Our daughter, expecting their first child later this year, can’t (or, like the good mother-to-be, won’t) go into U.S. casinos. They are among the last bastions to be conquered by the anti-smoking brigade…smoking and gambling traditionally make standard bedfellows.
Cruise ships, slowly, are falling into line.
Two months ago, Princess announced there would be no smoking in staterooms and balconies on its ships, effective January 15. Yesterday, Norwegian announced the same thing for staterooms, but not balconies, also in January. Carnival has the same policy going into effect in December.
In this age when smokers are given leper-like status, most people would say this about the changing policies of cruise lines: “It’s a good start.”
There is inconsistency even within a cruise line. For example, Royal Caribbean ships allow smoking on balconies. Celebrity, owned by Royal Caribbean, prohibits smoking on balconies (also in casinos). Balconies on Azamara ships, also owned by Royal Caribbean, are non-smoking. But Pullmantur, a member of the same family, allows smoking everywhere.
The other extreme is Oceania. No smoking, bow to stern.
That would suit our daughter, not to mention more and more cruise passengers.