Most cruise lines have made their indoor areas, including passenger
cabins, completely non-smoking. Some ships make exceptions in areas such as
casinos, discos, and bars – either a portion or the entirety of these areas may
be open for smoking.
On many ships, smoking is permitted on certain outdoor decks, often on
one side of the ship. Watch for signage or the presence of ashtrays, which will
help you identify where smoking is or is not allowed. Note that smoking
policies and designated areas are not necessarily consistent from one ship to
another, even when the ships are in the same cruise line’s fleet. Penalties for
evidence of smoking in restricted areas also vary, but usually involve a
significant cleaning fee.
Smoking is sometimes permitted on private balconies, even if it’s not
allowed in the staterooms attached to the balconies. However, Princess Cruises and
Carnival Cruise Lines recently announced that all of their balconies are now non-smoking
areas. A spokesperson for Princess Cruises said the change in policy reflects
changing customer preferences and a global movement toward further restriction
of smoking areas. Princess still welcomes passengers who smoke, and smoking
will continue to be allowed in cigar lounges, in portions of the discos and
casinos, and on portions of the open decks on Princess ships.
If you smoke, note that you should never, ever, toss a cigarette over a
ship’s rail. It’s likely that a casually tossed cigarette will land on an open
deck or balcony below the deck from which it was thrown. A single cigarette
butt has the potential to start a fire that could put you, your fellow guests
and the crew in danger.
To find out about the specific smoking policy in effect on the ship you
plan to sail on next, talk with Anita, your Cruise Holidays personal cruise
expert.
