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How Bad Habits Run in Packs

Does smoking encourage other addictive behaviors? Here’s the cold, hard truth: a large percentage of smokers engage in other unhealthy habits such as alcohol consumption, drinking too much coffee, overeating, and even gambling.

How many smokers do you know who absolutely must have a cup of java with their morning cigarette? What about that cloud of smoke hanging over the lounge or bar?

Think for a moment about your daily routine and the things you do while smoking. Do you have any other addictive or compulsive habits that seem to go hand in hand?

If you answered yes, don’t fret. By taking the first step towards stopping smoking, you’ll find it easier to eliminate other harmful habits.

One Addiction At A Time

The secret to success is to tackle your first goal of quitting smoking before attempting to work on any other addictive habits.

You’ll also want to avoid adopting any new bad habits or behaviors during the first few weeks you wage battle against nicotine. Many people find themselves unintentionally substituting food as a replacement for cigarettes as they try to quit smoking.

To make matters worse, the types of food or drink they usually crave the most are high calorie sweets and snack foods or sugary soft drinks. Unfortunately the end result is often a noticeable amount of weight gain within a few months. While they may have succeeded in quitting smoking, they now have to deal with excess weight and all the related health problems.

Beat The Physical And Psychological Addiction So You Can Stop Smoking

In order to quit smoking, you need to know what causes or contributes to your addictive behaviors. When smokers talk about their inability to stop smoking, they’ll often mention an overpowering nicotine craving.

Although there’s no doubt that smoking causes a physical addiction in the body, smokers experience a psychological dependence too. This mental dependence can be just as challenging to overcome.

Consider the following scenario:

A man who has smoked for twenty years finally decides to quit smoking. He experiences a great deal of frustration and anxiety for the first three weeks as he tries to stop smoking. But gradually, he succeeds in kicking his smoking addiction.

However, several months after this success he learns that his company is downsizing and he is under great pressure to complete additional new tasks while his job is hanging in the balance. As the stress begins to get unbearable, his urge to smoke returns stronger than ever.

Although the nicotine is gone from his bloodstream, his mind still remembers the pleasant, relaxing feeling associated with smoking. He mentally links smoking with relief from stress. Those two things, stress and smoking, are wired together in his emotional fusebox. In order to cope with this new stress, he resorts to old behaviors.

Why Quitting Smoking is Harder For Some People

If you’ve compared notes with other smokers, you know that some of them simply decided to quit smoking and did it. Cold turkey. No regrets. Then there are those who struggle for years, stopping smoking only to resume again. And again.

Why do some people have so much trouble and stress when trying to stop smoking while others seem to sail through it? Many scientists and physicians believe this is strongly related to the individual’s mental well-being and mindset.

People who have trouble trying to stop smoking often have personal beliefs that are self defeating. A person may have every intention of stopping smoking but if they don’t have the correct, positive mindset the task may seem nearly impossible and backsliding inevitable.

Negative Beliefs Make It Harder to Quit Smoking

The following list contains some self defeating thoughts and behaviors that can hinder your goal of stopping smoking. These negative attitudes can make it increasingly difficult to break any type of bad habit or addiction, whether it’s smoking, gambling, drinking, or some other unwanted habit.

So whatever it is you’re trying to give up, try to give up these attitudes first:

1. Misplaced blame. How many times have you heard someone say: “I could stop smoking if I didn’t have to deal with my boss, children, spouse, etc” In order to quit smoking or break any type of negative habit, you first need to accept responsibility for your actions.

2. Inability to cope. Many smokers feel they can’t deal with the pain, stress, or frustration of everyday life. Smoking is a crutch that enables them to function properly. By accepting and dealing with your emotional turmoil, you’ll greatly increase your chances of stopping smoking.

3. Overwhelmed by addiction. Some people may feel that stopping smoking is completely out of their control. Their addiction is such an important part of their life that they feel quitting smoking is unattainable.

4. Denial. Before you can stop smoking, first recognize and acknowledge there is a problem. You’ve probably heard some people say they can quit smoking any time they want to. While this may be true for a few individuals, most often it’s not the case. If you have been smoking for a long time, your body has developed an addiction and you may need help to beat it.

Prescriptions Medication To Help You Stop Smoking

After you’ve developed a positive attitude about quitting smoking, the next step is to choose a method with a high success rate.

Today there are many new drugs on the market that make the physical discomfort of stopping smoking more tolerable. The most notable is a prescription product called Chantix.

Chantix helps you stop smoking by lessening the effects of nicotine on the body and reducing both the cravings and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Smokers should start taking Chantix a full week before they actually intend to quit smoking. This enables the amount of the active ingredient in Chantix to build up in your system, which will make stopping smoking less stressful and physically less uncomfortable.

Modern day smoking pipes have evolved from the pipes that were used by early civilizations of several countries to smoke tobacco and cannabis and ever since the pipes have been used as a tool to heighten the smoke flavor.

A traditional smoking pipe consists of a small bowl attached to a tube. This bowl is used to keep the material that has to be ignited in order to smoke. With the help of a smoking pipe one can relish a unique smoke flavor. Every time the smoker inhales, he experiences a certain sense of relaxation and ecstasy. Each puff fills the smoker with a distinct energy.

Smoking pipe for sale comes in an array of sizes and shapes depending upon the smoking systems, countries and cultures. The popular “Hookah” from India is basically a smoking water pipe whereas the “Kiseru” from Japan is nothing but a fine metal smoking pipe.

A smoking pipe is very similar to a hat; both reflect your taste, style and personality. Today the markets are full of unlimited options when it comes to choosing a smoking pipe. You can get a glass smoking pipe, metal smoking pipe, smoking water pipe or a bubbler.

Smoking pipe for sale is designed using several different kinds of materials such as ceramic glass, clay, stone, metal, wood and porcelain. Different kinds of pipes can be used for smoking different substances. The designing may vary considerable but the best part of using a smoking pipe is that these pipes are reusable and can last for very long time periods if handled with proper care. These days, special mechanics are used in the crafting of a glass smoking pipe, metal smoking pipe, and smoking water pipe.

Once you are done with the choosing of the smoking pipe, the next thing is to become acquainted with its functionality. It may require some time and patience before you can relish the exotic pleasure of a smoking pipe. Whether it is a glass smoking pipe, metal smoking pipe, or a smoking water pipe the very first step is to learn how to pack your smoking pipe.

The process of packing a smoking pipe needs to be done using soft hands so that the tobacco can contain some vents for the air. The next step is to master the art of lightening the smoking pipe. The tobacco has to be lit evenly otherwise you won’t enjoy the pipe as the unlit tobacco will hamper the continuous flow of gases inside the tube of the smoking pipe. Last but not the least comes the art of holding a pipe at a certain angle. Once you master all the skills you will have an experience of a life time.

Many campaigns have been, and are being, conducted all over the world to educate people and help them to get rid of this addiction. Individual Governments, NGOs, and medical clinics conduct smoking cessation campaigns and awareness programs regularly. Campaigns by NGOs and medical clinics in different cities around the world carry the name of the city with messages to citizens to stop smoking or call for assistance for smoking cessation. For example, an awareness campaign in Dallas-Texas could be called Dallas Smoking Cessation or Stop Smoking in Dallas. But smokers will always be averse to quit smoking as the tobacco addiction is just like any other addiction like alcohol and drugs.

The Smoking cessation programs educate smokers about the harmful effects of smoking to themselves and to the people around them including their loved ones. Chain smokers and people around them are more at risk than casual smokers. According to the WHO, smoking is one of the leading, but preventable causes of death the world over and estimates are that it is the cause of 5.4 million deaths every year. This has not only prompted Governments, but also NGOs and medical clinics to conduct regular campaigns in countries and cities the world over. Campaigns with banners, media ads, etc have catchy names, slogans, and messages like the example \’Stop Smoking in Dallas\’ mentioned earlier.

But why is smoking so harmful and why are Governments, NGOs, and medical clinics so earnestly trying to stop smoking? The reason is that most smokers are not aware of the harmful effects of smoking, and even if they are, they are so addicted that they tend to ignore the truth. Smoking tobacco is the inhaling and exhaling smoke from cured leaves used in cigarettes. Some people smoke casually for temporary pleasure, or habitually due to an addiction to nicotine in tobacco, or social pressure. Research has ascertained that smoking causes emphysema, lung cancer, and cardiovascular or Heart disease among the many other problems. The WHO reports that smoking has killed over 100 million individuals worldwide in the twentieth century and has warned that it can kill over one billion people all over the world in the twenty first century.

Cigarette smokers are not the only ones whose health is at risk, but also those around them, as they inhale the smoke that smokers exhale, and this harms their health, even if they are non-smokers. Although smoking is addictive and it is difficult to stop smoking, it is not impossible. Medical spas and clinics all over the world conduct de-addiction programs to assist people to quit smoking. The first step towards quitting smoking is to decide to quit smoking. The next step is to search for an NGO or medical spa and clinic in your city, which can help you to quit smoking. So a smoker in Dallas can search for a medical clinic on the Internet by searching for Dallas Smoking Cessation and a smoker in any other city can look for smoking cessation programs with their city name.

For more information on quitting smoking, Dallas Smoking Cessation and Stop Smoking in Dallas , please do visit our site or call us NOW

If you are someone who is trying to quit smoking, you know how challenging it is to break this injurious compulsion. However, it is possible, and half of all adult smokers will succeed in quitting smoking forever. Many smokers succeed in quitting smoking cigarettes by replacing them with new, more positive habits without having to experience withdrawal symptoms. By far, the easiest and most effective method to stop smoking and accomplish this end is stop smoking self hypnosis.

Hypnosis for smoking cessation is one of the most frequently practiced forms of hypnosis. It is often cited as a tool to quit smoking along with strategies such as nicotine replacement therapy and other popular techniques. It helps end the smoking addiction by combating cravings to smoke, keeping you committed to quitting, and promoting relaxation and stress relief so you will not feel the need to smoke.

The smoking addiction is made up of both psychological and physiological aspects. The physiological addiction is a physical addiction the body acquires for nicotine. This component of the addiction causes the withdrawal symptoms that make it initially seem near impossible to stop smoking. However, this is a short, temporary part in the overall course of quitting the habit, lasting only between three days and one week. By the end of this period, your body adjusts to normal, nicotine-free functioning. Based on thirty years of experience, I believe that the physical need for nicotine represents a mere ten percent of the smoking addiction.

By far, the most challenging part of breaking the smoking addiction is overcoming the psychological addiction, which are the mental and emotional aspects of smoking. I believe this makes up ninety percent of the tobacco addiction. When you develop a smoking habit, you develop an unconscious desire to smoke in certain environments, such as before going to bed. This is called a conditioned response. Quit smoking self hypnosis works to eliminate the unconscious relationships that cause one to crave cigarettes, thereby eliminating the conditioned response to smoke. Hypnosis also helps you stay motivated to give up smoking by reinforcing the ideas that gave you the desire to break the smoking habit in the first place.

Smokers get stuck in the ritual of lighting up and smoking. This is why many people who attempt to stop smoking using nicotine gums or patches alone are unable to quit. They quickly overcome the physical withdrawal, but they have no relief or replacement for the ritual of smoking, which has become a psychological addiction and comforting source of stress relief. Stop smoking self hypnosis techniques eliminate this habit and serve as stress reducers as well. As a relaxation tool, hypnosis helps effectively relieve anxiety and stress so you will lose the desire to smoke cigarettes.

Used in combination with some effective NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) techniques, stop smoking self hypnosis can keep you committed to stop smoking by training your unconscious mind to focus on the benefits of quitting. Eliminating tobacco benefits you in numerous ways. Within days of quitting, body parts damaged by smoking begin to heal, damaged nerves re-grow, and the sense of taste and smell improves significantly. Within weeks, lung function and circulation improve. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is less than half that of a smoker. Within five to fifteen years, the risk of stroke is the same as a non-smoker. Your risk of heart disease is the same as someone who has never smoked at all, and your risk of dying from lung cancer and a number of other cancer risks have decreased.

Despite the harmful effects of smoking and the health benefits of quitting, some smokers never overcome their harmful addiction. For the most part, this is because they’ve never seriously made a decision to quit. Other smokers are afraid to experience withdrawal symptoms or give up the smoking habit. However, quitting smoking does not have to be the difficult process that makes so many smokers reluctant to even attempt quitting. Hypnotherapy provides a very simple, natural method of quitting.

Hypnosis for quitting smoking is an effective implement for killing cravings for cigarettes, providing powerful motivation, and promoting relaxation and stress relief to completely eliminate the psychological component of the smoking habit. Stop smoking hypnosis techniques can be learned from specialized self-hypnosis CDs that have been developed after decades of using hypnosis, Neuro-VISION video hypnotherapy, and NLP to get people to give up smoking.

Hypnosis CDs make it easy to stop smoking completely because they break the smoking compulsion in a process that helps obliterate cravings and the desire to smoke. Whatever your motivation is for breaking the habit, hypnosis and NLP makes it easier to focus your mind on these reasons, which makes you feel a strong urge to quit. Quit smoking hypnosis CDs eliminate the compulsion to smoke. Even though quitting smoking can be a painful and unsuccessful experience for some, those who use self hypnosis CDs have a far greater percentage of success because it makes the process a ’slam-dunk’. Hypnosis is the most effective method for smoke cessation.

Ukrainians were to vote on January 17th 2010 for a new president. However the Ukrainian Parliament voted overwhelmingly on April 1st 2009, to keep the presidential elections on October 25 2009, three months ahead of the end of President Viktor Yushchenko’s first term of office.

Why did the parliament vote for this early election date? There are more than one answer to this. The front runners for president see a threat in a new rising candidate which will gain by more time, and they want to cut him short of this so he does not win to much votes. Another explanation is that the Ukrainian politicians up till now have not shown much strategic leadership and lack of crisis management, and this is not only limited to the top leaders in Ukraine, but the whole parliament.

Ukraine is in a need for a change in political leadership as the present leadership consisting of the president and prime minister does not provide the leadership Ukraine needs at this moment.

Ukraine present political crisis is a struggle between two heads of power and Ukraine’s future as a European Parliamentary Democracy. In addition there is an ambitious opposition with the party of regions leader, who will do his best to get into power, mostly because of personal ambitions. An opposition leader which has a scandal filled background in Ukrainian politics.

Razumkov Center performed a poll in the period from February 2th until March 5th 2009 revealed six potential presidential alternatives amongst the population, these were;

Viktor Yanukovych,

Yulia Tymoshenko,

Arseniy Yatseniuk,

Volodymyr Lytvyn,

Petro Symonenko, and

Viktor Yuschenko

Amongst these candidates there is only one real choice for a visionary leadership which will contribute to form the independent strong Ukraine which gives the population hopes for the future.

This candidate is the 34 year old economist and lawyer Arseniy Yatseniuk.

He is the candidate which has risen fastest in popularity in the last few months and gains terrain towards his opponents for every day towards the presidential election in January 2010. The other candidates have not demonstrated the ability to unite Ukraine either in power position, nor as opposition politicians. More of the same medicine will not work any longer for Ukraine. Like the international crisis, there is a need for new tools that will prevent Ukraine having the same problems over and over again.

ARSENIY YATSENIUK STANDS FOR BUILDING A NEW UNITED UKRAINE

Arseniy Yatseniuk can build a new sense of national unity that will bring relatively scandal free politics forward and he represent the next generation of a new post-partisan Ukrainian leadership.

He represents the transformational figure which emerges in the Ukrainian political landscape that captures the imagination and majority of Ukrainian voters towards the January 2010 national elections.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk is the one leader who is uniquely positioned to save Ukraine from itself. His meteoric rise is altering the political terrain of the upcoming elections in Ukraine.

Since Yatsenyuk has entered the race, he will have a challenging race towards presidency. But he can also campaign and spur optimism in Ukraine and bring hope back to the distressed population.

Ukraine is required to present balanced governmental budgets. The president must ensure that all politicians, regardless of fraction work together towards a common goal – saving Ukraine. In order to achieve this the new leader must be ready to take actions within the energy politics, especially Naftogas and its inability to present positive capital results as well as be able to open up its operations to be able to control its use of capital. Another issue the president needs to take care of is to handle the level of corruption in Ukraine.

Yushenko and Tymochenko have demonstrated lack of coherent leadership and ability to present a common political platform. They have therefore as I see it, disqualified themselves as candidates to be the needed future visionary political presidential leader of Ukraine.

The apparent lack of proper political craftsmanship in the formation of the Orange Coalition between Yushenko and Tymoshenko has lead to disagreement on virtually everything since they took the power in 2004.

The inability of the opposition leaders to present a real alternative to the present day leadership also disqualifies them from taking part in the new leadership of Ukraine. Today the major opposition party, party of regions is more occupied with criticize the existing government and president for not making a crisis plan and anti-crisis solutions, instead of cooperate with the leadership to create one.

BUILDING A UNITED UKRAINE WITH A VISIONARY MODERN LEADER

The new President to be elected in October 25th needs the trust by vast numbers of Ukrainians and not seen as part of the problem and not fatigued by a constant fighting within the political leader collegium’s of the President, Prime Minister and the chairman of Verkhovna Rada. The new Ukrainian leader must muster enough parliamentary seats and nationwide support to forge an effective coalition government and lead a genuine reform movement.

Yanukovych is facing a backlash in his party and polls for fumbling the last attempt to depose Timoshenko from the prime ministers office.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk can break out as a uniting force to save Ukraine.

The political fighting between Yushenko, Yanukovych and Tymoshenko demonstrate their inabilities in proper visionary political leadership on the cost of retaining personal powers.

Ukraine is sinking and Yatsenyuk’s poll numbers and popularity are rising.

As a former banker, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Speaker of the parliament, the 34 year-old Yatsenyuk is experienced and respected in Ukraine’s political arena. He is young, relatively scandal free and has the best chance to represent the next generation of a new post-partisan Ukrainian leadership.

Yatsenyuk represent the sober visionary leader who can impart a new sense of realism that implores Ukraine to clean up its own financial house.

He has charisma enough to inspire Ukrainians to take their destiny in their own hands and not look to Europe or Russia for salvation or blame them when things go wrong.

He must challenge the reign in Ukraine’s oligarchs who have ravaged the country in the same way that Russia’s oligarchs did during the transition from state ownership to free enterprise.

Yatsenyuk has the ability to craft a sensible forward-leaning Ukrainian energy policy that modernizes its infrastructure, energy policy reforms and restores its credibility in Europe.

Yatsenyuk articulate a vision that bridges the cultural and religious divide between Ukraine and Russian nationals.

He has demonstrated the capability to lead a parliament to get things done, and should therefore be able to govern a parliament with a significant numbers of members from the Tymoshenko Bloc and the Regions Party on his side.

The Ukrainian people are in a desperate search for new leadership as his political rival’s incessant infighting makes him a more attractive alternative.

POLITICAL STRATEGY – CHANGE UKRAINE THROUGH ITS CITIZENS

Yatsenyuk gives a clear and compelling vision of a new Ukraine, and a new theory of nation-building that departs with the failed attempts of the past.

Yatsenyuk has the ability to find alliances that will assist him in rise funding for his campaign for his newly formed party called Change Front Citizens Initiative.

Yatsenyuk will form a program for Ukraine’s resurrection.

His political strategy will be innovative, and be the consensus in the Ukrainian population as well as within the political circles. His party will present solutions that not only split the political difference between the major parties, but being radical pragmatists proposing solutions that benefit all Ukrainians struggling under severe economic conditions. He will not allow his party to become a soft centrist alternative which tries to be all things to all Ukrainians.

Yatsenyuk is seen as a political threat to established politicians like Yanukovych, and Tymoshenko, who have started attacking Yatsenyuk instead of ignoring him. This will provide an excellent development that provides him greater opportunities to highlight policy differences and new reforms, rather than engaging in personal smears.

Yatsenyuk can and will have to be tough in taking on his detractors; he cannot be equally as dirty.

Yatsenyuk stated recently: “I have ambitions as a politician – I want to change entire country and I do not want to change the National Bank”.

Yatsenyuk’s new organization the Change Front Citizens Initiative will build its own independent base of disaffected citizens and Ukraine’s youth that are anchored to his core vision. He will break off sections of Ukraine’s other major and minor parties on principle and policy to forge a winning coalition as the January 17 elections draw near.

Yatsenyuk’s path to victory will be the end of the political rancor between the Region’s Party and the Tymoshenko Bloc, and build a new sense of national unity.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk represents the change that will build the modern democratic Ukraine with the initiative of the Ukrainians themselves.

Copyright (c) 2008 Jackson Kern

The subtle difference between pure social development and social-political sustainability is very central to the pursuit of sustainable development. Just as economic development accomplishes little if the achievements heralded are unsustainable, so too must social enrichment go hand in hand with a concerted effort to ensure its persistent viability.

Open, contested political arenas offer the only means to this endarenas that are contested by you. These three phenomena endanger the sustainability of our social-political processes; they beg our devoted attention.

1. The most insidious danger of all is that of prevalent political apathy. If the population at large cannot be convinced that its fate is sufficiently at stake to engage itself actively, then all hope surely is lost. The causes of apathy are many; clearly the simplest is inner-focused individuals who are more concerned with personal than societal enrichment, or who believe that the benefits derived from social engagement will not be commensurate with the time and resources invested. This phenomenon can be likened to game theory and political science notions of the “tragedy of the commons”. A related cause of political apathy is blind faith in social and political institutions. But we must remember Sartre’s espousal of the one who “is loyal to a political and social ensemble, and who never ceases to contest it”. There is no contradiction in believing that a nation’s social and political processes are the best ever conceived by mankind, and still rising every morning to challenge them. Indeed, this is the very essence of democracy.

2. The existence of social inertia is different from apathy. We human beings are creatures of habit. Even when informed and acknowledging of specific problems, we can be resistant to the specter of addressing them aggressively via political mechanisms if so doing entails a rupture with time-honored cultural tradition. In a 2006 poll, eighty-five percent of Americans indicated their belief that global warming is “probably happening”, while half asserted that the issue of global warming is “extremely important” to them. Yet the ubiquity of single-occupant vehicles on America’s highways remains undiminished.

3. When the general populace is involved and engaged, this can often pose problems of social-political inefficiency. This issue can be particularly acute in nations which are large in population and geography. An inability to reach consensus can sometimes lead to paralysis. Under an autocratic establishment, the government can execute changes to social-political institutions with an alacrity that is sometimes enviable. But this, of course, is not consultative; sustainability of the social-political dimension is only ensured in the long run if it is reflective of the collective will. A different sort of social-political inefficiency arises when there is no obstruction to consensus but when channels for initiating change (particularly in the judiciary) are constrained, convoluted or overloaded.

Political apathy and social inertia can only be combated in ongoing daily efforts to inform, arouse and provoke. Happily, social-political inefficiency can be addressed more methodically. Governments, businesses, non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations alter and influence the state of our social and natural environment every day. Actors which seek to bridge the gap between these entities and the general populace and to facilitate their interaction, aided by extraordinary new technologies of participation, have a grand role to play in the future of social-political sustainability.

An evocation of these challenges would not be complete without a consideration of the dynamic interactions the social-political domain engenders with other elements of sustainable development. Economics is the science of resource allocation, the study of the ways in which we satisfy human wants and needs. No human need is more fundamental than that of nourishment. In a revealing illustration of the interdependence of sustainable development’s three constituent parts, rising world food prices now pose a grave threat to social-political sustainability around the globe. One need only turn to recent social unrest and political instability in Haiti, Egypt and the Philippines to be assured of that. These rising prices stem from uncertainties regarding the sustainability of our agricultural processes. To be specific, some have very explicitly cited efforts in the West to subsidize and encourage biofuels production as a leading inflationary factor (though burgeoning middle classes in India and China seem surely to be responsible for other upward price pressures). And all this as the viability of biofuels falls under a penetrating scrutiny.

These challenges of social-political sustainability will remain inextricably bound to the future of sustainability as an enterprise.

One topic that causes great debate is smoking. Like marmite you either love it or hate it. As you are aware, the UK government introduced a new policy earlier this year regarding smoking in public places, i.e. you can’t. So what effect has this had on the cruise industry? Like most things in life, it varies. On some cruise lines smoking is permitted in staterooms/cabins, in others it isn’t. To help you out, here’s our comprehensive guide to current smoking policies on the major cruise lines.

Azamara

Simply put, you can get your fix onboard Azamara’s ships in the aft section of the Looking Glass Lounge on the port side and on the starboard forward section of the Pool Deck. Otherwise, no smoking anywhere else.

Carnival

Smokers can delight in the fact that smoking is permitted on one side of the ship in bars, lounges and open decks, as well as in cabins (including balconies). Remember though, restaurants, theatres and the indoor aft pool (on ships that serve food there) are non-smoking.

Celebrity Cruises

Whilst you won’t be able to light up in your staterooms from January 2008, you will be allowed to smoke on the veranda/balcony if your stateroom has one. As for public areas, smoking is not allowed in hallways, corridors, restaurants, or entertainment venues and one bar or lounge per ship will be non-smoking only. You won’t be banished outside altogether though as there are designated smoking areas in many of the ships’ lounges. If the weather’s good, head out to the starboard outer decks for the views and a quick fix. A word of caution, if you do smoke where you shouldn’t, cleaning charges will be added to your account.

Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises may once have had a reputation for being very smoky, but now the main restaurants and show lounges are smoke free. There are assigned areas for smoking in the lounges and bars, and a plus for smokers is that some cabins are designated for you. If you like feeling the wind in your hair, you can also light up on the open decks.

Crystal

Cigarette smokers will be pleased to know that at present you can smoke in staterooms and corridors as well as in the designated areas in most bars and lounges. Make a note though that The Bistro, inside the Lido Café, the Crystal Dining Room, Prego, Jade Garden, Silk Road, The Sushi Bar restaurants and the Galaxy Lounge are entirely smoke-free.

If you smoke a pipe or cigars, however, you are limited to the Connoisseur Club, and on the “open decks,” except all areas of Lido Deck (deck 11 on Crystal Symphony, and deck 12 on Crystal Serenity).

Cunard

Now pay attention and read carefully as the smoking policy varies from ship to ship! First the easy bit – smoking is allowed in staterooms onboard all three ships (Queen Mary 2, QE2 and Queen Victoria). You can begin taking notes now! All restaurants on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria are non-smoking, whilst there are smoking sections in all restaurants, apart from the Princess Grill, on the QE2. Elsewhere, the starboard side areas of the public bars and lounges (where possible) on the QE2 and Queen Mary 2 are designated smoking areas. The Queen Victoria does have designated smoking areas in Churchill’s Cigar Lounge and the Empire Casino, whilst outside smoking is only allowed on the starboard side of deck 3 as well as the forward and aft areas of deck 10.

As for pipes and cigars, these can be smoked each evening in the Churchill’s Cigar Lounge onboard Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, and the Chart Room, Golden Lion and designated areas of the Crystal bar aboard QE2.

I hope you got all that – I might test you later!

Disney

You may not be able to smoke inside the cabin itself, but you can pop onto the verandah of your stateroom to indulge. Inside, feel free to light up within Sessions (Disney Magic®), The Cadillac Lounge (Disney Wonder®), and at the bar area in Diversions on both ships. If you like a bit of sea air, you can smoke on the open decks, except near Mickey’s Pool.

Fred.Olsen

You need to make notes again as the smoking policy onboard Fred.Olsen cruises varies slightly from ship to ship. You can smoke cigarettes in cabins (although the company does ask passengers to refrain from doing so when possible) onboard all ships apart from the Boudicca, which has non-smoking cabins throughout, and Black Watch where you can smoke in the cabins apart from the forward suites on Deck 9.

Like most other ships, all restaurants are strictly non-smoking, so make sure you get your fix before dinner in the bars/lounges listed below:

Braemar - Skylark Lounge

Black Watch - Observatory (portside) Lido Lounge (portside) and the Pipers Bar

Boudicca - Observatory (starboard) Lido Lounge (starboard) and the Iceni Room

Black Prince - Lido Lounge (portside)

Fortune favours cigarettes I’m afraid, so you’ll have to leave cigars and pipes at home as they are not allowed onboard.

Holland America Line

You’ll need to have a smoke in one of the designated smoking areas (available in most lounges) before having dinner or seeing a show as all restaurants and showrooms are non-smoking. There aren’t any “nonsmoking” staterooms, but non-smokers are assured that cabins are thoroughly cleaned after each cruise for your comfort.

Hurtigruten

An easy one to remember – you can only smoke outside on deck, so pray for good weather!

MSC

No smoking in cabins or on balconies, please, but join fellow smokers in the Cigar Rooms, the Casinos and one dedicated lounge inside. If you like watching the world go by you can smoke outside on one side of the sun deck.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Cigarette smokers have a choice of smoking in staterooms, balconies, casino or Cigar Bar (where available). Or, if you prefer pipes or cigars, you can head off to the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. You can also smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks as long as it’s not around the food venues, on sports decks or jogging areas, kids’ pool areas and other designated non-smoking areas. Better check how big the open decks are!

Ocean Village

Being a UK company, this one surprised me a bit - smoking is allowed in cabins (including cabin balconies). Elsewhere you can light up on some areas of the open decks, in the casino on certain evenings and in designated smoking areas of one or two public rooms.

Oceania

Cigarette smokers can choose from the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck or the aft, port corner of Horizons, whilst cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the forward starboard corner of the Pool Deck. Anywhere else is out of bounds and be warned - anyone who smokes where they shouldn’t will be disembarked at the next port of call and may also be subject to additional fees to cover the costs associated with any damage to and the required cleaning of furnishings, verandas and surrounding deck and accommodation areas.

P&O

Another surprise – you can light up in cabins (including cabin balconies). Certain areas of the open decks and designated areas of one or two public rooms are also available for smokers. All other areas are smoke free.

Peter Deilmann

Another easy one to remember - as from January 2008, smoking is only allowed on the open decks on all Peter Deilmann vessels. Start praying for good weather again.

Princess

Princess is another cruise line where you can currently smoke in the staterooms to your delight or annoyance. As for public areas, smoking is not allowed in the dining rooms, other food service areas, show lounges or theatres. All other public areas have smoking and non-smoking areas.

Generally, cigar or pipe smoking is limited to designated outdoor areas at the stern of the ship, but there are designated cigar smoking areas inside too. For example, Coral and Island Princess feature Churchill’s Cigar and Spirits Lounge, while Diamond and Sapphire Princess feature Churchill’s Cigar and Sports Bar.

Regent Seven Seas

Notebooks at the ready please! From 21st December 2007 on Voyager, Mariner and Navigator and from 29th December 2007 on Paul Gauguin, smoking is not allowed in all suites, staterooms and balconies. All enclosed dining areas are non-smoking, but you can have a cigarette in designated areas of the outdoor Pool Grills. Other than open deck areas, the following are the only public rooms or areas where cigarette smoking is now permitted:

Seven Seas Voyager: Connoisseur Club, Casino, Voyager Lounge (designated area), Horizon Lounge (outside area only), Pool Bar

Seven Seas Mariner: Connoisseur Club, Casino, Horizon Lounge (outside area only), Stars Nightclub (designated area), Pool Bar

Seven Seas Navigator: Connoisseur Club, Casino, Stars Lounge (designated area), Galileo’s (outside area only), Pool Bar

Paul Gauguin: La Palette (outside area only), Le Grill (designated area), Pool Bar

Explorer II: Smoking Lounge on Bridge Deck

Pipes and cigars are only allowed in the Connoisseur Club aboard Voyager, Mariner and Navigator, with cigar smokers having the added advantage of being able to indulge in designated area of the Pool Bar area aboard all four vessels.

Like some of the other cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas is taking a tough stance against passengers who don’t follow the rules – they will be asked to leave the ship at their expense, without refund or credit for the unused portion of their cruise. You have been warned!

Royal Caribbean

From January 2008 you can’t smoke in staterooms, although if you have a balcony or veranda you can light up there. Ignore this at your peril as a $250 cleaning fee will be added to the accounts of any guests who smoke or allow smoking in their non-smoking staterooms. On the plus side, depending on your point of view, there are designated smoking areas in many of the lounges and on designated open air decks.

This policy is across all Royal Caribbean ships from January 2008 with the exception of Legend, Rhapsody and Splendour Of The Seas, who will adopt this policy around April 2008.

Seabourn

Not many place for cigarette smokers to choose from as the Restaurant, Veranda Café, Restaurant “2” (inside and outside), main show Lounge (during performances and lectures), starboard side in the Observation Lounge and The Club, and the ship’s elevators are out of bounds to you. Saying that, there’s no mention of not being able to smoke cigarettes in staterooms.

As for pipe and cigar smokers, sorry to tell you that you’re limited to an area of the Sky Bar after dinner only.

Silversea

Silversea is one of the slightly less restrictive cruise lines as smoking is allowed in cabins and you can smoke cigarettes in designated areas of The Bar, outside at the Terrace Café, Pool area, Panorama Lounge, Casino Bar and The Humidor (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper). Cigar and pipe smoking is permitted in designated areas outside at the Terrace Café, The Champagne Room (Silver Cloud and Silver Wind) and in The Humidor (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper). All other public areas, such as Le Champagne, Show Lounge and library are non-smoking.

Swan Hellenic

Short and sweet (depending on your view) – you can only smoke in the designated “smoking room” or designated areas on the open decks. Better check what the weather’s going to be like at your chosen time of year before booking.

Thomson

You can smoke in your cabins, but Thomson (and non-smokers) would rather you didn’t. The main restaurants and show lounges are non-smoking throughout whilst the bars are divided into smoking and non-smoking sections.

Transocean

As with many other cruise lines, smoking is not allowed in cabins or the restaurants, but, there are designated smoking areas around the ships, so all is not lost.

Travelscope

Smoking is not permitted in the cabins or anywhere else inside apart the Disco and at designated tables in the Sky Bar where you can have a cigarette. Meanwhile, outside on the open decks, cigarette, pipe and cigar smokers can join up although during deck buffet times smoking is not permitted on deck 7 aft around the pool or buffet area.

So there you have it – a comprehensive guide to where you can and cannot smoke on ex UK cruises. However, the above policies are subject to revision in order to comply with UK health legislation, the intention of which (when fully implemented) is that the smoke free provisions of The Health Act 2006 will apply to all cruise ships when they are arriving or departing from a UK port and while within UK territorial waters. We’ll keep you posted.