Can You Smoke on a Cruise Ship?
A clear UK guide to smoking on a cruise ship, where it is allowed and the rules on cabins, balconies and vaping.
The short answer
In some spots. You can smoke only in designated areas on a cruise ship.
Cabins
No smoking in cabins, plus usually not on balconies.
Fines
Smoking in a cabin can mean a cleaning fee.
Can you smoke on a cruise ship?
Yes, though only in certain places. Cruise ships allow smoking in designated areas, usually outdoor open decks and sometimes a casino or cigar lounge, then ban it indoors and in most cabins and balconies. The exact rules vary by cruise line.
The trend has been toward stricter policies over time, especially on UK-based lines. Vaping is usually treated the same as smoking. This page explains where you can smoke, the rules on cabins and balconies, how vaping is handled and the fines for breaking the rules.
Let us look at where you can smoke, the cabin rules and vaping.
It is a worthwhile thing to sort out before you book, because the location of your cabin and your daily routine can be shaped by it. A little homework on your chosen ship saves a lot of walking back and forth, plus keeps you on the right side of the rules.
Where you can smoke
Smoking is limited to set areas you have to seek out. Most ships provide designated outdoor smoking spots on the open decks, usually on the port or aft side with ashtrays, while some have a casino smoking zone or an enclosed cigar lounge, while everywhere else is non-smoking.
- Open decks: designated outdoor areas, often port or aft, with ashtrays.
- Casinos: some ships allow it in part of the casino, though many UK sailings do not.
- Cigar lounges: a few ships have enclosed lounges for cigars and pipes.
- Nowhere indoors: no smoking in restaurants, bars, theatres or corridors.
It pays to plan ahead. Designated areas are deliberately tucked away from non-smokers, so it is worth checking your ship's layout and choosing a cabin that is not a long walk from the smoking area, especially on a larger vessel.
The reasoning behind tucking these areas away is simple. Plenty of passengers choose a cruise partly for fresh sea air, so lines keep smoking spots downwind and out of the main thoroughfares. That balance lets smokers have their break while non-smokers can avoid it easily.
Where smoking is usually allowed at sea
Illustrative, varies by cruise line.
The rules on cabins and fines
Cabins and balconies are where people get caught out. Smoking is not allowed in cabins on any major line, while most now ban it on balconies too as a fire risk, with cleaning fees often of two hundred pounds or more if you break the rule.
Cabins and public areas have smoke alarms, so bending the rules is risky as well as costly. A few lines have historically allowed balcony smoking, though several have phased this out, so do not assume your line permits it. The safest approach is to treat your cabin and balcony as non-smoking and use the designated areas, which keeps the cost and the hassle away.
It is also a courtesy thing. Even where a balcony might technically be allowed, smoke drifts to neighbouring cabins easily, so many considerate smokers avoid it anyway. Using the proper areas means nobody nearby is bothered, which makes for a more relaxed trip all round.
Want to avoid the hassle?
Switching to vaping is far less harmful than smoking, plus our starter kits make it simple. Browse the range or ask our team.
What about vaping?
Vaping is usually handled like smoking. Most cruise lines treat e-cigarettes the same as cigarettes, so vaping is restricted to the designated smoking areas and is not allowed in cabins or on balconies, though a small number of lines do permit e-cigarettes in cabins.
Because policies vary, the only reliable approach is to check your specific cruise line before you sail. Look up the smoking and vaping policy, note where the designated areas are and pick your cabin accordingly. Cannabis, for the record, is banned on all cruise ships, often including shore excursions, so that is never an option. A little planning means a stress-free trip for you and your fellow passengers.
- Same as smoking: most lines limit vaping to the designated areas.
- Not in cabins: usually no vaping in cabins or on balconies, with exceptions.
- Check first: always read your cruise line's policy before booking.
- Cannabis banned: not permitted anywhere on any cruise ship.
How UK cruise lines compare
Policies differ, though UK-departing lines tend to sit at the stricter end. Lines such as P&O, Cunard, Marella and Ambassador generally limit smoking to designated open deck areas and do not permit it in cabins, on balconies or in public rooms, with the occasional cigar lounge as the only indoor exception.
Other international lines may allow smoking in part of the casino while you are playing, though this is often switched off on sailings from the UK. Because the detail changes from ship to ship and can be updated each year, the golden rule stands: read the current smoking and vaping policy for your exact ship and sailing before you book, then choose your cabin with the designated areas in mind.
If you want to dig deeper, see our explainer on whether you can smoke in prison. It pairs well with our guide on whether you can smoke while driving and our look at the long-term benefits of quitting.
For the full set of guides, the quit smoking hub brings everything together in one place.
The bottom line: you can smoke on a cruise ship, though only in designated areas, usually outdoor open decks and sometimes a casino or cigar lounge. Smoking is banned indoors and in cabins, while most lines now ban it on balconies too, with cleaning fees often of two hundred pounds or more for breaking the rule. Vaping is usually treated the same. Always check your cruise line's policy before you sail.
Thinking of switching?
Switching from smoking to vaping is far less harmful and helps you quit. Our vape starter kits make it simple to get started. You can also speak to the Vape Chaos team, plus a stop smoking service.
Frequently asked questions
Can you smoke on a cruise ship?
Yes, though only in designated areas. Cruise ships allow smoking in set spots, usually outdoor open decks and sometimes a casino or cigar lounge, while banning it indoors and in most cabins and balconies. The exact rules vary by cruise line, with UK-based lines tending to be stricter, so check your line's policy before you sail.
Can you smoke in your cabin on a cruise?
No. Smoking is not allowed in cabins on any major cruise line. Cabins have smoke alarms, while breaking the rule usually brings a cleaning fee, often of two hundred pounds or more. A small number of lines allow e-cigarettes in cabins, though traditional smoking is not permitted in any stateroom.
Can you smoke on a cruise ship balcony?
Usually not. Most cruise lines now ban smoking on cabin balconies as a fire risk, while some that previously allowed it have phased this out. Do not assume your line permits it, since breaking the rule can mean a cleaning fee. The safest approach is to treat your balcony as non-smoking and use the designated areas.
Can you vape on a cruise ship?
Most cruise lines treat e-cigarettes the same as cigarettes, so vaping is restricted to the designated smoking areas and is not allowed in cabins or on balconies. A small number of lines do permit e-cigarettes in cabins. Because policies vary, always check your specific cruise line before you sail.
What happens if you smoke where you should not on a cruise?
Cruise lines take smoking rules seriously. Smoking in your cabin or on a balcony where it is banned usually means a cleaning or deodorising fee, often two hundred pounds or more, plus possible further action. Cabins and public areas have smoke alarms, so it is risky as well as costly. Stick to the designated areas to avoid problems.
