Star Princess fire update

Initial speculation on the cause of the March 23 fire oboard Star Princess centered around a cigarette discarded onto a balcony. Princess has confirmed half of that theory, announcing that the fire indeed started on a passenger balcony. But a "definitive cause" awaits further investigation.

The consensus in the cruise industry has been surprise that a major fire could ignite on the outside of a ship, and spread there. Our observation is that it stands to reason that saltwater-resistant marine paint, of which most ships have many coats, could burn. Princess announced that going forward it will maintain a 24-hour fire watch of balconies, among other procedural changes meant to minimize risks, but did not forbid smoking on balconies.

In the wake of this fire, Oceania Cruises tightened their already-strict onboard smoking policies, not only forbidding smoking in staterooms and on balconies, but also promising that under "zero tolerance" passengers who flout the rule will be put ashore at the next port.