Wonder Deck 8 Port side Forward -- is smoke from Deck 9 a problem?

[barney4liz]

Given that it is so close to the smoking area?

 

[GPaLarry]

Depends on your cruise. If you are moving it probably won't be a problem. However, we went to Alaska a couple of years ago and had verandah rooms 8004 & 8006, directly below the smoking section. It was no bother to us until, until we got to the glacier viewing day. We cruised in and came to a stop. The weather was overcast and dead calm. We opened our door to go out on the verandah and, yikes, everything was covered with white stuff and you could smell smoke. The white stuff was ash and, when I looked up, there were people leaning on the rail smoking their brains out and flipping their cigarettes. Our daughter's adjoining stateroom verandah was covered with ash, too. I immediately called guest services and they said they would help. They didn't clean our decks but they did put up a barrier in the smoking area so that smokers couldn't get to the railing...the smoke still came down as the Wonder turned with our side toward the glacier. There was no wind to help. Later, GS sent us a bottle of wine, I guess, as a peace offering. The rest of the cruise went along fine because the wind cleaned the deck and kept the smoke above us. I don't know why they don't move smokers to the rear of the ship or the engine room...anywhere but where they are. The smoking statement says something like, "for the convenience of all of our guests, we have designated smoking, areas etc." It should say, "for the convenience all of our guests we must inconvenience some our guests by allowing smoking, etc."
We will never get staterooms near/below that area of the Wonder or Magic again, no matter what the cruise. Maybe DCL will eventually go to a "no smoking" policy. Let the smokers do it in port or pick another cruise line.

 

[barney4liz]

That is EXACTLY what I was concerned about. We are booked in 8014 for Alaska, which is 5 doors from where you were (heading aft). I asked the CM on the phone if smoke was a problem and she said something along the lines of "smoke is never a problem on DCL". Well, I knew THAT was an exaggeration. I am not spending that much $$ to have my cruise ruined by smoke.

 

[GPaLarry]

That is EXACTLY what I was concerned about. We are booked in 8014 for Alaska, which is 5 doors from where you were (heading aft). I asked the CM on the phone if smoke was a problem and she said something along the lines of "smoke is never a problem on DCL". Well, I knew THAT was an exaggeration. I am not spending that much $$ to have my cruise ruined by smoke.

If you can, switch to the other side of the ship. We like all the DCL ships, but you need to do your research before you pick your room, just as you are doing. Hope things work out...we loved the Alaska adventure other than the smoke.

 

[barney4liz]

If you can, switch to the other side of the ship. We like all the DCL ships, but you need to do your research before you pick your room, just as you are doing. Hope things work out...we loved the Alaska adventure other than the smoke.

Done!! Thanks so much for the feedback!

I tried to change the room online and the website was showing NO availability on the starboard side. After spending 1.5 hours on hold this morning -- the CM was able to make the change. It's odd, because when I booked it on Tuesday there were also no starboard rooms showing up. Apparently it pays to call!

 

[barney4liz]

They really do need to address the smoke problem. We spend most of our time on Deck 9 in the adult areas, and even walking NEAR the smoking area was unpleasant. We could not sit at the tables that were close to that end of the deck. And my husband smelled marijuana very strongly one night. We are not prudes about recreational use, but there is a time and place. I wondered if anyone complained.