MIAMI, April 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Cruise enthusiasts may praise the virtues of "sea air," but to many of them, what matters more is clean air. As more hotels and restaurants worldwide implement stricter smoking policies in order to promote healthier air, Celebrity Cruises also is taking action. Beginning October 1, 2008, guests on Celebrity's ships will enjoy fresher air as a result of a new policy that disallows smoking in Celebrity's staterooms or on stateroom verandas. The policy also will reduce the number of public areas in which guests can smoke onboard.

"We are proud to be the first premium cruise line to set a new standard toward creating an environment of cleaner air on our ships," said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "We pay careful attention to what our guests have to say, and approximately 90 percent of them have told us they are non-smokers. By increasing the number of smoke-free areas onboard while still designating areas for those who smoke, our aim is to make the onboard experience as pleasant as possible for all of our guests."

The new policy, created after Celebrity polled past guests, will result in a cleaner, fresher and healthier environment on Celebrity's ships. Designated indoor areas where guests can smoke cigarettes include the port side of one lounge per ship and a designated slot machine area in each ship's casino. The new policy also designates outdoor areas where guests can smoke. These include the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on each ship, the port side of the Sunset Bar on Celebrity Century and on Celebrity's Millennium class of ships, and the port side aft outside of Winter Garden on Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Mercury. Celebrity's new Solstice class of ships, launching with Celebrity Solstice late this year, will follow the new policy beginning with the first sailing. Celebrity Solstice's Lawn Club and the Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking. Violations to Celebrity's smoking policy may result in a $250 cleaning fee charged to the guest's onboard account and may also be addressed through the line's guest conduct policy.

The new policy will go into effect on Celebrity's fleet on the first day of the first sailing to follow October 1:

-- Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Mercury - October 3 sailings

-- Celebrity Summit - October 4 sailing

-- Celebrity Constellation - October 5 sailing

-- Celebrity Century, Celebrity Millennium - October 6 sailings

-- Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox - upon ship launch

Celebrity currently allows guests to smoke in staterooms, on stateroom verandas and in a number of indoor and outdoor public spaces. The exception is Celebrity Xpedition, the 92-person mega-yacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands, which operates under a stricter policy than the rest of the fleet, allowing smoking only on the ship's outer decks, in designated areas.

Celebrity Cruises offers comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experiences with highly personalized service, exceptional dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South America. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Europe and South America. Noted for "The Top Cruise Ships in the World," as voted by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler (February 2008 readers' poll), Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.

SOURCE Celebrity Cruises

It's more than a little interesting to me that as the world slips into a recession and as more ships are coming on line, a cruise line would go out of it's way to alienate 20% of the world population....Of course California exempt on that..there it's "only" 17%....

quote:

---

Originally posted by Globaliser:
For every person whom this might put off, there'll be someone who is attracted by it.

For example, since the smoking ban came into force here in England, I've started going to pubs again. I couldn't say that I've yet got into the habit of doing so, but it's a change from many years of almost always refusing to go.

---

Gobaliser, I feel the same, and is the most affordable way to eat in England; Pakiatani, Indian, and Chinese too. It is nice to taste the food without stale smoke. The cuisines are hard to find in the states.

I will be on Celebrity in November. What I loved most about Oceania is clean indoor and outdoor air.
MSC and the Costa Romantica were known as the "Ashtray of the Seas"

MSC has jumped on the bandwagon

quote:

---

New Smoking Policy on board !

A: MSC Cruises has introduced throughout its fleet a “Clean Air” policy, which will allow both smokers and non-smokers to enjoy their holidays on board in mutual respect.

After the introduction of the ‘Clean Air’ policy, the trials of the extensive smoke-free zones have received general approval of passengers.

We have eliminated smoking in all areas where non-smokers and smokers would have shared the same spaces.

We assigned a few rooms where smokers are welcome, but the majority of indoor spaces are now non-smoking.

On all MSC vessels, smoking is therefore only allowed indoors in the Cigar Rooms, the Casinos and in one dedicated lounge. Passengers can also smoke outside, on one side of the sun deck, but no smoking is allowed in cabins or on balcony cabins.

The rest of the ships is therefore totally smoke-free, for the benefit of non-smokers.

Thanks to the Clean Air Policy, MSC Cruises has therefore managed to satisfy both smokers and non-smokers by having a 90% smoke-free ship.

---

[ 04-11-2008: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by jetwet1:
...a cruise line would go out of it's way to alienate 20% of the world population.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by greybeard:
Desirod: You should be aware that your abbreviation of the word Pakistani is not acceptable in today's Britain. It's as bad as using the 'N'-word.

.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Globaliser:
For every person whom this might put off, there'll be someone who is attracted by it.

For example, since the smoking ban came into force here in England, I've started going to pubs again. I couldn't say that I've yet got into the habit of doing so, but it's a change from many years of almost always refusing to go.

---

And since Atlantic City casinos went non smoking revenue is down close to 10%

quote:

---

Originally posted by WhiteStar:
I smoke but have no problem with designated smoking areas. I did find it a bit difficult on my March 3rd cruise on the Balmoral since all staterooms and balconies are non smoking. I never used room service for breakfast since I have to have a smoke with my morning cup of coffee, which in this case was outside Lido Deck starboard.

Reed

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by jetwet1:
And since Atlantic City casinos went non smoking revenue is down close to 10%

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by glynn:
Make no mistake that alchohol causes way more deaths and accidents than a fag ever did.

---

And at least in the US, heart disease, followed by lung cancer, are the leading causes of death. 87% of lung cancer is caused by smoking. While alcohol no doubt plays a role in some of the heart disease, the majority of it is due to diet, nutrition, diabetes, hypertension and smoking.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/FASTATS/lcod.htm
Source: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35427#what

I'm starting to run out of ships, no way am I paying for suite and being told no smoking on the balcony - they can stuff off.

The technology is there they just need to use it, hell put glass screens round the bar which is where you find most of the smokers.

Obesity is probably next (w/all the health problems related to it) and then alcohol abuse.

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
I have several friends who are doctors and they have always told me that smoking is by far the single most damaging habit a person can have towards their health.

---

Agreed, but a surprising number of Doctors and Nurses smoke! Go figure.

I feel the need to lighten this post up. Here are some Smoking Quotes:

To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did. I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times. ~Mark Twain, attributed

One thousand Americans stop smoking every day - by dying. ~Author Unknown

Cigarette smoke is the residue of your pleasure. It contaminates the air, pollutes my hair and clothes, not to mention my lungs. This takes place without my consent. I have a pleasure, also. I like a beer now and then. The residue of my pleasure is urine. Would you be annoyed if I stood on a chair and pissed on your head and your clothes without your consent? ~Sign from Ken's Magic Shop

Much smoking kills live men and cures dead swine. ~George D. Prentice

There are some circles in America where it seems to be more socially acceptable to carry a hand-gun than a packet of cigarettes. ~Katharine Whitehorn

Tobacco is a dirty weed. I like it.
It satisfies no normal need. I like it.
It makes you thin, it makes you lean,
It takes the hair right off your bean
It's the worst darn stuff I've ever seen.
I like it.
~Graham Lee Hemminger, Tobacco

For the first time in history, sex is more dangerous than the cigarette afterward. ~Jay Leno

A nonsmoker is forced to find food, but for a smoker breakfast can be a cigarette and a cup of bad coffee. ~Brock Fiant

[ 04-12-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

That said I would not eliminate a cruise line because of its smoking policy as long as they had a few designated areas to smoke. However I probably would not frequent their casino if it were smoke free. I would think a smoke free casino would result in a good 10% or more drop in a ships revenue. It might even be more than that. I've seen smokers spend hours at a table or slot machine. That wouldn't happen with a smoking ban.

Reed

[ 04-12-2008: Message edited by: WhiteStar ]