RetirementFun 1 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 I heard (from a semi-reliable source) that Royal Caribbean is considering making the entire fleet non-smoking sometime during 2020. I am a Diamond and a casino VIP, and if this is true, I will totally give it all up and change cruise lines. I hate to do this because I absolutely love Royal Caribbean and do 6-8 cruises a year, but the must have some smoking areas for the casino players. The type personality that gambles and drinks, is the same personality that smokes - so - if RCI does implement this, I'm sure a large number of gambles will also change cruise lines. I've spoken to well over 50 smokers on my last cruise and without exception (oops - 1 person did say they were thinking of stopping smoking), everyone said they would never cruise RCI again if they did this. Has anyone else heard this rumor? 1 2 Fuzzywuzzy, DublinFC and Jjohnb reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAAAYTOOO 6,983 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 I have not heard such a rumor Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray 658 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 Is it April 1st already? If RC ban smoking on ships then this would apply to crew as well, so i very much doubt it would be a complete ban. They may ban it from the casino which is in doors, which in my opinion as a smoker they should do. 7 tonyw, DublinFC, CoupleOfCruisers and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mworkman 1,756 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 You're lucky i'm not in charge, i would ban smoking indoors (to include the casino) and make the only place for smoking, in the aft (designated section) upper decks. If you get caught smoking in a non-authorized location, you would be dropped off at the next port. I'm surprised that Royal Caribbean hasn't been sued yet, by an employee that has been diagnosed with cancer from second hand smoke due to improper ventilation in the casinos. 16 3 6 CoupleOfCruisers, RCIfan1912, BunnyHutt and 22 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Momof4crazytocruise 133 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 Honestly, I don't see this happening. They would lose a huge customer base, and a majority chunk of their Casino business. No way they implement this. More restrictions on smoking areas? Maybe. Perhaps installation of better ventilation systems in the Casino - that would be a better investment, in my opinion. And this is coming from someone with a severe allergy to smoke. If I can walk through a Casino in Vegas, I know there are filtration systems that are pretty advanced. Why not implement that? 2 4ensic and RWDW1204 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BB1 114 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 It is very interesting. As of 2015, only 15% of US adults smoked. That's a very small minority. People think that eliminating smoking would greatly reduce the gambling. That doesn't seem very plausible. 4 Baked Alaska, CoupleOfCruisers, Jjohnb and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BB1 114 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 I would also like to add, when smoking was banned from all the bars and restaurants in my town, the businesses all went ballistic. There was all of this gloom and doom about losing the coveted smoker's business and loss of revenue that would result. What actually happened was basically nothing. 6 Jjohnb, ellcee, ArsenalFan4Life and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXcruzer 94 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 Indoor smoking is already banned on Royal ships embarking from Europe and Australia, with seemingly zero effect on the bottom line". It is only a matter of time before this is seen from North American embarkation ports. 6 carlosalonsor, EmersonNZ, Okgladgal and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,238 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 Moving this to the News and Rumors forum... 3 4ensic, ellcee and RWDW1204 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YOLO 271 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 On 11/5/2019 at 1:09 PM, BB1 said: People think that eliminating smoking would greatly reduce the gambling. I for one would actually start gambling on cruise ships if the casinos were entirely smoke free. So I wonder how many current gamblers would quit and how many new ones would start... 15 Jjohnb, EmersonNZ, Okgladgal and 12 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FManke 1,728 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 9 minutes ago, YOLO said: I for one would actually start gambling on cruise ships if the casinos were entirely smoke free. So I wonder how many gamblers would quit and how many new ones would start... My thoughts exactly. I wonder if the loss of the smokers would be offset by the gains of non-smokers that would now cruise with an all smoke free cruise line?? 5 Baked Alaska, YOLO, Jjohnb and 2 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray 658 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 7 minutes ago, YOLO said: I for one would actually start gambling on cruise ships if the casinos were entirely smoke free. So I wonder how many gamblers would quit and how many new ones would start... Im a smoker and on FOTS last year there were times i had to leave the casino for fresh air! My clothes and what hair i have left smelt of smoke. You cannot smoke in bars or restaurants, even in casinos on land so why not stop it on cruiseships? In my opinion it would make it more enjoyable 7 RWDW1204, CoupleOfCruisers, YOLO and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KathyC 873 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 We personally don't spend a cent in the Royal casinos because of the smokers. We also, on some ships, don't patronize certain bars due to their proximity to the smoke smell. We stopped participating in slot pulls as well. We recently sailed on Celebrity and their casinos are all smoke free, the only smoking is out doors. So don't switch to them when you leave Royal, even though they match status. You'll be unhappy there too. Thanks to the non-smoking casino, I made a contribution daily to the Summit casino. Money that Royal will never see. There were plenty of people making sizeable daily contributions, all happy to do so in a clean environment. Also...Celebrity offers free drinks while you are actively playing. 😄 7 Baked Alaska, SpeedNoodles, MikeK and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Okgladgal 44 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 If they took smoking out of the casino, I'd spent WAY MORE time and money there! 6 YOLO, EmersonNZ, PatsFanBrian and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BB1 114 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 I do sympathize with smokers. It is an addiction, but maybe they could put a smoking area in close proximity to the casino. It is difficult to please everyone. The problem with smoking in particular is that it has such a big impact on everyone else around. 3 ellcee, MandyMooToo and Baked Alaska reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 19,391 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 The current smoking rules save me a fortune. I avoid the casino on all ships but Empress which is smoke free. I lose money on Empress so it's kind of an inverted blessing they allow smokers in the casino. 6 6 KathyC, USCG Teacher, PatsFanBrian and 9 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Srp431 87 Report post Posted November 5, 2019 I refuse to set foot in their casinos, I'd be happy to go gamble if they become smokefree 3 PatsFanBrian, Jjohnb and YOLO reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PatsFanBrian 139 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 5 hours ago, BB1 said: I would also like to add, when smoking was banned from all the bars and restaurants in my town, the businesses all went ballistic. There was all of this gloom and doom about losing the coveted smoker's business and loss of revenue that would result. What actually happened was basically nothing. That was always a myth perpetuated by the tobacco lobby. As you said, nothing changed except for a more pleasant experience for all the non-smokers. Even most sports stadiums don't allow smoking anymore. 4 EmersonNZ, YOLO, Jjohnb and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PatsFanBrian 139 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 Count me in with those who avoid the casino because of the smoke. I would spend time there if it was smoke free. 4 YOLO, EmersonNZ, Jjohnb and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phillo 62 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 i'm a smoker too and was very surprised to find that smoking is allowed in the casino's on most itineraries. I am more than happy to go outside and smoke to be honest. it stinks when its inside. As for banning it all together, i doubt that this will happen in the short term. 2 1 SpeedNoodles, Ray and ellcee reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathan_O 1 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 20 hours ago, BB1 said: I would also like to add, when smoking was banned from all the bars and restaurants in my town, the businesses all went ballistic. There was all of this gloom and doom about losing the coveted smoker's business and loss of revenue that would result. What actually happened was basically nothing. when land based Bars and restaurant that go non-smoking , weather by choice or law , the patrons still have the option to step outside to have a smoke. On a cruise no such option exists. If you ban it ship wide, until your at port guest would have to go "cold turkey", making sea day unbearable for some guests used to having multiple cigarettes a day . I don't see this happening (banning smoking ship wide ) 15% is a small percentage of the whole but those are the ones you admit they smoke, I know some who identify as a non-smoker but will have quite a few when drinking is involved 1 monctonguy reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Atlantix2000 253 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 I think most agree that banning smoking ship-wide is unlikely which is why most of these types of discussions end up focusing on the casino. I have no problem with ships having smoking areas (even an indoor one) but I do have a problem with a major public venue allowing smoking. Especially when most of Royal's casinos also function as a major passageway through the ship. 1 RWDW1204 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAAAYTOOO 6,983 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 Even Celebrity is not a 100% smoke-free line. They do not allow smoking inside anywhere but you can still smoke on certain outer deck areas. I feel quite certain that Royal would never try and go 100% smoke-free. 2 JLMoran and MikeK reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob&Ana 74 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 I also herd they were going smoke free inside the ships (no more smoking in the casino and the cigar lounges are all being converted to something else) There will still be smoking outside. I think Celebrity was the test and soon we will see this on more Royal ships.... I hope it's soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kontraxed 127 Report post Posted November 6, 2019 I like playing slots but not in these smoke filled casinos. Our next cruise is on the Celebrity Silhouette. It is my understanding that their casino is smoke free. I hope so! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
