Cruise Ship Turns Kids Play Area into Smoking Zone
One mother did not have the family-friendly cruise she was hoping for onboard Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess.
The experienced cruiser, who goes by Juliet, shares the good and the bad of her travel experiences on her Instagram (@mumatsea). On April 20, 2025, she posted a rather disappointing update for families concerning an outdoor play area.
Per her account, the small play area, which is meant to allow small kids to climb and slide their energy away, has been closed due to its proximity to a smoking area.
“We recently asked staff why children were not allowed to use this climbing area and slide in the kids’ club area, and we’re stunned at the response,” Juliet wrote.
“Sky Princess’ dedicated smoking area has been placed directly behind the low metal fencing of this playground, so they are not allowed to use this facility at all,” she continued.
It’s not safe for kids to play near smokers as it can aggravate allergies and conditions like asthma, put them at risk for respiratory diseases, and even inhibit lung growth with prolonged exposure.
Juliet expressed her disbelief: “Can you believe this is acceptable on a cruise line who prides themselves in family-friendly? What would you think if your child couldn’t play in a dedicated park as it was prioritised to smokers?”
Princess Cruises has not yet issued a statement on this matter, and it’s unclear at this time if the change is permanent or temporary.
Regardless, the change seems unexpected and sudden, as others who have sailed on the 3,660-guest Sky Princess in the recent past saw the play area very much in use.
“Wow what a silly place to put a smoking area. I would not be impressed if my kids couldn’t use it. When did they put that in place? Last year on our ship visit this was in use,” one person who sailed in 2024 commented.
Others in the comments section also expressed similar disbelief that the decision would be made to close a kid’s area in favor of smokers.
But at the same time, there was no way to make everyone happy. For example, if the designated outdoor smoking area had been closer to the pools, loungers and swimmers would likely complain about the smell – as has happened on Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas.
And as unfortunate as it may be, adults using the pools and smoking area likely make up a much more significant portion of Princess Cruises’ clientele than the toddlers and small children who would be able to use the play area – so this decision may have been the lesser of two evils.
Is Princess Prioritizing Adults?
Adding insult to injury, Juliet also noticed that a sign was put up in front of “the shallower 1m pool saying adults only.” With both of these changes made back-to-back, it’s easy to wonder if Princess Cruises is putting more emphasis on prioritizing its adult guests.
The 145,281-gross ton ship has four pools onboard – one of which is already connected to the adults-only Sanctuary area.
Sky Princess also doesn’t feature kid favorites like water slides that you’ll find on ships operated by more family-friendly brands, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Cruise Line.
That said, the ship does have a dedicated family splash zone with interactive features, including a giant whale that showers and sprays kids of all ages from its spout.
Read Also: What Cruise Activities Are Popular for Kids?
It’s also worth noting, that like the rest of the fleet, Sky Princess has kids and teen clubs that separate minors by age to keep them entertained throughout the duration of the voyage.
There is a youth center for babies and toddlers between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old. Then, kids between the ages of 3 to 7 are assigned to The Treehouse area and kids between the ages of 8 to 12 are invited to hang out in The Lodge.
Qualified counselors lead age appropriate activities, such as competitions, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and different types of games.
There is also a contemporary teen club, known as The Beach House, for older kids between the ages of 13 and 17. This area is designed for more aged up activities such as socialization, movie nights, parties, and dance classes.
When I was growing up, I had the chance to try out the kid and teen clubs on multiple Princess cruise ships while sailing with my parents – and I can confirm that I was never bored.