No smoking: Carnival Cruise Line cracks down on lighting up
Carnival Cruise Line recently took steps to further crackdown on smoking across its fleet by banning the practice during embarkation and in new casino spaces created exclusively for nonsmokers.
New smoke-free casinos
Mainstream cruise lines have largely eliminated smoking in staterooms (including on private balconies) and public areas, but several lines' casinos remain places where passengers are permitted to puff away while gambling.
To address that issue without completely banning smokers, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald said Friday on his Facebook page that, on three of its ships, Carnival Cruise Line has converted onboard conference centers to additional smoke-free casino space.
"On Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic, while half of the [main] casino is going to remain smoking on all of our ships, on those three ships, for now ... we have designed a nonsmoking casino," Heald said, noting that the forfeited conference spaces were large and rarely used.
"You have tables and slot machines ... in these areas. If these [areas] work, which we think they will, we may possibly add them to other ships.
"We know that smokers gamble. If we thought ... the revenue was going to remain the same if we took smoking away -- it won't, which is why we haven't -- [we would have done it]. But we have, on those three ships, given you a chance to have a nonsmoking casino."
No smoking before sail-away
Prior to the new casino announcement, Heald also said Carnival would be prohibiting smoking anywhere on or near all ships in the fleet during embarkation, as that's when the vessels refuel.
"During embarkation and while we are refueling ... there is a no-smoking rule inside and out of the ship until just before we cruise," Heald explained.
The process, known as bunkering, can take hours, and because the fuel is highly flammable, rogue ashes pose a threat. Previously, smoking had only been banned in outdoor areas during that time, but now it's not allowed in indoor, otherwise smoke-friendly places, either.
"I've had a few rather frustrated comments about that, and I totally understand," Heald sympathized.
He said part of the reason for the change is that temporarily banning smoking until the ship leaves port allows for a smoke-free environment for all passengers as they check in at their muster stations -- some of which are in areas, like the casino, that normally allow smoking -- after completing the line's digital safety drill.
"On most of the ships, we will be using the casino as an e-muster, where you go up and you hand them your app ... or your boarding pass ... and they check you off, and you watch a life jacket demonstration from the crew," Heald said.
Previous efforts to limit smoking
This isn't the first time Carnival has enacted controversial smoking policies. In 1999, the line implemented the cruise industry's first completely smoke-free vessel, Carnival Paradise. The complete ban on smoking was quickly lifted when it became clear that smokers tend to spend more money at bars and casinos than nonsmokers.
In 2014, Carnival banned smoking from balconies in its ships' cabins and also made headlines in 2018, when it announced violators of its smoking policies would be slapped with $500 fines.
Ultimately, the places onboard where smoking is permitted are few and far between, with most ships only allowing it in casinos and on designated outdoor decks, usually on one side of the ship and usually near the aft so the smell wafts out to sea.
Featured photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.