Smoking Policy Change?

[jmkennett]

I was reading Bill & Mary Ann's blog from the world cruise and she stated the following announcement from the Q&A session they had onboard with the CEO of HAL.

 

"Lastly, the Q&A session included Captain Mercer and Henk Mensink, the Hotel Manager, who both will be back on next year's world cruise. Questions included one regarding the Amsterdam's planned drydocking at the end of this year. Most of the work will be cosmetic, like carpeting and curtains and drapes on decks one and two. We are sure much more will be done, but that info was not shared with us. Another inquiry dealt with smoking. After this world cruise, there will be no more smoking allowed in public areas. That includes the Crows Nest and Sports Bar. Not sure of the outside bar, decks, or verandas."

 

 

Anyone else have any info on this? Sounds like a possible move towards Celebrity's policy.

[kazu]

I was reading Bill & Mary Ann's blog from the world cruise and she stated the following announcement from the Q&A session they had onboard with the CEO of HAL.

 

"Lastly, the Q&A session included Captain Mercer and Henk Mensink, the Hotel Manager, who both will be back on next year's world cruise. Questions included one regarding the Amsterdam's planned drydocking at the end of this year. Most of the work will be cosmetic, like carpeting and curtains and drapes on decks one and two. We are sure much more will be done, but that info was not shared with us. Another inquiry dealt with smoking. After this world cruise, there will be no more smoking allowed in public areas. That includes the Crows Nest and Sports Bar. Not sure of the outside bar, decks, or verandas."

 

 

Anyone else have any info on this? Sounds like a possible move towards Celebrity's policy.

 

smoking was not allowed in the Crow's Nest or the Sports Bar on several ships that we have been on. It seems that this ship had more liberal policies?

[VallyD]

Hopefully not on the Eurodam in March, I booked with HAL for a few reasons but a big one was that I could smoke on my verandah. That was the policy when I booked and I intend to smoke anyway :rolleyes:

[Krazy Kruizers]

JMO -- but I want smoking to end on the balconies and verandahs as well!!

[jmkennett]

On the NA last July, it was allowed in the sports bar and casino, as well as balconies.

[momatibm]

After the world cruise conclude, the Amsterdam will have the same smoking rules that the rest of the fleet has.

 

The Amsterdam left prior to the new rules.

[0bnxshs]

After the world cruise conclude, the Amsterdam will have the same smoking rules that the rest of the fleet has.

 

The Amsterdam left prior to the new rules.

 

Hopefully not on the Eurodam in March, I booked with HAL for a few reasons but a big one was that I could smoke on my verandah. That was the policy when I booked and I intend to smoke anyway :rolleyes:

 

As momatibm noted, the new smoking rules have been applied to most of the fleet by now. Amsterdam and Prinsendam are the only 2 it hasn't been applied to yet and that will happen in May 2013. So, Val, you'll be within your rights to smoke on your verandah. It's unlikely they'll change the policy soon as it was just changed the first week of this year.

 

OP, see this HAL link for more information on the smoking policy.

[sail7seas]

That was announced some time ago.

 

It is time to end verandah smoking.......

 

Once they stop permitting smoking on the balconies, we'll finally have clean air to breathe.

 

I do not want them to make the ships non-smoking. I just don't want to breath it.

Find a space indoors and at least one covered space outside as well as other outside open area for smoking and the non-smokers can be free of second hand smoke on the ships, at long last.

 

[cruising nan]

Well think yourselves lucky smokers, in Australia you can not smoke in doors anywhere and no smoking indoors on P &O ships, is only allowed on small area outside. Im quite surprised with the large amount of evidence on the effects of passive smoking that any cruise line in the world would allow smoking in side, how disgusting. :(

[two4me]

k back to the original question.....

[Northshorecruisers]

We have been lucky to never have smelled smoke on our verandah - and I'm over sensitive to it being a former smoker. I figure our luck is due to run out :(

 

Has anyone who has ever booked an aft balcony - either wraparound or in the middle - every had the dreaded smoke smell from others?

[cabinluvn]

On our Mediterranean cruise in 2011 we had smokers on either side of us on our verandah. We were smoked out most of the time. We couldn't have our door open at port as the smoke wafted into our room. We tolerated it when we were watching coming into port, but the majority of time we had August a short time before one or the other came out for a smoke and we had to call it quits

 

 

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[0bnxshs]

We have been lucky to never have smelled smoke on our verandah - and I'm over sensitive to it being a former smoker. I figure our luck is due to run out :(

 

Has anyone who has ever booked an aft balcony - either wraparound or in the middle - every had the dreaded smoke smell from others?

 

We had a port corner aft verandah on Veendam a couple of years ago and did not have any problems with second hand smoke that I can now recall. But, that is a rather meaningless statement as I don't know whether our neighbors above and beside us smoked or did so on their verandahs. If they did, we were not affected, and we did spend a lot of time out on our verandah, as did others.

[cruz chic]

Ever since I started getting a balcony about 2 years ago I've had smokers beside me on about 90 % of my cruises. I'm looking forward to that not happening on my next Princess cruise. HAL needs to end smoking on the balconies.

[kazu]

As momatibm noted, the new smoking rules have been applied to most of the fleet by now. Amsterdam and Prinsendam are the only 2 it hasn't been applied to yet and that will happen in May 2013. So, Val, you'll be within your rights to smoke on your verandah. It's unlikely they'll change the policy soon as it was just changed the first week of this year.

 

OP, see this HAL link for more information on the smoking policy.

 

When we were on the Prinsendam last year - there ws no smoking in the Crow's nest - the bar that some would call the Sport's bar was also non smoking.

 

Smoking was permitted at the port side Lido deck underneath the stairway (hope I remember correctly) - barely saw anyone there - at the sea view pool I think (?) on the port side and the casino (if you were playing) - that's all I remember for public places. allowed on balconies of course - I had no issues and heard no complaints for what that's worth;)

[RuthC]

We couldn't have our door open at port as the smoke wafted into our room.

You're not supposed to have your balcony door open at all unless you're passing through it.

[VallyD]

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. While smoking is not permitted in staterooms, guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.

 

 

• Stateroom verandahs
  
• Casino (Active players only)
  
• Seaview Bar
  
• Outside Decks
  
  • Sports Deck
    
  • Observation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)
    

 

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms in violation of our policy will be charged a $250 cleaning fee per day of violation.

The policy is effective for all ships as of January 4, 2013 with the exception of the ms Amsterdam which becomes effective on 5/1/2013 and the ms Prinsendam which becomes effective on 5/17/13.

[HamOp]

On our Mediterranean cruise in 2011 we had smokers on either side of us on our verandah. We were smoked out most of the time. We couldn't have our door open at port as the smoke wafted into our room. We tolerated it when we were watching coming into port, but the majority of time we had August a short time before one or the other came out for a smoke and we had to call it quits

 

 

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So the wind was coming from both directions directly to your cabin? :D:confused:

[cabinluvn]

Didn't stand outside and watch where it was coming from directly. I know that when we were watching as we sailed into port and looked either side of me, both couples were hanging over the railing with cigarettes blowing smoke. When I smelled it while inside our cabin(don't recall reading anywhere that we could not have the door to the balcony open unless we were walking through it....I love fresh air and had it open a lot), I did not go out and look to see who the culprit was. If it is HAL's policy that they can smoke on their balcony, then they paid for the right to do it. I would never ask them not to enjoy their cigarettes on the balcony they paid for so they could smoke when they wanted. I am just saying that it decreased my usage of my balcony.

 

 

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[gelo7]

JMO -- but I want smoking to end on the balconies and verandahs as well!!

 

So, do I.

[omago4th]

I want cigars not allowed anywhere on HAL ships, it seems I manage to walk the deck when the cigar smoker goes out there, or they are out on aft deck in smoking area, but that stink seems to hang in the air.

 

I can't tell you how many times I've written in after a cruise to express my thoughts on cigars. they say they take note of the comments.

 

let HAL know your thoughts.

[cruz chic]

Didn't stand outside and watch where it was coming from directly. I know that when we were watching as we sailed into port and looked either side of me, both couples were hanging over the railing with cigarettes blowing smoke. When I smelled it while inside our cabin(don't recall reading anywhere that we could not have the door to the balcony open unless we were walking through it....I love fresh air and had it open a lot), I did not go out and look to see who the culprit was. If it is HAL's policy that they can smoke on their balcony, then they paid for the right to do it. I would never ask them not to enjoy their cigarettes on the balcony they paid for so they could smoke when they wanted. I am just saying that it decreased my usage of my balcony.

 

 

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There is a note right on the door that says to keep it shut:confused:.

[Richie2pies]

If you keep your balcony door open, it can affect the air-conditioning on the entire block of cabins. Leave it closed if you care about fellow passengers.

[Northshorecruisers]

If you keep your balcony door open, it can affect the air-conditioning on the entire block of cabins. Leave it closed if you care about fellow passengers.

 

 

How funny that I hear on other boards people say "It didn't bother my air conditioning at all when I left my balcony door open". They don't know that it affects the cabins in their block (and maybe other blocks). '

 

How many cruiselines have been told their airconditioning doesn't work when it was just an inconsiderate passenger?

[St. Louis Sal]

I too am hoping that HAL will eliminate smoking on Verandahs. I don't mind designated areas in public locations-I can avoid them but it is so disappointing to discover that passengers around you are smokers and everytime you go out on your balcony that's all you smell. I've only had the problem on a couple of cruises (I've been lucky I guess) but balcony cabins are expensive and there is always that chance that you will spend all that money and not get to use the balcony after all.

 

St. Louis Sal