P&O Cruises change smoking policy

P&O Cruises have announced that they have changed their smoking policy on board their fleet of ships. Following the introduction of a new law in 2007 in England that made all enclosed public spaces and workplaces smoke free, P&O Cruises have monitored the smoking on board and the reaction of passengers.

There is an overall lack of acceptance towards smoking inside the public areas and therefore P&O Cruises have decided to update their policy on where smoking is allowed. P&O Cruises now do not allow smoking anywhere inside the ships, including the passenger staterooms. Smoking will be allowed on cabin balconies and on certain areas on the deck.

P&O Cruises will provide all passengers with a letter informing them of the change to the smoking policy.

No Smoking on Celebrity Balconies

As of October 2008 guests on Celebrity Cruises ships will not be allowed to smoke in staterooms and on the balconies of staterooms. Celebrity Cruises are responding to the requests of their patrons, with 90% of their cruisers being non-smokers.

These stricter non-smoking policies will be implemented across the Celebrity Cruises fleet and will affect passengers travelling onboard Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Galaxy, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Mercury, Celebrity Century, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Solstice.

These policies are being implemented following a poll that revealed cruisers prefer cleaner air and so there will also be a reduction in the number of public areas available for smokers from October onwards.

There are still designated areas onboard where guests will be able to smoke, these being the port side of one lounge per ship and an area inside the slot machine zone of ship casinos.

Smoking will also be permitted outside on the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on Celebrity Cruises ships; however Celebrity Solstice’s Lawn Club and Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking.

"We pay careful attention to what our guests have to say, and approximately 90 per cent of them have told us they are non-smokers. By increasing the number of smoke-free areas onboard while still designating areas for those who smoke, our aim is to make the onboard experience as pleasant as possible for all of our guests," commented president of Celebrity Cruises Dan Hanrahan

Cruisers call for a no smoking ban

A recent TravelMole online poll has found that 68% of 5,500 people would like to be able to sail aboard a cruise liner in a completely smoke free environment.

The survey showed that cruisers are concerned for the welfare of cruise ship staff. It was interesting to find that 74% of cruisers that took part in the survey would like smoking to be banned in bars in order to preserve the health of the workers there.

Sukie Rapal is Head of Marketing at the website which conducted the survey, she says that the research shows the apparent need for consistent smoking policies across all cruise operators so that confusion amongst passengers can be reduced.