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

[Hlitner]

Regarding the Prinsendam, the crew smoking lounge is at the bottom of the forward stairway. Another issue on the P'dam (which is almost humerous) happened to us when we had a forward Port side cabin on the lowest passenger deck. One night, around midnight, DW complained to me that she was dreaming about ping pong! But she was not dreaming. While laying in our bed we could hear the distinct sound of a ping pong ball and some cheering. We knew our cabin was over the crew deck, but directly above a large empty area adjacent to the boarding area. I later spoke to Guest Relations who thought the story was funny and said they would "get back to me." They later called and said the crew had a fold-up ping pong table and had moved it into this empty area to play late night ping pong. They did find a "better spot" and DW and no more "dreams."

 

Hank

Edited August 1, 2015 by Hlitner

[cosmo1027]

I read somewhere that HAL was changing it's policy 01/16 to no smoking on balconies. Don't know if this is true. I was hoping for casino also, since we enjoy a bit of evening fun. Has anyone else read this?

I am hesitant to book a HAL verandah for a Med cruise next year under the current smoking policy. Would love to know if HAL is considering changing to no smoking verandahs.

Thanks!

[Fouremco]

I am hesitant to book a HAL verandah for a Med cruise next year under the current smoking policy. Would love to know if HAL is considering changing to no smoking verandahs.

Thanks!

There were rumoured changes for late 2014, definitely in 2015 and now maybe in 2016. I've yet to see anything in the way of a concrete indication of change.

 

When and if HAL publishes new policy, it will hopefully be more precise than the recent changes to the gala night dress policy that have everyone in a tizz.

Edited August 13, 2015 by Fouremco

[oaktreerb]

HAL obviously thought a change in the formal night dress policy was more important than a change in the smoking policy....so don't keep holding your breath....or do keep holding your breath if you have a smoker in your vicinity!

 

Buyer be aware!

[cruz chic]

HAL obviously thought a change in the formal night dress policy was more important than a change in the smoking policy....so don't keep holding your breath....or do keep holding your breath if you have a smoker in your vicinity!

 

Buyer be aware!

 

Sad but true.

[sammiedawg]

HAL obviously thought a change in the formal night dress policy was more important than a change in the smoking policy....so don't keep holding your breath....or do keep holding your breath if you have a smoker in your vicinity!

 

Buyer be aware!

 

Definitely buyer beware if you read cruise critic.

There are other choices in cruise lines. At this point I'm not sure I care anymore.

[cp556]

Where is the outdoor smoking area aboard Maasdam? Is it aft on Deck 10 (Navigation Deck) near the SeaView Pool ?

[sail7seas]

Smoking is also permitted in Casino (obviously not an outdoor location) if actively gambling and on verandahs.

 

Edited August 14, 2015 by sail7seas

[cp556]

Smoking is also permitted in Casino (obviously not an outdoor location) if actively gambling and on verandahs.

 

 

 

Thanks, Sail. I have a friend sailing Maasdam who's a smoker and she asked me. I seem to recall a smoking area on the back of Deck 10 ... every time we went out there, there were guests smoking, sitting around a couple of tables.

 

Just need to know if my memory is correct.

[scm1848]

On all HAL ships, the aft starboard side of the pool is smoking.

 

We have a November 2015 cruise and a September 2016 cruise booked. When I can no longer smoke on my balcony, we will stop cruising HAL. We do have an aft wrap booked for next year on the Osterdam in Europe, so my smoke shouldn't bother anyone.

[cruz chic]

On all HAL ships, the aft starboard side of the pool is smoking.

 

We have a November 2015 cruise and a September 2016 cruise booked. When I can no longer smoke on my balcony, we will stop cruising HAL. We do have an aft wrap booked for next year on the Osterdam in Europe, so my smoke shouldn't bother anyone.

 

Does the smoke just stay in the confines of your aft wrap? I know smokers think that smoke doesn't drift but it does. When you smoke you lose a lot if your ability to smell.

[POA1]

Thanks, Sail. I have a friend sailing Maasdam who's a smoker and she asked me. I seem to recall a smoking area on the back of Deck 10 ... every time we went out there, there were guests smoking, sitting around a couple of tables.

 

Just need to know if my memory is correct.

It's basically the area just behind the Sea View bar. We were on the Maasdam twice with friends who had a verandah room just forward of that area. They noticed cigar smoke late at night, but did not smell cigarette smoke. I should add that one of the couple is a very vehement non-smoker. The only time she complained about it was a late night in Curacao. It didn't seem to be an issue if we were underway.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Does the smoke just stay in the confines of your aft wrap? I know smokers think that smoke doesn't drift but it does. When you smoke you lose a lot if your ability to smell.

 

We aren't smokers, so I can't say for sure, but I think the aft wrap is the least likely to have smoke drift to anyone else because it's so open.

 

We've had smokers near us on our aft wrap, once on the side, once next to us at the back, and I could smell it a little once or twice, but it wasn't strong and it didn't linger. We use our balcony a lot, so either they were light smokers or it blew away from us. The one time it was gross was when the people next to us had a cigar party. There were several couples traveling together and the guys all sat on that balcony to smoke cigars one afternoon. I was grateful for the wrap because I could move to the side to avoid the smell and still be outside. And even that smell didn't stay around after they left--and cigar smell tends to linger. So I'd say a corner aft is well "ventilated."

[Fouremco]

On all HAL ships, the aft starboard side of the pool is smoking.

 

We have a November 2015 cruise and a September 2016 cruise booked. When I can no longer smoke on my balcony, we will stop cruising HAL. We do have an aft wrap booked for next year on the Osterdam in Europe, so my smoke shouldn't bother anyone.

I beg to differ. We were on the Nieuw Amsterdam in February in an aft cabin immediately next to a wrap where the occupant was a smoker. When the ship was underway, we'd only get the occasional whiff and we didn't mind it too much, but in port it definitely bothered us. Had he smoked at the side of the ship, it wouldn't have been as bad, but he liked to light up and smoke along the aft-facing rail close to our verandah. Very unpleasant for non-smokers when trying to eat or just relax on your verandah.

[ren0312]

Why does HAL allow smoking everywhere? Especially in the balconies? I am planning to go to HAL because I tried Celebrity already but the smoking policies are a nonstarter, I can only depart from Vancouver with a round trip because Vancouver has direct flights to Manila, and I do not want to have to get a connecting flight.

[MaisonRose]

Why does HAL allow smoking everywhere? Especially in the balconies? I am planning to go to HAL because I tried Celebrity already but the smoking policies are a nonstarter, I can only depart from Vancouver with a round trip because Vancouver has direct flights to Manila, and I do not want to have to get a connecting flight.

 

They don't, only in obscure designated places, certainly not on the balconies (my husband loves cigars and has always observed the rules, as do the other poor misguided nicotine addicts) usually it is a windy part of a corner of the pool deck.

If it happened and you smell it from your balcony, call security and report it.

S

[Krazy Kruizers]

They don't, only in obscure designated places, certainly not on the balconies (my husband loves cigars and has always observed the rules, as do the other poor misguided nicotine addicts) usually it is a windy part of a corner of the pool deck.

If it happened and you smell it from your balcony, call security and report it.

S

 

 

You definitely need to read the smoking thread.

You can smoke on all HAL balconies and verandahs.

[GUT2407]

Perhaps because other lines don't.

[sammiedawg]

Perhaps because other lines don't.

 

Bingo.

Holland America competes in the marketplace by allowing smoking, which speaks volumes about the quality of their product.

[serendipity1499]

They don't, only in obscure designated places, certainly not on the balconies (my husband loves cigars and has always observed the rules, as do the other poor misguided nicotine addicts) usually it is a windy part of a corner of the pool deck.

If it happened and you smell it from your balcony, call security and report it.

S

 

You are giving this poster the wrong info..HAL does permit smoking on balcony's, but perhaps they may not permit cigars..

 

Calling security & reporting it will do no good ..

[Browser495]

Agree with above....you can smoke cigarettes and cigars on your balcony. Last month on Oosterdam, someone below us was smoking cigars....and yes you could smell it...yuck. We were in an aft cabin. HAL must see allowing smoking as a competitive advantage. It does make you think twice about with whom you sail, both for the smokers and non smokers amongst us! For smokers it will be on the plus side of the ledger, for non smokers (especially those bothered by it) it will be on the negative side. Such is life.

[sppunk]

This thread will be moved, but I will say I believe MaisonRose means open decks, not cabin balconies. If that's what s/he meant that comment makes more sense.

 

But, back to the OP, you cannot smoke everywhere on HAL. Hopefully soon they outlaw it everywhere, but as of now I think there are the casino, one side corner of the aft lido deck, your personal balcony and I think that's it.

[OlsSalt]

We have not noticed smoking "everywhere". Only the casino and one section of the aft balcony - both of which can be avoided. Rarely, for a short time only, has there been a little smoke drift from an adjoining balcony. There is a lot of air movement on those balconies an a cigarette only lasts so long.

[George C]

We have not noticed smoking "everywhere". Only the casino and one section of the aft balcony - both of which can be avoided. Rarely, for a short time only, has there been a little smoke drift from an adjoining balcony. There is a lot of air movement on those balconies an a cigarette only lasts so long.

 

If I remember correctly even casino was limited on my last cruise, they only allowed people to smoke that were gambling and some tables were marked non smoking

[dmg1956]

I am a considerate smoker. I would never think of smoking around non-smokers or anywhere that smoking is not allowed. On a cruise ship veranda where smoking is allowed I'm going to enjoy my rights. Here is a thought. Perhaps HAL should designate one side of the ship for non-smokers. Won't work but just a thought.