Popular Cruise Lines Are Changing Smoking Policies- But Not in the Way You Might Think

However, being stuck on board with someone lighting a cigarette constantly can make the space feel even smaller. Fortunately, two major cruise lines have changed their smoking policies.

But the boat can start to feel smaller and smaller as more problems arise. The wide, open-top deck is usually a spot for people to retreat and relax. However, after selecting the perfect chair by the pool, moving away from a smoker may feel extremely inconvenient. 

It seems like anyone who chooses to still smoke does so, knowing that it harms their lungs and increases their risk of heart attack, stroke, and various forms of cancer. 

The Cleveland Clinic estimates that second-hand smoke causes over 7,000 deaths from lung cancer and 33,000 deaths from heart attack and stroke every year in the United States.

But norms change incredibly fast. By the time the Titanic set sail, it had a non-smoking section and designated smoking rooms for first-class members to relax with a cigar.

Previously, Carnival Cruise Lines was one of the companies that allowed guests to smoke inside these establishments and the ship’s nightclub.

Aside from smoking, these cruise ships would have effective methods to filter the air to stop the spread of airborne viruses and illnesses. However, many people say that the filtration systems do not always work, and the strong smell of smoke can permeate cabins and bedrooms on lower decks.

Disney cruises, for example, do not allow smoking anywhere on board, but they also lack adult amenities like a casino and nightclub.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines have changed their smoking policies. Previously, both lines allowed passengers to smoke around the pool, on upper decks, in designated indoor areas, and in the onboard casinos and nightclubs. 

Recently, Royal Caribbean has tested the new smoke-free sections in casinos on its Oasis-class ships and Carnival has already changed 10 of their ships to reflect the new rule.

In his post, he shared the boats where the change has taken effect: The newest Excel Class ships, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Mardi Gras, already have designated smoke-free casinos in addition to the other casinos that allow smoking. Six other ships, Carnival Firenze, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Vista, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Breeze, also added secondary smoke-free casinos.

The idea is to keep both sets of customers happy and comfortable during their trip, but more specifically, while they’re enjoying time (and spending money) in the casino.

But they are trying to adjust their policies to ensure all customers feel safe and comfortable aboard, not just the smokers.

There is still a large percentage of people who smoke cigarettes and vapes, and if they cannot light up for days or even weeks on end, they certainly wouldn’t be booking that vacation.

Cruise ships, like other indoor spaces, have also created rules surrounding vapes. Right now, the vast majority of cruise liners have regulations that say vacationers can only vape in the smoking sections, such as the casinos, smoking rooms, or balconies.

However, there are very specific places on board where someone can use their vape. They absolutely cannot vape in any indoor spaces or outside of designated vaping areas.

Las Vegas strip casinos acknowledged that smoking and gambling go hand-in-hand, so it appears that for the time being, smoking will remain allowed in at least some of the ships’ casinos.

He said, “The dilemma is that there are many people who do want to smoke in the casino. I know that’s not the popular response, but it’s the truth. I’m not judging anyone or anything, but there’s a large group of people who do want to smoke in the casino.

That being said, as fewer and fewer people smoke actual cigarettes, the rules may get even stricter than they are now.

Neither company has announced that it will be restricting smoking or vaping on deck or on the balconies. Though some say those regulations are not far behind.

There are already fairly strict regulations regarding where a person can light up. Certain bars, decks, and balconies are allotted as smoking areas, whereas smoking is still prohibited on the rest of the ship, usually at busier locations like the pool.

The majority of the boat is open-air, and as long as they are not blowing smoke directly into someone’s face, it will simply dissipate over the ocean, bothering no one at all.

They might argue that secondhand smoke is not only incredibly dangerous but also that the smell, smoke, and ash are not pleasant and could negatively affect their hard-earned vacation.

Therefore, it’s extremely important to choose your cruise ship wisely if smoking or non-smoking will affect your experience.