Cigars on a cruise

skydiverD

ive never been on a cruise before. Anyone have experience with this?  Are there designated smoking areas and are cigars accepted?  

Im going on carnival cruise
lines next week. Was planning to bring some sticks with me. Hoping to be able to smoke them somewhere on the ship. 

Usaf06

The ones I have been on especially the big boats for 7 night cruises have cigar bars. If not u can smoke on the deck. 

skydiverD

Cool. If it has a cigar bar, I may never leave.

jlmarta

I've had bad experiences with cigars and cruises. Our last cruise was to the Bahamas and I was gun-shy when I booked that one. The previous cruise to Alaska had no cigar Lounge and I was forced to smoke on the fantail where it's always very windy so I specifically called the cruise line and spoke to the booking agent for the Bahamas cruise. 

I asked if there was a cigar lounge aboard and was assured that there was. Once we were underway, I went looking for the cigar lounge only to find that cigars were no longer permitted in the lounge. It was back to the fantail again for me, only this time I was restricted to the highest deck open to the passengers where it was EXTREMELY windy. 

There seems to be a movement among cruise lines to do away with cigar lounges. Even some cruise lines have certain ships with lounges and others without - seemingly dependent on the itinerary. 

Long story short - I just flat gave up on cruising. If I can't enjoy my cigars on a cruise I just won't cruise. It's as simple as that....

avengethis

I'm going on a carnival cruise in February and according to what I'm told the ship in on had one bar that allows cigars.  It's the jazz bar so I'm good with that. 

jlmarta

avengethis said:

I'm going on a carnival cruise in February and according to what I'm told the ship in on had one bar that allows cigars.  It's the jazz bar so I'm good with that. 

Well, lotsa luck. As I said, it's a crap-shoot whether a given ship on a given itinerary is going to allow cigars somewhere where it's comfortable and conducive to smoking. Even when you're assured there's a lounge aboard, finding out there isn't after you're already underway is a crappy surprise....

I spent a couple hours with a travel agent last year trying to find a cruise to somewhere we wanted to go that also had a cigar lounge aboard. There were a few in the eastern Caribbean but none to places of interest to us. 

Cruises just aren't in our future any longer....

skydiverD

Well that sounds like a bummer. This trip is already paid for, so I have to hope for the best. I'm bringing them anyhow.

jlmarta

 You might luck out, my friend. I hope so..... 

Gray4lines

My buddy just went on a cruise to Alaska and I let him borrow my herfador and a few sticks.  He smoked on the balcony I think.  It is different depending on company and ship.  

I'd find a place I like where it didn't bother people and smoke.  Be considerate, but don't let em push you around.  Hopefully the cigar bar is good.

bandyt09

Be careful with what Carnival tells you. The last (only) Carnival cruise I took told me they had a cigar bar, I called at different times during a 3 week period of time and talked to 5 different people, and they all confirmed the cigar bar. However, when I got onboard I found where this cigar bar was only to be told that hey had it decommissioned 6 months prior. To make matters worse, you cannot smoke cigars in the casino, only cigarettes. Wait, it gets worse, they had a Cigar and Mojito night on their itinerary for Saturday night, I showed up but was the only one there. And by only one I mean ONLY one, there wasn't anyone from the cruise line to even make me a mojito.

As Marty said, unless you want to smoke on the top deck and the back of the boat, set your expectations real low and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised.

skydiverD

Expectations set low.  Luckily it is only a 5 day cruise, with a couple days of port stops.  I can definitely smoke more relaxed on those stops, and deal with whatever come my way on the boat.  LOL  The rest of my 10 day trip is car excurdions with stops in Nashville and Tampa.  I'll scout out a lounge or two in those places as well.  All is not totally lost.  LOL

Thanks for all the input guys!

onestrangeone

bandyt09 said:

Be careful with what Carnival tells you. The last (only) Carnival cruise I took told me they had a cigar bar, I called at different times during a 3 week period of time and talked to 5 different people, and they all confirmed the cigar bar. However, when I got onboard I found where this cigar bar was only to be told that hey had it decommissioned 6 months prior. To make matters worse, you cannot smoke cigars in the casino, only cigarettes. Wait, it gets worse, they had a Cigar and Mojito night on their itinerary for Saturday night, I showed up but was the only one there. And by only one I mean ONLY one, there wasn't anyone from the cruise line to even make me a mojito.

As Marty said, unless you want to smoke on the top deck and the back of the boat, set your expectations real low and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Cigs but not cigars??? I might have had to throw a fit, Lol

ShadowInTheMoon

The last carnival cruise i went on (out of Texas) acutally sold cigars on the cruise at super inflated prices but...

rsherman24

I have been on Carnival a bunch of times.  They used to have cigar bars but seem to have gone away from them.  they now have (the last 2 or 3 ships I have been on) a sports or jazz bar where they allow cigar smoking and have a small humi to sell cigars out of for crazy prices.  You can smoke on the deck as well or if you have a balcony room.  Depends on the ship, but you will be able to smoke your cigars somewhere.