Did You/Are You Switching Cruise Lines Because of HAL's Smoking Policies?

[WpgCruise]

I haven't told anyone to go elsewhere.

 

I said everyone should make thier own choices after a poster that cruised Oceania posted her experience on Oceania on this thread.

 

There can't be a more neutral position than that. Again, I don't smoke, I am a non-smoker. I am absolutely neutral on the issue myself.

 

I think we need to agree to disagree in any case.

 

soccer

 

I think many of us know full well what your message was, but some just want to interpret it to suit their agenda.

 

It could be said the Holland America board on Cruise Critic is an island of information in a sea of drama.

 

Sad isn't it how some have to dominate a discussion somehow thinking that if they state their opinion over and over and over, somehow by sheer volume everyone else will eventually agree.

[CowPrincess]

I agree with you that it is perfectly logical to suggest that if someone is so bothered by smoking on balconies that it'll ruin a cruise that person should examine other cruise lines and/or other vacation types. That someone has decided not to pursue those choices doesn't make the suggestion any less logical.

 

After all, when someone posts a HAL review here and says, "I wasn't happy on HAL so I'm going back to <fill in cruise line here>, many say, "Isn't it nice that we all have choices." They don't say, "You should let HAL know, over and over, that they need to change the policies that you don't like."

 

I think many of us know full well what your message was, but some just want to interpret it to suit their agenda.

 

It could be said the Holland America board on Cruise Critic is an island of information in a sea of drama.

 

Sad isn't it how some have to dominate a discussion somehow thinking that if they state their opinion over and over and over, somehow by sheer volume everyone else will eventually agree.

 

 

I agree. I am less and less impressed with a number of things on HAL, in particular the food. If I said that I was unhappy with HAL food every time someone mentioned food, it would be reasonable (by most people's standards of "reasonable") to suggest to me that I consider other cruise lines.

[cruisemom42]

That's the thing....... :D

 

 

I DO have warm fuzzy feelings for HAL. :)

Please do not tell me all the reasons I should not. :D

 

 

I was very careful to state that I was only saying how I feel. On this board, one cannot say anything apparently without others thinking you are telling them what they should do.....

[Lizzie68]

I think many of us know full well what your message was, but some just want to interpret it to suit their agenda.

 

It could be said the Holland America board on Cruise Critic is an island of information in a sea of drama.

 

Sad isn't it how some have to dominate a discussion somehow thinking that if they state their opinion over and over and over, somehow by sheer volume everyone else will eventually agree.

 

Agree. And it's always good to keep in mind that CC is a tiny, tiny portion of the number of HAL cruisers. So doesn't reflect the majority or reality.:D

[puli]

Don't shoot me but I'm really interested and, therefore, asking.....

 

Have you or are you planning to switch to HAL because you can no longer smoke on your favorite cruise line's verandah?

 

Have you or are you planning to switch cruise lines because you do not like that HAL continues to permit smoking on verandahs?

 

Do you have friends or family who are doing one or the other?

Thanks. "quote"

 

Sail, after too many years to count with HAL (4 Star). we have reluctantly made the decision to switch to another cruise line . Our initial reason was indeed the balcony smoking issue (restrictive lung disease will do this to you). However, now that we have ventured to another cruise line we have discovered other benefits not offered on HAL....to mention a few : more specialty restaurants, terrific butler service, staterooms as large if not larger, more interactive spaces, more relaxed dress policy, and even similar itineraries .

 

So now, even if HAL adopted a no smoking on veranda policy ,we might not return unless , for us at least, HAL also became a little more innovative and competitive with other main stream cruise lines.

[mancunian]

Oh dear! I have had to read my report on Oceania again. I made no reference to smoking whatsoever, and it was not one of our reasons for booking Oceania but somehow with my report being included in the backlash it would appear that we did. We would like HAL to be become non smoking except in one or two small areas, but we certainly would still go with them unless the situation worsens.

 

I think however, I did not really explain why I was ready to come home after 10 days and said tongue in cheek perhaps there was too much luxury. Although we really enjoyed the luxury the ship did not have the ambience of HALs R and S class and Prinsendam all of which we love. I should have worded it better and explained that I felt with six places to dine there was much less opportunity to meet others or indeed ever see them again unless you went to somewhere like the Artist's Loft people seemed to stay in couples or the groups they had come on board with. We were never asked once if we wished to dine alone or sit with others. Unless you walked in as a party I feel it was assumed you wanted to be placed as a pair.

 

We did like Oceania for many things and will certainly go again for a short Europe trip and a good rest (and a touch of luxury), but even so if someone said we could only go on one cruiseline in future we would choose HAL.

Edited August 5, 2014 by mancunian

[chrispb]

I think many of us know full well what your message was, but some just want to interpret it to suit their agenda.

 

It could be said the Holland America board on Cruise Critic is an island of information in a sea of drama.

 

Sad isn't it how some have to dominate a discussion somehow thinking that if they state their opinion over and over and over, somehow by sheer volume everyone else will eventually agree.

 

Well said. Words are twisted to mean something entirely different to what the poor poster was saying.

[eldercruser]

After an excellent cruise on Celebrity last year, we are rethinking our loyalty to HAL. We do have a Noordam cruise planned for February which may well be our last HAL cruise even though we are finally 4 star.

 

We have already booked our February, 2016 Caribbean cruise with Celebrity.

 

Our first HAL cruise was in 1988 and it was terrific. Over the years it seems the little things keep escalating so we have decided to move on.

[maggie.1008]

We enjoyed the service food and suite on our HAL cruise. However we had nonstop smokers on the balcony next to us. We are loyal to Celebrity for their smoking policy and perks that come with suites.

[sjbdtz]

I have a cruise booked for next month and I think it will be my last. We are tired of the same old ports and all the hassles of cruising, fee for this, fee for that. I think we will try some all inclusives. From what I understand many also have nightly entertainment.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

 

 

Will you still come around to CC and entertain us?

 

 

.

[Avril]

I wonder why HAL has continued to allow smoking on balconies when most (all?) other lines have banned it? I'm not complaining as I am as smoker, just curious. To answer the original question, yes HAL may be seeing more of me in the future and my dear Carnival and NCL may be seeing less of me.

[Host Walt]

This thread is the thread that will be used for discussions of HAL's smoking policies and their enforcement in the future.

 

Please do not initiate another thread on this subject.

 

Thanks.

[jackson bernard]

Will you still come around to CC and entertain us?

 

 

.

 

Yes Stevie, yes. Who is us? You and your righht hand? Your left hand? Both hands? Egad!

 

Have a niice day.

 

Your friend,

Little Jackie B.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Forums mobile app

[elizabeth612]

 

At this point, if I had a balcony booked, I would not be pleased to have inconsiderate smoker(s) beside me.

 

I don't even smoke but how it it that if you smoke you're inconsiderate?

[starfish the second]

I wil be checking HAL out because of their smoking policy. We take 3 to 4 cruises a year mostly with NCL, Have a Carnival cruise booked in Sept Ncl in Nov 2014 April 2015 and Sept 2015. I will not cancel My cruises even though I can not smoke on my balcony. I cruise to cruise:) not smoke! So looking at Hal for Nov 2015

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We've been talking about a cruise on HAL for years now but have always put it off since the other cruise lines have instated more stringent rules for smoking. The way it looks to me is that the smokers will be migrating to HAL even more since they're the last refuge for balcony smoking so it might not be long before we take that first smoke free balcony cruise on HAL after all. ;)

[innlady1]

We've been talking about a cruise on HAL for years now but have always put it off since the other cruise lines have instated more stringent rules for smoking. The way it looks to me is that the smokers will be migrating to HAL even more since they're the last refuge for balcony smoking so it might not be long before we take that first smoke free balcony cruise on HAL after all. ;)

 

I'll post after our upcoming TA cruise on the Noordam. We have a verandah stateroom on the stern which is sometimes not a wise choice if there are smokers nearby. If we are unable to use our verandah, that will be the last one we book. It'll be a lanai or outside cabins for us.

[PirateShark]

First off for the S and R class ships to get a balcony you have to pay a very large premium for a Suite to have one. That is going to eliminate MANY from considering HAL. As far as I am concerned HAL is non existent for West Coasters except for summer Alaska.

HAL's problem is NOT smoking it goes way beyond that and starts with the placement of their ships.

 

Yes...THIS! We were looking for a winter getaway out of LA to Mexico. The 7 day HAL ships are way more expensive if you want a cabin. Regardless of balcony or not. Add to that they offer a lesser amount of available itineraries than Carnival or NCL and its to the point where HAL is way down on the list (unless we fly somewhere). If we have to fly, then sorry HAL. We'll pay for Oceania.

[kennicott]

We only do Regent, HAL and Princess. We are 4 star on HAL. Always get a balcony. We were on a 30 day voyage with HAL in Feb and March. Didn't have any problems with the balcony smokers because our neighbors didn't smoke, much anyway.

 

Wife had a problem in the casino though. I don't like gambling. Seems that, at times, some smokers go in there just to smoke. She detested the experiences where hubby stood along side of spouse as she pulled the slots and smoked and smoked. This usually occurred in the evening after the show, she would go down to the casino and soon be back in a huff.

 

We are booked for a 30 day B to B on HAL a year from this October. May cancel out if they don't clean up their act.

 

Prefer Regent anyway over the other two. All three usually pencil out cost wise pretty much the same so expense isn't a concern.

[Host Walt]

As you all may know we are implementing a new approach for discussions of smoking policies on Holland America ships.

 

For information on how the new approach was originated, please see this thread: Poll: Single Smoking Thread on the HAL Board - a Sticky.

 

Accordingly please continue the discussion in this, now closed, thread in the new thread which you will find in this link: This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies

Thanks.