Cruise lines serve a lot of masters.
While the major cruise lines do not flag their ships in the U.S., they still obey many U.S. rules. These include prohibiting cannabis and CBD on board and keeping the drinking age at 21 for sailings from North American ports.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares important advice for all cruisers
Cruise lines also must enforce the rules in whichever countries they visit. That does not generally affect what happens on the ships, but they do have to communicate local rules to passengers.
And that includes rules passengers may not expect. Mexico, for example, has very strict rules on bringing vaping materials into the country.
In addition, some countries in the Caribbean ban wearing camouflage. That's something not many Americans would expect given that camo outfits are fashion, not military, statements.
Cruise lines also have to enforce rules that keep people safe while they are on their ships. That's why you can't bring aboard an iron, light candles in your stateroom, or use a surge protector. Those items pose risk of fire and cruise lines have to be aggressive in ensuring they're not used on board.
The same thing applies to smoking rules — which creates a problem on embarkation day. Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed the matter in a recent post.
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Carnival explains a strict smoking rule
Carnival allows smoking on an outdoor deck near the pool, sometimes a secondary outdoor deck, and in the casino under very specific circumstances.
"Smoking is a fire and safety hazard on a ship. Consequently, it is strictly limited to specific exterior deck areas," the cruise line says on its website. "There is no smoking in the casino unless seated and playing. It is not allowed at the casino bar or in the entire area when closed."
On embarkation day the casino is both closed and used as a muster station. In addition, for a period of time smoking is not allowed on outdoor decks for a very specific reason.
"The chap that I spoke to today was very disappointed in a lot of things but mostly because we don’t have anywhere for him to smoke," Heald posted to Facebook from Carnival Mardi Gras. "I explained about the refueling or bunkering. I explained that the casino was not open and so far could not be used for smoking and also it is now currently being used as a muster station entrance."
When a cruise ship is taking on fuel while in port, smoking is not allowed on board.
Carnival asks for understanding
Heald was very understanding of the complaining passenger's needs, but he was clear that safety comes first.
"I know, and I totally understand that he wanted somewhere to smoke, I know it’s an addiction and I know how upsetting it is for people who have to go for a period of time without smoking," he wrote. "But I would only hope that he and perhaps a few others who question what we are doing will try and understand the safety of the ship and the comfort of others is paramount. The end."
Heald's post received nearly 700 comments and nearly all were fully supportive of Carnival's brand ambassador.
"I'm a smoker and if they can't go without a cigarette for a couple of hours for safety reasons, they need to pick the latest check-in time. I actually get on board as early as I can. By the time I go to muster, eat, and explore the ship, we are getting ready to leave port and I haven't thought of a cigarette. Such a waste of your time complaining about petty things," posted Vickie S. Mizell Scott.
Some posters were not at all kind or understanding to the smokers.
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"I feel no sympathy for smokers who don’t care that it’s not only a health risk for them, but secondary smoke kills innocent bystanders too," Cynthia Spencer wrote. "They also don’t care that some cruisers have asthma and their smoke can literally kill people, fast! Seems to me people deserve to breathe unpolluted air more than his need for a nicotine fix."
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