Lanai cabins and smokers

[RuthC]

Huh??:confused: Are there some posts missing that would explain this reaction?

Not that I noticed.

 

I am still very, very confused with the mixed messages about smoking on the promenade (by whichever deck name it's called on the various ships). To have Seattle and a concierge say it's allowed, while my reading of the policy indicates it isn't, leaves me wondering what I will find the next time I go to sit outside.

I am not an uneducated woman. I know how to read and how to set up an outline format, and the policy is written in such a way as to say that smoking is not allowed on that deck.

[startwin]

Not that I noticed.

 

I am still very, very confused with the mixed messages about smoking on the promenade (by whichever deck name it's called on the various ships). To have Seattle and a concierge say it's allowed, while my reading of the policy indicates it isn't, leaves me wondering what I will find the next time I go to sit outside.

 

I am not an uneducated woman. I know how to read and how to set up an outline format, and the policy is written in such a way as to say that smoking is not allowed on that deck.

 

I entirely agree - I was confused too. The concierge - Sophie - said I must have read the the policy wrong, LOL. But as we know ambiguity is HAL's middle name!

[Linda&Vern]

If smoking is still allowed on cabin balconies, even in a suite you can have a smoker next door.

Thanks for reminding me. I know about my chances on a balcony - it's a chance I take. So far we have been lucky. But I travel with portable oxygen - and to book a Lanai and then not be able to go out on the LP deck would make me a pretty unhappy camper. You wouldn't believe how many groups of smokers I have to walk thru, with my oxygen, just to get to the door of a restaurant these days.

[MagTravel]

We were on a B2B on the Veendam 3 weeks ago and the starboard side lanai cabin next door to us had a chain smoker. There were no ashtrays and she used the ship's china. The entire area was unuseable except for a very brisk walk holding your breath. When the weather was bad she stood in the sliding doorway and smoked. We were so glad when the smoker got off in Quebec.

[Retired Educator]

Thanks for reminding me. I know about my chances on a balcony - it's a chance I take. So far we have been lucky. But I travel with portable oxygen - and to book a Lanai and then not be able to go out on the LP deck would make me a pretty unhappy camper. You wouldn't believe how many groups of smokers I have to walk thru, with my oxygen, just to get to the door of a restaurant these days.

 

I am the OP who posed the question and it was for this EXACT reason...I have COPD and use oxygen. We have given up booking balconies on our favorite cruise line, Princess, and know which areas to avoid on the public spaces. We are sailing HAL as a family reunion sort of thing and wanted to know about the LP on the Maasdam for October of 2014. I did NOT intend to start a flame throwing thread. FYI it isn't just second hand smoke that has an adverse effect on many of us with pulmonary problems, but it is much easier to avoid than, say an elevator with several people who decided if one drop of perfume/after shave is good then 10 must be better.

My call to HAL assured me that when we cruise the LP deck on the Maasdam should be smoke free. I will continue to think positive!

 

 

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[Hlitner]

The bottom line is that HA is still very tolerant of smoking when compared to most of their competition. If smoke is a possible health risk to the OP then we would think its wise to go on a cruise line that has more respect for the health effects of smoke. Celebrity and Princess come quickly to mind among the mass market lines and there are several ultra luxury lines that have very strict smoking policies.

 

Hank

[serendipity1499]

Even people who occupy the Lanai cabins are not supposed to be smoking on the deck.

 

I am the OP who posed the question and it was for this EXACT reason...I have COPD and use oxygen. We have given up booking balconies on our favorite cruise line, Princess, and know which areas to avoid on the public spaces. We are sailing HAL as a family reunion sort of thing and wanted to know about the LP on the Maasdam for October of 2014. I did NOT intend to start a flame throwing thread. FYI it isn't just second hand smoke that has an adverse effect on many of us with pulmonary problems, but it is much easier to avoid than, say an elevator with several people who decided if one drop of perfume/after shave is good then 10 must be better.

My call to HAL assured me that when we cruise the LP deck on the Maasdam should be smoke free. I will continue to think positive!

 

 

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SIZE=3]

I'm like Ruth & don't take everything Seattle tells me as gospel.. We've received conflicting answers several times from different Agents in Seattle.. Don't want to blame the Res Agent, just realize when you are working with so many different people in Seattle & on board many ships, a new policy or even the correct interpretation may not filter down correctly to everyone..

 

If it were me booking a Lanai Cabin, I would book it only on the port side just to be sure, especially if someone in my cabin had COPD & used oxygen..

JMO..BTW we had a lanai on the Veendam & loved it! /

Cheers..Betty

[GeriatricNurse]

A new HAL smoking policy is now in place. The LP deck is not listed as a smoking area.

 

I wonder if the railing ash trays have been removed??

 

IF the railing ash trays REMAIN in place on the 'Wraparound' decks, then one would presume that smoking is STILL permitted on that deck. ;) And since the railing ash trays are portable, then it would be a false presumption that there would be smoking permitted on ONLY one side of that deck! I have seen these portable ash trays hanging from BOTH sides of the deck! :(

[GeriatricNurse]

Ruth, when I was on the Zuiderdam a couple of weeks ago I asked the concierge, because I thought the same, but I saw a guy smoking there, but no ashtrays. She said that smoking is still allowed on the Lower Promenade, on "the side where the ashtrays are". Hmmmmm.

 

And one would therefor presume that this "guy' would have been flicking his cigarette ashes, followed by his ciagarette butt, over the railing & into the water! :rolleyes:

[GeriatricNurse]

Not that I noticed.

 

I am still very, very confused with the mixed messages about smoking on the promenade (by whichever deck name it's called on the various ships). To have Seattle and a concierge say it's allowed, while my reading of the policy indicates it isn't, leaves me wondering what I will find the next time I go to sit outside.

 

I am not an uneducated woman. I know how to read and how to set up an outline format, and the policy is written in such a way as to say that smoking is not allowed on that deck.

 

It would be most convenient to call it the 'Wraparound' Deck! ;)

[GeriatricNurse]

SIZE=3]

I'm like Ruth & don't take everything Seattle tells me as gospel.. We've received conflicting answers several times from different Agents in Seattle.. Don't want to blame the Res Agent, just realize when you are working with so many different people in Seattle & on board many ships, a new policy or even the correct interpretation may not filter down correctly to everyone..

 

If it were me booking a Lanai Cabin, I would book it only on the port side just to be sure, especially if someone in my cabin had COPD & used oxygen..

 

 

JMO..BTW we had a lanai on the Veendam & loved it! /

 

Cheers..Betty

 

And how by booking a Lanai Cabin on the port side "just to be sure" would prevent smokers from smoking on the port side too? :rolleyes:

[Wakepatrol]

OH. GOOD. GRIEF. This is a prime example of why newer posters stop posting here. Y'all enjoy your "new posters/cruisers are always wrong" club. I have better things to do.

 

I went on a cruise and reported that I had eaten lunch in the dining room on embarkation day. One poster chimed in

"Please Confirm You Ate In The Dining Room On Embarkation Day.

 

Welcome to cruise critic.

[flamomo]

I am the OP who posed the question and it was for this EXACT reason...I have COPD and use oxygen. We have given up booking balconies on our favorite cruise line, Princess, and know which areas to avoid on the public spaces.

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Maybe you should reconsider Princess ..... In case you were not aware, smoking on balconies and in cabins has not been permitted for some time now.

[ScriptOhio]

Smoking WAS allowed on the starboard side of the lower promenade on Veendam a couple of weeks ago.

 

OH. GOOD. GRIEF. This is a prime example of why newer posters stop posting here. Y'all enjoy your "new posters/cruisers are always wrong" club. I have better things to do.

 

I was on the Veendam (35 nights, Voyage Of The Vikings) this summer and can confirm what Taz posted was factual for that cruise too.

 

The smoking was only on the starboard side. There were ashtrays hanging on the rails. I guess there were 4 or 5 of them. They were not secured; so needless to say, they frequently got moved. People that smoked in their loungers would usually have their own personal ashtray (and sometimes it was just only an empty Coke can) by their lounger. In addition, it was not unusual for other passengers and/or ship's employees take a "smoke break" on that deck. The most popular areas for the "smoke break" were along the rail by the outside doors.

[RuthC]

I was on the Veendam (35 nights, Voyage Of The Vikings) this summer and can confirm what Taz posted was factual for that cruise too.

 

The smoking was only on the starboard side. There were ashtrays hanging on the rails. I guess there were 4 or 5 of them. They were not secured; so needless to say, they frequently got moved. People that smoked in their loungers would usually have their own personal ashtray (and sometimes it was just only an empty Coke can) by their lounger. In addition, it was not unusual for other passengers and/or ship's employees take a "smoke break" on that deck. The most popular areas for the "smoke break" were along the rail by the outside doors.

Thanks for the additional information. Since ship employees were smoking out there, it was sanctioned by that ship as a smoking area.

[jtl513]

The Zuiderdam doesn't have lanai cabins on the LP deck.

In fact it doesn't even have a promenade on the LP deck. ;)

[GmaPajama]

... In addition, it was not unusual for other passengers and/or ship's employees take a "smoke break" on that deck. The most popular areas for the "smoke break" were along the rail by the outside doors.

A favorite HAL bartender once told me there is a "smoking room" near the crew quarters, and that is the only place they are allowed to smoke. I have seen officers smoking at the Seaview Bar and in the Ocean Bar (back when it was a designated place for smoking), so am thinking that must be the crew you're talking about?

[maxxboy]

We were on a B2B on the Veendam 3 weeks ago and the starboard side lanai cabin next door to us had a chain smoker. There were no ashtrays and she used the ship's china. The entire area was unuseable except for a very brisk walk holding your breath. When the weather was bad she stood in the sliding doorway and smoked. We were so glad when the smoker got off in Quebec.

 

Interesting first and only post.

[ScriptOhio]

A favorite HAL bartender once told me there is a "smoking room" near the crew quarters, and that is the only place they are allowed to smoke. I have seen officers smoking at the Seaview Bar and in the Ocean Bar (back when it was a designated place for smoking), so am thinking that must be the crew you're talking about?

 

Crew that I have actually seen smoking on the deck included officers, other staffers (like a band member, onboard shop worker, or casino dealer), and a few deck hands (like guys that work there on the lifeboats). Also, the amount of smoking (and use for that matter) depends the specific cruise itinerary and/or the weather. On the Voyage Of The Vikings cruise, many days it was too cold and/or windy to comfortably use the deck. Some days/nights the wind was so bad the deck was officially closed off.

 

Yes, on the Veendam there is a crew break area smoking room somewhere on deck below A-deck. It's the deck you get on/off the tenders. A couple times when getting on/off tenders there was a strong odor of cigarette smoke in the area. I asked who was smoking here. A security guy said the crew smoking area was just around the corner (off a "crew only" passageway).

[Retired Educator]

Maybe you should reconsider Princess ..... In case you were not aware, smoking on balconies and in cabins has not been permitted for some time now.

 

We are aware of the recent change in Princess re balcony smoking and will be sailing on the Star Princess to Hawaii in a few weeks for our fifth Princess cruise THIS YEAR...we booked a balcony, again, on our preferred deck and location. The upcoming HAL Maasdam cruise was NOT arranged by us, but is a family reunion so we will be going for the first time on HAL. Maybe I should have posted my question on a Maasdam specific thread as it seems to have generated lots of comments about things that are not really within the original information being requested. Looking back I probably could also have been much more specific in my wording...ahh, hindsight is always 20/20 as they say.

I DO appreciate the interesting input an IMOs that have resulted however, but feel I have enough information to know our decision is neither a GOOD or BAD choice and like all of our many cruises we shall adjust and have a marvelous cruise and experience new sights while we renew family ties!

Fair winds and smooth seas to all and thank you.

Dian

 

 

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[PathfinderEss]

We are aware of the recent change in Princess re balcony smoking and will be sailing on the Star Princess to Hawaii in a few weeks for our fifth Princess cruise THIS YEAR...we booked a balcony, again, on our preferred deck and location. The upcoming HAL Maasdam cruise was NOT arranged by us, but is a family reunion so we will be going for the first time on HAL. Maybe I should have posted my question on a Maasdam specific thread as it seems to have generated lots of comments about things that are not really within the original information being requested. Looking back I probably could also have been much more specific in my wording...ahh, hindsight is always 20/20 as they say.

I DO appreciate the interesting input an IMOs that have resulted however, but feel I have enough information to know our decision is neither a GOOD or BAD choice and like all of our many cruises we shall adjust and have a marvelous cruise and experience new sights while we renew family ties!

Fair winds and smooth seas to all and thank you.

Dian

 

 

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Keep smiling...make them wonder what you're up to!

 

Now here is a person with a wonderful attitude, good for you OP.:)