This article looks at specific smoke-free policies among cruise lines and how this development affects cruise passengers
Cruise travel is among the industries that saw a massive comeback in the last few years, reigniting tourism and business after facing significant financial losses. Now that cruise lines have resumed full operations and are even adding new journeys, they aim to meet consumer expectations and deliver a satisfying travel experience — mainly by introducing health and wellness-related policies.
In light of tobacco’s public health risks, such policies include restricting smoking in public spaces on cruise ships. Leading cruise line Royal Caribbean, which has recently reported record-high bookings and earnings in the last quarter of 2023, is one of the industry players leading the way to smoke-free travel. Thus, this article looks at specific smoke-free policies among cruise lines and how this development affects cruise passengers by urging them to find alternatives or quit smoking altogether.
Top cruise lines to offer smoke-free spaces
As previously mentioned, Royal Caribbean is among the top cruise lines providing a healthier travel experience to its passengers through updated smoking policies. An article in Cruise Industry News reports that in 2023, Royal Caribbean began offering smoke-free casinos in its Oasis-Class cruise ships, which include the world’s largest cruise vessels. On Oasis of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, the jazz clubs were converted into non-smoking casino rooms. Meanwhile, the new Utopia of the Seas is set to debut its smoke-free casino once it starts its journey in mid-2024.
Another cruise company adding smoke-free spaces to its ships is Carnival Cruise Line. Similar to Royal Caribbean, three ships — Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, and Carnival Magic — now offer a separate casino for non-smoking guests, with plans to roll the new venue out fleetwide. Lastly, Norwegian Cruise Line prohibits both traditional and electronic cigarettes in all open decks and outdoor public guest spaces, including venues serving food, sporting and recreational areas, children’s pool, and beach clubs.
Usual smoking restrictions remain
Most cruise lines enforce similar smoke-free policies in terms of having separate non-smoking venues or converting open spaces with designated smoking areas into purely smoke-free zones. Additionally, guests must remember that usual smoking restrictions remain, such as being prohibited from smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, or pipes in private cabins, staterooms, and balconies.
Since smoking harms other guests’ health and increases the risk of damage on cruise ship property like furniture, linens, and carpeting, passengers caught breaking the smoke-free rules can be charged with fines or cleaning charges on their onboard account.
Cruise passengers to explore alternatives or quit
Despite the restriction on both traditional and electronic cigarettes, passengers can still explore smokeless alternatives to help relieve cravings. Among the emerging products in this category are oral nicotine pouches, which are suitable for open spaces in cruise ships as they discreetly deliver nicotine by simply placing the product between the upper lip and gums. The available nicotine pouches on Prilla demonstrate the wide range of tobacco-free varieties available, with top brands like ZYN, On!, and Rogue offering different flavors and strengths. Since the linked retailer ships directly from warehouses to most states within the US, passengers can order pouches that match their nicotine needs ahead of their cruise trip.
Besides smokeless alternatives, passengers can also quit smoking, if only temporarily while onboard, through nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Most types of NRT can be bought over the counter for consumers’ ease of access and convenience, such as oral products being in chewing gum format for direct oral delivery of nicotine. Specifically, Rite Aid’s nicotine gum can deliver 2mg of nicotine to reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking. Aside from being used in conjunction with other NRT formats, such as transdermal patches, smokers can also consider adjusting the gum dosage based on their smoking history.
Overall, smoke-free policies on cruise ships signify a positive step towards creating healthier travel experiences. Passengers who smoke thus bear the responsibility of adhering to the rules with the help of tobacco-free alternatives and smoking cessation aids.
