Smoking is allowed on most cruise ships, but only in designated outdoor areas and your cabin — never in public indoor spaces, restaurants, theaters, or corridors.
Nearly every major cruise line permits smoking in a small number of places: a dedicated outdoor deck area (usually toward the stern or a side section), your private balcony if you have one, and sometimes your interior cabin if you book a smoking room. Everywhere else — the dining room, casino, theater, pool deck, elevators, hallways, and most bars — is a no-smoking zone. The rules are strict because smoke travels through ventilation systems and affects other passengers.
Different cruise lines enforce these rules with different penalties. Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, and Norwegian Cruise Line all prohibit smoking indoors, but they vary on where outdoor smoking is permitted and what happens if you break the rule. Some lines charge a cleaning fee ($250 to $500) if they find evidence you smoked in a non-smoking cabin. Others may ask you to leave the ship at the next port or refuse to let you board on a future cruise.
Key Takeaways
- Smoking is permitted only on designated outdoor decks, your private balcony, and smoking-designated cabins — never in any indoor public space.
- Each cruise line sets its own smoking policy and penalties, so check your line's rules before you board.
- If you smoke in a non-smoking cabin, you will likely be charged a deep-cleaning fee of $250 to $500.
- Vaping and e-cigarettes follow the same rules as traditional cigarettes on most cruise lines.
- Some cruise lines offer smoking-designated cabins, but you must request one when you book.
Where smoking is permitted on deck
The outdoor smoking area is usually a small section of one deck, often at the back of the ship or along one side. On larger ships, there may be more than one designated spot. These areas are open to the weather and designed so smoke blows away from other passengers. You can smoke there at any time of day or night, and crew members do not typically enforce time limits.
The exact location varies by ship and cruise line. When you board, your cabin key card or the ship's app will show you where the smoking deck is. If you cannot find it, ask at guest services — they can point you to the right spot. Some ships have a small seating area or railing where smokers gather; others are just a marked section of open deck with no amenities.
Smoking in your cabin or balcony
If you book a cabin designated for smoking, you can smoke inside your room. These cabins are fewer in number than non-smoking ones, so you must request a smoking cabin when you make your reservation, not when you check in. Some cruise lines charge a small premium for smoking cabins because they require extra cleaning between guests.
If your cabin has a private balcony, you can smoke on the balcony even if the cabin itself is non-smoking — the balcony is considered outdoor space. However, if you smoke in a non-smoking cabin (including on the balcony of a non-smoking cabin), the cruise line will charge you a cleaning fee when you disembark or send you an invoice after your cruise ends. These fees typically range from $250 to $500 and are non-negotiable.
What happens if you smoke where it is not allowed
If a crew member catches you smoking in a prohibited area, they will ask you to stop when ready and direct you to the designated smoking deck. A first violation usually results in a warning. A second violation may result in a fine, confinement to your cabin, or removal from the ship at the next port.
If you smoke in your cabin and the crew discovers it — either because another guest complains, a smoke detector is triggered, or housekeeping notices the smell — you will be charged the cleaning fee. The cruise line does not need to catch you in the act; evidence of smoking (ash, burn marks, or smell) is enough. Some lines also charge an additional fine on top of the cleaning fee.
Vaping and e-cigarettes
Most cruise lines treat vaping and e-cigarettes the same way they treat traditional cigarettes. They are prohibited indoors and allowed only in the designated outdoor smoking area and, if applicable, your smoking cabin or balcony. A few cruise lines have stricter rules and ban vaping entirely, even in outdoor areas.
Before you board, check your cruise line's website or call their customer service line to confirm their vaping policy. If you plan to vape, assume it follows the same rules as smoking unless the line explicitly says otherwise.
Cruise line smoking policies at a glance
| Cruise Line | Outdoor Smoking Area | Smoking Cabins Available | Cabin Violation Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Yes, designated deck | Yes | $250 |
| Carnival | Yes, designated area | Yes | $500 |
| Disney Cruise Line | Yes, limited area | No | $250 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Yes, designated deck | Yes | $300 |
| Princess Cruises | Yes, designated area | Yes | $250 |
These fees and policies change, so visit your cruise line's official website or call their customer service before you board to confirm the current rules for your ship.
How to request a smoking cabin
When you book your cruise, select your cabin type and note any special requests. Most cruise lines have a field for cabin preferences — this is where you request a smoking room. You can also call the cruise line's reservations department and ask them to note your request in your booking.
Smoking cabins are limited, so request one as early as possible. If you wait until check-in to ask for a smoking cabin, the ship may not have any available. If no smoking cabins are left and you did not request one in advance, you will be assigned a non-smoking cabin and will not be able to smoke inside your room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke on the pool deck?
No. The pool deck is a public indoor or covered area on most ships, and smoking is prohibited there. You must use the designated outdoor smoking area, which is separate from the pool deck. If you want to smoke and swim, you will need to go to the smoking deck, smoke, and then return to the pool area.
What if I smoke on my balcony in a non-smoking cabin?
Your balcony is considered outdoor space, so you can smoke there even if your cabin is non-smoking. However, smoke can drift into neighboring cabins, and if a crew member or guest complains, you may be warned or fined. Balconies are not fully enclosed, so be aware that your smoke affects nearby passengers.
Will the cruise line know if I smoked in my cabin?
Yes. Crew members clean cabins daily and will notice the smell, ash, or burn marks. Smoke detectors may also be triggered. The cruise line does not need to catch you smoking — evidence is enough to charge the cleaning fee. Some lines also review cabin reports after guests disembark.
Can I bring my own ashtray to the smoking deck?
The designated smoking area has ashtrays provided by the cruise line. You do not need to bring your own. Do not throw cigarette butts overboard or leave them on the deck outside the designated area — crew members will clean up after you, but littering can result in a warning or fine.
Are there any cruise lines that do not allow smoking at all?
Disney Cruise Line has the most restrictive policy and offers no smoking cabins, though it does permit smoking in a very limited outdoor area. Most other major cruise lines allow smoking in designated cabins and outdoor areas. If you want a completely smoke-free cruise, Disney is your best option, or you can book a non-smoking cabin on any line and avoid the smoking deck.