Cruise Line Smoking Policies

by Jana Jones. Updated by Doug Newman

To smoke ... or not to smoke. Nothing fires up cruise travelers more than this issue. Indeed, check out the posts on Cruise Critic's message boards -- but we warn you: Put on your oven mitts before you open any thread with "smoking" in the title. It'll be red hot.

This issue is so incendiary (pun intended) that smokers often feel bruised and battered and slink away in shame, and non-smokers are often arrogant and self-righteous and ... well, just plain rude. On the other hand, there are non-smokers whose response is to live and let live and smokers who take the position that "hell, it's still legal, so leave me alone."

In the United States, the number of smokers is dropping -- and young people aren't starting to smoke as much as they used to -- but one in four adults still lights up. (In California, the number is closer to one in seven.) In Europe and Asia, smoking is much more prevalent, although that's changing too. In the last few years, the governments of France, Ireland, Italy and the U.K. have banned all indoor smoking countrywide. Still, any ship that sails with a large European or Asian contingent is bound to be smokier than a ship filled with North Americans.

Cruise lines, though, have generally taken a more moderate approach to smoking policies. Renaissance Cruises, an entirely non-smoking line, no longer exists. Carnival's Paradise, which started life as a smoke-free vessel and stayed that way for six years, now allows smoking onboard. But several major cruise lines have recently introduced very limiting policies, as have many small-ship "boutique" lines and river cruise vessels. But for other major companies, the policies are not nearly as restrictive as most non-smokers wish they were.

It's an issue of "spoilage" (the industry's lingo for unsold cabins) that keeps cruise lines from designating some cabins non-smoking, in the fashion of hotel rooms. "It would present an inventory mess," says a spokesperson for CLIA, the cruise industry's official trade association. "The cruise lines' yield management people want the ships to sail full at all times; you can't do that if you set aside non-smoking rooms."

--- Azamara Club Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in the port side aft section of the Looking Glass Lounge and the starboard forward section of the pool deck.

Where You Can't: The rest of the ship is completely non-smoking, including all cabins and balconies.


--- Carnival Cruise Lines

Where You Can Smoke: Cigarette smoking in public venues is only permitted in Carnival's dance clubs as well as in designated areas within the casino and casino bar. Smoking (including cigars) is permitted in designated exterior open deck areas (starboard side) of all ships. Additionally, smoking is allowed in the jazz clubs of the following ships: Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Victory, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Splendor.

Where You Can't: Everywhere but above enumerated spaces are non-smoking, including the dining room and most public rooms.

Effective December 1, 2011, smoking will be prohibited in all staterooms. Those guests in balcony accommodations will be permitted to smoke cigarettes and cigars outside on the balcony. Spa staterooms -- currently featured on Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic -- will continue to remain entirely smoke-free, including on the balconies.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar smoking is permitted in the jazz clubs.


--- Celebrity Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Cigarette smoking is only permitted in designated indoor and outdoor areas. Examples include the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on each ship; the port side of the Sunset Bar on Celebrity Century and on Celebrity's Millennium class of ships; and the port side, aft, outside of Winter Garden on Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Mercury.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in cabins and on balconies. Also, smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, casino, theater, hallway, elevator or corridor. On Celebrity's new Solstice, the Lawn Club and the Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is allowed only in specially designated sections of the open decks.


--- Costa Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on the open decks, in cabins, including balconies, and in designated smoking areas in most public rooms.

Where You Can't: All restaurants and show lounges are non-smoking.


--- Crystal Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, on open decks, and in designated smoking areas in most bars and lounges.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited on verandahs of all staterooms and suites aboard. As well, all dining venues, including the Crystal Dining Room, Bistro, Lido Cafe and alternative restaurants, are non-smoking, as is the Galaxy Lounge (the main show lounge).

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted either in the Connoisseur Club or on the open decks (except for Lido Deck).


--- Cunard Line

Where You Can Smoke: On Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, and in the designated smoking sections of most bars and lounges. On Queen Victoria there are also limitations on the open decks. Smoking is only permitted on the starboard side of Deck 3 as well as the forward and aft areas of Deck 10.

Where You Can't: Elevators, theaters, and the library are non-smoking, as are all restaurants on Queen Mary 2.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in Churchill's Cigar Lounge aboard Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.


--- Disney Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted on the starboard side of all open decks (except near Mickey's Pool) and cabin balconies.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in all indoor areas, including cabins.


--- Holland America Line

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins (until January 15, 2012), including cabin balconies, on open decks and in designated areas in most public spaces.

Where You Can't: All restaurants are non-smoking, as is the show lounge during performances. Effective January 15, 2012, Holland America's new smoking policy designates cabins as non-smoking areas. Smoking will still be, however, permitted on cabin balconies.


--- MSC Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is only allowed indoors in the cigar rooms, the casinos and one dedicated lounge, and outdoors on one side of the sun deck.

Where You Can't: Each MSC ship is now 90 percent smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited in dining rooms, theaters and cabins (including cabin balconies).


--- Norwegian Cruise Line

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, on open decks, and in casinos and cigar bars.

Where You Can't: All indoor public areas except casinos and cigar bars are non-smoking.


--- Oceania Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted only in the aft port side of Horizons, and the starboard forward section of the outdoor Pool Deck.

Where You Can't: All other areas are smoke-free. This includes all cabins and balconies, restaurants, public rooms and open decks except for the two designated smoking areas.


--- Princess Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in cabins, including balconies, on the open decks and in designated areas in most public rooms. After January 15, 2012, cmoking will continue to be allowed in the Churchill's cigar lounge, a section of the disco and casino and a portion of the open decks.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in show lounges, elevators, dining rooms and all food service areas. Effective January 15, 2012, Princess will no longer allow smoking in cabins and balconies across its fleet.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted only on the open decks.


--- Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: RSSC allows smoking on open decks, in casinos and at all pool bars. Smoking is also permitted in the Connoisseur Club on Seven Seas Mariner, Navigator and Voyager, and in designated smoking areas in lounges on each ship.

Where You Can't: RSSC does not allow smoking in suites, staterooms or on private balconies. Smoking is also not permitted in any enclosed dining areas.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar smoking is permitted in the Connoisseur Club on Seven Seas Mariner, Navigator and Voyager, and in the designated area of the pool bar on those three ships. Pipe smoking is permitted only in the Connoisseur Club on Mariner, Navigator and Voyager, and is prohibited in open deck areas and on all other ships.


--- Royal Caribbean

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted only on cabin balconies, on the starboard side of open decks and in the designated smoking areas of public rooms.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in all cabins (except on balconies) and in one public room on each ship. In addition, as always, dining areas and show lounges will be non-smoking, along with the port side of open decks.


--- Seabourn Cruise Line

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in guest suites, on the starboard side of the observation lounge and on open decks (including the Sky Bar area), with the exception of the outdoor section of Veranda Cafe.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in all public rooms except the starboard side of the observation lounge.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is prohibited anywhere indoors, including in cabins, but is allowed after dinner in an outdoor area near Sky Bar.


--- SeaDream Yacht Club

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted outdoors on Decks 3, 4 and 6.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in all indoor spaces, including cabins, and outdoors on Decks 2 and 5.


--- Silversea Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is permitted in specifically designated tables in some bars and lounges and specifically designated outside areas on the open deck. Cigarette smoking is also permitted in cabins.

Where You Can't: Cabin balconies, The Restaurant, indoors at the Terrace Cafe, Saletta, the Show Lounge, Card/Conference Room, Library, Spa/Fitness Centre, Internet Point and Gift Shops/Boutiques are smoke-free.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking are only permitted in the Connoisseur's Corner and in specifically designated outside areas on open Decks 9 and 10 aboard Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit, and open Deck 9 aboard Silver Cloud and Silver Wind.


--- Windstar Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Smoking is allowed on the open decks, in cabins and on the port side of the lounge on all ships. It is also permitted in the casino and on the port side of the Compass Rose on Wind Surf only.

Where You Can't: Smoking is prohibited in the restaurants on all Windstar ships.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted on the open decks only.

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