Smoking on cruise ships is a very “hot” topic in the cruise industry at the moment. The argument over whether smoking should be allowed in certain areas is “igniting” spirits on both sides. Smokers and nonsmokers alike are “smoking” with passion. Terrible puns aside, smoking is a serious issue and today I wanted to help clarify a few points on the smoking topic. Well, here goes nothing.
Many cruisers ask why cruise lines are banning smoking specifically on balconies. The ban on balcony smoking has been around for a while now, but found only on a few lines. One of the first major cruise lines to ban balcony smoking was Princess, which had very good cause to do so. This cliffhanger leads us into reason 1.
1) It’s a safety issue. From a safety standpoint, a cigarette can be a very dangerous conduit for fire. This scary reality came to life on the Star Princess in 2006. On 23 March 2006, around 1 am, 1 careless guest left a lit cigarette on their balcony. Unfortunately, the cigarette continued to burn and eventually a fire sprouted, igniting the balcony on fire. The fire soon spread to surrounding balconies, engulfing a large section of the starboard side. Guests were mustered and prepared for evacuation via lifeboats. Luckily, the fire was eventually extinguished and the ship proceeded to Ocho Rios to disembark guests. Sadly, this fire left one guest dead, multiple injured, and around 100 cabins destroyed. All of this from one cigarette left unattended. Princess soon after installed sprinklers on all balconies and banned smoking from cabin balconies. This scary fire began the crack down on balcony smoking. Not only were cruise lines concerned about a cigarette being left out, but cigarettes that may be blown back onboard if they were thrown off the side of the ship. Soon, the Star Princess fire became the poster child for the ban on balcony smoking.
The second cause for the cruise line’s ban can be linked to health risks from guests inhaling secondhand smoke. This will bring us into reason 2.
2) It’s a health issue. While many people complain about the smell from a cigarette, the real danger is the deadly effects it can have on a secondhand smoker. Research from the CDC and the American Cancer Society have shown that exposure to secondhand smoke can cause a 20-30% increase for a secondhand smoker to develop lung cancer. Second hand smoke has also been linked to heart disease in secondhand smokers. Many cruisers can come into contact with this secondhand smoke on their balconies if another cruiser nearby happens to be smoking. This obvious health concern was another reason for the cruise lines to crack down on balcony smoking.
While many people may argue for or against the reasons of banning balcony smoking, they are what they are. Instead of focusing on the reasons why balcony smoking has been banned, many cruisers have become advocates for smoker’s rights. Many suggestions have circulated around, but I wanted to further explain the most popular suggestion that has become public. Ready? Here we go!
Cruise lines should allow smoking on port side balconies, while designating the starboard side as non smoking. While this suggestion sounds practical in theory, the economics fall flat. Using the latest statistics on adult smokers in the US, research shows that only about 19% of US adults smoke. While not completely accurate, but close enough, if this 19% is applied to a 3,000 guest ship, only around 600 guests would actually be smokers. Therefore, many balconies would go unsold on the port side, due to the low number of smokers actually sailing on the ship. Cruise lines would begin losing extraordinary amount of money on staterooms alone. Plus, the deficit in cruisers would cause huge declines in onboard revenue sailings. Like I said, practical in theory, but unsustainable economically.
Finally, I want to address one statement continuously made that is just inaccurate.
Cruise lines will go out of business due to smoking guests not sailing either in balcony cabins or not at all.
This is completely false. Smoking is on the decline today and the vast majority of the population no longer smokes. There will always be another cruiser willing to fill a cabin given up by another guest. While many smoking advocates cite the failure of the Carnival “Smoke Free” Paradise, you have to keep in mind that the Paradise sailed in times where smoking was much more widespread than today. Based on the national percentage of smokers, the majority of cruisers would deductively be non smoking. So, I don’t think the cruise lines are looking at a huge decline in bookings.
Smoking will continue to be a “hot” topic in the cruise industry with advocates speaking for both sides of the debate. Please feel free to share your thoughts below, but please be respectful to your fellow cruisers. We are all on the same boat together.
20 replies on “Smoking On Cruise Ships – A Hot Topic”
The Paradise experiment failed because of a couple of reasons. The first is that they didn’t vary the itinerary. How many times will passengers go to the same ports?? The second was that the Paradise was the last of the Fantasy class ships. The Destiny class was already out. Anyone that has sailed Carnival will probably agree that Fantasy class ships are primitive as compared to the Destiny, Conquest, and the newer class ships.
I will not reserve a Balcony because too many times I have not been able to use the balcony because someone up wind of me is smoking. I agree smokers have rights, but they only can exercise those rights that do not infringe on my rights and my health.
Sorry to make life hard on the smokers out there, but as a non-smoker (ex-smoker) you just got to know that cigarette smoke is VERY offensive. If a smoker could control where their smoke goes it would not be a problem, but obviously they can’t. Perhaps an answer or compromise would be the new e-cigarettes that are just coming on the market.
And as there are more & more of us ex-smokers ; I find we are more sensitive / aware of the stench than maybe the non-smoker. It’s disgusting !! How did we live with ourselves before ?
Reckon, that’s why I quit smoking. Smoking is disgusting and inconsiderate!
I am sure there are some non-smokers that would take a balcony on a smoking side of the ship. My husband and I have always enjoyed our balcony and being able to smoke.
You have to be kidding!!!!!
My party of three always sail in a grand suite or higher. Part of the reason is the large balcony – we spend lots of time on our balcony. We also smoke. If I read the above article correctly, I see that the author isn’t worried about the guests who smoke not booking on their ship – that it won’t impact them financially. Maybe not, but it has been my experience that the people I meet in the concierge lounge (available for suite guests only) ARE smokers, and this topic has come up many times during cocktail hour. Our thoughts are that we will NOT spend big money on a big suite and be denied the full use of it. When the larger suites are not filling up and they are losing that income, perhaps they will be happy that their inside cabin rooms are full. Smokers pay the same as everyone else on the cruise in the same accomodation. They should not be denied the enjoyment of their cruise because of some whiny people that don’t like smoking. The second hand smoke issue is a joke. If you read deeper into the research, you will find that it take HUGE amounts of smoke (like the equivalent of 30 cartons of cigarettes) placed in a small airtight box with an animal for an extended time to even point to health risks. These decisions are just to silence the whiny people. No problem – I have always been loyal to one cruise line, but since the newly announced ban on balcony smoking on that line, I will move to a cruise line who appreciates my patronage.
We all have the right to clean air. If somebody smoking on a balcony near me takes away that important right, then it is acceptable to ban smoking from balconies. Clean air for all is more important than one person’s right to smoke. Also, second hand smoke still causes lung cancer and heart disease in any case. While it may take longer to kill you, it still can kill you.
AMEN!
here here I will be searching for a liner that allows smoking on balcony’s
total agreement with you
Try a balcony apartment in China. Smoking, will be in total agreement!
I have to disagree with you on your opinion on second hand smoke. My mother lived with my Dad who smoked 1 to 2 packs per day. He died in 66 and in 89 she was scheduled for surgery at Mass General Hospital. The doctor came in and asked how long had it been that my Mom had stopped smoking. When he found that she had not smoked, and my deceased father was the smoker….his reply “In medical school they studied this, but I never really believed it…your Mom has the lungs of a former smoker” Oh and by the way, my Dad died of the effects his cigarette habit at 54.
I have a friend that lived with smokers, she doesn’t smoke and never has, she now has emphysema. You’ll never convince me that second hand smoke is okay. Thank you cruise lines for the ban, I quit bowling because of the smoke, it makes my throat sore and starts sinus infections and besides that it stinks.
More than one ship has been set alight due to reckless selfish smokers throwing their cigarette ends over the side, (only to end up polluting the sea) the hot end blows back onto the ship setting fire to the ship causing expensive repair bills, putting the ship out of commission whilst it is being repaired equaling more expense, along with the claims for loss of belongings to fellow passengers and crew, not too mention all the staff now out off a job due to the ship being damaged so loss of earnings for staff. The fact you book a grand suite or higher, if you caused this the repair and compensation costs along with the lost revenue from cancelled cruises and loss of earnings for staff would out way the amount you paid for your high end cabin. If your cigarette end lands into the sea the amount of pollution that one cigarette end contains WILL kill at least four fish and the pollution will remain in the sea for twenty years, if 600 people smoke on a ship for a fourteen day cruise, think about how much damage that does to the sea! Your right to smoke deprives people of the right not to smoke and to use their balconies in peace, your right to smoke and most smokers are not responsible is a high risk to the ship, and your right to smoke damages the environment for animals who have no say in the situation, what for ……… ten minuets of a cheap nicotine fix,
If cigarettes were invented today they would be an illegal drug.
That’s a excellent idea. Try to be considerate to others, whiny. The balcony and suites will still fill up and someday you will be in your smoke free casket. Maybe, someone in your party will pump in HUGE amounts of smoke to extend your health risks!!
Totally agree with Rss0000 I have a right to clean air and not die in a ship fire, smoke some where it doesnt effect the whole ship, like 1 lower deck, smoking isnt a life essential and it ruins others time to when done around others.
I 100% agree with having smoke FREE Cruises. If a person wants to smoke and jeopardize their own health…go for it. But to make others who don’t smoke have to put up with that stench and causing people’s lungs to hurt from the chemicals in the cigarette, is completely unnecessary and wrong. If someone can not get by without smoking then perhaps they should be questioning whether or not being addicted to something that is killing them is a good or bad thing.
AMEN!
its about time,tired of not bring able to use my balcony because of smokers in the next room, also we can never use the casino or sport bars because of the smokers.yes they have rights but so do I. and I pay the same price
My wife is a lung cancer survivor. Smokers should respect non smokers!