Less than a month after Disney joined several other cruise lines in banning passengers from smoking on balcony cabins, Royal Caribbean becomes the latest cruise line to adapt the policy.
The ban will go into affect on January 1, 2014 and will apply to every Royal Caribbean cruise ship except for the ships that are based in Asia. Smoking in stateroom cabins was already not allowed on any RCCL ships.
Royal Caribbean released the following statement, “After careful consideration and review of guest feedback, Royal Caribbean International has adjusted its smoking policy on its fleet of 21 ships. Effective January 1, 2014, all indoor public spaces will be smoke-free on all ships with the exception of those sailing in Asia. Smoking will not be permitted in any interior space, including but not limited to restaurants, theater, bars, lounges, corridors, elevators, staterooms and stateroom balconies.”
Guests who break this new policy will be forced to pay a $250 fine. Smoking will still be allowed in the casino, Connoisseur Club, and on the starboard side of outside decks.
All but two of the major cruise lines have now adopted the policy of banned smoking on balconies. Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line still allow guests to smoke on balconies, but not in staterooms. However, based on the current trend in the cruise industry, it is likely that they will soon join the other cruise lines and outlaw it.
To see what cruise lines allow smoking and in which parts of the ship that they allow it, visit our Cruisers Guide to Smoking page.
We would love to hear what you think the rules should be on smoking on cruise ships. Leave a comment in the comment section below with your thoughts an opinions.
Banning smoking on the balcony simply pushes smokers out into the crowds of people. Doesn’t make much sense.
Will never cruise again they took away my joy of setting on the balcony and enjoying my cigarette while I watch the ships sail away I don’t know how people can complain when the ship is sailing in the wind is blowing been on 14 cruises never had any problems never smelled anybody else’s smoke on the balcony and they did smoke so I don’t understand why they put this policy in place. I pay just as much as those non-smokers pay ships are there to enjoy yourself not to be held hostage by non-smokers next they won’t want you to have liquor or cigarettes to sale
We cruised with Norwegian this Spring and complained about the smoking on balconies.We could hardly sit outside because our neighbor spent most of his time smoking on his balcony.
We would love to see that Norwegian too would ban smoking on balconies,
We love cruising and think changing to another cruise line because of the smoking . Should they ban it, we would go back to Norwegian but not now.
Love that cruises are now banning smoking in staterooms, balconies and all indoor areas on ships. Being allergic to smoke, smoking denied us access to many areas . We are now planning to cruise,ore.