People who smoke often complain that cruise lines limit smoking areas on embarkation day.
That happens for a number of reasons. First, while most major cruise lines, aside from Celebrity Cruises, allow smoking in the casino, they allow it only while people are actually playing.
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You can't smoke in the casino when it's closed, and it's always closed on the day first people board their ships.
In some cases, cruise lines also have to ban smoking completely on embarkation day when the ship is taking on fuel. You can't smoke even on open decks when a cruise ship takes on certain types of fuel.
Most passengers understand that smoking might be restricted on the first day of their cruise. They don't, however, expect not to be able to smoke when in port.
In addition, smokers like it when Royal Caribbean ships stop at the cruise line's private destinations, Labadee, Haiti, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. That's because the casino remains open when the ships are in those private destinations.
Royal Caribbean, however, does have a scenario at Perfect Day at CocoCay that affects not only smokers but also passengers who have a balcony.
Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWithMe
Royal Caribbean sometimes has special rules
Royal Caribbean has been refueling its newer ships, which use liquefied natural gas, when those ships stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. And there's a reason they refuel at the private island.
If Utopia of the Seas, which sails out of Port Canaveral, or Icon of the Seas, which calls Miami its homeport, refueled on embarkation day, their departure might be delayed. Because the ships have a full-day stay at CocoCay, it makes more sense to bring in a fueling ship there.
That does, however, cause some problems for passengers. Before a recent stop there, Utopia of the Seas recently placed a letter in every cabin, a move first reported by Royal Caribbean Blog.
Dear Guest,
We hope you are having a wonderful time on the beautiful Utopia of the Seas.
Please be advised, early tomorrow morning, Utopia of the Seas, will begin refueling with Liquified Natural Gas, also known as LNG. As part of our safety protocol, while fueling is underway, we will operate at an enhanced safety level until refueling is complete. That means that smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas except the Casino on deck 4 and all balconies and infinity verandas must remain closed during the refueling process. An announcement will be made upon completion.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
Utopia of the Seas
Some passengers, of course, won't be thrilled that they can't access their balconies during the refueling process, while smokers may be angry that they can smoke only in the casino. Technically, only active players can smoke in the casino. (That's not strictly enforced in most cases.)
Perfect Day at CocoCay has routinely been Royal Caribbean's highest-rated destination with passengers. Many people likely get off the ship for at least some of the day, which makes the smoking and balcony restrictions less of an issue.
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There are smoking areas on the island as well.
"Cigarette, cigar, e-cigarette, and pipe smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas. Please check wayfinding signs on the island for specific locations," the cruise line notes on its website.
The smoking areas tend to be close to the many bars on Perfect Day at CocoCay.
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