Single Smoking Thread (Use for all smoking discussions on HAL) )

[edgee]

Just now, Turtles06 said:

 

It really is mind-boggling that HAL allows this on a beautiful, brand new ship, especially as it has prohibited smoking in the casinos on some of the older ships. 

Supposedly they have chosen Vista Class and similar ships for NS casinos is that casinos on these ships are too close to other entertainment areas of the ship and having smoke drift to these areas is intolerable. Newer larger shops..the Konigsdam and Nieuw Statendam have a different design, although some complain that the smoke still drifts outside of casino in an annoying way.

[delphis98]

Is there smoking allowed on the promenade around deck 3 at any place at all (Eurodam)?   ok i just read the earlier posts and see that smoking is not allowed on deck 3.   thanks!

Edited April 7, 2019 by delphis98
repetitive

[Travel2Learn]

What is the smoking policy on the Oosterdam?  Is it enforced?  Is smoking on balconies ignored by the crew?  

[KroozNut]

5 hours ago, Travel2Learn said:

What is the smoking policy on the Oosterdam?  Is it enforced?  Is smoking on balconies ignored by the crew?  

 

Allowed in only one location on Oosterdam... Lido deck aft, starboard side near the Seaview bar and pool.

[*Miss G*]

6 hours ago, Travel2Learn said:

What is the smoking policy on the Oosterdam?  Is it enforced?  Is smoking on balconies ignored by the crew?  

 

Yes, the smoking policy is enforced.  And if it goes unnoticed by the crew you can guarantee that it won’t go unnoticed by other passengers.

Edited April 29, 2019 by *Miss G*

[smi889]

Darn, reading about all this smoking gave me the urge to go outside and light up. Can't wait for cruise on the Statendam!

[friendswithdave]

Anyone been on the Nieuw Statendam recently to get the current smoking situation, especially in the casino. We are considering the ship, but that would be a strike against it. I understand it is allowed on most nights, but only in the slots area?

[killsport]

We were on in late March. Wonderful ship. However, the smoke in the casino was bad. It was tough to walk through without coughing or covering my face. The smoke even drifted down (yes, down) to the music area below. On the non-smoking nights, the casino still had a smoke smell (but no issues breathing).

[dcruisers]

We are looking into a first Holland America cruise.

is it non smoking ?  We sure hope so at least in the casino

[KirkNC]

Sorry, other then a few rando nights the casino still allows smoking.  Stone Age I know.

 

The only other smoking place is aft outside of Lido, usually starboard side.

[fatcat04]

On Nieuw Amsterdam in Feb, the casino was smoke free. There are some ships where the casino is completely smoke free and some where it is smoke free on only certain evenings. The sticky smoking thread at the top of the forum homepage is the best place to look for current information and ask any smoking related questions. 

 

Edited June 24, 2019 by fatcat04

[fatcat04]

Here also is the official HAL policy from their website:

 

To better align with guest wishes and health concerns, Holland America Line will implement a new smoking policy beginning in January 2017. Please see below for details.

Smoking Policy beginning January 2017:

Effective with the first sailings for all ships beginning in January 2017, the following smoking policy is in effect:

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted:

• Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side only. On Prinsendam, Koningsdam, and Nieuw Statendam, smoking is allowed on the port side only
• Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
• Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow's Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam
• Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
• Onboard Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam the casinos are non-smoking. Onboard all other Holland America Line ships, smoking is allowed in the casinos except for non-smoking days.

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms and suites but not on verandahs or in other public areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

[doone]

So wish it was non -smoking in the casino, but no such luck.  On the Koningsdam, I was unable to go into the casino, smoke filled and stunk..........................lucky for me, I couldn't make my donation 😂

[SargassoPirate]

14 minutes ago, doone said:

So wish it was non -smoking in the casino, but no such luck.  On the Koningsdam, I was unable to go into the casino, smoke filled and stunk..........................lucky for me, I couldn't make my donation 😂

We avoid smoking casinos as well. I wonder if HAL has studied casino revenues for smoking and non-smoking venues?

 

 

[wwcruisers]

As a long-time RC/X cruiser, my question is: How well does HAL enforce the no-balcony/cabin-smoking policy? I ask this because X has always done a very good job of enforcing their no-smoking policies. Of course, there is always that one person who thinks that the rules don't apply to them. But one phone call to Guest Relations is all it's ever taken to resolve that occasional problem. However, we recently returned to RC -- who banned balcony smoking even before HAL. I was VERY disappointed that people in the big suite directly below our balcony, continued to flaunt the policy, despite our repeated phone calls to the GR desk.

 

We are considering HAL -- mainly due to RC/X's continually shrinking presence, here on the West Coast. And, while I can easily avoid the casino, as well as any outdoor designated smoking areas -- being 'smoked off' my balcony is a deal-breaker, for me!

[TomBeckCruise]

Fatcat 04 post has your information.  SEVERAL ships are now non-smoking indoors including in the casino. On the Zuiderdam last fall smoking was allowed only outdoors on one deck. Deck 9.

 

We did not sail on HAL for twelve years because of their smoking policy. They are finally getting into the 21st century.

[jennaja]

2 hours ago, wwcruisers said:

As a long-time RC/X cruiser, my question is: How well does HAL enforce the no-balcony/cabin-smoking policy? I ask this because X has always done a very good job of enforcing their no-smoking policies. Of course, there is always that one person who thinks that the rules don't apply to them. But one phone call to Guest Relations is all it's ever taken to resolve that occasional problem. However, we recently returned to RC -- who banned balcony smoking even before HAL. I was VERY disappointed that people in the big suite directly below our balcony, continued to flaunt the policy, despite our repeated phone calls to the GR desk.

 

We are considering HAL -- mainly due to RC/X's continually shrinking presence, here on the West Coast. And, while I can easily avoid the casino, as well as any outdoor designated smoking areas -- being 'smoked off' my balcony is a deal-breaker, for me!

They don't enforce the no-smoking policy effectively, unless the cabins haven't been updated since the no-smoking ban went into affect.  

  We were on the 6/3/19 sailing of the Amsterdam, just after the word cruise ended.  Our cabin reeked of stale cigarette smoke.  I mentioned the issue to Guest Relations, and they had the carpet shampooed and spritzed an air freshener in the room.  Neither made any difference to the smoke odor, and the room spray had an unpleasant odor also.    The cabin smelled like the casino.  It needs to be gutted and refurnished.

[GEEKMA92]

Smoking in the casino is reason enough for us to stay away from HAL. Simply cannot stomach cigarette smoke.

[HELENPSL]

34 minutes ago, GEEKMA92 said:

Smoking in the casino is reason enough for us to stay away from HAL. Simply cannot stomach cigarette smoke.

There are several ships where the casino is totally smoke free.

[Tom47]

We usually cruise on Celebrity and Azamara because they forbid smoking in all indoor areas.  But we want to do a Baltic itinerary with Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki.  They don't offer this itinerary.  HAL does this rt Rotterdam on Rotterdam.  According to HAL website smoking is still allowed in the casino.  It appears that HAL has  changed some casinos into no smoking during dry docks.  Does anyone know when next Rotterdam dry dock is scheduled?  If so, will there a conversion into no smoking casino?   Thanks and I hope that I'm not intruding.  We plan on doing this in spring 2021.

[rafinmd]

On 6/29/2019 at 10:28 PM, HELENPSL said:

There are several ships where the casino is totally smoke free.

As I read it all the Vista and Signature ships except Noordam (Westerdam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Eurodam, and Nieuw Amsterdam.  I wonder what's different about the Noordam.

 

Roy

[HELENPSL]

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

As I read it all the Vista and Signature ships except Noordam (Westerdam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Eurodam, and Nieuw Amsterdam.  I wonder what's different about the Noordam.

 

Roy

I have never been on the Noordam but I had heard that there was a "cigar smoking room" near the casino.  I just looked at the deck plan and don't see anything that would imply such a room.  I'm sure someone who's been on the Noordam recently will be able to solve this mystery.

Helen

[HELENPSL]

2 hours ago, rafinmd said:

As I read it all the Vista and Signature ships except Noordam (Westerdam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Eurodam, and Nieuw Amsterdam.  I wonder what's different about the Noordam.

 

Roy

Part II - I just googled this and found out that there is a room called the Oak Room which is their smoking room.  According to the deck plan it is right next to the Crow's Nest and not near the casino.

Helen

[smi889]

To all my non-smoking friends? If you all hadn't been such drama queens about smoking on ships it wouldn't be so bad in the Casinos. What's wrong with smoking on like the promenade deck where it's open, the ships moving, and you really don't have to stand right next to me. No wonder kids now are called snowflakes, their parents sheltered them from everything. The Casinos stink, I agree, but there isn't many other places for smokers to go and we are really nice people.

Edited July 10, 2019 by smi889

[*Miss G*]

11 minutes ago, smi889 said:

we are really nice people.

 

I can tell!