Royal Caribbean

[NornIron]

Hi Chaps - Just back from a cruise around the Eastern Med on Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas.
Just to let you know that the Brilliance (along with almost all other Royal Caribbean ships) has a cigar friendly bar called Hollywood Odyssey, it's well ventilated, has a great big cabinet humidor filled with NC-cigars, and knowledgeable staff.
Lots of ashtray's, cutters, torch lighters aplenty too (no matches allowed onboard)
One night they even held a cigar seminar to introduce newbies into the habit. A nice touch is their shared Cigar Journal. If you purchase a cigar, you're invited to jot down some thoughts in a big diary.
You're also welcome to bring your own sticks to enjoy.
If you ever find yourself on the Brilliance, tell Michael the barman I said hello!

[Zigatoh]

Colour me cynical, but do you work in marketing? And by marketing I mean the advertising department of, or for, a certain 'Royal Caribbean'? You have to answer truthfully by the way, like if I were a dealer asking if you were an undercover cop. Fact!

[Stevieboy]

I agree Zig! Fishy....I'll be keeping my eyes peeled

[NornIron]

lol
I genuinely don't work for Royal Caribbean. Just genuinely found it refreshing to find a welcoming indoor spot for a puff on hols.

I know I can't prove that I'm not an employee, but I use the user name Norn_Iron on "Cruise Critic". On this thread, I was asking for cigar advice prior to departure. http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1166526

I thought some of you might find the info useful - I certainly did, and found it a great spot to meet with lots of folk, swap sticks and chat. To be honest, it was one of the highlights of my holiday.

Mods, if you feel this topic is inappropriate, feel free to delete or edit out names of bars/cruiseline.
Thanks

[Stevieboy]

Hi Norn. Sorry for the suspicion but the forum has been getting hammered with spammers and advertisers of late. Your post kinda does read as if you work for the company.....

Are you a cigar fan yourself? Introduce yourself in the newbie lounge if you like :)

Cheers , Steve

[TJCoro]

Senorhttp://www.myemoticons.com/images/people/gender-neutral/wiggling-toes.gif Normal, muchas gracias for the information. There are some cruise lines that are less than "cigar friendly" and if you don't know that before you embark, it can be quite disappointing!
http://www.myemoticons.com/images/emotions/disappointed/damn-damn.gif

:nerd: For example, don TJ and the lovely Catalina Joy took a 2-week Mediterranean cruise on the Princess Cruise Line several years ago. One evening while on the outdoor upper-deck enjoying a movie on a 3-story screen, don TJ decided the spark up a Cohiba Siglo I. Well, as soon as he lit the stick, some American b:censored: tch on the other side of the the boat complained - not from the smoke mind you, but from seeing the spark from his lighter!
http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/our-favourite/finger.gif

Well, don TJ was asked to go to the back of the deck if he wanted to smoke. No sooner did did settle in at the the back next to the bar, another woman complained! At that point, he was asked to move again to the other side of the bar at where they place a red-rope line around him as if to say, "Hey everybody, come look at the puro-smoking monkey!"
http://www.myemoticons.com/images/animals/safari/3d-monkey.gif
Well sir, ol' don TJ didn't give a shit and smoked and drank to his hearts content.http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/bad-boys/smokelots.gifhttp://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/bad-boys/beer.gifhttp://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/bad-boys/mooning.gifAnyway, that was the last time the Coros went on a cruise without first making sure the cruise line was "cigar friendly."


Names http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-char067.gif Boy, Bag Boy, and this may be the longest post I've ever written.


:lol: Haha! You'd better go lie down!


http://smileys.emoticonsonly.com/emoticons/r/rastaman-3510.gif Hey BB! All the while dem depon di bashment

[NornIron]

Are you a cigar fan yourself? Introduce yourself in the newbie lounge if you like :)

Cheers , Steve

Ahem... http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?10046-quot-Hi-quot-from-Northern-Ireland

:p (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?10046-quot-Hi-quot-from-Northern-Ireland)

[NornIron]

Senorhttp://www.myemoticons.com/images/people/gender-neutral/wiggling-toes.gif Normal, muchas gracias for the information. There are some cruise lines that are less than "cigar friendly" and if you don't know that before you embark, it can be quite disappointing!
http://www.myemoticons.com/images/emotions/disappointed/damn-damn.gif

:nerd: For example, don TJ and the lovely Catalina Joy took a 2-week Mediterranean cruise on the Princess Cruise Line several years ago. One evening while on the outdoor upper-deck enjoying a movie on a 3-story screen, don TJ decided the spark up a Cohiba Siglo I. Well, as soon as he lit the stick, some American b:censored: tch on the other side of the the boat complained - not from the smoke mind you, but from seeing the spark from his lighter!
http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/our-favourite/finger.gif

Well, don TJ was asked to go to the back of the deck if he wanted to smoke. No sooner did did settle in at the the back next to the bar, another woman complained! At that point, he was asked to move again to the other side of the bar at where they place a red-rope line around him as if to say, "Hey everybody, come look at the puro-smoking monkey!"
http://www.myemoticons.com/images/animals/safari/3d-monkey.gif
Well sir, ol' don TJ didn't give a shit and smoked and drank to his hearts content.http://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/bad-boys/smokelots.gifhttp://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/bad-boys/beer.gifhttp://www.myemoticons.com/emoticons/images/msn/bad-boys/mooning.gifAnyway, that was the last time the Coros went on a cruise without first making sure the cruise line was "cigar friendly."


Names http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-char067.gif Boy, Bag Boy, and this may be the longest post I've ever written.


:lol: Haha! You'd better go lie down!


http://smileys.emoticonsonly.com/emoticons/r/rastaman-3510.gif Hey BB! All the while dem depon di bashment

LOL!!! :hail:

At least I could puff on our balcony if I wanted, and Royal Caribbean seemed to permit smoking outdoors on the ship as long as it was on the starboard side (That's the right hand side of the boat for all the land-lubbers out there!)
I'd likely have thrown someone overboard if they'd tried to put a red rope around me! "Come and look at the freak! Don't get too close kids!"

[M1F2R3]

All hands to the deck

[Smallclub]

[…] At that point, he was asked to move again to the other side of the bar at where they place a red-rope line around him as if to say, "Hey everybody, come look at the puro-smoking monkey!" […]
This is unbelievable… and scary! :der::crazy:

[TJCoro]

Are you a cigar fan yourself? Introduce yourself in the newbie lounge if you like



Ahem... http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?10046-quot-Hi-quot-from-Northern-Ireland :p (http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?10046-quot-Hi-quot-from-Northern-Ireland)

http://www.smilys.net/rauchende_smilies/smiley4631.gifAhem...A little "due-diligence" goes a loooooong way, muchacho! http://smileys.emoticonsonly.com/emoticons/e/embarassed-1028.gif



http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-char067.gif BB

http://smileys.emoticonsonly.com/emoticons/r/rastaman-3510.gif Hey Chi-chi man! Member when wi dideh? :playball:

[RickMG]

On of my favorite reasons to cruise is to spend my time in the cigar lounge. I've only been on Carnival and Holland America but really want to go on Royal Caribbean next. Glad to hear about the lounge.

[NornIron]

On of my favorite reasons to cruise is to spend my time in the cigar lounge. I've only been on Carnival and Holland America but really want to go on Royal Caribbean next. Glad to hear about the lounge.

If you do, check out your ship's facilities carefully.
I hear that the most recent (and largest) of Royal Caribbean's ships don't have a cigar lounge. However, a few BOTL's on cruise critic have emailed RC, and they admit that as there's such a demand for cigar lounges, they are in the process of identifying a suitable space onboard, and aim to fit out a bar with new ventilation etc, and offer this service soon in the future - but it isn;t there yet...

[Motormadj]

Ive always been curious about cruises, never been on one, I cant decide wether I think they are pure stupidity or pure genious.

Hmmmm.... I think on. :smile:

[M1F2R3]

Ive always been curious about cruises, never been on one, I cant decide wether I think they are pure stupidity or pure genious.

Hmmmm.... I think on. :smile:

My parents love going on cruises, particularly with P&O (not so much anymore, though) and friends of my family have highly recommended RC. I can safely say, as a teenager cruising was an epic experience, nothing but sun, women and alcohol - very classy, I know. Now that I've matured (yeah, right :eviltongue:) I can safely say that I'm convinced I would still have a great time. I would love to squat in the Sun like a Sloth, drink an ice cold beverage with a Cuban - perfection.

[bigbarneyhotdog]

I'm going on the Independence of the Seas for a cruise round the Med quite soon. Cheers for the info :41:

[M1F2R3]

I'm going on the Independence of the Seas for a cruise round the Med quite soon. Cheers for the info :41:

I hope you have a great time! I'm sure that you'll love it, lots of relaxation, sight seeing and Cubans :)

Frederick.

[Motormadj]

My parents love going on cruises, particularly with P&O (not so much anymore, though) and friends of my family have highly recommended RC. I can safely say, as a teenager cruising was an epic experience, nothing but sun, women and alcohol - very classy, I know. Now that I've matured (yeah, right :eviltongue:) I can safely say that I'm convinced I would still have a great time. I would love to squat in the Sun like a Sloth, drink an ice cold beverage with a Cuban - perfection.

Yeah doesnt sound too bad at all.....
.....apart from the squating. .:biggrin1:

[NornIron]

I'm going on the Independence of the Seas for a cruise round the Med quite soon. Cheers for the info :41:

You're welcome - I'm sure you'll love it!
Also of note - RC, as it's a US company, don't sell Cubans on board. However, that said, you're free to bring your own sticks and smoke 'em.
I also purchased a few packs of Cohiba and Hoyo's in a Duty free. Most Ports in Europe seem to have one, but the biggest I think, was Piraeus in Greece.
They seemed to be very reasonably priced. By my reckoning, I saved 40% on UK t'internet prices.
I'd planned to take a few cigars on hold, and maybe bring a few back, so had a 10 cigar caddy with me, and to bring stuff back, I liberated a peli case from work and had a humi-bag inside to keep things stable until I got 'em home.