Another cruise line to ban smoking on balconies – why?

Norwegian Cruise Line are the latest cruise operator to ban smoking on private balconies on its ships. The ban will begin on all sailings from November 1st following in the footsteps of Carnival Cruise Line who recently banned smoking on balconies for ships departing after October 9th this year.

This now means along with the aforementioned companies, Cunard Line, P&O Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Crystal Cruises all have a ban in place restricting smoking on private balconies.

Having read this latest announcement the obvious question to me was why? All of the above cruise lines still have smoking areas on board, some outdoor, some indoor and many still have dedicated cigar smoking bars/lounges so to outlaw smoking on private balconies seems a bit of a pointless exercise to me.

I have written about the smoking issue before and i’m not here to have the whole pro/anti smoking discussion again I just can’t quite understand the new restrictions.

If it’s a safety issue, lit cigarettes are an obvious fire hazard if tossed off a balcony, why are they only classed as a hazard being tossed off  balconies and not for example in a casino or out on the open deck where smoking is permitted?

If it’s a social issue, and the cruise lines have taken on board customer complaints, with people on neighbouring balconies not wanting to breathe in second hand smoke from next door, fine. Though these same people can sit next to someone smoking in the casino, cigar lounge or on the open deck, it doesn’t make sense.

It seems to me these companies are trying their best to please everybody while at the same time pleasing nobody. Smokers are getting more and more resentful at being marginalised, while non smokers find it hard to understand the concept of a partial ban.

Is it simply that the cruise lines are afraid of operating smoke free cruises for fear of losing a revenue stream, those who like cruising and smoking? Or are they doing the right thing by understanding the needs and requirements of their customer base by providing smoking areas accordingly?

I’d love to know what you think. As a smoker would you disregard a cruise holiday completely if you couldn’t enjoy a cigarette on board? Alternatively have you decided against a cruise holiday because of the fact that smoking is permitted on board?

Let me know, bye for now.