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

[Lady Arwen]

It's been absolutely proven that prohibiting smoking in the casino will not impact the revenue of the cruiseline. There has been an indoor ban, including the casino, on Celebrity for years and their ships are filled to capacity and the casino is hopping til the wee hours of morning. More crowded than on any HAL ship I've been on. MORE people will use the casino if there is no smoking, not less. The vast majority of people do not smoke and using a casino where smoking is allowed can be a deal breaker. I spend lots of time in the casino on Celebrity ships and a lot less on HAL ships that still allow it.

[canadarocks]

I'm pretty sure the Nieuw Amsterdam's casino is now non-smoking. We walked through it quite a few times in January. Curious that the Konangsdam still allows it. :confused:

[albingirl]

They allow it on the Veendam. Smoke drifts into the library. It stinks to high heaven.

[haladdict]

Its a mystery to most of us, as to why Hal is so behind the times.

I also find it difficult to understand why a smoker lights up in the casino, when they know that most people find it offensive.

Just because they are allowed, doesn't mean they have to.

sandra

[sail7seas]

We were in the Koningsdam for 21 days in March and I was wondering why they still allow smoking inside the ship. The casino was basically forward/mid ship on deck 3. To get from one end of the ship to the other end inside the ship on deck 3 you needed to pass through the casino and the stink of cigarette smoke. Even on non smoking nights it still had cigarette odor. The worst part of allowing smoking in the casino on the Koningsdam it was right above the Lincoln Center and Billboard and the smell of cigarette smoke filtered down into these two areas on deck 2. The smell was very noticeable on deck 2 so if they going to allow smoking on deck 3 and it stinks up deck 2 why not go ahead and allow smoking on deck 2. It wouldn't make much difference. Before you go off on that comment I don't want that to happen I'm just think it wouldn't make much difference because of the smell is already there on deck 2. I know people are addicted to smoking and on sea days it would be tough on them. Why not just limit smoking to the sea view pool area where it is already allowed and get it completely out of the inside of the ship. People say the smoke stink problem will be fixed in dry dock. Easy fix is ban smoking inside the ship altogether.

 

 

The answer to your question asked in thread title is, apparently Yes, some folks must need or wish to smoke when they gamb le.

Edited April 2, 2018 by sail7seas

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

On the Feb. 19 Westerdam cruise, there was nno smoking allowed in the casino. One of the casino workers told us that as the ships go through dry dock and the casinos are redone, smoking will be prohibited in the casinos.

 

Once or twice, we did get a faint smoke smell. We had an aft balcony toward the port side, so we were below the area of the aft Lido deck where smoking is allowed. That was probably where the somke smell was coming.

[sail7seas]

I never considered HA because people were permitted to smoke on balconies. Then the policy changed.

 

We leave on our first HA cruise this week, If smoke is a problem, this cruise will be our first and last on HA.

 

 

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.

[portofrome]

Since the smoking policy has changed I never encountered any smoking smell on the balcony.

[sail7seas]

On the Feb. 19 Westerdam cruise, there was nno smoking allowed in the casino. One of the casino workers told us that as the ships go through dry dock and the casinos are redone, smoking will be prohibited in the casinos.

 

Once or twice, we did get a faint smoke smell. We had an aft balcony toward the port side, so we were below the area of the aft Lido deck where smoking is allowed. That was probably where the somke smell was coming.

 

 

Good news HAL WILL stop casino smoking.

[baggal]

I'm pretty sure the Nieuw Amsterdam's casino is now non-smoking. We walked through it quite a few times in January. Curious that the Konangsdam still allows it. :confused:

 

We were on the Nieuw Amsterdam in February. The casino was non-smoking. Ironically, or not, the casino was the most crowded I have ever seen a HAL casino. Every table game was full with people waiting for a seat and the slots seemed to be very busy. Non-smoking might be a draw.

[Lyndihop]

Unfortunately not soon enough for our Koningsdam cruise in October.

[sail7seas]

That sums it up nicely. We lived in Las Vegas for 13 years. Tried to basically stay away from casinos because we knew what the odds of winning are. The times we went, however, the preponderance of gamblers were smoking. Even saw one little old lady wearing an oxygen cannula and smoking a cigarette! Since smokers are gambling with their health/lives, I suppose we can surmise smokers are gamblers!

 

 

I would say that is reasonal surmisal. L0

[golfer gurl]

We were on the Oosterdam in Feb/Mar 2018. No smoking in the casino or balconies. It was great.

[ithaca gal]

If the casino allows active players to smoke, then so.be it. What bothers me is when non-players drop in and use the casino as a smoking lounge and the supervisors will NOT ask them to leave. Even though they are not gambling.

[kazu]

I am really at a loss why there are 2 smoking threads all of a sudden on the boards but I guess Host Walt locked the old one so we are doomed.

 

Let's be fair to all. It's time HAL designated a smoking room indoors for smokers with proper ventilation as they do on other ships (ie. Oceania) if people don't want it in the casino. Now if you want to really scream, theirs is in Horizons (our Crow's Nest) and you can smell it a bit if you use the wrong entrance in (2 entrances, take the other side). But they do have good ventilators and it takes care of most of it.

 

There has to be some fairness to all IMO. You can't make the ship non smoking nor can you relegate those whose habit causes you distress to outside areas when decks can be closed and they are left with nowhere to go. That does invite breaking of the rules. JMO.

[kazu]

If the casino allows active players to smoke, then so.be it. What bothers me is when non-players drop in and use the casino as a smoking lounge and the supervisors will NOT ask them to leave. Even though they are not gambling.

 

totally agree.

[tgg]

We were on the Oosterdam in Feb/Mar 2018. No smoking in the casino or balconies. It was great.

 

We board tomorrow and will be looking forward to a ship with less smoke. Thanks for posting. It put a big smile on my face.

[albingirl]

If you smell it, report it. No brainer.

[sail7seas]

I am really at a loss why there are 2 smoking threads all of a sudden on the boards but I guess Host Walt locked the old one so we are doomed.

 

Let's be fair to all. It's time HAL designated a smoking room indoors for smokers with proper ventilation as they do on other ships (ie. Oceania) if people don't want it in the casino. Now if you want to really scream, theirs is in Horizons (our Crow's Nest) and you can smell it a bit if you use the wrong entrance in (2 entrances, take the other side). But they do have good ventilators and it takes care of most of it.

 

There has to be some fairness to all IMO. You can't make the ship non smoking nor can you relegate those whose habit causes you distress to outside areas when decks can be closed and they are left with nowhere to go. That does invite breaking of the rules. JMO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I dinot see here where anyone said no to a well ventilated sealed off smoking room.

 

Was that discussed and dismissed?

[winddawn]

We were in the Koningsdam for 21 days in March and I was wondering why they still allow smoking inside the ship. The casino was basically forward/mid ship on deck 3. To get from one end of the ship to the other end inside the ship on deck 3 you needed to pass through the casino and the stink of cigarette smoke. Even on non smoking nights it still had cigarette odor. The worst part of allowing smoking in the casino on the Koningsdam it was right above the Lincoln Center and Billboard and the smell of cigarette smoke filtered down into these two areas on deck 2. The smell was very noticeable on deck 2 so if they going to allow smoking on deck 3 and it stinks up deck 2 why not go ahead and allow smoking on deck 2. It wouldn't make much difference. Before you go off on that comment I don't want that to happen I'm just think it wouldn't make much difference because of the smell is already there on deck 2. I know people are addicted to smoking and on sea days it would be tough on them. Why not just limit smoking to the sea view pool area where it is already allowed and get it completely out of the inside of the ship. People say the smoke stink problem will be fixed in dry dock. Easy fix is ban smoking inside the ship altogether.

 

I cannot understand why some cruise lines continue to allow indoor smoking. Most indoor public spaces on land are non-smoking, and the ill-effects of smoking are well documented, so why are some cruise lines continuing with archaic smoking policies that allow indoor smoking? I chose my next cruise based on the casino being completely smoke-free (Oosterdam). I found this out when researching HAL's smoking policy on their website. I found here (on page 16) that Eurodam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam all have smoke-free casinos.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/KBYG.pdf

 

Even on land, I only visit smoke-free casinos. One of my pet peeves is going home after vacation with a suitcase full of clothes that smell like a cigarette, so I only choose places without indoor smoking.

[tpwolfe]

I cannot understand why some cruise lines continue to allow indoor smoking. Most indoor public spaces on land are non-smoking, and the ill-effects of smoking are well documented, so why are some cruise lines continuing with archaic smoking policies that allow indoor smoking? I chose my next cruise based on the casino being completely smoke-free (Oosterdam). I found this out when researching HAL's smoking policy on their website. I found here (on page 16) that Eurodam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam all have smoke-free casinos.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/KBYG.pdf

 

Even on land, I only visit smoke-free casinos. One of my pet peeves is going home after vacation with a suitcase full of clothes that smell like a cigarette, so I only choose places without indoor smoking.

 

 

Well said

[Lady Arwen]

I cannot understand why some cruise lines continue to allow indoor smoking. Most indoor public spaces on land are non-smoking, and the ill-effects of smoking are well documented, so why are some cruise lines continuing with archaic smoking policies that allow indoor smoking? I chose my next cruise based on the casino being completely smoke-free (Oosterdam). I found this out when researching HAL's smoking policy on their website. I found here (on page 16) that Eurodam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Zuiderdam all have smoke-free casinos.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/KBYG.pdf

 

Even on land, I only visit smoke-free casinos. One of my pet peeves is going home after vacation with a suitcase full of clothes that smell like a cigarette, so I only choose places without indoor smoking.

I completely agree with you. Celebrity has no indoor smoking and they are one of the most popular cruiselines operating today. The majority of people do not want indoor smoking and are thrilled to be booked on a ship that prohibits it. It's so nice to walk around a ship and not have to worry that you'll unknowingly walk into an area that smells like smoke. I really do love HAL, but I would love them more if they eliminated smoking on all of their ships. You know that it's coming. HAL is just a bit slow, but I'm confident they'll get there.

[AV8rix]

The weird thing is that, according to the CDC, our age demographic has the LOWEST percentage of smokers than any other. Surely HAL must know this.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/index.htm

 

It really distresses me because I'm a blackjack player. I have to go to the casino as soon as the tables open at 10 am on sea days and play only until it becomes intolerable to me -- usually noon or before. On port days I'm just out of luck. I live in Washington state and don't have to endure this in the non-tribal casinos which, like any other business in my state, are non-smoking.

[Host Walt]

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.

Edited April 3, 2018 by Host Walt

[sammiedawg]

I completely agree with you. Celebrity has no indoor smoking and they are one of the most popular cruiselines operating today. The majority of people do not want indoor smoking and are thrilled to be booked on a ship that prohibits it. It's so nice to walk around a ship and not have to worry that you'll unknowingly walk into an area that smells like smoke. I really do love HAL, but I would love them more if they eliminated smoking on all of their ships. You know that it's coming. HAL is just a bit slow, but I'm confident they'll get there.

 

Viking Ocean is another line prohibiting indoor smoking and they are killing it sales wise. Kudos to them.

The US has made great strides eliminating smoking but it has taken more than 50 years of vehement public health campaigning. I don’t know a soul who still smokes.