Smoking on Verandahs????

[brianvdb]

Rather than designating the port or starboard side as OK for smoking, wouldn't it make more sense to put the smoking cabins aft? After all, unless it is in port, the ship is moving forward most of the time, right?

 

[geekmommy]

Great idea, brianvdb!

I know these ships tend to be full, but what are the chances of getting moved if there's a big problem? We got a verandah room b/c DH is claustrophobic, but I'll be quite irritated if it's like sitting in a bar.

 

[justmestace]

While not totally non smoking, Celebrity, a mass market line, is very restrictive on smoking. No smoking in cabins, on any verandas, casino, etc. Smoking is limited to a few areas, easily avoidable if smoke bothers you. Two deluxe lines, Oceania and Azamara also restrict smoking to limited areas ad do not allow smoking in any cabins or verandas. They're all doing just fine filling cabins. You would think DCL, catering to families and children would follow suit....


BTW, Carnival who abandoned it's non smoking policy on the Paradise, is re-introducing a strict non smoking policy in spa cabins on ITS Dream and Magic ships. When you book one of these spa cabins you are advised that smoking is not allowed in the spa area, the cabins or verandas. You are advised that violations result in fines of $250.00. Certainly if Carnival can afford to do this, DCL can.

I just got off the Carnival Spirit a week ago, and there was no smoking in any stateroom, or other inside areas at all, except for the casino and one or two bars. It was the same on the Elation last year, too.
I'm thinking ALL of the cruise lines have made the staterooms non-smoking.

Funny....I'd never even heard of Azmara before, and they were in port with us in Cabo. We ended up at a resort that quite a few of the crew from the Azmara ship were at. They all (almost all) chain-smoked and told us that Azmara was a "party ship". Sure sounded like they were having a great party at their Cabo sailaway.

 

[Dizzyworld]

Your chances are not good of getting moved, we tried it. We must have bad karma. Twice we had a verandah, twice we had a major cigar smoker in our area. The people seemed to spend their weeks on their verandah. It was so bad on our second cruise that DCL gave us an air purifier for our cabin for the week since the smell kept coming in our cabin even with the door closed, and DCL kept spraying the cabin with something too. These two things did help save us inside our cabin.

The smell of the cigars makes me very nauseous, plus we also had a medical issue but there was no place to move us. Sadly we no longer even attempt a verandah. It was a big waste of money to us.

And with the new ships having cigar bars, or whatever it is called, I'm hoping it attracks people to go there instead of purchasing more for their cabins. Cigars are one thing I do wish they would ban on cruises. IMO.

Anyway chances are you will be fine.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

First, I do not like the smell of smoke. It really annoys me and I'd love to see a non-smoking ship but realize that it's not economicall feasible for DCL or most other cruise lines.

That said, I have not had any issues on DCL with smokers on the verandahs. And we spend a lot of time on our verandah! Honestly, a child does not even spend that much time on the verandah. In my experience, the kids around us would come out for a less than a minute or two and then head back inside.

Yes, there is a chance you might encounter a neighbor who smokes. If that concerns you, then I would agree with the PP's who suggested that you not book a verandah. There are plenty of public areas outdoors where smoking is not allowed. Try to book a room that makes it relatively easy to enjoy one of the public open deck where smoking is prohibited.

Now Deck 4 is another story. Smokers aren't suppossed to smoke during certain hours for the courtesy of walkers/runners who are exercising. It seemed like that rule was overlooked by many smokers on our last cruise.

 

[amylia403]

We actually only booked the verandah because we called and spoke to a Disney Cruise Line Cast member who assured us they were smoke free. We'l probably try to swap rooms just in case though. As for the responder who asked how we deal with my son's attacks and that he can't be "that alergic". I would love to send you some of our hospital bills to show you that yes he is THAT alergic. We are careful when we go out to parks and other areas to note smoking areas ahead of time and avoid them.

 

[inkkognito]

DCL is much, much better than RCCL for non-smokers and has gotten progressively more restrictive over the years. Remember when they used to allow smoking in the clubs, even during the shows? I could barely make it through things like Match Your Mate in Rockin' Bar D/Wavebands because the smoke never honored the invisible line between the smoking and non-smoking sections. You can still smell the smoke in Diversions and Cadillac Lounge, even though it was stopped long ago.

But with that said, many of the RCCL ships allowed smoking just about everywhere when we did four cruises (each on a different RCCL ship) a few years back. I am allergic to smoke and ended up medicated and miserable for most of our cruise on Sovereign of the Seas. On DCL you can at least get away from it in the interior areas now.

I hate it anywhere around me and especially hate having smokers as verandah neighbors, but I cannot say they are rude because they are following the rules. As a matter of fact, when we were at Cookies Too there were several smokers standing right by the entrance to the covered seating area and I mentally pegged them as rude...till I saw that DCL had set up a smoking area with ashtray right there! That's DCL's poor judgment, not the smokers' fault. They would never make one whole side of the ship verandahs smoking because it would be the same as smoking/non-smoking in restaurants. Smokers will sit in non-smoking and hold off, but most nons I know will NOT sit in smoking. Neither would they book a verandah in smoking onces the nons have sold out. And non would indeed sell out first because only 25 percent of the population smokes.

 

[justmestace]

We actually only booked the verandah because we called and spoke to a Disney Cruise Line Cast member who assured us they were smoke free. We'l probably try to swap rooms just in case though. As for the ignorant responder who asked how we deal with my son's attacks and that he can't be "that alergic". I would just love to send you some of our hospital bills to show you that yes he is THAT alergic. We are careful when we go out to parks and other areas to note smoking areas ahead of time and avoid them. Clearly you've never had a sick child.

It's sad to read how many times people have been misled by CM's on the phone who don't know their "stuff". It's like calling the IRS for help or info and hearing their recording that says they aren't responsible for incorrect information. If THEY don't know, who does???

 

[Nevada]

Maybe 25% of ppl smoke but I think the DCL crowd percentages is much much lower.

 

[brianvdb]

Maybe 25% of ppl smoke but I think the DCL crowd percentages is much much lower.

Problem is that many families/travelling parties have a member that smokes - leaving that family member or friend behind may be a dealbreaker for some folks.

For example, if grandma smokes and DCL doesn't allow smoking, do you leave her behind or do you choose another cruiseline that your whole family can enjoy?

On the flipside, the number of non-smoking guests who see a "limited smoking allowed" ship as a dealbreaker is much smaller.

 

[grits98]

We actually only booked the verandah because we called and spoke to a Disney Cruise Line Cast member who assured us they were smoke free. We'l probably try to swap rooms just in case though. As for the ignorant responder who asked how we deal with my son's attacks and that he can't be "that alergic". I would just love to send you some of our hospital bills to show you that yes he is THAT alergic. We are careful when we go out to parks and other areas to note smoking areas ahead of time and avoid them. Clearly you've never had a sick child.

I'm sorry your son has such an awful reaction to smoke. That must be really difficult and scary for all of you. I hope that, with time and age, maybe he can slowly grow out of it.

.

 

[charlenek421]

I just so happened to see this post and because I can relate I felt I could respond with my opinion. My son has severe nut allergies and if exposed can be life threatening. I can understand asking about the smoking because of your child's situation, but to criticize those isn't fair. Obviously as a parent you want to protect your child and it's your job to do that. But in this case, even if the cruise lines banned smoking on the verandahs, there is no guarantee that someone unaware of your Childs condition wouldn't break the rule so it seems careless to even book a verandah room at all. My son is at risk everyday of his life for the rest of his life and I have to make the adjustments, not everyone else. We will be at dinner with people eating foods that would harm my son and I have to keep those things away from him. I have to check ingredients in the food he eats daily because I can't expect people to rid the world of nuts for my son and others like him. In my dream world nuts wouldn't exist and there would be no threat to my child and i am sure in yours smoking wouldn't exist either. But unfortunately for us that place doesn't exist here on Earth and we have to find ways to deal with their allergies, teach them how to handle their allergy as they grow up and pray that God will protect them.

 

[KingRichard]

Sorry about your child's health issue, but as it is obvious that you have internet then you only needed to check DCL web site.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/health-safety/smoking/

 

[diznefamily]

I am not a smoker, however my husband does enjoy a cigar nightly on vacation. I believe since most of the year he is over in Afghanistan fighting for everyones right to discuss this, then he should have the right to enjoy his vacation if it is permited by Disney. We book a balcony for this very reason. He does not complain that he is risking his life daily to protect America.

 

[sunkisser]

We actually only booked the verandah because we called and spoke to a Disney Cruise Line Cast member who assured us they were smoke free. We'l probably try to swap rooms just in case though. As for the ignorant responder who asked how we deal with my son's attacks and that he can't be "that alergic". I would just love to send you some of our hospital bills to show you that yes he is THAT alergic. We are careful when we go out to parks and other areas to note smoking areas ahead of time and avoid them. Clearly you've never had a sick child.

I have edited my post and I apologise if I came across as rude or doubting. That really was not my intention. I will choose my words more carefully in future. How I intend to come across is not always read in the same way as I mean it to. Sorry for any offence caused x

 

[Hazydavy]

I just got off the Carnival Spirit a week ago, and there was no smoking in any stateroom, or other inside areas at all, except for the casino and one or two bars. It was the same on the Elation last year, too.
I'm thinking ALL of the cruise lines have made the staterooms non-smoking.

Funny....I'd never even heard of Azmara before, and they were in port with us in Cabo. We ended up at a resort that quite a few of the crew from the Azmara ship were at. They all (almost all) chain-smoked and told us that Azmara was a "party ship". Sure sounded like they were having a great party at their Cabo sailaway.

Of the major mass market lines,Holland America, NCL and Princess all allow smoking in cabins.

I haven't sailed on Azmara so I don't know how much of a "party ship" it is, certainly not their reputation, but they currently have the most restrictive smoking policy, limiting smoking to only one outside area. No smoking inside at all.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Disney does a lot of European and South American business.. The "anti smoking" campaign in other parts of the world seems to have a lot less "zeal" Disney isn't giving up that $$$.

 

[Weedy]

The smoking debate does continue. Where do your rights end and mine begin. I am going on the Alaskan cruise and have paid extra $$$ for an balcony room. When we are cruising by the glaciers and I want to be on my balcony, should it be ruined by having my neighbor smoke a cigarette or even worse a cigar.

 

[drparoo]

Another option is to knock on your neighbor's doors on the cruise, introduce yourself, explain your son's situation, ask if they smoke, and see if you can work out some kind of agreement about when they will or won't smoke on the verandah. Many smokers know that it can be a problem but if they know it's a real medical situation, they might be even more willing to hold off on the verandah.

I don't know....it's another option if you want to keep the verandah. But as a mother of three, I would be worrying about it non-stop until the time of the cruise like you are. So sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[MrsMinease]

I love drparoo's suggestion. DH and I don't smoke cigarettes, but love to have nightly cigars when we're on vacation in a warm climate. We have a verandah room for that very reason... DS can be sleeping, and we can enjoy a cigar and some wine on the verandah.

As much as we're looking forward to our nights on the verandah, if someone in a close-by cabin politely alerted us to a medical issue related to the smoking, we'd happy find a compromise with them.