Cruise Lines Restricting Smokers

[blessednxs65]

Going on a cruise anytime soon? Areas to enjoy a stick are shrinking.

 

[blooz4u]

I know this is a recent article, but we took our cruise almost 2 years ago, aboard the Carnival Conquest, and there was only one spot on the entire ship where I was able to smoke my cigars.

 

[cvm4]

I took a cruise on NCL last December. There was one cigar lounge on the ship and I could smoke on my balcony, though it's a no-no.

 

[dpricenator]

Margreeeettt!!!!

 

[Deemancpa]

I've been on about 6...I look for the cigar bar on my trips. D

 

[Cigary43]

The wisest thing to do is check with the Cruise Line and the ships that let you smoke on your balcony or have designated areas. We are big Cruise People and take 2 a year for the last 15 years...we are Princess Elite members and most of their ships have really nice lounges. We're taking one in Nov. on the Grand and it has a great lounge. Always double check the Cruise line before booking.

This might be of help for others:

http://cruisetalk.org/resources/smoking-policies

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Nothing new here, cigars and cruises have been a problem for a while; great advice above.

 

[CWS]

NCL had a nice lounge and allowed cigars on the fan tail. Smoked on the balcony regularly although FORBIDDEN. Piss on it.

 

[snooper800]

Most of the Princess ships have a nice cigar lounge/sports bar, the only problem is during playoffs non-smokers flock there to watch the game. I always time my smoke break to assure there is no crowd. I would never smoke in my cabin, and there is no real reason to smoke on your balcony if the lounge is open. More room, very nice seating options and a great little bar with real, honest-to-goodness cigar ashtrays.

 

[Cigary43]

Most of the Princess ships have a nice cigar lounge/sports bar, the only problem is during playoffs non-smokers flock there to watch the game. I always time my smoke break to assure there is no crowd. I would never smoke in my cabin, and there is no real reason to smoke on your balcony if the lounge is open. More room, very nice seating options and a great little bar with real, honest-to-goodness cigar ashtrays.

Your balcony is the perfect place when the crowds stroll in and take over...I love a balcony for the privacy. Probably the best lounge I have been on was the QM2..amazing. The Brits know how to do Cigar Lounges.

 

[snooper800]

Your balcony is the perfect place when the crowds stroll in and take over...I love a balcony for the privacy. Probably the best lounge I have been on was the QM2..amazing. The Brits know how to do Cigar Lounges.

I see your point, I've just had bad luck with complaints from non-smokers whenever I use the balcony. By policy, Princess never allowed cigars or pipes on balconys, just cigarettes but no one ever really enforced it unless there was a complaint.

 

[Cigary43]

I see your point, I've just had bad luck with complaints from non-smokers whenever I use the balcony. By policy, Princess never allowed cigars or pipes on balconys, just cigarettes but no one ever really enforced it unless there was a complaint.

I tend to get balconys at the aft end so the smoke isn't trailing back into the next cabin. I've had 'neighbors' who complained like crazy when I had balconys towards the front or middle...the cigar smoke would just linger and if they had their door open it would go inside of their cabin. I understand their feelings and try to oblige others when it comes to my smoking cigars so I try and get cabins towards the back. Princess is still one of those CruiseLines that will cater to pipe and cigar smokers by keeping their lounges in great shape. Here is one lounge on Princess on one of our cruises...spent a great deal of time in this one.

 

[Soundwave13]

I don't see how Carnival's policy has changed at all - seems like PR to please the non-smokers without actually changing anything - you can still smoke in half of the the casino, cigar bar, half of the upper deck & on your balcony. In fact, I think the only difference is that if you stink up your room they may charge you an extra cleaning fee. Sounds reasonable to me - I'll be cruising with Carnival again, the first chance I get!

 

[Bass man]

AFAIK, NCL still allows smoking in cabins. We always get one with a balcony & never had a problem.

 

[Jwrussell]

I so want to take a cruise. I'll be sure to do some real digging though based on this information. Cigar bars/lounges available are great, but if I can't smoke on my balcony or somewhere on the decks in the open air, I'll be looking for another ship. I love a herf as much as the next guy, but overall I'm a solitary smoker. Give me a good book, a good drink, a good cigar and the outdoors (shaded if hot) and I'm a happy guy.

Oh, and wouldn't even dream of smoking in the cabin. Why would I be in my cabin unless I was asleep anyway? :wink:

 

[Cigary43]

I don't see how Carnival's policy has changed at all - seems like PR to please the non-smokers without actually changing anything - you can still smoke in half of the the casino, cigar bar, half of the upper deck & on your balcony. In fact, I think the only difference is that if you stink up your room they may charge you an extra cleaning fee. Sounds reasonable to me - I'll be cruising with Carnival again, the first chance I get!

Carnival is one of the more conservative lines when it comes to smoking cigars on their ships and they are with others charging passengers if they smoke in their cabins when they aren't supposed to. A family next to us on one cruise was charged $250 on their account.

I so want to take a cruise. I'll be sure to do some real digging though based on this information. Cigar bars/lounges available are great, but if I can't smoke on my balcony or somewhere on the decks in the open air, I'll be looking for another ship. I love a herf as much as the next guy, but overall I'm a solitary smoker. Give me a good book, a good drink, a good cigar and the outdoors (shaded if hot) and I'm a happy guy.

Oh, and wouldn't even dream of smoking in the cabin. Why would I be in my cabin unless I was asleep anyway? :wink:

If you have never taken a cruise you are in for a real treat...there is a right way and a wrong way to cruise and depending on what you like doing it is IMO the best dollar for dollar vacation there is. Balconys provide that solitary experience of being able to smoke in privacy...and most cigar smokers tend to get the aft cabins so the smoke isn't bothering others.

There is a ton of info I can give to you that will make sure you enjoy your cruise..pricing, knowing the ins and out and how not to get taken advantage of...you don't have to spend a lot of money to get the same service where people pay 3X the amount.:cbig:

 

[Jwrussell]

Cool! :thumbsup: Not likely to happen any time soon, but it's definitely on the list.

 

[sean]

I so want to take a cruise. I'll be sure to do some real digging though based on this information. Cigar bars/lounges available are great, but if I can't smoke on my balcony or somewhere on the decks in the open air, I'll be looking for another ship. I love a herf as much as the next guy, but overall I'm a solitary smoker. Give me a good book, a good drink, a good cigar and the outdoors (shaded if hot) and I'm a happy guy.

Oh, and wouldn't even dream of smoking in the cabin. Why would I be in my cabin unless I was asleep anyway? :wink:

My sentiments exactly!

 

[TravelingJ]

There is a ton of info I can give to you that will make sure you enjoy your cruise..pricing, knowing the ins and out and how not to get taken advantage of...you don't have to spend a lot of money to get the same service where people pay 3X the amount.:cbig:

Hook us up!

I'm about to book a 10 day cruise on the Island Princess for a 10 day trip over New Year's Eve. Do you have any experience with that boat?

 

[hdroadglide]

i heard island princess was jwintosh's nickname.....