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

[Dunmore2]

I would like to know who to email about reversing the decision to allow smoking in the casino. It will certainly keep me out of there.

Edited April 11, 2022 by Dunmore2

[twodjs]

Intersting that smoking is not permitted in the offices at Holland America headquarters in Seattle, yet they are just fine subjecting their guests and crew to second-hand smoke in their casinos. I certainly appreciate their complete lack of concern.

[edgee]

Just now, twodjs said:

Intersting that smoking is not permitted in the offices at Holland America headquarters in Seattle, yet they are just fine subjecting their guests and crew to second-hand smoke in their casinos. I certainly appreciate their complete lack of concern.

So agree with you. Cancelled Nieuw Stat. cruise we were so looking forward to this fall the minute I learned about the return of casino smoking. Now on a less attractive Celebrity itinerary but know we will be able to enjoy the cruise and non smoking casino.

[twodjs]

You'll have a great time on Celebrity! We haven't canceled but think of all the money we'll save not going to the casino on K-dam. And we got a SUBSTANTIAL casino discount on our suite. Of course HAL is thinking they'll easily make it back. Well, not if we have to inhale smoke!

 

[richstowe]

17 hours ago, twodjs said:

Celebrity has been 100% smoke-free for decades 

My worst  balcony experience was on Celebrity . There was a persistent smoker whose specific location I couldn't locate . Celebrity was VERY uninterested in locating them . I felt Celebrity's smoking campaign was for show .

So you never know .

[Fouremco]

We stopped cruising with HAL for a period of time because of the smoking on balconies, but returned once they finally banned that. Hopefully this about face on the casinos doesn't portend further relaxation of the non-smoking rules.

[oceanbeau10]

Just returned from the Rotterdam, and the casino was filled with cigarette smoke ... disgusting!  So, we cancelled our cruise for December on Holland America!  I can't believe they allow smoking in the casino. ... no concern for their passengers or employees!

[StLouisCruisers]

4 minutes ago, oceanbeau10 said:

Just returned from the Rotterdam, and the casino was filled with cigarette smoke ... disgusting!  So, we cancelled our cruise for December on Holland America!  I can't believe they allow smoking in the casino. ... no concern for their passengers or employees!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.  Interesting first post.  🤔

[edgee]

1 minute ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.  Interesting first post.  🤔

Seems like a perfectly appropriate post, whether first or ten thousandth.

[HELENPSL]

1 hour ago, oceanbeau10 said:

Just returned from the Rotterdam, and the casino was filled with cigarette smoke ... disgusting!  So, we cancelled our cruise for December on Holland America!  I can't believe they allow smoking in the casino. ... no concern for their passengers or employees!

Several of their ships do not allow smoking in the casino - Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Zuiderdam and several others.  Maybe you can choose a different ship and that would solve the problem.

Helen

[edgee]

1 hour ago, HELENPSL said:

Several of their ships do not allow smoking in the casino - Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Zuiderdam and several others.  Maybe you can choose a different ship and that would solve the problem.

Helen

Add Westerdam and Noordam to that list. Sadly, they are all older ships without the "newness" and bells and whistles of HAL's newer builds.

[oceanbeau10]

Thanks for the information!  Love the newer ships, but this is an option.

[HELENPSL]

16 hours ago, oceanbeau10 said:

Thanks for the information!  Love the newer ships, but this is an option.

Try checking the Eurodam or Nieuw Amsterdam.  They’re not the newest ships but they are beautiful and also have the Tamarind restaurant.

Helen

[oceanbeau10]

8 minutes ago, HELENPSL said:

Try checking the Eurodam or Nieuw Amsterdam.  They’re not the newest ships but they are beautiful and also have the Tamarind restaurant.

Helen

Thank you, Helen!  We have been on the Eurodam several times, and loved it.  Celebrity might be another option for us!  

[HELENPSL]

Someone on a Princess site said that as of 3 weeks ago HAL is not allowing smoking in the casino on any of their ships.  She said it was on the HAL website but I couldn’t find anything to confirm this information.  Does anyone know if this is correct? 
Helen

[edgee]

5 minutes ago, HELENPSL said:

Someone on a Princess site said that as of 3 weeks ago HAL is not allowing smoking in the casino on any of their ships.  She said it was on the HAL website but I couldn’t find anything to confirm this information.  Does anyone know if this is correct? 
Helen

The website has Covid language that says "Until further notice smoking is not permitted in the casino." However reports from onboard ship say that they have started to permit it on the newer ships where it was allowed prior to Covid. I cancelled a Rotterdam booking due to return of casino smoking and am doing a less attractive itinerary on Celebrity instead. If casino smoking is a deal breaker for you, unless HAL comes out with a definite permanent casino smoking policy change, I would stick with older ships (except Zaandam and Volendam) where long standing policy prohibits casino smoking.

[Bill B]

Can anyone who has been on the Westerdam lately (preceding 6 months of May 2022) tell me where the smoking areas are? Thanks! 🙂

[DE Solo]

3 hours ago, Bill B said:

Can anyone who has been on the Westerdam lately (preceding 6 months of May 2022) tell me where the smoking areas are? Thanks! 🙂

Currently the Westerdam does not have passengers aboard.

[KroozNut]

4 hours ago, Bill B said:

Can anyone who has been on the Westerdam lately (preceding 6 months of May 2022) tell me where the smoking areas are? Thanks! 🙂

 

The designated smoking area on Westerdam (Vista Class) is deck 9 starboard side aft near the Seaview pool/bar.

[LoveSerendipity]

Just came off a cruise to Hawaii from Vancouver and very disappointed that smoking was allowed in the casino. Definitely cut down on our casino time and that was with 5 days at sea both ways. Shame on HAL.

[Ipeeinthepools]

Can anyone tell me how well the ventilation system works on the Rotterdam to keep the cigarette smoke and smell in the casino?

[twodjs]

On 6/15/2022 at 2:42 PM, Ipeeinthepools said:

Can anyone tell me how well the ventilation system works on the Rotterdam to keep the cigarette smoke and smell in the casino?

Check post #558. Not good news...

[KroozNut]

On 4/21/2022 at 3:20 PM, edgee said:

Add Westerdam and Noordam to that list. Sadly, they are all older ships without the "newness" and bells and whistles of HAL's newer builds.

 

That's not sad at all. The older ships are what we like about HAL. Don't need the bells and whistles..

Edited June 21, 2022 by KroozNut

[Ipeeinthepools]

16 hours ago, twodjs said:

Check post #558. Not good news...

 

I'm not sure that I see anywhere in #558 discusses the surrounding areas.  I don't spend any time in the casino so that really doesn't affect me but if the surrounding areas also smell like smoke, that will be an issue.

[twodjs]

Hopefully others will chime in, but in every HAL ship that allows smoking, because there aren't doors closing off the casino area, I can smell it in the surrounding area. On Koningsdam the stink comes down the stairs to the Music Walk area. I was pleased when they made every casino non-smoking during covid, but disappointed when they again began allowing it on ships where the piano duo is not directly across from the casino area.