Smoking on Crise ship

starry

Hello Everyone, Apologies, The title should read Cruise ship and for the long post in advance. I wondered if anyone can help with this matter. Four of us booked a Cruise in Oct 2007 for next month to the Caribbean. Having just received our tickets it states in the information that smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship. This is our 3rd cruise with Thomsons and one of the reasons we choose to cruise on this ship is that smoking is allowed inside one bar where most of the entertainment is and this was just a small designated part of the huge bar. Having read conflicting reports, i rang Dawson and Sanderson, (whom we have booked through) and spoke to a lady who in turn said she would ring Thomson and check the details. She kindly rang me back and said that " smoking is allowed in designated areas on the open deck, one bar and in the cabins, though they prefer you not to smoke in the cabins". This is the way it has been as i said above on our last two cruises on this ship. However, after again reading more conflicting reports on the forums i sent her an E-mail asking her to confirm the information she had given me over the telephone and this is the reply i got back from her.
"Further to my telephone call yesterday, when you expressed concern about conflicting reports you had received about smoking on board The Destiny i have now been able to clarify Thomsons policy. When i contacted them yesterday i was informed that smoking is allowed in designated areas on the open deck, one bar and in the cabins, though they preffered you to avoid smoking in the cabins as the next guest staying may be a non-smoker.However, that information appears to have changed, as following receipt of the new brochure, the A-Z guide now states that smoking is only permitted in strictly designated areas on the open deck. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship. I called Thomson this morning to check that the brochure information is correct, and this has been confirmed to me by ref Tayo at Thomsons. I am sorry that i provided inaccurate information yesterday, but it appears that not all Thomsons staff are up to date with current smoking policies".
My question is, should we not have been informed before now that Thomson was changing it's policies regarding smoking and do we have any come back on this such as changing our holiday to a ship where smoking is allowed or cancelling all together. And surely all Thomson staff should be up to date regarding any new policies. I know a lot of people will agree with this new policy, however the four of us travelling all smoke, and enjoy smoking and i know this will spoil the enjoyment of our holiday as how can we enjoy the entertainment on board when we have to keep going to a designated area outside to have a cigarette.Surely Thomsons must have known they were bringing this policy in and we should have been informed before we booked. I don't want this post to cause a massive debate about smoking as i am very considerate to non-smokers, but would just like some advise from anyone who may know where we stand on this. Once again, apologies for the long post and many thanks in advance for any advice on this matter. Starry.

Generali

starry wrote: »

Hello Everyone, Apologies, The title should read Cruise ship and for the long post in advance. I wondered if anyone can help with this matter. Four of us booked a Cruise in Oct 2007 for next month to the Caribbean. Having just received our tickets it states in the information that smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship. This is our 3rd cruise with Thomsons and one of the reasons we choose to cruise on this ship is that smoking is allowed inside one bar where most of the entertainment is and this was just a small designated part of the huge bar. Having read conflicting reports, i rang Dawson and Sanderson, (whom we have booked through) and spoke to a lady who in turn said she would ring Thomson and check the details. She kindly rang me back and said that " smoking is allowed in designated areas on the open deck, one bar and in the cabins, though they prefer you not to smoke in the cabins". This is the way it has been as i said above on our last two cruises on this ship. However, after again reading more conflicting reports on the forums i sent her an E-mail asking her to confirm the information she had given me over the telephone and this is the reply i got back from her.
"Further to my telephone call yesterday, when you expressed concern about conflicting reports you had received about smoking on board The Destiny i have now been able to clarify Thomsons policy. When i contacted them yesterday i was informed that smoking is allowed in designated areas on the open deck, one bar and in the cabins, though they preffered you to avoid smoking in the cabins as the next guest staying may be a non-smoker.However, that information appears to have changed, as following receipt of the new brochure, the A-Z guide now states that smoking is only permitted in strictly designated areas on the open deck. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship. I called Thomson this morning to check that the brochure information is correct, and this has been confirmed to me by ref Tayo at Thomsons. I am sorry that i provided inaccurate information yesterday, but it appears that not all Thomsons staff are up to date with current smoking policies".
My question is, should we not have been informed before now that Thomson was changing it's policies regarding smoking and do we have any come back on this such as changing our holiday to a ship where smoking is allowed or cancelling all together. And surely all Thomson staff should be up to date regarding any new policies. I know a lot of people will agree with this new policy, however the four of us travelling all smoke, and enjoy smoking and i know this will spoil the enjoyment of our holiday as how can we enjoy the entertainment on board when we have to keep going to a designated area outside to have a cigarette.Surely Thomsons must have known they were bringing this policy in and we should have been informed before we booked. I don't want this post to cause a massive debate about smoking as i am very considerate to non-smokers, but would just like some advise from anyone who may know where we stand on this. Once again, apologies for the long post and many thanks in advance for any advice on this matter. Starry.

Unfortunately it sounds like caveat emptor to me.

You could try asking for your money back but I don't see what would compel them to do so.

onetomany

most places abroud are stopping smoking in public places, dont think you will get ur money back but worth asking

tbw

As I understand it, it is now illegal to smoke in anyones place of work. This includes bars, restaurants etc so I suppose a cruise ship would be included. As it became law a while ago and was generally well publicised I suppose Thompsons would argue that the general public should have been well aware of the change in the law.

I suspect you won't get far with a compaint - I hope it doesn't spoil your holiday.

McKneff

We used to go to Amsterdam quite often and up until late last year you could smoke in the bars on the ferries but not in the cabins which i totally agree with, i think it was something to do with flying under a dutch flag. P & O changed the rules mid channel around about last September, so we could smoke in the bars going and had to smoke outside 2 days later. Its not too bad really but i can understand your
feelings if youre going on a proper cruise. At least if you all smoke you can all get together outside and not leave one or two of you inside. And, it'll cut your intake down.

stu3105

I suspect Thompsons have the same policy as P&O Cruise lines.
Smoking was only allowed outside on one of the starboard decks, and on your balcony if your lucky enough to have one.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

starry

Thanks everyone for your replies. We were on the Destiny cruise around the Med in sept 07 and they were advertising there new Caribbean cruises on board, but nothing was said at this time about them reviewing there smoking policies. This was the main reason we booked our holiday the month after we returned. I am still waiting for a reply from Thomson's but am not holding out much hope.
Once again, Thanks for your answers. Starry.

FH_Brit

tbw wrote: »

As I understand it, it is now illegal to smoke in anyones place of work. This includes bars, restaurants etc so I suppose a cruise ship would be included. As it became law a while ago and was generally well publicised I suppose Thompsons would argue that the general public should have been well aware of the change in the law.

I suspect you won't get far with a compaint - I hope it doesn't spoil your holiday.

Workplace smoking is a British law. Most Cruise ships fly "flags of convenience" - namely registered in a port/country that best serves the operating company - many cruise ships are Bahamian registered in Nassau.

However this point is mute - Many ships are stopping smoking - Carnival & Royal Caribbean allow smoking on one side of the ship only of 2 open decks and in the casino only (note where they make most money (casino) they allow smoking.

This is the trend and it's going to become more common.

FH_Brit

Speaking of cruises - 3/4 night to Nassau & Freeport booked here (Orlando) rather than in UK cost $85.00 - YES EIGHTY FIVE - thats about £61.21 ! ! !

If you can take a 2/3 week package to Orlando and then book out of Port Canaveral at a local travel agent here in the middle. R. Carribean sail on Sunday for 3 nights and Wednesdays for 4 nights - the ship just keeps going!

getmore4less

I am fairly sure Cruise ships were exempt from the new smoking laws(there is a reference but don't have it to hand).

The key to any claim for a refund would be a change of the T&C under which you booked. Major and minor changes and price changes after booking are covered by rules that all holiday companies have to follow.

Thomson will probably take the line that the change in smoking policy is a minor change which are allowed so no refund.

Thomson probably( I don't have a cuurent brochure) list some of the major changes that allow you to cancel with full refund, things like 2 or more port changes 24hr+ flight changes but there are others.

As a smoker you may consider a change in the smoking policy a major change and would need to go through the complaints procedure and eventualy probably to the small claims if they did agree and pay up.

This is a hot topic for smokers on a lot of cruise lines that have changing policies with 3m notice but encourage booking 18m-2y in advance.

getmore4less

FH_Brit wrote: »

Speaking of cruises - 3/4 night to Nassau & Freeport booked here (Orlando) rather than in UK cost $85.00 - YES EIGHTY FIVE - thats about £61.21 ! ! !

If you can take a 2/3 week package to Orlando and then book out of Port Canaveral at a local travel agent here in the middle. R. Carribean sail on Sunday for 3 nights and Wednesdays for 4 nights - the ship just keeps going!

Does that include the taxes? I think for these they are normaly $30-$40pp