More than a year and a half after our first-ever survey of cruise line smoking regulations, the cruise industry continues to move away from Mad Men style nicotine sophistication and into, well, the 21st century.
Take a look: Around the country, 34 states have banned smoking in many public places, and 24 of those even have no-smoking rules for bars. Across the pond, England, Ireland, Scotland, France (France!), Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Iceland have all banned smoking in most public places nationwide, including bars and clubs. Smokers can still light up wherever they want in, oh, Chad, but since we haven't seen a noticeable uptick in Chadian tourism, we can assume the ability to light up isn't the main driver behind smokers' vacation choices.
Which is a good thing for the cruise lines, 'cause the trend there is definitely following the worldwide pattern. Over the past two years, anti-smoking rules have become more and more stringent industry-wide. Generally, ships now prohibit smoking in all restaurants, theaters, corridors, elevators, and many other public areas, too. If you want to light up, most lines still let you do so in the smoking sections of bars and lounges, out on the open decks, and in your cabin and private balcony, but some are even clamping down on those retreats.
It's a simple matter of changing demographics. "The majority of our guests are non-smoking," says Crystal Cruises' President Gregg Michel, "and travelers are used to more non-smoking environments today." Ron Santangelo, North America president of Peter Deilmann Cruises, concurs: "With Europe following America's lead in passing laws that help reduce the effects of smoking on non-smokers, we are happy to adjust our policy to fully participate in this effort."
The Best Ships for Non-Smokers
The following cruise lines prohibit smoking not only in the majority of public areas but also in all their cabins (eliminating any possibility of residual odors), cabin balconies, and even outside public decks.
American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com): Small-ship line ACL is entirely smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited both indoors and on the outside decks.
Azamara Cruises (www.azamaracruises.com): Smoking is banned everywhere aboard Azamara's two ships with the exception of two small areas: one indoors, in the aft port-side section of the Looking Glass Lounge, the other outdoors, in the starboard forward section of the Pool Deck. Azamara also follows a no-smoking policy on all land components of its cruisetours.
Oceania Cruises (www.oceaniacruises.com): As aboard Azamara (whose ships are more or less identical to Oceania's), smoking is prohibited except in two areas: one indoors, in the aft port corner of Horizons observation lounge, and one outdoors, in the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck. Cigar and pipe smoking are only permitted in the latter.
Semi-Smoke-Free Runners Up
American Canadian Caribbean Line (www.accl-smallships.com): Smoking is allowed on outside decks only on this small-ship line. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside.
American Safari Cruises (www.amsafari.com): Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas of this line's small yachts. Smokers may light up on outside decks only.
Celebrity Cruises (www.celebrity.com): Smoking is prohibited in staterooms, on stateroom balconies, in all dining venues, and in the casino, theater, corridors, and elevators. Cigarette smoking is permitted only in a few designated indoor and outdoor areas of each ship, and cigar and pipe smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas. Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. Violations carry a $250 penalty charged to the guest's onboard account. There is also a non-smoking policy on all land components of Celebrity cruisetours.
Cruise West (www.cruisewest.com): Smoking is allowed only in designated areas of outside decks on these small ships. Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside.
Disney Cruise Line (www.disneycruise.com): Smoking is permitted only in designated areas of the ship. Guests are allowed to smoke only on open decks (except near the children's pool), on their stateroom balcony, and in the designated "adult" lounges onboard: Sessions and Rockin' Bar D on Disney Magic and WaveBands and The Cadillac Lounge on Disney Wonder.
Lindblad Expeditions (www.expeditions.com): Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas on Lindblad's small, expedition-oriented ships. No smoking is permitted anywhere inside.
Maine Windjammers (www.sailmainecoast.com): None of the owner-operated Maine windjammers permit smoking anywhere below decks, but other rules vary by boat. Several captains prohibit smoking anywhere on board, while others designate a downwind smoking area.
MSC Cruises (www.msccruises.com): On all MSC vessels, smoking is permitted only in the cigar lounge, the casino, in one dedicated lounge, and on one side of the sun deck. Smoking is prohibited in all cabins and cabin balconies.
Peter Deilmann Cruises (www.deilmann-cruises.com): You know the worm has turned on smoking when even the Germans ban cigarettes from their ships. That's what happened fourteen months ago when Peter Deilmann Cruises announced a new smoking ban for all indoor areas of its single oceangoing vessel, the beautiful 513-passenger Deutschland. Smoking is now permitted only on Deutschland's outside decks.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com): Smoking is prohibited in all staterooms and stateroom balconies, in all enclosed dining areas, and in most public rooms. Cigarette smoking is permitted only in designated areas of the outdoor Pool Grills, on deck areas, and in the casino, the cigar lounge, and the pool bar, as well as in a designated area of the nightclub and an outside portion of the observation lounge. Pipe smoking is only permitted in the cigar lounge, and cigars may be smoked in the cigar lounge and in a designated section of the Pool Bar. Violations of the smoking policy result in the guest being asked to leave the ship at his or her expense, without refund or credit.
Royal Caribbean International (www.royalcaribbean.com): Smoking is prohibited in cabins and in all restaurants, corridors, entertainment venues, and most other public spaces. Cigarette smoking is permitted only in designated areas of the ships' bars and lounges, on ocean-facing cabin balconies (i.e., not on Boardwalk- or Central ParkÂ?facing balconies on the new Oasis-class ships), and on outside decks on the starboard side of the ship. One lounge aboard each ship is designated totally non-smoking. Pipe and cigar smoking is only permitted in the cigar lounge or, on ships that don't have them, in a specifically designated area. Cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. Violations carry a $250 penalty charged to the guest's onboard account.
Sea Cloud Cruises (www.seacloud.com): Smoking is permitted only on open decks, and is prohibited in all indoor areas.
SeaDream Yacht Club (www.seadream.com): Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas, including cabins. No cabins aboard these ships have private balconies, so that's not an option either. Smoking is permitted outdoors only on Decks 3, 4, and 6, but even there it's banned during all meal hours.
Star Clippers (www.starclippers.com): Star Clippers follows a nonsmoking policy in all cabins and indoor public areas except a portion of the piano bar lounge. Smoking is permitted on outside decks. Pipe and cigar smoking is allowed only on open decks.
Windstar Cruises (www.windstarcruises.com): Smoking is prohibited in all staterooms and public spaces. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas of the outside decks.
Rules on the Rest
Here's a rundown on smoking rules aboard the other major cruise lines.
Carnival Cruise Lines
(www.carnival.com): Smoking is prohibited in all dining areas as well as in a number of public rooms, including the main show lounge, library, in some other lounges, and along the promenade deck. Unless otherwise indicated, smoking is permitted in cabins, cabin balconies, casinos, dance clubs, piano bars, cigar bars (on the ships that have them), certain other live-music venues, and in designated areas of the open decks. Spa staterooms and suites aboard Carnival Splendor are totally non-smoking, with a $250 penalty for violations.Costa Cruises (www.costacruise.com): Smoking is permitted in cabins and private balconies and in designated areas of most public rooms on board. It's prohibited in the restaurants and show lounges.
Crystal Cruises (www.crystalcruises.com): Cigarette smoking is permitted in cabins and at designated tables in most bars and lounges, but most public areas are smoke-free, including the main dining room, the bistro, the indoor portions of the buffet restaurant, the alternative restaurants, the show lounge, the Starlite Club aboard Crystal Symphony, and all private balconies. Pipes and cigars are permitted only in the Connoisseur Club and on most open decks (except all areas of Lido Deck). Pipes and cigars may not be smoked in cabins, on cabin balconies, or in the ships' corridors.
Cunard Line (www.cunard.com): Elevators and all restaurants are designated as totally non-smoking, while public rooms offer both smoking and non-smoking areas. Pipes and cigar smoking is limited to the cigar lounge.
Holland America Line (www.hollandamerica.com): Smoking is prohibited in all dining areas and in showrooms during performances. Smoking is permitted in designated areas of most bars/lounges, in cabins, on cabin balconies, and on the open decks.
Norwegian Cruise Line (www.ncl.com): Smoking is prohibited in almost all public areas aboard NCL's ships, including restaurants, performance venues, and bars/lounges. Cigarette smoking is permitted only in cabins, on cabin balconies, in the casino, in the Cigar Bar (on ships that have them), and on most open decks (excluding the food-service areas, sport decks, kids' pool areas, and other designated no-smoking zones). Pipe and cigar smokers must contain themselves to the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge and to the smoking zones on the outside decks.
Princess Cruises (www.princess.com): Smoking is prohibited in the dining rooms and other food-service areas and in the show lounges and theaters. Smoking is permitted in cabins, on cabin balconies, on the outside decks, and in designated areas of most public rooms. Pipe and cigar smoking is prohibited in all public rooms.
Seabourn Cruise Line (www.seabourn.com): Smoking is prohibited in most public areas, including all restaurants, the show lounge, the casino, the nightclub, the spa, the ships' elevators, corridors, lobbies, and the port side of the Observation Lounge. On the upcoming Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn, it will also be prohibited on all of deck 8 (including the Patio Bar, Patio Grill, and pool area) and deck 11 (including the Retreat and Sun Terrace). Cigarette smoking is permitted in cabins and on cabin balconies. Pipe and cigar smoking is permitted only on outside decks.
Silversea Cruises (www.silversea.com): Most public areas are non-smoking. Cigarette smoking is permitted only at designated smoking tables in some bars and lounges and in certain areas on open decks. Cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted in the cigar lounge and in designated outdoor areas on decks 5 and 6 aboard Prince Albert II, on open decks 9 and 10 aboard Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, and on open deck 9 aboard Silver Cloud and Silver Wind.
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