RCCL further limits smoking, can X be far behind

[DrKoob]

Just saw this http://aroomwithaviewcruiseandtravel.wordpress.com/2007/07/24/new-smoking-policy-onboard-rccl-ships/

 

How great is that. RCCL is banning smoking in all their staterooms. All of them! And one lounge per ship. Can X be far behind. Check out the article.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Wow, now comes enforcement. How do they do that? Maybe smoke sniffing dogs or smoke detectors in the cabins. I think they only have heat detectors in cabins now.

 

Oh, look at all the healthy people. Hey, the balcony cabins may be in more demand now. Yikes, the prices may go up.

[Gonzo70]

It seems like the cruise lines are rapidly moving in that direction (i.e. RCL, NCL, and Regent have all recently imposed new smoking restrictions). I certainly think Celebrity will follow in the coming weeks or months. I just hope they take it a step further than RCL as smoking on private balconies has got to end. Also, only one smoke-free lounge per ship is not nearly enough. In states across the U.S. and several countries internationially, smoking is being banned in all bars/lounges. Perhaps a single smoking lounge rather than a single non-smoking lounge is the answer. Having half a lounge smoke free makes no sense as the smoke just drifts right over.

 

As for enfrocement, most people will simply respect the rule, like it or not. The threat of a $250 cleaning charge will deter many others. Some obviously will still break the rules as some smokers do now.

 

The cruise lines have been somewhat slow in protecting the non-smokers who compromise their vast majority, but at least they are finally coming along.

[cruisinelsewhere]

I am a smoker. I have never smoked in my cabin (or any hotel room for that matter). I specifically book a balcony cabin so I can go there and enjoy the "first thing in the morning" and the "last thing before bed" cigarette. I, even in a bar that allows smoking, never light up when someone is eating. I try to be considerate. But let's face it......outside is outside!....and at 22 knots the 3 minute smoke on my balcony is not going to give you cancer! I am sorry if you will get a whiff of it, but with the wind it will surely pass quickly. (I am putting on my fireproof suit because flaming will surely be next);)

[chessbriar]

They worry about the health of everyone on the ship with regard to smoking, but will feed us to our hearts content. Pizza buffet anyone?

[Schplinky]

I think this is strictly a business move, not a health one. The success of companies like Westin, who took the gamble and banned smoking in their hotels, points to the wisdom of the move. Besides making their room a safe haven for the majority of the population (according to the CDC, only 20.9% of the population smokes), it's also good business sense since smoking also means that the cabins wear out faster. Who among us has not seen cigarrette burns in carpet in a hotel or cruise cabin? That also points out the last element, which is safety. If smoking is banned in cabins, this might reduce the number of people who smaoke in bed, a cause of fires.

[chessbriar]

Also, It helps the stewards clean the room as they are not spending their time trying to kill the smoke smell in the room for their next set of guests.

[DrKoob]

I am a smoker. I have never smoked in my cabin (or any hotel room for that matter). I specifically book a balcony cabin so I can go there and enjoy the "first thing in the morning" and the "last thing before bed" cigarette. I, even in a bar that allows smoking, never light up when someone is eating. I try to be considerate. But let's face it......outside is outside!....and at 22 knots the 3 minute smoke on my balcony is not going to give you cancer! I am sorry if you will get a whiff of it, but with the wind it will surely pass quickly. (I am putting on my fireproof suit because flaming will surely be next);)

 

Some smokers do not understand the immediate effects of second hand smoke. I have a life-long sinus condition. It doesn't take much in the way of second hand smoke to give me a sinus headache equivalent to a migrane that could easily put me in bed for the rest of the day. There are other people like me who just want to live without having to put up with anyone else's bi-products.

[luvocean9]

This is good news! Hopefully this is just the first step to eliminating smoking and next they will eliminate or reduce it on balconies. Maybe they could allow on top floor balconies only since the smoke drifts upwards. I don't think it is really for health reasons only. I think its because 80% of us do not smoke and do not want to be around the odor.

 

My last cruise we had a suite for the first time. When we walked in it, it smelled horribly of cigars. The steward fought the smell for us all week. Then we had a smoker next door. It would creep under the adjoining door inside. Everytime we went out to enjoy the balcony, we were joined by a chain smoker. It may be outside, but the smoke still drifts to the balcony next door or above and the smell lingers for a while, especially when the people light one cigarette after another. We just could not get a smoke-free moment in our quarters! Not fair.

[DrKoob]

They worry about the health of everyone on the ship with regard to smoking, but will feed us to our hearts content. Pizza buffet anyone?

 

If I want pizza and don't care about my weight that is my problem. If you smoke and blow smoke in my direction and I get a sinus headache that means I am in bed for the rest of the day, that is your problem. Overheating or eating poorly is a personal choice one does to themselves. Second hand smoke is done to me.

[cruise182]

You call your TA to book a cruise. Your TA then says:

 

"I have to tell you that you will be sailing with some Chemists. These chemists will be mixing some chemicals that they call Toxic-Punch. The cabin you sailed in may have been occupied by one of these chemists. Being that 20% of the guests are chemists you will be exposed to the fumes from their toxic-punch. Celebrity agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that Toxic-punch causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in the chemists. These chemists are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer. There is no safe Toxic-punch. Public health officials have concluded that the fumes from Toxic-punch causes disease, including lung cancer and heart disease, in adults who DO NOT mix Toxic-punch, as well as causes conditions in children such as asthma, respiratory infections, cough, wheeze, otitis media (middle ear infection) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In addition, public health officials have concluded that Toxic-punch fumes can exacerbate adult asthma and cause eye, throat and nasal irritation. That being said, would you like first or 2nd seating for dinner?":eek:

 

The above hypothetical situation was derived from material posted at Philip Morris:

 

Secondhand Smoke

Public health officials have concluded that secondhand smoke from cigarettes causes disease, including lung cancer and heart disease, in non-smoking adults, as well as causes conditions in children such as asthma, respiratory infections, cough, wheeze, otitis media (middle ear infection) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Cigarette Smoking and Disease in Smokers

Philip Morris USA agrees with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer, than non-smokers. There is no safe cigarette.

[cruissett]

I would like to see RC carry this one step further and allow only one side of the ships balconys for smokers. I love sitting on the balcony and breathing in the fresh salt sea air, "Not The Smokers Smoke from the next cabin"

[dkjretired]

Maybe we could get back on topic and talk about whether they are now going to have this policy on Celebrity. The other posts are not going to convince anyone either way. Celebrity will probably follow suit very soon.

[Schplinky]

I think that if the policy is a success on RCL, then Celebrity will follow. Celebrity tends to have a slightly older passenger and I'm not sure how that would affect things. It would depend on how smoking rates are over the different ages ranges and how many folks Celebrity thought they would gain and lose as a result.

 

according t the CDC, here are the smoking rates of for various age ranges of Americans

 

Cigarette smoking estimates by age are as follows: 18–24 years (24.4%), 25–44 years (24.1%), 45–64 years (21.9%), and 65 years or older (8.6%).

[CoasterBill]

My wife and I are both very glad to see these changes made. I know we will be much more likely to book on a cruise ship with more restrictions over one that has few.

 

Celebrity is our favorite line but I can see us making other choices if we have lines that will provide a more smoke free trip. I hope Celebrity puts smoking restrictions in place.

 

I know that my wife and I will never step foot in a cacino due to the high level of smoking. I would think many people do the same thing and I wonder if this ends up costing them more revenue loss then they realize.

[cruise182]

Another poster predicted that SOLAS will be adding some new smoking regulations. RCI and other lines may be instituting new rules before the new regulations are in place. Not sure if this is true, but would make sense.

[fti]

I think this is strictly a business move, not a health one. The success of companies like Westin, who took the gamble and banned smoking in their hotels, points to the wisdom of the move.

 

I can't agree with you more re: it being more for a business move. I remember when Delta Airlines was the first US airline to ban smoking on transatlantic flights years ago. The Delta rep in Vienna Austria, where I lived, thought it was the dumbest move and that all the passengers from Vienna (heavy smokers) would move to other airlines. Never happened and then other airlines realized how many millions of $$ they would save by also banning smoking (cleaning costs greatly reduced, health insurance premiums/costs for flight attendants greatly reduced, etc). Now smoking is pretty much banned on all international flights except for a very few.

[dkjretired]

My wife and I are both very glad to see these changes made. I know we will be much more likely to book on a cruise ship with more restrictions over one that has few.

 

Celebrity is our favorite line but I can see us making other choices if we have lines that will provide a more smoke free trip. I hope Celebrity puts smoking restrictions in place.

 

I know that my wife and I will never step foot in a cacino due to the high level of smoking. I would think many people do the same thing and I wonder if this ends up costing them more revenue loss then they realize.

 

Since Atlantic City started a large smoking ban in the casinos they have seen a large drop in revenues. It is also one of the reasons the Paradise didn't make it as a non smoking ship, bar and casino revenues were very poor even though the ship was full. This was stated at the time by the chairman of Carnival... It is all a business decision as someone else stated. For some reason, smoking, drinking and Casinos go together. I know people who only smoke when they are in the casino, don't smoke at home, work or anywhere else, only in the casino.

[cruise182]

Since Atlantic City started a large smoking ban in the casinos they have seen a large drop in revenues. It is also one of the reasons the Paradise didn't make it as a non smoking ship, bar and casino revenues were very poor even though the ship was full. This was stated at the time by the chairman of Carnival... It is all a business decision as someone else stated.

Well, I am not sure this is off topic. We are questioning whether Celebrity will implement the smoking bans. Discussing the consequences of other smoking bans, helps us to arrive at a better predication.

That said, I may be wrong, But I was under the impression that AC casinos was not required to have the 75% smoke free casino floor until April 15th. That is only 3 months of data we have to go by. Also, during this time frame AC took some other hits. Such as Slot parlors opening in PA and also the closing of the Sands. When smoking bans took place in bars here in Philadelphia, there was a initial decline in business, but from what I understand, business is back where it was.

[upwarduk]

Wow, now comes enforcement. How do they do that? Maybe smoke sniffing dogs or smoke detectors in the cabins. I think they only have heat detectors in cabins now.

 

Oh, look at all the healthy people. Hey, the balcony cabins may be in more demand now. Yikes, the prices may go up.

 

England went smoke free in all enclosed public places on July 1st 2007.

The streets are now the place to smoke, or outside the public houses.

So now non -smokers have to walk through people smoking on pavements, far worse than it ever was.

 

Like aeroplane toilets( rest rooms) smoke detectors can easily be put in cabins.

I consider it dangerous for smoking to be allowed in cabins- did they ever decide on the cause of the fire on Sea ? Princess.

 

Have you ever been in an hotel room where smoking is allowed? The smell gets through into the fibre/ frabic of the room.

Personally I would be inclined to book a non -smoking cruise, if it was on a line that I was familiar with.

 

Roll on Celebrity following RCI.

 

On a very serious note, a boxer was shot in the head when he asked 3 men to stop smoking in a club.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6912900.stm

[cruise182]

Also, I was under the impression that Paradise failed as a result of not getting group bookings. Another problem is , many people like to cruise different ships and different itineraries. And from what I have read, there are more smokers are carnival then other lines

[Schplinky]

We have a smoking ban in our city and have had for several years. It has resulted in huddles of people on sidewalks smoking, even when the temperature is -40 with the wind-chill in the winter. I think that requiring people to go to the portions of the ship where smoking is allowed is not at all beastly but, like other things on cruises, it will all depend on enforcement. Will the line enforce this rule any better than the others?

[Il navigante pazzo]

I am not a smoker - but my wife is. I am scheduled on the Constellatiion January 28 (concierge cabin). If restrictive smoking regulations are adopted by then I will have to cancel this cruise. Of course - given that they are already sold out this will not affect Celebrity in the least - they will actually be able to charge more for my cabin, but it would not say much for their customer service - after all we are only 6 months away (and I had been counting the days before this rumor started making the rounds).

 

Il navigante pazzo . :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Schplinky]

Wow, one thing that is more important to you than all the other spects of cruising combined.

 

Sad.

[Il navigante pazzo]

Yes Schlimpy I care more for my wife than for wandering around in a ship - pity me ! Yes I would love for her to quit but when we got married we both smoked and I feel there is a commitment involved, especially after 40+ years. I hope that when you kiss the ship it kisses back !

:D :D :D Il navigatore pazzo.