Another battle won for non-smokers?

Smoking is coughing a slow death in most western countries these days. Offices, public buildings, restaurants, bars and now cruise ships have tightened smoking laws to the size of a Victorian corset.

The furthering of smoking restrictions on cruise ships has led to over $3 million in lost revenue from cancelled bookings since July 5^th, while the battalions of non-smokers wave their banners and scream approval with their pink lungs.

The latest cruise line to tighten up is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which has now banned smoking from cabins as well as on balconies. Despite the cease-fire allowing smokers to light up a tab in the casino, the cancellations keep rolling in.

Crystal Cruises is another cruise line that is furthering its no-smoking policy. Company spokesman Shawn Magnuson says, “We are looking at further restrictions. But they probably won’t be implemented until 2008.” Crystal Cruises already forbids smoking in its indoor areas and dining rooms.

Second-hand smoke is not the only health hazard from smoking on ships. Last year the 2,600-passenger vessel, the Star Princess lost 79 cabins and one passenger due to a cigarette not properly extinguished. This new ban craze may be a dangerous one however, with Europeans, the loveable smokers that they are, making up a large portion of passengers. Editor of Cruise Week Mike Driscoll warns that, “Americans have become accustomed to such limitations. Europeans are not.”