This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies

[skoggs25]

That's awesome! Glad to hear it's smoke free! Did you have a verandah room? If so, did you have many smokers around you?

 

 

 

 

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Yes we had a Verandah and did not notice any smokers in our immediate area.

[Freespir8]

Read my #3595. We face the same dilemma you appear to, Princess vs HAL. We have had over 475 days sailing on the two of them. Quit HAL two years ago now when this smoking debacle began to emerge, canceled two cruises of over 80 days sailing as a partial result of the smoking issue with them as well. Over the last 17 months we have been on 6 cruises, 5 on Princess and 1 on Regent. About 110 days sailing. You would think Princess is completely smoke free but they aren't, which is no problem at all for us.

 

Thanks for the response. We went ahead and cancelled our HAL cruise and booked with Princess. I don't have nearly the days that you have sailing but they just lost a 14 day cruiser as a result of that policy.

[OBX-Cruisers]

HAL should be proud to be the #1 cruise line to allow smoking in the greatest number of venues on a recent CC article I just opened today.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1956

 

Although we did not encounter much smoke-related issues on a recent 16 day TA on the Nieuw Amsterdam, this recent article gives me pause in booking another HAL cruise when we have access to better conditions on cruises from experiences on Celebrity where smoking is allowed, but in only certain areas which we can usually avoid.

 

The dangers to health from second hand smoke are REAL and HAL will have to accept responsibility/blame for allowing smoking so widely on its ships that can endanger health of non smokers exposed to the conditions they allow in so many areas that cannot be easily avoided.

REFERENCE :

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/

[erewhon]

Thanks for the response. We went ahead and cancelled our HAL cruise and booked with Princess. I don't have nearly the days that you have sailing but they just lost a 14 day cruiser as a result of that policy.

 

We have numerous friends who were horrified to learn of HAL's policy to allow smoking on balconies, these folk would all have booked top end balcony staterooms. They have all booked on other cruise lines.

[scm1848]

We have 2 cruises booked for a total of 38 days in Europe and the Caribbean, both in Neptune Suites. While we don't gamble, we do drink wine and cocktails during those days. For all of you going to other cruise lines, I envy you your choices. While HAL is the only cruise line that we can smoke on our balcony, we really love HAL for so many other reasons. We are happy to take your places on HAL. Besides the smoking policy, we also love Indonesia and have been there 5 times, speak a little Bahasa, and love the crew. We love the food and overall ambience.

 

Enjoy your cruises, as we will enjoy ours on HAL!!!

[Cruise Junky]

We have 2 cruises booked for a total of 38 days in Europe and the Caribbean, both in Neptune Suites. While we don't gamble, we do drink wine and cocktails during those days. For all of you going to other cruise lines, I envy you your choices. While HAL is the only cruise line that we can smoke on our balcony, we really love HAL for so many other reasons. We are happy to take your places on HAL. Besides the smoking policy, we also love Indonesia and have been there 5 times, speak a little Bahasa, and love the crew. We love the food and overall ambience.

 

Enjoy your cruises, as we will enjoy ours on HAL!!!

 

Hope you're not booked anywhere close to our friends in Neptune suites. She's ready to yell, complain and basically rip the heads off of any smoker anywhere near them. I've told her she has no right, she doesn't care. they have about 90 + days booked in a Neptune suite right now.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Cruise Junky

[idiebabe]

HAL should be proud to be the #1 cruise line to allow smoking in the greatest number of venues on a recent CC article I just opened today.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1956

 

Although we did not encounter much smoke-related issues on a recent 16 day TA on the Nieuw Amsterdam, this recent article gives me pause in booking another HAL cruise when we have access to better conditions on cruises from experiences on Celebrity where smoking is allowed, but in only certain areas which we can usually avoid.

 

The dangers to health from second hand smoke are REAL and HAL will have to accept responsibility/blame for allowing smoking so widely on its ships that can endanger health of non smokers exposed to the conditions they allow in so many areas that cannot be easily avoided.

REFERENCE :

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/

 

If you really sailed HAL recently, you would be aware that the only Indoor Smoking is at a limited number of machines in the Casino. That's it! If you encountered some smoke as you say, that is where you came in contact with it! The only outdoor smoking on the majority of HAL Ships are at the Seaview Bar located Lido Aft and on Verandah's!

 

Please tell us what Venues allow smoking on Nieuw Amsterdam? What Venues did you see? :rolleyes: I've been on the NA three times. We were on her as recently as mid-January and did the TA on her last April. There were no Indoor Venues that allowed smoking other than the few machines and a Table in the Casino!

Edited March 29, 2016 by idiebabe

[JWGrayson]

Hope you're not booked anywhere close to our friends in Neptune suites. She's ready to yell, complain and basically rip the heads off of any smoker anywhere near them. I've told her she has no right, she doesn't care. they have about 90 + days booked in a Neptune suite right now.

 

Hi CJ, We will be in Vancouver in Sep for a cruise and I have a question for you. Please email me at jw(dot)grayson(at)comcast(dot)net. John

[OBX-Cruisers]

"Please tell us what Venues allow smoking on Nieuw Amsterdam? What Venues did you see? I've been on the NA three times. We were on her as recently as mid-January and did the TA on her last April. There were no Indoor Venues that allowed smoking other than the few machines and a Table in the Casino!"

 

I think you missed the part where I said we DID NOT encounter many smoke related issues on the NA during our TA.

[kjw869]

Hope you're not booked anywhere close to our friends in Neptune suites. She's ready to yell, complain and basically rip the heads off of any smoker anywhere near them. I've told her she has no right, she doesn't care. they have about 90 + days booked in a Neptune suite right now.

 

That's what one couple did on a cruise we took in 2014. The woman constantly yelled at their smoking neighbors. It continued on until the next day until they were promptly escorted off the ship in Barbados. I was told by a concierge that the couple are no longer welcome on any of the Carnival branded cruise companies.

 

Someone will book their Neptune Suites. Our Koningsdam cruise of 1/15/17 sold out of Signature Suites and Neptune Suites months ago.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We were on the Westerdam recently.

Had smokers right below us -- they each had their own ash tray.

 

[cheeto]

If you really sailed HAL recently, you would be aware that the only Indoor Smoking is at a limited number of machines in the Casino. That's it! If you encountered some smoke as you say, that is where you came in contact with it! The only outdoor smoking on the majority of HAL Ships are at the Seaview Bar located Lido Aft and on Verandah's!

 

 

?? for you, we are interested in booking an aft wrap neptune suite on the navigation deck under the Lido, would we be able to smell smoke from the smokers from the floor above us that are in the "allowed" smoking area? We are trying to choose between deck 4 or deck 8 and we were leaning towards 8 because we like the privacy from the deck above.

 

This is our first HAL cruise so we do not know if this smoking policy would bother us, actually never thought about it before.

 

Thanks!

[sammiedawg]

?? for you, we are interested in booking an aft wrap neptune suite on the navigation deck under the Lido, would we be able to smell smoke from the smokers from the floor above us that are in the "allowed" smoking area? We are trying to choose between deck 4 or deck 8 and we were leaning towards 8 because we like the privacy from the deck above.

 

This is our first HAL cruise so we do not know if this smoking policy would bother us, actually never thought about it before.

 

Thanks!

 

Yes, in the 21st century smoking is something I rarely think about as it is banned in public places in the US. It is also being banned in apartments and condos.

There is no way to predict which way the wind is gong to be blowing when you sail, I would not book a balcony cabin on HAL.

[mllewis48]

Yes, in the 21st century smoking is something I rarely think about as it is banned in public places in the US. It is also being banned in apartments and condos.

 

There is no way to predict which way the wind is gong to be blowing when you sail, I would not book a balcony cabin on HAL.

 

 

 

As a former smoker I would prefer not being faced with dealing with my neighbors being smokers but I also would not not book a balcony on HAL for that reason! Chances of having a smoker near you as you put it is "rare" in today's time, I'll take my chances as we enjoy the benefits of a balcony, JMO

[Lis2065]

?? for you, we are interested in booking an aft wrap neptune suite on the navigation deck under the Lido, would we be able to smell smoke from the smokers from the floor above us that are in the "allowed" smoking area? We are trying to choose between deck 4 or deck 8 and we were leaning towards 8 because we like the privacy from the deck above.

 

This is our first HAL cruise so we do not know if this smoking policy would bother us, actually never thought about it before.

 

Thanks!

 

These suites are affected by the sounds of the sun lounges being set-up every morning - quite noisy from what I've been told.

[Cindy]

?? for you, we are interested in booking an aft wrap neptune suite on the navigation deck under the Lido, would we be able to smell smoke from the smokers from the floor above us that are in the "allowed" smoking area? We are trying to choose between deck 4 or deck 8 and we were leaning towards 8 because we like the privacy from the deck above.

 

 

 

This is our first HAL cruise so we do not know if this smoking policy would bother us, actually never thought about it before.

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

We've had an aft wrap Neptune Suite on Deck 5, and an SS on Deck 8 mid-ship (both Vista class ships). We weren't bothered by smoke in either instance, but we had a lot of noise from above when we were on Deck 8. I'm a fairly light sleeper, and I wouldn't book Deck 8 again.

[RuthC]

We were on the Westerdam recently.

Had smokers right below us -- they each had their own ash tray.

Great to hear about smokers doing what they are supposed to. It's always good when they are staying in a smoking area, and taking steps to contain their butts.

Thanks for letting us know.

[Lizzie68]

Sorry. I didn't mean for it to be veiled. The stench is awful and hence, I want the policy to change.

 

Not sure where the insult was, nothing personal was written - it is simply a fact that cannot be denied.

[Love2Cruise4Less]

I’ve been a semi-follower of this thread for a very long time. I know I should keep my mouth shut. What good does it do to open it? But I can’t resist.

 

As a life-long smoker, I fully realize the smoking vs. non-smoking issue is a huge, divisive, hot-potato issue. As a smoker, I fully appreciate the “rights” of non-smokers (I am a very considerate smoker.)

 

I also appreciate the concept of free-market capitalism.

 

Of ALL the cruise lines in the world, and of ALL the cabin-types on each of those ships, political correctness has limited the selection of us smokers to ONE cruise line and ONE cabin type: HAL and balcony. And, still, that’s not enough restrictions for you anti-smokers!

 

Fear not: within another decade or two all of us smokers will be dead. Tobacco will be outlawed – everywhere!

 

You have pretty much killed cruising for us soon-to-be dead smokers. Congratulations. Be proud!

:eek:

[CTBob]

Also, as an ex-smoker, unfortunately, I had "cigar guy" in the bow-forward sig-suite who liked to see sunrises and sunsets on our 3-week Westerdam FLL-SAN. Totally gross. Had hoped that he had a minimal habit, but no, he seemed to smoke his stogies most of the day. Good news HA passengers, given his cough, he won't be around much longer.

 

Why doesn't HA insist/stick them all those smokers at the stern?

Recently returned from a 14 day cruise on Celebrity and knew to stay away from the smoking areas. Your post made me remember my last HAL cruise where every time I went on the balcony there was cigar smoke from the cabin next to us. I never figured out when he wasn't on the balcony. I didn't complain because it was his right on HAL and I knew that going in. I didn't have the same problem on other HAL cruises, it's just the luck of the draw. Now I have another HAL cruise coming up on the Koningsdam and I hope my good luck returns.

[tip]

We have twenty-six cruises under our belts including six with HAL. We cruise at least once and sometimes twice a year. We enjoy the HAL product, the smaller ships, the ambiance, the service, the classical music, the dining, and many more things. We do not enjoy having to retreat from our balcony by someone who chooses to pollute the air that we breathe.

 

Thus, we have not sailed with HAL for the past four years. This past winter my wife commented twice after being tied up next to a HAL ship how much she would like to someday return to HAL. About once a month I check this thread to see if HAL has decided to catch up to the 21st Century. Sadly it is stuck in a time warp!

[Host Walt]

Once again it's time out time. Several posts have been removed. Wishing death on anyone is totally out of bounds.

 

Please, let's return to basic civility...and to the topic; HAL's on board smoking policies.

 

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Edited April 11, 2016 by Host Walt

[teamflames]

Does anyone know if the smoking policy on the new Koningsdam is any different to the rest of the fleet? I haven't read anything difinitive from those onboard

 

 

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[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Does anyone know if the smoking policy on the new Koningsdam is any different to the rest of the fleet? I haven't read anything difinitive from those onboard

 

 

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... unfortunately ... this was their reply to me on that very topic:

 

Hello Thomas! We have received specific clarification directly from the Koningsdam to answer your question. Smoking is permitted on Stateroom Verandahs, at the Seaview Bar (located aft on the Lido deck) and, with a recent last minute update, now also in the casino for active players at designated spots. However this is also under review and may be changed at a later time. ...

 

Tom

[teamflames]

Thanks for the update Tom, not what I was hoping for but will just have to wait and see if it has any impact. Appreciate the follow up.

 

 

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