Smoking on Ships in South America

[Gablin]

I have posted this question in the general questions area, too.

 

My best friend/travel buddy and I plan to cruise South America from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso sometime next winter (November 2010 - March 2011.)

I have no tolerance for tobacco smoke, mostly because I have lost part of one lung to lung cancer. My friend has no real health issues, but has always found tobacco smoke offensive.

 

We understand that more people smoke in South America than in the US, similar to Eastern Europe. We're prepared to face the land portion of our trip knowing that. We know that many of the passengers on a South America cruise will be from that continent.

 

Which cruise line do you think would be best for us? We are leaning toward Holland America, as we are both Mariners with HAL, and because we would not have to "sneak" wine aboard the cruise. Is there another line that would have better (for us) smoking policies?

 

We know that we won't enjoy the casino and at least one other bar on most cruise ships. Unless we find a nonsmoking cruise ship (fat chance!) neither of us is likely to spend the money on a veranda cabin and risk not being able to enjoy it.

 

Wine is of secondary importance to freedom from tobacco smoke. Let me know what you think is our best option.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Have a look at Oceania. They have very strict non-smoking policies (not completely non-smoking ship, but apparently almost so.)

 

I doubt really if there are many South Americans on these cruises. Just a guess.

[eh2zed]

If you are not going to have a balcony HAL should be OK. However, Celebrity does not allow any cabin or balcony smoking. Rules will not change according to itinerary.

[biker1972]

Celebrity has a very limited smoking policy that includes no smoking in the casino. They may allow some smoking in a bar or two but otherwise only on outside decks and the are areas are limited.

[Gablin]

Thank you for replying. Celebrity looks good right now, as I am unwilling to spend the extra money for Oceania. Oceania is really good value for the money, I believe. I'm just unwilling to spend it. ;)

 

One of the reviews of South America cruises I read mentioned that there were a lot of passengers aboard who were from South America. I don't know if that would be true for all cruises from Buenos Aires however.