Carnival is banning smoking on stateroom balconies effective Oct. 9. Pictured is the Carnival Dream. (Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines)
Carnival Cruise Lines is banning smoking on stateroom balconies, effective Oct. 9, and also is increasing its tips recommendation from $11.50 to $12 per person, per day.
The updated tobacco policy, announced on July 8, is similar to those on most other major cruise lines. Carnival prohibits smoking inside the staterooms. Guests who smoke in staterooms or on balconies will be charged a $250 cleaning fee.
Smoking will still be allowed in designated open deck areas, as well as night clubs and certain areas within the casino and casino bar.
Carnival said the smoking policy was changed due to guest feedback, but the news predictably fired up heated reaction online.
"More LIKES than you can imagine! Nothing worse than being a non-smoker stuck next to a smoker who stinks up not only their own balcony, but ours as well. Bravo, Carnival!," read one post on the Facebook page of Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald.
Those comments were echoed by many others. Still, some threatened to cancel. "If I can't smoke on my balcony on my cruise I just booked I will be cancelling my cruise thank you," wrote another.
Heald said the Oct. 9 effective date gives guests time to cancel outside the penalty period. Guests booked under the Early Saver promotion for sailings Oct. 9 and onward can cancel before the final payment due date and receive their deposit back, Heald wrote on his Facebook page.
Carnival also said the 50-cent increase in daily recommended gratuities to $12 marks the first increase in nearly three years and now "places Carnival's recommended gratuities in line with other major cruise operators."
Gratuities are automatically added to Sail & Sign onboard accounts, although guests can always increase or decrease the amount once on board.
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