Cruise Lines Tighten Smoking Policy

Smoking on a cruise ship has really become restricted over the years and it has been announced recently that it will be tightened even more.
Princess Cruise Lines will be updating their shipboard smoking policy to reduce the number of places where you can smoke onboard.  It will come into effect for sailings after 15 January 2012.  Smoking will be prohibited in all passenger staterooms and balconies.  Princess have said that smokers are a small minority of their passengers and they want to ensure that every passenger has a comfortable cruising experience.  If passengers smoke on their balcony they could face a fine of $250.  Passengers will still be able to smoke in certain areas throughout the ship.
Holland America has restricted their smoking policy.  From 15 January 2012 all staterooms will be none smoking but you can still smoke on your balcony.  They will still have designated areas across the ship for people to smoke.
Carnival Cruise Lines also have changed their smoking policy.  They have changed their policy for smoking in Public areas.  From December 2011 smoking will be prohibited in all staterooms.  You can still smoke on your balcony  Carnival also said that the majority of their guests are non smokers.
I am not a smoker myself but I can see how the smoking policies onboard ships can put people off slightly.  I think it is certainly a good thing that the cruise lines are trying to please everyone.  If you want any more information on the smoking policies then please let me know.