I'm a smoker and trying to chose a cruiseline. Are some lines more smoker friendly than others? I have no problem with things like no smoking in diningrooms or show theaters etc. but I really don't want to have to go to one side of the ship or another (I'm always so turned around that I'm sure I'll head for the wrong side!)<BR>I'm looking at mainline cruiselines, not family cruise ships like Disney etc. and we'd like to go to Alaska. Thank you. Vicki

Try Costa.

Please dont go on Celebrity!

I too smoke but am not very familiar with different cruiselines. I've only sailed on one cruise before, and as you said, no smoking in places like the diningroom and showrooms but smoking was allowed in casinos and bars and of course outside and in your own cabin. I never found it to be a problem. Just to try something different, I'm booked on Celebrity in the spring but now it sounds like they're NOT very smoker friendly....maybe I'd better rethink. I just assumed that all cruiseships probably had the same policies...Maybe others can offer insight.

All smokers should now book on Celebrity as Julie is an anti-smoking Nazi. Find her, and make her dress for diner.<BR><BR>Cunard has smoking in some dining rooms as well as some other sections of the QE2. HAL has a reasonable area for smoking, and if the ship does not stop at LA, you should not be bothered. Carnival does not seem to bother with smokers [including pipe and cigar] to the point of not in any way enforcing their no-smoking rules [except for the Paradise.] All the above allows &quot;run of ship&quot; smoking in cabins.<BR><BR>NCL and Celebrity are the most restrictive, and the place where you will most likely run into anti-smoking Nazis.<BR><BR>Others, I do not know.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Vicki -- Look for ashtrays and on HAL &quot;smoking permitted&quot; signs. Look for smiling and relaxed people.

Now this topic has caught my attention. I'm booked on my first NCL cruise and never thought to inquire about their smoking policy (just assumed they're all the same). Tell me more about NCL's restrictions please. Thank you.

I'm a smoker and have sailed on Celebrity 8 times. You can smoke on one side of the ship, you can always tell which side it is by the presence of ashtrays.<BR><BR>Julie, Julie, Julie you should know better than being an anti-smoking Nazi. You should know darned well that smoking is allowed on Celebrity at just about anywhere.

Yes all us nonsmoking cruisers are selfish for not wanting to acquire lung cancer.

E-gads, I thought I was just asking a simple question. I promise you that I only smoke in designated areas....thus the question in the first place. No need for this hostility. I am curious about the restrictions with NCL (as Lew mentioned, could you expand...), this is one of the cruiselines going to Alaska that I'm considering.

Vikki -- There are 2 ways of answering your question on NCL smoking policy.<BR><BR>The first based on my observation is there one seat for every 10 smokers, all in undesirable locations, ie sitting at the bar.<BR><BR>The second is there is a high probability that at least once you will be accosted by an anti-smoking Nazi, who feels it is their duty to lead you back to the path of goodness and light.<BR><BR>Personally, I have developed a deep hate for NCL due to their poor staff/passenger ratios, mediocre food and discrimination against smokers.<BR><BR>NCL, due to their demographics, seems to attract the self-righteous, just as Carnival attracts the &quot;spring break&quot; crowd.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Vicki,<BR>I have smoked with no trouble (other than a few less than polite fellow passengers) on Celebrity. It amazes me that the people who hate smoke the most want to sit in the middle of the smoking section. Go figure.<BR>But, I do believe that HAL is the most smoker friendly. There is a smoking area in the dining room,or was when I went on their Baltic cruise last year.<BR>Don't let them get you down.<BR>Have fun.<BR>Linda

Holland America has done away with the smoking area in the dining room.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul, your statement is only correct for North American Iteneraries.

Lew,<BR><BR>When did you cruise on Hal that smoking in the dining room was allowed?<BR><BR>To my knowledge this was stopped some time in 2002.

Last cruise some guy smoked a stogie NON STOP for 14 days. ENded up with being threatened to be thrown overboard, nevermind that person would spend the rest of his life in jail.. Do you have any idea how tiresome you smokers are to those who appreciate a little fresh air. If you MUST smoke on deck, please be polite enough to stay DOWNWIND from everyone else. This means noticing which way your vile smoke is blowing and staying at the end of the wind.

sandi <BR>How about YOU move away from the smoke! I would imagine that you have 2 legs and can walk...... <BR>Do you have any idea how tiresome you non-smokers are to those of us who smoke? <BR>Perhaps you should stick to the non-smoking Paradise.

Sandi, I am a non-smoker and have only sailed a couple of times (HAL Maasdam, Orient Marco Polo and Carnival Fantasy). Other than sometimes in the casino the smoke wasn't that bad. Most of the public rooms were either non-smoking or had very designated smoking areas, or outside on decks. Can you tell me what ships you've sailed on where you had such bad experience with bad smoke....I would like to avoid those ships. Thanks!

Well, last one that really tourqued me was 32 days on the Ryndam (HAL). They had a great pianist in the piano bar, and folks sat on the bench and blew smoke in his face all evening. What a way to make a living. we went in a time or two after dinner, but soon left as the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Also, the casino, where people would start a cigarette, leave it burn constantly while they played the slots..weren't even smoking the darn thing. Then they would drop it, or stomp it out on the rug. Rug was full of burns. Also the backs of toilets, counters, etc., where folks let it burn down to nothing. In public areas (at the dress receptions) people were also smoking in close quarters. Got to be careful you don't burn an arm. Ourside on the deck, saw several people throw lighted cigs overboard! Of course, this is highly dangerous, not only to the people below, but regarding fire. Our cabin was desnigated NON smoking, but our friends had a smoking room, and the staff had tried to disquise the smell (stale) by spraying lots of lysol and/or other air freshener about. An even worst smell. AT least we didn't have to endure it in the dining room, but peole smoked in elevators, around the pool, and anywhere they decided they wanted too.

Sandi--if you must rant and rave, at least get the facts right.<BR><BR>You said, &quot;Our cabin was desnigated [sic] NON smoking, but our friends had a smoking room,...&quot;<BR><BR>There are no non-smoking rooms on any HAL ships, including the Ryndam. You've been snookered by someone.<BR><BR>Further, you contend, &quot;but peole [sic] smoked in elevators, around the pool, and anywhere they decided they wanted too.&quot; Well, not in my experience on the Ryndam, Masdam, Zuiderdam, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Veendam. BTW, One side of the Lido deck by the pool is designated a smoking section of each of these ships.<BR><BR>But then again, I do not have an agenda.