Smoking Onboard - Updated.

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 in July 2007 regarding smoking in public places, i.e. you can’t. 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 isn’t. With a recent change in policy for some cruise lines regarding smoking onboard, here is an up to date comprehensive guide for the major cruise lines.  
 

Azamara
Azamara Journey has two designated smoking areas, the first is in the aft section of the Looking Glass Lounge on the port side and the second is on the starboard forward section of the Pool Deck. Otherwise, no smoking anywhere else, including staterooms, verandas, restaurants and public rooms.
 

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 pools are non-smoking.
 

Celebrity Cruises
As of October 1, 2008 onboard all Celebrity Cruise Ships, there will be no smoking inside any stateroom and on any stateroom verandas.  You won’t be banished outside altogether though as there are designated smoking areas in many of the ships’ lounges. Remember though, you are not allowed to smoke in any restaurants, theatres, hallways, elevators or corridors. If the weather is 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 shouldn’t, 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
In order to satisfy all their customers, most of Crystal Cruises are non-smoking. There are designated smoking and non-smoking tables in the lounges, make a note though that The Bistro, inside the Lido Café, the Crystal Dining Room, Starlite Club, Prego, Silk Road, The Sushi Bar restaurants and the Galaxy Lounge are entirely smoke-free.
 As of May 2008, smoking is no longer permitted on verandas of all staterooms and Suites aboard both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.  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 non-smoking, 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 Churchill’s Cigar Lounge.  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
Disney Cruise Line supports the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, meaning smoking is prohibited in all interior spaces on the ships. However, in order to please all their passengers you can indulge this on your own private veranda, or on the starboard side open- air decks.  
 

Fred Olsen
All restaurants onboard Fred Olsen ships are non-smoking. From the first sailings of 2009 Boudicca, Black Prince, and Braemar will become smoke-free. Black Watch and Balmoral will be following this, after they complete their world cruise itineraries in 2009. Smoking will be banned in all indoor areas, and will only be allowed on cabin balconies, and on designated areas of decks.
 

Holland America Line
You will 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 non-smoking. There aren’t any "non-smoking" staterooms, but non-smokers 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). Alternatively, 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 it’s not around the food venues, on sports decks or jogging areas, kids' pool areas and other designated non-smoking 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.  You are not allowed to smoke in any of the restaurants or in The Bayside Club until after 8pm.
 

Ocean Village have however, stated that the UK ban on smoking in public places, will have some impact on their ships, and they will keep their passengers informed of the position, if any changes.
 

Oceania
Cigarette smokers can choose from the designated areas on Deck 9,  forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck and Deck 10, 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 shouldn’t 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.
 

P&O
P&O have recently changed their policies regarding smoking onboard, meaning smoking is no longer allowed in any stateroom or any inside areas of the ships. It will still be allowed on cabin balconies and on certain areas of the open decks.
 

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 allows smoking in staterooms, designated public areas and on outer decks.  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 non-smoking 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 non-smoking, 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
Minerva:  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 don’t 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 can’t 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 non-smoking 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 places for cigarette smokers to choose from as the Restaurant, Veranda Café, Restaurant “2” (inside and outside), The Club, Casino, Card Room and Meeting Rooms, Grand Salon, The Seaborne Square, Main Show Lounge (during performances and lectures), port side of the Observation Lounge and The Sky Bar, and the ship’s elevators are out of bounds to you. Saying that, there’s no mention of not being able to smoke cigarettes in staterooms.
As for pipe and cigar smokers, sorry to tell you that you’re limited to an outdoor area of the Seabourne Square 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 Café, Pool area, Panorama Lounge, and Casino Bar.  Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in designated areas outside at the Terrace Café, and The Champagne Room (Silver Cloud and Silver Wind). All other public areas, such as Le Champagne, Show Lounge and library are non-smoking.
 

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 weather’s going to be like at your chosen time of year before booking.
 

Thomson
Smoking is only permitted in designated areas on the ships, it is not permitted anywhere inside on the ships.
 

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 not all is lost. 
 

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. We will keep you posted.
 

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