Smoking on HAL

[mudscraper]

I think he means HAL ships are full of old farts.

HAL documents reveal that the longest continuous flatulence event occured on the Veendam in 2008 when 83 year old Ms. Susan Pipesusha cut loose with a 14 stepper while walking through the casino on her way to coverall bingo.

[erewhon]

If the comments from p4b were correct, why not reply to my questions?

 

At which port did the friends try to leave the ship?

[m steve]

Should HAL allow farting on their ships? only in cabins/ on balconies? or in selected lounges? or the Casino?

[GeriatricNurse]

Should HAL allow farting on their ships? only in cabins/ on balconies? or in selected lounges? or the Casino?

 

 

HAL should only allow farting on the balconies!:)

[CtheW0rld]

HAL should only allow farting on the balconies!:)

 

NO! on the world cruise, i couldn't use my balcony for the entire 110 days because someone was over there farting 24/7. :eek: even though the ship was doing 21 knots, and i was upwind from them i could still smell it. i tried to move, but was told there is only one penthouse suite per ship.

[E-500]

HAL should only allow farting on the balconies!:)

 

Why do you always "shout" in your posts?:confused:

[Boytjie]

HAL should only allow farting on the balconies!:)

 

Farting should be restricted to the poop deck. ;)

[CDiamond]

I loved the "poop deck" answer.:) I say restrict it to the casino because between that and smoking I wouldn't go in there and I would save money! LOL

[rpach10115]

See, isn't this a much more plesant thread talking about farting than doing the somke/no smoke debate all over again? I see that there are many more responses that are more intellegiant about farting than there are about smoking/no smoking.:p

 

BTW, I LOVED the responses about the old farts, Windbags, and the poop deck. Priceless! I wish I would have thought of those responses. I would have put them in my original post.

[suse]

HAL documents reveal that the longest continuous flatulence event occured on the Veendam in 2008 when 83 year old Ms. Susan Pipesusha cut loose with a 14 stepper while walking through the casino on her way to coverall bingo.

This gets my vote of best response of the week. Imagine that! Or not.:eek:

[krewzin]

 

 

And I am an ex-smoker that can smell it miles away.

 

 

 

 

I'm not easily impressed, but I find this to be absolutely incredible that you can do this. A shark for instance, can detect one drop of blood in a million drops of water and can smell this blood from 0.25 mile away!

If you can smell smoke from 'miles......' you sir, are somebody who needs to contact, and go to work for the DEA.

 

 

 

 

Good Lord!! I don't smoke, don't like the smell of it, and I STILL think the endless anti-smoking threads are redundant, tiresome, and whiney.

 

 

 

So, because someone doesn't like the smell of something that could potentially be hazardous to their health....and posts about their feelings on a message board with the name 'Cruise Critic,' , you label them as 'whiney?'

 

Folks here are entitled to post their opinion without being subjected to name-calling. If you find them so 'redundant and tiresome'.....why (continue to) read and post in them?

 

 

 

The last X cruise we were on there were smokers on the balcony next to ours... you really think they enforce these rules?

 

 

 

Yes, absolutely. I've seen it first hand.

 

 

 

 

 

The difference is, I dont complain because I don't care.

Most of it just goes out into the sea air....

 

 

 

You go girl. The amount of smoke doesn't always 'just blow by.' It's contingent on many factors of which I don't think I have to detail.

 

 

 

 

But people live to gripe, I suppose. You want to switch to another cruise line? It won't hurt HAL's feelings and it won't hurt mine. I find whiners harder to deal with than smokers, but hey, that's just me.

 

 

 

Yes, people 'live to gripe.':rolleyes:

Can you see the irony here as you yourself are whining, about people who post that they do not care for inhaling second-hand smoke?

 

Sheesh. -Pot....meet kettle.

[mtwingcpa]

A cruise ship, for the most part, sails in international waters. HAL ships are registered in Holland. Depending on the time of year and itinerary many go for great lengths of time without entering an American port. Other than Alaskan cruises most American ports are for embarkation and disembarkation only. Is it fair to think that American regulations is how they should govern themselves? Always?

 

As I understand it, ships that regularly embark and disembark in American ports ARE subject to a host of US and Canadian laws. These include food service regulations, Coast Guard safety regulations, and so forth. And THOSE particular regulations don't become "void" the moment said ships cross over into international waters. (For example, the temperature of the tea served in the dining room, or the degree of doneness for burgers, or the temperature inside the refrigerators, etc., isn't changed.)

 

So, yes, I believe that passengers from the US who purchase tickets in the US, from a cruise line headquartered in the US (regardless of the "flag of convenience" on the ship), and board the ship in the US, etc., have a reasonable expectation that US laws will generally be followed. :-)

 

And I find it ironic that cruise ships can sail up and down the West Coast, making various port stops, while ignoring the smoking regulations "on the books" in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. I am aware that health department officials in Washington state do believe that Washington's smoking regulations apply to cruise ships while in state waters.

[suse]

Whatever. I really think smoking sucks and you really can smell heaps of smoke from your verandah if you have smokers around you, up, down, forward, and back. It's not like it's a slight whiff; it can be just stinky, bleech.

But, nobody wins on this argument since there are such strong opinions. To and fro, to and fro, on and on we go! :rolleyes:

[Vic The Parrot]

If the comments from p4b were correct, why not reply to my questions?

 

At which port did the friends try to leave the ship?

 

 

 

I wouldn't be willing to bet the farm on a reply. :rolleyes:

 

 

Many here already agree it's just a ruse to stir up trouble on a touchy subject.

[Rutland Gate]

HAL documents reveal that the longest continuous flatulence event occured on the Veendam in 2008 when 83 year old Ms. Susan Pipesusha cut loose with a 14 stepper while walking through the casino on her way to coverall bingo.

 

Ah, no, I remember it well. Rotterdam V, Panama Canal, Mid Canal, Ocean Bar, The School Teacher, Retired, (one cheek on the barstool) A Rendition of Take Five, Repeated. Perfect pitch. ( A Non Smoker).

[rochelle_s]

As I understand it, ships that regularly embark and disembark in American ports ARE subject to a host of US and Canadian laws. These include food service regulations, Coast Guard safety regulations, and so forth. And THOSE particular regulations don't become "void" the moment said ships cross over into international waters. (For example, the temperature of the tea served in the dining room, or the degree of doneness for burgers, or the temperature inside the refrigerators, etc., isn't changed.)

 

So, yes, I believe that passengers from the US who purchase tickets in the US, from a cruise line headquartered in the US (regardless of the "flag of convenience" on the ship), and board the ship in the US, etc., have a reasonable expectation that US laws will generally be followed. :-)

 

And I find it ironic that cruise ships can sail up and down the West Coast, making various port stops, while ignoring the smoking regulations "on the books" in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. I am aware that health department officials in Washington state do believe that Washington's smoking regulations apply to cruise ships while in state waters.

 

 

I am trying to follow your logic. Your comments and those of many anti smokers on this and other similar threads is that the issue is black and white. My point all along is that just isn't so. It is a complicated issue and one I believe HAL takes seriously.

 

Your post implies that the policies onboard a HAL ship are vastly different from those along the west coast of North America. I beg to differ.

 

Go to any American city and you will be able to find a room in a hotel where one can smoke. If that hotel room has a balcony they are permitted to smoke on it. Granted for the most part, they have designated smoking floors, but if the floor above is non-smoking they can still smoke on their balcony regardless if the smoke 'drifts' upwards to the next balcony.

 

There are some US nightclubs and lounges that are exempt from the no-smoking regulations, usually with the stipulation that no food is served. HAL does not allow smoking in their restaurants, usually only in one lounge on the ship and the nightclub.

 

Then there is the casino, which might be a moot point as they are never open in port. But just go to Las Vegas in the good ole USA and you will find smoking inside a casino.

 

As for smoking outdoors. I was in California in September. I thought they were supposed to have some of the strictest smoking policies. I saw smoking on patios and yes food was being served. I stayed at a non- smoking hotel, but there was a bench and ashtrays right beside the front door-- less than two feet away. There were ashtrays at the pool area and at the outdoor courtyard for the breakfast area.

 

I am by no means an expert on the smoking regulations in the United States. The above is based only on my first hand experience when I have traveled in the US and I just don't see how this differs so much in the smoking policies currently in place on HAL ships.

 

The only real difference that I see is that HAL ships do not have designated smoking and non-smoking decks. I think that if this was a viable alternative HAL would impliment it. Realistically....some one.....from which ever side of the issue...will eventually want a cabin located on the 'other' deck and will be none to happy if they can not have it. Also logistically how do they determine how many smoking or non smoking cabins and therefore decks to place in each category. They would never be able to predict this, and it would undoubtably change from cruise to cruise. Their bottom line objective is to fill as many cabins as possible whether or not the occupant smokes or not.

 

Finally...sorry I just can't leave this one alone...is your expectations as a US passanger.

 

HAL ships travel the entire world not just the west coast of the USA. They have passanger policies aboard their ships that are fleetwide regardless of where they are sailing. The Prinsendam rarely docks in an American port but the policies are the same as another ship that predominately is on the west coast of North American. I believe the consistency throughout their fleet is more important than the 'expectations' of an American sailing close to home.

 

Where a ship is registered , or the 'flag of convenience' as you put it, is very important to a cruiseline. NCLships are American flagged. They have different regulations than other cruiselines.

 

You place great importance on the fact that HAL head office is US based. Try and see it for a moment from an 'outsiders' perspective;

 

I am a Canadian citizen. Last year I booked a 24 day cruise on the Oosterdam through a Canadian travel agent. I believe my credit card was processed through Holland America's Vancouver office as I paid in Canadian funds. I boarded the ship in Barcelona, Spain. Cruised 24 days in the Med and disembarked in Venice, Italy. My guesstimate to passenger make-up would be 60% European, 25% American, 5% Canadian and 10% other. The officers are Dutch, the crew Indonesian and Filipino. The ship is registered in the Netherlands.

 

My reasonable expectation is that I will not be under US law. Where head office is does not even cross my mind.

 

My point being there are no Black and White answers. No matter what the subject, there is always another side.

 

As I stated before, extremes on either side of the issue are pointless. The balance is somewhere in the middle and I believe HAL takes their smoking policies seriously and strive for balance.

 

Rochelle

 

oh and just out of curiousity...what is the regulation for the temperature of tea in the dining room?

[GeriatricNurse]

Why do you always "shout" in your posts?:confused:

 

For your information, SHOUTING, in internet terminology is when all the letters are CAPITALIZED!:)

You are confusing SHOUTING with what is commonly known as bold face type, such I use, along with italic script!:) (And that is your internet lesson for today, E-500)!;)

[mtwingcpa]

HAL ships travel the entire world not just the west coast of the USA. They have passanger policies aboard their ships that are fleetwide regardless of where they are sailing. The Prinsendam rarely docks in an American port but the policies are the same as another ship that predominately is on the west coast of North American. I believe the consistency throughout their fleet is more important than the 'expectations' of an American sailing close to home.

 

I generally take no position on what should happen aboard ships that never or rarely cruise in North American waters. But when ships have a strong "nexus" to the United States, I believe it is reasonable to expect that US laws will apply. And, in fact, said laws do apply in many areas.

 

Note also that the gambling laws of the various states must be followed when ships are within state waters. I understand it, Alaska allows gambling (subject to taxation), but none of the other western states, including Hawaii, do. I can't say for sure about British Columbia.

 

Also, stores abroad ships must collect local state sales taxes when in port. That is why the stores simply CLOSE instead.

 

And so on...

 

oh and just out of curiousity...what is the regulation for the temperature of tea in the dining room?

 

British passengers have asked for BOILING tea water. But it can't be served due to what I would call the "McDonald's rule" where, in a famous case, a women was scalded by hot coffee. I don't know what the precise allowable temperature is, but it must be well below "boiling."

 

An additional comment about California: It is kind of interesting that, although California was at one time a leader in smoking regulation, their law has fallen behind the rules now in effect in most of the other western states. I have also noted (to my dissatisfaction) that California apparently can't protect outdoor food service areas. Most of the other western states, including BC, have specific rules that cover this, or at least they have a 25 +/- foot rule.

[m steve]

have a different odor? Or do they offset each other?

[GeriatricNurse]

I generally take no position on what should happen aboard ships that never or rarely cruise in North American waters. But when ships have a strong "nexus" to the United States, I believe it is reasonable to expect that US laws will apply. And, in fact, said laws do apply in many areas.

 

Note also that the gambling laws of the various states must be followed when ships are within state waters. I understand it, Alaska allows gambling (subject to taxation), but none of the other western states, including Hawaii, do. I can't say for sure about British Columbia.

 

Also, stores abroad ships must collect local state sales taxes when in port. That is why the stores simply CLOSE instead.

 

And so on...

 

 

 

British passengers have asked for BOILING tea water. But it can't be served due to what I would call the "McDonald's rule" where, in a famous case, a women was scalded by hot coffee. I don't know what the precise allowable temperature is, but it must be well below "boiling."

 

An additional comment about California: It is kind of interesting that, although California was at one time a leader in smoking regulation, their law has fallen behind the rules now in effect in most of the other western states. I have also noted (to my dissatisfaction) that California apparently can't protect outdoor food service areas. Most of the other western states, including BC, have specific rules that cover this, or at least they have a 25 +/- foot rule.

 

In Ontario, there is no smoking permittted in patios/food court areas outside restaurants where food is served!:)

[NH Cruisers]

 

oh and just out of curiousity...what is the regulation for the temperature of tea in the dining room?

 

Min of 192 degrees F, two minutes after pouring.

[Lvteks]

Does anyone know if smoking is allowed in the Piano Bar of the Nieuw Amsterdam?

Blessings,

Gail

[suse]

From watching CSI I have learned that if you put vaseline up your nose that it blocks offensive odors. It might be worth a shot.

Bleech, kind of disgusting. So if I put vaseline up my nose, where do the buggers go? Down my throat? I can't blow my nose anymore, right, so we have a vaseline block.

This is the weirdest thing I ever heard of.

No, really, why should I have to block the odors? That is the bottom line.

Holland America Cruise Line is fooling you. They have been doing that survey, ad nauseum, for YEARS about smoking and guess what? They really don't care.

Oh, ok, a few small concessions. Not impressed.

When they get serious, In Seattle, big boys, I will book a cruise. Ain't happening now. They are fooling with ya.:eek:

[Lvteks]

I would love to relax and enjoy the music but have very "dry eyes." Intense smoke leaves them feeling like sandpaper. Unless I attend to treatment and avoid unnecessary irritants there can be permanent damage. So much for romantic moments.

 

Blessings,

 

Gail

[rochelle_s]

I would love to relax and enjoy the music but have very "dry eyes." Intense smoke leaves them feeling like sandpaper. Unless I attend to treatment and avoid unnecessary irritants there can be permanent damage. So much for romantic moments.

 

Blessings,

 

Gail

 

 

Gail,

 

From what I understand there is no smoking in the piano bars on any of HAL ships. You should have no problem enjoying your romantic moments.

 

Rochelle