To smoke … or not to smoke. Nothing fires up cruise travelers more than this issue. Indeed, check out the posts on Cruise Critic’s message boards — but we warn you: Put on your oven mitts before you open any thread with “smoking” in the title. It’ll be red hot.
This issue is so incendiary (pun intended) that smokers often feel bruised and battered and slink away in shame, and non-smokers are often arrogant and self-righteous and … well, just plain rude. On the other hand, there are non-smokers whose response is to live and let live and smokers who take the position that “hell, it’s still legal, so leave me alone.”
In the United States, the number of smokers is dropping – and young people aren’t starting to smoke as much as they used to – but one in four adults still lights up. (In California, the number is closer to one in seven.) In Europe and Asia, smoking is much more prevalent, although that’s changing too. The governments of France, Ireland, Italy and the U.K. have recently banned all indoor smoking countrywide. Still, any ship that sails with a large European or Asian contingent is bound to be smokier than a ship filled with North Americans.
Cruise lines, though, have generally taken a more moderate approach to smoking policies. Renaissance Cruises, an entirely non-smoking line, no longer exists. Carnival’s Paradise, which started life as a smoke-free vessel and stayed that way for six years, now allows smoking onboard. But several major cruise lines have recently introduced very limiting policies, as have many small-ship “boutique” lines and river cruise vessels. But for other major companies, the policies are not nearly as restrictive as most non-smokers wish they were.
It’s an issue of “spoilage” (the industry’s lingo for unsold cabins) that keeps cruise lines from designating some cabins non-smoking, in the fashion of hotel rooms. “It would present an inventory mess,” says a spokesperson for CLIA, the cruise industry’s official trade association. “The cruise lines’ yield management people want the ships to sail full at all times; you can’t do that if you set aside non-smoking rooms.”
We’re presenting the policies for you in one neat, tidy package, but first, here are a couple of pointers:
Most Restrictive: Renaissance Cruises (and its groundbreaking “no smoking anywhere” policies) may now be defunct, but the premise is alive and well, to a point, on Oceania Cruises. That cruise line not only hails Renaissance’s former president as its leader but also sails with Renaissance’s former ships! And while smoking is permitted in two small areas only, its restrictive policies can strike fear in the heart of even the most obsessive smoker. One U.K. line is also taking the country’s smoking ban very seriously. From October 2008, P&O Cruises will make three ships in its fleet – Artemis, Oceana and Ventura – completely smoke-free in inside spaces, with lighting up limited to some outside areas and on cabin balconies.
What happens if you get caught smoking in your cabin or on your balcony? Check out this little ditty in the Oceania Cruises Guest Ticket Contract:
“Guests choosing to disregard the policy may be subject to monetary penalties — up to the fare paid for passage – that will be imposed to cover the costs associated with the required cleaning of stateroom furnishings, verandas and surrounding deck and accommodation areas. Guests are also kindly reminded that the Master of the vessel reserves the right to disembark any guests, without prior warning, for violation of this policy and said guest(s) shall be responsible for all fees levied by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, all costs associated with repatriation and vessel’s loss of revenues from said forced disembarkation or costs associated with repairs or replacement of furnishings as a result of combustion of accommodation areas found to be caused by said guest(s).”
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Least Restrictive: If you are a smoker and want to light up at any time, anywhere, book yourself a Pullmantur vacation. This Spain-based cruise and tour operation runs several cruises in the Mediterranean. You can smoke during your massage, between courses at meals, in the hot tubs, during bingo … All in all you can totally revel, in bliss, pretty much anywhere.
Balconies: Considerate smokers who want to least offend their neighbors should look at getting a balconied stateroom as far aft as possible since the smoke tends to drift back while the ship is underway. Conversely, sensitive non-smokers should look at booking their verandahs as far forward as possible, for the same reason. If that isn’t possible, non-smokers need to adjust their balcony-use schedule or just tolerate the smoke.
Public Spaces: Most ships have designated smoking areas, usually on one side or another of the ship. If smoking is permitted on deck on the port side, that’s where smokers should go to light up and where non-smokers should avoid sitting. You’d think that’s pretty basic, but many a fight has started over cigarette smoke because one side or another is in the “wrong” space.
It’s important to note that shipboard personnel cannot change policy. For example, they cannot and will not ask someone to stop smoking on that person’s balcony (except on cruise lines where it’s prohibited), but they can and will ask someone to move to a smoking area if that person is in one that is clearly non-smoking. Avoid confrontation; let the ship’s personnel handle the asking.
And now, on to our line-by-line roundup of policies (policies are ambiguous with regard to cigar or pipe smoking except where noted):
Azamara Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in the port side aft section of the Looking Glass Lounge and the starboard forward section of the pool deck.
Where You Can’t: The rest of the ship is completely non-smoking, including all cabins and balconies.
Carnival Cruise Lines
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in casinos, dance clubs, piano bars and other live music venues, as well as designated areas on open decks.
Where You Can’t: All dining areas ae non-smoking, as are a number of public rooms, including the aft cabaret lounge, main show lounge, library, and along the promenade.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Ships in the Carnival’s Destiny and Conquest classes have cigar bars.
Celebrity Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Designated indoor areas where passengers can smoke cigarettes include the port side of one lounge per ship and a designated slot machine area in each ship’s casino. Other outdoor areas include the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on each ship, the port side of the Sunset Bar on Celebrity Century and on Celebrity’s Millennium class of ships, and the port side aft outside of Winter Garden on Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Mercury.
Where You Can’t: Effective in early October, smoking in cabins and on balconies will be prohibited. In addition to the starboard side, Celebrity prohibits smoking in the theater, cinema, conference center, dining rooms and elevators. On Celebrity’s new Solstice, the Lawn Club and the Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is allowed only in specially designated sections of the open decks.
Costa Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on the open decks, in cabins, including balconies, and in designated smoking areas in most public rooms.
Where You Can’t: All restaurants and show lounges are non-smoking.
Crystal Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, on open decks, and in designated smoking areas in most bars and lounges.
Where You Can’t: Beginning on Crystal Serenity’s May 7, 2008 London-to-Rome cruise and Crystal Symphony’s May 25, 2008 Athens-to-London voyage, the line will begin prohibiting smoking on verandahs of all staterooms and suites aboard. As well, all dining venues, including the Crystal Dining Room, Bistro, Lido Cafe and alternative restaurants, are non-smoking, as is the Galaxy Lounge (the main show lounge).
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted either in the Connoisseur Club or on the open decks (except for Lido Deck).
Cunard Line
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, and in the designated smoking sections of most bars and lounges. In addition, all restaurants aboard Queen Elizabeth 2 except the Princess Grill feature small smoking sections.
Where You Can’t: Elevators, theaters, and the library are non-smoking, as are all restaurants on Queen Mary 2 and the Princess Grill on Queen Elizabeth 2.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in Churchill’s Cigar Lounge aboard Queen Mary 2 and in the Chart Room, Crystal Bar, Golden Lion Pub and open decks on Queen Elizabeth 2.
Disney Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on the open decks (except near Mickey’s Pool), cabin balconies, Diversions, Sessions on Disney Magic and Route 66 on Disney Wonder.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in all other indoor areas, including cabins.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Line
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on open decks and in designated areas in indoor public spaces.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in staterooms, on balconies, and in all dining rooms.
Holland America Line
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including cabin balconies, on open decks and in designated areas in most public spaces.
Where You Can’t: All restaurants are non-smoking, as is the show lounge during performances.
Louis Cruise Lines
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on the open decks and in designated smoking areas in most public rooms.
Where You Can’t: All cabins are non-smoking, as well as the dining room.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar smoking is permitted only on the open decks.
Majestic America Line
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on open decks, including cabin balconies.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas, including cabins.
MSC Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is only allowed indoors in the cigar rooms, the casinos and one dedicated lounge, and outdoors on one side of the sun deck.
Where You Can’t: Each MSC ship is now 90 percent smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited in dining rooms, theaters and cabins (including cabin balconies).
Norwegian Cruise Line
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, on open decks, and in casinos and cigar bars.
Where You Can’t: All indoor public areas except casinos and cigar bars are non-smoking.
Ocean Village
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, on open decks and in designated smoking areas of most public rooms.
Where You Can’t: Restaurants, staircases, elevators and corridors are all non-smoking.
Oceania Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted only in the aft port side of Horizons, and the starboard forward section of the outdoor Pool Deck.
Where You Can’t: All other areas are smoke-free. This includes all cabins and balconies, restaurants, public rooms and open decks except for the two designated smoking areas.
Caveat: In April 2006, Oceania tightened its smoking regulations with a new “zero tolerance” policy, which imposes strict penalties upon those who smoke outside designated areas — up to and including disembarkation from the ship.
P & O Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in one designated internal public space area onboard Arcadia, Aurora and Oriana, on certain areas of the open decks, in all cabins on Arcadia Aurora and Oriana, including balconies. Smoking is allowed on the balconies of Artemis, Oceana and Ventura.
Where You Can’t: From October 2008, smoking will be prohibited in all enclosed public areas and in the cabins on Artemis, Oceana and Ventura.
Peter Deilmann Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: As of March 2008, smoking is permitted only on the open decks.
Where You Can’t: The line is expanding the no-smoking restrictions on its European river fleet to include all areas inside the vessels without exception beginning in 2008. The policy will become effective at the start of the river cruise season in March 2008. All cabins, corridors and restaurants are also smoke free.
Princess Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, on the open decks and in designated areas in most public rooms.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in show lounges, elevators, dining rooms and all food service areas.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted only on the open decks.
Pullmantur Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted everywhere except in the non-smoking areas of the main restaurants. The line asks passengers to follow “the norms of good education and civility.”
Where You Can’t: The only non-smoking areas are in the main restaurants.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: RSSC allows smoking on open decks, in casinos and at all pool bars. Smoking is also permitted in the Connoisseur Club on Seven Seas Mariner, Navigator and Voyager, and in designated smoking areas in lounges on each ship.
Where You Can’t: RSSC does not allow smoking in suites, staterooms or on private balconies. Smoking is also not permitted in any enclosed dining areas.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar smoking is permitted in the Connoisseur Club on Seven Seas Mariner, Navigator and Voyager, and in the designated area of the pool bar on those three ships and Paul Gauguin. Pipe smoking is permitted only in the Connoisseur Club on Mariner, Navigator and Voyager, and is prohibited in open deck areas and on all other ships.
Royal Caribbean
Where You Can Smoke: Beginning January 2008, smoking is permitted only on cabin balconies, on the starboard side of open decks and in the designated smoking areas of public rooms.
Where You Can’t: With the adoption of the new smoking policy, smoking will be prohibited in all cabins (except on balconies) and in one public room on each ship. In addition, as always, dining areas and show lounges will be non-smoking, along with the port side of open decks.
Any passenger caught smoking in a cabin will be charged a $250 penalty. The new smoking policy will not be enacted until the summer 2008 season on Legend of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas.
Saga Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, in the designated smoking areas in many lounges, and on open decks.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in the dining room, cinema, theater, card room and library, as well as in the lounge during entertainment and lectures.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted on open decks, in the upper level of Club Polaris on Saga Rose and the View restaurant on Saga Ruby.
Seabourn Cruise Line
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in guest suites, on the starboard side of the observation lounge and on open decks (including the Sky Bar area), with the exception of the outdoor section of Veranda Cafe.
Where You Can’t: Effective August 2, 2008, smoking is prohibited in all public rooms except the starboard side of the observation lounge.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is prohibited anywhere indoors, including in cabins, but is allowed after dinner in an outdoor area near Sky Bar.
SeaDream Yacht Club
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted outdoors on Decks 3, 4 and 6.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in all indoor spaces, including cabins, and outdoors on Decks 2 and 5.
Silversea Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in designated areas of The Bar, outside the Terrace Cafรฉ, in the pool area, at the Panorama Lounge and in the Casino Bar, as well as in cabins, including balconies.
Where You Can’t: The Restaurant, indoors at the Terrace Cafe, Saletta, the Show Lounge, Card/Conference Room, Library, Spa/Fitness Centre, Internet Point and Gift Shops/Boutiques are smoke-free.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in designated areas outside at the Terrace Cafe and The Champagne Room.
Thomson Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on open decks and in the designated smoking sections of public rooms. Smoking in cabins is permitted but strongly discouraged.
Where You Can’t: All bars and lounges have non-smoking sections, and restaurants and the main show lounge are non-smoking.
Windstar Cruises
Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is allowed on the open decks, in cabins and on the port side of the lounge on all ships. It is also permitted in the casino and on the port side of the Compass Rose on Wind Surf only.
Where You Can’t: Smoking is prohibited in the restaurants on all Windstar ships.
Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted on the open decks only.
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WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Guests are also kindly reminded that the Master of the vessel reserves the right to disembark any guests, without prior warning, for violation of this policy and said guest(s) shall be responsible for all fees levied by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, all costs associated with repatriation and vessel’s loss of revenues from said forced disembarkation or costs associated with repairs or replacement of furnishings as a result of combustion of accommodation areas found to be caused by said guest(s).
- And while smoking is permitted in two small areas only, its restrictive policies can strike fear in the heart of even the most obsessive smoker.
- Still, any ship that sails with a large European or Asian contingent is bound to be smokier than a ship filled with North Americans.