ChatKat:

Your story provides us with a good example of the need for all to quit smoking and be able to avoid second hand smoke -- and also how difficult it is to quit. I am sorry for your loss.

Count Florida:

Your post is spot on. Even after the famous Surgeon General's report on the dangers of smoking in 1963, there remained some debate as to HOW dangerous it was. And nobody got any official warning about the second hand stuff untill the EPA report in the late 80's. This report also detailed that the dangers of direct smoking were much greater than detailed in the 1963 report, which was actually a little "weak" on the issue. This raises a real question as to when all of us should have known that this stuff is deadly.

Now, to clarify my position on what ships should do to maximize our protection from second hand smoke while still providing the maximum accomodation for those whose addiction is too strong (no fault of their own), here it is.

1. Ban smoking in ALL public areas of ships, and on balconies.

2. Allow smoking only in designated smoking rooms/suites. equip these suites with exhaust fans to the outside set to run, say, 3:30 AM to 4:30 AM.

This seems better for non smokers and smokers alike than the recent current trend to allow smoking in some public areas, while banning it in all srooms/suites. Under the lines' new policies, we are still exposed to second hand smoke in some public areas and some (casino) have become smoke filled. We shouldn't have to put up with that. On the other hand, smokers are banned from smoking in the place where it would harm others the least -- thier own smoking designated room/suite. This is also better because those guests who are in the process of quitting would not be exposed to even the sight of someone smoking -- which I know can be a temptation.

So it is not that I oppose more limitation of smoking on ships -- it is just that I believe that the lines are doing it "bass ackwards."