dockman Posted January 28, 2016 #3051 Share Posted January 28, 2016 So what do YOU do when somebody just totally ignores the no smoking areas like on LP deck and is smoking a cigar or even cigs....i absolutely hate it when i am out for my exercise walk and somebody ruins the entire experience with smoke...especially when they stand torwards the bow and the smoke drifts down the entire length of the ship....cigs not so bad but i can smell those nasty cigars from very far away... I have tried...asking a holland employee to tell them there is no smoking there but of course the crew seems to not want to have a confrontatiion. I have tried asking nicely for them to not do it. I have tried asking that at least they move to stern so it will be blown away. I have tried to ignore it. I have tried just giving them a nasty look hoping they would get the message. On my last cruise as we sailed away from YVR there were dozens of people on the LP deck enjoying the nice clean air at sailaway time....and of course some IDIOT shows up near the bow smoking a giant long nasty smelling cigar.....he was fairly belligerent about it and refused to do anything until at least six or seven different people told him the smoking area was top back pool deck...finally he gave everyone nasty glares and left. As an ex smoker i know a lot of smokers think nobody can smell the smoke but they are WRONG. Once you quit you can smell it a mile away...and it really doesn't smell very good at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smi889 Posted January 28, 2016 #3052 Share Posted January 28, 2016 So I come on here to find smoking areas on the Veendam and see more about non-smoking. I email HAL and get a response that one can smoke at the Seaview Bar which doesn't exist on that ship. Bar at the Retreat is in the area that Seaview would normally be. Then you read yes and no about the Casino. Woe is me, tired of the Lines not keeping info up to date then getting on board and being disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 28, 2016 #3053 Share Posted January 28, 2016 After the wine policy fiasco, I'm betting HAL would give 6 months notice of a change in the smoking policy. Pretty fair, I think. Could you bring me up to speed on the issue with wine? Inquiring minds don't want to search ! :D Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted January 28, 2016 #3054 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Could you bring me up to speed on the issue with wine? Inquiring minds don't want to search ! :D Tom On Hal you used to be able to bring on any amount iof wine that you wanted and only pay corkage when you drank it anywhere but your cabin. They changed the policy with very little notice. People had a bird on CC about it and wrote letters etc and they relented. I'm a wine drinker and it didn't make a huge dirpfference to me. Some think that any change is the end of the world. Just look at the koningsdam thread and you can see that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted January 28, 2016 #3055 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Hal would have to give at least 90 days notice so it's too late for the first cruise. No they wouldn't. Look at E-Dam casino. Did they give people 90 days notice? No. They can change whatever they wish whenever they wish. Extending a courtesy so people have options is one thing, but they have no obligation to do so with 90 days notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted January 28, 2016 #3056 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Smoking is a safety issue and there is no need for a waiting period to implement. Princess immediately implemented no smoking Balconies after the fire on Star Princess. We were onboard shortly thereafter, they had someone on both sides of the bridge watching the balconies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted January 28, 2016 #3057 Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) Could you bring me up to speed on the issue with wine? Inquiring minds don't want to search ! :D Tom Off topic for this thread, but - current rule: one bottle per adult (21, not 18) of 750 ml or less at embarkation is corkage free for in-cabin consumption. You can bring on as much as you like from any port (including embarkation) for $18/bottle and you can then drink it anywhere. One exception is if you visit a winery on a HAL tour you can bring back additional (I think it's one bottle pp) corkage free ... if bought at that winery. Edited January 28, 2016 by jtl513 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted January 28, 2016 #3058 Share Posted January 28, 2016 No they wouldn't. Look at E-Dam casino. Did they give people 90 days notice? No. They can change whatever they wish whenever they wish. Extending a courtesy so people have options is one thing, but they have no obligation to do so with 90 days notice. I never said it was an obligation. What I should have said is: "As a courtesy, Hal will give at least 90 days" There is no way Hal is going to flip a switch and say tomorrow there will be no smoking on balconies. Surely you realize that stopping smoking in one venue is not the same as ending balcony smoking? Weren't you the poster that had the inside info that smoking on balconies was supposed to end quite a while back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted January 28, 2016 #3059 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Smoking is a safety issue and there is no need for a waiting period to implement. Princess immediately implemented no smoking Balconies after the fire on Star Princess. We were onboard shortly thereafter, they had someone on both sides of the bridge watching the balconies. Well, I hope we will see immediate implementation to the change. How long did carnival give? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted January 28, 2016 #3060 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I never said it was an obligation. What I should have said is: "As a courtesy, Hal will give at least 90 days" There is no way Hal is going to flip a switch and say tomorrow there will be no smoking on balconies. Surely you realize that stopping smoking in one venue is not the same as ending balcony smoking? Weren't you the poster that had the inside info that smoking on balconies was supposed to end quite a while back? Yes, information changes based on the market. I have decided I won't share any more information of that nature on here. 1. I don't need the aggravation and venom from angry internet strangers that could not possibly be satisfied. 2. It is prudent to not risk the livelihood of someone by sharing that type of information. The thing I realize is that they can, and have, changed policies without advanced notice as fit their business needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted January 28, 2016 #3061 Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) Well, I hope we will see immediate implementation to the change. How long did carnival give? Carnival made their announcement in July 2014, for the change implemented on Oct 9, 2014. So, 3 months notice. NCL also made their announcement in July 2014, for the change implemented in November 2014. 4 months notice. Royal Caribbean made their announcement in Sep 2014, for the change implemented on Jan 1, 2015. 4 months notice. So it seems 90-120 days is the norm, so I would imagine HAL would do similar. I couldn't find how much notice Princess and Celebrity gave...the original lines to ban it several years ago. Edited January 28, 2016 by Aquahound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted January 28, 2016 #3062 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Perhaps we should thank HAL for their current smoking policies. We have an outside cabin booked for an upcoming 8 week Prinsendam cruise. Yesterday, we were offered a pretty decent upsell offer to both mini and full suites. I asked DW, "are you interested in upgrading to a suite with balcony?" Her quick answer, "why should we pay thousands of dollars for a balcony we probably can't use because of smokers?" So we are saving those thousands of dollars plus all the additional thousands we save by never gambling in a HAL Casino (they all smell like dirty ashtrays). And perhaps there is another message in the upsell offer. This is for a HAL Grand Cruise on their smallest ship. And yet, only a few weeks before the voyage they apparently have a substantial number of suites remaining unsold. We cannot help but wonder if others also have adopted our attitude which is why pay for a balcony you cannot use? Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted January 28, 2016 #3063 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Carnival made their announcement in July 2014, for the change implemented on Oct 9, 2014. So, 3 months notice. NCL also made their announcement in July 2014, for the change implemented in November 2014. 4 months notice. Royal Caribbean made their announcement in Sep 2014, for the change implemented on Jan 1, 2015. 4 months notice. So it seems 90-120 days is the norm, so I would imagine HAL would do similar. I couldn't find how much notice Princess and Celebrity gave...the original lines to ban it several years ago. Thank you for the information. I reported the same for ncl. You would think that Hal would extend the same courtesy NOT requirement for the balcony smoking change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 28, 2016 #3064 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Smoking is a safety issue and there is no need for a waiting period to implement. Princess immediately implemented no smoking Balconies after the fire on Star Princess. We were onboard shortly thereafter, they had someone on both sides of the bridge watching the balconies. This is not true. The fire on Star Princess was in 2006: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Princess Princess did not ban balcony smoking until January 2012: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1559878 Right after the Star Princess fire, Princess DID install new smoke detectors and replaced flammable items on their balconies. But they continued to allow smoking for another six years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 28, 2016 #3065 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I think other lines have done the same as a curtesy, but it's definitely not a requirement. Fingers crossed for Konsingdam. It's the only thing holding us back from being super excited and hoping for a similar itinerary on another line. If HAL were going to make an exception regarding balcony smoking (or indeed, start the ball rolling fleetwide) with Koningsdam, I firmly believe they would have already announced it -- particularly as Koningsdam's initial season starts in April in the Med, and many people will already have paid for airfare, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sppunk Posted January 28, 2016 #3066 Share Posted January 28, 2016 My friend in HAL HQ says much to his dismay there is no talk of banning balcony smoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted January 28, 2016 #3067 Share Posted January 28, 2016 This is not true. The fire on Star Princess was in 2006: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Princess Princess did not ban balcony smoking until January 2012: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1559878 Right after the Star Princess fire, Princess DID install new smoke detectors and replaced flammable items on their balconies. But they continued to allow smoking for another six years. Thanks for the information. I didn't think it had been that long since princess stopped balcony smoking. If HAL were going to make an exception regarding balcony smoking (or indeed, start the ball rolling fleetwide) with Koningsdam, I firmly believe they would have already announced it -- particularly as Koningsdam's initial season starts in April in the Med, and many people will already have paid for airfare, etc. I agree. I'm quite confident there will be smoking on the koningsdam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted January 28, 2016 #3068 Share Posted January 28, 2016 My friend in HAL HQ says much to his dismay there is no talk of banning balcony smoking. I've heard from my source that there is a lot of fighting within the ranks about ending smoking. It's not going to happen any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sppunk Posted January 28, 2016 #3069 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I've heard from my source that there is a lot of fighting within the ranks about ending smoking. It's not going to happen any time soon. Yeah, mine is in fleet planning so I think he'd have an idea. :) They may prohibit it in the casino but it won't be ending on balconies. It's very disappointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted January 28, 2016 #3070 Share Posted January 28, 2016 <snip> I agree. I'm quite confident there will be smoking on the koningsdam. I agree and admit I am surprised. I really thought for a while HAL would start banning verandah smoking when Koningsdam joined the fleet but it appears that will not happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted January 28, 2016 #3071 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I agree and admit I am surprised. I really thought for a while HAL would start banning verandah smoking when Koningsdam joined the fleet but it appears that will not happen. Perhaps on their next ship... or the one after that... Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted January 28, 2016 #3072 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I agree and admit I am surprised. I really thought for a while HAL would start banning verandah smoking when Koningsdam joined the fleet but it appears that will not happen. Maybe they don't want to take the chance of cancellations on the Premiere Voyage! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ithaca gal Posted January 29, 2016 #3073 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Perhaps we should thank HAL for their current smoking policies. We have an outside cabin booked for an upcoming 8 week Prinsendam cruise. Yesterday, we were offered a pretty decent upsell offer to both mini and full suites. I asked DW, "are you interested in upgrading to a suite with balcony?" Her quick answer, "why should we pay thousands of dollars for a balcony we probably can't use because of smokers?" So we are saving those thousands of dollars plus all the additional thousands we save by never gambling in a HAL Casino (they all smell like dirty ashtrays). And perhaps there is another message in the upsell offer. This is for a HAL Grand Cruise on their smallest ship. And yet, only a few weeks before the voyage they apparently have a substantial number of suites remaining unsold. We cannot help but wonder if others also have adopted our attitude which is why pay for a balcony you cannot use? After the drydock, during which there were major renovations on Deck 2 (casino area), there is NO SMOKING in the casino! We cruise on the Eurodam next month and can't wait to experience the smoke-free casino now!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goofy4mickey Posted February 3, 2016 #3074 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I've heard from my source that there is a lot of fighting within the ranks about ending smoking. It's not going to happen any time soon. Good to hear because I'm leaving NCL for HAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tom-n-Cheryl Posted February 3, 2016 #3075 Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) Good to hear because I'm leaving NCL for HAL. With your screen name, I'd have expected to see some DCL sailings in your signature! I'm definitely going to give them a try - and will likely save some $, owing to the absence of a casino! Tom Edited February 3, 2016 by Tom-n-Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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