Carnival Cruise shares a strict rule that some passengers don’t like

Cruise lines serve a multitude of masters.

Although the major cruise lines do not flag their ships in the United States, they are still subject to many US rules. This includes banning cannabis or CBD on board and keeping the drinking age at 21 for sailings from North American ports.

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Basically, cruise lines have to enforce the rules in any country they visit. Generally, this does not affect what happens on the ship, but they must communicate local rules to passengers.

These may include rules you might not expect. Mexico, for example, has very strict rules about bringing vaping materials into the country.

In addition, some Caribbean countries prohibit the wearing of camouflage. That’s not what many Americans would expect, given that camo outfits are fashionable, not any sort of military statement.

Cruise lines must also enforce rules that keep people safe while on their ships. That’s why you can’t bring an iron, light candles in the cabin, or use a surge protector.

All of these items are fire hazards and cruise lines must be aggressive in ensuring they are not used on board. The same goes for smoking rules, and that creates a problem on the day of embarkation, which John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, addressed in a recent post.

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Cruise ships allow smoking on some outside decks.

Image source: Getty Images

The carnival explains a strict smoking rule

Carnival allows smoking on an outdoor pool deck, sometimes on a secondary outdoor deck, and in the casino under very specific circumstances.

“Smoking is a fire and safety hazard on a ship. Accordingly, it is strictly limited to certain outside deck areas,” the cruise line said on its website. “Smoking is not allowed in the casino unless you are sitting and playing. It is not allowed at the casino bar or in the entire area when it is closed.”

On the day of embarkation, the casino is both closed and used as a muster station. Additionally, for a period of time, smoking is not allowed on the outer decks for a very specific reason.

“The guy I talked to today was very upset about a lot of things, but mostly because we don’t have a place for him to smoke,” Heald posted on Carnival Mardi Gras’ Facebook. “I explained about refueling or bunkering. I explained that the casino was not open and could not be used for smoking until now and also now it is used as an entrance to the muster station.”

When a cruise ship takes on fuel in port, smoking is not permitted on board.

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Carnival demands understanding

Heald was very understanding of the needs of the complaining passenger, but it was clear that safety came first.

“I know and fully understand that he wanted somewhere to smoke, I know it’s an addiction and I know how distressing it is for people who have to go a period of time without smoking,” he wrote. “But I would just hope that he and maybe a few others who question what we’re doing will try to understand the safety of the ship and the comfort of others is paramount. The end”.

Heald’s post received nearly 700 comments, and almost all were in full support of the Carnival Brand Ambassador.

“I’m a smoker and if I can’t go without a cigarette for a few hours for safety reasons, they have to choose the latest check-in time. Actually, I get on board as early as I can. I’m going to gather, eat and explore the ship, we’re getting ready to leave port and I didn’t think of a cigarette so lost to complain about small things,” Vickie S. Mizell Scott posted.

Some posters have not been kind or understanding to smokers at all.

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“I have no sympathy for smokers who don’t care that it’s not only a health risk for them, but second-hand smoke also kills innocent bystanders. They also don’t care that some cruisers have asthma and their fumes can kill people, fast. It seems to me that people deserve to breathe unpolluted air more than their need for a nicotine fix,” said Cynthia Spencer.

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