Another Cruise Ship Bans Smoking

Remember the days when you had to push smoke aside to walk into a cruise ship casino or lounge?  Fortunately, many if today’s ships have relegated smokers to tight little corners, if they are allowed to smoke at all.

Now, luxury line Crystal Cruises is the latest to eliminate smoking in nearly all indoor spaces, with officials announcing a tighter smoking ban that will go into effect with the line’s first cruises of 2014.

Don’t feel too sorry for the smoking crowd. They can still light up in the cushy Connoisseur Club smoking lounge on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which happen to be pretty nice places to hang out. Smokers of cigarettes, cigars, or pipes will also be allowed to smoke in a limited number of outdoor spaces on the Crystal ships.

The line says the move was based on “considerable feedback” from customers. In other words, the non-smoking majority has been heard.

Here’s a few words for smokers: a) you should quit, and b) even on luxury ships, you can’t do everything you want.

This year, luxury line Silversea also began enforcing a tighter smoking policy, banning smoking in cabins and limiting smoking indoors to its Connoisseurs Corner.

On the premium market side, Princess recently tightened its policy to prohibit smoking in cabins, including on balconies. Celebrity, Oceania and Regent all have similar policies. Carnival, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Disney and, as of this year, Norwegian also ban smoking in cabins. You can still light up on your balcony/verandah, however.

As an aside, I have one cigarette-addicted pal who books balcony cabins, referring to her private patch of outdoor space as her “smoking room.”  Still, some cruise lines, including Celebrity and mostly-non-smoking Azamara, also prohibit smoking on cruise tours.

It seems non-smokers appear to be winning this battle.

— Fran Golden