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Wednesday July 8, 1:43 pm Eastern Time

Smoking ban a drag on cruise ship group sales

MIAMI, July 8 (Reuters) - A pioneering no-smoking policy for Carnival Corp.'s (CCL - news) new $325 million Paradise cruise ship is hurting bookings for groups, according to travel agents and the company.

``It's no surprise but group sales for the Paradise are about 20 percent (of bookings). Usually they run about 35 percent,'' said Tim Gallagher, spokesman for Carnival, the biggest cruise-ship operator in the world.

The no-smoking policy appeals to many individuals and families and overall sales for the 2,040-passenger Paradise, due to begin regular Caribbean runs from Miami on Dec. 6, were strong, Gallagher said.

Cruise Weekly, a trade newsletter, said travel agents were disappointed by group sales for Paradise, the first smoke-free cruise ship.

``The problem is any group of 100 people will, on average, have 25 smokers,'' Cruise Weekly said.

Carnival Cruise now operates 13 ships, which allow smoking except in dining and entertainment rooms, Gallagher said.

More Quotes and News:Carnival Corp (NYSE:CCL - news)
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