Smoking policy on Princess Ships: In particular the Crown Princess

[abcten]

So potentially 18% of the cruise population (smokers) could run from RC / X to Princess ..........while 82% of the population (non-smokers) could run from Princess to RC / X. :D Wouldn't take long for Princess and the rest of them to figure out those numbers. ;)

 

You make a really good point here, chasetf. I really think Princess may have made a strategic mistake in refusing to budge to make their smoking policy more restrictive. They may be at a fork in the road.

 

One, they can hope to catch up now and quickly match or exceed their competitors in making their smoking policy more restrictive.

 

Or, two, they can continue their non-smoker unfriendly approach by refusing to make their smoking policy more restrictive. If they go this route, they will be swimming upstream against population demographics since 80% don't smoke. Choosing this route, I think, means they will have to target more of a niche market. They could rebrand themselves as a line that panders to smokers. Or, perhaps, they could try to broaden their appeal somewhat to try and capture the market in regards to smoking and other vices and unseemly behavior.

 

Because Princess is a large line, I imagine they will follow the first option above. They just can't afford to turn their backs on the demographics. However, I wouldn't be surprised to find some smaller line take the approach of option 2 above. I would be in favor of it actually as it would then better isolate smoking and other unseemly behavior on one cruise line.

 

All of this is somewhat temporary. As the overwhelming medical evidence on the dangers to non-smokers caused by smokers and their second hand smoke becomes more widely known and accepted, the level of anger among non-smokers will grow exponentially. The level of restrictions we see today is mere child's play compared to what is inevitably on the horizon. The end result will be the elimination of smoking. It's not if but when. I think the best way to reach that inevitable end would be through taxation. I would support an annual and recurring 25% increase in taxes on tobacco products. In a few short years all the angst about smoking would vanish into thin air...as would smokers. :)

[Host CJSKIDS]

We were on the Crown last April and did not smell a problem with smoke in our cabin, but did have a problem on our balcony with second hand smoke. On the first day one person was smoking a cigar, but thankfully, it was just the first day. The Patter informs passengers that cigar smoking is not allowed on the balconies, and is only allowed in the cigar bar. Perhaps the cigar smoker from day 1 read the message and went to the cigar bar from then on.

 

Unfortunately, the ship does allow cigarrette smoking on the balconies, and we had to deal with it the entire cruise. Allergies make a lot of people very sensitive to smoke from others. I am guessing that smokers believe if they are on the balcony, it is outside and the wind will carry it away and not bother others. Let me tell you, it does bother others. Many smokers say just tell us and we will be agreeable to move, but my experience has been the opposite when trying to ask for cooperation. On my last cruise it was an easy matter of switching to the other side of the pool, and the smoker refused. He even returned the next day to the same deck chair, knowing the port side was for smokers. I wish I had the answer....

 

I have my patters here from both last spring and this past spring on the Crown and it doesn't state that you can't have cigars on the balconies. The only public place that you can smoke cigars is the Speakeasy lounge. The patters only discuss the public places where you can smoke/not smoke, they don't discuss your cabins or the balconies. And from what we've been told you can indeed smoke a cigar on your balcony and inside your cabin. Can't imagine what the cabin would smell like or why anyone would do that, but Princess does allow it.

[Colo Cruiser]

The Patter informs passengers that cigar smoking is not allowed on the balconies, and is only allowed in the cigar bar.

 

I agree this is not true. :)

[Northender]

abcten - glad to see you joined us on CC June10th. You have posted 6 times in 24 hours with 5 of those posts regarding smoking.

 

You certainly have made your point to smokers how you feel. I personally would like to know how you feel about cruising, etc.

 

In any event, welcome to the forum.:)

[abcten]

In any event, welcome to the forum.:)

 

Thank you for the warm welcome. Glad to be here. :)

[teripp]

I don't -- I really just want smoke-free meals and a smoke-free balcony. I'm not actively looking for a smoke-free cruise. There are a lot more pro-non-smoker policies out there than Princess...and I'm still sailing Princess.

 

You got the restaurants being smoke free and the theatres and most inside activities. I say the balconies should allow smoking.

[MaryPoppinz]

I say the balconies should allow smoking.

 

As long as you don't cause my baloncy to have any cigarette odor, I'm fine with you smoking on your balcony. I wouldn't dream of creating an odor on my balcony that you could smell on yours, and I think it's reasonable to expect you not to create odors that transmit to my balcony.

[tully07]

I'm just back from the Island Princess -- the shipboard smoking policy was outlined in the "Welcome Aboard" Patter. Smoking areas were:

 

Deck 6: Princess Casino (except the non-smoking table), Explorer's Lounge portside aft

Deck 7: Outside deck port side; Wheelhouse Lounge port side forward area; Churchill Lounge, Crooner's Bar port side area

Deck 14: Port side area -- and all open decks on the Post side area.

 

As for smoking in your cabin: "If you smoke, please use the ashtrays provided for your stateroom or balcony and ensure that your cigarette is fully extinguished. Please do not smoke in bed or throw any cigars or cigarettes over the ship's side".

 

Truthfully, I smelled cigarette smoke about 3 times during the week -- there just didn't seem to be many smokers around. Both my daughter and I have asthma so we were a bit concerned about it - but not enough to stay away from cruising! ;)