Have a cigar.
Smoking these days, short of poking someone in the eye with a sharp implement, has become probably one of the most unacceptable of social endeavours, certainly in public places. The major cruise lines have all amended their smoking policy in recent times with some no longer allowing smoking even on private balconies.
While still providing designated outdoor areas for the cigarette lovers among us (albeit extremely limited and increasingly reducing areas) , those who choose to partake are generally regarded as one demographic below that of ‘leper‘.
I say this as attitudes within the cruise industry seem to differ greatly when it comes to your choice of smoke. Cigars are still allowed to be enjoyed indoors, in comfortable surroundings with a quality glass of your favourite tipple without the stigma attached to those smoking cigarettes.
Take a look at some of the industry’s big players cigar rooms;
Norwegian Cruise Line provides smoking retreats and cigars sold by the stick from makers including Davidoff, Gurkha, Cohiba and Fuente, as well as some selections by the tin. Lounges are named differently on various ships: the Corona Cigar Club on the Norwegian Gem and Pearl, the Havana Club on the Jade and Dawn, The Smoking Lounge on the Spirit, and The Humidor Cigar Lounge on the Epic and Breakaway.
On Silversea, cigar smokers can light up in the Connoisseur’s Corner, a lounge where the menu includes a wide selection of cigars and fine cognacs. Princess Cruises has Churchill’s cigar lounges, and The Connoisseur Club on Regent Seven Seas‘ three ships provides guests with an elegant hideaway where they can relax in large leather armchairs and enjoy rare vintage cognac and a selection of Cuban cigars.
On Royal Caribbean’s Freedom- and Voyager-class ships, the Connoisseur Club has a menu that focuses on cigar education — detailing information on dozens of brands. What’s in stock differs by itinerary, but the collection includes Fuente, Montecristo, Rocky Patel and Davidoff, while Churchill’s Cigar Lounge is the cigar smokers’ hangout spot on the three Cunard ships. Their cigar menu features classics including Montecristo No. 2.
So how does it appear that Cigar smoking seems to be fine when cigarette smoking most definitely is not? It appears cigar smoking slips gently under the radar of those wanting to change the living habits of others and causes much less of an issue.
Nothing polarises opinion like smoking. Are you a cigar smoker, a cigarette smoker or a non-smoker?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on such a divisive issue.
4 Comments on “Have a cigar.”
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I totally agree with your comments, as a smoker we do tend to request a balcony suite, but after a recent conversation with a travel agent they informed me that a lot of cruise lines are intending to implement a no smoking policy on balconies, and only allowing cigarette smoking in a few designated areas, and some may ban it altogether.
Personally I think the odour from cigars is much stronger than from cigarettes, and cannot understand why it is acceptable to cater for cigar smokers in luxurious lounges, but cigarette smokers in small designated open deck areas only.
Perhaps cruise companies should consider allowing balcony rooms above a certain floor on 1 side of the ship, thereby allowing smokers to do so.
Maybe cruise companies can afford not to allow smoking onboard, only a matter of time will tell.
Up to last year smoking was allowed on the balcony but I enjoyed many a cigarettes in the cigar lounge in very nice surroundings and good company. There was one cigar smoker and the rest smoked cigarettes and we had many a laugh and a joke in there, even my husband who is an ex smoker and doesn,t usually join me in the smokers room stayed. I think it is very unfair that smoking is only allowed on certain parts of the deck as we experienced very bad weather on a cruise last year and we couldn’t dock for 4 days and we were not allowed on the decks.We are looking to book a cruise for next year but only on a ship with a designated smoking room. I think many of the cruise lines will find difficulty in selling balcony cabins as smokers will not pay extra and may as well have an outside cabin. What is the difference between a cigar smoke and cigarette smoke? Nonsense !!!
Was on the NCL jADE not long ago we had a balcony so could still have a fag there also deck7 was a smoking area, however have noticed more and more cruise lines won’t even let you smoke on your balcony which you pay a huge premium for but will still have cigar lounges, personally although a smoker I hate cigar smoke. Really puts me off cruising, I have to trawl through websites and brochures to find ships I can have the occasional ciggie on!!!! Until we have prohibition on everything from small screaming children, obese lumps at the pool, greedy people at buffets, loud people screaming and shouting at all hours, don’t think Il’ll bother cruising again!!!!! In fact I think I’m going to go anywhere because as a smoker you are treated like dirt,
I do not “want to change the living habits of others” but I do not want to get lung cancer through your addiction. I stopped smoking 12 years ago after a 40 a day habit for 30 years. Then I watched my mother die of lung cancer…she was a smoker. She fought to suck in air to her lungs that were full of cancer. Her choice to smoke. Your choice to smoke. Do not inflict it on me.