Why does DCL allow smoking?

[justmestace]

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.

I wish I had your eyesight! Seriously. I wouldn't be able to see that far, even with my (tri-focal) glasses on.....usually there are too many people and tables with people at them, to see that far.

By the way...not that it matters, but I really dislike the smell of cigars and pipes. But if they're in the designated area, there's not much I can do. I see your point...and that's why restaurants (well, the laws changed) gave up smoking/non-smoking sections.....because it didn't really help at all.


Isn't the rule on cruise ships different for pipes and cigars? I was thinking that they were allowed on DCL only up by Remy on the newer ships, and someplace else on the older ships? Not sure about that one.

 

[Jillpie]

Ugh, I feel your frustration OP!! We paid tons of extra $$ back in 2006, only to open our wonderful verandah to smoking neighbors. We're booked in a verandah again in 2014, and my DH and I are in agreement, that if it happens again on day one, that we are going straight down to GS and ask to change our room. Way too expensive to waste it inside!!

 

[sambycat]

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.

seriously?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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.

Smoking will never be 100% banned. It's been tried, and didn't work.

I agree that smokers have every right to smoke in designated areas. Personally, I think an inside area (with special filters & air lock doors) to keep the smoke confined would work, as well as an outside area. Or the one side smoking, other side not. Or aft smoking and forward not. Whatever. I don't like smoke (notice I did not say I don't like smokers), but smokers have every right to smoke wherever they are allowed to. I just wish that it didn't intrude in my "space".

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wish I had your eyesight! Seriously. I wouldn't be able to see that far, even with my (tri-focal) glasses on.....usually there are too many people and tables with people at them, to see that far.

By the way...not that it matters, but I really dislike the smell of cigars and pipes. But if they're in the designated area, there's not much I can do. I see your point...and that's why restaurants (well, the laws changed) gave up smoking/non-smoking sections.....because it didn't really help at all.


Isn't the rule on cruise ships different for pipes and cigars? I was thinking that they were allowed on DCL only up by Remy on the newer ships, and someplace else on the older ships? Not sure about that one.

We were in port, and there weren't many people onboard. So I had a pretty clear view forward. And, my distance vision is super.

I don't know what the rules re: cigars & pipes on the classics, all I know is that particular day, there was a cigar being smoked on deck 9.

 

[ColonFamilia]

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.

According to the Center for Disease control, 49,000 people die each year as a direct result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

I won't bother to cut and paste quotes or provide links to studies documenting the dangers of secondhand smoke. The evidence is out there as is the evidence that the tobacco industry has known about the dangers of secondhand smoke since the 1980's but hid it.

I respect that your opinion is influenced by the fact that you are a smoker. I get it. People don't like being told what to do. They don't like control of their personal decisions taken away from them. On the same note, I don't like to be told what to do either. Someone smoking in a public area is essentially taking control and telling me that I have to leave because I value my health and well being and don't want their smoke blown on me. The difference is that it is scientifically proven that secondhand smoke is a health hazard, and therefore, the decision is no longer the smokers to make when they are subjecting others to harm against their wishes.

The advice to not confront smokers about perceived infractions of smoking areas is sound and I agree 100 percent. I also agree that as the rules for DCL currently allow smoking on balconies, us non smokers are forced to just deal with it as smokers are not breaking DCLs current rules by smoking on their balconies. I'll choose to deal with it by writing repeated complaints to DCL on the issue. I have no doubt that smoking on balconies will soon be banned on DCL. In the meantime, smoke them if you got them.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

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).

Handicapped Accessible balconies are hard enough to come by - let's not start designating half of them as non-smoking and the other half as smoking balconies.

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".

On the classic ships (Magic / Wonder) the very aft cabins on 6 and 7 are Handicapped accessible. It's bad enough that to get a verandah cabin on those ships we have to be at the very aft, now you want to make them smoking balconies as well?

One side of the ship or the very aft may work for some but it won't work for everyone - we're limited to only a few cabins on the ship as it is. I don't want to see further limits put on those who are in wheelchairs because they do or do not smoke.

 

[hmangus]

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 am a smoker and whenever I heard my neighbors out on the balcony I did not smoke even though the father was a cigar smoker. Asking a simple question is a lot easier than making complaints.

 

[JimGA]

Wow, I did not realize when I posted my rant/question it would get up to four pages.

But anyway, we were next to some nice people we chatted a few times so I am to blame for asking them to cut down their smoking, but I felt like I would be out of place to ask them to cut back, since it is their convience to do so. But they were excessive since at one point we were returning to our room and we could smell their cigarette smoke in the hallway of the ship outside of their room..

I am a person that can tolerate smoke, I actually don't mind the smell of a cigarette or cigar and I love the smell of a pipe, my father smoked cigars all my life, kind of soothing for me, but like I mentioned they were a little excessive, 2 rooms of smokers sharing one balcony.

But anyway, we wer rookie cruisers and this was our first cruise and we booked an aft room, 2 rooms from the back of the ship, but really that did not matter as we could be downwind from a smoker almost anywhere. Also, since it was a four night crusie I found that the ship did not move much, we maintained a "position" in the sea a lot, moving aimlessly is fuel and fuel is $$, so for at least 2 nights we did not have the benefit of a nice swift wind to blow the smoke away, lots of windless time.

But alas, I have learned my lesson regardless of whether or not DCL changes it smoking policy, we ar going to get an obstructed view verandha on our next cruise at the very fron of the ship with nothing but windows in front of us!

Already informed my travel agent to look for them for us next time, nice fresh air up front, even if they are below, above or next to us, they won't be in front of us.

 

[Lauriejl2]

I was told that DCL will never ban smoking .... They do realize all the complaints but they have a good amount of European travelers who are smokers moreso than Americans , so they will not ban it. I have a inside room booked for my cruise but I would not like bring on a balcony with smoke.... Too bad like someone else said they don't have smoking decks that would help some.

 

[dpuck1998]

While I don't smoke and dislike it as much as anyone, if it in a designated areas (even balcony) then what can you do? Complaining or asking to move when you booked a balcony isn't fair since you knew going in it was possible. It reminds me of the people that move near an airport or train tracks then complain about the noise....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

While I don't smoke and dislike it as much as anyone, if it in a designated areas (even balcony) then what can you do? Complaining or asking to move when you booked a balcony isn't fair since you knew going in it was possible. It reminds me of the people that move near an airport or train tracks then complain about the noise....

Except when you move in next to the airport or train tracks you know they are there when you make that decision. Just because you book a verandah doesn't mean for sure you will have smokers next door.

 

[CowboyPrincess]

According to the Center for Disease control, 49,000 people die each year as a direct result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

I won't bother to cut and paste quotes or provide links to studies documenting the dangers of secondhand smoke. The evidence is out there as is the evidence that the tobacco industry has known about the dangers of secondhand smoke since the 1980's but hid it.

I respect that your opinion is influenced by the fact that you are a smoker. I get it. People don't like being told what to do. They don't like control of their personal decisions taken away from them. On the same note, I don't like to be told what to do either. Someone smoking in a public area is essentially taking control and telling me that I have to leave because I value my health and well being and don't want their smoke blown on me. The difference is that it is scientifically proven that secondhand smoke is a health hazard, and therefore, the decision is no longer the smokers to make when they are subjecting others to harm against their wishes.

The advice to not confront smokers about perceived infractions of smoking areas is sound and I agree 100 percent. I also agree that as the rules for DCL currently allow smoking on balconies, us non smokers are forced to just deal with it as smokers are not breaking DCLs current rules by smoking on their balconies. I'll choose to deal with it by writing repeated complaints to DCL on the issue. I have no doubt that smoking on balconies will soon be banned on DCL. In the meantime, smoke them if you got them.

Your post was very nicely written. I don't have the energy to debate smoking on this forum as I debate it daily with my spouse. So I am glad you posted what you did since I feel the same. But I would like to add that when my young children are subject to second hand smoke I do become a mother bear and remove them from it .And wow does it stink to make them come in from their vacation. Lucky for us, smelling smoke on our veranda has happened just one night in 31 nights aboard a disney ship. Like many other controversial life choices, when you are not making the choice for yourself it is a lot hardener to handle. In this case the smoker always wins. if the air around them is clean or smoky they are okay. They have no complaints. The non smokers lose this battle. And while writing this I had a smoking battle with my
Spouse. This is battle that won't end I fear. But I do wish disney would ban smoking on the veranda's for the children if for nothing else.

 

[JimGA]

Except when you move in next to the airport or train tracks you know they are there when you make that decision. Just because you book a verandah doesn't mean for sure you will have smokers next door.

what more to say.

 

[Kendal]

I used to be smoker I do not persecute and I also do not like the smell anymore either.... Smokers are loseing their right day by day but I think maybe a compromise??? Maybe saveing the top two decks with verandah being smoking??? Maybe that could tend to help???,

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[JimGA]

I used to be smoker I do not persecute and I also do not like the smell anymore either.... Smokers are loseing their right day by day but I think maybe a compromise??? Maybe saveing the top two decks with verandah being smoking??? Maybe that could tend to help???,

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Never thought of that, nice idea. And the deck below would be discounted with a disclaimer?

 

[MillauFr]

Just go on the Alaska cruises that have a heavy percentage of travelers from the Pacific Northwest. I think only Utah has a lower percentage of smokers than Oregon/Washington/British Columbia. People around here smoke sometimes but it is usually not tobacco.

 

[Kendal]

I doubt that the deck directly below the two will be discounted but deffinetly a disclaimer... Discount does sound mice

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[ccole1111]

Smoker or non-smoker not everyone can afford to be in a verandah high up. The prices seem to increase the higher up you go.

 

[Kendal]

Not everyone can afford a verandah if u wanna break it down like that

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards