Carnival new smoking policy

[superkid]

The new smoking policy will be rolled out in two stages:
Effective June 15, 2011, cigarette smoking in public areas will be permitted only in Carnival’s dance clubs, designated areas within the casino and casino bar, certain sections on the open decks on all vessels and also in the jazz clubs on 13 Carnival ships. The 13 ships include Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Victory, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Splendor. Cigar smoking will also be permitted in the jazz clubs. On other vessels in the fleet, cigar (and cigarette) smoking will also be permitted in designated areas on deck.
Effective December 1, 2011, smoking will be prohibited in all guest staterooms. Those guests in balcony accommodations will be permitted to smoke cigarettes and cigars outside on the balcony. Spa staterooms, currently featured on Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic, will continue to remain entirely smoke-free, including on the balconies.

Past cruises
Carnival Paradise April 2005, Jan 2011
Monarch of the seas April 2006
Dawn Princess Sep 2006
Vision of the seas Dec 2008
Mariner of the seas March 2009
Majesty of the seas April 2010

Future Cruises
Carnival Inspiration Jan 2012
Carnival Splendor Dec 2012

[Trip]

This is the future. cities, are also changing their policies about smoking,and we can see things getting more stringent everywhere.

What did surprise me a bit, was that you must be gambling to smoke in the designated area in the casino. So, if you walk through and see a friend to kibitz,and light up..you better reconsider,or plunk yourself at a slot machine fast, as this will be monitored.

It'a a good thing for most cruisers though, at least in my book.

[Queen of Oakville]

We don't book balcony rooms, but I can totally see how someone who does would be bothered by paying for a premium room, and then being unable to enjoying their balcony if there is a smoker outside around them. Looks like that is not going to change. I wonder if they could keep the port side smoking and the starboard side non-smoking? I wonder if that would work?

I can honestly say that we have never been bothered by the smell of smoke in a cabin. We've always either been lucky to follow a non-smoker, or the crew has done a stellar job of cleaning.


Then only thing that really bugs me is the casino (and this holds true for Vegas tooo). The non-smoking sections are generally right beside the smoking sections, so you can still have a smoker right beside you. Usually, though there is some logistical configuration that permits an advantageous seat.

This was one of my bigger complaints about HAL. They don't have non-smoking sections in their casino. I be on a lucky streak, and then one or more smokers would sit down, and I'd be forced to leave. (I do recall that there were non-smoking tables on Carnival Dream - although they were intermittently placed among the smoking tables rather than being clustered together).

[briguy]

Carnival rarely enforces anything..ie chair hogs, dress code, seat saving, etc. What gives anybody the impression that the smoking rule will be enforced?

[fun2cruiz]

Folks in reality CCL is just making a change to the smoking in staterooms being eliminated in Dec. and a minor change in the casino (btw, If I see anyone in the casino I want to chat with and include smoking a cigarette, I surely will not feel that I am required to gamble !)....nothing else really is changing.

[flowers]

Originally Posted by fun2cruiz

Folks in reality CCL is just making a change to the smoking in staterooms being eliminated in Dec. and a minor change in the casino (btw, If I see anyone in the casino I want to chat with and include smoking a cigarette, I surely will not feel that I am required to gamble !)....nothing else really is changing.

Its a little more, .... no smoking any more in the cigar bar or the sports bar or the piano bar ..I was happy with the policy before. If it aint broke, dont fix it. Oh well.

[KayAnnie]

I can see how it would be frustrating to try and constantly keep the smoke smell out of the cabins where people smoked, so I certainly understand this. Also, the piano players having trouble with all the smoke, so it makes sense. I certainly wouldn't begrudge smokers their cigar lounge though, so that one was weird to me.

[badknees]

Imagine you are a non-smoker. You and your sweetie decide to have a special dinner outside on your balcony. You are just toasting with a glass of champagne. The guy on the next balcony decides it's a great time to light up that great cigar he's been saving for smoking during a gorgeous sunset.
What was Carnival thinking?

[ruthlessboss]

Originally Posted by badknees

Imagine you are a non-smoker. You and your sweetie decide to have a special dinner outside on your balcony. You are just toasting with a glass of champagne. The guy on the next balcony decides it's a great time to light up that great cigar he's been saving for smoking during a gorgeous sunset.
What was Carnival thinking?

The odds of your scenario are slim, especially with a cigar, don't fret over it.

[Dwayne]

The biggest problem I have with this new Policy is on the Fantasy Class ships. This new Policy virtually eliminates most night time entertainment venues for smokers. They eliminated the Piano Bar, another Bar, and the Aft Bar which was used as a Cigar Bar (and also as by some as a Sports Bar).

The only thing left is the Night Club (Disco) or a small area of the Casino. I am getting too old for the Disco and the music, and the Casino Bar doesn't have many stools in the designated smoking area and doesn't have a good view of any TV for sports. This went way too far on that particular class of ships.

Also, some of those ships don't have Balconies other than the Suites.

[Queen of Oakville]

no cigars in the ciagar lounge????

Dwayne - one is never too old for the disco!



I've posted on so many of these threads here and i forget what I've said where. (do we really need this topic on every sub-forum?).

I can't see why a non-smoker would ever book a balcony now, if the only place the smokers can smoke is on their balconies. I don't book balcony suites, so this really doesn't affect me .... but is there a reason they can't make one side of the ship smoking balconies, and the other side of the ship non-smoking?

[Dwayne]

Originally Posted by Queen of Oakville

Dwayne - one is never too old for the disco!

I might break something doing my Saturday Night Fever and Billie Jean moves.

I really think they will re-visit this when they the see revenue impact. Especially on the Fantasy Class ships.

[nlb1050]

To me the worset part of this new policy is getting rid of the cigar bars. I am a smoker who has never smoked in our cabin, just way to small and we do not get balcony cabins so that is not an option for me. So mainly I just go to the area on the pool deck, but I can see that with having had problems in the past with finding a seat that it will probably be even worse now. And Ifor one sure hope I do not run into a nonsmoker in this area who want s to complain about the smoke, which has happenned on almost every cruise I have been on.

[Luanne Russo]

I am also a smoker, and have gone out of my way to avoid causing smoke to get anywhere near a non smoker, but I agree the balcony thing will probably be a problem for some. We never smoked on the balcony, because of smoke blowing on others near by, and because the ash can sometimes get caught up with the wind, and blow back on another balcony.

My personal opinion is that I rent that room for the week, or two, and I should be able to relax in that room, the way I see fit. If Carnival doesn't want me to rent, then I will just go some place else.

It is up to them...

[Trip]

My Mother used to say this all the time....don't cut your nose off, to spite your face.

Anyone can choose to spend their cruise dollars where they wish, just realize that the smoking area on your other choice of ships, could be even more restrictive. So the lesser of all the evils, is where smokers might end up, but, at a higher cost in cruise fare,or become a non cruiser. It is just way way it is. Btw, I am an ex smoker.

[conway scott]

Everyone knows where this will all end. Someday there will be no smoking at all on cruise ships. Untill then, I am a non smoke but I have no problem with people smoking out on deck or in the designated areas. I just avoid those area. I guess I feel that smokers also have rights..............

[Kuki]

It's somewhat funny that all Carnival Corp. companies, Carnival, HAL and Princess all made the announcement the same time.

On my last couple of cruises on HAL the casino was designated non-smoking on formal nights. On those nights the casinos were very quiet.

It will be interesting to see how the change in policy affects the various lines. HAL for example, never has a very active night life, so the affect there may be minimal. A bit of a similar situation with Princess.

Carnival MAY find that their bars are busier without smoke floating around. The reaction should be easily and quickly ascertained.

Carnival Corp. obviously believes they can alienate 20% of their customer base, and replace them by attracting a larger segment of the remaining 80%.

Personally, I think NCL has it right. Smoking allowed in cabins and on balconcies, with the remainder of the ship (indoors) with the exception of the casino designated totally non-smoking, and restricted outdoor areas for smokers. (However though I haven't sailed her, I guess the design of the Epic's casino allows smoke to spread throughout too many public areas).

Being in the 20% group, we'll have to wait and see how these changes affect my cruising choices.

[Trackypup]

BY Kuki: Carnival Corp. obviously believes they can alienate 20% of their customer base, and replace them by attracting a larger segment of the remaining 80%.


John Heald yesterday said 10% of their clients smoked.

[RTALLEN]

The smokers vs. non-smokers debate (including where smokers can smoke) will never be settled to everyone's satisfaction, whether it's on a cruise ship or on land (i.e. New York City). If a cruise line had two identical ships with identical itineraries, one that was for smokers only, and one that was completely non-smoking ( tried and failed on Carnival Paradise), which one would be more successful? I am a smoker, and if I want to continue cruising, I have to accept the new policies. While there are many hotels and motels that are strictly non-smoking, there are also some that do allow smoking in designated rooms. Perhaps designating rooms on one side of the ship for smoking and one side for non-smoking would be a compromise. I wonder if the cruise lines would be willing to do this.

[Trip]

Am I getting old, or, do I remember they tried that or something on that idea, at one point? NCL, maybe?

[Luanne Russo]

Originally Posted by Trip

My Mother used to say this all the time....don't cut your nose off, to spite your face.

Anyone can choose to spend their cruise dollars where they wish, just realize that the smoking area on your other choice of ships, could be even more restrictive. So the lesser of all the evils, is where smokers might end up, but, at a higher cost in cruise fare,or become a non cruiser. It is just way way it is. Btw, I am an ex smoker.

Trip, I agree with you and your mother. It is always best when you have a back up plan, and I hope Carnival has one. My dollars and any of your dollars, are very valuable these days. The world is wide open to venture to see. If Carnival wants my dollars, they will have to provide for my needs as well as all of yours. It would be stupid to cruise, or take any vacation where you could not be yourself, as long as it is legal.

I don't need Carnival, although it is the only cruise we have taken, but Carnival needs me, and many of you who smoke, and spend money. 10% sounds low, but it could be. I guess we will have to see, how many people crowd into the few areas, where it is going to be allowed.

[Trip]

Luanne, indeed smokers are being squeezed,and we all often see smokers crowded around in the cold getting a puff in. Do I agree that all smoking outlets should be banished, no I don't.


The no smoking policy in general for all places, will only get more stringent as the years pass. The cruise lines are providing people with smoking areas, albeit a much smaller one. The best solution as they see it, but obviously not for many. The percentages are in their favor,to my mind.

[Luanne Russo]

Which is fine with me Trip. I never once complained about the restricted areas of a cruise ship. That would be terribly arrogant of me, but when they restrict my room, that I have paid for, then I will move on.

I wish them the very best, because they have been a wonderful cruise line for my family.

[Trackypup]

Originally Posted by Luanne Russo

Which is fine with me Trip. I never once complained about the restricted areas of a cruise ship. That would be terribly arrogant of me, but when they restrict my room, that I have paid for, then I will move on.

I wish them the very best, because they have been a wonderful cruise line for my family.

Just curious, do you feel the same way about hotel chains in the US? Marriotts, Starwoods? aren't they all 100% non-smoking now? Or do you just pick hotels that still allow you to smoke in their rooms.

[Luanne Russo]

I pick places that allow smoking in the rooms. As with cruise ships there are choices.

FYI I love Carnival, and will not say bad things about them, as they have been good to us, as we have to them. I do not say bad things about people who want smoking banned on cruise ships, or anywhere else.

It's kind of funny, that smoking was banned on airlines, and then fat people were charged more for being bigger than people thought they should be. Yes, I am glad there is no smoking on planes. but I am not on there for 7 days, so it is different.

Boy is that going to be a good thread, when Carnival decides that Fat people need to be charged more.

Have a great cruise everyone.

[Manuel]

If Carnival becomes 100% smoke-free I might consider cruising on one of their ships again.

TM

[Trip]

Manuel, I think after Paradise not doing what they thought, your wait will be a long one. Squeezing the smokers into small spaces, and possibly smaller spaces is I bet, as far as they can go.

But, you do sail on ships that have smoking, so maybe giving Carnival a chance, would be a good choice again.

[ruthlessboss]

Originally Posted by Manuel

If Carnival becomes 100% smoke-free I might consider cruising on one of their ships again.

TM

So, I guess you don't cruise?

[Trackypup]

Originally Posted by Luanne Russo

I pick places that allow smoking in the rooms. As with cruise ships there are choices.

FYI I love Carnival, and will not say bad things about them, as they have been good to us, as we have to them. I do not say bad things about people who want smoking banned on cruise ships, or anywhere else.

It's kind of funny, that smoking was banned on airlines, and then fat people were charged more for being bigger than people thought they should be. Yes, I am glad there is no smoking on planes. but I am not on there for 7 days, so it is different.

Boy is that going to be a good thread, when Carnival decides that Fat people need to be charged more.

Have a great cruise everyone.

You can compare the two. Airlines charge overweight people that need two seats. It's like you bring 25 suitcases on a cruise and need an extra cabin to store your stuff.

[badknees]

While we are non-smokers I don't begrudge smoking areas, too much. But what I have found is that we can't participate in many night clubbing type activities because we simply can't stand the smoke. I don't mind so much in the casino because that's the way any casino I've ever been in is. I don't spend that much time in the casino.
I think they need the smokers though because they seem to be the ones who spend the most money on drinks and in the casino.
I just wish there was no smoking in the cabins and on the balcony. We really enjoy the balcony.