While cigarette smoking has fallen dramatically in recent decades, vaping is definitely increasing, especially for younger users.

This has led to some discussion and even controversy as to whether vaping and smoking are equivalent, and if they should be treated equivalently onboard cruise ships.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald has been questioned on the issue, with one vape user especially irate that the two types of inhaled products are treated equally by the cruise line.

“Why are people who vape put in the same category as smokers on cruises. Vape smoke ones don’t set off the alarms and there is no lasting smell or evidence that it was done,” the guest asked. “Vapers should be treated different to smokers and given the freedom to smoke where they wish. We are sick of being treated like third class cruisers.”

Heald responds that vaping and smoking of any kind will continue to be treated the same onboard all Carnival Cruise ships, and travelers must use vaping products only in designated areas.

“Vaping is considered smoking and it can only be used while in the outdoor smoking areas or while playing in the smoking sections of the casino,” Heald confirmed. “I respect your right to vape. Please respect the rights of people who do not enjoy your vaping and you must not and cannot vape in non-smoking areas.”

Every Carnival ship offers several smoking areas. These are typically designated on certain areas of the open decks, as well as in part of the onboard casino. A full list of each ship’s smoking areas is available on Carnival’s website.

No smoking or vaping may be done in other areas, including on private balconies or inside guest staterooms.

Read Also: Carnival Debunks Smoking Hacks – With Severe Consequences

Furthermore, guests are not permitted to smoke anywhere onboard if refueling operations are underway, typically on embarkation or debarkation day, but announcements will be made when refueling is completed and smoking areas have reopened.

Guests who violate Carnival’s smoking policy are subject to a $500 fine and possible debarkation of all travelers in the same stateroom. The cruise line’s smoking policy is also part of the Guest Ticket Contract that all travelers agree to when booking a Carnival cruise. Section 9(c) of the contract clearly states:

“Any and all forms of smoking, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporizers, and electronic cigarettes are strictly prohibited on board Carnival’s vessels except in specific designated exterior deck areas and designated casino/night club spaces.”

Heald has followed up the vaping discussion with a poll on his popular Facebook page, asking whether or not guests are happy with the non-smoking spaces provided onboard.

With more than 11,000 votes, 85% of respondents do not smoke or vape, while 12% do but are happy with the designated areas to smoke or vape onboard. Just 3% of the respondents would prefer more areas available to smoke or vape during their cruise vacations.

What About Health Risks?

The guest who originally contacted Heald goes on to claim that “there is zero evidence that vaping is as harmful as smoking” though they even contradict themselves immediately by continuing with “there is some evidence that vape may cause some harm but nothing to suggest at the moment its like smoke.”

Worth Reading: Can You Bring a Vape On a Cruise Ship?

Research from the National Academy of Sciences does indicate that e-cigarette smoke dramatically increases the risk of lung adenocarcinomas and other health risks such as seizures, bladder problems, and brain and heart damage. The vapor created by e-cigarettes includes known carcinogens, heavy metals, and microparticles.

Just as with smoking, secondhand exposure to vaping can be equally damaging to anyone nearby.

Debarkation morning on a cruise ship is chaotic, with early morning wake ups, multiple announcements, long lines, and anxiety about making flights, remembering where the car is parked, or other onward arrangements.

In all the confusion, it is not surprising that cruisers sometimes forget something on the ship, only to realize later that they have left it behind.

It can be upsetting to forget a critical item, and even more frustrating when you remember right at the cruise terminal but aren’t permitted to return to the ship for just a minute to retrieve it.

In response to a recent complaint, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador John Heald has addressed exactly these scenarios, outlining what to do in case a traveler does leave something behind on their ship.

“In the chaos that is disembarkation morning, my hubby’s eyeglasses were left in our cabin,” the guest explained. “We realized as drove out of the parking lot. We went back and the staff in the terminal area told us we could not get back on the ship. We knew the eyeglasses were on the bedside [table].”

Bear in mind, the guest does not explain how long they were out of their stateroom before returning to the terminal to seek the lost eyeglasses.

It is possible they left their cabin and had breakfast before debarking the ship, passing through customs, and finding their vehicle. This could have been a couple of hours, during which time their stateroom may have already been cleaned.

“We demanded to speak to the Radiance guest relations manager. Again, we were refused. John this is terrible customer service,” the guest continued. “These were expensive eyeglasses. We need them returned to us immediately. … What do we have to do? This is not good enough for a company like Carnival.”

While the date of the guest’s cruise is not noted, Carnival Radiance is homeported from Long Beach, California year-round. The 102,232-gross-ton, Sunshine class ship (formerly Carnival Victory) offers 3- and 4-night Baja Mexico itineraries, with occasional longer Hawaii and Mexican Riviera sailings.

Heald is not unsympathetic to the guest losing such a useful item, but does explain that in Carnival’s fleet of 27 ships, a lot of items are left behind every week.

“We do have approximately 1,000 lost or forgotten items every week across the fleet, sometimes more,” he said. “We probably have more forgotten or lost glasses than anything else along with books, things left in the cabin safe, and various indiscriminate items such as a clothes, phones, a prosthetic leg (seriously) and many different items that people have left behind.”

I’m sure there’s a story behind the prosthetic leg, but that would take this story a step in the wrong direction.

Once debarking the ship, travelers are no permitted to return to the vessel for any reason. While this may seem extreme, it is a firm security policy that also involves US Customs and Border Protection as well as the cruise line’s security.

“Just like they tell you when you get off your flight and the flight attendant says remember all your belongings because you will not be allowed back on the plane, it is the same for the ships,” Heald explained. “Security protocols dictate this.”

Retrieving a Lost Item

If guests do leave something aboard – whether they realize it just minutes after debarkation or not until they reach home and can’t find a particular item in their luggage – they can contact Carnival Cruise Line for assistance.

There is a Lost and Found Item form to fill out, which includes information such as the type of item lost, the ship name and sailing date, and shipping address information if the item is recovered.

“Please complete the form,” Heald urged. “My colleagues at the Mother Ship will do their best to get the item if it is indeed found back to you as soon as possible but I should say, we so many items to deal with, it may take some time.”

If travelers are still onboard when they discover an item missing, they should report the loss to the Guest Services desk with a description of the item and where they believe they had it last.

Recovered items are turned in and held securely until they are claimed or reported after the end of the cruise, when every attempt will be made to return them to their rightful owners.

Have you ever lost anything onboard a cruise ship? Did you get it back? How long did it take? Share your experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!

Cruise vacations aren’t just for adults – they are for kids, too. On family-friendly cruise lines, such as Carnival, kids may get a bit more freedom than they are accustomed to at home.

One thing that parents will have to consider as they plan for their Carnival cruise is that their kids are required to have their own Sail & Sign onboard account – and the Sail & Sign card given to both kids and adults functions like a credit card. 

That said, parents can set spending limits during check-in or at the Guest Services Desk once onboard so that their kids can’t go breaking the bank with their newfound freedom. 

But for first-time cruisers or guests who have never sailed with Carnival before, the process of doing so can be a bit confusing, which prompted a future cruiser, named Bernadette, to turn to brand ambassador John Heald for guidance. 

“Is there a way to set up on board spending limits for children. I couldn’t figure out if that was a daily limit or a cruise limit. I want to set it at $100 hoping it was the total cruise. Can you please clarify? Also, can we adjust the child spending limit at the kiosks? Or does that have to be done face to face at guest service?,” Bernadette inquired on Heald’s Facebook page. 

Although Heald is typically an expert on all things Carnival, this was one of the rare instances where he didn’t have an answer – and was only aware of going to the Guest Services desk onboard to set and adjust spending limits. 

Luckily, former passengers were able to speak from experience in the comments section until Heald is able to follow up with an official response – which he promised he would do.

“We were told we had to go to guest services every day to add more money to my grandson‘s account,” said one former guest. 

“This is a great question! Yes, I have set limits on my grandson’s sail and sign card in the past. I do this at guest services. If I didn’t set limits, he’d spend all his money in the candy store!!!!,” added another.

The passenger response suggests going to Guest Services is the way to go – and checking in directly with crew members, such as the Guest Services team, is the best way to ensure you’re being given the correct and current information. 

How Much Freedom Should Kids Have on Cruise Ships?

As cruise ships are considered one of the safest forms of travel and kids are contained onboard, many parents will give their children more freedom to roam and play independently than they might at home or on other types of vacations. 

In addition to getting a temporary credit card in the form of their Sail and Sign account, some parents go so far as to let their children stay in their own cruise cabins. 

According to the Carnival website, this action is allowed with ground rules determined by the age of the children. 

For minors under the age of 12, they can stay in staterooms that are either directly across the hall from the parent or guardian, and may not be assigned to a balcony stateroom without an adult over the age of 25 staying in the same room. 

Teenagers (kids 13-17) get a little more flexibility, and can be separated from their parents or guardians by up to three staterooms. 

Read Also: Do Kids Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise?

These guidelines are put in place because parents and guardians still need to be responsible for their children – both for their safety and to prevent minors from becoming a nuisance to other guests. But how tightly parents want to hold the leash is up to their discretion – as they know their children best. 

On the flip side, parents who prefer more supervision can send their children to Carnival’s onboard kids’ clubs, which are divided by age. Kids can begin to receive “sign out” privileges at 9-years-old, meaning they can come and go from the clubs as they please, but only if parents give permission in advance.