‘We’re not smoking, we’re vaping!” Cruisers with electric cigarettes spark rows after refusing to stay in smoking areas

Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters. 

Smoking areas and the enforcement of them has always been a big debate amongst cruisers, but in recent years, due to the rise of vaping, this debate has taken a new turn.

Many cruisers feel that people who vape don’t obey the rules of smokers, even though what they are doing is essentially the same. 

Cruise lines do appear to take this seriously, one Carnival cruiser in the USA has even reported seeing someone escorted off a ship due to the fact they kept vaping in public spaces. 

Cruisers themselves appear divided. While some do believe that vaping is distinct from smoking cigarettes and that vaping, for example on a balcony in an area with few people is nothing terrible, others believe vapers need to abide by the same rules as smokers. 

Cruiser Renae Fleming wrote: “Call me what you want, but if I see someone vaping and not in the smoking area I report them. I don’t want to breathe that stuff. Security comes and explains to them where to smoke and if caught again they could be charged a hefty fine.”

Another cruiser Jeff Parker agrees: “I enjoy cigars when I cruise.I was raised to obey the 10 Commandments, the law of the land and to follow ships rules and to only smoke in designated smoking areas. For those who can’t follow rules, stick to land travel or stay home.”

Michele Rosenow recounts an unpleasant experience she had at sea. 

“I had a man sit right down next to me on the Breeze last year and start up!! I was in the nonsmoking section! I said “Excuse me. You are in the nonsmoking section!” I point to the nonsmoking sign on the machine. He says “I’m NOT smoking!” Before I could explain to Mr. Moron vaping is the same as smoking, security tells him to put it away.

“ 5 minutes later, Mrs. Moron shows up, plops herself next to Mr. Moron and pulls out her instrument of death and starts puffing!”

Deanne Jordan called for more clear rules and signage on vaping: “We overheard people stating they were not smoking they were vaping in the elevator on Breeze. Sad the signage has to be changed because some think vaping isn’t smoking.”

However, many cruisers take a difference stance.

Cruiser Michael West said: “I vape and not over -the-top rude about it but am always put off about the ignorance about it. It is propylene glycol and flavoring.

“ Guess what else has those ingredients. I’ll save you the trouble. Your soft drinks, cake mixes, ice cream, cheese spreads, some alcoholic beverages, condiments, etc. 

“It is not smoking. It is not smoke. Being someone who nearly died early from smoking and whose lungs are absolutely perfectly clear after quitting and whose heart has fully recovered from an early aged heart attack, I can attest switching saved my life. The pure ignorance about vaping is aggravating. 

“When a person says “I don’t smoke”, it’s because they don’t smoke. Being marched to the smoking area is actually putting us at risk of cancer from secondhand tobacco smoke. The very thing we are trying to get away from.”

Another cruiser Marcia Woods mentioned that vaping doesn’t bother her.

“I’ve seen vaping in various places onboard. Doesn’t bother me though like a cigarette would.”

Sabrina Johns agreed: “I guess I’m weird because someone vaping doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t stink. Cigarettes on the other hand…”

What do you think? Should people who vape face the same rules as smokers or not?

Elsewhere, cruisers continue to argue back and forth over a new Sydney cruise port, and possible solutions.

Ayla Walker said: “We fly from interstate as it’s currently easy to get a train into CQ to depart from OPT. If having to then trek to Wollongong, would consider completely different embarkation destinations, like Singapore.”

Whereas Ian Laughlin argued: “If you fly into London for a cruise you have to get to Tilbury or Southampton to board your ship. Same if you’re wanting to visit Rome during a cruise you have to coach or rail it to get there. So why not Port Kembla? The train trip down from Sydney offers stunning coastal views if you sit on the left hand side of the carriage.”

Sydney cruisers also had plenty to say on high taxi fares and scams.

Jade Batishall had her own taxi story: “We pre booked a maxi taxi from Central to White Bay for 8 of us, with a fixed fare. Not a cheap fare mind you, but reasonable for 8 people.

The Booked cab turns up, then left. This happened 3 times. Each time telling us they could get more $$ if they didn’t do the trip.

Finally after waiting an hr and many many calls, one decided to accept the fare, albeit pissed off.”

Wendy Fenlon said: “We were overcharged significantly from Sydney airport into the China Town area. Complained to the taxi company and got over 40 dollars back!”

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