Adventure of the Seas

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Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Sea If You’re Still A Smoker... This Ship Is For You

With the continued decrease in smoking worldwide, many cruise ships adhere to the majority rules of non-smoking passengers and severely limit the ability of passengers to smoke aboard ships. Not so Royal Caribbean’s The Adventure of the Seas where smoke is so pervasive, you can’t go to the Promenade, Atrium or 11th-floor starboard side without being severely affected.

Not a smoker? Well, tough for you the crew is firmly entrenched at supporting the company’s policy to allow smokers. They’ve opened the ceiling of the casino via a flight of stairs directly into the promenade, that’s why all of the smoke is found throughout the center of the ship. Not a fan? You’ll need to stay in your suite, praying your nearby balcony neighbors don’t smoke, stay directly in the Fitness and Spa area (that smoking area is just one small glass sliding door away) and, surprisingly, the Schooner Bar – located just in front of the casino, trivia lovers get to enjoy their trivia with the smoke from the casino going up and out the ceiling into the Promenade rather than forward to that area.

Smoking has long been known to cause lung and other cancers, emphysema, and contribute to heart disease, making it one of the leading causes of preventable death.

Talk to Maria, from Mexico, at the front desk, and she’ll be sure to keep you tied up by having you call the shoreside people to fix your problem – which they can’t because you’re still aboard ship. And they can’t hear you well because you’re on your cell phone while Maria protects her landline against passenger use. Then ask for the supervisor, you may get Camille – who will tell anyone who’s just learned that this is, in essence, a “smoking ship” that it’s too late to disembark because they’ve just pulled up the gangplank (after they’ve wasted 45 minutes of your time arguing with you.

Then, it’s three days to San Juan, Puerto Rico your first stop with an airport, and no refund, of course, because “all Royal Caribbean ships allow smoking.”

I’ve pitched an article to a top-tier magazine to tell them why I think upgrades are worth it during travel. We loved our Hawaiian cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines. We had a cabin near the bridge and our personal butler. That was an extraordinary experience that I’d expected to repeat with my Suite choice on Royal Caribbean. Sadly, no, the concierge is not nearly as accessible – you have to go through a couple people on the phone to reach her or find your way to Suite 14 and the Suites Lounge during her office hours. Once you reach her, she’s quick to assure you of all that you can’t accomplish, but also explain how your pre-paid excursions, like swimming with the pigs, didn’t actually get booked because there was some problem with the payment processing – not that that’s what your credit card company says or what the message on the computer/website states when you made the reservation at a modestly reduced rate.

Go to the Vitaly Spa, a decades long favorite of ours, and you’ll find the peace and tranquility you seek – away from smokers (unless it’s the passenger next to you) and peace in the tranquility room as you await your treatment. There, you’ll find a friendly and empathetic ear – not that they can necessarily do anything for you, you’ve probably given up on that, but the anger at squandering thousands of dollars on what was supposed to be a great birthday surprise for my child feels more like a prison.

Good news – the fitness center has classes – starting with stretching at 0700 and Abs at 0730, so you can treat yourself, as a non-smoker, to a week of “biggest loser” style fitness. You won’t necessarily want to be out much amongst these smokers – so check out the Sapphire Room if you like, but do yourself a favor and order room service liberally – the food is not as good as what we experienced on the Regal Princess in October – but Regal’s Chef Rudy is known to be amongst the best. The order is “mostly correct” onboard Royal Caribbean’s Adventure – they just forgot one entrée – and the food is perfectly ok. I mean it.

They can’t keep the hot water for tea separate from the coffee holders, though, so go directly to a water spout to get your hot water, and bring your own container (we like Corksickle) to really have enough to make the trip worth it.

For people who don’t smoke who don’t want their cruises so severely restricted, I’ve really enjoyed both Norwegian and Princess in recent history without being so significantly impacted by people who continue to choose to smoke despite the incredible amount of evidence that shows it will most likely lead to a quicker death. Maybe that’s preferred on the Royal Caribbean … We’d have chosen Disney Cruise Lines, but they didn’t have a ship traveling the itinerary we wanted – not that we got to scuba dive, as I’d hoped, since my asthma was so flared, I used my inhaler more in that week than I had in the 7 years prior so scuba diving was not allowed.

So, if you’re a smoker and want to be amongst friends with similar attitudes, this is the ship for you. For the rest of us, find a more compatible ship to your health and lifestyle needs.


Why "The Adventure of the Seas" Might Feel Like a Nostalgic Nod to the Smoky '70s for Non-Smokers

Ahoy, fellow sea adventurers! If you’ve ever fancied a trip back in time to the smoky lounges of the 1970s, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas might just be the cruise ship for you. However, if you're a non-smoker hoping to breathe fresh sea air, you might find yourself navigating through some murky waters.

Imagine setting foot on the Promenade, ready to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of the ship's central hub, only to be greeted by a persistent haze of cigarette smoke. It seems that the open ceiling of the casino isn’t just an architectural choice; it’s a funnel directing smoke right into the heart of the ship, enveloping the Promenade and Atrium in a nostalgic cloud reminiscent of a '70s nightclub.

Not a smoker? You might find refuge in the sanctuary of your suite, the spa, or the fitness center—thankfully, these are the bastions of fresh air in this floating tribute to yesteryear. Here, you can enjoy a smoke-free environment, far from the pervasive aroma that dominates much of the ship.

Looking forward to escaping onshore? Brace yourself. The shore excursions might feel like a continuation of the cruise, with smokers next to, behind, and in front of you, despite seat changes and pleas for fresh air. It's as if the smoking section of the ship has wheels.

Even a stroll on the 11th deck can feel like a time warp. One side of the deck is lined with free-standing ashtrays, bustling with smokers reveling in their nicotine haven. It’s a vivid throwback to a time when smoking was the norm, and non-smokers were merely an afterthought.


But let’s talk about the safe havens—the suite, spa, and fitness center. These are the smoke-free oases where you can truly relax and enjoy your vacation. The spa offers a tranquil escape from the buzz and the smoke, where the only thing you’ll inhale is the scent of aromatherapy oils. The fitness center offers a variety of classes that allow you to rejuvenate and restore, far from the fog of tobacco.

Dining aboard might still be hit or miss. While the dining room staff does their best to delight your palate, the overall experience might feel a bit lackluster. Still, it’s a far cry from the smoky bars and lounges, proving that not all dining experiences need to be flavored with nicotine.

So, if you’re a smoker, Adventure of the Seas might just be your haven at sea. But for the non-smokers seeking a modern cruise experience, perhaps looking towards lines like Norwegian or Princess, which cater to contemporary preferences for clean air and smoke-free environments, might be a breath of fresh air.

In conclusion, while Adventure of the Seas offers a nod to the past with its liberal smoking policy, it reminds us that not all aspects of the '70s are worth reviving. Until then, non-smokers might want to set sail for clearer, fresher horizons. You'll never be so grateful that you finally get to go home.

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