Crystal Cruises to Ban Smoking on Balconies

Beginning in May, Crystal Cruises will prohibit smoking on verandas of all staterooms and suites aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. In keeping with lifestyle trends, most areas of Crystal ships have been non-smoking for several years, including restaurants and the main entertainment lounges. Non-smoking areas dominate most bars and lounges, although there are some tables that permit smoking. Cigarette smoking is permitted in private accommodations, although pipe-smoking and cigars are only permitted in the Connoisseur Club and most open decks.

"The majority of our guests are non-smoking, and travelers are used to more non-smoking environments today," said Gregg Michel, Crystal president. "We respect that smoking is a personal lifestyle decision but there is growing discomfort from non-smokers about veranda smoke negatively impacting the enjoyment of their personal outdoor living space." As with the current policy, guests who do not observe the non-smoking policy will first be asked to comply. Failure to do so can result in a guest being asked to leave the ship at his/her own expense. The new smoking policy takes effect with the May 7 London to Rome cruise on Crystal Serenity and the May 25 Athens to London cruise on Crystal Symphony.

Comment from Patti and Dick Malone of CruiseOne South Hero Vermont:

Our recent Island Princess trip showed a beefy sprinkler system added to our balcony. We wondered why they had not outlawed balcony smoking completely after the massive fire last year on the Star Princess. Kudos to Crystal. There's still a place for you smokers to partake without unnecessary danger or unwanted sharing of your smoke.