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

[Blackduck59]

4 minutes ago, edgee said:

No smoking in cabins or on balconies. However on Nieuw Statendam you will have casino smoking. As others have mentioned, better to check out Celebrity which has zero indoor smoking.

Thanks everyone for all your help. Our preferred line is Celebrity but their itineraries are all "return" and we are looking for a one way. That gives us Holland America and Princess. I have to assume that a new ship which allows smoking in the casino would have proper ventilation. We are not gamblers and won't be in the casino, my only concern is drifting smoke from there.

[Tom47]

Pearl Seas does a 1 way, but small ship, 200 pax, and more expensive.

[edgee]

40 minutes ago, Tom47 said:

Pearl Seas does a 1 way, but small ship, 200 pax, and more expensive.

Oceania does one ways between NY and Montreal on one of their 700 passenger ships. No indoor smoking except one enclosed small public room and also one small outside smoking area on pool deck.

[kazu]

3 hours ago, edgee said:

Oceania does one ways between NY and Montreal on one of their 700 passenger ships. No indoor smoking except one enclosed small public room and also one small outside smoking area on pool deck.

 

Umm Oceania offers smoking in a room outside of Horizons (O’s equivalent of the Crow’s Nest on HAL).  The door is open and the smell can waft so make sure you are entering from the other side of the Horizons if the smell bothers you.

I do think the inside area is fair and it seemed the officers used it a lot 😉 so I guess that’s where it is where it is.

[Blackduck59]

I think what the question is, will the smoke from the casino infiltrate the other public spaces? While I appreciate the suggestions that we take a different line, I feel that they aren't really helpful. I had hoped that asking a question about a Holland America ship on the Holland America board I may get a few opinions as to whether the smoking arrangements in Nieuw Statendam may be a problem for my asthmatic wife who lives very normal life until tobacco smoke and heavy fragrance come into the mix.

Have I got it right that you have to go through the casino to get to the theatre? That is brilliant🤔 

[Tom47]

7 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

I think what the question is, will the smoke from the casino infiltrate the other public spaces? While I appreciate the suggestions that we take a different line, I feel that they aren't really helpful. I had hoped that asking a question about a Holland America ship on the Holland America board I may get a few opinions as to whether the smoking arrangements in Nieuw Statendam may be a problem for my asthmatic wife who lives very normal life until tobacco smoke and heavy fragrance come into the mix.

Have I got it right that you have to go through the casino to get to the theatre? That is brilliant🤔 

We have never cruised on HAL, but considered it along with Celebrity, Azamara, Princess, Oceania, Pearl Seas , RCI, and Vantage.  We are leaning towards PS, Portland to Quebec.   Smoking policy is important to us.

 

[KroozNut]

3 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

I think what the question is, will the smoke from the casino infiltrate the other public spaces? While I appreciate the suggestions that we take a different line, I feel that they aren't really helpful. I had hoped that asking a question about a Holland America ship on the Holland America board I may get a few opinions as to whether the smoking arrangements in Nieuw Statendam may be a problem for my asthmatic wife who lives very normal life until tobacco smoke and heavy fragrance come into the mix.

Have I got it right that you have to go through the casino to get to the theatre? That is brilliant🤔 

 

I would submit that if you and your wife avoid the few designated smoking areas on NS or any other HAL ship, you should be good to go. From our experience, having sailed on a few HAL ships (different classes), smoking has never been a problem.

[edgee]

3 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

I think what the question is, will the smoke from the casino infiltrate the other public spaces? While I appreciate the suggestions that we take a different line, I feel that they aren't really helpful. I had hoped that asking a question about a Holland America ship on the Holland America board I may get a few opinions as to whether the smoking arrangements in Nieuw Statendam may be a problem for my asthmatic wife who lives very normal life until tobacco smoke and heavy fragrance come into the mix.

Have I got it right that you have to go through the casino to get to the theatre? That is brilliant🤔 

Yes, the smoke from the casino infiltrates other spaces. If your wife is extremely sensitive to smoke, any of the ships that have casino smoking are going to be a problem if you are out and about on the ship, mostly in the evenings. For this reason, some of us have been courteously suggesting other alternatives, as the Nieuw Statendam will likely not work for you, based on the criteria you have laid out.

[edgee]

Just now, edgee said:

Yes, the smoke from the casino infiltrates other spaces. If your wife is extremely sensitive to smoke, any of the ships that have casino smoking are going to be a problem if you are out and about on the ship, mostly in the evenings. For this reason, some of us have been courteously suggesting other alternatives, as the Nieuw Statendam will likely not work for you, based on the criteria you have laid out. There are several comments on this thread and on reviews of HAL ships that lend credence to the problem.

 

[HappyCamper49]

On 4/1/2018 at 5:41 PM, Hlitner said:

 

The easy solution to the Casino problem is to just adopt Celebrity's policy and allow no smoking inside the ship...including the casino.

 

Hank

That is why we sail Celebrity----no smoking anywhere indoors!  We are trying HAL due to the TA itinerary.  Hopefully no balcony smokers.

[HappyCamper49]

On 4/2/2018 at 1:51 PM, sail7seas said:

 

 

If someone is smoking on their verandah, do not suffer in silence......... Report them and they will be stopped, Same goes for any non-smoking area.

Have read CC reviews where balcony smoking WAS reported and NOTHING done.  Sort of gives me hesitancy about our upcoming 2022 Rotterdam cruise.

[HappyCamper49]

On 4/2/2018 at 8:22 PM, Host Walt said:

This thread is where all discussions of HAL's new smoking rules should appear to avoid having multiple threads on the single subject.

 

The current smoking policy is on HAL's website and is copied below:

 

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.

 

SHIP NEW SMOKING POLICY BEGINS ms Maasdam January 2, 2017 ms Rotterdam January 2, 2017 ms Volendam January 3, 2017 ms Noordam January 4, 2017 ms Veendam January 4, 2017 ms Zuiderdam January 4, 2017 ms Nieuw Amsterdam January 6, 2017 ms Eurodam January 7, 2017 ms Westerdam January 7, 2017 ms Koningsdam January 8, 2017 ms Zaandam January 10, 2017 ms Oosterdam January 13, 2017 ms Amsterdam April 26, 2017 ms Prinsendam May 6, 2017

 

 

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
• Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos*. Oosterdam and Eurodam casinos are completely non-smoking. Noordam Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise.

 

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 but not 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.

Ewww!  Had I known E-cigarettes we ALLOWED in cabins, this would have been a decision maker for us.  As one CC post read, "They smell as bad as real cigarettes!"  I know there have been instances of them catching fire too.

[KroozNut]

2 hours ago, HappyCamper49 said:

Ewww!  Had I known E-cigarettes we ALLOWED in cabins, this would have been a decision maker for us.  As one CC post read, "They smell as bad as real cigarettes!"  I know there have been instances of them catching fire too.

 

Good news for you is that HAL has updated its smoking policy since the 2017 version that you cited. Their current policy reads in part that "All staterooms, suites, and verandahs are non-smoking".. and goes on to say "E-cigarettes are not permitted in staterooms (bolding mine). They are only allowed in designated smoking areas"

 

[srpilo]

21 hours ago, HappyCamper49 said:

That is why we sail Celebrity----no smoking anywhere indoors!  We are trying HAL due to the TA itinerary.  Hopefully no balcony smokers.

 

True no indoor smoking on Celebrity.. BUT way way more outside smoking areas , HAL normally has just one outside smoking area on their remaining ships, and unlike Celebrity you don't unknowingly stumble across a smoking area when exploring outside.

 

Personally I prefer HAL's smoking protocols, accept for the casino, they are WAY WAY more restrictive than Celebrity

[rwmiller]

For information, as of today on the Know Before You Go page:

“Due to the current health and safety protocols in our continuing effort to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, smoking will be temporarily prohibited in all casinos on the Volendam, Zaandam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam until further notice.”

Bob

[HappyCamper49]

7 minutes ago, rwmiller said:

For information, as of today on the Know Before You Go page:

“Due to the current health and safety protocols in our continuing effort to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, smoking will be temporarily prohibited in all casinos on the Volendam, Zaandam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam until further notice.”

Bob

Wow!  Great news for some of us.  Thank you, Bob.

[rwmiller]

I hope that they make it permanent but good for those sailing soon. We sail NS in May 2022. 
 

Bob

[HappyCamper49]

5 hours ago, srpilo said:

 

True no indoor smoking on Celebrity.. BUT way way more outside smoking areas , HAL normally has just one outside smoking area on their remaining ships, and unlike Celebrity you don't unknowingly stumble across a smoking area when exploring outside.

 

Personally I prefer HAL's smoking protocols, accept for the casino, they are WAY WAY more restrictive than Celebrity

You are right!  It bugs me that smoking is allowed around the Mast Grill!

[HappyCamper49]

Just now, rwmiller said:

I hope that they make it permanent but good for those sailing soon. We sail NS in May 2022. 
 

Bob

We sail on the new Rotterdam eastbound TA in April, 2022.  Hope you have a great, safe cruise!

[rwmiller]

@HappyCamper49 Thanks! You too. 
 

Bob

 

[smi889]

On 5/16/2021 at 10:35 PM, edgee said:

Yes, the smoke from the casino infiltrates other spaces. If your wife is extremely sensitive to smoke, any of the ships that have casino smoking are going to be a problem if you are out and about on the ship, mostly in the evenings. For this reason, some of us have been courteously suggesting other alternatives, as the Nieuw Statendam will likely not work for you, based on the criteria you have laid out.

 

[smi889]

Boo Hoo😷

[puppycanducruise]

On 8/7/2021 at 4:30 PM, rwmiller said:

For information, as of today on the Know Before You Go page:

“Due to the current health and safety protocols in our continuing effort to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, smoking will be temporarily prohibited in all casinos on the Volendam, Zaandam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam until further notice.”

Bob

Thanks for the info.  Wish they would make it permanent.

[richstowe]

On 8/6/2021 at 1:50 PM, HappyCamper49 said:

That is why we sail Celebrity----no smoking anywhere indoors!  We are trying HAL due to the TA itinerary.  Hopefully no balcony smokers.

The worst  balcony smokers we have endured were on Celebrity .

We reported it but saw (and smelled) no evidence that it was acted on . 

[RGEDad]

Non-Smoker here (or rather 45 year Non-Smoker) and have cruised on HALs Eurodam, Westerdam, and Nieuw Amsterdam. Since the smokers area is on the starboard side of the rear Lido deck I never to out to the deck via the starboard doors. I only go out to the deck or the NY Pizza place via the port side access door. 

Once out on the deck I am seldom bothered by the smoke unless approaching the smokers sitting area in the Sea View Bar. 

On our 4 Celebrity cruises I have periodically, inadvertently, wandered into outdoor smoking areas.  I learned to stay clear of those areas - but I will say - they were outdoor areas.

I do get really , really annoyed by having to walk through the smoking casino to get to the Theater - there was one RCL cruise I always had to consistently go up a deck and over the Casino.

DRAT: I just realized that the Carnival Dream (Deck 5), and the HAL Rotterdam cruises I have booked have smoking in the casino. I do not gamble - but really annoying if it is between where I am - and where I am going, or near the music venues I like.