Oak Room on Noordam

[rafinmd]

These quotes are from the "Oak Room on Prinsendam" thread which I'm trying not to hijack, and certainly don't want to turn it into a smoking thread:

 

Ah! Memories of the Smoking Room on the old ss Rotterdam. I used to pass through there on the way to the Tropic Bar. It certainly looked to be a gentile affair.

If you are correct, and the Noordam Oak Room is no longer a smoking room, that would be a shame.

Smokers want a place to go where they won't intrude on non-smokers. Non-smokers want to be free from inhaling smoke and the odor of smoke. It would seem that the Oak Room served both groups well.

 

It was allowed in March this year on Noordam as I smoked there once... Not a pleasant experience (cigar smoke wise). There was a gentleman there smoking his cigar and he motioned for me to come in out of the rain behind the Crow's Nest. When I went in there were ash trays and nice comfy furniture. Really nice atmosphere and ambiance, just to heavy on cigar smoke. I immediately went back to my e-cigs:)

 

Joanie

 

I am about as dedicated non-smoker as they come, but wonder if we haven't gone too far. I remember an old litany that went something like this:

 

They came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew

Then they came for the Negros and I didn't say anything because I wasn't black.

Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't say anything because I wasn't Catholic.

[on and on with a few more examples]

Then they came for me and there was nobody left to speak up.

 

I am starting to wonder if we shouldn't be adding "Then they came for the smokers and I didn't speak up because I don't smoke".

 

I have no idea if RuthC smokes or not but I fully understand what she's saying here. While I would personally be happy if smoking were prohibited on the entire ship, that's just not realistic. I would much rather have a room or 2 where smoking is available and stay away from it than have the smokers restricted to such a small area that the concentration of smoke becomes unbearable. HAL has mostly done a pretty good job of balancing space for smokers with a primarily smoke free ship.

 

Roy

[CruiserBruce]

Did you really say you didn't want to start another smoking thread??????????

[rafinmd]

Did you really say you didn't want to start another smoking thread??????????

 

Actually, I started this thread with some trepidation but what I really said was I didn't want to turn the Prinsendam Oak Room thread into a smoking thread. That's why I lifted the quotes and placed them in a neew thread.

 

Roy

[RuthC]

These quotes are from the "Oak Room on Prinsendam" thread which I'm trying not to hijack, and certainly don't want to turn it into a smoking thread:

I debated posting that on the Prinsendam thread just because I didn't want to turn it into a smoking thread.

I still wonder if I made the right decision.

I have no idea if RuthC smokes or not but I fully understand what she's saying here.

She doesn't. Full disclosure: she stopped smoking about 20 years ago. However, she is pleased that you couldn't tell from her posts.

I try to strike a fair balance on the subject.

[kazu]

Although some people have issues - I think HAL has really done a good balance in trying to balance the two.......but back to the Oak room.

 

Does anyone remember when they used to do cigars in the room with the Adagio Strings? The talented lady would light the cigar without touching a match to it:) That's a few years ago :o But I will confess that I saw a few buying a cigar (I think that was the purpose) just to enjoy the fuss and muss. It was truly a tremendous show (btw I don't smoke cigars - oops except once with E500 on the Lido aft under the stars;) ok I just did two puffs:p

 

Of course in this day and age it would be verbotten - but it was truly a tremendous and inspiring time back then. I remember just sipping an after dinner liquor in the lounge and being inspired as I listened to the strings and watched this very talented lady;)

[CtheW0rld]

yes, they have gone too far with the smoking restrictions. for me, hal is no longer a viable option of where i can spend my vacation $$$.

 

i do not need to wander the whole ship smoking, but i must be able to smoke in my cabin and have 1 other indoor lounge where i can enjoy my vice.

 

i suspect this is the case with more customers than just myself - as evidenced by the heavy discounts on many hal cruises since this new policy went into effect.

[PathfinderEss]

I'll bring the popcorn, we could be in for a long one.......

[mariner]

The cigar ceremony (as it was called) was ended because some passengers thought it was sexist.

 

When smoking was restricted, the Explorers Lounge became one of the most unprofitable lounges aboard.

[sail7seas]

When the strings play there, you can't get a seat after dinner.

 

We often leave the dining room on Maasdam and walk by to see a 'full house' in Explorer's Lounge.

 

I can't tell you what they may or may not be drinking but they sure fill all the seats.

[mariner]

Ice water!

 

The oft-quoted saw by legislators who can't write an original quote is a bit of a stretch. Perhaps Prohibition is a good example or even better in NYC, THE BIG GULP. Won't be long under national health care before the butter police will find you.

[Typhoon1]

The Oak Room.

 

That sure brings back memories of smoke filled smelly rooms.

[mariner]

Astor's Library still has cigar smells.

[496and706]

Just got off the Noordam yesterday. Oak room was one of 3 suggested areas for smokers.

[sail7seas]

Just got off the Noordam yesterday. Oak room was one of 3 suggested areas for smokers.

 

 

What were the other two?

 

Casino and Sports Bar?

 

[496and706]

Straight off my "Explorer" back page.

 

"Smoking is suggested on outside decks (starboard side), in the Sports Bar, 2 and in the Oak Room, 10".

[tampacrew]

I like to smoke and so does all my family. We would certainly like to see more dedicated smoking areas aboard!

[sail7seas]

Straight off my "Explorer" back page.

 

"Smoking is suggested on outside decks (starboard side), in the Sports Bar, 2 and in the Oak Room, 10".

 

 

Thanks.

 

Does this (hopefully) mean no smoking permitted in the Casino?

That would be wonderful when we sail Noordam again in March.

 

[elycelynne]

So far I've only been on one Vista and both Signature ships and don't recall this room. Is it located on the other side of the Crow's Nest where the library and Explorations Cafe would be located on all the other Vista ships, or is it somewhere else?

[catl331]

So far I've only been on one Vista and both Signature ships and don't recall this room. Is it located on the other side of the Crow's Nest where the library and Explorations Cafe would be located on all the other Vista ships, or is it somewhere else?

The only Vista ship that still has it is the Noordam. It was taken out of the other three to put the Explorations Cafe in its place on the starboard side of the Crow's Nest. (The Exp Cafe on the Noordam is still down on deck 3)

[elycelynne]

So the Crow's Nest itself and the Oak Room are the only venues that take up that space on the Noordam? And the Oak Room is its own enclosed room?

[RuthC]

So the Crow's Nest itself and the Oak Room are the only venues that take up that space on the Noordam? And the Oak Room is its own enclosed room?

Yes, and yes.

[peaches from georgia]

Straight off my "Explorer" back page.

 

"Smoking is suggested on outside decks (starboard side), in the Sports Bar, 2 and in the Oak Room, 10".

Uh-oh. Again the word 'suggested' just like in the dress code rules. I presume those that don't follow the dress code because it is only 'suggested' will have no objection if smokers indulge their habit wherever they wish on the ship since now dress codes and smoking sections are both not rules but suggestions only.

[Nauga146]

Back in 2005, my husband and I were on a transatlantic cruise on the Westerdam. We met the most interesting man in the Oak Room one day. My husband used to smoke the occasional cigar, so he spent some time there. The man was a WWII vet and we only saw him once in 15 days but made a huge impression on us. Sometimes we wonder if he was a ghost.

 

I am not nor ever have been a smoker, but there's something nostalgic about brandy and cigars after dinner. Anyway - just wanted to add our ghost story to a thread about the Oak Rooms. :)

[CtheW0rld]

Straight off my "Explorer" back page.

 

"Smoking is suggested on outside decks (starboard side), in the Sports Bar, 2 and in the Oak Room, 10".

 

so if you are on the outside decks you should be smoking? :D

[Typhoon1]

The Oak Room is one of the most disgusting places on the ship. I can't wait for it to be transformed into something else.