This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies

What was the effective date of the balcony smoking ban on the E-dam?

 

I know it wasn't the same date on each ship, so was yours the first cruise on your ship where balcony smoking was banned?

Were there notices about the ban in the cabins, in the daily program, or anything along those lines?

HAL website shows that the Eurodam policy started 7 Jan 2017.

I never thought that I would say this but YUK! I am now close to 4 years smokefree. I was on the Koningsdam 11/13/16 to 12/4/16. There was no excaping the cigarette smoke at the Seaview pool, the Casino, the walk around deck and upon leaving the ship on the gangway the smoke was awlful.

Smoker's need their space, I know that... but for goodness sake!

How the employee's that do not smoke stand the smell in their enviroment much be awlful.

I do not mean to hurt anyone's feelings, REALLY!

IIRC, people who had cruises booked before the change in smoking policy were contacted to let them know. So people should remember, but some will likely forget (or try ignoring it?).

The policy is in the cruise docs, but it's down on page 10 with other "shipboard life" information. I think something a bit larger than the card should be put in cabins to remind people of the change, at least until it's been in effect for a while.

My wife and I cruised on the Westerdam a year ago, our first on HAL. This was to be just for ourselves, a relaxing cruise to try out a new line. We absolutely found HAL to be the best for this type cruise and wanted to return. A major drawback was our great aft balcony was right below the smoking area on Lido starboard. I don't blame someone for standing at the rail looking aft in a smoking area. This is a great view on any ship. I just never thought it would come down to the deck below. And a person next to us smoked cigars on occasion. This affected our use of the balcony but balcony smoking was something we understood when we booked. The change in policy is very welcome as we try HAL again on 1/25/17. I will just avoid starboard aft.

IIRC, people who had cruises booked before the change in smoking policy were contacted to let them know. So people should remember, but some will likely forget (or try ignoring it?).

 

The policy is in the cruise docs, but it's down on page 10 with other "shipboard life" information. I think something a bit larger than the card should be put in cabins to remind people of the change, at least until it's been in effect for a while.

Actually Kathy,

I received no notification on the new smoking policy. Since I am on CC anyways, it's all good, but if I didn't it is entirely possible others didn't as well and if they are not on CC they might not be aware.

I got notices from HAL shortly after after they announced the policy change, for each of my booked cruises - 3 of them - via email. It comes as an attachment that you have to open, as "Important information about your cruise". Quite possibly some missed it, or perhaps didn't get it - but they were very thorough with me.:D

Onboard the Koningsdam now. The change in smoking policy started January 8, the first day of our cruise. For several days I could smell smoke from our balcony, the third time I could see the gentlemen 2 cabins aft smoking at their rail. I left a note explaining the change in policy --- and no problem since, happy to say.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I got notices from HAL shortly after after they announced the policy change, for each of my booked cruises - 3 of them - via email. It comes as an attachment that you have to open, as "Important information about your cruise". Quite possibly some missed it, or perhaps didn't get it - but they were very thorough with me.:D

I always open those ;). Nada, nothing for us. I am very careful on anything I get. ;). No biggie for me since I know but I feel for those that don't.

On the Westerdam now. Seems smoking is allowed on the half of the aft pool deck where the bar is located. If you go through the door on that side of the deck you are met with smoke. Also am smelling smoke on my veranda as well as marijuana. Guess they are not enforcing the new smoking rules

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

................. Also am smelling smoke on my veranda as well as marijuana. Guess they are not enforcing the new smoking rules

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Please report it to the Front Office when you smell it. You can't enforce it until someone reports it

Please report it to the Front Office when you smell it. You can't enforce it until someone reports it

 

Can't tell where it is coming from. But I will do that

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

On the Westerdam now. Seems smoking is allowed on the half of the aft pool deck where the bar is located. If you go through the door on that side of the deck you are met with smoke. Also am smelling smoke on my veranda as well as marijuana. Guess they are not enforcing the new smoking rules

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Report it to the front desk -- especially the marijuana.

When you are out on your verandah and you smell the marijuana -- call right away for someone to come and smell it.

If you are in a Neptune Suite -- have one of the concierges come and smell it.

Report it to the front desk -- especially the marijuana.

When you are out on your verandah and you smell the marijuana -- call right away for someone to come and smell it.

If you are in a Neptune Suite -- have one of the concierges come and smell it.

Tell him/her to bring some munchies while they're at it.

Yes, there is an area that is covered and somewhat enclosed. It's fairly protected from the elements, even in cold, rainy, weather.

Unfortunately now it's a smoking area it limits those wanting to eat outside but in the shade to only one side of the ship. The smoke also drifts inside when the automatic doors open and you can smell it as soon as you get out of the lift that side.

Surely it should be on an uppper deck not the area right outside where food is served and eaten.

Is the smoking area in the same place on all ships? Just wondering especially about the Rotterdam. We like sitting out by the retreat.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Is the smoking area in the same place on all ships? Just wondering especially about the Rotterdam. We like sitting out by the retreat.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

As far as I know, all the sea view (or in the case of the Rotterdam the retreats) have one side that is smoking. It doesn't extend down the whole side, or, at least it never used to.

It was never overwhelming before, but I suppose that if everyone who smokes is going there so the verandahs can be smoke free, it may be more prevalent? Probably depends upon the cruise.

As an example, Oceania has theirs right in the Lido centre deck in a corner and the equivalent of a corner of the Crow's Nest (Horizons on their ship). People who don't like it just enter on the other side. I don't think it should/would bother you on the other side. It doesn't seem to be a major issue with their board or passengers ;)

Unfortunately now it's a smoking area it limits those wanting to eat outside but in the shade to only one side of the ship. The smoke also drifts inside when the automatic doors open and you can smell it as soon as you get out of the lift that side.

Surely it should be on an uppper deck not the area right outside where food is served and eaten.

It's not now a smoking area. It has always been a smoking area as long as I can remember.

We were on Eurodam from New Years Eve and as this was only our second cruise with HAL and we are non smokers we were unaware of the policy change.

However we had not noticed this smoking area previously and then suddenly it was crowded. Perhaps the new ruling has had a knock on effect and now far more passengers gather there. You know it's a smoking area way before you see it.

We were on Eurodam from New Years Eve and as this was only our second cruise with HAL and we are non smokers we were unaware of the policy change.

However we had not noticed this smoking area previously and then suddenly it was crowded. Perhaps the new ruling has had a knock on effect and now far more passengers gather there. You know it's a smoking area way before you see it.

Then people should be pleased that balcony passengers are observing the new rule.

The increased amount of smoke and odor in the smoking area when additional people were sent there could not have been a surprise to those who changed the policy. When you corral people into a smaller and smaller space, there are going to be consequences. This is not the fault of the smokers.

Agree 100% with Ruth. I am a non smoker but what would you expect?

I am a non smoker but what would you expect?

I suspect some expect a smoke-free ship. I think that's rather unreasonable given the circumstances and today's prevailing perspective, which does still include some measure of accommodation for smokers. However given how things are trending, I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that someday a smoke-free ship will indeed be the situation.

This may be where the smokers wind up at some point ;)

We were on Eurodam from New Years Eve and as this was only our second cruise with HAL and we are non smokers we were unaware of the policy change.

However we had not noticed this smoking area previously and then suddenly it was crowded. Perhaps the new ruling has had a knock on effect and now far more passengers gather there. You know it's a smoking area way before you see it.

That is probably not the case here since the smoking policy did not go into effect until 7 Jan on Eurodam.

Then people should be pleased that balcony passengers are observing the new rule.

 

The increased amount of smoke and odor in the smoking area when additional people were sent there could not have been a surprise to those who changed the policy. When you corral people into a smaller and smaller space, there are going to be consequences. This is not the fault of the smokers.

It didn't take too long, did it, before those of us who predicted that stopping smoking on balconies would not put an end to the complaints were proved right....

So right Cruisermom, they finally got what they wanted...no smoking on balconies, and now complain about the one place where people can smoke. Non smokers have the entire rest of the ship to enjoy smoke free, now they all want to be on the one side of the aft area where smoking is allowed. It truly is unbelievable.