Cruises, Cruise Deals & Cruise Holidays

PLEASE PLEASE cruise.co.uk this page urgently needs updating. As well as what other contributors have noted please be aware that although Princess is listed above as smoking permitted in staterooms our recent experience aboard Grand Princess would indicate that there is some confusion among stateroom attendants and several fellow passengers were informed that they could NOT do so despite Princess's information to the contrary. It is difficult for cruise.co.uk to keep up with the cruise companies who seem to be changing policy continually but it is extremely important before boarding to know exactly where on any given ship the smoking areas are and to ensure that if the policy does change between booking and boarding that we are informed and entitled to refund if we choose not to go. This website is excellent but could better.

shame cruise companies didnt take a harder view regarding : if a pool is for adults only - they chuck kids out and tell the parents the kids are to use 'family pool' only. Of course they don't so you take a risk are you swimming in water that has just been blessed with something in a nappy or children peeing in the pool. reserving sun beds - why not have a ticket/traffic warden type system, after 30 mins your stuff gets collected and a ticket put on the sun bed for you to take to 'lost property' to claim your stuff back - then genuine people get a sunbed. instead of having a 'hang gel santisizing station' at the gang plank and restaurant, hoping people will volunteer to use it, they have a dedicated staff member who makes you sterilse your hands while they read your card to board, and at the entrance to all food places including a lido/buffet area. Failure to sterilse ( as in this is not an option) NO FOOD -you're risking everyones health! they stop kids walking/climbing/putting their feet on chairs - chairs are for sitting on, they are not for dirty shoes etc to be wiped on. when it says 'no shorts in restaurants or offence/football shirts' they actually turn people away and make them change into long trousers and a respectable top. when it says 'cover up when entering for eating' they stop people going into lido/buffet in swimsuits. PERSONALLY : I think everyone is being really nasty to smokers, I'd rather be next to a smoker any day (it's only for a while and smoke soon gets lost in the breeze - some else also made this observation) than screaming kids whose parents seem to think that because they are on holiday they don't have to make their kids behave - to the unhappiness of all passengers. I have to say, a smoker is far less messy than someone who has been drinking to the point they vomit. Of couse they make revenue from drinkers, so puking every where and the hygeine risks don't matter one bit. But more so, what about the right of the smoker to have 'a life' ? seems it's a case of pick on those you can, but if it means pulling every passenger into line that is a 'general rule breaker/health risk from not sanatizing hands etc' and who might give 'some lip back' they (cruise companies/staff) don't want to know - pick on the easy ones =smokers. Having been cruising for 12 yrs, (suite passenger) I have found cruising IS NOT what it was once - as in a mark of distinction. Now, in my view, it's had it's day, the food and service is slipping further and further to the standards of 'Butlins/Holiday Camp'. I am pleased I became a cruiser when it was everything and more, now I am looking at different holiday options, I feel soon that 'cruising - will soon be dead in the water' and just another holiday for the 'me too/as long as it's cheap' clan. Yes there will still be the 'traditional cruisers' out there, ones who respect and expect tip top everything,and rightly so. But I think deep down they too know, it's not what it once was, and dictating to smokers is the beginning of the end. What about the 'smoking funnels' are they banned?

Excellent article and very handy. There are a party of 12 of us that retire this year and have been saving for a cruise to celebrate (about £7,000.00 per head) Being of a generation when smoking was 'normal' 7 out of the 12 are smokers. We will not book any cruise that condemns smokers to the outside areas. This list will be very useful on booking. If all the cruise ships ban inside smoking then we have decided to pool our cash and buy a nice apartment in a smoker friendly country and have future holidays there.

I am a non-smoker but I feel that a small amount of cigarette smoke is not too unpleasant.The worst complainers are reformed smokers who take it upon themselves to be judge and jury. A Eglington Winchester

ocean village have now banned smoking in cabins and all bars only allowed some open decks

d dont think smokers should pay same costs of cruise as most ships only allow smoking outside,I dont object to resteraunt ban but tosay I cant have smoke in at bar while having a drink or inside means I can only use 75 percent of ship . On my last cruise outside smoking only all the tut tut people took smoking seats and tables and still moaned

Thank heavens I came across this page, was just about to book a balcony cabin on celebrity Millenium but see they are now another cruise line to cross off the list. Still they will have plenty of non smokers to fill their cabins (that is until those professional moaners discover they have nothing left to moan about and go somewhere else to fullfil their petty lives)

Have you noticed that all the comments are from people who wish to smoke. But ourselves and friends sailed with P & O and found it wonderful that there was no smoking. Yes we all pay the same for a cruise so why should non-smokers have to suffer you second hand smoke on any cruise. Regardless of what you say, the cabins smell of smoke when you have had previous occupants smoking in the room, and what about risk to fire!!! We have booked another P & O cruise and hope all ships go non-smoking