Poll: HAL Smoking Survey

[gillianrose]

Several people have reported getting this questionnaire. So it may not be a question of whether HAL is listening, as has HAL head office sanctioned such questionnaires.

 

I checked on this after reading the above two posts, and my friend was told by the person who answers Stein Kruse's personal mail that there is no such survey and nothing of the sort has been handed out onboard. Said assistant was adamant about this.

 

Do I believe Stein Kruse's personal assistant or CC'ers about whether or not the survey is being handed out?

 

CC'er's, of course! ;)

 

As to whether the survey was sanctioned by the head office, well, that remains unclear.

[marle7]

I checked on this after reading the above two posts, and my friend was told by the person who answers Stein Kruse's personal mail that there is no such survey and nothing of the sort has been handed out onboard. Said assistant was adamant about this.

 

Do I believe Stein Kruse's personal assistant or CC'ers about whether or not the survey is being handed out?

 

CC'er's, of course! ;)

 

As to whether the survey was sanctioned by the head office, well, that remains unclear.

 

Or perhaps, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing at HAL.:D

[cruz chic]

Or perhaps, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing at HAL.:D

 

You read my mind:D .

[Copper10-8]

Or perhaps, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing at HAL.:D

 

As in the Oosterdam sick Azipod episode last year:eek:

[Susan-M]

I just returned from a 24 day cruise on the Zuiderdam.(April 26-May 20)...A smoking survey form was placed in our stateroom after 12 days...Another survey was placed in the room at the end of the cruise...

 

Were the two questionnaires the same, with just 3 questions?

[SydneyD'Augstralia]

I checked on this after reading the above two posts, and my friend was told by the person who answers Stein Kruse's personal mail that there is no such survey and nothing of the sort has been handed out onboard. Said assistant was adamant about this.

 

Do I believe Stein Kruse's personal assistant or CC'ers about whether or not the survey is being handed out?

 

CC'er's, of course! ;)

 

As to whether the survey was sanctioned by the head office, well, that remains unclear.

 

Perhaps the person who answers his mail isn't privy to the inner workings of all the departments......;)

 

We were on Ooosterdam and Ryndam in the last two weeks and received the surveys.

[sail7seas]

I'm sure Mr. Kruse will be delighted to have his 'personal mail answerer ;) discussed here on CC. :D This assistant may be responding to you as instructed..... see nothing, hear nothing, know nothing.

[Opinions]

Were the two questionnaires the same, with just 3 questions?

 

They were the same...Though we booked it as a 24 day cruise it was actually two 12 day cruises...

[Susan-M]

They were the same...Though we booked it as a 24 day cruise it was actually two 12 day cruises...

 

Thanks Opinions .... after 24 days on a HAL cruise, any thoughts on whether a change in the smoking policy to a more restrictive one, would make a noticeable difference in the on-board experience?

[usha]

I'm sure Mr. Kruse will be delighted to have his 'personal mail answerer ;) discussed here on CC. :D This assistant may be responding to you as instructed..... see nothing, hear nothing, know nothing.

Yeah, Celebrity kept insisting that they had no plans to change their smoking policy, too, right up to the press release about the new smoking policy....:cool:

[arzz]

We just got off the Amsterdam (May 16-23) and there were both the end of cruise survey and the smoking survey left for us at our cabin the last day of the cruise. Though the HAL contacts may be denying its existence, someone in the organization knows about it as we received it -- it was turned in with the end of cruise surveys. The survey was also imprinted with name and cabin number just like the end of cruise surveys.

 

As I look at the CC response at this point it is clear that non-smokers do not care and would not change their cruising habits but that this issue is very important to those who smoke. There is virtually no question in the numbers at all.

 

As non-smokers (who can be very bothered by second hand smoke) we would be delighted with a non-smoking ship however I would hate to see 25% of cruisers (as that is just about how our CC numbers are playing out) forced to change their cruising venue - it sort of doesn't seem fair. There must be a doable solution out there that would be satisfactory to everyone. Actually the way the rules are now seem to work very well for us as the majority of the ship is non-smoking but smoking is still permitted in some locations.

[schoolinmy3]

I was not even thinking of the smoking issue when I booked our first cruise with HAL for August. I have asthma and so do two of my children. I don't handle smoke very well so I will be sure to have my inhaler along :o . I'm an adult though so I feel comfortable knowing I can remove myself from a situation if smoke is bothering me. If my daughter was going to be cruising with us (she's 8) I would have to cancel the cruise with HAL and go with a non smoking cruise. Her asthma developed after exposure to smoke at a timeshare resort at the age of 4. Someone had smoked in the unit previous to our stay and she became increasingly ill as the week progressed. I could not risk exposing her again. She also cannot handle perfumes (I can't wear any at all when I'm around her), laundry detergent or dryer sheets that are perfumed or have dyes, "itchy" fabrics, jewelry, toilet paper, etc. When she was a baby something in the disposable diapers would cause a bubbly raised rash where the velcro tabs were. I just wanted to point out that for some there would be a real health risk for cruising where there is even the possibility of exposure to smoke (as in my daughter's case). If we would ever cruise as a family then I would not be able to cruise with HAL.:(

diane

[vbmom87]

I was not even thinking of the smoking issue when I booked our first cruise with HAL for August. I have asthma and so do two of my children. I don't handle smoke very well so I will be sure to have my inhaler along :o . I'm an adult though so I feel comfortable knowing I can remove myself from a situation if smoke is bothering me. If my daughter was going to be cruising with us (she's 8) I would have to cancel the cruise with HAL and go with a non smoking cruise. Her asthma developed after exposure to smoke at a timeshare resort at the age of 4. Someone had smoked in the unit previous to our stay and she became increasingly ill as the week progressed. I could not risk exposing her again. She also cannot handle perfumes (I can't wear any at all when I'm around her), laundry detergent or dryer sheets that are perfumed or have dyes, "itchy" fabrics, jewelry, toilet paper, etc. When she was a baby something in the disposable diapers would cause a bubbly raised rash where the velcro tabs were. I just wanted to point out that for some there would be a real health risk for cruising where there is even the possibility of exposure to smoke (as in my daughter's case). If we would ever cruise as a family then I would not be able to cruise with HAL.:(

diane

 

I am not 100% certain I am correct, but I don't recall reading about any 100% smoke free cruises. Perhaps those really small ship cruiselines, which are very costly? If there are some, I would like to know who they are. Like you, I did not think about the smoking issue when we first booked with HAL. I too, have asthma which is triggered by smoke. Your daughter sounds very severe. If there is a next cruise for me, it will be on a line that does not allow smoking in the cabins. I can deal with staying away from smoking areas, but like your daughter, if someone smoked in the cabin I will be staying in, my asthma will get triggered. I don't plan on spending too much time in my cabin, so I am keeping my fingers crossed, However, 8 hours of sleeping, could do me in.

[CowPrincess]

I would hate to see 25% of cruisers (as that is just about how our CC numbers are playing out) forced to change their cruising venue - it sort of doesn't seem fair. There must be a doable solution out there that would be satisfactory to everyone. Actually the way the rules are now seem to work very well for us as the majority of the ship is non-smoking but smoking is still permitted in some locations.

 

I just wanted to say "THANK YOU" to arzz for this post. I am a smoker, and appreciate hearing from non-smokers who have some compassion for smokers. Your reasonable approach and opinion have more or less made my day. Again, thank you.

[Opinions]

Thanks Opinions .... after 24 days on a HAL cruise, any thoughts on whether a change in the smoking policy to a more restrictive one, would make a noticeable difference in the on-board experience?

 

I am probably more anti-smoking than many others...However to be fair we had no major problems with the smoking policy on this cruise...It was quite obvious when you passed by an area where smoking was allowed...But we were able to avoid these areas...It was a very port intensive cruise and we did not spend much time in the lounges at night...We did not spend anytime in the casino...We had a inside cabin and there seemed to be no evidence of a previous smoker...Perhaps those who had balcony cabins had a different experience and would prefer a change...To be honest I am not sure whether new restrictions would have made a noticeable difference in the on board experience for us.

[gillianrose]

.Perhaps those who had balcony cabins had a different experience and would prefer a change

 

The answer to that is an emphatic YES! It is the balcony smoking that was far and away the most objectionable to us.

 

Although our cabin reeked of tobacco smoke, the crew came in and did extensive cleaning to improve the interior of the cabin. The balcony, however, was mostly unusable due to the smokers upwind of us who chain-smoked and rarely left their balconies.

 

We consider the $5,000+ we paid for our one week cruise to Alaska in a suite on the Zuiderdam to be far and away the biggest waste of money we have ever made.

[chasetf]

Interesting... one more response to "Will not sail HAL if smoking banned" than the responses to "Do you or your traveling companion smoke".

 

Looks like one sympathic non-smoker. :)

Interesting.... count is now 144/145.... still only that one sympathic non-smoker.

[chasetf]

..........The balcony, however, was mostly unusable due to the smokers upwind of us who chain-smoked and rarely left their balconies.

 

We consider the $5,000+ we paid for our one week cruise to Alaska in a suite on the Zuiderdam to be far and away the biggest waste of money we have ever made.

I hope you reflected that on your cruise comment card at the end of the cruise.

 

These incidents need to and should be documented so the cruise line gets the message that people's enjoyment of the balcony they paid extra for is unusable and then maybe they all will follow lead an curtail balcony smoking. ;)

[marle7]

I hope you reflected that on your cruise comment card at the end of the cruise.

 

These incidents need to and should be documented so the cruise line gets the message that people's enjoyment of the balcony they paid extra for is unusable and then maybe they all will follow lead an curtail balcony smoking. ;)

 

And equally, those of us who have paid our $5,000+ in suites will write to HAL to express our dissatisfaction if we find we cannot smoke on a balcony that we have paid a lot of money for.

 

No wins here.

[Susan-M]

Interesting.... count is now 144/145.... still only that one sympathic non-smoker.

 

LOL ... I missed that when you first posted it. :)

[Susan-M]

And equally, those of us who have paid our $5,000+ in suites will write to HAL to express our dissatisfaction if we find we cannot smoke on a balcony that we have paid a lot of money for.

 

No wins here.

 

I understand that it would be a big disappointment not to be able to smoke on your balcony, but if smoking is prohibited on balconies, both you and your non-smoking neighbor will be able to use your balconies (even though you won't be able to smoke on it, you'll be able to sit out there to read, relax, & sightsee).

If smoking is allowed, then you will be able to use your balcony, whereas your neighbor might have to give up using theirs if they can't tolerate the smoke.

[Aussie Gal]

We have just had our first sort of non smoking cruise with Oceania's Nautica. Whilst I say sort of, I actually didn't see anyone smoking though there are two areas on the ship for smokers. One is the Starboard side of the Horizons Lounge at the back (think of Crow's Nest) and the other area is at the back of the Pool near the bar.

 

It was great not to have to worry about smoke coming from the balconies, though we have never had a bad experience. I was more delighted that we did not have the worry of a cabin fire. We have a book here at home that lists all the disasters that have happened in recent years to Cruise ships and fire has been the main disaster.

 

I do feel sorry for those passengers who smoke as they are now becoming the pariahs whereas not so long ago, those who did not smoke were considered anti-social. I don't know what the solution is to this problem, but I do know that it was delightful to be able to walk through the Casino and not smell stale smoke.

 

Jennie

[arzz]

As a nonsmoker -- the problem with smoking in the cabin is the environment found in the cabin for the nonsmoking cruisers who follow the smoking cruiser. The air tends to be stale and all of the soft goods wreak of smoke -- especially the bed pillows. I hate waking up with the smell of stale smoke in my hair -- it also bothers me when I smell it all night while in bed.

 

Yes, it does bother me when people next to me smoke on their verandahs when the wind is coming my way -- but they usually do not smoke 24/7 so there is still significant pleasant time to be had on the verandah. And the smell does not linger outside if a smoker occupied my cabin just before me.

 

I think the solution that allows folks to smoke on the verandahs and not in the cabin is very wise -- we have friends who are smokers and they just always book a verandah. This does not, however, address the risk of fire.

[Susan-M]

Actually it won't be a disappointment to me. I would simply not spend the 5k+ with HAL.

 

HAL is going to lose clients whether they change the policy or not. If they leave it as is, they will lose non-smokers due to the increase in smokers coming from other lines that have implemented restrictive policies...and if they change their policy, they'll lose people like you, but gain non-smoking clients.

 

It will be interesting to see what their decision will be; I think the potential to gain more business is greater by implementing a more restrictive policy, but that's just my opinion.

[sail7seas]

Go with the numbers.........

 

So many more non-smokers than smokers, therefore larger market to target.

 

Would you rather 'sell' to 75 % (approx) of the population or to 25% (approx)?

 

[As pertains to North Americans. Europe/Asia etc are a whole different conversation.]