How's the new HAL non smoking policy working out?

[sail7seas]

 

 

bunnelc,

 

I don't remember the shaking problem but sailed Maasdam at least 30 or more days last year and found her wonderful...... maybe better than she has been in a long time.

 

She had a big dry dock last spring and I know she had engine work so maybe whatever it was you recall was addressed as our ride on her in June was great.

 

We love the Canada/New England cruise and are already booked for our annual Boston to Montreal to Boston for this year. We think it one of HAL's best short itineraries. :)

 

[CRUISERAT]

So, I didn't really misunderstand? You intend to smoke in a designated non-smoking area, your cabin? Do you do the same at hotels, eateries, gov't buildings, etc. and other designated non-smoking venues?

i only stay in hotels that have smoking and i have reservations for a smoking room but if they are sold out they give me a ashtray and say its ok,if i can smoke in my cabin for 250 bucks i will, i have smoked since i was 19 in Viet Nam and dont plan on quiting. I dont go to restaurants that have non smoking. They dont get my dime.

And i am guessing you NEVER break any rules lol never speed or anything

[iancal]

I have absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who complains about verandah smokers ruining his/her cruise when that individual specifically selects a cruise line/ship that permits it. It is not rocket science.

 

Book an outside or an inside but stop complaining when you book a verandah because you are really complaining about your own poor judgement in booking a cabin that you know you will not be happy with.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I have absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who complains about verandah smokers ruining his/her cruise when that individual specifically selects a cruise line/ship that permits it. It is not rocket science.

 

Book an outside or an inside but stop complaining when you book a verandah because you are really complaining about your own poor judgement in booking a cabin that you know you will not be happy with.

 

Yea, I guess no one other than a smoker is allowed to enjoy a balcony cabin without getting smoked out. All other cruisers should move on to another line & leave HAL to the smokers or people without a sense of smell.

[madelinerose]

I dont go to restaurants that have non smoking. They dont get my dime.

 

I see you're in Minnesota. You'd save a pretty penny in Maryland. ;)

[iancal]

That is right. People who do not like it should move to another line. That is the clear message that HAL is sending to it's customers who do not like to be surrounded by smokers when sitting on their respective verandahs.

 

HAL is quickly getting the reputation as a 'smokers' cruise line. HAL has now has pushed smokers out of their cabins and on to their verandah's. Instead of paying a $250. cleaning fee, smokers will use this money to partially fund the upgrate to verandah cabins.

 

So it only stands to reason that verandah cabin smokers will be puffing more outside and those smokers who previously selected outsides or insides will move to verandah class cabins in order to smoke.

 

HAL can hardly enforce a dress code. What do you expect them to do when someone calls the desk and complains that the guest beside them is smoking on their verandah. They will do squat because it is permitted.

[Australian family]

About time HAL bought in non smoking rules. As a non smoker I find it offensive, disgusting and a health issue having to breath in second hand smoke.

 

Also where are the designated smoking areas besides the verandas?

 

Does that mean there is no smoking in the casino or lounges. That was one thing we didn't like on the Volendam, especially walking into the Atrium where the stale smell drifted.

[aikensbest]

Smoking since you were 19?? Big Deal. I smoked from 15 until 67 then finally grew up!! I gave up Hal for Princess due to the stinking smoke from folks on the balcony.

[aikensbest]

In error I cut my own post short. Move to our city and you would have to smoke at home or in you car. NO smoking anywhere and most folks are real happy with it. In fact no smoking motels, restaurants, etc. anywhere in the state.

[sail7seas]

No smoking in Massachusetts in any work place. Any place you go is a workplace for someone.

 

Been this way for years and no bars or restaurants went out of business because of it.

We are never exposed to smoke at home and it's great.

 

 

[Amuse Bouche]

How nice.

HAL will be Ashtray of the Seas.

 

 

I was just being facetious because non smoking on all lines isn't inevitable, just hopeful.

 

I'm actually trying to quit, and having no smoking on a cruise sometime in the future when I have a handle on it would be helpful. I'm doing pretty good with gum when necessary now.

 

(This part not directed to the quote of sail7seas)

That being said, I still think people are going overboard in their vehemence. Getting snarly, uptight when a person is around smoke is understandable, not when they should be giving an opinion from the confines of their smoke free home.

[Richie2pies]

Smoking since you were 19?? Big Deal. I smoked from 15 until 67 then finally grew up!! I gave up Hal for Princess due to the stinking smoke from folks on the balcony.

 

Nothing worse than a reformed smoker or drunk. They are the worst.

[Dbedros]

become a private conversation between a few multi posters. The same things get repeated over and over again.

 

This is how they get the large number of post. They start threads such as this one, make post on other threads that have nothing to do with the original post or make comments that do not answer the original posters question. I have read a lot of post in my years as a cruise critic member and discovered this. However there are some posters with a large number of post that actually are helpful to other members. So this does not apply to all those with a large number of post.

[Dbedros]

First, I cruise for the itinerary and occasionally because the deal is so good on a cruise line that I like enough to have the ship as the destination. I normally read these type of threads smile and keep going but this one raised my ire.

 

I am a smoker. I smoke outside, in my car and those inside areas that are designated for smoking (currently there are very few of these). I chose my up coming HAL cruise for the itinerary (extra sea days) and because I can smoke on my balcony. Princess would have been cheaper for the balcony with sea days but no smoking on the balcony. Get the message I chose! I do not normally book balconies on HAL because I think they are over priced. This time I chose to for my comfort! YOU HAVE A CHOICE! Whining is for small childeren. Make your choice and leave the boards for new topics that can be helpful to other cruisers. Write a letter to HAL and while you are at it write one to congress about the real air pollution.

 

We have had one cruise (Eurodam) when we could not use our veranda for an entire week. First week was fine. The second week there were disgusting smokers on both sides of us and it seemed they never left their veranda. We did not have five smoke free minutes out there. A search of these boards will prove this to not be true. As at some time within the two weeks these people had to eat, sleep and use the bathroom. LOL It also happened to us on Maasdam we could not enjoy a single sailaway on Maasdam for a 14 day Caribbean cruise. Smokers beneath us stood at their rail every afternoon with their friends and the four of then lit one cigarette after another that drifted right up into our faces. We missed every afternoon sailaway. A search of these boards will prove that with all of your posting you should know that while the ship is not moving you are more than likely to get the smoke. You choose to whine and not go somewhere else for sailaway.

 

Our neighbors were disgusting. There is the choice to put up with it that noxious smoke, sail another line or not sail at all.

You did not know these passengers but have chosen to characterize them as disgusting. Disgust is a type of aversion that involves withdrawing from a person or object with strong expressions of revulsion whether real or pretended. It is one of the basic emotions and is typically associated with things that are regarded as unclean, inedible, infectious, gory or otherwise offensive. In The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin wrote that disgust refers to something revolting.

 

You chose to continue to cruise on HAL because you want to be around crew members that make you believe that they really know and care about you like they are friends or family.

 

About time HAL bought in non smoking rules. As a non smoker I find it offensive, disgusting and a health issue having to breath in second hand smoke.

Are you changing to another line or are you content with the current policy?

We always have a choice!

[luvslabdogs]

Bravo - well said. We all have a choice. I sail Holland America because of their smoking policy - I can smoke on the veranda, in the casino and other selected areas. My husband doesn't smoke so I have never smoked in the room even when it was permitted. We travel with other family members and couples and some of them smoke and some do not but our group will never sail on a ship with a restrictive smoking policy like Celebrity. We pay the price for a delux veranda suite (our choice) and for the ability to smoke on the veranda. Others in our group also pay the price for delux verandas or veranda suites to have the ability to smoke, if they choose, on their veranda with a drink or a cup of coffee. There are more non- smoking areas on any ship than smoking areas. The non-smokers in our group have never complained about areas being too smoky, etc (and my sister is an ex-smoker that will complain if the smell of smoke gets to her).

[GeriatricNurse]

I have absolutely NO sympathy for anyone who complains about verandah smokers ruining his/her cruise when that individual specifically selects a cruise line/ship that permits it. It is not rocket science.

 

Book an outside or an inside but stop complaining when you book a verandah because you are really complaining about your own poor judgement in booking a cabin that you know you will not be happy with.

 

 

Exactly! Well stated! :)

[GeriatricNurse]

Nothing worse than a reformed smoker or drunk. They are the worst.

 

Care to elaborate? :confused:

[1 HappyCruiser]

Nothing worse than a reformed smoker or drunk. They are the worst.

 

Just another typical response to anyone who voices a complaint. :cool:

[GeriatricNurse]

Nothing worse than a reformed smoker or drunk. They are the worst.

 

Just another typical response to anyone who voices a complaint. :cool:

 

I would like to know why a "reformed smoker or drunk" are "the worst"? :confused:

[2buggers]

LMAO! . . . . . Another dead horse flogging.

[sugarcharlie]

Boy, am I sorry I started this thread. I just wondered how the new smoking policy was going. Hundreds of posts and very few answers to my original question, but quite a few smoker/ non smoker bashing. I guess this is too touchy a topic to not start people lobbing verbal grenades at one another.

Sorry to those who tuned in to it and got caught in the crossfire!

[madelinerose]

Boy, am I sorry I started this thread. I just wondered how the new smoking policy was going. Hundreds of posts and very few answers to my original question, but quite a few smoker/ non smoker bashing. I guess this is too touchy a topic to not start people lobbing verbal grenades at one another. Sorry to those who tuned in to it and got caught in the crossfire!

 

Amazing, isn't it? :D:D:D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Boy, am I sorry I started this thread. I just wondered how the new smoking policy was going. Hundreds of posts and very few answers to my original question, but quite a few smoker/ non smoker bashing. I guess this is too touchy a topic to not start people lobbing verbal grenades at one another.

Sorry to those who tuned in to it and got caught in the crossfire!

Charlie the answer is that it is just too soon to know. I think it is going to be many weeks before HAL even gets a feel for this in number of complaints. As it was stated before people in the past had problems with smokers next to them on the balcony. You are wanting to know how it is going... well the thing is it really is not different than it has been for HAL.

 

Neither my husband and I have ever smoked and no I do not care for smoke either but I am one to to believe that it will not be any different than it was before because technically nothing has changed that can be observed by the non smoker. I think it will take a year or two to re-evaluate how this is working for HAL. The percentage of people who read the HAL CC board is extremely small, many HAL cruisers do not even know about CC and many more have no idea about the change in the smoking policy. The percentage of those who do not care or will not let it effect their cruise vacation is much larger than those that are concerned. I talk to many cruisers daily and when they book cruises they never ever ask about smoking policies. Far more consider it to be the same on the ship as it is on land. Maybe one out of 50 ask is there a place to smoke on the ship? I answer yes there are designated areas and leave it at that.

 

Just my hunch is that in future weeks those that are very anti smoking will come in here to complain even if they really were not effected to prove a point ;) The same with the smokers they will come in and say that they had neighbors giving them a bad time about smoking on the balcony. This battle will never end yet I got bets if you ask HAL in 6 months you will here things are going well.:)

[worldtravellerrus]

Both my wife and I are non-smokers and allergic to smoke.

We came off the Oosterdam yesterday and the policy they have is a joke.

We had smokers on both sides of us and couldn't sit out on the verandah when in port as the smoke was incredible. You would walk down the hallways and could smell that someone had been smoking there. The casino is all smoking and it will be the last HAL cruise we take.

The cruise director tried his best to get people to give everything a 9 on the survey but we told it the way it was.

[mountainmare]

LAFFNVEGAS makes a very good point. At cruise critic we get alot of information and alot of personal feedback, but we are a very small percentage of the general cruising public.

I don't think the average person just booking a cruise knows or even thinks about smoking policies. We get mailings from several cruiselines and I can't remember the smoking policy being put out there as a big selling point (for example Celebrity does not have in bold print "your veranda will be smoke free" and HAL does not say "feel free to enjoy a smoke on your private veranda").

When booking a cruise this is not high on the need to know list.

On our last cruise I did overhear passengers say that they were surprised about how smokey their veranda was, and the other party said they smelled no smoke.

 

Cruise critic members will be actively looking to see if there is a difference since the new policy took place. The general population will only notice in passing, if they were bothered when they return if they use a personal TA they may mention it to the TA and then the TA may advise them to another cruise line. (Is this usually the case Lisa?) But if they return and say nothing the next cruise booked would be based on price, ship and itinerary before smoking policy.