Should smoking be banned on cruise ships

Eight months after the smoking ban was introduced in England, 66% of 5,500 people surveyed in an online poll said they did not know what the smoking policy was onboard cruise ships.

One thing the respondents were clear about thought was their view of smoking at sea: 68% of believe British ships should follow British law and ban smoking completely. Worryingly, 23% of cruise passengers have either thrown a cigarette overboard, or seen someone else do it – a behaviour which, in 2006, on the Star Princess, caused a passenger’s discarded cigarette to be blown back onto the ship – there was extensive fire damage and one fatality.

Respondents were not just concerned about their own safety either – the results revealed a concern for cruise ship workers’ health with 74% saying smoking should be banned in bars and lounges to protect staff. Why isn’t it? National law does not apply to cruise ships either docked or travelling within international waters. Therefore, cruise companies are left to apply their own laws meaning different rules apply to different vessels.