You just can't control the passengers, though. I really think that smoking should be far more controlled onboard, the way I've heard that it is on Oceania. I don't remember the specifics, but I recall reading that they don't allow smoking in the cabins at all, or even on the balconies -- that smoking is only allowed in designated areas on the ship. Is that accurate? If so, even though it's clearly a bit of a hardship for smokers, it's a whole lot better than having to worry about someone who imbibed a bit too much at the casino falling asleep in bed with a lit cig, putting the rest of the passenger's lives in danger. I think it's a small price for smokers to pay for safety.

While this incident is truly devastating, I do hope that it inspires some new smoking policies on the cruiselines.