no smoking rooms at all. Honestly I didn't think any of them did, but I suppose if you said the one you did had them they do. And I happen to be someone who doen't leave their balcony door open. I like a non-humid cabin ;)

[libertybelle41]

It took a while to get to this point. Lets say a few more years and they can revisit "Vitality" and eliminate smoking on balconies.

 

A great first step, RCI.

 

 

 

 

Yes, yes, yes !

[trishalee]

As usual, the non-smoking crowd is already screaming because the new policy is not enough. It is NEVER enough!

 

I don't intend to "boycott" RCI - If they don't want my business, I'll just go elsewhere. After 15 wonderful cruises with them, we are cancelling our next - a 15 night to Hawaii. As stated above, this is only a widening of the rules already prevalent in restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. I want to spend my vacation enjoying what I enjoy, so we'll be going elsewhere. I always was condsiderate when smoking on our balcony, but I'll bet the fanatic crowd will be going ALL OUT to punish anyone daring to smoke out there in the open air

 

The non-smoking crowd has been so very vocal in the past few years; they seem to have had the time to make it their life's work to kick and scream about their RIGHTS. They don't care about fairness or consideration for anyone's rights except their own - no one else HAS any rights. Bye-bye, RCI. :mad:

[Mark_K]

First, for those that leave their balcony doors open, note that you are violating another one of those pesky rules. There are signs in the staterooms that specifically ask that you not leave your balcony doors open. This costs them a lot of money in environmental controls as the A/C runs and most of that cool air is sucked out into the Caribbean.

IIRC, the last cruise we were on they had installed sensors that shut off the A/C when the balcony door was open. I don't recall seeing any pesky signs, though.

[alcheme]

As usual, the non-smoking crowd is already screaming because the new policy is not enough. It is NEVER enough!

 

I don't intend to "boycott" RCI - If they don't want my business, I'll just go elsewhere. After 15 wonderful cruises with them, we are cancelling our next - a 15 night to Hawaii. As stated above, this is only a widening of the rules already prevalent in restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. I want to spend my vacation enjoying what I enjoy, so we'll be going elsewhere. I always was condsiderate when smoking on our balcony, but I'll bet the fanatic crowd will be going ALL OUT to punish anyone daring to smoke out there in the open air

 

The non-smoking crowd has been so very vocal in the past few years; they seem to have had the time to make it their life's work to kick and scream about their RIGHTS. They don't care about fairness or consideration for anyone's rights except their own - no one else HAS any rights. Bye-bye, RCI. :mad:

 

 

Hogwash. That just sounds like a child's tantrum.

 

What is truly "as usual" is that there is a broad spectrum of opinions, from those who think it's not enough unless smoking is totally banned, to those who are happy with the new policy, to those smokers who don't care because they never smoked inside their cabins anyway, to those who are disappointed and finally those who feel it's a horrible inconvenience that they can't smoke where and when they please. The extremes on both sides are relative minorities, though.

[aqhacruiser]

I did see the notice when I checked my stock today. I do not see where it will be any different for those with suites and balconys as I think most people smoke on the balcony anyway and the doors will be open most times like aways. As long as a steward does not see someone smoking in the cabin and violating the new policy in 2008, it's not an issue. The announcement says they will still provide ashtrays to balcony/suite guests to use. There will still be designated smoking areas in the bars/lounges and Starboard side decks are designated smoking as always. The only people this will really effect are those that usually stay in interior and OV cabins and now those that smoke will probably want to book a balcony and non smokers who want to avoid balcony smokers will probably book inside. Seems like the smokers just got the better cabins to choose from for a higher price than an interior of course:) Like the new RCCL open dining plans, we'll have to see if this is successful or not. NCL guests may try RCCL for open casual dining and RCCL guests may jump over to NCL to smoke! :D

[Hondu]

Times are changing for the heavy smoking market in Europe. If hard smokers can give it up on a luxury lines like Peter Deilmann, why can't you?

*************************************

DEILMANN CRUISES ANNOUNCES NO SMOKING INSIDE EUROPEAN RIVER SHIPS FOR 2008

 

NEW YORK, June 18, 2007 – Peter Deilmann Cruises is expanding the no-smoking restrictions on its European river fleet to include all areas inside the vessels without exception beginning in 2008. The policy will become effective at the start of the river cruise season in March 2008, the cruise line announced today. Peter Deilmann Cruises, which operates a fleet of nine river vessels, first extended the smoke-free areas on its ships in 2005 to include all cabins and corridors along with its no-smoking policy in the restaurants. Now smoking will only be permitted on the open decks.

 

“We are happy to have our river ships smoke free now that the laws in Europe are evolving to ban smoking indoors and we are adjusting our policy to reflect this shift in sentiment. The changing attitude in Europe helps us please our American guests even more”, Ron Santangelo, Deilmann’s North America president, said in announcing the new policy.

[SherriZ366]

From the news release.

 

Feedback from our guests was a driving force behind the new Vitality

program and our focus on wellness," said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice

president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "Results from online

polls as well as input from all of our international offices worldwide,

show very strong support of the new smoking policy.

Missed that part of the press release

[aqhacruiser]

IIRC, the last cruise we were on they had installed sensors that shut off the A/C when the balcony door was open. I don't recall seeing any pesky signs, though.

 

There are no signs on the balcony doors to keep them closed with A/C running on the Explorer nor are there sensors that shuts A/C off. The new ships may have them. This was discussed on another thread about doors opened with A/C on. I always keep the door closed when it's hot or at night but it seems many people do not.

[aqhacruiser]

Times are changing for the heavy smoking market in Europe. If hard smokers can give it up on a luxury lines like Peter Deilmann, why can't you?

*************************************

DEILMANN CRUISES ANNOUNCES NO SMOKING INSIDE EUROPEAN RIVER SHIPS FOR 2008

 

NEW YORK, June 18, 2007 – Peter Deilmann Cruises is expanding the no-smoking restrictions on its European river fleet to include all areas inside the vessels without exception beginning in 2008. The policy will become effective at the start of the river cruise season in March 2008, the cruise line announced today. Peter Deilmann Cruises, which operates a fleet of nine river vessels, first extended the smoke-free areas on its ships in 2005 to include all cabins and corridors along with its no-smoking policy in the restaurants. Now smoking will only be permitted on the open decks.

 

“We are happy to have our river ships smoke free now that the laws in Europe are evolving to ban smoking indoors and we are adjusting our policy to reflect this shift in sentiment. The changing attitude in Europe helps us please our American guests even more”, Ron Santangelo, Deilmann’s North America president, said in announcing the new policy.

 

I am not familar with this cruiseline. Do they do 9 and 12 night cruises? Are they on the river for 2 or more days without stopping in a port?