Smoking is permitted onboard cruise ships. However, you cannot light a cigarette just anywhere. There are restrictions as to where you're allowed to smoke.
You can't, for example, smoke in your cruise ship cabin. However, many mainstream lines permit smoking in their casinos. If not, there's usually a smoking area on the pool deck on either the port or starboard side of the ship.
Thankfully, you don't have to survive on nicotine patches while onboard. Here's everything to know about smoking on a cruise ship.
Smoking is allowed on cruise ships
Don't expect to pull out your vape just anywhere onboard. In other words, prepare yourself to face restrictions when it comes to smoking on a cruise ship.
Cruise lines don't permit smoking in most public areas, including the atrium, Main Dining Room, and theater. Moreover, most mainstream lines have banned passengers from smoking on private balconies, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Seabourn.
Before lighting up, figure out the designated smoking areas on your specific ship, as they're subject to change even if you've cruised on similar vessels. Permitted areas typically include the casino, cigar lounges, and specific spots outdoors. Some also have limited hours.
Even then, there are rules as to who is allowed to smoke. If you're 18 and sailing from the United States, do not expect to freely vape in designed smoking areas. According to Royal Caribbean's website, "You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase, possess, or use tobacco on sailings beginning in U.S. ports. For sailings beginning in all other ports, the minimum age is 18 years old."
All smoking products must be properly extinguished and discarded after use, and they are never allowed to be thrown overboard. Throwing burnt cigarette buds into the ocean is technically littering, and cruise ships are dedicated to protecting the environments in which they operate.
Smoking products allowed include cigarettes and e-cigarettes, also known as vapes. Per cruise line regulations, cigarettes and vapes can be carried onboard on embarkation day. However, if flying to your embarkation port, make sure you follow TSA rules, too!
You can pack unlimited cigarettes in your carry-on bag, checked luggage, or both. You can also buy cigarettes in port or by the carton in the ship's duty-free onboard shops. However, if you want to smoke while sailing, you should bring your own, as some vessels hold duty-free items purchased onboard until disembarkation.
Remember that if you purchase duty-free items to bring home to the U.S., you will have to pay customs fees on any amount over your personal allowance, which is 200 cigarettes per person.
Don't smuggle weed onboard
While you can smoke tobacco products on cruise ships, you cannot bring marijuana onboard, even if it is prescribed for medicinal purposes. This includes products containing CBD.
Weed is indeed legal in numerous states in the U.S. However, it's still illegal at the federal level, so you cannot possess marijuana in federal facilities like cruise ports.
Even though ships sail in international waters, they also visit different countries where they're subject to local laws. You don't want to get caught with weed in a country where it's illegal!
Read more: Banned: 23 Things You Absolutely Cannot Bring on a Cruise
Cruise line smoking policies
Cruise line smoking policies have become fairly uniform in recent years. You cannot, for instance, smoke in any public venue that you please on any of the mainstream cruise lines. This means that if you need to take a smoke break, you'll have to seek out the designated smoking area.
Note that specific locations where smoking is permitted vary from ship to ship within each cruise line's fleet, and unless otherwise noted, the rules apply to cigarettes, tobacco pipes, cigars, vaporizers, and electronic cigarettes.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line limits smoking to its casinos and (some) casino bars, as well as select outdoor spaces.
Cigars and tobacco pipes are limited to certain outdoor spaces only, and smoking of any kind is not allowed in cabins or on cabin balconies. If you are caught, you will be assessed a $500 charge per violation that will be reflected on your Sail & Sign account.
Plus, they explicitly state that smoking is not allowed outdoors on embarkation or disembarkation day when the ship is refueling.
On Carnival's website, you can view all the smoking areas onboard its fleet. Onboard Carnival Celebration, for instance, you're able to smoke in the Empire Casino only if you are sitting down and actively playing. It's not allowed at the bar or non-smoking section of the casino at all.
Outdoors, you can smoke at the outdoor area of Bar 820 on Deck 8, as well as in the designated area on Deck 17.
Celebrity Cruises
According to Celebrity's website, "Smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on any stateroom balcony...Smoking is also not permitted in any dining venue, theater, bar, lounge, hallway, or elevator; on the jogging track; or in most other indoor areas."
"Furthermore, smoking is not allowed in certain outdoor spaces, including restricted areas, food venues, and kids play areas and pools. If a guest is in violation of this 'No Smoking' policy, a cleaning fee [of $250] will be applied to their onboard account."
Moreover, you must be 21 years old or older to purchase, possess, or use tobacco.
Disney Cruise Line
The designated smoking areas onboard a Disney cruise vary by ship class. Onboard Disney Magic and Wonder, for instance, you are allowed to smoke on the starboard side of Deck 6 between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am and the forward portside of Deck 4 at any time.
If you are sailing on Disney Dream or Fantasy, you can smoke on the aft port side of Deck 6 between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am, aft port side of Deck 12 in the outdoor area that is accessible through the Meridian Lounge at any time, and the forward port side of Deck 13 near Currents Bar at any time.
Smoking areas onboard Disney Wish include any time forward and aft port side of Deck 14, as well as Deck 4 port side from 6:00pm to 6:00am.
Per Disney's policies, those who are found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs will be charged a $250 fee to cover cleaning.
Since Disney does not have casinos on its ships that effectively eliminates smoking there.
Moreover, since Disney Treasure and Adventure have yet to launch, Disney has not revealed their designated smoking areas as of October 2023.
Holland America Line
Like Disney Cruise Line, the designated smoking areas onboard Holland America Line ships vary based on the ship.
Onboard Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam include the Sea View Bar area and Oak Room (onboard the Noordam only). This means that smoking in the casino is prohibited on these vessels.
Those cruising on Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam can smoke in the Sea View Bar area, as well as certain areas of the casino when actively playing when the ship is 12 nautical miles from the Netherlands.
Guests onboard Volendam Zaandam may also smoke in the Sea View Bar area and the casino area. In addition, there's also the Sports Deck outside of the Crow's Nest.
Per their website, "Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations."
MSC Cruises
MSC's website states the following in regard to their smoking policy onboard their ships: "In line with global standards, smoking areas on board are fewer than non-smoking areas and are indicated by signage and ashtrays."
"Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in cabins, on cabin balconies, and anywhere not expressly indicated by signage and ashtrays."
Should you be found smoking in a non-designated area, MSC has the right to charge a fee to your onboard account. Plus, you are not to throw any buds overboard.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Smoking indoors is allowed at the Cigar Lounge and Casino. Note that only Norwegian Bliss, Joy, and Encore have designated smoking rooms within the Casino. On all other ships, you'll have to be actively playing in order to smoke during gaming hours.
Permitted outdoor smoking areas vary by ship. Onboard Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Epic, you may smoke on the port side of Deck 15 mid-ship and the starboard side of Spice H2O.
Outdoor smoking areas onboard Norwegian Escape include the port side of Deck 16 mid-ship and the starboard side of Spice H2O.
On Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy, you can only smoke on the starboard side of Spice H2O.
Smoking is only permitted in the Smoking Room on Deck 8 onboard Norwegian Encore.
When it comes to Jewel and Star Class ships, as well as Norwegian Spirit, you can smoke on the forward port side of Deck 13.
Onboard Norwegian Sun and Sky, passengers may smoke on the forward part of Deck 12 by the entire bar. If the weather is unpleasant, an alternative smoking location may open near the towel station on the forward port side of Deck 11.
Finally, the only outdoor smoking area on Pride of America can be found at the Waikiki Bar on Deck 13 aft.
If you are staying in The Haven, you are allowed to smoke in THe Haven Sun Deck area on Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships only.
According to their website, "Guests are not permitted to smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipe, electronic cigarettes, and vapor devices in their staterooms or on their balconies. Smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony will result in a $250 USD cleaning charge added to your onboard account."
The only guests permitted to smoke on their balconies are those staying in Garden Villas, as they can smoke in their private garden and sun deck.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises' ships are smoke-free in all public areas, except a few designated areas: "Clearly marked 'Designated Smoking Areas' are available on board and include a sufficient number of ashtrays that are emptied regularly. Generally, these areas include cigar lounges, a section of the nightclub, as well as a portion of the open decks"
Onboard casinos and casino bars are smoke-free, except for designated slot machines; however, you must be actively playing to smoke. This means that you cannot smoke at table games, regardless of whether you are playing or not. Moreover, Non-smoking casino nights are also offered on each cruise.
Smoking of all types is allowed in designated outdoor spaces that vary by ship. It is prohibited in cabins and on stateroom balconies, with a fine of $250 levied for each offense.
Royal Caribbean International
All Royal Caribbean ships are labeled non-smoking. However, smoking is permitted in set outdoor areas that vary by vessel—look for signage and ashtrays.
On sailings catering to North Americans, such as Caribbean itineraries, all of Royal Caribbean's onboard casinos allow smoking, but there are designated non-smoking areas within each. Some ships even have separate non-smoking casino rooms, such as Allure of the Seas.
However, smoking is not permitted in the casino on any cruises sailing from Australia or the United Kingdom. Moreover, ships sailing from China and Hong Kong will not have a non-smoking area in the casino.
For voyages originating in U.S. ports, the minimum age is 21. For sailings that originate outside of U.S. ports, the age is decreased to 18.
Cigars and tobacco pipes are limited to outdoor use only in the permitted areas, except for the Connoisseur Club cigar lounge on the line's Freedom and Voyager Class ships. On Oasis Class ships, please note that while the Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods are outside, they are designated as non-smoking.
Smoking is not permitted in any staterooms or on cabin balconies. Cruisers found in violation of this rule will be fined $250. For more info, peruse Royal Caribbean's smoking policy.
Virgin Voyages
Per Virgin's policies stated on their website, smoking is permitted in certain areas located around the ship. It is, however, prohibited in staterooms—that includes the use of vapes, too! If someone is caught violating the rules, a $500 fee will be added to their onboard account. Plus, they face removal from the ship during the cruise.
You can read more about Virgin's policies on the website.
What about cigars?
Yes. Just like cigarettes, cigars (and tobacco pipes) can be brought onboard and smoked in select areas; although, those areas tend to be more limited than those in which you can smoke cigarettes. Some ships even have designated cigar lounges, reminiscent of those found on 20th-century ocean liners!
Generally styled with dark woods, jewel tones, and cushy chairs, these venues are usually outfitted with humidors and a selection of cigars for purchase (if you did not bring your own), and there is almost always a bar nearby. Cruisers can head there for a post-dinner smoke and scotch.
Cigars are also sold in duty-free stores on most ships in the same section where you will find alcohol and cigarettes. You are also able to purchase cigars while onshore and bring them back onto the vessel (Keep in mind that your customs allowance is 100 cigars per person. If you exceed that limit, you will have to pay duties when you return to the U.S.).
Read more: The difference between ocean liners and cruise ships
What should I do if I see someone smoking in a place where it is off-limits?
Nobody likes a tattletale, but in addition to keeping the onboard environment free from unpleasant odors, smoking rules are in place for safety reasons.
As you are likely to hear during your ship's muster drill, fire is the single biggest risk to any vessel, and cruise lines try to cut down on the risk by limiting the areas in which passengers can light up.
If you are a smoker, please keep the above in mind and be courteous to your fellow cruisers. They might have breathing issues that require them to steer clear of irritants like smoke, or they might just simply want to enjoy fresh air as they stroll along the lido deck, hang out in the pool, or sunbathe on their balconies.
If you see someone smoking where they should not be, you can kindly ask them to move to an area where it is allowed. If you would rather not take matters into your own hands, you can instead alert a crew member who will handle it.
As mentioned above, smokers who refuse to adhere to the rules can face fines or -- worse -- disembarkation (Don't forget: Ships do have jails onboard).
Ashley Kosciolek
Ashley boarded her first cruise more than a decade ago and never looked back. Since then, she has written thousands of expert cruise tip features; ship, port and shore excursion reviews; and industry news articles. Her work has appeared on Cruise Critic, USA Today, the Associated Press, NBC News, the Miami Herald and Huffington Post.
