Can You Light Up on the High Seas? What to Know About Smoking on Cruise Ships
We asked travel experts to explain smoking rules on cruises.
So, you're about to leave for your first cruise trip. Congrats! Did you pack everything you need? Clothes? Sunscreen? Booze (yes, you can usually bring it)? And what about your vape? Did you pack that one, or are you worried it might get confiscated upon boarding the ship?
If you're a smoker, you've probably given this some thought. It doesn't really matter whether you're a "digital smoker" (vapes and e-cigarettes) or an "analog smoker" (regular ol' cigarettes); if you're leaving for a trip, your smoking tools of choice are top of mind when it comes to packing.
You might already know you can bring cigarettes and vapes on planes (and if you don't, read all about it here), but what about cruise ships? To help you figure this out, we asked travel experts to enlighten us about whether or not you can bring smoking tools on a cruise—and whether you can actually smoke on the ship.
Can you bring cigarettes and vapes on a cruise?
Don't worry: Nobody is going to confiscate your cigarettes, vapes, or electronic cigarettes on a cruise. According to experts, you absolutely can bring these items on a cruise ship—and you likely won't be the only one.
"Cruises tend to lean toward an older clientele who may not have kicked the habit," explains Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. "And so eliminating smoking could alienate a portion of their future bookings."
However, it's a different story when it comes to weed. Major cruise lines list weed and illegal drugs as prohibited items, so getting caught smoking a joint might result in getting kicked off the ship. Better not to risk it!
But can you smoke on cruises?
Smokers, you may sigh (or puff) in relief. You can smoke on cruise ships, but there are a few restrictions to keep in mind.
"Smoking has largely been banned from most public modes of transport, yet when it comes to cruise ships, there is some leniency," Erica Rodriguez, travel ops expert at Going explains. "Technically people are allowed to smoke on a cruise ship, but only in designated areas which are mainly outside, and it varies by cruise line."
On most ships operated by US cruise lines, smoking is prohibited in indoor public areas, as well as all cabins and balconies. However, there are a couple of exceptions.
"All indoor public spaces are off limits apart from a casino, which allows smoking—similar to Las Vegas—and/or a cigar lounge, if the ship has one," says Rodriguez.
Then again, it's always best to check the specific rules for your ship and your cruise line—just in case.