Why does DCL allow smoking?

[justmestace]

Just got off Fantasy last week. Had smokers down a few verandahs . I couldn't even enjoy my view outside without my inhaler. I spoke to guest services and they said they would send a " gentle reminder " letter. That didn't work at all. I will be writing Disney and asking them to put all smokers on the back of boat so their fumes don't bother us . For the amount of money we paid for 8 people we should not be " prisoners" in our cabin until my neighbors " burn one".

Since smoking IS allowed, what would Guest Services be able to do?


And again.....remember that those people paid a lot of money to use their balcony in any way that is allowed, too.

 

[holula]

I wish DCL would, if they are going to continue to permit smoking on balconies, restrict it to one side of the ship like the common areas. That way, smokers could choose a balcony on that side if they want to smoke, and those of us with severe allergies to smoke could make sure we pick the other side.

Everyone is happy (well, most people anyway).

This would be my suggestion too!

 

[justmestace]

The REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR NON-SMOKERS is that in the entire rest of the ship, there are only two smoking sections, and they are very easily avoidable.

 

[Tinksfriend2006]

Yes, we all pay extra for our balconies, however one smoking guest should not be allowed to ruin the experience for a non-smoking guest. Smoking is allowed up on some decks too. Therefore, when they need that smoke, they should go to the designated locations on the open decks. I actually wrote DCL after having a negative situation with next door neighbors smoking. The smoke can also be smelled in the cabins. This is NOT right! Some of us are allergic to this! I think people just need to be more considerate of others. I think if enough guests write DCL they will change the smoking policy.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

The REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR NON-SMOKERS is that in the entire rest of the ship, there are only two smoking sections, and they are very easily avoidable.

I agree.

Neither of us (DH and I) smoke. (He has asthma.) We've sailed DCL for 11 years, and smoke has never been an issue for us. Even on a verandah, with smokers next to us, the ship is moving too fast for it to annoy us. However, my husband has tremendous problems when walking through cosmetics departments with the fragrances everywhere. He can't go anywhere near fragrant candles either.

 

[PaceFamily]

Quick question. If there is a smoker next to you, have you ever asked them to not smoke while you were out there. There are many smokers that understand that not everyone likes it. Some smokers will actually "work" with you to maybe devise a time thing. But remember, they are allowed to smoke there. Maybe it would be nice if Disney created a "smoking floor" but for now this is a allowed practice.

 

[justmestace]

Quick question. If there is a smoker next to you, have you ever asked them to not smoke while you were out there. There are many smokers that understand that not everyone likes it. Some smokers will actually "work" with you to maybe devise a time thing. But remember, they are allowed to smoke there. Maybe it would be nice if Disney created a "smoking floor" but for now this is a allowed practice.

Yes, this has been talked about, and some people have done that, and have found that most of the smokers are usually more than happy to work with you.

 

[justmestace]

Yes, we all pay extra for our balconies, however one smoking guest should not be allowed to ruin the experience for a non-smoking guest. Smoking is allowed up on some decks too. Therefore, when they need that smoke, they should go to the designated locations on the open decks. I actually wrote DCL after having a negative situation with next door neighbors smoking. The smoke can also be smelled in the cabins. This is NOT right! Some of us are allergic to this! I think people just need to be more considerate of others. I think if enough guests write DCL they will change the smoking policy.

The thing is, the balcony is also a designated area.

I know I like to go out first thing with my coffee and have a cigarette before I take my shower and get dressed. And I know a lot of people do the same. After that, I have no problem going to the other designated areas.

 

[Plaid Princess]

Quick question. If there is a smoker next to you, have you ever asked them to not smoke while you were out there. There are many smokers that understand that not everyone likes it. Some smokers will actually "work" with you to maybe devise a time thing. But remember, they are allowed to smoke there. Maybe it would be nice if Disney created a "smoking floor" but for now this is a allowed practice.

I did try asking them to warn me if they were going to light up so I could close my door. I got a colorful response telling me to mind my own business, and that they were allowed to smoke on the balcony. My husband explained that we weren't asking them not to smoke, just to let us know if they were going to so we could remove ourselves from the equation. We got another colorful response and gave up.

I usually don't go for balconies, the one time I did it was pretty much unusable due to the smoking group next door. A big disappointment as it was our honeymoon and we weren't able to use the balcony at all.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR NON-SMOKERS is that in the entire rest of the ship, there are only two smoking sections, and they are very easily avoidable.

Yes, and no. On our last Wonder cruise (smoking area on deck 9 starboard side) someone was smoking a cigar. Yes, we could smell it all the way back to the Mickey Pool area where we were playing cards. I've also been on deck 4 starboard (non-smoking 6am-6pm) where people were still lighting up during the non-smoking hours.

Smoke, unfortunately, doesn't realize that it has lines that it has to stay within.

I wish they didn't allow smoking on verandahs, also, but I realize that smokers are entirely within their rights to do so. That's the biggest reason I don't get verandahs.

 

[mmmears]

I actually don't think it is fair at all. Smokers can enjoy their verandah at will while those who can't tolerate smoke for health reasons are not able to use ours unless our neighbors are not.

I totally agree.

I remember asking a CM at WDW years ago why they allowed smoking in the resorts when DL didn't and she defensively said it would never change. Well, she was wrong. And I hope DCL changes their smoking policy as well.

 

[lbgraves]

The REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR NON-SMOKERS is that in the entire rest of the ship, there are only two smoking sections, and they are very easily avoidable.

That is an improvement from when we first cruised with DCL. We stayed away from the adult clubs because we couldn't tolerate the smoke there. We had to leave one family activity there during the day because even though no one was smoking at the time, the smoke was still strong from the night before. Now we can enjoy going to the adult shows there and with everyone else.

Last cruise we had a verandah due to the price glitch opening day. We had smokers in the one room forward of us, but they weren't out there a lot. The one afternoon I planned to spend time out on the verandah doing my nails and reading for a little while before dinner I was chased off by CMs pressure washing the side of the ship. We didn't get any notice that this was going to be done. This was very aggravating!!! I wasn't the only one upset by the sudden blast of spray from the deck above. The CMs didn't seem to look to see if anyone was out on their verandah. The person below us had one of the extended ones and must have been sleeping on their lounger from what I heard them say. Yes, I know they clean the ship but if I had known this would be done I would have planned my afternoon differently.

 

[ColonFamilia]

I would hope that DCL eventually follows the trend of the rest of the world and restricts smoking on verandas. While smokers feel that they are within their rights to smoke in areas that it's not prohibited, there is a reason why virtually every public area has restrictions on smoking: passive smoking (i.e secondhand smoke) has been scientifically proven to subject nonsmokers to almost every illness and disease that smokers voluntarily put themselves at risk of falling prey to.

While, yes, smokers pay the same as nonsmokers for their verandas, the reality is that their smoke intrudes and trespasses on the verandas of those who don't smoke.

I like to very occasionally indulge in adult beverages. I can count on one hand how many times a year I do so. When I partake in my vice which I know is not healthy for me, I don't get behind the wheel of a car because I know that getting behind the wheel of that car subjects others who chose not to drink to the dangers that I voluntarily put myself at risk of. While it may seem like a dramatic comparison, they are not much different.


A veranda only has the illusion of being a private area. The moment that the public is subjected to what people do in their verandas those verandas should be considered public and regulated in the same manner as other public access areas.

For that reason, I believe that the days of veranda smoking are numbered. In the meantime, nonsmokers should suck it up (no pun intended) and deal with it by complaining repeatedly to DCL due to the public health hazard that passive smoking causes.

With all due respect and no ill will intended to smokers, their choice to smoke should not infringe on my right to be healthy. I don't feel it infringes on their personal liberty to tell them that they can't smoke in places where others are affected by their vice.

 

[justmestace]

That is an improvement from when we first cruised with DCL. We stayed away from the adult clubs because we couldn't tolerate the smoke there. We had to leave one family activity there during the day because even though no one was smoking at the time, the smoke was still strong from the night before. Now we can enjoy going to the adult shows there and with everyone else.

Last cruise we had a verandah due to the price glitch opening day. We had smokers in the one room forward of us, but they weren't out there a lot. The one afternoon I planned to spend time out on the verandah doing my nails and reading for a little while before dinner I was chased off by CMs pressure washing the side of the ship. We didn't get any notice that this was going to be done. This was very aggravating!!! I wasn't the only one upset by the sudden blast of spray from the deck above. The CMs didn't seem to look to see if anyone was out on their verandah. The person below us had one of the extended ones and must have been sleeping on their lounger from what I heard them say. Yes, I know they clean the ship but if I had known this would be done I would have planned my afternoon differently.

I always loved the aft balconies on Deck 8 on the "Classic" ships, but they always hosed off the outdoor buffet area right at about the time we were dressed for late dinner, and that's when I'd be out there taking pictures of the sunset on the water. And you're right....no warning.....

 

[PaceFamily]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=225

Balconies: Considerate smokers who want to least offend their neighbors should look at getting a balconied stateroom as far aft as possible since the smoke tends to drift back while the ship is underway. Conversely, sensitive non-smokers should look at booking their verandahs as far forward as possible, for the same reason. If that isn't possible, non-smokers need to adjust their balcony-use schedule or just tolerate the smoke.

Public Spaces: Most ships have designated smoking areas, usually on one side or another of the ship. If smoking is permitted on deck on the port side, that's where smokers should go to light up and where non-smokers should avoid sitting. You'd think that's pretty basic, but many a fight has started over cigarette smoke because one side or another is in the "wrong" space.

It's important to note that shipboard personnel cannot change policy. For example, they cannot and will not ask someone to stop smoking on that person's balcony (except on cruise lines where it's prohibited), but they can and will ask someone to move to a smoking area if that person is in one that is clearly non-smoking. Avoid confrontation; let the ship's personnel handle the asking.

 

[justmestace]

I like to very occasionally indulge in adult beverages. I can count on one hand how many times a year I do so. When I partake in my vice which I know is not healthy for me, I don't get behind the wheel of a car because I know that getting behind the wheel of that car subjects others who chose not to drink to the dangers that I voluntarily put myself at risk of. While it may seem like a dramatic comparison, they are not much different.

I'm glad that you don't drink and drive. I wish everyone felt that way.
But the sad truth is, some don't. Way way way way....(lots of way) more people have been killed by drunk drivers than those who have been killed by second hand smoke. In fact, I'm not sure if there's one true, defined, proven case where someone has died directly as a result of second hand smoke.
On a cruise ship, this is really neither here nor there. There's really no reason to even compare drinking and smoking when talking about cruising.
It's irritating that there are so many restrictions on smokers in public....taxes, etc.....but I can understand that others don't want to smell it, and it IS harmful to people with respiratory problems. But when it comes to actual true figures on which one causes more innocent deaths, there's no comparison. Using your logic, I'm not going to smoke a whole carton of cigarettes and get in my car and be so impaired that I kill someone. So in my opinion, liquor is FAR more dangerous to innocent people.

 

[justmestace]

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=225

Balconies: Considerate smokers who want to least offend their neighbors should look at getting a balconied stateroom as far aft as possible since the smoke tends to drift back while the ship is underway. Conversely, sensitive non-smokers should look at booking their verandahs as far forward as possible, for the same reason. If that isn't possible, non-smokers need to adjust their balcony-use schedule or just tolerate the smoke.

Public Spaces: Most ships have designated smoking areas, usually on one side or another of the ship. If smoking is permitted on deck on the port side, that's where smokers should go to light up and where non-smokers should avoid sitting. You'd think that's pretty basic, but many a fight has started over cigarette smoke because one side or another is in the "wrong" space.

It's important to note that shipboard personnel cannot change policy. For example, they cannot and will not ask someone to stop smoking on that person's balcony (except on cruise lines where it's prohibited), but they can and will ask someone to move to a smoking area if that person is in one that is clearly non-smoking. Avoid confrontation; let the ship's personnel handle the asking.

 

[justmestace]

Yes, and no. On our last Wonder cruise (smoking area on deck 9 starboard side) someone was smoking a cigar. Yes, we could smell it all the way back to the Mickey Pool area where we were playing cards. I've also been on deck 4 starboard (non-smoking 6am-6pm) where people were still lighting up during the non-smoking hours.

Smoke, unfortunately, doesn't realize that it has lines that it has to stay within.

I wish they didn't allow smoking on verandahs, also, but I realize that smokers are entirely within their rights to do so. That's the biggest reason I don't get verandahs.

Did you seriously walk all the way up to the smoking section to see if the person was smoking in the designated area?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Did you seriously walk all the way up to the smoking section to see if the person was smoking in the designated area?

No, I could see him. We were seated on the starboard side in the Mickey pool area and I could smell the cigar. I could just look down the deck and he was seated at the table closest to the dividing wall, smoking up a storm.

 

[justmestace]

Food for thought before I turn off the computer for the night:

If smoking were 100% banned because people can't stand the smell of it, or get sick from it (NOT including people with respiratory illnesses/issues) then are we also going to demand a ban on:

1. People who get in a crowded elevator who haven't bathed

2. Babies/toddlers with poopy diapers

3. Women/Men wearing too much perfume or cologne

4. Alcohol because you can smell it on someone's breath from 5 feet away

5. Elderly/infirm wearing Depends

I could go on, but I doubt it's necessary. Point is.....are we going to need the "Stink Police"?

Every one of the above makes me want to barf.
Remember, I said "except for people with illnesses".....smoking stinks...it truly does......but it is NOT going to kill anyone other than the person doing the smoking. Especially not during the length of a cruise.