Cigars On Cruise

[jbo57]

I'm a little bummed tonight. I've been looking forward to this cruise for nine months. One of the things I was looking forward to was sitting on my balcony and enjoying a good cigar. Tonight I find out that you can smoke cigarettes on the balcony but not pipes or cigars. I've called them and verified this. Cigarettes only. I have no idea what kind of sense this makes, but I guess a rule is a rule. You can smoke cigars in the casino and the cigar bar...bummer.

[RightAJ]

What cruise line?

I went on RC recently and they had a Conissuers (sp?) lounge for cigar smokers... it was beautiful. Leather furniture and nice jazz music and drinks to order :D

Spent ALOT of time in there haha

Have fun!

aj

[Cigar_Noob]

That really doesn't make any sense...I honestly can't see what makes a Cigar or Pipe any more different from smoking a cigarette up there? other than the aroma of the smoke is much more pleasing ;)

[jbo57]

What cruise line?

I went on RC recently and they had a Conissuers (sp?) lounge for cigar smokers... it was beautiful. Leather furniture and nice jazz music and drinks to order :D

Spent ALOT of time in there haha

Have fun!

aj

Norwegian...and they have a cigar bar called the Corona. It just bums me because I was really looking forward to sitting on my balcony at night with a good cigar. I've been waiting nine months.

[Cigary]

It pays to check before you book your cruise. I just got back last Friday from my cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Carribean and they set aside 3 starboard floors where you can smoke cigars. Some of the ships even have a nice area set aside with leather chairs and library area ( Holland America ) and it's great. Some ships have gone NO SMOKING all over the ship.

[nayslayer]

wow, thats bullsh!t. Just tell them it's a big brown cigarette

[jbo57]

It pays to check before you book your cruise. I just got back last Friday from my cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Carribean and they set aside 3 starboard floors where you can smoke cigars. Some of the ships even have a nice area set aside with leather chairs and library area ( Holland America ) and it's great. Some ships have gone NO SMOKING all over the ship.

Yeah, I agree. We checked when we booked the cruise...but didn't ask the MAGIC question. We asked about smoking and we asked about balcony's, but we didn't ask about smoking CIGARS on the BALCONY. I still don't think it makes sense, but I'm sure they have SOME reason. I can smoke in the cigar bar.

[MedicCook]

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

[Cigar_Noob]

of ALL the balconies on this ship...who's really going to notice you smoke one ay? *hint hint*

[icehog3]

I would be spending every waking moment in the casino and cigar bar, my Brother. ;)

[Ashcan Bill]

We're leaving on an NCL cruise on Halloween. Trust me, I'll be smoking cigars on my balcony. :tu

[Cigary]

Yeah, I agree. We checked when we booked the cruise...but didn't ask the MAGIC question. We asked about smoking and we asked about balcony's, but we didn't ask about smoking CIGARS on the BALCONY. I still don't think it makes sense, but I'm sure they have SOME reason. I can smoke in the cigar bar.

I cruise at least twice a year for the last 15 years and have seen this anti cigar smoking deal coming. I talk with a lot of the reps from the cruiselines and here is the real deal on cigars. Most patrons do not like the smell,,,period. Cigarettes do not cause the same ire as cigars because it is more accepted,,,period. Casinos are there to bring in money so they will let cigarettes in there as cigar smokers are not a majority. Balconies while they are outside means that cigar smoke travels backwards towards other balconies where people want to be outside,,,so the complaints are really heavy for people who dont like cigar smoke who paid extra to go outside and then feel they are being penalized for having to breath cigar smoke.

Cruise lines do not want to put in exhaust systems to deal with the effects of cigar smoke and they do not want to give up space in a room where it isn't being used except for a few hours a day. Space is a premium on a ship and they want to utilize space so they can make money.


I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

They are now "fining" customers who smoke in their cabins where they aren't supposed to smoke and neighbor cabin members are calling the desk to complain even more about their neighbors smoking on the balconies. I should know because the ships I have been on were ok with the policy of having cigars out there. I have been reported on Holland America, Carnival, Queen Mary 2, Princess Cruise Lines and it's only getting worse. This is why the cruise lines are slowly making their ships smoke free.

[jbo57]

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

I floated that suggestion with the Mrs. and that's a really big no-go. ;) I'll probably talk to someone when we get on the cruise to see if it's just one of those things they put in the book or if they are really serious about it...but if they are serious, I'll probably be spending some time in the cigar bar.

[tobii3]

We're leaving on an NCL cruise on Halloween. Trust me, I'll be smoking cigars on my balcony. :tu

Did an NCL cruise a few years back - If they do the Cigars Under the Stars any more....you'll have a BLAST!

Did the Disney Cruise (7 day) earlier this year - didn't have a balcony, had the 6ft porthole window - and spent most of my time on the 9th or 10th deck. No complaints here!!

[jbo57]

of ALL the balconies on this ship...who's really going to notice you smoke one ay? *hint hint*

My wife...my sister in law...my other sister in law...and my luck, every cruise employee and they would probably fly in a special cigar cop... :)

[DPD6030]

Sorry to hear that. How are they going to know if you smoke a cigar on your balcony though. I would do it anyways.

[jbo57]

I cruise at least twice a year for the last 15 years and have seen this anti cigar smoking deal coming. I talk with a lot of the reps from the cruiselines and here is the real deal on cigars. Most patrons do not like the smell,,,period. Cigarettes do not cause the same ire as cigars because it is more accepted,,,period. Casinos are there to bring in money so they will let cigarettes in there as cigar smokers are not a majority. Balconies while they are outside means that cigar smoke travels backwards towards other balconies where people want to be outside,,,so the complaints are really heavy for people who dont like cigar smoke who paid extra to go outside and then feel they are being penalized for having to breath cigar smoke.

Cruise lines do not want to put in exhaust systems to deal with the effects of cigar smoke and they do not want to give up space in a room where it isn't being used except for a few hours a day. Space is a premium on a ship and they want to utilize space so they can make money.




They are now "fining" customers who smoke in their cabins where they aren't supposed to smoke and neighbor cabin members are calling the desk to complain even more about their neighbors smoking on the balconies. I should know because the ships I have been on were ok with the policy of having cigars out there. I have been reported on Holland America, Carnival, Queen Mary 2, Princess Cruise Lines and it's only getting worse. This is why the cruise lines are slowly making their ships smoke free.

Thank you, my friend. That is the best and most concise explanation of what's going on. I appreciate it. It was a much better explanation than what I got from the NCL rep that I called. He told me to call their travel agent who would be much more up to speed than him. I'm not one to "rock the boat"...so to speak...and I am a believer in following the rules. If the rule is no cigars on balconies...I'll swallow hard and give up what I've been looking forward to for nine months. I'm sure I'll still have fun but I'm sure I'll spend more time in the Corona than I had planned.

[DPD6030]

This is why the cruise lines are slowly making their ships smoke free.

This will never happen at least on Carnival. They tried it and lost their butts on revenue. They do have smoke free spa rooms though. So what happened when you were "reported" on the cruise lines for smoking?
Oh and I'm on the very aft of the ship, the only one that can smell me is most likely well me. :D

[jbo57]

Did an NCL cruise a few years back - If they do the Cigars Under the Stars any more....you'll have a BLAST!

Did the Disney Cruise (7 day) earlier this year - didn't have a balcony, had the 6ft porthole window - and spent most of my time on the 9th or 10th deck. No complaints here!!

They don't have anything about "cigars under the stars" in any of their promotions, but I'll keep an eye out for it in their newsletter when I get on board. thanks

[Cigar_Noob]

If you really need to smoke a Cigar on the balcony smoke this
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GTzihxaUwBc/Sf4Uzbm4plI/AAAAAAAAAgE/QufzT-7D81Y/s400/Garcia+y+Vega+English+Corona.jpg
Smells and tastes just like a cigarette:r:r:r

[Ashcan Bill]

Did an NCL cruise a few years back - If they do the Cigars Under the Stars any more....you'll have a BLAST!


I've done that years back and it was great, though I don't know if they still do it. I don't recall it on the last couple of cruises I was on.

The ship we're on has a beautiful cigar lounge, so I'll most likely be spending a fair amount of time there.

As far as smoking on balconies, it's a judgment call. If I know people are out and to the stern of me where they'll get the smoke, I don't light up. On this trip, we have an aft cabin with only a couple of cabins further back than us, so I'm not anticipating much problem. I try to be considerate, and haven't had a problem on a cruise yet.

[jbo57]

If you really need to smoke a Cigar on the balcony smoke this
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GTzihxaUwBc/Sf4Uzbm4plI/AAAAAAAAAgE/QufzT-7D81Y/s400/Garcia+y+Vega+English+Corona.jpg
Smells and tastes just like a cigarette:r:r:r

lol... That would defeat the purpose. The reason I smoke cigars is because they do NOT taste like cigarettes. :)

[jwfish81]

I guess the less cigars you get to smoke on the cruise, the more you will have down the road, say December! Hope you and the mrs still enjoy a much needed vacation, I'm sure.

[jbo57]

I guess the less cigars you get to smoke on the cruise, the more you will have down the road, say December! Hope you and the mrs still enjoy a much needed vacation, I'm sure.

Thanks...but I'm not sure it works that way. :)

[Blueface]

Well, I have a cruise on RC in December and have plans as always to smoke cigars on my balcony.
I always make sure the door stays closed so the smoke or odor does not go into the room.

If someone next to me or around me happens to complain, which will be a first if it does happen, by the time RC personnel knock on my door, that I snip the lit end off my cigar and put it in a zip lock bag and hide it, that I quickly spray Fabreeze, that my wife makes it to the door to open it but first, that I go in the bathroom and act as if taking a dump, that they mention something about someone smoking cigars in our balcony, my wife will simply say she has no freaking idea what they are talking about and why is it that they are bothering her as she naps and bothering me as I take a dump.

Take note of above possible scenario if you are really concerned about their policy.;)

[Blueface]

BTW,
You cannot take alcohol onboard with you.:rolleyes:

But you can take Pedialite in case you get sick. Hmmm.....;)

[CigarNut]

...
They are now "fining" customers who smoke in their cabins where they aren't supposed to smokeThis makes sense -- it takes a lot of extra effort to get the smoke smell out of the room especially if stogies and ashes have been left sitting; they have a very short time to clean the roon and turn it around for the next cruise.

Smoking on the balcony is an entirely different thing, and I don't think that they are going to go out of there way to find and fine you.

I've been on a number of Disney cruises and they allow smoking on the balconies and they also have a nice smoking area in the 9th deck near the adult pool, and the 10th deck above the pool (on deck they do limit smoking to the starboard side so non-smokers can stay away if they are so inclined).

[DoctorBJ]

BTW,
You cannot take alcohol onboard with you.:rolleyes:

But you can take Pedialite in case you get sick. Hmmm.....;)

Genius!:banger

[DoctorBJ]

If the issue is about the smoke travilng back, what happens if you were to light up at the back end of the ship?

[Blueface]

Genius!:banger

Gets better.
White/clear booze like Vodka, regular, clear non flavored is the way to go.
Infuse your vodka with fruits do you? Gets a strawberry color?
Hmm......there is the Fruit Punch flavored one available.:r

Oh, you don't want to spend $5 on Pedialite and carefully cut the bottom edge of the plastic seal so when you put the cap back it back on it does not look opened?
Happen to have a different colored drink need? No problem.
Gatorade to replace medically needed electrolytes anyone?

You can tell I have been on way too many cruises.:r
Can't imagine smoking as a hurdle coming even remotely close to the above. Just don't smoke in the room and don't give the smoke a chance to get into the room. Oh, and pack Fabreeze.

[Blueface]

Let's go ahead and add the "you can't take an iron" to this one as all related.
Sure, you can't.
I use to ignore that one too but then decided to conform out of sheer kindness.
So what did I do? Bought a great travel steamer for around $30. Don't recall the rules saying anything about that. My stuff is always wrinkle free as result:D

Let's see, what else is it we can't do...................hmmmm...........thinking. :)

Oh yeah, wine.
Wonder how those two bottles of 20 yr tawny port always follow me on board.
Hmmm......
Wonder how they make it to the table and opened by the waiter and no corkage fee.
Hmmm......
I can share that too but can't give away ALL my secrets.:r

Will have to admit that while they are all tough on checked in luggage (hint if not checked it, what is it?), NCL is the toughest on that.
Took quite a few bottles on my son but they just hang on to it until the end of the trip then give them to you.

Bring your cigars, sit back, enjoy and don't worry about it up front before you get there.
There is always a way to skin a cat.

[kenstogie]

I would smoke on the balcony and if anything came of it I would play dumb.

[DoctorBJ]

[QUOTE=Blueface;608560]Gets better.

Oh, you don't want to spend $5 on Pedialite and carefully cut the bottom edge of the plastic seal so when you put the cap back it back on it does not look opened?
Happen to have a different colored drink need? No problem.
Gatorade to replace medically needed electrolytes anyone?

QUOTE]

Hm.. I'll have to think on the getting into a bottle without breaking the seal. Also, can you think of a flavor of gatorade that looks like whiskey? I'm stuck on that one. :(

[ade06]

[QUOTE=Blueface;608560]Gets better.

Oh, you don't want to spend $5 on Pedialite and carefully cut the bottom edge of the plastic seal so when you put the cap back it back on it does not look opened?
Happen to have a different colored drink need? No problem.
Gatorade to replace medically needed electrolytes anyone?

QUOTE]

Hm.. I'll have to think on the getting into a bottle without breaking the seal. Also, can you think of a flavor of gatorade that looks like whiskey? I'm stuck on that one. :(

I just put my booze in colored plastic water bottles and carry them aboard. Never had a problem.

[newlifetaxidermy]

I just pack the liquor bottles in my suitcase....never had a problem! Last time, we carried 2-750mLs and 6 pints.

[T.G]

Hm.. I'll have to think on the getting into a bottle without breaking the seal. Also, can you think of a flavor of gatorade that looks like whiskey? I'm stuck on that one. :(

Use a sharp razor blade on the tabs that connect the ring to the cap and reseal with the tiniest dot of krazy glue.

A few dark colored rootbeer bottles might work for the whiskey.

[Blueface]

Hm.. I'll have to think on the getting into a bottle without breaking the seal. Also, can you think of a flavor of gatorade that looks like whiskey? I'm stuck on that one. :(

Too easy.
Plastic bottle of Apple Juice that I need for medical reasons and they don't have on board readily available for my stateroom.

Remember, when doing check in luggage scans, the cruise line checks contents of bags via a large airport type x-ray machine used for luggage when checked in at the airport also.
These guys are generally employees of the cruise line and are trained to look for bottles that look like booze. They are not really looking for bottles of gatorade or other similar stuff.

The folks checking the carry on stuff are generally port employees, not cruise line, at least from the three ports I have used. They don't care what the heck you bring as long as it is not a weapon and you smile. I always smile as they see my bottles of port. One time was asked, told them it was a special anniversary bottle for the table for the wife and he had just blown the surprise as she was next to me. He turned red, apologized profusely and let me on my way.:r

[DoctorBJ]

One time was asked, told them it was a special anniversary bottle for the table for the wife and he had just blown the surprise as she was next to me. He turned red, apologized profusely and let me on my way.:r


Well played. :tu:tu

[Blueface]

Well played. :tu:tu

The funny thing is that no matter how many cigars I take on a cruise or how much booze/port/wine I can get in, I manage to drop an average of $150 a day between all my on board drinking, buying bottles at the table, buying bottles to bring home, cigar purchases and excursions.
No one should feel sorry for them. They do well with me as 5th cruise in 12 months coming up in December.:D

BTW,
The tip for opening bottles at the table with no corkage fee.
Simple.
The minute I get to the dinner table, I advance tip the waiter, assistant and head waiter. I let them know when the cruise is over, will tip them some more if they make it a memorable time for us. Amazing what that will get you.
In three cruises this year on the same ship, they all knew my wife and I and all were incredible with us knowing money was given up front and more to be given at the end. Basically the waiters from the first trip told the ones from the second and the two told the third to look out for money.
Those poor guys will do the world for you if you treat them well. Not something all do. Some folks cut out on tip night to avoid it. Hurts me to see that.

[jbo57]

And in conclusion... :)

I have read your posts and appreciated the feedback. I'm a firm believer in making sure that cigar smokers don't get a bad name. So, if the rule is no smoking cigars on the balcony, I won't smoke on the balcony. I don't agree with it, but that's the rule. I'll put on my smoking clothes and head down to the cigar bar or I'll go out to the aft deck...I'll find a place to enjoy a cigar, but I'll follow the rules.

Concerning taking alcohol on board...that's not an issue since I gave up drinking about 32 years ago. Thanks everybody for the input and help! I needed a place to vent.

[Darrell]

Tell them to pound sand!

What are they going to say? "Don't make me turn this boat around, Mister!"

;)

[CigarNut]

BTW,
You cannot take alcohol onboard with you.:rolleyes:

But you can take Pedialite in case you get sick. Hmmm.....;)Actually, you can take alcohol on board -- in your checked baggage. Which is how you have to travel with alcohol these days anyway, since you cannot carry more than 3oz of anything on to an airplane.

Several people on my last cruise did this and it worked out fine for them.

Just need to make sure you finish it before the end of the cruise (:D) as you may run into open container issues later on...

[CigarNut]

...
Remember, when doing check in luggage scans, the cruise line checks contents of bags via a large airport type x-ray machine used for luggage when checked in at the airport also.
These guys are generally employees of the cruise line and are trained to look for bottles that look like booze. They are not really looking for bottles of gatorade or other similar stuff.
...Depending upon the cruise line they don't care if you bring alcohol onboard. I know that many people have brought alcohol aboard the Disney ships.

[Blueface]

Depending upon the cruise line they don't care if you bring alcohol onboard. I know that many people have brought alcohol aboard the Disney ships.

Beg to differ.
NONE of them condone alcohol as that is where they truly make their money, at the bar.
All post that clearly for all to see online and in the package you receive when you book your cruise.
All will generally confiscate your booze and hold it until the last night or morning of departure.
If they choose to, can refuse to allow you to board, period.
You ARE allowed to bring wine on board and present it at the dinner table for a corkage fee.
Do folks bring booze on checked in luggage? Yeah, of course. Do all get nailed? Nope. Is it openly allowed? No way.

[Blueface]

And in conclusion... :)

I have read your posts and appreciated the feedback. I'm a firm believer in making sure that cigar smokers don't get a bad name. So, if the rule is no smoking cigars on the balcony, I won't smoke on the balcony. I don't agree with it, but that's the rule. I'll put on my smoking clothes and head down to the cigar bar or I'll go out to the aft deck...I'll find a place to enjoy a cigar, but I'll follow the rules.

Come on!!!
You can do it!!!
Do you ever go one mile over the speed limit?
If this balcony issue was one similar to no smoking in your room, or no smoking in the dining room, or no smoking wherever there are groups of folks congregating, would agree.
On a balcony? Wait to you get there and see how seldom anyone uses a balcony. That rule would never stop me and would not feel bad about it.
It is an idiotic one.

[Cigary]

Thank you, my friend. That is the best and most concise explanation of what's going on. I appreciate it. It was a much better explanation than what I got from the NCL rep that I called. He told me to call their travel agent who would be much more up to speed than him. I'm not one to "rock the boat"...so to speak...and I am a believer in following the rules. If the rule is no cigars on balconies...I'll swallow hard and give up what I've been looking forward to for nine months. I'm sure I'll still have fun but I'm sure I'll spend more time in the Corona than I had planned.

Just check with the cruiseline and get an up to date policy of their cigar smoking and where you can smoke. This policy seems to change with the wind so you have to ask the right questions as to what floors, balconies, if they have a designated cigar room, etc etc.

This will never happen at least on Carnival. They tried it and lost their butts on revenue. They do have smoke free spa rooms though. So what happened when you were "reported" on the cruise lines for smoking?
Oh and I'm on the very aft of the ship, the only one that can smell me is most likely well me. :D

I'ts already happend with Carnival and as you said it is an ever changing policy. Their newest ship to come aboard is a completely NON SMOKING ship so don't get too comfortable with the idea that NON SMOKING ships are a thing of the past. My reps are telling me that there is constant complaining from non smokers on just about every cruise and as we all know the squeeky wheel gets the grease. The smart cruisers pick the aft balcony cabins to smoke their cigars,,,just like me.
BTW,
You cannot take alcohol onboard with you.:rolleyes:

But you can take Pedialite in case you get sick. Hmmm.....;)

LOL,,,you can pack as many 3 ounce bottles that will fit into a quart bag like I did and that is approximately 7 bottles.

If the issue is about the smoke travilng back, what happens if you were to light up at the back end of the ship?

The issue is where you can smoke and if there isn't a policy in place that says you can't smoke on your balcony then you are free to smoke on any balcony you want to. I have had balconies in the front, middle and aft and still got complaints from the neighbors by them slamming their doors, coughing, whining and everything else. I even had the stewards knock on my door to see if there was a compromise to the issue and I told him there were two things I would accept: 1) That the neighbor could move to another cabin 2) That the neighbor could get off the boat at the next port.

He just laughed and knew there wasn't anything the cruiseline could do because there wasn't a NO SMOKING policy on balconies.

FYI,,,,you have to understand that the cabin stewards will report to their station Rep's any indication of any smoking materials if you are in a NO SMOKING room even if you don't light up. Carnival kicks off at least 1 to 2 cabins a week on their cruises for people who have smoking materials in their room. They just don't broadcast it to any as much as they come in with a sealed tape over the door and kick you off. Forewarned is forearmed!

[Blueface]

From NCL's website.

We want you to be comfortable on board, so public areas throughout all NCL ships are smoke free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so in your stateroom, on your balcony, in the casino or Cigar Bar (where available). If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Also, you can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks (just not around food venues, sport decks, kids' pool areas and other designated non-smoking areas).

I consider a balcony outside and consider it an open deck.
I never saw this as an issue and this proves.
Can't phantom someone not complaining about cigarettes yet complaining about cigars, on a balcony, where the wind is blowing nearly off the ship.
An attorney in the house, please translate the parenthesis part as that clearly says to me, it is perfectly OK.
DUDE, light up and enjoy!!! Life is short.

[DrDubzz]

on Royal Carribean, there's a smoking side and a non-smoking side. So if you want to smoke, you can simply go to the starboard side of the ship and sit on the deck chairs out there, or go to the port side for smoke free relaxation.

plus there was the cigar bar after 9pm in the library

[Cigary]

From NCL's website.

We want you to be comfortable on board, so public areas throughout all NCL ships are smoke free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so in your stateroom, on your balcony, in the casino or Cigar Bar (where available). If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Also, you can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks (just not around food venues, sport decks, kids' pool areas and other designated non-smoking areas).

I consider a balcony outside and consider it an open deck.
I never saw this as an issue and this proves.
Can't phantom someone not complaining about cigarettes yet complaining about cigars, on a balcony, where the wind is blowing nearly off the ship.
An attorney in the house, please translate the parenthesis part as that clearly says to me, it is perfectly OK.
DUDE, light up and enjoy!!! Life is short.

You are right about what they say on NCL,,,but remember, you are crusing on NCL which doesn't have the best rating so you might want to consider this when picking any cruiseline.

Name Score

07 08
1 1 Crystal Cruises 90.67
2 2 Regent Seven Seas Cruises 88.71
3 4 Disney Cruise Line 82.50
4 3 Oceania Cruises 81.32
5 5 Cunard Line 80.07
6 6 Celebrity Cruises 78.37
7 7 Holland America 77.92
8 8 Princess Cruises 75.80
9 9 Royal Caribbean 73.09
10 - 10 Norwegian Cruise Line 68.26


on Royal Carribean, there's a smoking side and a non-smoking side. So if you want to smoke, you can simply go to the starboard side of the ship and sit on the deck chairs out there, or go to the port side for smoke free relaxation.

plus there was the cigar bar after 9pm in the library

You are correct except that on some of RC boats the library isn't used anymore for cigar smoking as the same for the Viking Lounge.

[Blueface]

You are correct except that on some of RC boats the library isn't used anymore for cigar smoking as the same for the Viking Lounge.

Say it ain't so.
Going on the Navigator of the Seas in December. They have a nice Library with cigars and great high end cigar booze.
I have evolved to loving RC and sit on their deck and smoke away, on the smoker side. Have never had an issue. Have gone the last 7 or 8 or so cruises with them. Also enjoy my morning pot of coffee with a PC on my balcony.

[Cigary]

Say it ain't so.
Going on the Navigator of the Seas in December. They have a nice Library with cigars and great high end cigar booze.
I have evolved to loving RC and sit on their deck and smoke away, on the smoker side. Have never had an issue. Have gone the last 7 or 8 or so cruises with them. Also enjoy my morning pot of coffee with a PC on my balcony.

Not all of the RC ships have a ban. Call your rep and ensure that the Viking Lounge will be open because I know they closed it on the Majesty of the Seas to all cigars and cigarettes. The Navigator is a nice boat and you will enjoy it and the last time I was on it they allowed cigars in the lounge but the way some things go,,,call ahead. Love the morning pot of "Joe" on the balcony and breakfast. I brought 20 cigars with me on my short 4 night cruise and smoked every single one of them.:tu

[Random Guy]

My wife and I went on a cruise to Alaska on the Norwegian Star in 2007. I smoked cigars on the outside deck and on an upper level with the pool. No one said anything to me. We didn't have a balcony though. The cigar bar was empty all the time.

[jbo57]

Come on!!!
You can do it!!!
Do you ever go one mile over the speed limit?
If this balcony issue was one similar to no smoking in your room, or no smoking in the dining room, or no smoking wherever there are groups of folks congregating, would agree.
On a balcony? Wait to you get there and see how seldom anyone uses a balcony. That rule would never stop me and would not feel bad about it.
It is an idiotic one.

I FULLY understand your position. If it were a matter that there were no place to enjoy my cigar, then I might be inclined to go along with you. However, that's not the case and I think that I'll do my part to make sure cigar smokers keep their good reputation for not infringing on other people's rights. :D And, yes, the rule may be idiotic...but if everyone just follows the rules they agree with there would be anarchy. Plus...my wife told me I couldn't smoke out there. :D

[jbo57]

From NCL's website.

We want you to be comfortable on board, so public areas throughout all NCL ships are smoke free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so in your stateroom, on your balcony, in the casino or Cigar Bar (where available). If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Also, you can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks (just not around food venues, sport decks, kids' pool areas and other designated non-smoking areas).

I consider a balcony outside and consider it an open deck.
I never saw this as an issue and this proves.
Can't phantom someone not complaining about cigarettes yet complaining about cigars, on a balcony, where the wind is blowing nearly off the ship.
An attorney in the house, please translate the parenthesis part as that clearly says to me, it is perfectly OK.
DUDE, light up and enjoy!!! Life is short.

I already checked and they do not consider a balcony an outside deck. Cigarettes can be smoked...cigars have their own room.

[Whee]

I FULLY understand your position. If it were a matter that there were no place to enjoy my cigar, then I might be inclined to go along with you. However, that's not the case and I think that I'll do my part to make sure cigar smokers keep their good reputation for not infringing on other people's rights. :D And, yes, the rule may be idiotic...but if everyone just follows the rules they agree with there would be anarchy. Plus...my wife told me I couldn't smoke out there. :D

Always a much higher authority than any corporate establishment.:D

[Blueface]

Plus...my wife told me I couldn't smoke out there. :D

Why didn't you say so before?
Now THAT is a rule one must follow.:r
Smart man!
Only way I have lasted 33 years with my wife is by either obeying her rules OR letting her think I do.:r

[Damon]

I was on an NCL cruise last year and had no problem smoking cigars on the balcony - looking to book a second - if they changed there policy that may change the line on book on.

[jbo57]

Well, got back from the cruise yesterday. NCL was a very, very good experience. Believe it or not, I didn't miss smoking on the balcony for a second. In fact, I might not have smoked there even if I could. I loved the cigar lounge, talked to a lot of people there and felt like a king. (You know the saying, "in a world gone blind, the one eyed man is king.") A lot of folks down there who are not regular cigar smokers who need a little advice.

They sell cigars down there, but the selection isn't much as far as quantity, but the quality is pretty good. They had flavored cigars, but I didn't see anybody smoking them. They had two sizes of Davidoff's; Fuente's; Macanudos; D.R. Cohiba's; the prices were in the $6-13 range.

It was great sitting back and relaxing in a leather chair with a good cigar and having JFK; George Burns; Babe Ruth; Lou Gherig; Milton Bearl; Winston Churchill; Groucho Marx; and Sigmund Freud staring at you. :) I highly recommend the Norwegien Cruises...they were good to me.

[CigarNut]

That's great! I am glad that you had a really good experience and enjoyed yourself!

[Blueface]

Awesome.
I LOVE CRUISING!!!
Can't wait for my upcoming one.
Very nice cigar lounge on this ship I am going on.

[CigarNut]

Awesome.
I LOVE CRUISING!!!
Can't wait for my upcoming one.
Very nice cigar lounge on this ship I am going on.My wife and I love it too -- and we got our friends addicted! :D

My wife and I are going on a Transatlantic from Orlando to Barcelona in the spring on the Disney Magic, and then we are going on the maiden voyage of the new Disney Dream in January 2011! Best of all, the new Disney Dream has a cigar lounge (not that I mind using my verandah or the deck, but it is always nice to have a "special place" with comfy chairs, etc.:ss)

[We cruise on Disney a lot since we have a timeshare with them, and we can use our timeshare for cruising!]

[Blueface]

My wife and I love it too -- and we got our friends addicted! :D

My wife and I are going on a Transatlantic from Orlando to Barcelona in the spring on the Disney Magic, and then we are going on the maiden voyage of the new Disney Dream in January 2011! Best of all, the new Disney Dream has a cigar lounge (not that I mind using my verandah or the deck, but it is always nice to have a "special place" with comfy chairs, etc.:ss)

[We cruise on Disney a lot since we have a timeshare with them, and we can use our timeshare for cruising!]

That sounds awesome.
I went on one Disney cruise and found them to be nothing shy of outstanding.
Like anything Disney does, their ships are a truly nice and what a great experience for the kids.

[cabinets]

That sounds awesome.
I went on one Disney cruise and found them to be nothing shy of outstanding.
Like anything Disney does, their ships are a truly nice and what a great experience for the kids.

Here here! Been on two Disney Cruises. Outstanding. I recently went on a Carnival Cruise (in July) and had a suite. I didn't ask, so I just smoked on my balcony. Glad I didn't think to ask. They probably would have said no.:ss

[jbo57]

I'm hoping this works out right. I've never tried to attach anything on this board. If it works, you can see the relaxing atmosphere of the cigar lounge on the Pearl. I also remembered that they have Montecristo's and Partagas tubos for sale.

[Don Fernando]

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

:tpd:

[jbo57]

This is a picture of the inside of a souvenir shop in St. Thomas American Virgin Islands. I found the people there to be really nice. This walk in humidor was pretty good, although I really didn't care much for the guy behind the counter's knowledge...but that's just me. I didn't buy any cigars here, I went down to another place with a smaller humidor. The smaller humidor had open boxes of Opus', tins of Opus'; Fuente's; Padrons; and five packs of a cigar from Barbados that uses Cuban filler tobacco. (Royal Barbados maybe.) Anyway, my wife shopped for purses; tshirts; etc...and I shopped for cigars...seemed about right. :)

[jbo57]

:tpd:

Hey Don...long time, no see. I understand, I just like to present cigar smokers in the best light possible...and I loved the lounge. Open 24 hrs...didn't have to buy anything...and the chairs were much more comfortable than the chairs on the balcony.

[Don Fernando]

Yeah, you're never in chat anymore Jim :)

Never been on a cruise, I should go on one someday

[Blueface]

Never been on a cruise, I should go on one someday

I too use to say that.
One day, did it.
Since then, hooked!!!

[jbo57]

Yeah, you're never in chat anymore Jim :)

Never been on a cruise, I should go on one someday

This was our first. I loved Norwegian because of the "freestyle" cruising. Eat when you want with whoever you want as much as you want. My kind of cruise. The only problem is I liked the cigar lounge so much that I REALLY KILLED my humidor. Plus, I learned that when I come back in through customs...tell them that I bought the cigars on the ship. I got stopped because they wanted to take a look at my Nicaraguan cigars. Not fun when you've got about 5000 people behind you wanting to get through customs and they are making you dig through your carry on bag to find your humidor and show them SIX cigars! :D

[Don Fernando]

hehe, its a good thing that Dutch customs didn't stop me when I came back from the US. I am allowed to bring in 50 cigars and 1 liter of alcohol. I had about 150 and 3 liters :r

[memnoc]

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.

I would have to agree...

[CigarNut]

I would probably still smoke on the balcony.
I would have to agree...I agree as well. It's nice to have multiple choices.

On my cruise my favorite bartender would make me a nice drink in the evening (single malt scotch or tequila; usually a double) which I would take back to my room and enjoy on the balacony with a cigar and a good book. The great thing about the balacony is that you can leave the hustle-and-bustle of the ship behind for some peace and quiet.

[Caymus]

I went on the MSC Orchestra in the spring. It had a great Cigar Lounge. I met the author the "Fodor's Guide to Cruising" in the lounge, as she and her husband happened to be on the cruise reviewing the ship. They said it was the nicest cigar lounge on the seas, regardless of price (they've been on just about every ship). It is an Italian line, and I guess they never got around to clearing out the humidor when repositioning to the U.S. They had CCs available and even had Havana Club rum at the bar. Best of all, this was a very low price cruise, but it was great.

[Blueface]

I agree as well. It's nice to have multiple choices.

On my cruise my favorite bartender would make me a nice drink in the evening (single malt scotch or tequila; usually a double) which I would take back to my room and enjoy on the balacony with a cigar and a good book. The great thing about the balacony is that you can leave the hustle-and-bustle of the ship behind for some peace and quiet.

That is the essence of it right there.

I also very much enjoy the ocean breeze and nothing but water ahead of you when spending the days at sea, sitting in the balcony early mornings, with a pot of coffee or two delivered to my room, and just float off into who knows where land. Wife is usually still asleep and it is the most quiet, all to myself, nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to speak to time I can think of. It truly makes my trip.

Then of course, the cigar lounges and deck smoking areas are also places for me to enjoy but they generally have hustle and bustle.

[jbo57]

hehe, its a good thing that Dutch customs didn't stop me when I came back from the US. I am allowed to bring in 50 cigars and 1 liter of alcohol. I had about 150 and 3 liters :r

I think I was allowed 200 cigars...and I had SIX! lol I think the guy thought I was trying to get something past him...but...if I was trying to get something past him, I doubt if I would have declared them on the form! :D

[jbo57]

I agree as well. It's nice to have multiple choices.

On my cruise my favorite bartender would make me a nice drink in the evening (single malt scotch or tequila; usually a double) which I would take back to my room and enjoy on the balacony with a cigar and a good book. The great thing about the balacony is that you can leave the hustle-and-bustle of the ship behind for some peace and quiet.

I can respect that...the one thing I noticed was that I never felt crowded or caught up in the hustle and bustle. I was shocked because I thought I would always feel crowded, but didn't. The biggest number of people in the lounge at one time was 8. There were also times when I was in there by myself, although most of the time the number varied between 2-6.

[jbo57]

I went on the MSC Orchestra in the spring. It had a great Cigar Lounge. I met the author the "Fodor's Guide to Cruising" in the lounge, as she and her husband happened to be on the cruise reviewing the ship. They said it was the nicest cigar lounge on the seas, regardless of price (they've been on just about every ship). It is an Italian line, and I guess they never got around to clearing out the humidor when repositioning to the U.S. They had CCs available and even had Havana Club rum at the bar. Best of all, this was a very low price cruise, but it was great.

You brought up something very interesting to me. The ship we sailed on was owned by Norwegians and based out of Barbados. I thought that there would be a lot of CC's for sale, but there were none. I can understand that they would not have them for sale when the ship was in U.S. waters, but I thought they would be available when the ship was in international waters or a foreign port. I didn't miss them, and I'm sure there is a good legal reason for why it was this way, but I was surprised.

[Santesyu]

Dang that sucks ;3 whats stopping you from somking it anyway what can they do kick you off in the middle of the ocean?

[Cigary]

Dang that sucks ;3 whats stopping you from somking it anyway what can they do kick you off in the middle of the ocean?

Reports I get from Representatives is that you will be charged an extra $250 on your account because of them having to clean and "fumigate" your cabin and one cruise line actually kicked people off when they arrived at the next port. It was a woman with two teenage kids I think who were smoking inside their cabin and the steward turned them in and confiscated the cigarettes while he was cleaning the room.

[DPD6030]

:hm I'm thinking my 18 count should work out good for December cruise. Just under 3 per day.

[CigarNut]

I'm thinking my 18 count should work out good for December cruise. Just under 3 per day.I plan on 5 per day -- especially for sea days.

:ss:ss:ss:ss:ss

[DPD6030]

I plan on 5 per day -- especially for sea days.


:tu I just don't want to bring any back and have customs check my herf-a-dor :2

[Cigary]

Take the bands off and put em in your wallet and when you get home put the bands back on. Never seen a TSA person yet who can tell an unbanded cuban from a ball point pen.

[CigarNut]

:tu I just don't want to bring any back and have customs check my herf-a-dor :2I don't bring any back :)

[Ashcan Bill]

Well, we just returned from our cruise down the Baja side of Mexico. Great weather, excellent ship and staff, and some wonderful cigars. One reason I enjoy cruises is because I have the time to light up bigger cigars, and then sit back and really appreciate them.

I smoked mostly larger Churchill cigars this trip, and even fired up a Lusi on my birthday. :tu I think the smallest cigar I smoked the entire trip was a robusto, which is a big change for me.

Sad news from Cabo though. Hemmingway's, one of two LCDH distributors there, has shut down. The building has a large for rent sign across it now.

Thank goodness we have another cruise booked for March. :ss

[Blueface]

:hm I'm thinking my 18 count should work out good for December cruise. Just under 3 per day.

I always take extras.
On one cruise, made friends with the comedian that was main event and we ended up having a blast in the cigar lounge at 2 a.m., smoking away so I shared a smoke with him.
On another, met an 85 yr. old Cuban enjoying cigars in his wheelchair. I shared some with him.
I have also run into Head Waiters, who love CC's and have traded CC's for bottles of wine. In fact, on one cruise, 4 CC's got me three bottles of wine, one per night for three nights.
So......always take more as you just never know if you will need them.

:tu I just don't want to bring any back and have customs check my herf-a-dor :2

Bingo!

[Cigary]

I always take extras.
On one cruise, made friends with the comedian that was main event and we ended up having a blast in the cigar lounge at 2 a.m., smoking away so I shared a smoke with him.
On another, met an 85 yr. old Cuban enjoying cigars in his wheelchair. I shared some with him.
I have also run into Head Waiters, who love CC's and have traded CC's for bottles of wine. In fact, on one cruise, 4 CC's got me three bottles of wine, one per night for three nights.
So......always take more as you just never know if you will need them.



Bingo!

Great advice here. Every cruise I take I always bring more than I know I will smoke as I usually meet people on there and will share with them. Have met some really amazing people on cruises and talk with them for hours and have learned quite a bit about them and their lives. Cigars are great for bartering as was said here,,,I took care of my cabin steward and he ended up letting us use his discount to buy things on the boat which added up to some very significant savings by up to 30%. He bought the items and we paid him back as he showed his the receipt and the savings.

[DPD6030]

Ok you twisted my arm so now I'll take my 30 count :D

[longknocker]

Ok you twisted my arm so now I'll take my 30 count :D

I Just Carry A Large 1.5 Gallon Zip Lock with 65 Boveda Pack Inside. Easy To Pack and RH Stays Perfect!:tu

[jbo57]

Dang that sucks ;3 whats stopping you from somking it anyway what can they do kick you off in the middle of the ocean?

I didn't want to find out what was on the first three decks...might be a brig in there somewhere. :)

[jbo57]

Reports I get from Representatives is that you will be charged an extra $250 on your account because of them having to clean and "fumigate" your cabin and one cruise line actually kicked people off when they arrived at the next port. It was a woman with two teenage kids I think who were smoking inside their cabin and the steward turned them in and confiscated the cigarettes while he was cleaning the room.

I don't know how it is on other cruises...but on the cruise we were on, you could smoke cigarettes in your room or on your balcony. You could not smoke cigars or pipes.

[jbo57]

:hm I'm thinking my 18 count should work out good for December cruise. Just under 3 per day.

I took 16 for a 7 day cruise. I took 8 "everydays" and 8 Premiums. However, a guy bought me a Davidoff in the lounge. then I bought six Fuente's in St. Thomas. Then I bought 6 JdN's in the duty free shop. I brought those six home, plus one of the ones from St. Thomas. I also brought 2 premiums and one everyday back. I decided it was better to have them and not need them than to want them and not have them.

Like others have said, I also gave two CC's away. One guy was in the lounge on the first night of the cruise and we got to talking about family troubles he was having. He was smoking a Padron '26 and stated that he had never smoked a CC. He said he'd catch me later...but we never got hooked up again in the lounge. I gave another away to a guy that hung out a lot in the lounge. He was sailing with his mom, dad and two aunts. He was a really good guy and very grateful. Have a great cruise!

[jbo57]

I Just Carry A Large 1.5 Gallon Zip Lock with 65 Boveda Pack Inside. Easy To Pack and RH Stays Perfect!:tu

My wife bought a tupperware container that fit the churchills very well. I used that in connection with my 8 ct. otter box. It was so humid down there that the churchills in the tupperware didn't even need humidification. Wasn't there long enough to mold...and was plenty humid enough.

[Santesyu]

Hey about the cigars on a cruise, how would anyone even know if you are smoking it if you do it in private?

[jbo57]

Hey about the cigars on a cruise, how would anyone even know if you are smoking it if you do it in private?

Well, if you are smoking on your balcony, I'm sure someone else will know since the balcony's are so close together and the smoke would drift toward the fantail as the ship goes forward. If you smoked in your room, I'm sure the stewards would know as soon as they go in your room and they are in there 1-2 times a day.

[Santesyu]

Well, if you are smoking on your balcony, I'm sure someone else will know since the balcony's are so close together and the smoke would drift toward the fantail as the ship goes forward. If you smoked in your room, I'm sure the stewards would know as soon as they go in your room and they are in there 1-2 times a day. But since cigars are banned and barely no one does it or get caught anyway, would they even know what a cigar smells like? :rolleyes: unless they actually see it right..? what proof could they have? unless they are some how cigar smokers who just "knows"..

[jbo57]

But since cigars are banned and barely no one does it or get caught anyway, would they even know what a cigar smells like? :rolleyes: unless they actually see it right..? what proof could they have? unless they are some how cigar smokers who just "knows"..

lol...I'm sure they know what a cigar smells like. They could always call down to the cigar lounge and bring in an "expert". ;)

[Santesyu]

lol...I'm sure they know what a cigar smells like. They could always call down to the cigar lounge and bring in an "expert". ;) LOL.... ;/ all of that for a cigar, thats pretty crazy.. I always thought on something like a cruise the people in charge would have much better stuff to look out for like weapons,fighting,bandits, customer dispute,thef's and accidents.. You would think something as simple as smoking a cigar would slip through the cracks... but I guess you are right..

[King James]

But since cigars are banned and barely no one does it or get caught anyway, would they even know what a cigar smells like? :rolleyes: unless they actually see it right..? what proof could they have? unless they are some how cigar smokers who just "knows"..

:confused:

[Santesyu]

:confused: you didn't understand that ;/ :confused: but then again I guess it was stupid in a way..

[jbo57]

LOL.... ;/ all of that for a cigar, thats pretty crazy.. I always thought on something like a cruise the people in charge would have much better stuff to look out for like weapons,fighting,bandits, customer dispute,thef's and accidents.. You would think something as simple as smoking a cigar would slip through the cracks... but I guess you are right..

In actuality, I found them to be very cigar friendly. They provided a VERY COMFORTABLE lounge for us to get together in. Waitresses came in and took orders. There were also a lot of places up on deck that you could smoke cigars if you chose to do so. They just didn't want you smoking in your room or balcony. Someone on here explained it very well to me. Their thinking is that the people close to you who hate cigar smoke paid as much for their cruise as you did and have the right to enjoy it on their balcony. It would have been different if there were no place to smoke...but like I said, they made us feel very comfortable.

[Caymus]

Sneaking liquor (even whiskey) is easy. I just do what I did in college...refill a saline solution bottle with your favorite liquor !

[Tripp]

We're getting ready to book our honeymoon on the Norwegian Epic. It'll be our first cruise. I'm definitely planning on bringing PLENTY of smokes. Can't wait.

[jmsremax]

I didn't read through all the posts, but this summer I took a cruise from Boston to Bermuda and they had a great cigar lounge. It was on the Norwegian Spirit. They had beautiful humidors built into the book cases. I made sure to hit up the lounge every night.

[Caymus]

That's great to hear, JMSREMAX. My wife and I were looking to go on that ship out of New Orleans, and a cigar lounge is a prerequisite.

[MikeyC]

I just got off the Carnival Destiny on Saturday. I'm not sure exactly what the cigar policy was on board but they did have a cigar lounge and even had cigars for sale in there. The selection was not really appealling to me but it was nice they had a place for cigar smokers.

[smokin5]

Sneaking liquor (even whiskey) is easy. I just do what I did in college...refill a saline solution bottle with your favorite liquor !

Saline solution bottle, my azz!!
I bring my bourbon aboard cruises with a 1/2 gallon Arizona Ice Tea bottle.:p
Keeps me happy until the 4th or 5th day, anyway.

[jmsremax]

Saline solution bottle, my azz!!
I bring my bourbon aboard cruises with a 1/2 gallon Arizona Ice Tea bottle.:p
Keeps me happy until the 4th or 5th day, anyway.

We had two different methods of getting booze onboard:

1 - Filled Listerine whitening mouth wash bottles with Capts (the bottle is white).

2 - Filled 8-10 poland spring water bottles with clear rum or vodka and simply put a black dot on the bottoms. This was fun because we had to remove and put back the bottles without ruining the plastic it came in (24 pack).

No questions asked and it saved us a lot of $$$.

[Knip23]

That makes no sense

[duckmanco]

Just got from a 7 day cruise on the RC Freedom of the Seas:

-the ship did have a dedicated cigar lounge that, while nicely appointed, is a touch out of the way of everything else and is somewhat small compared to some of the lounges I have heard about on Carnival ships (still a nice quiet spot though).

- RC seems to believe in the complete BS idea of allowing cigarette smoking in certain public bar/areas, but NOT allowing pipe or cigars in those same areas. So, I stuck to outdoor decks/bars (no one even looked at my brother and I twice when we lit up anywhere outdoors) and the cigar lounge after dinner.

As far as purchasing CC's at ports... FLAT out don't bother unless its an LCDH. I found an LCDH in Grand Cayman and nearly passed out at the prices... 15-30 USD as a rough estimate for singles.... NO THANKS.

[jmsremax]

That makes no sense

:confused:

[Caymus]

What cruise line allows you to bring in a 24 pack of water ??

I went on the MSC Orchestra out of Ft Lauderdale last spring and it had a great cigar lounge. It was right in the middle of the ship off of the atrium. I guess because they are primarily a mediterranean ship, they had CCs for sale and also had Havana Club rum. The Orchestra is not in the Caribbean this year, but its' sister ship is.

[MiamiE]

I went on a Royal Carribean cruise last weekend. It was junk and the only place to smoke cigars was out on the rainy deck. Certain bars allowed cigarette smoking but not cigars. What's the reason for this stupidity?

What are some cigar friendly cruise lines, particularly specific ships.

[Vigiles]

Anyone ever been on a "cigar cruise"?

Seems like an interesting idea. The one site I found has a "Herf at sea" twice a year, prices seem decent. The whole ship isn't BOTL, but they get a group together and do special group activities that revolve around cigars.

We should have a CA herf at sea! :ss

[Cigary]

Anyone ever been on a "cigar cruise"?

Seems like an interesting idea. The one site I found has a "Herf at sea" twice a year, prices seem decent. The whole ship isn't BOTL, but they get a group together and do special group activities that revolve around cigars.

We should have a CA herf at sea! :ss

I have tried in vain to get this to be a reality and you'd think it would be easy to get ahold of BOTL to do this. First of all you have to pick a cruiseline that welcomes this activity. Secondly is the itinerary and third is cost. Most cruiselines will discount the cost if you get more than 10 rooms and what usually happens is that the person who organizes it gets their room for free. What should happen is that you get as many people as you can and then break the discounted room into a general pool so that everyone shares the discount. I don't see many ships catering to having a whole ship being a "Cigar" ship because that will scare most cruisers away from going on this type of cruise. The cruiseline is there to fill the ship.

I'd love to see a shared cruise among BOTL to just get together for a Herf At Sea. There are some great 3 and 4 night cruises in Sept. thru Dec. that are pretty inexpensive and it takes you to Nassau, Private Island and Key West for less than $200 for 4 nights. Maybe we can start from there.

[jmsremax]

What cruise line allows you to bring in a 24 pack of water ??

I went on the MSC Orchestra out of Ft Lauderdale last spring and it had a great cigar lounge. It was right in the middle of the ship off of the atrium. I guess because they are primarily a mediterranean ship, they had CCs for sale and also had Havana Club rum. The Orchestra is not in the Caribbean this year, but its' sister ship is.

Norweigan

[jmsremax]

I went on a Royal Carribean cruise last weekend. It was junk and the only place to smoke cigars was out on the rainy deck. Certain bars allowed cigarette smoking but not cigars. What's the reason for this stupidity?

What are some cigar friendly cruise lines, particularly specific ships.

I went on the Norweigan Spirit and they had a small but nice cigar lounge.

[Vigiles]

I have tried in vain to get this to be a reality and you'd think it would be easy to get ahold of BOTL to do this. First of all you have to pick a cruiseline that welcomes this activity. Secondly is the itinerary and third is cost. Most cruiselines will discount the cost if you get more than 10 rooms and what usually happens is that the person who organizes it gets their room for free. What should happen is that you get as many people as you can and then break the discounted room into a general pool so that everyone shares the discount. I don't see many ships catering to having a whole ship being a "Cigar" ship because that will scare most cruisers away from going on this type of cruise. The cruiseline is there to fill the ship.

I'd love to see a shared cruise among BOTL to just get together for a Herf At Sea. There are some great 3 and 4 night cruises in Sept. thru Dec. that are pretty inexpensive and it takes you to Nassau, Private Island and Key West for less than $200 for 4 nights. Maybe we can start from there.

Interesting. The easiest thing might be to find 2-3 folks that are interested and pick a cruise and date, then say alright, this is the days/week of the cruise, this is where its going, contact your local *insert travel agent, cruise line, medicine man* and we will see you there for the CA herf at sea 2010. (or whenever)

Judging by this thread we have enough people interested in going on cruises that we could eventually get a good base of people going.

[CigarNut]

...What are some cigar friendly cruise lines, particularly specific ships.Both the Disney ships (Disney Magic and Disney Wonder) allow cigars. You cannot smoke (anything) in your room, but you can smoke on your veranda and on deck (both covered and uncovered).

In January my wife and I are taking the maiden voyage of their newest ship (Disney Dream) and it is also going to be cigar friendly and will have a cigar lounge.

[MikeyC]

Both the Disney ships (Disney Magic and Disney Wonder) allow cigars. You cannot smoke (anything) in your room, but you can smoke on your veranda and on deck (both covered and uncovered).

In January my wife and I are taking the maiden voyage of their newest ship (Disney Dream) and it is also going to be cigar friendly and will have a cigar lounge.

You wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Disney ship.

1. Too many kids on board
2. No casinos on their boats

[CigarNut]

You wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Disney ship.

1. Too many kids on board
2. No casinos on their boatsTo each is own!

The Disney cruises I have been on the kids mostly stayed on their deck (Deck 5 with all the kids stuff) or by one of the two pools that they can use. You would also see kids at mealtimes, but not a problem for me.

Kids are not allowed by the adult pool, where I hang out with my cigar.

I'm not much of a gambler, so the lack of a casino is not a big deal for me.

On the plus side, the service on Disney ships is top notch, the staff is very friendly and helpful, they have Broadway-class theater, and the ships are always immaculate.

The final thing for me is that I am a member of Disney's Vacation Club (Disney's version of a time-share) and I can use my time-share to cruise, which makes cruising a very good deal.

[Cigary]

Interesting. The easiest thing might be to find 2-3 folks that are interested and pick a cruise and date, then say alright, this is the days/week of the cruise, this is where its going, contact your local *insert travel agent, cruise line, medicine man* and we will see you there for the CA herf at sea 2010. (or whenever)

Judging by this thread we have enough people interested in going on cruises that we could eventually get a good base of people going.

I hear you and the disconnect comes when the actual roll call starts. Some do not like the CruiseLine or Ship,,or the itinerary or the cost. There have always been people who want to do this right up until the real planning starts. I'm pretty easy as I have gone on just about every cruise line there is and all I care about is decent food and being able to smoke my cigars. You lead and I'll follow.

You wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Disney ship.

1. Too many kids on board
2. No casinos on their boats

I'm not a big Disney advocate myself because they are one of the most expensive ones out there. There are a lot of other cruise lines out there that have some great deals.


Maybe what we can do is start a thread to see how many people are even interested in this and then start from there. The Time,,,the Cruiseline,,,how long,,,and where to cruise.

[pnoon]

I'm in - if only to remind folks who owns the ship. ;)

[Cigary]

I'm in - if only to remind folks who owns the ship. ;)

We'll follow your lead as long as you can hold a great cigar area for us. There are some great cruises right out of San Diego that hit Acapulco, Cabo and the other usual places. I will start looking at those ships and Cruiselines that offer some really good Cigar Lounges. I know that Holland America and Princess have very nice lounges.

[Tripp]

Speaking of herfing at sea, anyone else happen to be cruising on the Norweigen Epic on July 17th? We just booked it for our honeymoon, and I wouldn't mind having a sea-herf.

[jbo57]

I didn't read through all the posts, but this summer I took a cruise from Boston to Bermuda and they had a great cigar lounge. It was on the Norwegian Spirit. They had beautiful humidors built into the book cases. I made sure to hit up the lounge every night.

I would imagine all the Norwegian ships are pretty similar. The Pearl had the same set up when it came to a humidor. There were about 10-14 cigar types to choose from and there were 14 leather chairs. Dimmed lighting and pictures and quotes from famous cigar smokers. It was a very relaxing place.

[jbo57]

I just got off the Carnival Destiny on Saturday. I'm not sure exactly what the cigar policy was on board but they did have a cigar lounge and even had cigars for sale in there. The selection was not really appealling to me but it was nice they had a place for cigar smokers.

I can't remember all the cigars the Pearl had for sale. I do know they had NO CC's. I do remember they had two different Davidoffs; two Fuente's; a Puros Indios; etc. Not a large selection, but what they had was good.

[Cigary]

Update on Cigars while on Cruises:

My wife and I do a lot of cruises and have sailed on just about every line out there. As is my custom I want to ensure that when we go I get to take my cigars with me and enjoy them. There is a list of Cruise Lines with "Do's and Don'ts" associated with each line and their rules. Please see link and plan accordingly before you book a cruise and then find out later you don't get to smoke your cigars.



http://cruisediva.com/smoking-policy.htm

[dbradley]

I went on a Carnival cruise a couple of years ago and it was pretty annoying. Though there were lots of smoking area's on the ship there was only one place to smoke cigars. It was a great place with good music, nice leather furniture...and every cigarette smoker on the ship.

Seriously every night I went in there and couldn't find a good seat. It was so frustrating. I think I saw maybe ten cigars being smoked there all week. The times I wedged myself in there I was also annoyed that there were only cigarette ashtrays. My smokes kept rolling off the side.

Don't get me wrong I don't have a problem with cigarettes but c'mon...they had like thirty other places they could smoke.

[colinb913]

Dude, I would just pack some cigarrelos (sp?) or small petites and go to town..

[Darrell]

Dude, I would just pack some cigarrelos (sp?) or small petites and go to town..

Nice review. :D

[kazzaca]

When I sailed on Liberty of the Seas (RC) they had an amazing cigar lounge that we used a few times, but smoking on the balcony was a definite no-no.

[whodeeni]

U ever notice how cigar smoke clears out a room of cigarette smokers?
Couple of months ago, between flights i went into the smokers room
and lit a stogie... Within 10 mins 80% of the room was gone! I say light
a big one, and enjoy!:r:=:

I went on a Carnival cruise a couple of years ago and it was pretty annoying. Though there were lots of smoking area's on the ship there was only one place to smoke cigars. It was a great place with good music, nice leather furniture...and every cigarette smoker on the ship.

Seriously every night I went in there and couldn't find a good seat. It was so frustrating. I think I saw maybe ten cigars being smoked there all week. The times I wedged myself in there I was also annoyed that there were only cigarette ashtrays. My smokes kept rolling off the side.

Don't get me wrong I don't have a problem with cigarettes but c'mon...they had like thirty other places they could smoke.

[Cigary]

U ever notice how cigar smoke clears out a room of cigarette smokers?
Couple of months ago, between flights i went into the smokers room
and lit a stogie... Within 10 mins 80% of the room was gone! I say light
a big one, and enjoy!:r:=:

Ha ha,,,you got this right! Bring in a big ole Churchill and see the natives get restless. I did a thread on here some time ago of which was the nastiest smelling cigar out there and I bring a couple just for these kinds of things. When there is a lounge that is loaded with cigarette smokers who won't give any ground I bring out the "Big Bomber" and it usually works and people leave and I get a seat.

[newlifetaxidermy]

I'm going on the Carnival Dream in Sept. This is my first time getting a balcony room. I paid good $$$ for that room and I plan on smoking cigars on the balcony.

[jmsremax]

I'm going on the Carnival Dream in Sept. This is my first time getting a balcony room. I paid good $$$ for that room and I plan on smoking cigars on the balcony.

I went on the Norwegian Spirit last summer and we smoked on our room's balcony and in their cigar lounge. They were very accommodating to cigar enthusiasts. Enjoy the cruise!

[neoflex]

We will be on the Celebrity Solstice in July but unfortunately Celebrity only allows smoking outside. We chose them because other than Celebrity only Carnival had the same itinerary during the same time which is when we would have to go with the wife being a teacher but after a couple negative experiences with them we refuse to ever cruise with Carnival again. Normally I would have spent more money for a balcony room but because they don't allow smoking on the balconies we got a regular room which makes me wonder how many other cigar smokers or cigarette smokers make the same decision because of the tight restrictions on smoking on their ships and if they are losing money on upgraded rooms because of it. It was a tough decision to choose whether to go with Celebrity or risk trying Carnival again especially since my wife cruised on the Solstice when she went to Europe last summer so she will be on the same ship for a second time. I am really shocked they don't have a lounge. When we cruised before my routine was to always hit the lounge after dinner to enjoy a smoke before heading to a show or some other activity.

[Ashcan Bill]

We will be on the Celebrity Solstice in July but unfortunately Celebrity only allows smoking outside. We chose them because other than Celebrity only Carnival had the same itinerary during the same time which is when we would have to go with the wife being a teacher but after a couple negative experiences with them we refuse to ever cruise with Carnival again. Normally I would have spent more money for a balcony room but because they don't allow smoking on the balconies we got a regular room which makes me wonder how many other cigar smokers or cigarette smokers make the same decision because of the tight restrictions on smoking on their ships and if they are losing money on upgraded rooms because of it. It was a tough decision to choose whether to go with Celebrity or risk trying Carnival again especially since my wife cruised on the Solstice when she went to Europe last summer so she will be on the same ship for a second time. I am really shocked they don't have a lounge. When we cruised before my routine was to always hit the lounge after dinner to enjoy a smoke before heading to a show or some other activity.

Funny you should bring it up. I just booked a Panama Canal cruise. I came pretty close to booking with Celebrity, but their anti smoking policy drove me away. To be honest, they also are one of the last lines to emphasize an evening dress code, and that was the second reason we shied away from them. I hauled my tux on cruises for years, but no more. I'm done worrying about "dressing" when I'm on vacation.

So we're booked on the NCL Pearl for the Canal. NCL is more cigar friendly so they get my money.

[Volt]

You wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Disney ship.

1. Too many kids on board
2. No casinos on their boats

Good to know. Only reason for getting 12 miles out is to play some blackjack. On the other hand, after 10+ years of sea duty, 6 cruises, amd multiple workups; I have no desire to ever go to sea agin to begin with. I know the wife does, but I'll fly us to a place to visit before I take a ship.

[tobii3]

To each his own!

The Disney cruises I have been on the kids mostly stayed on their deck (Deck 5 with all the kids stuff) or by one of the two pools that they can use. You would also see kids at mealtimes, but not a problem for me.

Kids are not allowed by the adult pool, where I hang out with my cigar.

I'm not much of a gambler, so the lack of a casino is not a big deal for me.

On the plus side, the service on Disney ships is top notch, the staff is very friendly and helpful, they have Broadway-class theater, and the ships are always immaculate.

The final thing for me is that I am a member of Disney's Vacation Club (Disney's version of a time-share) and I can use my time-share to cruise, which makes cruising a very good deal.

:tpd:

Makes it a no-brainer in my book as well!!

[Blueface]

You wouldn't catch me DEAD on a Disney ship.

1. Too many kids on board
2. No casinos on their boats

True but you will miss out on the finest cruise I have ever been on (I think I have done like 15+ now).

It is completely top notch, top of the line. The variety of restaurants and rotation of such makes it awesome as you never eat in the same restaurant.
Their "pay extra" restaurant is amazing!

Disney sets a high bar to hurdle.

[replicant_argent]

I am kind of amazed that Disney/ABC allows smoking on their ships. Kudos to them for being realists, I think, rather than Nanny-Staters.

[neoflex]

Funny you should bring it up. I just booked a Panama Canal cruise. I came pretty close to booking with Celebrity, but their anti smoking policy drove me away. To be honest, they also are one of the last lines to emphasize an evening dress code, and that was the second reason we shied away from them. I hauled my tux on cruises for years, but no more. I'm done worrying about "dressing" when I'm on vacation.

So we're booked on the NCL Pearl for the Canal. NCL is more cigar friendly so they get my money.

Yeah, we tried to go with NCL but the itinerary that we are doing wasn't available in June or July. So we decided to deal with me being restricted with my cigar smoking rather than ruin another vacation by going with Carnival as our prior experiences were less than stellar which is odd because my parents cruise with them at least if not twice a year and only had a couple issues but that's usually the way my luck runs.

[tobii3]

I was un-impressed with Carnival with the absolute LACK of windows.

[CigarNut]

I am kind of amazed that Disney/ABC allows smoking on their ships. Kudos to them for being realists, I think, rather than Nanny-Staters.It's interesting -- both of the current Disney ships (Magic, Wonder) had Cigar Lounges that they turned into coffee bars -- which they thought would bring in more revenue. Don't know if that is the case.

Disney's newest ship (Dream, sails in January) has a much bigger cigar lounge over looking ocean aft. My wife and I are booked on the maiden voyage and I am really looking forward to visiting this lounge :ss

[Volt]

It's interesting -- both of the current Disney ships (Magic, Wonder) had Cigar Lounges that they turned into coffee bars -- which they thought would bring in more revenue. Don't know if that is the case.

Disney's newest ship (Dream, sails in January) has a much bigger cigar lounge over looking ocean aft. My wife and I are booked on the maiden voyage and I am really looking forward to visiting this lounge :ss


"Maiden voyage" - I hope you keep a sense of humor on that trip. To expect that all mechanically and the staff will be 100% smooth might be a dream. They can test and simulate all they want, but untail a 100 people hit the crappers at one time, they have only a best guess at how some of the mechanics will perform. While they were US Navy ships, I have brought many a ship out of the yards and even the stuff we thought we had perfect still would goof up.


BTW, not headed up North towards the iceberg area are ya?

[tobii3]

Hell, We're already planning the 2011 cruise....Need to talk to the wife to see the dates!

[CigarNut]

"Maiden voyage" - I hope you keep a sense of humor on that trip. To expect that all mechanically and the staff will be 100% smooth might be a dream. They can test and simulate all they want, but untail a 100 people hit the crappers at one time, they have only a best guess at how some of the mechanics will perform. While they were US Navy ships, I have brought many a ship out of the yards and even the stuff we thought we had perfect still would goof up.

BTW, not headed up North towards the iceberg area are ya?We know the drill, this will be our third maiden voyage with Disney :)

Also, (lucky for us) -- they get a lot of the kinks worked out when they bring the ship across the pond to Port Canveral :)

The itinerary for the maiden voyage is the Bahama's! I can't wait! Well, actually I can, since I am leaving on the Disney Magic on Saturday for a trans-atlantic from Port Canveral to the Bahamas, Gibralter, Madeira, Cadiz, and Barcelona :D

[CigarNut]

Beg to differ.
NONE of them condone alcohol as that is where they truly make their money, at the bar.
All post that clearly for all to see online and in the package you receive when you book your cruise.
All will generally confiscate your booze and hold it until the last night or morning of departure.
If they choose to, can refuse to allow you to board, period.
You ARE allowed to bring wine on board and present it at the dinner table for a corkage fee.
Do folks bring booze on checked in luggage? Yeah, of course. Do all get nailed? Nope. Is it openly allowed? No way.Just verified with Disney and you can bring alcohol on board:
Bringing Alcohol aboard the ship
Alcohol is permitted on board. Any fragile items (including bottles of alcohol) must be brought aboard in a carry-on bag not to exceed 22" wide, 14" high and 9" deep. All fragile items must be transported inside carry-on luggage...

[tobii3]

Oh hell, I coulda' told ya that!

We stopped in St Croix and ST Thomas - I had 9 bottles in my room!!!

[Ashcan Bill]

Yeah, we tried to go with NCL but the itinerary that we are doing wasn't available in June or July. So we decided to deal with me being restricted with my cigar smoking rather than ruin another vacation by going with Carnival as our prior experiences were less than stellar which is odd because my parents cruise with them at least if not twice a year and only had a couple issues but that's usually the way my luck runs.

We've never tried Carnival because of the mixed reviews we've seen and heard over the years.

I finally decided it was time to give them a try, so we have one booked on Carnival for October. I have an aft balcony, so I figure I should be able to light up in peace without bothering anyone. I'm curious to see for myself how they stack up to some of the other lines.

All the cruise lines have pros and cons. NCL isn't what it used to be either, but I've yet to have a really bad cruise on any line. ;)

[Caymus]

Posted this moments ago on another post....might go better on this post:

I'd like to share my experience with MSC Cruises, an Italian cruiseline fairly new to the American market. I took the MSC Orchestra out of Ft Lauderdale last spring. They have a dedicated cigar lounge, the Havana Club, amid ship adjacent to the atrium. Big leather chairs, good music (Sinatra, Latin Jazz, etc), cigar art, real cigar ashtrays, a well kept humidor stocked with cc's, and a bar stocked with Havana Club rum. There is an attendant there who takes great pride in "his" cigar lounge. I spent a lot of time there when at sea, and during the day I sometimes was the only passenger in there for 30 minutes or so. At night, however, it was quite busy. I came to "know" about 10 other regular cigar smokers, and we had a blast. The Italian passengers were a friendly, boisterous bunch and they enjoy their cigars too. Officers would come in to enjoy their stash of cc's, and I even met the author of a very well known series of travel books who was on the cruise doing a review. She said it was one of the top 3 cigar lounges on the seas (the Orchestra has several sister ships that also have the same lounge). Best of all was the price...kids sail free, so my wife and 2 kids went for a very low price.

[maverickdrinker]

great thread guys. Does anyone have any experience on Princess? Wife just booked a caribbean cruise in June on Princess. Any help would be appreciated

[Cigary]

great thread guys. Does anyone have any experience on Princess? Wife just booked a caribbean cruise in June on Princess. Any help would be appreciated

The wife and I cruise Princess quite a bit and they are still one of the better cruise lines out there. The food is good and one of the best things about cruising with one cruiseline all the time is the membership advantages. When we book a balcony room we get upgraded to a suite...we get free Internet and free laundry as well as free wine or a bottle of champagne when we board. We are Platinum members which also means more discounts on deals on the ship. The bigger and newer ships are really good and depending on what boat you are on we've probably been on it...let me know which one and I can tell you pros and cons about it.

[maverickdrinker]

thanks for this. I will ask the wife which boat we are on and post.

[maverickdrinker]

The boat that we will be on is the Princess Empress. HAs anyone been on that boat? CAn you share your thoughts/experiences with me?

[Blueface]

The wife and I cruise Princess quite a bit and they are still one of the better cruise lines out there. The food is good and one of the best things about cruising with one cruiseline all the time is the membership advantages. When we book a balcony room we get upgraded to a suite...we get free Internet and free laundry as well as free wine or a bottle of champagne when we board. We are Platinum members which also means more discounts on deals on the ship. The bigger and newer ships are really good and depending on what boat you are on we've probably been on it...let me know which one and I can tell you pros and cons about it.

In less than three weeks the wife and I take our first cruise as a Diamond member on RC. Took us a while to get that and can't wait.

[68TriShield]

Has anyone been on RC's Explorer of the Seas?

We'll be on her July 3rd for five nights to Bermuda.

[Blueface]

Has anyone been on RC's Explorer of the Seas?

We'll be on her July 3rd for five nights to Bermuda.

Dave,
Explorer is the sister ship to the Navigator which I have been on several times.
Beautiful ship.
My son has been on both and says they are mirror images for the most part.
You will have a blast on this ship.

[kydsid]

Dave,
Explorer is the sister ship to the Navigator which I have been on several times.
Beautiful ship.
My son has been on both and says they are mirror images for the most part.
You will have a blast on this ship.

Confirmed. Both of those ships are really nice above and below deck. I sometimes would forget which one I was on when I boarded them or really a lot of the sister ships from any line really.

[Blueface]

BTW,
Very nice cigar lounge on the Navigator with a great booze selection.
They are open with service in the evening but open without service all day, any time you want to sit there and enjoy a cigar.
I believe the Explorer will be the same.

[68TriShield]

Dave,
Explorer is the sister ship to the Navigator which I have been on several times.
Beautiful ship.
My son has been on both and says they are mirror images for the most part.
You will have a blast on this ship.

Did he say how the cigar bar was?

[Blueface]

Did he say how the cigar bar was?

He was into girls then more than cigars.:r
He can tell you how the cabins he visited were.:r

I am sure it is identical to that of the Navigator and if it is, you are in for a nice treat, specially in the late evening. The two ships are literally designed identically so I see no reason why one would have it and the other not.
The lounge in the Navigator was spacious, relaxing, nicely done.
In the evening, cigars and high end booze for sale.
During the day, no one there to sell you anything but it is open and available for use.
If you need a drink during the day, plenty of nearby bars to get one and then go in the cigar lounge.
If you tip the bartender in the bar next door extra, they will keep checking up on you to see if need another drink.

[jbo57]

Update on Cigars while on Cruises:

My wife and I do a lot of cruises and have sailed on just about every line out there. As is my custom I want to ensure that when we go I get to take my cigars with me and enjoy them. There is a list of Cruise Lines with "Do's and Don'ts" associated with each line and their rules. Please see link and plan accordingly before you book a cruise and then find out later you don't get to smoke your cigars.



http://cruisediva.com/smoking-policy.htm

This was a good article. Norwegian allowed cigarette smoking in all the places listed. However, cigars and pipes could not smoke on the balconies but could smoke on deck and in the cigar lounge.

[Cigary]

The boat that we will be on is the Princess Empress. HAs anyone been on that boat? CAn you share your thoughts/experiences with me?

Here is the "skinny" on this ship. ( I think you are trying to say Emerald Princess...Empress is another ship on RCL. )

Casino with private cocktail lounge for cigars and spirits and it came into service in 07.

This is the sister ship to the Crown and Carribean and these are big ships that have the outdoor movie theaters which are fun but you gotta get there early.

It will take you a day or 2 to get your bearings as far as where things are on this boat. Remember to use the main floor to get back and forth from one of the ship to the other...not all floors go thru. I would advise doing the late dinner or the "Anytime Dining" so you can plan your day around your activities instead of the other way around. Also, eat at the Crown Grill as this is a restaurant you will pay $20 per person but WOW,,,is it good and it's more personal and you won't regret it.

Again let me stress to you that if you want to use the pool get a chair early as they fill up esp. on those days at sea.

Speak Easy Cigar Lounge on Emerald

http://i556.photobucket.com/albums/ss6/Cigary4343/Speakeasy03.jpg

[Cigary]

In less than three weeks the wife and I take our first cruise as a Diamond member on RC. Took us a while to get that and can't wait.

RCL has been having issue with their Diamond Level service as they have downgraded in some of those areas. The Concierge Level is a nice thing to be able to use but for somebody who has given RCL a lot of business only to have it downgraded is not right. Call or go online to see what your Diamond status still gives you. This is why we stayed with Princess because of all of the freebies we get. Laundry for free is a great service because we don't have to pack so many clothes now and when it's dirty we send it out and it's back the next day. Free Internet is a great thing as well. We have been upgraded from an Ocean View to Mini Suite several times while everytime we have a balcony we're upgraded to Mini Suite. The great thing with being in a mini suite is that you can order in room service and get the exact same menu as the dining room. If you are in a room like an Ocean View or Balcony you don't get the same menu.

[CigarNut]

I'm on the Disney Magic (transatlantic to Barcelona) right now. Having a great time! They had a cigar seminar the other day and I won three cigars (Fuente's) during the Q&A (for having the right answers -- thanks to CA :))

[Caymus]

I'll be on the Carnival Freedom departing Jan 1. The ports are San Juan PR, St Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, and Nassau. Has anyone been on this ship ? I'm looking forward to being allowed to smoke on the balcony and it also has a cigar lounge.

[smll2]

I'll be on the Carnival Freedom departing Jan 1. The ports are San Juan PR, St Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, and Nassau. Has anyone been on this ship ? I'm looking forward to being allowed to smoke on the balcony and it also has a cigar lounge.


Thanks for bumping this thread with your inquiry. I just spent 30 minutes reading it and enjoyed it immensely. I have been on several carnival cruises...none in the last three years or so...and it sound's like they are difficult with smokers. I never had a problem smoking on a balcony in the past but it appears things may have changed.

I hope someone can chime in and give you some feedback.

Good luck.

[RHNewfie]

We just got back from a cruise on the Carnival Miracle and I smoked in the cigar bar and on the Lido deck if that helps! No cigar smoking on the balcony though.

[Ashcan Bill]

We just got back from a cruise on the Carnival Miracle and I smoked in the cigar bar and on the Lido deck if that helps! No cigar smoking on the balcony though.

Interesting. We were on the Carnival Spirit a couple of weeks ago. We had an aft balcony and I smoked a cigar out there every single day. :confused:

[RHNewfie]

Well we were told that you weren't 'supposed' to smoke on the balconies. ;-)

[Dave128]

We took a cruise in September on Norwegian Jade. It had a bar on one of the top decks that sold cigars and you could smoke them right there. The boat also had a cigar lounge, but that was empty the whole trip. The best part: we had a balcony room on the fantail! I smoked just about every night with no problems at all. None of the smoke ever came in the room. Just about all the rooms on the fantail near me had a smoker of some sort. The guy right next to me smoked a couple cigars a day. It was a great trip. Also, my b-i-l had a balcony room on the side of the ship and smoked a couple cigars out there. He didn't seem to have any problems either. To me, the 'no smoking on the balcony' is just a suggestion.

[Caymus]

Interesting...this is contrary to what we were told and understand. One of the reasons we booked it was because it was one of the few ships where smoking on the balcony was permitted. On our previous cruises, Holland America and MSC, it was clearly not permitted (though the MSC Orchestra had a great cigar lounge), and we decided next time we'd go on a ship where I could smoke on the balcony because I thought that would be so enjoyable. We had orginally booked a cabin on the Spa deck, but later found out that was the only deck where smoking was not permitted on the balcony. We called Carnival to confirm, and they did. So now we are on the Panorama deck, where we were told by Carnival and our travel agent that yes, I can indeed smoke cigars on my balcony.

[Caymus]

More info:

"Cabins
All Carnival Cruise Line cabins permit smoking except for designated Spa Cabins. The Spa Cabins are part of Carnival's fleet-wide healthy living initiative, which also includes designated healthier dining options and improved fitness and spa facilities. The penalty for smoking in a Spa Cabin is $250 as of 2010, and ejection from the Spa Cabin. At the Captain's discretion, you may be relocated to another available cabin or removed from the ship at your own expense. Smoking is allowed on balconies"

[TNT009]

Celebrity pissed me off when they got rid of 'michaels', their cigar bar and only allowed smoking on the aft of the ship on the outdoor bar.. But they allowed cigarettes in the casino..

[Ogre]

I just got back last week from a 5 day trip on the Carnival Inspiration. The ONLY place on the ship to smoke cigars was one half of a bar at the aft of the ship. Cigarettes were allowed in the casino, all open decks and 2 other bars. No smoking in ANY of the rooms. I was not happy about this. It will be my last cruise with Carnival.

[longknocker]

Just Got Back From A New England Cruise On The Princess. Large Cigar Bar On Deck & Smoking Allowed On Balcony. (I Always Get A Balcony For This Reason.):tu

[jbo57]

We cruised Norwegian and loved it. Had a comfortable cigar lounge and you could smoke cigars on deck...but not on the balcony.

[replicant_argent]

More info:

"Cabins
All Carnival Cruise Line cabins permit smoking except for designated Spa Cabins. The Spa Cabins are part of Carnival's fleet-wide healthy living initiative, which also includes designated healthier dining options and improved fitness and spa facilities. The penalty for smoking in a Spa Cabin is $250 as of 2010, and ejection from the Spa Cabin. At the Captain's discretion, you may be relocated to another available cabin or removed from the ship at your own expense. Smoking is allowed on balconies"

I just got back last week from a 5 day trip on the Carnival Inspiration. The ONLY place on the ship to smoke cigars was one half of a bar at the aft of the ship. Cigarettes were allowed in the casino, all open decks and 2 other bars. No smoking in ANY of the rooms. I was not happy about this. It will be my last cruise with Carnival.

Uh... am I just in need of more caffienne here?

[Ogre]

I believe that each ship has its own policy regarding cabin smoking. You would need to check for any cruise you want to go on.

[Ashcan Bill]

This is directly from Carnival's web site on their FAQ page:

"Can I book a non-smoking stateroom?

Staterooms onboard are not designated as smoking or non-smoking. Guests have the choice if they would like to smoke in the cabins or not (smoking is not allowed in Spa staterooms). All cabins are fully refreshed after each cruise to guarantee incoming guests’ comfort and enjoyment. If upon boarding you are not completely satisfied with the freshness of your stateroom, simply call housekeeping and they will refresh your room again for you."

Link (http://www.carnival.com/cms/faq/default.aspx?icid=CC_Footer_88#q-544913)

This specific question is near the bottom of the page (about a dozen up) on the "Life Onboard" tab.

[Ogre]

I was told by the crew as I boarded the ship that the ONLY place I could smoke was in the lounge. All rooms were smoke free.

[Dave128]

Who would know you smoked a cigar on the balcony? I don't see how they could truly enforce it anyway, unless your neighbor decided to rat you out. My cruise ship never said we couldn't smoke on the balcony (to my knowledge, anyway, as I never looked into it) so we did. I would never smoke inside the cabin. That would be just plain rude for the next passenger.

[tchariya]

I took a Princess Cruise a few years back. i was able to smoke on my balcony as well as smoke in the cigar lounge/bar that was part of the casino.

I hope they kept it the same way.

[CEC_Tech]

Anyone know about Royal Carribean Freedom of the seas? I hope they at least have a cigar bar.

[Caymus]

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas has a more restrictive smoking policy than Carnival. There are only a few lounges that allow smoking, and while smoking is allowed on outside balconies, cigar and pipe smoking is only allowed in the cigar lounge. Fortunately, Freedom of the Seas has a cigar lounge, the Connoisseur Club. I've not been on this ship, but you can look up pictures of the club online...it looks pretty nice.

[CigarNut]

All this talk of cruising has got me thinking about my next cruise -- January 26, the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream :D

[Caymus]

Is Disney completely non-smoking ?

[replicant_argent]

Is Disney completely non-smoking ?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-adultactivities.htm

[kafreeman]

I had Carnival bust my balls a bit.

I was on the deck having a cigar, then it started raining. Went up to the cigar lounge, but I was 5 min early before you could smoke. Made me put it out... 5 min later...

yeah.

[GTS21]

Just got back from a cruise on the NCL Epic. Nice dedicated cigar lounge, and I had no problems smoking on my deck. I could have sworn I saw some people lighting up cigars in the casino as well, but not 100% sure.

[CigarNut]

Is Disney completely non-smoking ?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-adultactivities.htmOn the contrary -- Disney is very cigar friendly! I have been on eight (ninth coming up in January) Disney cruises and never had a problem. On several cruises they have had some pretty nice cigar events.

[escargot18]

I was disappointed on my New Year's Eve cruise that the Carnival Elation did away with the cigar area in the Cole Porter lounge. I was forced to either smoke in the smoking area in the very loud pool area or on the port starboard deck area. Two weeks ago I talked to a Carnival rep that was working a local cruise show. She said that Carnival was eliminating all indoor cigar smoking areas on all ships. I guess I'll have to switch to NCL which has very nice cigar facilities.

John