Experience of non smokers

[GeriatricNurse]

I am really getting a lot of laughs from this thread. Nothing like a good discussion between smokers and non-smokers.

 

And, Kracker Ken, you are so right. We smokers don't care what you non-smokers think. We booked HAL because we can smoke on the balcony and we're going to smoke on the balcony whenever we want to. We have very little choice these days, but you have lots of choices. Take one of them.

 

Well, it won't affect me as I only book (smoke-free) & cheaper interior staterooms, (with no balcony)! :p

[1 HappyCruiser]

As relatively new cruisers (but experienced travelers) I was disheartened to read this thread. I had no idea when we booked our last minute cruise on HAL that smoking was allowed on balconies. I assumed that smoking was such a fire hazard on ships that it would be a verboten activity except in specific areas on the ship (which we have experienced on Celebrity and the PG). We booked this cruise based on itinerary and date - I had no idea that HAL had such a relaxed smoking policy.

 

We enjoy our balcony - especially on 'at sea' days, of which we have 3 on our upcoming cruise.

 

I hope that we can enjoy the fresh sea air, and not be overwhelmed by second hand smoke.

 

At this point the only thing thing that you can hope for is not to wind up next to a smoker like PattiG which could ruin your whole purpose of booking a balcony.

Good luck.

[Silver sailor]

Several posters, both smokers and non smokers, continue to stress their "rights .One wants to breath "fresh air' the other to smoke .

Not going to attempt to look for it but there is a section on the HAL web sight which lists the "rules and regulations " which apply when one purchases a ticket

Don't think there is any mention of passengers being assured that if they are on a balcony they will not be subject to second hand smoke therefore no "right" is implied that you are "entitled" to "fresh air"

However there is mention that due to previous suggestions , smoking will no longer be allowed in the staterooms, but will be allowed in other areas of the ship including balconies. I'd assume this gives smokers thr RIGHT to smoke in designated areas

If you sail on HAL , purchase a balcony, you are knowingly, or should know that you maybe next to staterooms wher people are smoking

 

If you want to avoid this book another category or sail on another line

[MarKandi]

I think they should make rooms on the port side w/balconies smoking "rooms" and the other side of the boat smoke-free. That way non-smokers can enjoy their balconies without the worry.

 

Great idea!

 

We've had an aft balcony twice with friends who smoke and have never had an issue..(we don't smoke)

[Cruiser4310]

We don't smoke, and hope to never have smokers next to us on the balcony. I'm not sure if it's ever been mentioned here, but it can ruin the ambiance.

[regnig]

We don't smoke, and hope to never have smokers next to us on the balcony. I'm not sure if it's ever been mentioned here, but it can ruin the ambiance.

 

And, without taking sides on this issue, I'm certain that smokers will tell you that not being able to smoke on their balcony ruins the ambiance for them. And yes, they can go elsewhere up on the open deck to smoke but then so can you to get away from your smoking neighbors.

Get the idea here, it's a no win situation without taking away the rights of someone. Like it or not, smoking on one's balcony is not against HAL's rules.

[Cruiser4310]

And, without taking sides on this issue, I'm certain that smokers will tell you that not being able to smoke on their balcony ruins the ambiance for them. And yes, they can go elsewhere up on the open deck to smoke but then so can you to get away from your smoking neighbors.

Get the idea here, it's a no win situation without taking away the rights of someone. Like it or not, smoking on one's balcony is not against HAL's rules.

Well, we two hope HAL changes with the times. Just saying. The great majority of the pop doesn't smoke. Enuf said.;)

[potsie57]

As relatively new cruisers (but experienced travelers) I was disheartened to read this thread. I had no idea when we booked our last minute cruise on HAL that smoking was allowed on balconies. I assumed that smoking was such a fire hazard on ships that it would be a verboten activity except in specific areas on the ship (which we have experienced on Celebrity and the PG). We booked this cruise based on itinerary and date - I had no idea that HAL had such a relaxed smoking policy.

 

We enjoy our balcony - especially on 'at sea' days, of which we have 3 on our upcoming cruise.

 

I hope that we can enjoy the fresh sea air, and not be overwhelmed by second hand smoke.

 

 

You had no idea that HAL had such a relaxed smoking policy? If you are so against smokers you should have researched more. Not to be rude but there are many, many cruise lines that allow smoking on the balconies, to my knowledge out of all the cruise lines only two do not. So, how can you say HAL has a relaxed smoking policy when most of the lines allow smoking on balconies??? More lines allow it than don't.....just saying.

[iancal]

Not sure the big deal is. We are not smokers. But, HAL allows people to smoke on their verandahs hence those that do smoke have every right to do so without being plaqued by complainers.

 

If the smoke bothers you, choose an outside or inside cabin, or select another cruise line until such time as HAL moves into the current century and bans smoking on verandahs.

 

This is a HAL problem, not a smoker's problem. HAL makes the rules...and once in a while actually enforces them. It is pointless and unfair to blame the smokers.

[DizzyDallasDi]

As relatively new cruisers (but experienced travelers) I was disheartened to read this thread. I had no idea when we booked our last minute cruise on HAL that smoking was allowed on balconies. I assumed that smoking was such a fire hazard on ships that it would be a verboten activity except in specific areas on the ship (which we have experienced on Celebrity and the PG). We booked this cruise based on itinerary and date - I had no idea that HAL had such a relaxed smoking policy.

 

We enjoy our balcony - especially on 'at sea' days, of which we have 3 on our upcoming cruise.

 

I hope that we can enjoy the fresh sea air, and not be overwhelmed by second hand smoke.

 

I am also an experienced traveler and I am a smoker. I do not assume all hotels will have smoking rooms and I do not assume that all cruise lines will allow smoking in rooms or on balconies. I do my homework to make sure my preferences will be met. That's what "experienced travelers" do. :)

 

That being said, I do hope you are able to enjoy your balcony on your HAL cruise.

[lovesublime]

One thing is for certain, a significant majority of smokers simply don't give a hoot about non-smokers. Really. They just don't care. Their choice in life is to take breaths while sucking the extremely unhealthy and carcenogenic ingredients of a burning roll of tobacco into their lungs on a regular basis. How can anyone expect people doing that sort of thing to care at all about other folks who don't?

 

I actually believe that my "right" (or whatever you call it) to clean air trumps the so-called rights of smokers to polute that air. Your mileage may vary.

 

Smoking tobacco is a substance that would have long since been outlawed as a hazmat, if not for the tax money generated off of it.

 

I wouldn't mind any cruise line having a small out of the way aft corner of the ship set aside for smokers.

 

 

 

 

Totally agree. People who voluntarily choose to suck on cancer sticks obviously care nothing about their own health, lungs or cardiovascular system. Why would they give a flip about yours, mine or our children's? Good luck trying to reason with a drug addict.

[Richie2pies]

As a smoker, I don't feel I should apologize for doing something the rules permit. If people object to smoking, there are cruiselines which prohibit smoking on balconies. If not, book an inside or OV. I refuse to alter my habits or apoligize for doing something allowed. Sorry!

[Hibiscus13]

You had no idea that HAL had such a relaxed smoking policy? If you are so against smokers you should have researched more. Not to be rude but there are many, many cruise lines that allow smoking on the balconies, to my knowledge out of all the cruise lines only two do not. So, how can you say HAL has a relaxed smoking policy when most of the lines allow smoking on balconies??? More lines allow it than don't.....just saying.

 

When did I say I was against smokers? I said I was for fresh sea air on my balcony. I booked a great deal, last minute on a ship that allows smoking on balconies. I didn't say it was anyone else's fault, or that I should have booked a different line. I just pointed out that I thought it was a fire hazard on a cruise ship, as was my experience in the past. Just saying.

[Hibiscus13]

I am also an experienced traveler and I am a smoker. I do not assume all hotels will have smoking rooms and I do not assume that all cruise lines will allow smoking in rooms or on balconies. I do my homework to make sure my preferences will be met. That's what "experienced travelers" do. :)

 

That being said, I do hope you are able to enjoy your balcony on your HAL cruise.

 

I also hope I enjoy my balcony - we work too hard to sweat the small stuff. Being an experienced traveller sometimes entails making a last minute decision to fly to a port city and getting on a ship that I know little about. It's kind of fun that way - not researching and planning things to death.

 

The point of my post was, not everyone spends 8 months dreaming about their one vacation a year, posting on forums every five minutes about the minutiae of day to day shipboard life, smoking, chair hogs and dress code policies.

 

I was simply pointing out that I thought smoking was a dangerous activity on cruise ships - and surprised that it was allowed on HAL. Simple.

[GeriatricNurse]

Not sure the big deal is. We are not smokers. But, HAL allows people to smoke on their verandahs hence those that do smoke have every right to do so without being plaqued by complainers.

 

If the smoke bothers you, choose an outside or inside cabin, or select another cruise line until such time as HAL moves into the current century and bans smoking on verandahs.

 

This is a HAL problem, not a smoker's problem. HAL makes the rules...and once in a while actually enforces them. It is pointless and unfair to blame the smokers.

 

Hey, it works for me! :) Cheaper too! :p

[innlady1]

We are one ex-smoker (for 30 years now) and one never-smoker. We have never been bothered by smokers on any HAL cruise except in the casinos. You may get a whiff every now and then, such as when going out of the Lido to the aft pool on the smoking side, but nothing more than that. We've never had a chain smoker next to us on a balcony. Knock on wood, maybe. :)

 

We're in the same category as you and Carol...one who never smoked and one ex-smoker (12 years ago). The smell bothers me more than Fred, and I'm the ex-smoker!

Having said that, I agree...the areas of concern are the Sea View Pool, port side, and the Casino. We don't use the Casino but can smell it walking through.

We've always had balconies and as another poster said, it's hit or miss. Last year we had the balcony below the Sea View Pool, port side, and often, we couldn't use it because of the smoke. So, until HAL changes the verandah smoking policy, we're doing outside or inside cabins.

[bipacco224]

That's Good!

[sail7seas]

That's Good!

 

 

:confused: I don't understand your message.

What's good?

[pakarinen]

We've always had balconies and as another poster said, it's hit or miss. Last year we had the balcony below the Sea View Pool, port side, and often, we couldn't use it because of the smoke. So, until HAL changes the verandah smoking policy, we're doing outside or inside cabins.

 

Good to know. DW and I were going to try HAL for the smaller pax counts, but I'll guess we'll stick with Princess for the more restrictive smoking policies since she really wants another balcony. Too bad that the port side = smoking, starboard side = non-smoking idea wouldn't work...

[sail7seas]

Good to know. DW and I were going to try HAL for the smaller pax counts, but I'll guess we'll stick with Princess for the more restrictive smoking policies since she really wants another balcony. Too bad that the port side = smoking, starboard side = non-smoking idea wouldn't work...

 

 

There aren't enough smokers (unless a large wave of them move over from other cruise lines) for that to work. It has been averaging around 18 - 20% of HAL cruisers are smokers. We'll have to see what the next year brings us.

 

[chrispb]

If there aren't enough smokers, thern we'll see no further complaints here, will we?:D

[sail7seas]

If there aren't enough smokers, thern we'll see no further complaints here, will we?:D

 

 

If there is a smoker on one side of my veranda and one on the other that puffs away all day, those two are more than enough to disrupt my enjoyment of our veranda. Wouldn't much matter if there were absolutely no more on the ship.... those two would be quite enough.

[lawyerrose]

Hmmmm, that reminds me. Gotta put "cigars" on my packing list so I can enjoy one on my veranda next month. :D:p

[Cruiser4310]

Hmmmm, that reminds me. Gotta put "cigars" on my packing list so I can enjoy one on my veranda next month. :D:p

See, now that get's the non smokers all fired up. No need to flame away. Some people can't stand the smell, it is quite offensive, so why should they be subjected to it? Kind of like someone has a really bad bathroom experience, do you want to smell it? Same idea. It's just not necessary.

[cruisin'girl]

Good Lord. Some people need to get a life and not take these message boards so seriously. Poster was just trying to add a little levity. Plus, no one has to be subjected to anything, they choose to.