Guest complains about smoking on board a new cruise ship

The Utopia of the Seas will not be put into operation until July 2024, but the Oasis-class ship There are already some complaints on the Internet.

A guest who was on board the 5,668-passenger ship anonymously expressed his anger about smoking on board on Reddit.

Considering that the post was published on September 12, 2024 and the guest states that the post was written on board, this means that the cruiser and his family were on board the 4-day round trip to the Bahamas that embarked from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Floridaon September 9, 2024.

Before disembarkation on September 13, 2024, the 236,860 gross ton ship stopped in Nassau, Bahamas. and Perfect Day at CocoCaythe cruise line's private island destination in the Bahamas.

But despite family-friendly fun on board and a great itinerary for a short vacation, the Reddit user couldn't stand the strong smell of smoke on board.

“I'm so frustrated with smokers. We're on Utopia, so I assumed they had the whole smoking area thing sorted out. But putting it in the middle of the pool deck?” wrote the Redditor.

The Reddit user stated that while playing with his young child at the pool and other parts of the ship, he could smell smoke, which he found unacceptable.

“I am a severe asthmatic and don’t I find it absurd that when I am at the water playground with my child, I don’t have to run away from smokers?” asked the Redditor.

“The security guards do nothing about people smoking outside the casino, in their rooms or on the children’s paddling pool?! I had to leave dinner early, [Main Dining Room] because the smoke comes from the casino,” the article continued.

Royal Caribbean ships have a policy that guests are only allowed to smoke in designated areas, which typically include the adults-only casino and a small area on the pool deck.

To Utopia of the Seas, The outdoor smoking area is located between two pools, but is still screened off.

It is possible that the guest smelled smoke from the outdoor smoking area, especially if it was a windy day, and may have encountered some uncooperative guests in front of the 2,290 crew members.

Is smoking on cruise ships a problem?

None of the major cruise lines have a smoking ban, but smoking is restricted to designated areas so as not to disturb non-smokers.

According to Royal Caribbean’s current policy, smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas and in Part of the Casino (Casino Royale)Another part of the casino is designated as smoke-free so that all guests can have fun.

Except for a few designated areas, smoking is not permitted anywhere else on board. all Royal Caribbean ships. Smoking is strictly prohibited in areas such as children's play areas, the theater, dining rooms, cruise staterooms and on private balconies, bars, lounges and fitness areas.

On the Oasis-class ships (Utopia of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, And Wonders of the seas), the Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods are also smoke-free zones.

Read also: Is smoking allowed on a cruise ship – what you should know

In the comments of the Reddit post, recent cruisers who have also sailed on board Utopia of the Seas During their approximately two months of service, they reported that they were not bothered by the smoke – possibly indicating that the Reddit user's experience was a one-off occurrence.

“I was on the Utopia in August. I didn't notice many smokers and I knew to avoid one of the sides of the ship near the pool. However, they definitely weren't in the middle of the pool deck.” wrote one commentator.

According to Royal Caribbean's website, smoking violations are taken seriously. For example, guests caught smoking in their stateroom will be charged a $250 cleaning fee at best, and even more severe penalties may be imposed according to the “Consequences Section” of the Guest Conduct Policy.

If cruisers are particularly concerned about smoke pollution, it may be advisable to Find out before booking a cruise to see where the smoking areas are located on the ship in relation to popular areas such as theaters, dining rooms and pools.

Each ship is different and deck plans are usually available online. A little research can help potential guests choose a ship with smoking and non-smoking areas where they are less likely to be disturbed.