Can you smoke on a cruise ship?
The short answer is yes, smoking is allowed on most cruise ships. However, cruise lines impose a number of regulations about when and where passengers can smoke. If a cruiser fails to follow any of these rules, they may be fined, kicked off the ship, or even banned from that cruise line.
Smoking During Embarkation
“Bunkering” refers to the process of refueling a cruise ship. Smoking on deck during this process is absolutely prohibited.
Smoking is a fire hazard, and the biggest risk of all is having an open flame near a highly flammable liquid – like the fuel used to power the ship. That usually means that smoking is not allowed for the first few hours of embarkation day, while the ship is refueled. On longer cruises, there may also be another bunkering time at one of the port stops.
Where can you smoke on a cruise ship?
On most cruise ships, you will find a designated smoking section somewhere on the Lido deck and the exterior promenade deck. You can usually find the locations marked on your cruise ship map. You will notice the presence of ashtrays and see signs indicating that smoking is allowed. Of course, if you’re not sure where to go, you can always ask a crew member.
Designated Smoking Areas by Cruise Lines
| Cruise Line | Designated Smoking Areas |
| Azamara | Lido deck on port side, forward |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Designated areas on Promenade Deck and Lido Deck Designated areas of casino while person is playing Ship-by-ship locations can be found here |
| Celebrity Cruises | Designated areas on Promenade and Lido Decks Corner of Mast Bar or Sunset Bar |
| Costa Cruises | Designated outdoor areas Cigar Lounge Private Balconies |
| Crystal | Designated areas on Promenade and Lido Decks Connoisseur Club VIP Casino when playing |
| Cunard Line | Designated areas on Lido Decks Churchill’s Cigar Lounge |
| Disney Cruise Line | Disney Wish: Deck 4 port, Deck 14 port side forward and aft Disney Magic, Disney Wonder: Deck 4 starboard, Deck 9 port side forward Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy: Deck 4 port side aft, Deck 12 port side aft, Deck 13 port side forward |
| Holland America Line | Sea View Bar Noordam’s Oak Room Sports Deck by the Crow’s Nest Casino when playing |
| MSC Cruises | Designated outdoor areas Cigar room indoors |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | The Haven Sun Deck forward Spice H20, starboard side Casino when playing Cigar Lounge |
| Oceania Cruises | Deck 9, starboard side forward Horizons, Deck 10, port side aft |
| Paul Gauguin Cruises | Outdoors on Deck 5 forward La Palette, starboard side Bar Du Soleil, starboard side |
| Princess Cruises | Designated areas on Promenade and Lido decks Designated area of casino when playing Designated area of nightclub Cigar Lounge |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Designated areas on Lido deck Connoisseur Club Horizon Lounge |
| Royal Caribbean Cruises | Designated outdoor areas Casino Royale when playing |
| Seabourn | Designated outdoor areas |
| Silversea Cruises | Dusk Bar Panorama Lounge Pool Bar Connoisseur’s Corner Cigar Lounge |
| Viking | Designated outdoor areas |
| Virgin Voyages | Designated outdoor area on Deck 16 |
Smoking in The Casino
Casino smoking guidelines depend on the cruise line. In the past decade, cruise lines have stopped allowing smoking throughout the casino. Now, you must play at a designated smoking table or section of slot machines. In some cases, smoking is not allowed inside the casino at all. Instead, you will find a separate cigar lounge just outside of the casino. And on some cruise lines, the term “cigar lounge” is literal – you are not permitted to smoke cigarettes in the cigar lounge onboard Cunard or Norwegian cruise ships.
Smoking in Your Cabin
There is one place you should never try to smoke: in your cruise ship cabin. It is a huge fire hazard and cruise lines have put smoke detectors in every cabin to keep people honest. If you get caught smoking or if you try to disable the smoke detectors, you can be charged $250 per day or even kicked off the ship.
Smoking on Your Balcony
Almost all cruise lines prohibit smoking on your balcony as well, with one exception. Costa Cruise Line is the only company that still allows it. You must request a smokeless ashtray to use if you plan to smoke on your balcony.
Vaping on a Cruise Ship
Most cruise lines have the same guidelines for e-cigarettes as they do for all other tobacco products. That means no vaping in most restaurants or public areas, and no vaping in your cruise ship cabin or on the balcony. There are a few exceptions. Costa Cruises, Holland America, Princess, and Seabourn allow vaping in your cruise ship cabin. Regent Seven Seas is the most liberal, with e-cigarettes allowed everywhere onboard except in dining areas.
Marijuana Use on a Cruise Ship
Cruise lines have to navigate the laws of several different countries. The recent spate of some US states loosening marijuana laws has forced cruise lines to clarify their position on banned drugs. While marijuana may be legal in some states, it is still considered a controlled substance by the US Federal government and many foreign governments. Most cruise lines now explicitly state that all products containing CBD or THC are banned from their cruise ships. So if you’re thinking about smoking something other than tobacco on a cruise ship, don’t. Marijuana may be legal in some states now, but getting high on the high seas is still a federal crime and you will be prosecuted.
Do any cruise lines ban smoking completely?
In this day and age, some people may find it surprising the cruise ships allow smoking at all. There have been attempts by many cruise lines to completely ban smoking, but they were quickly lifted when the CEOs realized that smokers spend more money at bars and casinos than non-smokers. As of right now, Oceania is the most restrictive cruise line when it comes to smoking. They offer only two small smoking areas and enforce a very strict “Zero Tolerance” policy with cruisers who ignore the rules.
Watch our video about smoking on a cruise ship:
