Official : Celebrity Revamps Smoking Policy Effective 10/1/08

[venicecruiser]

As Babette knows, one of those cancellations was mine.....

[dkjretired]

Maybe not. The three casinos in our area have made changes in regard to smoking. They are giving up less and less space to smoking areas..and they don't seem to be suffering from it.

When NY went smoke free indoors, all sorts of predictions were made of how the restaurants would suffer. It didn't come to fruitation.

Even Ireland, where smoking abounds, and pubs were a haze of smoke, got through it 4 years ago, and the pubs are still packed.

 

Atlantic City is taking a beating from a partial smoking ban and competition so it remains to be seen. Pubs and bars are a totally different thing.

[ocngypz]

Atlantic City is taking a beating from a partial smoking ban and competition so it remains to be seen. Pubs and bars are a totally different thing.

 

Interesting to note that the Non-smoking slot areas of Foxwoods are not as busy as the smoking optional slot areas.

 

On a Cunard ta last fall, the one night they had the entire casino non-smoking, you could have heard a pin drop in there.

[Schplinky]

And I predict the first modifications to the policy will be in the casino....

 

I wouldn't presume that. The local casinos here went non-smoking and their revenues rose.

[brigittetom]

Apparently I'm really the odd one. The only time I ever smoke in the casino is when there is no one around me.

Even as a smoker, I can't stand being in close quarters with alot of smokers and I find it hard to believe that people are comfortable smoking at the tables. On many cruises there have been the nonsmokers who have come to the smoking side of the slot area and complained about the smokers. I don't remember any smokers going into the non smoking area and complaining about not being able to smoke although I will admit that I play in the nonsmoking areas just for the fresh air.

I see so many posters complaining that the smell of smoke is everywhere on the ship. In the last two years smoking areas have become so limited that I just don't see how that's a valid complaint and that includes non smokers wanting to be on the shady side of the pool deck on the smoking side. People obviously have had a problem on balconys but those complaining about a faint whif of smoke are probably the same ones that complain about everything else on the ship.

I have to wonder if the new smoking rules apply to the staff. Somehow I don't feel it's fair to restrict passengers but allow the ships staff the luxury to smoke in their cabins. Captain?????? :)

[Addict1]

I wonder how long it is going to take Celebrity to notify passengers (mainly in the UK) that have booked prior to this policy change that they will be offered the opportunity to cancel with full refunds :mad:

 

Not a happy bunny:(

[blong2200]

Will it just be US PAYING smokers who are banned......what about the ship's staff ( I know they can smoke in their rooms and have several lounges where smoking is allowed) and the entertainers that smoke....will they also be banned from smoking in their staterooms?

 

I think they should ban ALCHOLIC BEVERAGES since I don't drink........I have seen many obnixous drinkers who were loud, and falling down drunk!

 

I certainly hope that RCL is planning on sending out official written announcements to all customers who have booked cruises for Oct 2008 and after. Think of those that don't belong to this board, who will not know of this policy until the arrive at the ship and find out they can't smoke in their stateroom or on their balcony that they PAID FOR.

[DMRick]

I don't see that when I go. I still have a problem getting the machine I want, and often have to go over to the other side, where there are more open machines. Last time we were there, we were told they will be making the smoking area much smaller, because of complaints by the non smokers.

 

Interesting to note that the Non-smoking slot areas of Foxwoods are not as busy as the smoking optional slot areas.

 

On a Cunard ta last fall, the one night they had the entire casino non-smoking, you could have heard a pin drop in there.

[PurpleCow]

Oceania has a zero tolerance towards smoking in staterooms and balconies as well as no smoking at all in the casino. There are 2 small areas where one can smoke. Interestingly enough, every ship they own are filled on each cruise.

! was going to post this very thing, Esther, but you beat me to it. I was on the Insignia as a smoker (and the Regatta as a non-smoker) and it wasn't any trouble to pop on a muumuu in the morning to go up for a cigarette or in the evening for a few last puffs before going to bed. Of course, these are small ships so you're never very far from one of the two miniscule smoking areas. Oceania will put you off the ship at the next port at your own expense for getting home if they find out you've been smoking in your cabin or on the balcony. I imagine you'd get a warning first, but I don't know for sure.

[Phoenix cruiser]

After skimming the 130+ posts just wanted to add some facts (as opposed to ranting). As stated by a few posters, Oceania has been non-smoking except for a secluded area of the pool and one small indoor locale. It has been this way for years and has been succesfully implemented. On our O cruises we have been aware of people being reported for smoking in their cabins, as the policy is one reason people choose to sail on Oceania. On at least one cruise, after several repeated warnings a passenger was put off at the next port in addition to being charged for roomm cleaning to remove the smell. I find this similar to the policy at the large company I work for which has banned smoking on all company property. You can follow the rules or choose another locale. The point is that there is evidence already that a no smoking policy is enforceable.

[dfishner]

As a smoker I never smoked in my home nor have I ever smoked in a cabin on a cruise ship. I do enjoy smoking on the balcony over a cup of coffee in the morning. I can truly understand the not smoking in the cabin but to take the balcony away? it is Celebrity decision based on their survey and accept that, don't have to like it but also have the right where I spend my money. I am not angry just disappointed in the decision. I was really looking forward to sailing on the Soltice but will do something else instead.

[marle7]

Had they left the balconies alone, I probably would not have canceled. I was looking forward to our B2B on the Solstice as well.

 

As of this morning, my TA said about 20 people have canceled their Celebrity cruises, and the word is just getting out. I did ask her to make it very clear to Celebrity why we were canceling as well.

[Happy ks]

I applaud the decision.

 

Sure, there will be some cancellations, but I think that many people, like us for instance, will give Celebrity more consideration when booking. If they have a more stringent smoking policy, we would gladly pay more for their ships vs one that allows smoking on personal balconies.

 

If they make casinos non-smoking we will go in. For now, we avoid them like the plague. I'm thinking the non-smoking nights just are too new and too many people don't know about them, so just give it time.

 

Designated smoking cabins just won't work. They will be like hotel rooms, smokers for years have booked non-smoking rooms because they cannot stand the stench of a smoke permeated room, either.

[marle7]

I wonder how long it is going to take Celebrity to notify passengers (mainly in the UK) that have booked prior to this policy change that they will be offered the opportunity to cancel with full refunds :mad:

 

Not a happy bunny:(

 

You should probably call your TA if you used one or call Celebrity rather than waiting. What's worse, is that Celebrity lied not more than two weeks ago when they said they had no plans to change their policy.

[Happy ks]

Had they left the balconies alone, I probably would not have canceled. I was looking forward to our B2B on the Solstice as well.

 

As of this morning, my TA said about 20 people have canceled their Celebrity cruises, and the word is just getting out. I did ask her to make it very clear to Celebrity why we were canceling as well.

 

I think it will all even out. Those cabins will be re-sold to people who either are non-smokers or smokers who don't mind going to a non-smoking area to smoke.

[marle7]

I think it will all even out. Those cabins will be re-sold to people who either are non-smokers or smokers who don't mind going to a non-smoking area to smoke.

 

I'm not saying it won't. I do think you're going to see some good deals on cabins because they have to fill their ships. I also think there will be some dip in revenue. We had 3 royal suites booked to the tune of approximate $26,000. Plus our onboard account usually runs around 6k plus the money we drop in the casino. So I have no problem voting with my wallet and spending it elsewhere. Vacations aren't a necessity for me. I can also stay home, spend time at the cottage or travel in the RV, or simply choose another cruise line.

 

I've long said I don't have a problem with policies like these as long as I have enough notice that I can make an informed decision. In this case I could, and I did. I wish happy sailings to those who do sail with Celebrity. Life is too short to argue with people about this.:)

 

I do wonder if Celebrity plans on advising their booked customers. Most of them don't read these boards and it would be rather unfair and an umpleasant shock to some people when they arrive!

[herb]

Maybe Celebrity got the idea from Disney World. No smoking in the rooms or out on the balconies in any of their resorts. You need to go to a specified outdoor area to smoke.

[DrKoob]

We didn't like the lady on the next door balcony that fed the sea gulls and constantly shouted out JONATHON!jonathon Livingston Seagull Come eat!!Could we please get her banned.We would love not to have the balcony next to her again.When the life boat drill was called she again LOUDLY told her husband to hide the booze this is when they confiscate it.She was unbelievably lousy to be next to us.She said everything LOUDLY!I'm sorry for the people that booked balconies next to smokers .I personally think Celebrity is making a bad decision to ban smoking on all the balconies.We have had babies next door that cried loudly all the time.They were obviously colicky and could have ruined our trip.we didn't let them.Smokers have never ruined our trip but rude people have been on all of our trips.I just wish we had gotten one of the smokers surveys.Just my opinion.I wish we had been asked.We won't cancel our cruises.But again just wish we had been asked.Just scheduled our 8th Celebrity cruiser yesterday.Puts us into the elite class but they don't seem to care.I'd rather have smokers next door than some of the people we've had.We are disappointed with this decision and we try to love everybody!

 

Some people just don't get it. This quote is a perfect example. No, I would not wanted to have been next door to any of the people this person describes. But what you don't get (all of you that have posted about smoking doesn't really hurt anyone, or you can smell it at 18 knots, or it drifts away...is that there are people out there like me who smell one whiff and we get instant sinus headaches. Headaches so bad that we have to go to bed and lie there with a heated towel across our forehead for hours before it goes away.

 

On Century last November I had this happen almost every day on our balcony. I often wake up before my bride. I am a really early riser. Often at 4:30 or 5:00 am. I love to just quietly take my laptop and go out on our verandah and write. But on this cruise there were smokers on both sides of us and inevitably before 6:00 am one would be smoking. And if I didn't hear them come out and light up, I would be into headache mode within minutes.

 

Now granted, not everyone is like me. I got this after having both sinuses punctured in an accident when I was a teen. But there are others who have similar reactions. It's not just the fear of cancer from second hand smoke. It is real pain, right now!

[Cruisin Suzin]

As an ex smoker, and survivor of lung cancer...I say it can't come soon enough, really if you wanna keep cruisin, don't keep smoking..I personally was going to book my next cruise with Carnival, but I will run over to Celebrity, don't you remember when you could smoke in a movie theater thick with smoke even with young children sitting beside you, or a restaurant, I know ex smokers are the worst and for good reason, we know the pain of quitting this monster, and the pain of it's damage..I applaud Celebrity, and with all these sudden cancellations I'll be heading over within a week or so..Oh don't bother to flame me I've heard it all..and on the other hand it is your legal right to smoke, after all it's still a legally sold product which both governments are benefiting by..it's a product though that you cannot control where it's ingested, (as apposed to alcohol ) due to the drifting of it, and if you tried to tell me as a smoker how badly it smelled I would not have belived you, but man oh man it does...so things change and we all have to find compromise...you can still smoke, just not at your convenience, or at my expense..

[wckdtrix]

You should probably call your TA if you used one or call Celebrity rather than waiting. What's worse, is that Celebrity lied not more than two weeks ago when they said they had no plans to change their policy.

 

 

Exactly, This is the exact response I got from Celebrity on March 24th when I contacted them about cruise documents stating there was no smoking in the staterooms.

 

Thank you for your e-mail. We are happy to assist.

 

Celebrity Cruises has not changed the current smoking policy nor do we have

plans to do so in the future.

 

Unfortunately there was an error in the printing of the Guest Documents booklet

and we are working on getting that corrected.

 

 

Thank you for choosing Celebrity Cruises.

 

Constance Wood

Customer Service Representative

[csingle]

I know I'm the minority, but I won't be sailing Celebrity again!

[m steve]

Limiting smoking on balconies is just plain stupid. We'll sail in HAL or Princess. X's food and service has be declining recently and this is the final nail.

[esther e]

I'm wondering what the reaction was when ships announced no smoking in dining rooms? Was there the same "gee whiz" reaction as now? I'm sure it was difficult not to smoke with coffee after dinner, but somehow pax managed as I don't see empty dining rooms. This too, shall pass.

[Host Joe]

Some people just don't get it. This quote is a perfect example. No, I would not wanted to have been next door to any of the people this person describes. But what you don't get (all of you that have posted about smoking doesn't really hurt anyone, or you can smell it at 18 knots, or it drifts away...is that there are people out there like me who smell one whiff and we get instant sinus headaches. Headaches so bad that we have to go to bed and lie there with a heated towel across our forehead for hours before it goes away.

 

On Century last November I had this happen almost every day on our balcony. I often wake up before my bride. I am a really early riser. Often at 4:30 or 5:00 am. I love to just quietly take my laptop and go out on our verandah and write. But on this cruise there were smokers on both sides of us and inevitably before 6:00 am one would be smoking. And if I didn't hear them come out and light up, I would be into headache mode within minutes.

 

Now granted, not everyone is like me. I got this after having both sinuses punctured in an accident when I was a teen. But there are others who have similar reactions. It's not just the fear of cancer from second hand smoke. It is real pain, right now!

 

Jim, I am exactly like you and have similar reactions to smoke. Sinus headaches can be awful.

 

We are so pleased to not have to deal with the smoke on our balcony any longer as well as the many other areas of the ship. We will now book Celebrity 100% of the time instead of alternating between RCL, Princess and Celebrity. We will also now go and enjoy the casino where we would not before.

[Host Joe]

I'm wondering what the reaction was when ships announced no smoking in dining rooms? Was there the same "gee whiz" reaction as now? I'm sure it was difficult not to smoke with coffee after dinner, but somehow pax managed as I don't see empty dining rooms. This too, shall pass.

 

That is a very interesting thought.. I had not thought of that! We were not cruisers then, but I bet someone here remembers the reactions then!