One of many few cruise strains that also permits company to smoke on their stateroom balconies is ending that follow, and likewise is altering what areas onboard its vessels the place company can smoke or vape.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces has up to date the smoking insurance policies on its web site, itemizing the place company will be capable to smoke after the brand new coverage takes impact on April 1, 2025.
Modifications to Smoking Coverage for Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces
The UK-based Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces is updating its smoking coverage, eliminating the choice for company to smoke or vape on their stateroom balconies as of April 1, 2025.
“From 1st April 2025, smoking will now not be permitted on cabin balconies. This is applicable to cigarettes, cigars, pipes and digital cigarettes that emit any vapour – even water vapour,” the brand new coverage reads. “Digital cigarettes that don’t emit vapour will proceed to be permitted to be used inside cabins and on cabin balconies however usually are not permitted in any non smoking public areas.”
On the identical time, the cruise line can also be adjusting what public open deck areas can be found for smoking or vaping onboard its three ocean ships: Borealis, Bolette, and Balmoral.
Till the brand new coverage takes impact, company on Borealis can solely smoke on the port aspect of Deck 8, exterior The View Bar, and on Deck 9 ahead. Below the brand new coverage, the smoking space will probably be discovered on each Decks 8 and 9 however on the starboard aspect, in addition to on Deck 9 ahead exterior the elevators, additionally on the starboard aspect.
On Bolette, the present smoking areas are solely on Deck 8 aft and Deck 9 ahead. After the change, the smoking areas will broaden to each Decks 8 and 9, aft on the starboard aspect. One other smoking space will probably be discovered on Deck 9 ahead, on the starboard aspect ahead of the retractable roof, below the staircase resulting in Deck 10.
Lastly, on Balmoral the smoking areas will stay the identical – Starboard aspect on Deck 7, starboard aft on Decks 8 and 9, and starboard exterior the Marquee Bar on Deck 11.
Why the Change?
No data has been given concerning the change in smoking coverage or why company will now not be permitted to smoke on their particular person stateroom balconies.
Many cruise strains have lengthy since prohibited smoking on balconies for quite a lot of causes. Not solely can one visitor’s smoking be an disagreeable distraction for non-smoking company on different close by balconies, decreasing their enjoyment of the house their stateroom affords, however the threat of flicking ash or cigarette butts overboard can result in the potential for hearth if such gadgets are blown again onto the ship.
Moreover, something tossed overboard – regardless of how small – is littering the marine setting and a violation of environmental rules in lots of areas.
In keeping with World Inhabitants Evaluation, smoking charges within the UK, the place Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces relies, have been steadily declining for years. In 2022, 14.2% of the inhabitants was reported as people who smoke, down from 14.9% in 2021 and 15.6% in 2020. In 2000, smoking charges within the UK have been a a lot greater 38%.
With fewer folks smoking however an increasing number of folks having fun with cruise journey, it will be significant for any cruise line to prioritize the vast majority of company’ enjoyment onboard. On the identical time, with Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces increasing the general public smoking areas, the road is searching for to make sure that people who smoke’ wants and preferences are met as greatest as attainable.
Learn Additionally: Can You Smoke on a Cruise Ship – What to Know
It ought to be famous that the cruise line’s phrases and circumstances additionally discusses the smoking coverage in Clause 17.
“Smoking (together with digital cigarettes emitting any vapour, even when solely water vapour) is simply permitted in sure designated exterior areas of the vessel, together with non-public balconies (solely till thirty first March 2025). Smoking anyplace else is strictly prohibited,” the contract reads.
“Any breach of this clause 17 might end result within the Passenger being required to disembark the Vessel on the subsequent port of name, with none legal responsibility or price to FOCL.”
The contract additionally notes that throwing cigarette butts overboard is strictly prohibited always, no matter the place the smoking areas are situated.
