Following the recent revisions to smoking policies by other cruise lines throughout the industry, Norwegian Cruise Line today has announced new changes to its own onboard smoking policy.
Effective November 1st, guests will be prohibited from smoking cigarettes (electronic included) and cigars on stateroom balconies, The Haven, and in the casino for non-players. The new policy effectively designates Norwegian’s ships as non-smoking, with the exception of designated areas of the casino, the starboard side of the Waterfront (away from dining areas), and other designated deck areas.
In a statement to the the media, Norwegian describes its decision to revise its smoking policy as in the interest of “the health and well-being of our guests and crew.” Guests determined to be in violation of the new policy will have a $250 fee charged to their onboard account.
Following today’s announcement by Norwegian, Holland America Line is left as the sole cruise line to allow smoking on stateroom balconies. Over the past year, almost every cruise line has revised its onboard smoking policy, banning the practice on all stateroom balconies in addition to many public areas of the ship. The swift change in policy throughout the industry has come in regards to concerns over public health and safety onboard ships at sea.
5 replies on “Norwegian Cruise Line Bans Smoking From Balconies”
Restricting balcony smoking is extreme. Just cancelled my cruise with Carnival and was hoping to book with NCL but not a chance now that they just changed their smoking policy. Our cruising days are over. It’s too extreme, unwarranted, and unwanted by smokers as well as some non-smokers. There should be a happy medium here but the hypochondriac extremists appear to have won out. Our rights are shrinking folks, and not just the right to smoke. Think about it – what’s next?
Only one cruise line left for smokers. Think about it? Holland America. Smoking is not cool anymore because people are more educated. I believe smokers can still congregate in the casino and suck, puff and blow their money away! Good policy NCL!!
I will gladly pay the $250.00 fine and I will smoke as much as I please on my balcony on the Epic. I can’t wait to annoy those whiny non smokers. People actually whine about people smoking outside which is something I will never understand. As for you Doug, I hope you are my neighbor so I can annoy you most of all.
Oh Michael I”m glad you are sticking up for the smokers. I mean really you won’t be around much longer. Smoke away pollute your lungs, kill yourself I don’t care. If you were next to me, I would make sure your account was dinging like a slot machine in the casino. How arrogant and obtuse to think that your right to smoke, trumps my rights to enjoy a balcony I paid for!!! Do you know anyone with lung cancer or lung disorders? Probably not with your callous, ignorant childish response. It’s folks like you that make Cruising less enjoyable overall. It’s all about you, you, you and you. Perhaps if you removed your ignorant head from out of your a** you might gain a little respect for your fellow cruisers who don’t want to breathe in your cancer sticks.
I paid for the same balcony Nathan! What gives you the right to enjoy it more than me, just because I smoke I can’t enjoy it? Give me a break, people like you ruin vacations. Do you tell people in port not to smoke on the street because it bothers you? If you really think people are not going to smoke on board, you’re dreaming.