Cigar Smoking on HAL

[Sea is Calling]

My DH and I are new to HAL and are looking forward to our cruise.:o Our circle of friends enjoy a good cigar every now and again, and look forward to sharing this experience when we cruise. We mentioned to our friends we had booked HAL and we were told ( quite loudly I might add ) that women are NOT welcome in the smoking lounge on HAL. They stated that the men in the lounge regard females smoking cigars as obtrusive and non-lady like. My friend and her DH were so upset by the unwelcome they perceived, they went so far as to only smoke in their balcony room. My DH and I will NOT smoke in the room. Not only is it against the Cruise lines regulations but common courtesy dictates that behavior to be unfavorable to others. That is why my DH and I go to the casino or lounge to enjoy our cigars.

 

I find it hard to believe that a women smoking a cigar would cause outrage with HAL passengers purley because of her gender. I wanted to get other HAL cruisers feedback on this and also let my circle of friends know what the boards say.

 

It is possible that my friends experience is based on an individual on their cruise who was not happy about her being in the lounge,and she then assigned that single passengers attitude to all HAL passengers. I however was not there so must take her and her DH word about their accounts of what occurred.

 

Please , if there are any fellow Cigar aficionados who cruise HAL please let me know of your experience with women in the smoking lounge.

 

Thank you and happy cruising.

[kakalina]

I have seen women partaking of cigars during the "Cigars under the Stars" each night on the aft Lido deck. I know they can be smoked outside at any time in a designated smoking area.

 

I don't think HAL allows the smoking of cigars inside any of the public rooms, even where there is a smoking section.

[Sea is Calling]

Thank you Kakalina! Perhaps her smoking inside was the cause of her experience, not her gender. :D I can see if she and her DH were smoking indoors where it was not allowed, the looks directed their way may not be very nice at all.

[bakerintn]

No personal experience with this.... but I would think that any cigar afficiando would respect any other like-minded person. But, I know that HAL still attracts those who could be considered snobs on various topics (dress, food service, general decorum, thong bathing suits, etc) , so I wouldn't be surprised if a lady in the cigar room might get negative vibes from one or more males in there.

[pipedreams62]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1061867

[rotaryscotty]

Just want to correct one comment: HAL DOES allow smoking in all staterooms. As it says in their policy, they have NO nonsmoking staterooms, they simply work hard at eliminating the odor before the next guests board ship.

 

Now, regarding cigar smoking: We are snobs about cigar smoking. But not about women smoking them- everyone I know loves women joining in. Believe it or not, we are snobs against cigarette smoking. Just like Bill Clinton's claim, WE do not inhale. (that's right, you really aren't supposed to inhale a cigar)

 

We hate cigarette smoking and everything it causes. Thankfully, no one (that I know of) adds nicotine to cigars to cause you to develop the habit, so cancer among cigar smokers is minimal compared to cigarette smokers.

 

So YEA to cigars, BOO cigarettes!!!

 

By the way, be very careful of those "bargain" cuban cigars in Mexico. If it's too good a bargain they just aren't real. If in doubt, pick up one of the cigars and roll it between your fingers. If it's soft and mushy it's not a real cuban, or even of reasonable quality. A hand rolled cigar should be firm and tight, like a.....whoops, there I go starting to sound like Bill Clinton again.

[E-500]

I have seen women partaking of cigars during the "Cigars under the Stars" each night on the aft Lido deck. I know they can be smoked outside at any time in a designated smoking area.

 

I don't think HAL allows the smoking of cigars inside any of the public rooms, even where there is a smoking section.

 

Kakalina is right on, your friends are misinformed. No cigars inside except in your cabin. Frequently have had women join us on the lido for CUS, no issues, love to have them join us. Balcony is a good option also if you have one.