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

[evgal/nj]

I certainly hope smoking policy does NOT change!!

We are smokers obviously and enjoy our balcony since there is no smoking inside the cabin.

Holland America should be commended for not buckling to what the other cruise lines have done !

I still think that making one side of the ship smoking & the other non smoking would solve the problem.

[sapper1]

Is that correct? I knew that smoking isn't allowed (per announcements) when the ship is actively refueling due to risk, but I wasn't aware that smoking isn't allowed at any time while the ship is in port. Could someone confirm this?

 

They always make that announcement in Fort Lauderdale as there is a lot of refueling going on with several ships in port.

On occasion the announcement has been made in other ports but not very often.

 

At one time we anchored off Panama City after completing a canal transit and smoking was prohibited then because we were bunkering.

Edited January 20, 2015 by sapper1

[cruisemom42]

They always make that announcement in Fort Lauderdale as there is a lot of refueling going on with several ships in port.

On occasion the announcement has been made in other ports but not very often.

 

At one time we anchored off Panama City after completing a canal transit and smoking was prohibited then because we were bunkering.

 

 

Thanks -- interesting to know. I admit I usually only listen with half an ear to such announcements as they don't affect me, but will listen more closely next time.

[kazu]

Is that correct? I knew that smoking isn't allowed (per announcements) when the ship is actively refueling due to risk, but I wasn't aware that smoking isn't allowed at any time while the ship is in port. Could someone confirm this?

 

They always make that announcement in Fort Lauderdale as there is a lot of refueling going on with several ships in port.

On occasion the announcement has been made in other ports but not very often.

 

At one time we anchored off Panama City after completing a canal transit and smoking was prohibited then because we were bunkering.

 

Every time I have boarded a ship in FLL, that is what we have been told. It's not just our ship bunkering - it's the others as well.

 

Just our experience though.

[summersigh]

I think it's interesting to hear the different observations on smoke on the balconies on HAL ships based on different posters' experiences.

 

We're not smokers so we don't really have a vested interest in being able to smoke - but that being said ... smoke on our balcony has never been a problem for us as it has seemingly been for some others. We've actually smelled more smoke on our RCCL balconies where smoking is NOT allowed on the balcony than

 

I do understand that there are folks bothered by the 2nd hand smoke on HAL balconies - of course it does happen - but on the other hand the HAL ships don't sail in perpetual gray clouds of cigarette smoke either.

 

There are a lot of different opinions about smoking aboard ships based on folks experiences just as there are about everything else on a cruise ship such as food served in the MDR vs LIDO vs Specialty Restaurants. :)

[OVgirl]

Is that correct? I knew that smoking isn't allowed (per announcements) when the ship is actively refueling due to risk, but I wasn't aware that smoking isn't allowed at any time while the ship is in port. Could someone confirm this?

 

When the stewards put out the ashtrays on the aft lido deck, it means that smoking is allowed. And in the past they have not waited until the ship is out to sea. It's usually later in the afternoon.

 

But of course, things change all the time, so will have to wait and see.

[Aquahound]

Is that correct? I knew that smoking isn't allowed (per announcements) when the ship is actively refueling due to risk, but I wasn't aware that smoking isn't allowed at any time while the ship is in port. Could someone confirm this?

 

I frequent Port Everglades for work. There is no such policy. During fueling, yes, of course. But universally, no, there is no policy preventing smoking while the ship is still in PE.

 

If HAL enforces a universal no smoking policy while still in port, that's their doing, not the port's.

Edited January 20, 2015 by Aquahound

[cruz chic]

I certainly hope smoking policy does NOT change!!

We are smokers obviously and enjoy our balcony since there is no smoking inside the cabin.

Holland America should be commended for not buckling to what the other cruise lines have done !

I still think that making one side of the ship smoking & the other non smoking would solve the problem.

 

Don't you worry, Hal will "buckle" sometime this year.

[sail7seas]

 

Originally Posted by evgal/nj View Post

I certainly hope smoking policy does NOT change!!

We are smokers obviously and enjoy our balcony since there is no smoking inside the cabin.

Holland America should be commended for not buckling to what the other cruise lines have done !

I still think that making one side of the ship smoking & the other non smoking would solve the problem.

 

If it was such a simple solution, I suppose some of those who run ALL these cruise lines would have thought of it by now! :) It has been suggested on this forum dozens of times and many have commented why it cannot work.

 

All the cruise lines would have done it long ago.

 

Edited January 20, 2015 by sail7seas

[cruz chic]

If it was such a simple solution, I suppose some of those who run ALL these cruise lines would have thought of it by now! :) It has been suggested on this forum dozens of times and many have commented why it cannot work.

 

All the cruise lines would have done it long ago.

 

 

I think it's been mentioned dozens of times this year (2015):D.

[sail7seas]

I think it's been mentioned dozens of times this year (2015):D.

 

Probably so. :) :D

 

[sapper1]

When the stewards put out the ashtrays on the aft lido deck, it means that smoking is allowed. And in the past they have not waited until the ship is out to sea. It's usually later in the afternoon.

 

But of course, things change all the time, so will have to wait and see.

 

I have never heard a "you may now smoke" announcement.

[kazu]

I have never heard a "you may now smoke" announcement.

 

You are correct, there is no announcement. The signs come down on the doors and the ashtrays appear. It's very subtle.

[mrscopper]

I cannot believe after all these comments that HAL has not moved to eliminate smoking on balconies. Not only is it offensive, but it is dangerous. I have had ashes in my face, and seen neighbors flik cigarettes off balcony. I have been very fortunate to sail on HAL all these years and enjoyed a balcony cabin, but that has changed, how sad. Now I am on oxygen, I love the idea of resting on the balcony, however HAL does not seem to listen to it's mariners.

[Sow There]

I cannot believe after all these comments that HAL has not moved to eliminate smoking on balconies. Not only is it offensive, but it is dangerous. I have had ashes in my face, and seen neighbors flik cigarettes off balcony. I have been very fortunate to sail on HAL all these years and enjoyed a balcony cabin, but that has changed, how sad. Now I am on oxygen, I love the idea of resting on the balcony, however HAL does not seem to listen to it's mariners.

Your point is well taken. May I suggest you express your feelings in writing directly to Holland America? While it should be likely that HAL executives follow posts on Cruise Critic, it's far better that they hear from you directly.

 

Holland America Line Guest Relations

300 Elliott Avenue West

Seattle, WA 98119-4119

 

Email: guestrelations@hollandamerica.com Fax: 206‐905‐8962

[Hlitner]

Your point is well taken. May I suggest you express your feelings in writing directly to Holland America? While it should be likely that HAL executives follow posts on Cruise Critic, it's far better that they hear from you directly.

 

Holland America Line Guest Relations

300 Elliott Avenue West

Seattle, WA 98119-4119

 

Email: guestrelations@hollandamerica.com Fax: 206‐905‐8962

 

We let our money do our talking. For the first time in over 8 years we now have no future HAL bookings and have no plans for any future booking until such time as their is a revision in HAL's smoking policy (or we have a total change of heart). In fact, we did have an expensive HAL booking up until a few months ago, but after some soul searching we called HAL and cancelled.

 

Writing to HAL (and completing past surveys) has not seemed to been an effective strategy. HAL has shown us that they love smokers, have no interest in the health or inconvenience of non-smokers so we have lost interest in HAL. Fortunately, there are many other cruise lines that we enjoy (14 to date) so our decision was quite easy.

 

Hank

[sail7seas]

 

<snip>

 

 

Writing to HAL (and completing past surveys) has not seemed to been an effective strategy. HAL has shown us that they love smokers, have no interest in the health or inconvenience of non-smokers so we have lost interest in HAL. Fortunately, there are many other cruise lines that we enjoy (14 to date) so our decision was quite easy.

 

Hank

 

When you canceled, did you tell HAL is was because of their verandah smoking policy?

 

[cruz chic]

We let our money do our talking. For the first time in over 8 years we now have no future HAL bookings and have no plans for any future booking until such time as their is a revision in HAL's smoking policy (or we have a total change of heart). In fact, we did have an expensive HAL booking up until a few months ago, but after some soul searching we called HAL and cancelled.

 

Writing to HAL (and completing past surveys) has not seemed to been an effective strategy. HAL has shown us that they love smokers, have no interest in the health or inconvenience of non-smokers so we have lost interest in HAL. Fortunately, there are many other cruise lines that we enjoy (14 to date) so our decision was quite easy.

 

Hank

 

Have to agree with you on the writing. I've emailed and their reply was letting me know what the policy is. No @@@@ Sherlock! I do cruise on princess but hal is my favorite. That said, I'll be cruising in a oceanview next time.

[Hlitner]

When you canceled, did you tell HAL is was because of their verandah smoking policy?

 

 

Fair question and the answer is yes and no :). We had booked the Voyage of the Vikings cruise (for this July) while onboard the Oosterdam. Shortly after returning home from that trip, DW and I decided that "enough was enough" and why pay top dollar (this is one of the more expensive HAL cruises because its so popular) for a cruise on a ship with the liberal smoking policy. So we just called the HAL 800 number and cancelled and cited cost/benefit when asked why. The following day we received a call from HAL asking for more details as to why we cancelled and we cited cost/benefit and smoking. We later got another call from our PCC who also wanted to know why we cancelled and we again cited the cost/benefit and the smoking policy. The PCC did say that she had heard many negative comments about the smoking policy and wanted to know if we might later change our mind. We told her that if the cost of the cruise were to have a huge drop (unlikely on this particular cruise) we might reconsider. But I further explained to her that I could cruise on several other cruise lines in a nice balcony cabin (with no adjacent smokers) for far less cost per passenger day then HAL wanted for that particular cruise.

 

I want to be clear that DW and I generally enjoy longer HAL cruises (we are 4 Star well on our way to 5 Star) but now prefer to find other cruise lines where smoking is not an issue. If, and when, HAL eliminates balcony smoking we would quickly put HAL back in the mix. As to casino smoking, on HAL we simply avoid the casino (and never gamble a penny). We probably should thank HAL for allowing smoking in the Casino since with our "do not gamble in any smokey casino policy" we have saved thousands of dollars by not gambling on HAL ships :). When we go on Celebrity (which has a no-smoking policy in their casinos) we have "donated" too much to their "health and welfare fund."

 

 

Hank

[sail7seas]

Thanks. Twice my DH and I booked to sail Viking and yes, it is a costly cruise.

Never did get to do it.

 

[scm1848]

We currently have 32 days booked on 2 cruises in suites. I have always let my TA know that if I can's smoke on my balcony, we will cancel both cruises. I also always express this to HAL when I've spoken to the office directly. We buy wine - lots of it. If they don't want my $25,000 plus, we'll stop sailing. We smokers also vote with our dollar!!!

[UPNYGuy]

We currently have 32 days booked on 2 cruises in suites. I have always let my TA know that if I can's smoke on my balcony, we will cancel both cruises. I also always express this to HAL when I've spoken to the office directly. We buy wine - lots of it. If they don't want my $25,000 plus, we'll stop sailing. We smokers also vote with our dollar!!!

 

 

Non smokers vote with $$$ as well. DW and I average between $500 and $1000 per day for accommodations with a competing cruise line, and have well over 100 days at sea. Until HAL no longer wishes to be "ash tray of the seas", DW and I are booking elsewhere.

 

 

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[cruz chic]

It's the same old story with smokers. I've seen it on every cruise line board here on CC. Loyal Princess cruisers said it. Loyal Celebrity cruisers said it. Loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers said it. "If and when (insert cruise line here) bans balcony smoking, I'll no longer book them." Guess what lines those people are still sailing? One person on the NCL board even threw herself a big pity party, started a thread, and gave a long goodbye saying she was quitting cruising and CC all together. B.S. They all come back.

 

HAL isn't stupid. All they have to do is look at every single other cruise line and they'll see people do not actually leave for this reason.

 

I agree. Many smokers said they would leave the line when they discontinued smoking in rooms. Very, very few did.

[Aquahound]

It's the same old story with smokers. I've seen it on every cruise line board here on CC. Loyal Princess cruisers said it. Loyal Celebrity cruisers said it. Loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers said it. "If and when (insert cruise line here) bans balcony smoking, I'll no longer book them." Guess what lines those people are still sailing? One person on the NCL board even threw herself a big pity party, started a thread, and gave a long goodbye saying she was quitting cruising and CC all together. B.S. They all come back.

 

HAL isn't stupid. All they have to do is look at every single other cruise line and they'll see people do not actually leave for this reason.

 

So true.

[sammiedawg]

I think many who came to HAL recently for the smoking policy will go back to their preferred cruise line. Long time HAL cruisers will likely continue to book cruises on HAL as they customarily due.