Cigars On Cruise

I'm a little bummed tonight. I've been looking forward to this cruise for nine months. One of the things I was looking forward to was sitting on my balcony and enjoying a good cigar. Tonight I find out that you can smoke cigarettes on the balcony but not pipes or cigars. I've called them and verified this. Cigarettes only. I have no idea what kind of sense this makes, but I guess a rule is a rule. You can smoke cigars in the casino and the cigar bar...bummer.

[RightAJ]

What cruise line?

I went on RC recently and they had a Conissuers (sp?) lounge for cigar smokers... it was beautiful. Leather furniture and nice jazz music and drinks to order

Spent ALOT of time in there haha

Have fun!

aj

Originally Posted by RightAJ

What cruise line?

I went on RC recently and they had a Conissuers (sp?) lounge for cigar smokers... it was beautiful. Leather furniture and nice jazz music and drinks to order

Spent ALOT of time in there haha

Have fun!

aj

Norwegian...and they have a cigar bar called the Corona. It just bums me because I was really looking forward to sitting on my balcony at night with a good cigar. I've been waiting nine months.

[Cigar_Noob]

That really doesn't make any sense...I honestly can't see what makes a Cigar or Pipe any more different from smoking a cigarette up there? other than the aroma of the smoke is much more pleasing

It pays to check before you book your cruise. I just got back last Friday from my cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Carribean and they set aside 3 starboard floors where you can smoke cigars. Some of the ships even have a nice area set aside with leather chairs and library area ( Holland America ) and it's great. Some ships have gone NO SMOKING all over the ship.

[nayslayer]

wow, thats bullsh!t. Just tell them it's a big brown cigarette

Originally Posted by Cigary

It pays to check before you book your cruise. I just got back last Friday from my cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Carribean and they set aside 3 starboard floors where you can smoke cigars. Some of the ships even have a nice area set aside with leather chairs and library area ( Holland America ) and it's great. Some ships have gone NO SMOKING all over the ship.

Yeah, I agree. We checked when we booked the cruise...but didn't ask the MAGIC question. We asked about smoking and we asked about balcony's, but we didn't ask about smoking CIGARS on the BALCONY. I still don't think it makes sense, but I'm sure they have SOME reason. I can smoke in the cigar bar.

[MedicCook]

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

Originally Posted by jbo57

Yeah, I agree. We checked when we booked the cruise...but didn't ask the MAGIC question. We asked about smoking and we asked about balcony's, but we didn't ask about smoking CIGARS on the BALCONY. I still don't think it makes sense, but I'm sure they have SOME reason. I can smoke in the cigar bar.

I cruise at least twice a year for the last 15 years and have seen this anti cigar smoking deal coming. I talk with a lot of the reps from the cruiselines and here is the real deal on cigars. Most patrons do not like the smell,,,period. Cigarettes do not cause the same ire as cigars because it is more accepted,,,period. Casinos are there to bring in money so they will let cigarettes in there as cigar smokers are not a majority. Balconies while they are outside means that cigar smoke travels backwards towards other balconies where people want to be outside,,,so the complaints are really heavy for people who dont like cigar smoke who paid extra to go outside and then feel they are being penalized for having to breath cigar smoke.

Cruise lines do not want to put in exhaust systems to deal with the effects of cigar smoke and they do not want to give up space in a room where it isn't being used except for a few hours a day. Space is a premium on a ship and they want to utilize space so they can make money.

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

They are now "fining" customers who smoke in their cabins where they aren't supposed to smoke and neighbor cabin members are calling the desk to complain even more about their neighbors smoking on the balconies. I should know because the ships I have been on were ok with the policy of having cigars out there. I have been reported on Holland America, Carnival, Queen Mary 2, Princess Cruise Lines and it's only getting worse. This is why the cruise lines are slowly making their ships smoke free.

Originally Posted by Cigary

I cruise at least twice a year for the last 15 years and have seen this anti cigar smoking deal coming. I talk with a lot of the reps from the cruiselines and here is the real deal on cigars. Most patrons do not like the smell,,,period. Cigarettes do not cause the same ire as cigars because it is more accepted,,,period. Casinos are there to bring in money so they will let cigarettes in there as cigar smokers are not a majority. Balconies while they are outside means that cigar smoke travels backwards towards other balconies where people want to be outside,,,so the complaints are really heavy for people who dont like cigar smoke who paid extra to go outside and then feel they are being penalized for having to breath cigar smoke.

Cruise lines do not want to put in exhaust systems to deal with the effects of cigar smoke and they do not want to give up space in a room where it isn't being used except for a few hours a day. Space is a premium on a ship and they want to utilize space so they can make money.




They are now "fining" customers who smoke in their cabins where they aren't supposed to smoke and neighbor cabin members are calling the desk to complain even more about their neighbors smoking on the balconies. I should know because the ships I have been on were ok with the policy of having cigars out there. I have been reported on Holland America, Carnival, Queen Mary 2, Princess Cruise Lines and it's only getting worse. This is why the cruise lines are slowly making their ships smoke free.

Thank you, my friend. That is the best and most concise explanation of what's going on. I appreciate it. It was a much better explanation than what I got from the NCL rep that I called. He told me to call their travel agent who would be much more up to speed than him. I'm not one to "rock the boat"...so to speak...and I am a believer in following the rules. If the rule is no cigars on balconies...I'll swallow hard and give up what I've been looking forward to for nine months. I'm sure I'll still have fun but I'm sure I'll spend more time in the Corona than I had planned.

[DPD6030]

Originally Posted by Cigary

This is why the cruise lines are slowly making their ships smoke free.

This will never happen at least on Carnival. They tried it and lost their butts on revenue. They do have smoke free spa rooms though. So what happened when you were "reported" on the cruise lines for smoking?
Oh and I'm on the very aft of the ship, the only one that can smell me is most likely well me.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by Cigary

...
They are now "fining" customers who smoke in their cabins where they aren't supposed to smoke

This makes sense -- it takes a lot of extra effort to get the smoke smell out of the room especially if stogies and ashes have been left sitting; they have a very short time to clean the roon and turn it around for the next cruise.

Smoking on the balcony is an entirely different thing, and I don't think that they are going to go out of there way to find and fine you.

I've been on a number of Disney cruises and they allow smoking on the balconies and they also have a nice smoking area in the 9th deck near the adult pool, and the 10th deck above the pool (on deck they do limit smoking to the starboard side so non-smokers can stay away if they are so inclined).

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

I floated that suggestion with the Mrs. and that's a really big no-go. I'll probably talk to someone when we get on the cruise to see if it's just one of those things they put in the book or if they are really serious about it...but if they are serious, I'll probably be spending some time in the cigar bar.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Hey Don...long time, no see. I understand, I just like to present cigar smokers in the best light possible...and I loved the lounge. Open 24 hrs...didn't have to buy anything...and the chairs were much more comfortable than the chairs on the balcony.

[memnoc]

Originally Posted by MedicCook

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

I would have to agree...

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by memnoc

I would have to agree...

I agree as well. It's nice to have multiple choices.

On my cruise my favorite bartender would make me a nice drink in the evening (single malt scotch or tequila; usually a double) which I would take back to my room and enjoy on the balacony with a cigar and a good book. The great thing about the balacony is that you can leave the hustle-and-bustle of the ship behind for some peace and quiet.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

I agree as well. It's nice to have multiple choices.

On my cruise my favorite bartender would make me a nice drink in the evening (single malt scotch or tequila; usually a double) which I would take back to my room and enjoy on the balacony with a cigar and a good book. The great thing about the balacony is that you can leave the hustle-and-bustle of the ship behind for some peace and quiet.

That is the essence of it right there.

I also very much enjoy the ocean breeze and nothing but water ahead of you when spending the days at sea, sitting in the balcony early mornings, with a pot of coffee or two delivered to my room, and just float off into who knows where land. Wife is usually still asleep and it is the most quiet, all to myself, nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to speak to time I can think of. It truly makes my trip.

Then of course, the cigar lounges and deck smoking areas are also places for me to enjoy but they generally have hustle and bustle.

Originally Posted by CigarNut

I agree as well. It's nice to have multiple choices.

On my cruise my favorite bartender would make me a nice drink in the evening (single malt scotch or tequila; usually a double) which I would take back to my room and enjoy on the balacony with a cigar and a good book. The great thing about the balacony is that you can leave the hustle-and-bustle of the ship behind for some peace and quiet.

I can respect that...the one thing I noticed was that I never felt crowded or caught up in the hustle and bustle. I was shocked because I thought I would always feel crowded, but didn't. The biggest number of people in the lounge at one time was 8. There were also times when I was in there by myself, although most of the time the number varied between 2-6.

[Cigar_Noob]

of ALL the balconies on this ship...who's really going to notice you smoke one ay? *hint hint*