Passenger Voices Concerns Over Smoking Issues on Newly Launched Cruise Ship

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Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas only recently entered service in July of 2024, but the Oasis-class vessel is already getting some complaints on the internet.

One recent guest, who was just onboard the 5,668-passenger ship, took to Reddit to anonymously vent about smoking onboard.

Considering the post went up on September 12, 2024, and the guest states that the post was written while onboard, this implies the cruiser and his family were onboard for the 4-night round-trip Bahamas sailing that embarked from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on September 9, 2024.

Before disembarking on September 13, 2024, the 236,860-gross ton vessel visited Nassau, Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas.

Despite the family-friendly entertainment onboard and a promising itinerary for a brief escape, the Redditor expressed annoyance over a prevalent smoke odor onboard.

“I am so frustrated by the smokers. We are on Utopia so I assumed it would have the whole smoking section thing figured out. But putting it in the middle of the pool deck?,” wrote the Redditor.

The Redditor noted that the smoke smell was noticeable while playing with his young child at the pool, as well as in other areas of the ship, which he found to be unacceptable.

“I am severely asthmatic and don’t think it is ridiculous that when I am with my kid at the splash pad I shouldn’t have to run away from smokers?” asked the Redditor.

“Security doesn’t do anything about people smoking outside of the casino, in their rooms, at the kids splash pad?! I had to leave dinner early from the [Main Dining Room] because the smoke is coming in from the casino,” continued the post.

The rule on Royal Caribbean ships is that guests may only smoke in designated areas – which usually include the adults-only casino and a small area on the pool deck.

On Utopia of the Seas, the outdoor smoking section is tucked between two pools, but is still out of the way.

It’s possible that the guest was smelling smoke from the outside smoking area, especially if it was a windy day, and perhaps encountered some noncompliant guests before the 2,290 crew members did.

None of the major cruise lines ban smoking, but do limit the activity to designated areas to avoid bothering 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 to allow for the enjoyment of all guests.

Aside from a couple designated locations, smoking is not permitted anywhere else onboard any of Royal Caribbean’s ships. Smoking is never allowed in spaces like kids’ play areas, the theater, dining rooms, cruise cabins and private balconies, bars, lounges, and fitness spaces.

On the Oasis-class ships like Utopia of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas, both the Central Park and Boardwalk areas prohibit smoking.

Read Also: Can You Smoke on a Cruise Ship – What to Know

In a Reddit discussion, passengers of the Utopia of the Seas, which has been operational for around two months, shared that smoke did not inconvenience them, suggesting the Reddit user’s experience might have been an isolated incident.

“I was on Utopia in August, I hardly encountered smokers and I just avoided one side of the ship near the pool. There definitely weren’t smokers in the center of the pool deck,” mentioned a commenter.

According to Royal Caribbean’s website, smoking violations are taken seriously. For example, guests who are caught smoking in their stateroom will be charged a $250 (USD) cleaning fee at best, and could be subject to more serious penalties per the “consequences section” of the guest conduct policy.

If cruisers are particularly concerned about smoke exposure, it may be prudent to do research in advance of booking a cruise to see where the smoking sections are on the ship in relation to popular areas, such as theaters, dining rooms, and the pools.

Every ship is different, and typically, there are deck plans online. A little bit of research may enable prospective guests to pick a ship with a smoking and non-smoking layout that is less likely to bother them.

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