What kind of "-free" cruise would you want?
(CNN) -- From stem to stern, from port to starboard, there are no ifs, ands or "butts" about it: The cruise ship Paradise, which began sailing from Miami this week, is smoke-free, meaning passengers are strictly forbidden from lighting up anywhere on board.
"They sign a full disclosure; they understand that it's a non-smoking vessel, and there will be no recourse to them if they are found smoking on board -- they will be escorted off," said Bob Dickinson, president of Carnival Cruise Lines.
You're more likely to spot land from this ship than to spot an ashtray -- even in the bar, the casino and the staff-only areas. Crew members are also prohibited from smoking.
Carnival said it decided to build the ship after an in-house survey found that 75 percent of its passengers claim to be non-smokers.
"Initially when I heard about it, I was wondering if they could actually get enough people on a regular basis to fill the ship," said one passenger. "But from what I'm hearing, they don't have any problem filling this (ship) whatsoever."
Carnival admitted some travel agents have been wary of booking groups that may have some members who smoke. But Dickinson said other groups are embracing the concept enthusiastically.
"We've had a tremendous increase in groups from American Lung, American Cancer Society and American Heart," he said.
Surprisingly, there were some smokers aboard the cruise CNN visited. For them, "cold turkey" meant more than a midnight snack at the buffet line. But at least one smoker was taking it in stride -- for the time being.
"It doesn't bother me," said the passenger. "Not yet -- it's only been an hour. I'll just probably have to drink a lot."
Lucky for him, the bar is open.
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