Can You Smoke on a Cruise Ship? What You Need to Know

There are a lot of questions that arise when travelling and vacationing. You want to make sure that every aspect of your trip is accounted for, and this is especially true on a cruise ship. Whether you smoke or not, you will probably want to know if smoking is allowed on your chosen cruise ship. 

Smoking is permitted on a cruise ship. However, different cruise lines have different restrictions as to where exactly on the ship you may smoke. While all cruise ships allow smoking, it is important to remain mindful of where the designated areas are. They are usually located in open-air areas. 

Cruise ships understand that every one of their passengers is different and that some folks will want to have a place they can go to smoke. Yet, each cruise line handles the issue differently. Read on to learn more about different cruise lines’ smoking policies so you can find the one that aligns most with what you want from your trip.

What You Need to Know About Smoking on a Cruise Ship

If you do smoke, you do not need to worry. Cruise ships take into account that there are plenty of passengers who still want places to smoke, and they make sure these areas are available to you. Still, cruise lines also consider people who do not want to be exposed to cigarette smoke. Smoking areas are usually away from other passengers. 

Most ships use outdoor areas as designated spots, though researching the different cruise lines is important.

When planning your trip, you will want to compare and contrast the different cruise lines. While most policies are similar, there will be small differences. Take note of each cruise line’s policy and see if it fits in line with your specific needs.

MSC Cruises Smoking Policy

MSC Cruises allows smoking on their cruises, though it is limited. As they mention on their website, smoking is restricted to designated areas marked with ashtrays and signs.

Smoking is not permitted, however, in the cabins or on their balconies.

On MSC Cruises, you may not smoke anywhere that is not a designated smoking area. On any cruise line, smoking rules should be strictly followed.

Most of MSC Cruises ships have a Cigar / Smoking Room, excluding; MC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Preziosa, MSC Lirica, MSC Opera and MSC Sinfonia.

Norwegian Cruise Line Smoking Policy

Smoking is permitted on the Norwegian Cruise Line. As their website explains, they have several rules regarding where you can and cannot smoke.

Norwegian Cruise Line has cigar lounges, though these lounges are strictly for cigar smoking.

The casinos also allow smoking, except for cigars and pipes. The following ships allow smoking within the casinos, but only within designated smoking rooms:

• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Encore

It is important to note that the Norwegian Cruise Line does not permit smoking within their staterooms, and doing so will result in a fine. Also, different cruise ships within their line have varying outdoor smoking policies. You will need to check the designated smoking area on the specific ship on which you will be cruising.

Silversea Smoking Policy

As with most cruise lines, the number of designated smoking areas is greatly outnumbered by non-smoking areas on Silversea cruise ships. 

There are, however, designated areas on each ship where smoking guests may smoke. These are limited, however, and differ on each ship. It is important to check which ship you will be traveling on and plan accordingly.

Aurora Expeditions Smoking Policy

Aurora Expeditions’ smoking policy is pretty strict. Their policy forbids any of the following practices:

• Smoking in any indoor areas
• Smoking when it is docked ashore (on or off the ship)
• Smoking in outside areas that are not explicitly designated as smoking areas

Aurora Expeditions’ smoking policy covers when you are off the ship, too. This cruise line explores the arctic and does not allow its travelers to smoke when they are ashore. This is important to note if you are a smoker going on this cruise.

Oceania Cruises Smoking Policy

Smoking is considered a fire hazard in most places. This explains why it is normally prohibited in staterooms and indoor areas on cruise ships. Oceania Cruises takes this into account with their smoking policies.

When travelling with Oceania Cruises, you will find that smoking is only allowed in outdoor, designated areas. Smoking outside these designated areas is not allowed.

Azamara Smoking Policy

The smoking policy on the Azamara ships is very limited. On each of their ships, there is only one designated area in which you can smoke. 

Other than the single area on each Azamara ship, there are other areas, including your time on land, where you can smoke. If you smoke, it is important to consider this as you will be limited in where you can smoke during your trip.

Regent Seven Seas Smoking Policy

When you travel with Regent Seven Seas, you will find that they do not allow smoking in dining areas aboard the vessel. Cigarettes may only be smoked in specifically designated areas aboard each ship.

As they explain in their policy, pipes and cigars are only permitted in the Connoisseur Club on the following vessels:

• Seven Seas Voyager
• Seven Seas Mariner
• Seven Seas Navigator

Also, cigars are permitted in a designated pool area on all ships.

Understanding Why Cruise Lines Have Smoking Policies

Each cruise line is unique. Each makes policies according to what they believe is best for their customers. Their policies are put in place to create the best experience for every person on board. 

There are, however, two big reasons why cruise ships have smoking policies that may seem limiting to smokers.

1) The Number of Smokers is Declining

In the recent past, there has been a steady decline in people who smoke. According to the American Lung Association, the percentage of adults who smoke has dropped from 42.4 percent in 1965 to just 13.7 percent in 2018.

It is safe to assume that these numbers will continue to drop in decades to come. 

Accordingly, cruise lines have had to adapt to these numbers. The fact is that most people do not smoke anymore, so there is a greater chance that those travelling by ship will prefer to avoid cigarette smoke.

With these dwindling numbers, cruise ships need to act in the best interests of their potential passengers. They want everyone to enjoy their time aboard the vessel.

2) Smoking is a Fire Hazard

Cruise ships have also had to adapt their safety measures throughout the years. Many cruise lines cite the fact that cigarette smoking, pipe smoking, and cigar smoking all present fire hazards aboard their vessels.

Every cabin bedroom is filled with:

• Curtains
• Bed Sheets
• Clothes
• Towels

This does not include the furniture in each room. It is too much of a risk to allow smoking within the guests’ rooms. It only takes one stray, burning ash to cause major problems.

Cruise ships take health and safety very seriously. They are each committed to providing the best experience for everyone on board, and they are aware that to accomplish this, they need to be vigilant with their safety measures.

Conclusion

Smoking on a cruise ship is still possible in today’s world, but it is regulated like anywhere else. All cruise ships allow people to smoke, but access is limited.

If you are a nonsmoker, it is also important to note the smoking policies on vessels. Most nonsmokers do not want to be near people who are smoking. For everyone to have a pleasant experience, it is best to refer to the policies of each cruise line and their individual ships.

Originally published March 18, 2021