Hi Kath,

P&O say's their revised smoking policy is effective from Jan 08.
Regards.
MM

If you're from the UK and want to buy more than 200 each it would be better to buy your cigarettes in Barcelona making certain you keep the receipt because you will have paid duty in an EU country and be free to bring a fair amount back into the country. The ship is duty free so you only have the basic duty free allowance.

RCI allow smoking on balconies, the starboard side of open decks and some bars, not sure about the casino, but it's a hefty fine for smoking in your cabin.

I really wish P&O would make their mind up ....Here is the email I had from them 1 wek ago

Dear Mandy

Thank you for your email and please accept my apologies for the delay in my
response.

As I am sure you will appreciate, all our policies are under constant
review and are subject to change. We will of course keep you updated if
changes are made as a result of any further review, although at present we
expect the policy for all cruises departing after 1 July 2007 to be as
follows:

Smoking will be permitted in cabins (including cabin balconies), on certain
areas of the open decks and in designated smoking areas of one or two
public rooms.

I can confirm that this policy has changed on Oceana and from cruise E807,
smoking will not be permitted within cabins on board. However, smoking will
still be allowed on balconies, on certain areas of the open decks and also
the dedicated public rooms.

The public rooms where smoking is permitted are as follows:-

Artemis Horizon Lounge
Arcadia Rising Sun
Aurora Crow's Nest
Oceana Winners
Oriana Crow's Nest
Ventura The Exchange

Our policy is and will remain fully compliant with applicable law and is
designed to reflect the public attitude towards smoking, protecting those
who do not wish to smoke whilst still recognising the needs of our smoking
passengers. Please note that all of our policies are under constant review
and are subject to change.

I hope this information has helped to answer your enquiry and look forward
to welcoming you on board soon.

Kind regards

Claire Edmunds
P&O Cruises
Carnival UK

It is really unfair on anyone to dither in this way. Surely their own policies should stay in place (barring extraordinary circumstances) at least for the life of the current brochure.

Yes I agree and that's what's really annoyed me. I booked our cruise on the Oceana in good faith after checking their smoking policy which was announced after the legislation changed in England. I think it's out of order for them to change it again.

luci

........except on the balcony of your cabin(if your lucky enough to have one) and a designated part of one bar only.

A friend who is booked on the apriI 2 dayer recieved a letter today from P&O.Not good news for any smokers who have already booked!.

MM

Received our tickets this week for the Thomson celebration
and it now states quite clearly in the ticket booklet that smoking IS NOT allowed in any of the cabins.

Does anyone know of a web site which lists cruise companys smoking policies.

This from cruise.co.uk news.

"Starting in May, Crystal Cruises are prohibiting smoking on verandahs of all staterooms and suites aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity."

for mikenmarn

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/features/articles.cfm?ID=225

mikenmarn wrote:

Does anyone know of a web site which lists cruise companys smoking policies. :que

Yes there's a link earlier in this topic. However I know that the information on the Oceana is out of date despite the article supposedly being updated after P&O changed their policy.

luci

Thanks for that link. I have it in my favourites now, ready for when we fancy another cruise.

Marn.

Have a cruise booked on Thomson Celebration for later in year,when booking i asked for smoking policy + was told it was same as last Thomson cruise i went on last September.Then smoking was "allowed in cabins but discouraged",after reading previous review,ie.was told it was banned only on recieving tickets i e mailed Thomson for clarification.
Just recieved mail from them confirming the ban in cabins although website still says you can smoke.
They said you can still smoke in designated areas like last year + hoped it wouldnt spoil my enjoyment of cruise.
Yes i know,huddled like lepers outside doors to one side of open deck or if you are lucky get a seat at one of about fifeteen tables in one bar.
Thomsons Cruises is now the most smoking restricted ships in the business.
This is a 2 week cruise from Liverpool + i can't see the point in giving £3500 (cruise + drinks) to a company that treats its costomers like this + i will cancel.
I have done 13 cruises with Thomson but no more.
P.S they changed the sailing date of this cruise from 10th to 9th of October,i only noticed this change on website.It took me 6 phone calls,1 e mail + 2 visits to my travel agent to have this confirmed.
Thanks i had to get this of my chest.
Now searching other cruise lines.Like look of Spanish company Pullmantur,good price,all inclusive + smoking allowed + as it sails out of Barcelona can have a couple of nights in Barca.
Johnny C

Cruise.co.uk commissioned a survey which found that 67% of people thought smoking on cruise ships should be banned completely.

Also on cruise co website it states that from May onwards Crystal Cruises are banning smoking on verandas of all staterooms and suites on the Symphony and Serenity and, as this seem to be part of a growing trend, I would be interested to know whether you could get your deposit back when a cruise line changes its smoking policy between booking and and sailing. Has anyone tried? Surely, for a smoker, it is a fundamental part of the contract?

I can't imagine any smoker who would cheerfully set foot on a ship where smoking is banned. After all, you can't realistically step off a cruise liner at sea. Elsewhere most smokers could at least find somewhere they could enjoy the odd puff in some sort of comfort.

I emailed P&O when they changed their smoking policy and said I was considering cancelling and asked if I could cancel without penalty. They replied saying I could cancel and they would put a note on my file.

luci

Dear Tidewatching
I am going to travel agent (TUI) today to cancel my cruise,will see if i can get my deposit back ?.
Have E mailed Thomson to see if i do but no reply yet.
That does'nt help people who have paid for cruise only to find change in policy when they get their tickets.
By the way Thomson still say you can smoke in cabins on website !!!!!.Why no openness + honesty,
With regards survey, that means on every Thomson ship (1000 pax) 670 want no smoking 330 do.
So really they are ignoring the wishes of 33% of their passengers.
But then would a Temperance Society meeting vote for a bar in room.
Johnny C

Well the dirty deeds done,i have cancelled my Thomson cruise for 9th October from Liverpool.
NO i could NOT have refund of my deposit because it says in brochure.
" The policy review currently being conducted MIGHT result in smoking areas being further reduced and potentially restricted to the outside decks only", so look out for the 40 or so smoking seats allocated to smokers in one bar to go next.
But you will have to ask because Thomson won't tell you.
Even the staff in the TUI travel agents didn't know about ban in cabins.
It still says on Thomson website you can smoke in cabins.(Trade Description act or what ??)
Bye Bye Thomsons.
Johnny C

That puts Thomson cruises off my list.

Hoping Ocean Village don't do the same.

I have some sympathy with smokers but not a lot. I have been on Thomson, Airtours and Ocean Village cruises in the past and had trouble finding a smoke free bar to have a drink in. Now the trend has been reversed we get the moans.

Bob

OK, I will NOT have this topic deteriorate into a slanging match for and against smoking. Anyone continuing down this route will have their posts deleted and possibly their membership of the site if they continue.

Please keep on topic which is which ships do and do not permit smoking.

Thank you.

luci