This is just another example of Regent trying to act “in loco parentis” for its guests. I personally think they are making another mistake. I doubt they’re betting the competition will change policy, I think they expect that non-smokers switching to Regent will more than make up for the loss of smokers switching away or who stop cruising entirely. This (LCT) thread seems to leans against the new policy, while the one over on CC seems to lean rather strongly in favor. Time will tell.

I do know this (the good news): the population of people willing to shell out big bucks to cruise on Regent (i.e., demand for premium and luxury cruising) is going to shrink with the new policy, and with other top cruise lines building new ships, supply is going to increase. Economics tells us this combination will drive prices down, forcing the lines to lower rates, offer more specials, etc. Or change their policies.

IMHO, a better policy would have been to continue to allow smoking just on balconies, perhaps (with full tongue in cheek) in the aft sections and stern, where smokers would be helped to flick their ashes by the vibration which seems so often mentioned back there (but which we’ve personally never really noticed.)

For the record, I quit smoking in August 1995, having smoked heavily (up to four packs a day) since 1953. In the past five years, I don’t think I’ve really thought about (not) smoking until something like this thread brings it up. And for that I am truly grateful! It is really very hard to quit.