Is HAL Next to Change Smoking Policy. Princess Did!

[chrispb]

I have just sent an email off to my HAL PCC asking the following question(s):

 

"I do have a question for you that I hope you can get answered from the higher ups.....

 

What happens when the Outside Public smoking areas are unavailable due to rough conditions?? When the Captain decides that it is unsafe for anyone to be on an open deck?? Where can the smokers go?? My question is that if conditions are so bad that the open decks are closed to passengers, is it also not true that the verandahs would be to dangerous as well?? Where do we go then to smoke?? Sometimes these rough conditions can last for several hours if not days???"

 

I hope to hear back from her soon with an official answer from those who did not think this through prior to considering weather and sea conditions.

 

Joanie

I imagine they'll do what RCI do - let you out to freeze and get wet in the small area behind the lido. Never again.

My solution to HAL:

Sell balcony staterooms only to smokers at the same price as inside staterooms. Then, at last, everyone's happy:D

[scm1848]

I was just about to book a suite on an eastern Med cruise for September. Not now, not ever - if I can't smoke in my room. Like an earlier poster said, to be forced to smoke outside in inclement weather or sit in the sports bar or casino (hate sports and gambling) is not an option for me. While I always preferred HAL over NCL, I guess I'll go back to NCL or explore some other smoker-friendly line. Ciao!!

[GeriatricNurse]

I was just about to book a suite on an eastern Med cruise for September. Not now, not ever - if I can't smoke in my room. Like an earlier poster said, to be forced to smoke outside in inclement weather or sit in the sports bar or casino (hate sports and gambling) is not an option for me. While I always preferred HAL over NCL, I guess I'll go back to NCL or explore some other smoker-friendly line. Ciao!!

 

Sorry that you have chosen NCL over HAL. :( We'll miss you! ;)

[chrispb]

I was just about to book a suite on an eastern Med cruise for September. Not now, not ever - if I can't smoke in my room. Like an earlier poster said, to be forced to smoke outside in inclement weather or sit in the sports bar or casino (hate sports and gambling) is not an option for me. While I always preferred HAL over NCL, I guess I'll go back to NCL or explore some other smoker-friendly line. Ciao!!

Maybe I'm not as picky as some posters here, but I find most of the main-stream lines very similar. I thought Norwegian Jade was excellent and would have no qualms about sailing with NCL again, depending on the itinerary of course. Costa also have some interesting itineraries, too.

[eroller]

I'm so happy about this new policy! Bravo to Princess, Carnival, and HAL for finally getting with the program. They are now more closely aligned with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean which have had more restrictive policies for some time now. Of course the majority of hotel rooms are already smoke free, and for good reason.

 

I wish NCL had this policy as well as it would have saved me a lot of trouble on my last cruise. We sailed on NORWEGIAN PEARL to Alaska last month. We walked into our cabin and it reeked, and I mean reeked of cigarette smoke. The smell had permeated everything and basically it was like standing in an ashtray. Gross!! The last occupants must have smoked in that cabin 24/7. In all my cruises I've never had such an offensive smell where we knew we could not live in there for a week.

 

Down to the front desk we went where the staff was very helpful. They said they would send someone right away to fumigate and they did. We returned to the cabin but unfortunately it still had that stale cigarette smell all over. Back down to the front desk and this time we were told a stage two deep cleaning would take place. They even replaced the curtains. Back to the cabin we went after a couple hours and this time it was much better and certainly livable. We could still smell a little smoke but it was nothing we couldn't live with.

 

Anyway although this problem was resolved, it took up a good chunk of my first day onboard. We could not unpack, we didn't know if we would possibly be moved, and we could not hang out in the cabin or our balcony. It was an inconvenience and not a great way to start a cruise.

 

These new smoking policies on HAL will pretty much eliminate similar problems moving forward.

 

Ernie

[IRL_Joanie]

Sorry that you have chosen NCL over HAL. :( We'll miss you! ;)

 

GeriatricNurse, this is a nice reply, I swear it!!!:) I think someone should step up and say thank you to you for being very nice and gracious on all of your replies and comments these last 2 harrowing (for those of us who smoke:)) days!!

 

I for one am saying THANK YOU WARD!! You have been very nice about the subject and I am thankful and nice enough to say so:)

 

I mean it from the bottom of my heart!!

 

Joanie

[Travalerie]

I am a physician in my regular non cruising life. It bugs me a little bit that everyone is saying that a little second hand smoke won't bother you, make a difference, blah, blah blah. The truth is nobody knows until its studied. You want to believe it won't matter, but you can not just say that its not a big deal. Its more than the smell. Kids whose parents swear they only smoke outside, have more problems with asthma, allergies, chronic cough, etc. This is anecdotal, only based on my observations. I just wish people would stop drawing their uniformed opinions because its convenient for them. My last gripe is this whole thing about perfume. When was the last time someone got cancer from smelling someone's perfume? There are documented cases of non-smokers chronically exposed to second hand smoke who wind up with cancers traditionally seen in smokers. Sorry its just not the same thing. As someone asked earlier, where do you draw the line? You draw the line with documented, researched public health issues. Period.

 

And if you have ever sat in a business meeting, you would know that every conceivable objection has been thought of. There was probably a whole team assigned to come up with objections to the new smoking policy-bad weather (wind, rain), mobility issues, etc. I am sure they thought about this long and hard before making a decision. And they are aware they will lose business. I am sometimes shocked by the pride of man. We assume we are the only ones thinking. I say we because I am the same way.

 

I am sensitive to my smoking cruisers. I understand you feel excluded, stepped on, not considered, etc. But, you can not forget that you are doing something with known health risks and can not expect a lot of sympathy. Everyday I challenge patients on oxygen, with COPD, with cancer to stop smoking. I know most of them will light up as soon as they get in the car. In my business, you realize that a lot of people will not take the medicine, will not take your advice, and will not get the test you recommend. At the same time I really don't feel a lot of sympathy when they come back with the same problems because they did not follow my suggestions. Personally I would not mind a non smoking/smoking side. Its just not the passengers you have to consider, but the people working there and being exposed to the toxins that linger in the air, the drapes, the carpets. It may not seem like it but cigarettes leave a lot behind.

[Travalerie]

GeriatricNurse, this is a nice reply, I swear it!!!:) I think someone should step up and say thank you to you for being very nice and gracious on all of your replies and comments these last 2 harrowing (for those of us who smoke:)) days!!

 

I for one am saying THANK YOU WARD!! You have been very nice about the subject and I am thankful and nice enough to say so:)

 

I mean it from the bottom of my heart!!

 

Joanie

 

Joanie

Nonsmoker to smoker, I think you are way cool!!! You have always been so helpful to me and many others in the past. All the best to you!

[IRL_Joanie]

Joanie

Nonsmoker to smoker, I think you are way cool!!! You have always been so helpful to me and many others in the past. All the best to you!

I try:) Thank you also!!:)

 

Joanie

[SeaMatesNYC]

as we research our upcoming Silversea's cruise so I'm not abandoning Cruise Critic.

 

You likely know this already, but although you can smoke in your cabin, you can't on your verandah. Go figure! Also on one side of The Bar and the starboard side of the pool deck. Oh and the starboard side outside of Panorama Lounge. It all worked fine for us. Except I did not know about the no smoking on the verandah until the butler quietly mentioned it to me on day 3!:eek:

 

(P.S. I hope you love it, we did!)

[Randyk47]

You likely know this already, but although you can smoke in your cabin, you can't on your verandah. Go figure! Also on one side of The Bar and the starboard side of the pool deck. Oh and the starboard side outside of Panorama Lounge. It all worked fine for us. Except I did not know about the no smoking on the verandah until the butler quietly mentioned it to me on day 3!:eek:

 

(P.S. I hope you love it, we did!)

 

I thought it was a bit ironic that HAL and Silversea now have opposite policies in terms of cabin versus veranda smoking. We knew that Silversea prohibited veranda smoking before we booked with them and don't object to that. We'll be on the Wind and I've seen private yachts that were larger so it makes sense they'd do that.

[Ontario Cruiser]

I would rather that they allow smoking in cabins and not on the verandah's

Ontario Cruiser

[aliaschief]

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard+Life&contentMenu=Onboard+Policies&contentSubMenu=Is+Smoking+Allowed+On+Board?

[VermeulT]

You likely know this already, but although you can smoke in your cabin, you can't on your verandah. Go figure!

 

It's an insurance/ liability thing. You can do a search on the web for info on the number of devastating fires started because someone flicked a butt off their balcony.

 

I kinda get it. I can't stand that people don't know how to use an ashtray or garbage can.

[Charles4515]

I was just about to book a suite on an eastern Med cruise for September. Not now, not ever - if I can't smoke in my room. Like an earlier poster said, to be forced to smoke outside in inclement weather or sit in the sports bar or casino (hate sports and gambling) is not an option for me. While I always preferred HAL over NCL, I guess I'll go back to NCL or explore some other smoker-friendly line. Ciao!!

 

All the lines sailing out of US ports will restrict smoking from the cabins sooner or later. Probably sooner.

[sail7seas]

I would rather that they allow smoking in cabins and not on the verandah's

Ontario Cruiser

 

 

I agree.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I am a physician in my regular non cruising life.

 

I'm just curious, but when seeing a new patient for the first time, how long does it take you to realize that they're a smoker without actually asking them?

 

[kazu]

Where is this other site that you refer to?

 

As Sapper 1 says, we can't name it and trust me, you don't want to find it:eek:

[scdreamer]

I'm just curious, but when seeing a new patient for the first time, how long does it take you to realize that they're a smoker without actually asking them?

 

 

Are you kidding? I'm not a physician, and I can smell whether someone is a smoker as soon as I am within conversation distance. Smokers smell of tobacco, plain and simple.

 

I am one who also wishes that HAL's new policy prohibited smoking on verandahs.

[erewhon]

sapper and kazu,

Thank you for replying to my query.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Are you kidding? I'm not a physician, and I can smell whether someone is a smoker as soon as I am within conversation distance. Smokers smell of tobacco, plain and simple.

 

I am one who also wishes that HAL's new policy prohibited smoking on verandahs.

 

Oh I know I can also smell most of them since I have a nose for it but not all of them have that odor. I was just wondering what visual signs that a doctor might pick up prior to looking at their eyes & listening to their lungs.

[COLLEYBERRY]

Oh I know I can also smell most of them since I have a nose for it but not all of them have that odor. I was just wondering what visual signs that a doctor might pick up prior to looking at their eyes & listening to their lungs.

 

Many smokers present with tell tale indicators of cigarette use.. more pronounced when smoking has been excessive and long term.

 

Smokers voice...raspy.

Pallor.. often patient appear older than birth date would indicate.

Wrinkles .. particularly around mouth.. sun and smoking huge aging .

factors.

Nicotine stained fingers ..depending on how cigarette is held while smoking.

These are indicators I have observed ...practicing as an xray technologist for many years

 

[SeaMatesNYC]

I thought it was a bit ironic that HAL and Silversea now have opposite policies in terms of cabin versus veranda smoking. We knew that Silversea prohibited veranda smoking before we booked with them and don't object to that. We'll be on the Wind and I've seen private yachts that were larger so it makes sense they'd do that.

 

I just got an e-cigarette, so I hope they will allow that on the verandah - I see no reason why not, no burning, no odor, just some water vapor that would disperse immediately...You are going to LOVE Silversea, I will bet! Get ready for bliss! And despite what everyone may say, if you imbibe (including water, soda and speciality coffees) and are flying with inclusive air to meet the ship, it really is not much more expensive, itinerary depending. We worked it out comparing a 2008 Med cruise on HAL (with flights and onboard account charges for beverages) versus this June's SS Med cruise, and the SS was only about $500 more!

 

Have a great voyage!

 

Michael

[Randyk47]

I just got an e-cigarette, so I hope they will allow that on the verandah - I see no reason why not, no burning, no odor, just some water vapor that would disperse immediately...You are going to LOVE Silversea, I will bet! Get ready for bliss! And despite what everyone may say, if you imbibe (including water, soda and speciality coffees) and are flying with inclusive air to meet the ship, it really is not much more expensive, itinerary depending. We worked it out comparing a 2008 Med cruise on HAL (with flights and onboard account charges for beverages) versus this June's SS Med cruise, and the SS was only about $500 more!

 

Have a great voyage!

 

Michael

 

Clearly our present disconnect with HAL is over not being able to smoke in our cabin. The veranda is really not an issue, we knew that with Silversea and would have had no problem if that was the way HAL had decided to go.

 

Indeed the decision to cruise Silversea next year rather than HAL wasn't based on smoking policy but on the itinerary and economics. The itinerary issue was the one HAL cruise we were interested in, the Prinsendam from Rome to Athens, stopped in Egypt. As much as we'd love to visit Egypt the recent unrest there has put limitations on Mrs. K's travel due to her job with the government. It kind of changes daily, which makes planning a real pain, and has gone from no visit under any condition to limited visit but no overnight to no disembarkation to permitted to back to no visit and so on. Like I said, a real pain. Our Silversea cruise is a 14-day cruise from Barcelona to Istanbul but doesn't touch North Africa. Cost comparisons actually turned out to be very close and when we factored in our on-board expenses minus excursions, spa treatments, etc., we found we were very close to the Prinsendam deluxe suite cost and air fare. I'm not going to tell you it's not more expensive but not significantly more and we feel it's worth it for what we hope is a wonderful cruise.

[SeaMatesNYC]

...we feel it's worth it for what we hope is a wonderful cruise.

 

It will be - if you are anything like us, you will be astounded with the grace with which they operate in all matters and feel as though they have only you to please. The thing is, you may never go back...once you get a taste, you will likely be spoiled forever...in any case, have a fantastic voyage!