Ok, here's where I disagree.
I don't disagree at all. The guy probably did get put off for smoking, which is fine if he was told about the ship's policy before he booked. And he probably was - Carnival has a good reputation for being clear about ship's policies.
I'm a regular cruiser on Crystal myself and have sailed Cunard when I'm feeling flush, but I sailed on the Carnival Victory a couple of years ago (won the cruise on a game show) and didn't mind it.
The cruise ship had a zero tolerance policy. This was doubtlessly made very clear before he boarded, and I'd wager that it was also prominently displayed as such before he bought his tickets.
Yes.
If I book a cruise on a non-alcoholic cruise (does one exist?), and I tried to smuggle some beer on board; I would expect the same treatment.
I wish that Carnival had a "no snotty hyperhormonal 15 year old brats running up and down the hallways in the berthing areas at 3AM" cruise (which is why I enjoy Crystal so much and probably won't seek out another Carnival cruise). As for the non-alcoholic cruise, it would be no skin off my nose as I don't drink that much and could easily respect a dry cruise. However, I think Carnival learned their lesson about "triangulation" of passenger choices by their experience with the non-smoking ship and probably won't offer a non-drinking cruise as a result. But who knows - if there's a market for it they'll probably do it.
BINGO!! LOL
Like I've indicated before, I have never been on a cruise --- yet. But I have done DisneyWorld in Florida. For exactly the reason you list above, I make it a point to stay at the better on-site resorts. I have taken my family to WDW 2x, and have been there quite a few times (7-8) in the past 10 years. (Before I got married) I have yet to have an unpleasant experience. Which makes it easy to want to return year after year - despite my wife getting sick of going back.
One of the high points to WDW is very similar to the cruise. I like the fact that you KNOW how much your vacation is going to cost up front. You pay that amount before you leave, and anything extra is entirely manageable while you are there. I've been on vacations where I 'thought' I had budgeted generously, only to find out that I was way off; then spent the remainder of my vacation stressed about the cash flow such that I was more stressed coming home, than I was going out.