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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.