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!”
Please keep those comments coming!
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I never post comments, but as a medical professional have to take exception to such melodramatic posts as this –
‘And I’m sick of going to yet another funeral for a young vaper, taken from us in their prime by this hideous disease’
Really Steve? Perhaps you should inform the Coroner so our stats can be updated.
Several years ago on a cruise, we joined a walk for cancer around a deck. Many smokers stood next to the walking area puffing their cancer sticks in our faces, meanwhile applauding! Rather hypocritical of them. Raising money to help cancer sufferers yet they were affecting others.
Vaping should be banned.
People paid lots of money for comfort and enjoyment.
I can’t stand vaping as too much smoke pass over me.
Please ban vaping.
Yes, it should be banned. Vapers can chat all they like, but it is a form of smoking and it does leave an odour, and sometimes that odour is most unpleasant. I just can’t imagine why you would want to put all that poison through your lungs anyway. If there is a dedicated spot for smokers on a ship or train or whatever mode of transport, then that is where vapers should be. Show a little respect for your fellow travellers.
The moron who says Ice cream also has the same chemicals as vapes?
If I eat ice cream, I’m not spitting it on your mouth or expecting you to eat it with me.
Vapers expect me to participate in their addiction
In Australia a lot of the Vanessa are ilegally being infused with nicotine, making them have a higher concentration of nicotine than normal cigarettes. If you smoke it (whatever it is) ypy belong in the smoking section. And YES the cruise lines should change their signage to suit.
Yep. I’d way rather breathe in the exhaust from the cruise ship; germs and bacteria from the recycled air from all my fellow cruisers; or the faecal matter that is present in every breathe that every human ever takes.
And I’m sick of going to yet another funeral for a young vaper, taken from us in their prime by this hideous disease.
….ignorance is bliss huh.
I am an ex smoker of many, many years, thankfully, but I feel that vapes should be viewed in the same category as cigarettes/cigars/etc.
I find it difficult to breath around people who are vaping. It is a combination of the vapour and the smell. Vapers also have a bad habit of assuming that since they are not “smoking” they can do it anywhere. If it is such a harmless item, then why are the rules in Australia becominng tighter with regards to who can purchase & use them? It’s not just to discourage kids from smoking/vaping. It is also because of the harmful chemicals in them that are released into the air around the vaper.
The people that are using vapes, should be in the smoking area, not where ever they feel like using them. They are more dangerous to your health than actually smoking cigarettes. On a recent cruise that we took, there was someone using a vape while playing bingo, was told to leave and take it to the smoking area
vapers should be included as smokers, if i see someone vaping in an area not meant for smokers , i would report them to the cruise line, no one wants to be inhaling these chemicals.
Smoking or vaping should be banned on a cruise I chose to stop 40 years ago and have not looked back the people that say vaping is not like cigarettes you are just fooling yourself it’s full of chemicals and just as deadly as nicotine
If I wanted to smoke or vape, I would. If I am trying to relax on a cruise, I don’t want to breathe in other people’s poison. That is not relaxing. If people are getting into arguments about people vaping in public areas or suffering in silence and not wanting to make a fuss, that is not relaxing. By all means have separate smoking and vaping areas, I don’t care, just don’t smoke or vape near me. People are free to delude themselves that all that is in a vape is propylene glycol and flavouring like in food – but most are sold illegally in Australia with nicotine and a myriad of toxins that are super-heated and potentially made even worse. Again, people are free to do this – just don’t do it near me when I am trying to relax on a cruise.
Smoking and vaping might be classed as different in the eyes of a vapour, but they blow smoke out there mouths the same, might be a different chemical but still harmful to a body. So yes vaping should be classed as same as smoking.
Vaping kills just the same as cigarettes, why do people want to kill themselves ? Ok then smoke in the designated smoking areas but here in Australia there is no smoking allowed.
Vaping should not be tolerated on board unless in smoking designed areas. One warning then if it continues off load at next port.
With regard to the Vaping issue, the people who Vape say it isn’t smoking but what they exhale comes from their mouth and nose and I do not want to breathe in their nasal and oral bacteria. If it is only propylene glycol and flavouring why are they addicted to it? It is illegal to sell Vapes in Australia without a doctor’s prescription, so it is classified as smoking.
I live in STH Australia and vaping is not a safe alternative to cigarettes. On a cruise Vapor’s should have their own area not among non smokers who are the majority of those on board.
I’ve taken more than 25 cruises around the world, and while the occasional poor meal or service happens, nothing consistently detracts from the experience more than losing a large portion of the pool deck to smoking areas. In my view, the act of smoking or vaping itself is just as intrusive as the smoke or vapour it produces.
I would love to see cruise lines move toward entirely smoke-free ships, with the only exception being a single enclosed room—similar to those in some airports—where smokers and vapers can gather. This room could even feature a virtual balcony at the back and one-way glass doors at the front to maintain comfort without affecting other guests.
I understand that many smokers and vapers see their habit as comparable to alcohol consumption. However, alcohol doesn’t alter the fresh, clean sea air that cruisers value most—smoke and vapour do. If someone feels smoking or vaping is essential to their holiday, perhaps cruising may not be the ideal environment for them.
Vaping is a type of smoking. Many vapes have tobacco, some do not. I do not need to breathe in anything that is smoked or vaped. If vapers do not want to be with smokers make them a different area. If they breath it out, I can then breathe it in. Do not be near me, children or the elderly. It is selfish to expect others to have your vape ‘smoke’ to breathe