Smoking Onboard A Burning Issue
Smoking Onboard A Burning Issue
One topic that causes great debate is smoking. Like marmite you either love it or hate it. As you are aware the UK government introduced a new policy earlier this year regarding smoking in public places i.e. you cant. So what effect has this had on the cruise industry? Like most things in life it varies. On some cruise lines smoking is permitted in staterooms/cabins in others it isnt. To help you out heres our comprehensive guide to current smoking policies on the major cruise lines.
Azamara
Simply put you can get your fix onboard Azamaras ships in the aft section of the Looking Glass Lounge on the port side and on the starboard forward section of the Pool Deck. Otherwise no smoking anywhere else.
Carnival
Smokers can delight in the fact that smoking is permitted on one side of the ship in bars lounges and open decks as well as in cabins including balconies. Remember though restaurants theatres and the indoor aft pool on ships that serve food there are nonsmoking.
Celebrity Cruises
Whilst you wont be able to light up in your staterooms from January 2008 you will be allowed to smoke on the veranda/balcony if your stateroom has one. As for public areas smoking is not allowed in hallways corridors restaurants or entertainment venues and one bar or lounge per ship will be nonsmoking only. You wont be banished outside altogether though as there are designated smoking areas in many of the ships lounges. If the weathers good head out to the starboard outer decks for the views and a quick fix. A word of caution if you do smoke where you shouldnt cleaning charges will be added to your account.
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises may once have had a reputation for being very smoky but now the main restaurants and show lounges are smoke free. There are assigned areas for smoking in the lounges and bars and a plus for smokers is that some cabins are designated for you. If you like feeling the wind in your hair you can also light up on the open decks.
Crystal
Cigarette smokers will be pleased to know that at present you can smoke in staterooms and corridors as well as in the designated areas in most bars and lounges. Make a note though that The Bistro inside the Lido Caf the Crystal Dining Room Prego Jade Garden Silk Road The Sushi Bar restaurants and the Galaxy Lounge are entirely smokefree.
If you smoke a pipe or cigars however you are limited to the Connoisseur Club and on the “open decks” except all areas of Lido Deck deck 11 on Crystal Symphony and deck 12 on Crystal Serenity.
Cunard
Now pay attention and read carefully as the smoking policy varies from ship to ship! First the easy bit smoking is allowed in staterooms onboard all three ships Queen Mary 2 QE2 and Queen Victoria. You can begin taking notes now! All restaurants on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria are nonsmoking whilst there are smoking sections in all restaurants apart from the Princess Grill on the QE2. Elsewhere the starboard side areas of the public bars and lounges where possible on the QE2 and Queen Mary 2 are designated smoking areas. The Queen Victoria does have designated smoking areas in Churchills Cigar Lounge and the Empire Casino whilst outside smoking is only allowed on the starboard side of deck 3 as well as the forward and aft areas of deck 10.
As for pipes and cigars these can be smoked each evening in the Churchill’s Cigar Lounge onboard Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria and the Chart Room Golden Lion and designated areas of the Crystal bar aboard QE2.
I hope you got all that I might test you later!
Disney
You may not be able to smoke inside the cabin itself but you can pop onto the verandah of your stateroom to indulge. Inside feel free to light up within Sessions Disney Magic The Cadillac Lounge Disney Wonder and at the bar area in Diversions on both ships. If you like a bit of sea air you can smoke on the open decks except near Mickey’s Pool.
Fred.Olsen
You need to make notes again as the smoking policy onboard Fred.Olsen cruises varies slightly from ship to ship. You can smoke cigarettes in cabins although the company does ask passengers to refrain from doing so when possible onboard all ships apart from the Boudicca which has nonsmoking cabins throughout and Black Watch where you can smoke in the cabins apart from the forward suites on Deck 9.
Like most other ships all restaurants are strictly nonsmoking so make sure you get your fix before dinner in the bars/lounges listed below:
Braemar Skylark Lounge
Black Watch Observatory portside Lido Lounge portside and the Pipers Bar
Boudicca Observatory starboard Lido Lounge starboard and the Iceni Room
Black Prince Lido Lounge portside
Fortune favours cigarettes Im afraid so youll have to leave cigars and pipes at home as they are not allowed onboard.
Holland America Line
Youll need to have a smoke in one of the designated smoking areas available in most lounges before having dinner or seeing a show as all restaurants and showrooms are nonsmoking. There arent any “nonsmoking” staterooms but nonsmokers are assured that cabins are thoroughly cleaned after each cruise for your comfort.
Hurtigruten
An easy one to remember you can only smoke outside on deck so pray for good weather!
MSC
No smoking in cabins or on balconies please but join fellow smokers in the Cigar Rooms the Casinos and one dedicated lounge inside. If you like watching the world go by you can smoke outside on one side of the sun deck.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Cigarette smokers have a choice of smoking in staterooms balconies casino or Cigar Bar where available. Or if you prefer pipes or cigars you can head off to the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. You can also smoke cigarettes pipes and cigars outside on open decks as long as its not around the food venues on sports decks or jogging areas kids’ pool areas and other designated nonsmoking areas. Better check how big the open decks are!
Ocean Village
Being a UK company this one surprised me a bit smoking is allowed in cabins including cabin balconies. Elsewhere you can light up on some areas of the open decks in the casino on certain evenings and in designated smoking areas of one or two public rooms.
Oceania
Cigarette smokers can choose from the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck or the aft port corner of Horizons whilst cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck. Anywhere else is out of bounds and be warned anyone who smokes where they shouldnt will be disembarked at the next port of call and may also be subject to additional fees to cover the costs associated with any damage to and the required cleaning of furnishings verandas and surrounding deck and accommodation areas.
PO
Another surprise you can light up in cabins including cabin balconies. Certain areas of the open decks and designated areas of one or two public rooms are also available for smokers. All other areas are smoke free.
Peter Deilmann
Another easy one to remember as from January 2008 smoking is only allowed on the open decks on all Peter Deilmann vessels. Start praying for good weather again.
Princess
Princess is another cruise line where you can currently smoke in the staterooms to your delight or annoyance. As for public areas smoking is not allowed in the dining rooms other food service areas show lounges or theatres. All other public areas have smoking and nonsmoking areas.
Generally cigar or pipe smoking is limited to designated outdoor areas at the stern of the ship but there are designated cigar smoking areas inside too. For example Coral and Island Princess feature Churchill’s Cigar and Spirits Lounge while Diamond and Sapphire Princess feature Churchill’s Cigar and Sports Bar.
Regent Seven Seas
Notebooks at the ready please! From 21st December 2007 on Voyager Mariner and Navigator and from 29th December 2007 on Paul Gauguin smoking is not allowed in all suites staterooms and balconies. All enclosed dining areas are nonsmoking but you can have a cigarette in designated areas of the outdoor Pool Grills. Other than open deck areas the following are the only public rooms or areas where cigarette smoking is now permitted:
Seven Seas Voyager: Connoisseur Club Casino Voyager Lounge designated area Horizon Lounge outside area only Pool Bar
Seven Seas Mariner: Connoisseur Club Casino Horizon Lounge outside area only Stars Nightclub designated area Pool Bar
Seven Seas Navigator: Connoisseur Club Casino Stars Lounge designated area Galileo’s outside area only Pool Bar
Paul Gauguin: La Palette outside area only Le Grill designated area Pool Bar
Explorer II: Smoking Lounge on Bridge Deck
Pipes and cigars are only allowed in the Connoisseur Club aboard Voyager Mariner and Navigator with cigar smokers having the added advantage of being able to indulge in designated area of the Pool Bar area aboard all four vessels.
Like some of the other cruise lines Regent Seven Seas is taking a tough stance against passengers who dont follow the rules they will be asked to leave the ship at their expense without refund or credit for the unused portion of their cruise. You have been warned!
Royal Caribbean
From January 2008 you cant smoke in staterooms although if you have a balcony or veranda you can light up there. Ignore this at your peril as a 250 cleaning fee will be added to the accounts of any guests who smoke or allow smoking in their nonsmoking staterooms. On the plus side depending on your point of view there are designated smoking areas in many of the lounges and on designated open air decks.
This policy is across all Royal Caribbean ships from January 2008 with the exception of Legend Rhapsody and Splendour Of The Seas who will adopt this policy around April 2008.
Seabourn
Not many place for cigarette smokers to choose from as the Restaurant Veranda Caf Restaurant 2 inside and outside main show Lounge during performances and lectures starboard side in the Observation Lounge and The Club and the ships elevators are out of bounds to you. Saying that theres no mention of not being able to smoke cigarettes in staterooms.
As for pipe and cigar smokers sorry to tell you that youre limited to an area of the Sky Bar after dinner only.
Silversea
Silversea is one of the slightly less restrictive cruise lines as smoking is allowed in cabins and you can smoke cigarettes in designated areas of The Bar outside at the Terrace Caf Pool area Panorama Lounge Casino Bar and The Humidor Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper. Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in designated areas outside at the Terrace Caf The Champagne Room Silver Cloud and Silver Wind and in The Humidor Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper. All other public areas such as Le Champagne Show Lounge and library are nonsmoking.
Swan Hellenic
Short and sweet depending on your view you can only smoke in the designated “smoking room” or designated areas on the open decks. Better check what the weathers going to be like at your chosen time of year before booking.
Thomson
You can smoke in your cabins but Thomson and nonsmokers would rather you didnt. The main restaurants and show lounges are nonsmoking throughout whilst the bars are divided into smoking and nonsmoking sections.
Transocean
As with many other cruise lines smoking is not allowed in cabins or the restaurants but there are designated smoking areas around the ships so all is not lost.
Travelscope
Smoking is not permitted in the cabins or anywhere else inside apart the Disco and at designated tables in the Sky Bar where you can have a cigarette. Meanwhile outside on the open decks cigarette pipe and cigar smokers can join up although during deck buffet times smoking is not permitted on deck 7 aft around the pool or buffet area.
So there you have it a comprehensive guide to where you can and cannot smoke on ex UK cruises. However the above policies are subject to revision in order to comply with UK health legislation the intention of which when fully implemented is that the smoke free provisions of The Health Act 2006 will apply to all cruise ships when they are arriving or departing from a UK port and while within UK territorial waters. Well keep you posted.
About the writer: Susan Bigmore is the web editor for http://www.insidecruise.co.uk a cruise community packed full of articles and discussions as well as http://www.idealcruising.co.uk a specialist cruise travel agent.
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