Cigars Onboard?

[James_Mc]

Hi guys, 

I'll be taking my first cruise aboard Independence OTS on Dec 6. I was wondering if there are places onboard where I can sit and enjoy a quality cigar and a drink. I'll be bringing a few from my own humidor and was planning to visit a shop in Nassau. 

[stevendom57]

If you are planning on buying some Cubans in Nassau I don't think they will let you board with them.

 

[tonyfsu21]

1 hour ago, James_Mc said:

Hi guys, 

I'll be taking my first cruise aboard Independence OTS on Dec 6. I was wondering if there are places onboard where I can sit and enjoy a quality cigar and a drink. I'll be bringing a few from my own humidor and was planning to visit a shop in Nassau. 

I believe they still do “cigars under the stars” on Indy which is probably as close as you can get to relaxing and smoking a cigar these days on a cruise ship. We just got off Harmony and ended up smoking a few cigars on the pool deck in the designated smoking area which was unfortunately the only decent option. It was still relaxing, especially if you smoke on a port day while most are off the ship and you get a nice chair positioned next to one of the windows overlooking the water. Long gone are the days of enjoying a cigar on your balcony and I will personally really miss this. Enjoy your cigar!

[James_Mc]

3 minutes ago, stevendom57 said:

If you are planning on buying some Cubans in Nassau I don't think they will let you board with them.

 

You are correct, there's still an embargo on Cuban-made cigars. My main question is whether there is a place onboard where I can enjoy a cigar. 

[dee02554]

We were on the Freedom of the Seas ( 02/2019), southern Caribbean out of San Juan ,  hubby purchased cubans in multiple ports and smoked them on the pool deck in the smoking section with out any issue . He is a very quite smoker ,   a book, a cigar and a couple fingers of bourbon and he'll sit there all day 

[Steve09]

We just disembarked from the Independence. There was one gentleman enjoying a cigar in the smoking section on the pool deck. Unfortunately, I could still smell it in the Solarium and found it quite bothersome.

[Zacharius]

17 hours ago, stevendom57 said:

If you are planning on buying some Cubans in Nassau I don't think they will let you board with them.

 

I imagine most of the places tourists go in Nassau would see more "Cuban" cigars rather than Cuban cigars. Places Americans tend to frequent are known for having fake Cuban cigars that are actually Dominican, Nicaraguan, Honduran, etc. They know a lot of Americans will pay a premium for Cuban cigars but not actually know they're fake. Not saying you can't find real Cuban cigars even in the touristy parts of Nassau, but buyer beware. 

 

[vanelli56]

19 hours ago, James_Mc said:

Hi guys, 

I'll be taking my first cruise aboard Independence OTS on Dec 6. I was wondering if there are places onboard where I can sit and enjoy a quality cigar and a drink. I'll be bringing a few from my own humidor and was planning to visit a shop in Nassau. 

About the only place you can enjoy one on the ship is the designated smoking area on the pool deck. 

Don't expect any high-end cigars in any of the shops near the docks in Nassau. But you can make your way up to Graycliff and tour their facility and purchase some from there.  

[AHollyS]

I was on a cruise where they had a "Puff and Puke" party the day before the end of the cruise.  Yes, the Cruise Director actually called it "Puff and Puke".  The purpose was to consume the Cubans before they were illegal.

[The Fox]

On 11/28/2021 at 4:30 PM, James_Mc said:

I was wondering if there are places onboard where I can sit and enjoy a quality cigar and a drink.

On Indy, as well as others, there is a smoking area on Deck 4, port side. It is a nice quiet area. Usually have lounge chairs after the first day.

[CruizIan]

Just got off Mariner and we enjoyed a cigar almost everyday. During the day or before dinner we would head up to the pool deck and you can get great service from the pool side bar staff while you enjoy your cigar and there are many different kinds of seating from loungers to table and chairs. They sell several midlevel cigars in the shop onboard but I would always steer clear as they are not a good deal.

I have never had anyone even look at cigars that I brought back onboard when they are just in your beach bag or whatever. So not sure about them "not" allowing them. I guess if you were really worried you could just take the bands off and no one would know the difference.

As a personal point of preference having had Cuban cigars and cigars from all over; they are not really the mythical beast that they were in the 1960's or even 1970's as has been told to me by cigar professionals as many of the Cuban families during the prolonged rule of communism have taken their methods and tobacco strains and left the country and created equally as good products in Central-American countries. That being said to each his own.

Final note on your Lighter that you take I did run into them having to review my "torch" lighter in Port Canaveral at boarding and they eventually cleared it because they said it was fine as long as it does not lock in the lit position.

Enjoy your cruise @James_Mc!

[WAYNO]

On 12/3/2021 at 10:04 AM, CruizIan said:

 

I have never had anyone even look at cigars that I brought back onboard when they are just in your beach bag or whatever. So not sure about them "not" allowing them. I guess if you were really worried you could just take the bands off and no one would know the difference.

As a personal point of preference having had Cuban cigars and cigars from all over; they are not really the mythical beast that they were in the 1960's or even 1970's as has been told to me by cigar professionals as many of the Cuban families during the prolonged rule of communism have taken their methods and tobacco strains and left the country and created equally as good products in Central-American countries. That being said to each his own.

 

I've brought Cuban cigars aboard, and in every case, the ship didn't care or stop me in any way.  They did say however, it would be unwise to take them thru Customs on the way out, as they are contraband. 

Lastly, I searched high and low at the ports for what I could believe were genuine Cuban cigars.  When I was convinced I was not being taken, I bought some five-packs in their tasteful rosewood boxes.  And just one time, the embargo was lifted long enough for me to bring some home.

 When I did finally smoke one or more, I agree they were not the cigars of long ago of which dreams were made.  A Nicaraguan cigar made of cubanito leaf can be as fine a cigar as I've ever experienced. 

On 12/3/2021 at 10:04 AM, CruizIan said:

 

 

[twangster]

If you go back decades and decades the Cuban cigar did warrant the attention it garnered.

However since that time the ability for a Cuban company to consistently produce great product has diminished while at the same time the ability for growers in nearby countries to achieve equal or better tobacco with more modern approaches has surpassed Cuban capabilities.  

There was a time when only France could produce good "fine" wine.  Since that time there is great wine to be found the world over.  Cigar tobacco is very similar.  

I've long had access to Cuban cigars through living in other countries.  Like any cigar there are good and not so good cigars from Cuba and other regions.  Ironically it's the US embargo against Cuban imports that makes Cuban cigars in demand in the US.  In other countries where Cuban cigars compete side by side with cigars from other regions many people are over the hype.  

[psternklar]

18 hours ago, CruizIan said:

 

Final note on your Lighter that you take I did run into them having to review my "torch" lighter in Port Canaveral at boarding and they eventually cleared it because they said it was fine as long as it does not lock in the lit position.

Enjoy your cruise @James_Mc!

Zippo lighters are ok.  The new fuel does not give the cigars a bad taste.  Happy puffing!

[James_Mc]

I ended up bringing a selection from my own humidor and enjoyed one the other night on Deck 4, Portside. Thank goodness for travel humidors! Since we're currently at sea today, I'll probably do the same thing this evening. I noticed there were several cigar smokers on deck, which was great to see! For those wondering, yes we've had an amazing time aboard the Independence! 

[James_Mc]

While in Nassau, I was approached by a local selling "Cuban" cigars. Since I know they're probably fake, I passed. Also of note, I was having a cigar in the casino and was informed by a crew member that I was not allowed to smoke a cigar in the casino. A lady sitting next to me mentioned that there was a Karen sitting behind us who complained about her smoking a cigarette....in the smoking area. I had no issues smoking a cigar on Deck 11, Port side. 

[Tom Walker]

Usually able to find a spot to have a cigar. Miss the balcony days. Cigar lounges are decent but I enjoy the outdoors while cruising. The “smoking” sections patrols are hit and miss. I was asked to move on last cruise(carnival) but explained not enough seating in cigar section at back of the ship, so he said just hide it and let me be. I’d rather be at the back and secluded if possible anyway. I’m very considerate of my smoke, unlike many cigarette smokers. And to differentiate between cigar and cigarette smoke is ridiculous. Just sayin. Going on RC in April and they have a lounge I’ve used several times before. It’s nice and was always open but as I said I hope to find a spot at the back to enjoy my smoke and tunes and sea. 

[Tom Walker]

No problem