It's Getting Even Harder to Smoke on Carnival Cruise Ships

If you've been thinking about hopping aboard a Carnival Cruise but have yet to get a handle on that smoking habit, you might want to reconsider your booking. The family-oriented cruise line has just announced its new Tobacco and Marijuana Smoking Policy, and it involves a $500 fine and the possibility of getting kicked off the ship.

"Carnival Cruise Line is dedicated to the safety of all guests and crew. We want all our guests to have a safe, fun and memorable vacation," states the official Carnival website. "Smoking is a fire and safety hazard on a ship. Consequently, it is strictly limited to specific exterior deck areas and designated casino/nightclub spaces that can be monitored."

Designated areas were selected to meet certain criteria: out in the open and easy for crew members to monitor. One of the most notable changes in the smoking policy bars passengers from smoking in or outside of their stateroom and balconies. This is not only a safety measure, but because these rooms have to be cleaned. The policy also makes sure to clarify that smoking methods aside from cigarettes are also banned from the majority of the ship. So no cigars, pipes, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes and marijuana are permitted in the ship's the "non-smoking zones." Possession of marijuana is forbidden aboard as well.

Carnival Cruise Line was just recently named the No. 4 best cruise line in the world, praised especially for it's "budget-friendly fun" and low-cost, onboard offerings for families. To learn more about Carnival's new Tobacco and Marijuana Smoking Policy, check out its official website.