Midwest Adventures: Lincoln History Still Lives Throughout Midwest
Lighting Up Limited On Cruises
Ships Try To Keep Everyone Happy, Now Less Areas To Light Up
By RANDY MINK Special to the Journal & Topics Newspapers
For cruise lines aiming to keep all their passengers happy, the formulation of smoking guidelines is a balancing act. The lines don't want to alienate smokers but recognize that most of their guests do not smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes.
No ship is smoke-free, but the trend is certainly in that direction and clearly in line with policies of hotels, restaurants and municipalities. The strictest cruise lines have reduced the number of smoking areas to just a few patches of shipboard real estate. Smoke-free restaurants, theaters and main show lounges are now universal. The same goes for lobbies and hallways.
Bruce Good, director of public relations of Seabourn Cruise Line, said, "We have reduced the areas where smoking is allowed twice within the last year, and we continue to carefully monitor smoking activity and comments from guests on our yachts to determine the best policy for all our guests' comfort and convenience."
In January of 2008, Royal Caribbean International banned smoking in staterooms and at least one entire lounge. Celebrity Cruises in October declared all staterooms and balconies smoke-free. Other lines have had stateroom restrictions in place for several years.
No ship gives passengers a choice of smoking and non-smoking staterooms---that would be an inventory nightmare for the lines. But cabins are cleaned so thoroughly that residual smoke is seldom a problem for the next guests.
Brian Henriksen, public relations coordinator of Princess Cruises, said, "If a guest has been smoking in the stateroom, an extra thorough and rigorous cleaning process will be provided in between voyages in order to ensure that the next guests occupying that stateroom will have the most enjoyable onboard experience possible."
Because smoking policies constantly change, consistently in favor of the non-smoker, it's best to consult the cruise line or your travel agent before sailing. Caution: Even information on the cruise lines' own websites can be confusing, contradictory, incomplete or out-of-date.
To clear the air, here is a line-by-line rundown of onboard smoking policies:
American Cruise Lines. Smoking is allowed only on the top (open-air) deck of the small vessels that ply Eastern U.S. rivers and coastal waterways.
Carnival Cruise Lines. Aboard Carnival's 22 ships, smoking is prohibited in dining areas, along the promenade and in such public rooms as the aft cabaret lounge, main show lounge and library. Unless otherwise indicated, smoking is permitted in casinos, dance clubs, piano bars and other select live music venues as well as cigar bars and designated areas on open decks.
Celebrity Cruises/Azamara Cruises. Effective Oct. 1, 2008, smoking is no longer permitted in any stateroom or stateroom balcony, a policy inspired by sister line Azamara Cruises. On both lines, cigarette smoking is permitted only in designated indoor and outdoor areas of the ship, while cigar and pipe smoking is permitted only in specified outdoor areas. Costa Cruises. Smoking is allowed in designated areas of most public rooms but prohibited in main restaurants and show lounges.
Crystal Cruises. There are designated smoking and non-smoking tables in most bars and lounges, but the restaurants and main show lounge are entirely smoke-free. Cigarette smoking is permitted in cabins, but not verandas or in corridors. Pipes and cigars are permitted only in the Connoisseur Club and on the open decks, except all areas of Lido Deck.
Cunard Line. Cigarette smoking is allowed in areas of the Golden Lion Pub and Empire Casino, on some outside decks, and in staterooms and on balconies. Guests may smoke pipes or cigars only in Churchill's Cigar Lounge.
Disney Cruise Line. Smoking is allowed on stateroom verandas; in an area outside of Cove Cafe, the adult gourmet coffee bar; and the starboard side of Decks 4, 9 and 10 (outdoors only and excluding all areas around Mickey's Pool).
Holland America Line. Smoking and non-smoking areas are available in most lounges. Smoking is not permitted in show lounges, dining venues and common public areas like atriums and hallways. It is allowed in staterooms, on balconies and on open decks. Cigars and pipes are permitted only in the Lido Bar and smoking lounges.
Norwegian Caribbean Line. Cigarette smoking is permitted only in the casino, cigar bar or dedicated smoking lounge, and staterooms, including the balcony. Smoking (including cigars and pipes) is permitted on open decks, but not around food venues, sports decks and the children's pool.
Oceania Cruises. Smoking is "expressly forbidden" in all staterooms and stateroom verandas. The line's policy states: "Smoking in a stateroom or suite or on a veranda represents a serious fire and safety hazard to all guests and staff.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed dining venues, staterooms and on balconies. Cigarettes are permitted on open decks, including pool bars and designated areas of outdoor grills, and in casinos and designated areas of lounges. Pipe smoking is permitted only in the Connoisseur Club (cigar bar) aboard the Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager. Cigars are allowed in a designated area of the pool bar as well as the Connoisseur Club. Failure to comply with this policy will result in guests being asked to leave the ship at their expense, without refund or credit for the unused portion of their cruise."
Royal Caribbean International. Smoking is permitted outdoors on the starboard side of the ship and in designated areas of public rooms, but never in any dining venue, theater, hallway or corridor.
At least one lounge is smoke-free. Smoking is not allowed inside any stateroom or on the private, inside balcony of a Boardwalk or Central Park stateroom on an Oasis Class ship; violators will be assessed a $250 penalty. However, smoking is permitted on outdoor stateroom balconies.
Seabourn Cruise Line. Cigarette smoking is permitted in guest suites and on the starboard side of the observation lounge. Guests must refrain from smoking in all dining venues, the main show lounge, The Club, casino, spa, elevators, corridors and lobbies. On the Seabourn Odyssey, which debuts in June, all of Deck 11, including The Retreat and Sun Terraces, will be non-smoking, as will the Pool Patio bar and grill area on Deck 8. Otherwise, smoking is permitted on the open deck of any ship. Pipes and cigars are allowed on open decks only.
SeaDream Yacht Club. There is no smoking in staterooms or enclosed public rooms aboard the line's two ultra-luxury yacht cruisers. Smoking is permitted outdoors on decks 3, 4 and 6, except during meal hours.
Silversea Cruises. Most public areas are non-smoking, but cigarette smokers may light up at designated smoking tables in some bars and lounges, in areas of certain open decks and in staterooms, including balconies. Cigar and pipe smoking is allowed in designated areas on open decks and in the cigar lounge.