All cruise ships allow smoking in certain areas, which are typically designated in outdoor smoking zones and sometimes in casinos, nightclubs, cigar lounges and cabin balconies (depending on the cruise line). The rest of the ship is firmly nonsmoking, however, and that includes all staterooms, restaurants and theaters.

While cigarettes are allowed on most cruise ships in 2026, their use is strictly confined to designated smoking areas. Smoking is universally prohibited in staterooms, on private balconies, and in most public indoor spaces like theaters, dining rooms, and hallways due to fire safety regulations and the comfort of other passengers. Most ships offer specific outdoor zones, typically on one side of an upper deck, and some may have enclosed indoor cigar lounges or specific sections within the casino. Cruise lines such as Disney, Celebrity, and Viking have some of the most restrictive policies, often limiting smoking to just one or two small outdoor areas. If you are caught smoking in a non-designated area, particularly on your cabin balcony, you will likely face a hefty "cleaning fee" (often starting at $250 or more) and could potentially be removed from the ship at the next port of call. Vaping and e-cigarettes generally follow the same rules as traditional cigarettes, though some lines allow them in staterooms but never on balconies.