Norwegian Smoking Ban and Tweetup

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has recently announced that it is going to ban smoking from staterooms across all of its 11 Freestyle Cruising vessels, beginning in January. Under the new rules, passengers who have a balcony with their stateroom will be permitted to smoke cigarettes outside, but pipes and cigars are banned completely. Passengers will be able to request ash trays from housekeeping staff.

Before the rule change, NCL allowed its guests to smoke only in casinos and other areas around the ship that are designated for it. Smoking has been banned from restrooms, corridors, conference rooms, staircases, restaurants and bars, and any outdoor areas that aren’t designated for it – the children’s pool, where food is served, the sport complex, etc. Guests who don’t follow the rules will be charged a cleaning fee of $250. NCL vice president of public relations AnneMarie Mathews says that the line has been looking at its smoking policy for a while based on customer feedback. They have received complaints from guests about the smoky smell left in their rooms, as this is difficult to remove, she added.

NCL isn’t the only cruise line to ban smoking in staterooms, while some don’t even allow it on connecting verandas. Princess Cruises recently banned smoking in cabins and balconies, which will be effective beginning January as well. Cunard Line is due to begin a smoking ban in staterooms but allow it on balconies for its Queen Victoria in March and Queen Mary in April. Celebrity Cruises also doesn’t allow it; nor do they allow travellers to smoke on land tours that it operates. The line limits guests to smoking in designated areas on the ships. If they don’t abide by the rules, they will be charged $250. Disney Cruise Line bans smoking as well, except where designated on its ships. Cruise lines usually have a posting on their websites about smoking rules.

Meanwhile, NCL also recently announced plans for the first at-sea tweetup in the world – offering a special experience for social media enthusiasts who like to cruise. The SeaTweetup three-night cruise will depart from Miami for the Bahamas on November 18. The 2,002-passenger Norwegian Sky will host the journey, which is being organised by Social Empire, the digital media consultants, and SocialBuzzTV, the social media television show. Bookings for the cruise start at $271.32 per person and jump to $999 a person for the Penthouse suite.

During the cruise, Twitter junkies will be urged to tweet their experiences using the on-board wi-fi. They will also be encouraged to participate in networking events, like social media panel discussions. Several port calls will feature special events as well, such as being the first to see the line’s Great Stirrup Cay private island, which covers 250 acres and is currently being revamped with a $20 million investment.