I've been on the CC boards a bit more lately looking at port info. On the Regent board there is talk about Regent putting a ban on smoking in suites and on balconies starting next year. I don't smoke but several in my family do and we've already scheduled a 2007 cruise. Anyone else heard anything to this effect? Hope I do the link right to the thread.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=421742

I have found some of the stuff on CC to be pretty unreliable. However, if they do invoke a no smoking policy I will cancel and demand my money back.

I think that thread over on CC is just blowing smoke (pun intended). However, if Regent does start that policy, we'll also be cancelling several cruises.

I think it'd be terrific if there were smoking and non-smoking rooms. It would be fair to both smokers and non-smokers alike.

Ngaire thinks this is hogwash, but is meeting with her rssc rep today and will ask the pointed question. RSSC would have a lot of cancellations if they ever did this.

Thanks Doug and Ngaire!

Yes, thank you Ngaire!! Please report back to us. I was without computer/email most of the day yesterday so had some catching up to do on CC and LCT!

While I would be thrilled, personally, if there was a ship-wide smoking ban on RSSC cruises, I've never found it to be a problem for me. In our four previous cruises, I've never smelled smoke in our staterooms, nor has it been intrusive in any of the public areas.

I read somewhere that less than 20% of Americans smoke, and that recently even France is beginning to ban indoor smoking! Looks like a trend is developing.

Way back in 2000 when we were on NCL the staterooms on one side of the ship were non-smoking and the staterooms on the other side allowed smoking.

I did ask my rep and she said she had not heard anything about this. These rumors get started and take on a life of their own. I have never had any problems on the ship from smoke either. I think this is just a rumor and personally feel there is nothing to this at all.

Thanks Ngaire :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I really never was concerned - it came from a different board= J

Personally never bothered by cigarette smoke on a RSSC ship to date so doesn't make any difference to me one way or another. But definitely like knowing that I can still cruise with my smoking friends on RSSC! :D

Masaki

Thanks Ngaire - I doubted it was true but with a January cruise scheduled wanted to be sure. I know you can always get the correct answers!

I knew that had to be an unfounded rumor. Carnival tried banning smoking on one of its ships and I think even they gave up on the idea. We never noticed a problem while on MUSH

Actually, I think, but am not 100% sure at this point, that Carnival's Paradise is still a 100% smoke free ship.

I think Carnival wasn't able to keep the ship full enough so they gave up the 100% non-smoking idea.

I found this old bit of news:

Paradise

Glad to hear this from Dr. Mitch and Dr. Masaki! We "smokers" love cruising with you both (and of course Amanda and Bert too) and really do always try to obey all rules regarding smoking only where allowed. Hopefully, this is just a unfounded rumor that will blow over

Whoops I stand corrected. Thanks Andrea.

Watch out for the Pleasure Police! What's next - a no drinking ship (I think not)? Listen, the MUSH group was so hot, we were all smoking!
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It is unsettling to smoke around doctors your guilt level rises - Mitch and Masaki your kind words are appreciated -

I suspect that the amount of food (and drink)that many (O.K. most) people eat while they're on a cruise, is much worse for your health than the amount of second hand smoke you may encounter.

I have been following this topic with interest. My husband is a severe asthmatic and will go into an asthmatic attack if around smoking. After reading these posts I am worried about our March PG cruise. We have been around smokers and if they respect his problem with second hand smoke he no no problem. I am hoping that the smokers will be respectful (usually the case).

The only time I have had a problem with this was on my last cruise on the Mariner or in the Casino.

We have never had a problem with smokers on any of our Regent cruises. All the smoking passengers we have been with have been very considerate, and there are so many places to spend time on the ships that you can always be comfortable.

Just catching up with some of the threads here.

Alan and I are extremely sensitive to smoke, having never been smokers and both of us having upper respiratory problems. We've yet to experience one single problem on any of our Regent cruises.

The debate seems to have taken on a life of its own. Fortunately, for those who really are bothered by second-hand smoke, there are other options insofar as non-smoking cruises. No need for anyone to subject themselves to something they find so objectionable.

We're sticking with Regent. Their smoking policy has been a non-issue for us from the beginning.

Agree with many of the above posters - we have just never had a real problem and found the smokers to be very considerate. Will continue to cruise Regent as their policy is a non- issue for us as non smokers.

Agree also, there are other options out there.

This debate has definitely taken on a life of its own, and it will NEVER be solved on any board, or in any way - there will always be smokers, so the bottom line is we all have to get along and deal with things we may not want to, or that are different from what we think, but that is what makes the world go 'round.

Yikes - I need to quit now before I dig myself into some hole that I can't get out of because I've had one too many glasses of wine. all.

No problem JoAnn...not like we'd be cruising on Carnival anyway!

I gave up smoking >11 years ago, and have never found a problem on any RSSC ship, and we will reach Platinum level on our next cruise. All of our cruises on RSSC have been since I quit.

If need be, designate some suites as smoking, others as non-smoking, and keep the other rules "as is".

This sounds like another case of "If it ain't broke, break it!"