Again, read the RCI and NCL boards where those lines just "sprung" a Regent-like policy on guests without the warning to guests that Regent has given. Accomodation of smokers is only half the story. The other half is that on those ships, smokers, no longer able to smoke in their own rooms away from us non smokers, are filling the casinos and other designated smoking areas on the ship with a thick blanket of smoke. You must have missed the part where I have advocated no smoking in ANY public areas or on any balcony. My goal in doing so is to keep second-hand smoke away from me. It has been established that the market for a totally smoke free ship is pretty limited (i.e., the Carnival Paradise story). So if we accept that as current fact, the remaining issue is where should smoking be allowed? I strongly believe that it shouldn't be in any pubic areas. Not balconies either. Not due to the Princess fire, as the "cigarette dropped from a balcony " is only a theory. But due to the situation of non smokers who might have a balcony down wind of a smoker's balcony. All that is left is designated, ventilated smoking staterooms and suites.

I know of no instance wherein a ship fire has been started from smoking inside a stateroom or suite. Does anybody?