Cigars On Cruise

Originally Posted by CigarNut

To each his own!

The Disney cruises I have been on the kids mostly stayed on their deck (Deck 5 with all the kids stuff) or by one of the two pools that they can use. You would also see kids at mealtimes, but not a problem for me.

Kids are not allowed by the adult pool, where I hang out with my cigar.

I'm not much of a gambler, so the lack of a casino is not a big deal for me.

On the plus side, the service on Disney ships is top notch, the staff is very friendly and helpful, they have Broadway-class theater, and the ships are always immaculate.

The final thing for me is that I am a member of Disney's Vacation Club (Disney's version of a time-share) and I can use my time-share to cruise, which makes cruising a very good deal.

Makes it a no-brainer in my book as well!!

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by MikeyC

You wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Disney ship.

1. Too many kids on board
2. No casinos on their boats

True but you will miss out on the finest cruise I have ever been on (I think I have done like 15+ now).

It is completely top notch, top of the line. The variety of restaurants and rotation of such makes it awesome as you never eat in the same restaurant.
Their "pay extra" restaurant is amazing!

Disney sets a high bar to hurdle.

[replicant_argent]

I am kind of amazed that Disney/ABC allows smoking on their ships. Kudos to them for being realists, I think, rather than Nanny-Staters.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

Funny you should bring it up. I just booked a Panama Canal cruise. I came pretty close to booking with Celebrity, but their anti smoking policy drove me away. To be honest, they also are one of the last lines to emphasize an evening dress code, and that was the second reason we shied away from them. I hauled my tux on cruises for years, but no more. I'm done worrying about "dressing" when I'm on vacation.

So we're booked on the NCL Pearl for the Canal. NCL is more cigar friendly so they get my money.

Yeah, we tried to go with NCL but the itinerary that we are doing wasn't available in June or July. So we decided to deal with me being restricted with my cigar smoking rather than ruin another vacation by going with Carnival as our prior experiences were less than stellar which is odd because my parents cruise with them at least if not twice a year and only had a couple issues but that's usually the way my luck runs.

I was un-impressed with Carnival with the absolute LACK of windows.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

I am kind of amazed that Disney/ABC allows smoking on their ships. Kudos to them for being realists, I think, rather than Nanny-Staters.

It's interesting -- both of the current Disney ships (Magic, Wonder) had Cigar Lounges that they turned into coffee bars -- which they thought would bring in more revenue. Don't know if that is the case.

Disney's newest ship (Dream, sails in January) has a much bigger cigar lounge over looking ocean aft. My wife and I are booked on the maiden voyage and I am really looking forward to visiting this lounge

[Volt]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

It's interesting -- both of the current Disney ships (Magic, Wonder) had Cigar Lounges that they turned into coffee bars -- which they thought would bring in more revenue. Don't know if that is the case.

Disney's newest ship (Dream, sails in January) has a much bigger cigar lounge over looking ocean aft. My wife and I are booked on the maiden voyage and I am really looking forward to visiting this lounge

"Maiden voyage" - I hope you keep a sense of humor on that trip. To expect that all mechanically and the staff will be 100% smooth might be a dream. They can test and simulate all they want, but untail a 100 people hit the crappers at one time, they have only a best guess at how some of the mechanics will perform. While they were US Navy ships, I have brought many a ship out of the yards and even the stuff we thought we had perfect still would goof up.


BTW, not headed up North towards the iceberg area are ya?

Hell, We're already planning the 2011 cruise....Need to talk to the wife to see the dates!

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by Volt

"Maiden voyage" - I hope you keep a sense of humor on that trip. To expect that all mechanically and the staff will be 100% smooth might be a dream. They can test and simulate all they want, but untail a 100 people hit the crappers at one time, they have only a best guess at how some of the mechanics will perform. While they were US Navy ships, I have brought many a ship out of the yards and even the stuff we thought we had perfect still would goof up.

BTW, not headed up North towards the iceberg area are ya?

We know the drill, this will be our third maiden voyage with Disney

Also, (lucky for us) -- they get a lot of the kinks worked out when they bring the ship across the pond to Port Canveral

The itinerary for the maiden voyage is the Bahama's! I can't wait! Well, actually I can, since I am leaving on the Disney Magic on Saturday for a trans-atlantic from Port Canveral to the Bahamas, Gibralter, Madeira, Cadiz, and Barcelona

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Beg to differ.
NONE of them condone alcohol as that is where they truly make their money, at the bar.
All post that clearly for all to see online and in the package you receive when you book your cruise.
All will generally confiscate your booze and hold it until the last night or morning of departure.
If they choose to, can refuse to allow you to board, period.
You ARE allowed to bring wine on board and present it at the dinner table for a corkage fee.
Do folks bring booze on checked in luggage? Yeah, of course. Do all get nailed? Nope. Is it openly allowed? No way.

Just verified with Disney and you can bring alcohol on board:

Bringing Alcohol aboard the ship
Alcohol is permitted on board. Any fragile items (including bottles of alcohol) must be brought aboard in a carry-on bag not to exceed 22" wide, 14" high and 9" deep. All fragile items must be transported inside carry-on luggage...

Oh hell, I coulda' told ya that!

We stopped in St Croix and ST Thomas - I had 9 bottles in my room!!!

[Ashcan Bill]

Originally Posted by neoflex

Yeah, we tried to go with NCL but the itinerary that we are doing wasn't available in June or July. So we decided to deal with me being restricted with my cigar smoking rather than ruin another vacation by going with Carnival as our prior experiences were less than stellar which is odd because my parents cruise with them at least if not twice a year and only had a couple issues but that's usually the way my luck runs.

We've never tried Carnival because of the mixed reviews we've seen and heard over the years.

I finally decided it was time to give them a try, so we have one booked on Carnival for October. I have an aft balcony, so I figure I should be able to light up in peace without bothering anyone. I'm curious to see for myself how they stack up to some of the other lines.

All the cruise lines have pros and cons. NCL isn't what it used to be either, but I've yet to have a really bad cruise on any line.

[Caymus]

Posted this moments ago on another post....might go better on this post:

I'd like to share my experience with MSC Cruises, an Italian cruiseline fairly new to the American market. I took the MSC Orchestra out of Ft Lauderdale last spring. They have a dedicated cigar lounge, the Havana Club, amid ship adjacent to the atrium. Big leather chairs, good music (Sinatra, Latin Jazz, etc), cigar art, real cigar ashtrays, a well kept humidor stocked with cc's, and a bar stocked with Havana Club rum. There is an attendant there who takes great pride in "his" cigar lounge. I spent a lot of time there when at sea, and during the day I sometimes was the only passenger in there for 30 minutes or so. At night, however, it was quite busy. I came to "know" about 10 other regular cigar smokers, and we had a blast. The Italian passengers were a friendly, boisterous bunch and they enjoy their cigars too. Officers would come in to enjoy their stash of cc's, and I even met the author of a very well known series of travel books who was on the cruise doing a review. She said it was one of the top 3 cigar lounges on the seas (the Orchestra has several sister ships that also have the same lounge). Best of all was the price...kids sail free, so my wife and 2 kids went for a very low price.

[maverickdrinker]

great thread guys. Does anyone have any experience on Princess? Wife just booked a caribbean cruise in June on Princess. Any help would be appreciated

Originally Posted by maverickdrinker

great thread guys. Does anyone have any experience on Princess? Wife just booked a caribbean cruise in June on Princess. Any help would be appreciated

The wife and I cruise Princess quite a bit and they are still one of the better cruise lines out there. The food is good and one of the best things about cruising with one cruiseline all the time is the membership advantages. When we book a balcony room we get upgraded to a suite...we get free Internet and free laundry as well as free wine or a bottle of champagne when we board. We are Platinum members which also means more discounts on deals on the ship. The bigger and newer ships are really good and depending on what boat you are on we've probably been on it...let me know which one and I can tell you pros and cons about it.

[maverickdrinker]

thanks for this. I will ask the wife which boat we are on and post.

[maverickdrinker]

The boat that we will be on is the Princess Empress. HAs anyone been on that boat? CAn you share your thoughts/experiences with me?

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Cigary

The wife and I cruise Princess quite a bit and they are still one of the better cruise lines out there. The food is good and one of the best things about cruising with one cruiseline all the time is the membership advantages. When we book a balcony room we get upgraded to a suite...we get free Internet and free laundry as well as free wine or a bottle of champagne when we board. We are Platinum members which also means more discounts on deals on the ship. The bigger and newer ships are really good and depending on what boat you are on we've probably been on it...let me know which one and I can tell you pros and cons about it.

In less than three weeks the wife and I take our first cruise as a Diamond member on RC. Took us a while to get that and can't wait.

[68TriShield]

Has anyone been on RC's Explorer of the Seas?

We'll be on her July 3rd for five nights to Bermuda.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

Has anyone been on RC's Explorer of the Seas?

We'll be on her July 3rd for five nights to Bermuda.

Dave,
Explorer is the sister ship to the Navigator which I have been on several times.
Beautiful ship.
My son has been on both and says they are mirror images for the most part.
You will have a blast on this ship.