Smoking in Casino

[bretts173]

Last cruise I was sat next to a loud drunk obnoxious Texan who was smoking (which is fine). What was not fine was that he was continually blowing smoke towards me and my face. I asked him to stop politely and so did the staff. Next time he did it I poured the rest of my drink on him. When he complained I said you wanted to share your cigar I wanted to share my drink. He was escorted out and the staff got me another drink.

 

[Balsam]

Very interesting topic... I'm an ex-smoker (about 8 years now), however people smoking around me has never been an issue.

On our last Voyager cruise out of Singapore, I visited the casino quite a few times. My partner ( another ex-smoker, but she now hates smoke) did not visit anywhere as much as I did.

The smoke didn't put me off, however, by about day four, I had developed a cough. Didn't think much of it until my partner suggested it may be due to all the smoke in the casino.

Didn't visit the casino for the next two days and the cough disappeared.

Our next cruise is Radiance out of Sydney, so there is no smoking in the casino, and I'm actually very happy about that idea. All land based casinos in Australia have been non smoking for many years, and none of them have gone out of business.

 

[bretts173]

Yes there was a big uproar when all the smoking bans came into Australia. Blew over very quickly and now just second nature to head outside for a puff.

[monctonguy]

6 hours ago, bretts173 said:

Last cruise I was sat next to a loud drunk obnoxious Texan who was smoking (which is fine). What was not fine was that he was continually blowing smoke towards me and my face. I asked him to stop politely and so did the staff. Next time he did it I poured the rest of my drink on him. When he complained I said you wanted to share your cigar I wanted to share my drink. He was escorted out and the staff got me another drink.

 

So you sat next to someone who was smoking(as a non-smoker I am assuming) and you didn't like it(and they were loud and obnoxious)....and you threw  a drink on him......hmm....I am not sure that should be something to be proud of or bragging about. 2 wrongs don't make a right and I would hazard a guess that in some bars that could lead to a fight or even charges of assault........

[bretts173]

I

4 hours ago, monctonguy said:

So you sat next to someone who was smoking(as a non-smoker I am assuming) and you didn't like it(and they were loud and obnoxious)....and you threw  a drink on him......hmm....I am not sure that should be something to be proud of or bragging about. 2 wrongs don't make a right and I would hazard a guess that in some bars that could lead to a fight or even charges of assault........

If you read correctly I said the guy was blowing the smoke directly into my face.  And I did not throw the drink at him, just gently poured it on him.  I also said it was fine that he was smoking by the way because that is legal.

i find it interesting that smokers suggest that a little harmless liquid can lead to charges of assault when carcinogenic smoke was blown straight into someones face.

 

[monctonguy]

I would say its more immature and childish and a holier- than- thou attitude than anything..

 

But yes, I am guessing pouring liquids on someone could be considered assault in certain cases...

I think there are some details missing here or left out intentionally to justify what you did.....staff asked him to stop blowing smoke in your face...... Be the bigger persona and leave...you don't like smoking or smokers anyways, so why stay next to someone like that.

 

If you say its your right to sit there...which it is...then its his right to blow his smoke in a smoking area.  Is it your right to throw..or pour a drink on someone cause you don't like what they are doing..defn not......

 

Oh...and don't assume I am a smoker because I am arguing a certain viewpoint or fact.....

 

 

[JLMoran]

@monctonguy, not to belabor the point here, but...

@bretts173 has now indicated twice that the person smoking was not blowing the smoke in any general direction. He was intentionally blowing it into her face from the start, and continued to do so after she politely asked him to stop.

If you're going to call her action childish, then the same must be applied at that point to the smoker. I'm not making any kind of "well he started it!" argument here, just saying that as I read the account, he was being an inconsiderate jerk from the get-go, she and on-board security both tried to handle things politely and tactfully, and when he refused to play along with "let's be civilized about this" then he quite frankly got some instant karma handed to him.

[monctonguy]

For sure...but that doesn't make that someone the better person.....just cause someone else was doing something wrong doesn't give you the right or moral authority to do the same. I have a feeling the smoker wasn't doing it to be childish or immature...was it rude and ignorgant ? Sure, but....

 

BUT, to stoop to their level and throw or toss or "pour" a drink on someone..makes you just as bad , if not worse than the original person....imho

 

Oh, and the other person isn't here to defend their side......always two sides to every story....especially when alcohol is involved.

 

Anyways..I hope Royal hurry's up and makes a smoking and non-smoking casino and then we put this stuff to rest....lol

[ThyriC]

I wonder if another happy medium could be met that maybe like how they used to do in diners, with a smoking "section" of the casino.  Walled off, behind a door, maybe with glass walls to make it prettier and sparklier.  Superior air handling in the smoking zone.  Towards the back so the smoke that would escape through the door wouldnt absolutely choke the non smokers and wouldnt escape the casino in general.  Happy for both maybe?  

[Miller Lite]

Not sure if any of you have been on Norwegian Escape. The casino on that ship is built into the atrium of the ship. When I was on it back in 2017, as soon as I boarded the ship you could smell the scent of stale smoke. I'm not sure if it's still that way today but Royal usually having their casinos tucked away kind of solves the problem for most of the ship. In essence for the non-smokers, it can be much worse. On the Norwegian Bliss they built a completely walled off smoking section (looking at you Royal). There was still a faint smell outside the room from the doors opening but I would say it corrected the smell by 90% from the old setup on the Escape. I truly feel bad for the employees that have to work in that room. The smoke was so potent you could hardly stop your eyes from tearing up, (not an exaggeration). They need to find a company with state of the art equipment to filter the air. For how much the casinos pull in, I think it's the least they can do.

Simple calculation, conduct surveys of how many of their customers smoke while gambling. If the casino is 10,000 square/feet and 30% of customers smoke while gaming, have a 3,000 sq./ft. gaming space dedicated for them.

[Miller Lite]

On 9/12/2019 at 5:32 AM, bretts173 said:

Last cruise I was sat next to a loud drunk obnoxious Texan

So the next time I have a issue with someone and they are from a different geographic location than me, should I use that to aid in my argument? Don't be cute with the "Texan" label, own up to the insult.

[bretts173]

56 minutes ago, Miller Lite said:

So the next time I have a issue with someone and they are from a different geographic location than me, should I use that to aid in my argument? Don't be cute with the "Texan" label, own up to the insult.

Sorry, am I allowed to call him a man or is that sexist too. He was quite out and proud of his Texan roots, even the massive ranch that was apparently worth more than my country according to him. In his words a European is just what you need to do after drinking too much.. 

[Miller Lite]

Just now, bretts173 said:

Sorry, am I allowed to call him a man or is that sexist too. He was quite out and proud of his Texan roots, even the massive ranch that was apparently worth more than my country according to him. In his words a European is just what you need to do after drinking too much.. 

I'm sure you you were in the right, but I just don't think it's appropriate to bring up regardless who was at fault. This really isn't the forum to relay those type of situations as it can open up a huge door for all types of bantering/insults/negativity.

To be clear I don't live in Texas, I just don't think it's fair to call out groups people in a forum that's supposed to be fun and informative. You could have just as easily got your point across without name calling.

[bretts173]

 

6 minutes ago, Miller Lite said:

I'm sure you you were in the right, but I just don't think it's appropriate to bring up regardless who was at fault. This really isn't the forum to relay those type of situations as it can open up a huge door for all types of bantering/insults/negativity.

To be clear I don't live in Texas, I just don't think it's fair to call out groups people in a forum that's supposed to be fun and informative. You could have just as easily got your point across without name calling.

While I understand your point  I didnt mean it to sound negative to Texans, so apologies for that. It was maybe because he made it his main arguement. as to why he could do whatever he wanted wherever he wanted.  The funniest thing was he kept calling me British or European or when he got annoyed from security getting involved a 3rd world donkey when I am far from that part of the world.

[Miller Lite]

15 minutes ago, bretts173 said:

 

While I understand your point  I didnt mean it to sound negative to Texans, so apologies for that. It was maybe because he made it his main arguement. as to why he could do whatever he wanted wherever he wanted.  The funniest thing was he kept calling me British or European or when he got annoyed from security getting involved a 3rd world donkey when I am far from that part of the world.

I definitely hear you out on that and apologize if I sounded sarcastic in my responses. There are some real losers out there, and it's especially frustrating when you are on vacation for something like that to happen. It's all fun and games until you get that one person that can't handle their alcohol and turns into a raging a-hole.

[ThyriC]

8 hours ago, Miller Lite said:

They need to find a company with state of the art equipment to filter the air. For how much the casinos pull in, I think it's the least they can do.

Simple calculation, conduct surveys of how many of their customers smoke while gambling. If the casino is 10,000 square/feet and 30% of customers smoke while gaming, have a 3,000 sq./ft. gaming space dedicated for them.

Finding air handling that can treat and filter the air in a smoky casino honestly, its not that hard.  The difficulty would be to have the equipment to maintain the air change rates required to keep the smoke down.  Clean rooms do this all the time.  Their air handling is based on how many times per hour (or is it minute, I think its hour) the air is completely changed in the room.  Air handlers of that caliber though are rather expensive, BUT it can be done.  Add in to your air handling something that spritzes some frebreeze or something similarly fresh smelling and you've got a smoker friendly area that everyone would want to go in.  The problem is the cost of such air handling.  Vegas does it but that's a LOT more cash changing hands than a cruise ship casino.  

 

But I do like hearing that the smoking section model was tried on NCL to a degree of success.  I think all but the allergic to cigarette smoke and those with upper respiratory issues would be OK in an environment like that.

 

I might just drop that suggestion card.  I'm sure its been suggested before but I wouldnt want to be on a nonsmoking cruise, so I'm more than happy to make compromises to make my nonsmoking travelling companions happy.

[JLMoran]

35 minutes ago, ThyriC said:

Add in to your air handling something that spritzes some frebreeze or something similarly fresh smelling and you've got a smoker friendly area that everyone would want to go in.

Not everyone. I'm borderline asthmatic, and fragrances like Febreeze or even laundry detergents trigger a coughing fit in me after just a couple of breaths. It's actually worse than cigarette smoke for me, probably compounded by some kind of allergy.

Weirdly, I don't get triggered by the stale smoke smell (though being directly in "the line of fire" or close by certainly does it). So I can actually handle being in the regular casino as long as I don't have anyone smoking too close-by. But man, will I be happy to be in a fully smoke-free casino next year when I'm on Summit!

[ThyriC]

Ok eliminate the scents from the air handling.  But I still think that it can be done in a way that at least for most if not all could be happy without making the entire fleet smoke free.

[Katiel53]

I would be a happy camper if the casinos became non-smoking.  Unfortunately, I have a son who smokes and he and his wife (non-smoker) were playing machines in the smoking area that were not available in the non-smoking area.  They were doing well on those machines and asked me to join them.  I did and I won some, but the smell was enough for me. 

 

I went into the casino one day when we were perhaps in Labadee or some place where the casino was open during the day but it wasn't a sea day.  There were very few in there and I thought it would be a good time to go play the machines my son and daughter-in-law found lucky.  I could not believe the number of cigarettes overflowing the ashtrays in there.  Some people must have felt it necessary to go to the casino before leaving the ship and the smell was so bad, I had to leave the area.

I do have to say that on Allure, and I think on Harmony, that when I first walked down the couple of stairs into the casino, the smell of smoke was horrendous.  After walking a few steps to the left, I couldn't smell the smoke at all.  I don't know if my sinuses were burned out from the initial smell or if the air circulation was really good and I didn't smell smoke.

 

I thought the non-smoking side of the casino didn't smell, but some of the "good machines" weren't on that side.  I wish the whole casino were non-smoking and if they can't/won't do that, have the same machines on both sides.  I know there is a good chance that the casinos will become non-smoking and I do believe there are enough of us to keep it in business.

[bretts173]

1 hour ago, Katiel53 said:

 I know there is a good chance that the casinos will become non-smoking and I do believe there are enough of us to keep it in business.

It is only the dollars and cents keeping it this way. The gaming industry is powerful and has lobbied hard to keep it this way in every day life. This results in it being considered the norm so should apply to cruise life as well. Virtually every other workplace it is banned for health reasons. The staff are the ones I feel sorry for.

The good news for me is that most of my cruising is done out of Australia where the casinos are smoke free as the some of these big industries dont have as much clout with the Government.

[Pima1988]

@Katiel53  You have to also place into account that many passengers are not American.  In Europe and Asia smoking is not looked upon as the same as in the US.  

My last 2 sailings have been out of Bayonne, which I have found a very high percentage of people from NY/NJ/PA/CT/MD and VA.  Yes, the casino smells like smoke, but I never saw the haze compared to my sailings out of Miami.  JMPO, but to me, I have always found that my Miami sailings were filled with a lot more international passengers.  Caveat, it might also be tied to the fact that my Miami sailings were cooler months (Nov and Mar).  

I also agree that it is the dollars and cents that keep it that way, but for one more reason.  Currently, I believe there are only 2 areas besides the casino where you are allowed to smoke.  1 is the pool deck port side, and another would be a lower level deck, again port side.  The issue is that in bad weather (rain/cold) they now only have the casino to smoke in without freezing or getting sprayed with the rain mist.  These passengers may not be gamblers, but bc they want to smoke, this is their only option, and now sitting next to a slot machine while enjoying their smoke they may drop 10 bucks which means they are now capturing a non-gambler.

I would also add that there is a flaw in your argument.  I am not a gambler, but I smoke when I have imbibed alcohol.  I can't stand the stench in the casino, so I do it on the deck.  I have no desire to drop one cent in the casino.  The casino to me is the cut through area to get from pt A to B faster.  Look at every ship, and you will always see that if you want to get somewhere faster this is the fastest option.  Let's be real, RCL knows this and hopes by designing the ship this way even a non-gambler will hit 1 slot machine to chance their luck.   However, you, just like my hubby do not smoke under any circumstance, yet as gamblers you will put up with the stench.  

Just saying, the only way RCL will change their position impo is that non-smokers STOP gambling.  The minute you all do is the minute they realize that they are losing $$$$ from non-smokers is the minute they will make it non-smoking, but until that time you are telling them gambling is worth the stench.

OBTW, I would also say the reason the casino smells so horrible is from an aspect that passengers do not realize....poor ventilation compared to the other bars.  It is closed in compared to the bars on the promenades/esplanades.  Alcohol spillage will occur on the carpet, and since the carpet is wet, the smoke smell will permeate into the carpet, along with ash dust.  They also have ash trays (glass) that have cigarette residue.  If you go in the casino on day 1 before it opens for gambling, it smells like day old alcohol with a tinge of smoke residue.   Why?  Because they are not steam cleaning the carpets on a daily basis.  They are not tearing up the carpet on an annual basis, instead it is 4-5 yrs of alcohol and ash soaking deeper and deepr into the backing of the carpet.  

IF RCCL would tear out the carpet and replace with a hard surface floor, the casino would not smell as bad as it does.  Alcohol would be wiped up, and smoke would not get into the carpets.  I understand why they will not do this.  It is for the same reason most bars have only carpet.  1 drunk gambler that falls out the bar stool and hits their head on a hard surface floor is a law suit waiting to happen.  

[AshleyDillo]

16 minutes ago, Pima1988 said:

1 drunk gambler that falls out the bar stool and hits their head on a hard surface floor is a law suit waiting to happen.

Carpet also helps with sound reverberation!  I can't imagine how noisy the casino would be with hard floors all around!

[PatsFanBrian]

For me personally, I would spend time in the casino if it was non-smoking.  Smoke gives me a huge headache and I just can't be exposed to it for too long if I want to enjoy everything else.  The little time we have spent there, we try to find a time when there aren't too many people, typically during the day when most people are by the pool.

[Pima1988]

@PatsFanBrian  As I have stated I smoke when I imbibe.  I do it on deck so the breeze will get rid of direct smoke like in the casino.

Even with no or little people there in the casino, my nose burns within seconds.  Everytime I walk through the casino I jokingly say OH to be in my 20s again in college at the dive bar.  That is what it smells like to me.  I can smell the alcohol and the smoke.  It is absolutely disgusting to me even when it isn't busy.  To me the pungent smell of old alcohol is more apparent than the smoke smell.  I can smell both, but the alcohol to me is more prevalent.  Alcohol stings my nose, smoke burns it.  

JMPO, but again as a social smoker and drinker, I can tell the difference between both.  My hubby (non-smoker) always believed it was smoke only, until one time when I said smell this drink, he went WOW.  I said now go in the casino.  He went you are correct, I now smell the alcohol combined with the smoke.  

Said it before, will say it again.  You don't get that alcohol smell at Schooners, Boleros, Champagne Bar, Bionic, Playmakers (aka pub on other ships) because they are not enclosed like the casino.  They have tables, which means if a drink spills, it is less likely to hit the carpet compared to a casino.  There is no smoking in those bars, so the cloth on the chairs/sofas or carpeting will not be able to absorb that cigarette smell.

By day 3 walk through the casino stinks to high heaven.  

Finally, the question of spending more time in the casino if it was non-smoking also comes down to how much $$$ would you spend compared to the gambler that doesn't care.  My SIL gambles and she smokes.  She only does slots.  She dropped 1K in a week, she planned this in her budget.   She won, she lost, but spent 4+ hrs a day in the casino.  I highly doubt she would have spent that many hrs in the casino if she could not smoke.  Thus, for RCL they need you to spend your 1K as a non-smoker and the 1k for my SIL (smoker) to make it non-smoking.  Are you ready to gamble that much more?

Please remember when you answer, I am not a gambler.

[Constantino]

On 8/27/2019 at 2:46 PM, HeWhoWaits said:

With the size of new ships, there is room to plan two separate casinos facilities - one smoking, one non-smoking. The first ship to try this would determine whether there is a market for the concept going forward.

I suspect it has to do with the "environment".  if the casino is too small or too empty, people are not encouraged to stay and gamble.  splitting the crowds could have that effect.

Id love a non smoking casino, they have a nonsmoking "side", and some pretty strong air currents to keep smoke away, but its obviously FAR from a brick wall between them.

[klc317]

While I admit I do have a bad habit of enjoying a cigar or cigarette occasionally while on vacation after a few drinks I do not enjoy large crowds of people smoking and the thick odor like in the casinos some evenings.....its sometimes pretty unbearable.   I generally will go to outside deck where the lifeboats are outside in the breeze if I want to indulge.    I don't smoke in my home or vehicles so I extend the same courtesy to other folks on the ship and try to not annoy others.  We are trying out Empress for the first time in about a week and a half and was pleased to learn their casino is non smoking.

[Vanessa77]

Some of you may be interested to know that Royal doesn't allow smoking in the casino already for cruises out of Australia and the U.K.

In Aus we have pretty strict smoking laws. You can't smoke inside of any public building (as in any building that isn't a house). You can't smoke in any outside area that also serves food. You can't smoke on the grounds of public building such as courts and hospitals. I guess that as we're already used this there isn't any outcry in this situation when applied to cruise ships, but people will always be perturbed if it is different to what they're used to.

Would be interested to see what the casino take is on a UK/Aus ship vs a US. Keeping in mind that our gambling ages are 18 as well, so they likely already have a slightly larger percentage of eligible gamblers. 

[monctonguy]

Been like that in Canada for years now..smoke in ur car or home...that's about it.

[markm]

On 9/22/2019 at 2:07 PM, Vanessa77 said:

Some of you may be interested to know that Royal doesn't allow smoking in the casino already for cruises out of Australia and the U.K.

In Aus we have pretty strict smoking laws. You can't smoke inside of any public building (as in any building that isn't a house). You can't smoke in any outside area that also serves food. You can't smoke on the grounds of public building such as courts and hospitals. I guess that as we're already used this there isn't any outcry in this situation when applied to cruise ships, but people will always be perturbed if it is different to what they're used to.

Would be interested to see what the casino take is on a UK/Aus ship vs a US. Keeping in mind that our gambling ages are 18 as well, so they likely already have a slightly larger percentage of eligible gamblers. 

Good to hear, thank you. Sailing out of UK in 3 weeks

[Loyal to Royal]

My husband and I both smoke - but try to avoid the casino. We both feel rude smoking inside an area where there are clearly non smokers. We just returned from a cruise on the Allure though - and almost felt obligated to smoke in the casino. Most boats we have been on have a smokers section on a lower deck - for example just outside of the casino. When we did the Navigator cruise they had a door that exited the casino from the smoking section that led directly into a smoking section out on the deck. 

The allure only had smoking sections on the top 2 decks. It was hard to light our cigarettes with the wind, once we did get them lit the wind would either put them out or blow fire off of them, and the sections were always cram packed with standing room only. We had a family on a cruise and they were always locking down 3 or 4 whole tables. I think if they removed the smoking from the casino but allowed it directly outside of the casino how the navigator did it would be a strong compromise! Not as much wind as top deck and not in an interior area. 

[RetirementFun]

I've also heard this rumor. I am a Diamond and a casino VIP and will immediately give it all up and change cruise lines if this happens (I normally cruise 6-8 times a year). I also spoke with well over 50 smokers on my last cruise and except for 1 (who was going to quit smoking), they all said they would also change cruise lines immediately. RCI is considering installing some type of ventilation system to remove the smoke from the casinos - lets hope they decide to implement this and keep parts of the casino smoking. I have been told this is very expensive, but the type person who is a big gambler is the same type personality that smokes - if they stop all smoking, I'm sure it will hurt bottom line profits.

[Atlantix2000]

2 hours ago, RetirementFun said:

if they stop all smoking, I'm sure it will hurt bottom line profits.

A lot of bars and restaurants made that claim when the no smoking laws were passed, but surprise, their profits weren't hurt in the slightest.  After all, non-smokers greatly outnumber smokers and they were suddenly willing to go places they didn't before.  I know I'd love to spend more time in the casinos onboard but can't stand more than 30 minutes of the smell.  Royal might lose revenue from certain smokers, but they'd gain plenty from people like me.

[CruisinForABruisin]

The most backwards thing about all of the smoking in the casino is that they don't allow cigars to be smoked in there, yet the person next to me can crush a pack in less than a night 

[Pima1988]

@Atlantix2000  Do you gamble often?  How much are you willing to part with?

IOWS, from RCL's perspective are you worth the cost to change the rules?  

JMPO, but being someone that was originally from NJ with casinos,  "true" gamblers will gamble regardless of smokers.  It is their form of entertainment.  A smoker that does not gamble will only go in the casino if it is the closest area to smoke, or due to weather.  Even then they are unlikely to drop coins into a slot machine and if they do, unless they are winning a lot they are going to sit at that slot for as long as it takes to smoke the cigarette.  

You state they are losing revenue from a passenger like you, but again, how much are you willing to part with?  Are you saying you would drop 250 a night if it was smoke free, or are you saying 50 bucks a night and the tops on any cruise would be no more than 250?   250 on a week long cruise is nothing to them.  250 a night is something to them.  They have crunched their numbers and my bet (no pun intended) is that they have decided there is a higher return with the smoker that pops in for their cigarette 2-3x a day, plays a slot machine for that 5-10 mins, and drops 20 bucks each time or 60 a day.  If you budgeted 250 only on a week long cruise, than RCL makes more money off the smoker bc they will drop over 400 in the casino compared to your 250.  Now multiply that by hundreds of smokers.  

It is the bottom line.  AGAIN, true gamblers may kvetch about the smoke, but they are still gambling.  Sometimes gamblers that say it is bc of the smoke are not a guarantee they will gamble.  Same as smokers,  BUT bc the casino is the only place indoors they can, there is a higher chance that they will go into the casino, and more frequently.

[Pima1988]

1 minute ago, CruisinForABruisin said:

The most backwards thing about all of the smoking in the casino is that they don't allow cigars to be smoked in there, yet the person next to me can crush a pack in less than a night 

My husband feels the same way.  To him, an ideal night would be a fine cigar, a glass of Bulleit Bourbon and standing at the Craps table. 

That being stated, DH buys fine cigars and the odor to me is nice,  not pungent.  Yet, the cheap ones will make me run to the bathroom to vomit.  I can take cigarette smoke over the 5 buck cigar.  You can't control the smell of a cigar.  Add into the mix those cigars that have flavoring (can't recall their name) and now you have crappy smelling cigars with flavor cigars and even I would take the longest route from place A to B instead of going through the casino.

[Atlantix2000]

@Pima1988, I'm not saying my contribution is worth changing the rules, but take a look at the other thread.  Post after post of non-smokers saying they'd gamble more or be willing to start and not a single smoker saying they'd stop gambling.  Even if every non-smoker only contributed a bit of play, there are literally thousands of them available to fill all the empty chairs I see when I walk through the casinos.  I'm absolutely confident that Royal would make more money.

[RetirementFun]

I am a Diamond and a casino VIP - and a smoker  If RCI stopped all smoking, I would change cruise lines immediately (and yes, I spend well over $250 every night in the casino). I also cruise with RCI 6-8 times a year. On my last cruise (2 weeks ago) I asked well over 50 smokers what they would do if RCI stopped smoking in the casino - every single one (except for 1 person who said they were going to quit smoking soon) said they would change cruise lines immediately.

RCI is considering a ventilation system to remove the smoke - yes, it's expensive but works. Lets hope they do that and everyone will be happy.

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 minutes ago, RetirementFun said:

Lets hope they do that and everyone will be happy.

If that were only true....  There are some who will never be happy until smoking is banned. That’s just the way it is...

[Traveler]

In the Casino business its all about statistics and math.

From the time you step into the casino you are being tracked , they know exactly which machines/games you like , if you are smoking/no smoking , average time of playing and much more.  

Therefore you can be sure that if the data will show that making the casino no smoking will bring more money they will do it in seconds. Just to give some numbers , to get to prime status you need to gain 2500 points which is around 12500 $ if the machines are given back around 90% it means 1250 lost and much more , for Signature you need to have 25000 points which means 125000 $ or statistic lost of 12500 $ (minimum). So if they have many smoking signature/prime they will need to replace each one that will not cruise with RC at least 50 non smoking that spends 100$ to 300$ per cruise ...  . And yes for sure there are many non smoking signature or prime. So people that saying they will come to gamble if the casino will become a non smoking casino , are they talking about 2500 $ per cruise or 50$-200$ ?  I Guess RC think they know the answer for now.

By the way , I tend to think that on a cruise , mainly the short ones the % of smokers are much bigger than the 15% as many are still social smokers and tend to smoke in vacation or with Alcohol . 

So how you can make the casino non smoking (which I think can be a good thing)  and still not loose any business ? very simple . same as it was done in the bars and restaurants, making all the main cruise lines ban Smoking in the Casino  ...  

Do you think non smoking in bars and restaurants would work if some would go non smoking and some will stay like that ? 

 

[twangster]

48 minutes ago, Traveler said:

From the time you step into the casino you are being tracked , they know exactly which machines/games you like , if you are smoking/no smoking , average time of playing and much more. 

Therefore you can be sure that if the data will show that making the casino no smoking will bring more money they will do it in seconds

The caveat to this - they can't track people that never go into the casino because it's too smokey.  For this they rely on projections and trends in the industry.

Their Celebrity data will go a long way as a source of information.  

54 minutes ago, Traveler said:

...all the main cruise lines ban Smoking in the Casino

I suspect they are watching as society slowly grows less tolerant of smoking.  At some point when they feel they can use it as a strategic advantage over the competition they'll pounce.  Smoking anywhere has been eliminated.  Balcony smoking has been eliminated.  It's just a matter of time but they fear jumping too early and giving the competition an opportunity to use it as an advantage so basically we have a Mexican standoff.  Who has the balls go first?  Who is going to flinch?