Jayestravellingadventures

It isn’t uncommon for rules and regulations to change or adapt as time goes on. Comparing cruises to the titanic always makes me chuckle, because if you look at the ships size compared to modern ships, as well as the difference in life jackets. You will understand.

Smoking freely

Cruise lines are very strict on smoking on board freely, however, on the Titanic you were able to smoke anywhere you wished, (even in your cabin). You can be in serious trouble if you are caught smoking outside the designated smoking areas.

Depending on which cruise line you book you may be allowed to smoke on your balconies, however, this is rare. Always check the smoking policies prior to booking to avoid any disappointment.

Most cruise lines have specified smoking areas which are mainly on an open deck near a pool or at either the starboard or port side of the ship. If you are using a vape or Electronic Cigarettes then these fall into the same category of smoking cigarettes.

Some cruises do still have cigar lounges for guests who like to have a drink with a cigar. There are some bars open for those smoking on the open decks too. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Norwegian Cruise lines both have cigar lounges on.

Cruise lines can be smart with the smoking policy, as some allow you to stay in the casino and smoke. This allows you to stay at the table, order drinks and most importantly… SPEND YOUR MONEY. Most cruise lines open their shops and casinos when they are 12 nautical miles from land and in international waters.

In the UK, the smoking indoors ban came into effect in 2007, so we are use to following strict smoking guidelines. I think it would blow our British minds if we were allowed to smoke indoors on a cruise ship. The USA vary their smoking rules depending on each state you visit.

A serious fire broke out on board the Star Princess in 2006, from what was believed to be a discarded cigarette from a balcony. The fire destroyed 23% of her cabins. This caused the cruise industry to rethink their smoking policy and implement changes, with one change being sprinklers were installed on all balconies.

Discarding rubbish into the ocean

Cruise lines are not allowed to throw any rubbish into the ocean, and are encouraged to recycle their plastic, cardboard and glass. This is stored in the hull of the ship until they are able to off load it in port. Any non-recyclable items are compacted as small as possible and stored to be offloaded.

Cruise lines have been caught discarding rubbish into the ocean, they have been fined and some have been prosecuted. Not only is it illegal, it also increases plastic pollution and endangers the lives of marine wildlife.

When I attended Britannia’s Behind the Scenes ship tour, they showed us where all the food was stored as well as where all the rubbish is placed as well. P&O have a well organized system in place, and it is as big of an operation as you think.

Wastewater

Mainstream cruise lines treat wastewater onboard, these are separated into:

• Black water – comes from toilets and urinals.
• Grey water – comes from showers, basins, baths etc. which are still contaminated but not with any harmful sewage.

Once treated onboard and the ship is three and a half miles from shore, it is then safe to discarded into the ocean.

Rubbish

All rubbish is sorted into different categories before being cleaned out and stored. All waste is then disposed at the correct recycling facilities when at the next port.

Food Waste

Cruise lines go through a lot of food waste on board, so having the right food waste system onboard in crucial. Most cruise lines have pulpers or bio-digesters onboard to tackle the leftovers, before being discarded into the ocean.

Shooting off the Top deck (clay pigeon)

This top deck activity became popular in 1920’s and was known for the best activity onboard. Guests would be able to shoot over the stern of the ship causing the clay pigeons and shotgun shells to fall into the ocean.

They are made from a mixture of clay, pitch and chalk. They are designed to easily break when the shot gun pellets hit them mid air, but, strong enough to withstand the force of being flung into the air by a clay pigeon trap. Back in the 1920’s people where a lot less concerned about the environment and what the implications where when dumping objects into the sea.

Clay Pigeon shooting became less popular due to environmental and safety reasons in the 1980’s, and stopped completely on cruise ships in the 1990’s. Modern-day Health and safety protocols don’t allow passengers to bring any kind of firearms onboard, especially when drinking is allow onboard too.

Finding out guest information

It wasn’t uncommon for a vast group of people to emigrate by Ocean Liner, from on country to another. This ships had to obtain sensitive information such as; age, travel companions, which class (first or steerage), port from and to, physical description (dependent). In 1960’s after the mass immigration, these lists stopped.

Before General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was implemented and at the very early days of cruising, there would be lists disbursed throughout the ship with each guests name, and where they came from. The list looked like a phone book. This was to allow guests to get to know their fellow passengers. It could also be taken home as a souvenir, until they were stopped between 1970’s and 1980’s.

Cruise lines after the lists were stopped, allowed passengers to opt in or out from appearing on the list. The majority of people opted out causing the list to be incomplete and less useful.

Privacy laws and data protection that we have in place today, known as GDPR, have stopped cruse lines from handing out other passengers information.

Bringing exotic animals onboard

If you require an assistance dog then you are able to bring them onboard any other pets or exotic animals are prohibited. Ocean Liners use to house a collection of exotic animals, however, this has since changed due to health and safety. They were originally brought onboard for passenger entertainment.

The German Liner – SS Bremen in 1930’s had a small zoo onboard. Passengers were allowed to visit the exotic animals and having animals onboard was seen as a luxury and opulence.

Due to health and safety you can never know an animals true intent or behavior, when in a surrounding that’s busy and unknown, therefore exotic pets were removed from cruise liners.

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