Imagine the first evening of your cruise, relaxing on your balcony, watching the sun melt into the horizon. You’re thinking, “Ah, this is the perfect spot for a quiet smoke. No one’s around, and it’s my private balcony.” Unfortunately, privacy on cruise ships isn’t what it seems. You’ll soon have security banging on your door, ready to slap you with a hefty fine.
The good news? Most major cruise lines allow smoking onboard in designated areas. You’ll usually find a corner of the deck where you can light up without worries. But step inside, and you’ll have to head to the cruise ship casino or cigar lounge to enjoy a cigarette. Unfortunately, puffing a cig anywhere else on the ship will get you into trouble. Balconies? Off-limits. Vaping in cabins? Forget it unless you love triggering alarms or racking up cleaning fees.
Surely, there must be some places to sneak a quick puff, right? I mean, how closely can they be watching? In my experience, the crew knows all the usual tricks. From putting a damp towel over the smoke detector to hiding in a quiet corner of the ship, they’ll find you. Unfortunately, getting away with smoking onboard might be trickier than you think.
Want to know where you can smoke on a cruise ship without getting caught? Keep reading, and I’ll share some insider tips.
Understanding Cruise Line Smoking Policies
After extensive research on cruise line smoking policies, I discovered how confusing they can be. While most cruise ships have designated outdoor areas, plenty of restrictions exist, especially on balconies and cabins. It’s easy to think that rules might be relaxed at sea—but they aren’t.
I also discovered that smoking areas can depend on where the ship sails from. For example, Royal Caribbean doesn’t allow smoking in onboard casinos when sailing from the U.K. or Australia. Also, not all cruise ships have cigar rooms, and it seems Viking Cruise ships don’t allow any smoking inside.
Cruise lines generally don’t differentiate between smoking cigs or vapes—the same rules apply. However, Royal Caribbean only allows cigar and pipe smoking in designated lounges inside, not on deck. In contrast, Holland America is the opposite—cigars and pipes outside only.
The best advice is always check the cruise line’s smoking policy and study the ship’s layout to find designated smoking areas.
Smoking Areas: The Safe Zones
Most cruise lines offer designated smoking areas. Spots where you can light up without worry are typically found on open decks, near pools, or in a casino. Some ships even have cigar lounges for a more relaxed vibe. Stick to these zones, and you’ll be fine.
Outdoor smoking areas
You’ll often find outdoor smoking areas tucked away on higher decks, away from the most popular areas. These spots are sometimes near the pool or at the back of the ship, where the wind can help dissipate the smoke.
Norwegian Cruise Line ships have smoking areas mid-ship on the port or starboard side, depending on the vessel. Similarly, smoking areas on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line vary depending on the ship.
A fellow passenger on Royal Caribbean told me, “On our cruise, the designated smoking area was on the top deck. It wasn’t bad, but you could really feel the wind, so hold on to your lighter.” Another cruiser said about Celebrity ships, “The outdoor spaces for smoking were small and sometimes hard to find. It felt like we were in a corner of the ship away from everyone else.”
Designated lounge spaces and cigar lounges
Most cruise lines have places where smokers can light up without a care in the world—cigar lounges, clubs, or bars. These spots are usually tucked away in the ship’s quieter parts and provide a break from the wind outside. Sounds great? Well, don’t get too excited. These lounges can be a real hit or miss, depending on the line or the ship you’re on. Sometimes, it’s a swanky retreat; other times, it feels like a forgotten corner with a couple of chairs thrown in.
One smoker told me about their experience on a Princess cruise ship, “They have the best smoking areas from any of the cruises I’ve been on. The lounges are quiet with great ventilation.” Others comment that NCL and Holland have good cigar lounges, but not on every ship.
A cruiser on Virgin Voyages said, “Most people stuck to the indoor smoking rules and only smoked in the smoking room. However, I noticed some people vaping indoors, and the crew didn’t seem to bother.”
Casino
The casino is one of the last bastions for indoor smokers on a cruise. But here’s the thing—some lines only allow smoking in certain sections, so don’t get too comfy. Also, you must play in the casino, so no lounging around holding on to your onboard credit. But if you don’t mind hitting the slots, it’s a welcome—if not hazy—retreat to light up without risk of a fine.
That said, not all cruise lines play ball. Celebrity has smoke-free casinos. One smoker lamented, “No smoking in the casino on Celebrity? I had to keep running to the outdoor area between my hands. It’s not ideal, but at least I left less money on the table.” Another complained about the smoke in a Royal Caribbean casino: “The ventilation was poor, and it got smoky in there real fast.”
Balconies (if permitted by the cruise line)
Balconies are the most common place smokers try to get away with a fly one. However, almost all major cruise lines ban balcony smoking. But it’s no surprise. In 2006, a massive fire broke out on the Star Princess in the Caribbean, believed to be caused by a rogue cigarette. Don’t consider puffing a cig on your stateroom balcony, thinking you’ll get away with it. Your neighbor could report you if they smell secondhand smoke.
It seems from online comments that not all cruise lines strictly enforce their smoking policies. A cruiser commented, “I mostly travel on Carnival, and while they say no smoking on balconies, I’ve never seen it enforced. People light up all the time.” So, it seems that some cruisers sneak a quiet smoke and get away with it.”
But do you want to be known as that obnoxious cruise passenger who ruined the balcony experience for their neighbors?
The only cruise line still permitting smoking on balconies is Costa Cruises. Their smoking policy states, “Smoking is not allowed inside the cabins but only outdoors on private balconies.”
The Risks of Smoking on Your Balcony
The consequences can be severe for smoking on your balcony. Break the rules, and you could face fines of between $200 and $500. You could also get cleaning fees of $200 to $250 added to your final bill. And that’s not the worst. Repeat offenders risk getting booted off the ship, banned from future cruises, or arrested.
That said, enforcement isn’t always as strict as the rules suggest. I’ve seen plenty of cruisers sneaking fly puffs in non-designated deck areas. And it’s not the first time smoke has wafted to my balcony as I was trying to relax.
One Carnival cruiser complained, “People were lighting up all over the outdoor deck on our Carnival cruise, and no one seemed to care,” said one frequent traveler. Still, don’t push your luck—getting caught could ruin your whole trip.
Sneaky Strategies (That You Probably Shouldn’t Try)
Despite the risks, some cruisers seem intent on flouting the smoking rules. Many share their experiences and “advice” on cruise forums with an eclectic mix of creative strategies and essential cautions. Now, there’s no foolproof way to sneak a smoke and get away with it 100%, but here’s what some cruisers have shared.
Sneaking a risky cig on the balcony
Cruisers frequently mention balconies as a go-to spot for sneaking a smoke. Most suggest sneaking a fly smoke when most passengers are asleep to avoid a hefty fine.
One cruiser told me, “I occasionally smoke on the balcony late at night, and no one notices, but I keet it discreet and never smoke when there’s no wind.” Another passenger lamented, “We couldn’t enjoy our balcony due to the stink of weed. We complained, but security said they couldn’t do anything unless they saw it themselves.”
However, cabin balcony smoking is still a risky gamble. I read online one cruiser’s comments, “I figured it was safe on the balcony, but I was hit with a $500 fine after security knocked just minutes later.” In contrast, another said, “I saw people smoking on their balconies, and nothing happened to them. I guess it just depends on the crew and how much they want to enforce it”.
From what many cruisers say, it is possible to get away with smoking on the balcony if you’re careful, but there are no guarantees.
Insider hacks to sneak a smoke onboard
A few passengers have shared some “tricks” for sneaking a smoke. These schemes range from secluded deck areas to air purifiers and putting a wet towel under the bathroom door.
Here’s the “advice” from one cruiser: “Using a wet towel under the bathroom door and running the shower to mask the smell while smoking in the bathroom worked for me.” However, someone else said, “I tried the wet towel and shower trick once, but the smoke alarm went off. Thankfully, I only got a warning.”
Others suggest finding deserted sections of the deck. “I found a quiet spot at the back of the ship late at night. No one was around, and I got away with a quick smoke,” one passenger reported.
Some sneaky cruisers get away with smoking on board by using low-cloud electronic cigarettes. These devices produce less vapor and are not as noticeable as regular e-cigarettes. One cruiser shared, “I’ve never had a problem vaping on my balcony because the pen vapor isn’t visible past the railing.” Another said, “I use a low-watt vape and am careful about which flavors I choose.”
But again, enforcement can vary depending on the cruise line and security diligence. Remember, you’re on camera 24/7 onboard, and most areas of the ship—corridors, decks, and even balconies—are covered by CCTV. And vapes and e-cigarettes have the same consequences as traditional cigarettes.
What Happens If You Get Caught Puffing in Prohibited Zones
Caught red-handed with a cig in your hand? Most cruise lines will issue a warning on your first offense. But, become a repeat offender? You can expect more severe consequences like hundreds of dollars in cleaning fees and fines. Or you could be packing your bags faster than you can say, “stub it out.” In a worst-case scenario—banned by the cruise line for life or arrested at the next port. Is it worth the risk? You can decide.
Even if you don’t get caught, here’s what one cruise passenger said, “I found a quiet spot near the lifeboats late at night. No one was around, but I was constantly looking over my shoulder. The risk of getting caught definitely took away from the experience”.
Even though many passengers get away with smoking onboard, for most, it’s not worth the risk. I saw one TikTok video where the cruiser was caught smoking in the nightclub. They were booted off at Cozumel Island and escorted by immigration police to the airport.
Bottom line? Sneaking a smoke in a prohibited zone is a gamble, and the consequences can be costly—literally and figuratively. Stick to the designated areas, or you might wish you’d just waited until you got home.
What About E-Cigs? Can You Smoke in Your Cabin?
Thinking about sneaking a quick vape in your cabin? Think again. Most cruise lines treat vaping the same as smoking, meaning your cabin and balcony are strictly off-limits. Risk or no risk of fire, the size of fines for vaping is the same—up to $500 on some ships.
One cruiser shared their experience of vaping onboard, “I thought vaping in the cabin wouldn’t be a big deal—no smoke, right? Wrong. Got a warning and learned my lesson real fast.” The rules are clear, and sticking to them is best to avoid unpleasant surprises.
What About Recreational Substances? (A Definite No-Go)
Don’t even go down the path of sneaking weed or other controlled substances onboard. Even if recreational weed is legal in your state, Cruise ships follow strict federal laws, and that means no marijuana—medical or recreational.
One cruiser told of their fear when sniffer dogs came onboard to check for drugs. They saw someone getting escorted from their cabin and off the ship. It turned out they had pre-rolls of marijuana onboard. Why was the cruiser freaking out? They said, “I had CBD gummies in a smell-proof bag and was scared they’d find them also.”
Even CBD, which many people think is a harmless alternative, is banned on cruises because it can be hard to differentiate from illegal substances. A fellow cruiser told me, “I tried to bring CBD oil onboard, thinking it’d be fine since it’s legal at home, but security confiscated it before I even got to my cabin.” I also read about one cruiser banned for life for trying to sneak CBD gummies onboard.
The Alternative: Smoking-Free Cruise Tips
Thankfully, plenty of options exist to enjoy your cruise without the stress of smoking onboard and worrying if you’ll get away with it. Many smokers on cruise forums say they’ve had success using nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges to keep the cravings at bay while cruising. No risk of violating the ship’s strict smoking rules!
Some smokers use the chance to cut back or quit smoking altogether. With so much to do—shore excursions, gourmet meals, and entertainment—you might not miss puffing on cigs as much as you think. One cruiser mentioned, “I used nicotine gum during the cruise and was surprised how little I missed smoking with everything going on.”
Lastly, if you really need to light up, just stick to the designated smoking areas. Head to the smoking deck, casino, or cigar lounges. OK, it’s not as exciting as sneaking a balcony smoke, but you don’t risk bumping up your cruise fare with a $500 fine or worse.
Remember, cruising is about relaxing and enjoying yourself. So, ditch the stress of rule-breaking and stick with the alternatives—you’ll thank yourself later.
Share Your Story
Have you ever seen someone try to sneak a smoke on a cruise? Or maybe you’ve been caught yourself! Share your story in the comments—we’d love to hear about it.
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- The Most Outrageously Rude Cruise Passenger Behaviors Exposed
