The Hated Smoking Question

[Krazy Kruizers]

I just hung up the phone with HAL. The HAL employee double checked and yes you can smoke in the cabins and balconies.

 

I could have told you that!!

We have been unfortunate on several of our cruises to have heavy smokers on the verandah next to us.

One woman even sat right next to our partition to smoke as her husband didn't want the smoke bothering him!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Then maybe a certain number of aft cabins on a particular side.

 

As it stands, the non smoker has no way to ensure a smoke free balcony.

 

It would be great if HAL had the aft cabins be the only ones where smokers could be!!

[cruz chic]

Correct no smoking in the Crow's Nest. There was an outdoor area with ashtrays, but I rarely saw anyone out there.

Tracy

They still had smoking on the Statendam in Oct.09 so this is not correct. I think it's a ship by ship situation right now.

[wander]

As a person seriously impacted by smoke (nose and eyes), there are two ways I save money when I cruise with HAL. I don't get a veranda cabin ( I would hate to spend the extra money and not be able to use it and cannon predict beforehand, and I stay out of the Casino. By staying clear of the Casino and avoiding the smoking table areas in bars, I am never bothered by smoke onboard.

 

Regarding one comment above, I went on a HAL cruise around South America this fall and did not sense any more smokers than any other cruise. (I was surprised that Rio has some rather strict no smoking policies in buildings the public has access to according to our guide. I saw nothing to the contrary in the hotel, bars and restaurants.)

[sail7seas]

It would be great if HAL had the aft cabins be the only ones where smokers could be!!

 

 

 

 

I agree.

 

Of course, not all ships have aft veranda cabins.

 

 

 

 

 

As a person seriously impacted by smoke (nose and eyes), there are two ways I save money when I cruise with HAL. I don't get a veranda cabin ( I would hate to spend the extra money and not be able to use it and cannon predict beforehand, and I stay out of the Casino. By staying clear of the Casino and avoiding the smoking table areas in bars, I am never bothered by smoke onboard.

 

Regarding one comment above, I went on a HAL cruise around South America this fall and did not sense any more smokers than any other cruise. (I was surprised that Rio has some rather strict no smoking policies in buildings the public has access to according to our guide. I saw nothing to the contrary in the hotel, bars and restaurants.)

 

 

A great many countries around the world are instituting more rigid non-smoking policies. Many European countries have laws which mimic those such as Massachusetts and California etc

 

In MA, rules are very rigid banning all smoking in every work place. Just about everywhere you go is a workplace for someone. We are almost never exposed to smoke at home. There are no smoking rules for some parks and beaches as well.

 

 

[PatriciaF]

Thanks for all of the experiences and opinions shared on this touchy subject. Unfortunately, the posts have pushed me over to booking Celebrity. We really want a balcony cabin as the scenery you are cruising by is the reason we want to take the cruise--however, if the upwind verandah has heavy smokers, we probably won't be out there much.

 

I agree with one poster that perhaps one side of the ship should be smoking and the other not--so, if you book late and have to be on the side you don't want--at least you will know what you might be dealing with. Too bad we can't take the kids -- we could put them in a cabin on one side and a cabin on the other and know that the immediate neighbors would not be smokers.

 

I can deal with the smoke in the casino and the other public places with smoking--just leave or never enter--but not my personal space I have paid a lot of money for.

 

Also--sorry this has irritated so many people that I would ask for people's opinions rather than just relying on what the cruiselines have posted--I thought that was the point of cruisecritic and tripadvisor--to get people's opinions--not just the official language from service the provider.

 

Also--regarding smoking overseas--we just returned from Germany and Czech Republic. Germany is almost as strict as California, but Czech Republic people are still smoking in restaurants. So--we sat outside under heat lamps rather than deal with all of the cigarette smoke--as people lit up before they ate, while they ate, and after they ate.

[IRL_Joanie]

I am just so amazed every time a smoking thread shows up!

 

If you have looked at the smoking policy of the cruise line you are interested in then that should be all the info you need to make the right decision for you. Just because one person had a wonderful cruise and never smelled smoke does not mean you will have the same. Obviously, the opposite applies as well.

 

It's as tho we must do this over and over again until people get whatever response they want. I'll bet there are thousands of pages just on smoking yet we revisit it time and time again.

 

Sorry - I didn't really mean to rant but I truly am amazed by the question being raised again and again and again!

 

I do not consider your post a 'Rant'.! I consider it as having been well said!!

 

Whether you smoke or not, people need to read the FAQ's for each Cruise lines to see if there is anything that would disturb their 'complete enjoyment' of their cruise.

 

And after reading with a fine toothed comb, they then need to use the SEARCH option on this forum to find the answers before posting the same question over and over, just as you said.

 

Smoking and Dress Codes, the 2 hottest topics on the boards.....

 

FAQ and SEARCH, the 2 least used options on all boards and cruise lines.

 

Joanie

[cruz chic]

Smoking and Dress Codes, the 2 hottest topics on the boards.....

 

FAQ and SEARCH, the 2 least used options on all boards and cruise lines.

 

Joanie

So nobody is allowed to bring them up? It's a bit tiresome to me when people decide what should be talked about on this board. Maybe these two topics have been discussed to death but so what. It's your choice on whether to read something or not.

[sail7seas]

I do not consider your post a 'Rant'.! I consider it as having been well said!!

 

Whether you smoke or not, people need to read the FAQ's for each Cruise lines to see if there is anything that would disturb their 'complete enjoyment' of their cruise.

 

And after reading with a fine toothed comb, they then need to use the SEARCH option on this forum to find the answers before posting the same question over and over, just as you said.

 

Smoking and Dress Codes, the 2 hottest topics on the boards.....

 

FAQ and SEARCH, the 2 least used options on all boards and cruise lines.

 

Joanie

 

 

Sorry, Joanie, but I beg to differ.

We do not have the business of telling anyone what subject they can bring up for discussion. If it does not violate rules and Moderators approve it, we have the choice to skip the thread, read the thread, answer it or any of the above.

 

Anyone can ask what they wish and they don't have to use that 'fine tooth comb' IMO.

I've been on this board a lot of years and have seen the same subjects more times than I can count. If I don't like it, I don't have to come here.

 

 

 

 

 

So nobody is allowed to bring them up? It's a bit tiresome to me when people decide what should be talked about on this board. Maybe these two topics have been discussed to death but so what. It's your choice on whether to read something or not.

 

 

I agree.

[cate54]

I really want people's opinions. I really don't remember this as an issue when I cruised with my kids and my father in the 90s on Holland America. But--we didn't have a balcony cabin and my father paid for the cruise, not me. Sounds like smoking is more restrictive now, than back then. Recently, my husband and I have been on the Golden Princess, Carnival Valor, and NCL Pride of Hawaii (?). Smoking not an issue on these cruises and we did have balcony or suite cabins.

 

But--perhaps the smokers are moving to HAL due to the more liberal smoking policy. People from work that are elite level HAL cruisers are both smokers--so perhaps that is why.

 

My mother (and father in law) died from a smoking caused lung disease--so I am perhaps more negative about smoking than others. Yes--I know its legal. But after years of breathing second hand smoke, I try to avoid it these days.

 

The stateroom and the itinerary on HAL is more appealing to me than Celebrity--but the various posts from others on why NOT to cruise HAL (smoking policy) is a concern.

 

Responses from recent HAL cruisers that don't smoke would be appreciated.

I just returned from 2 weeks on the westerdam. I had a balcony and didn't smell any smoke of any kind on my time outside. I avoid the casino which is smokey. The only offensive time was a cigar smoker at the aft pool. I just stayed away from him. The room was clean and smoke free.

I hope this helps.

Cate

[Oceanwench]

I think the topic of "we shouldn't keep discussing the same topics" has come up again and again! :D

 

So if the people who don't think we should keep discussing the same topics took their own advice ... !!!

 

In all seriousness though, I've seem the same lament on many message boards. Some of the old-timers get their knickers in a twist when newbies jump in and ask questions that have already been asked over and over.

 

Sorry, but it's gonna happen. Nature of the beast.

 

Don't like threads about smoking/tips/robes/formal nights/chaise hogs/smuggling booze/jeans/tray/babies in diapers in the pool? SKIP 'EM!

[bcd2010]

I copied/pasted this from another similar thread:

 

I think one of the reasons people ask questions that are answered on the HAL web site and even in the CC forums is because they are trying to understand how a stated policy "translates" to reality; e.g., yes, HAL allows or suggests something, but can recent pax report on the actual impact, that is, do a lot of people with balconies smoke or are bothered by the smoking, do a lot of people dress up for dinner or not, etc. The truth of the matter is that each cruise is made up of a different set of pax and so what's true or not on one cruise doesn't necessarily give you any info on what your cruise will be like. Still, info is a good thing and some people just want to gather a little more before making a decision.

 

No biggie, just answer the question if you have relevant info, skip it if you don't.

[HWY 101]

My guess is, just like cruise ships that are tailoring specific cruises for singles, girlfriends, theme cruises etc, there will always be cruises for smokers.

 

While horseback riding last week on Half Moon Cay, I asked the Jamaican guides if they smoked in Jamaica and they started laughing...;)

[parrotfeathers]

I have one friend that smokes, but it is not around me. None of my family smokes. We had to live in it as children (Mom). The smell of old cigarette smoke is nauseating. For some reason I don't mind good quality cigars or pipes, just cigarettes. Last year at a Comfort Inn there were only 4 rooms left, all smoking. The desk clerk let me sniff each room to pick the least offensive. It still permeated my clothes I wore the next day. This will be my first HAL cruise. I think the positives of a HAL cruise will outweigh the cigarette issue so I am willing to take the chance.

[Christine Frances]

For all Celebrity ships, smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on any stateroom veranda. Cigarette smoking will only be permitted in designated indoor and outdoor areas of the ship, while cigar and pipe smoking will only be permitted in designated outdoor areas. Smoking will not be permitted in any dining venue, casino, theater, hallway, elevator or corridor. Violations to this smoking policy will result in a $250 cleaning fee being charged to the guest's onboard account and may also be addressed through Celebrity Cruises' Guest Conduct Policy. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard.

 

From Celebrity's website - the bold is mine

Cheers

[suse]

So nobody is allowed to bring them up? It's a bit tiresome to me when people decide what should be talked about on this board. Maybe these two topics have been discussed to death but so what. It's your choice on whether to read something or not.

Agreed. Some of the people who least like this subject are the ones who feel defensive.

I'm one of those who grew up with smoking as the norm and now I just can't stand it. I saw people die of it.

We all have our personal feelings about this subject but I feel it should be something people discuss if they want. Don't read it if you don't like it.

Have a good night.:)

[RuthC]

Some of the old-timers get their knickers in a twist when newbies jump in and ask questions that have already been asked over and over.

Kinda funny, though, that in this thread it's the "newbie" who's getting bent out of shape that a perpetual topic was brought up again, and it's a couple of posters who have been around a while that are not objecting to it.

[HWY 101]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/prodpop.jsp?LargeImageURL=http%3A//TRUS.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-6079508dt.jpg&displayTab=enh&productId=3615273&totCount=0:p

[suse]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/prodpop.jsp?LargeImageURL=http%3A//TRUS.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-6079508dt.jpg&displayTab=enh&productId=3615273&totCount=0:p

I especially adore the fire hose trick. Ha ha, it's so funny!!:) He's on a cruise right now, though. We knew that.

[Steph27]

I think if you had put South America in your title you would get more responses regarding whether Celebrity Infinity or the HAL Veendam has a better itinerary. I agree that that smoke can be bothersome and share your concern about the balcony. We cruised on Oceania in South America. The Falkands with the penguins excursion was the highlight of the trip. The Veendam not only visits The Falkands but the tip of Antartica. As much as I love the very restrictive smoking policy on Celebrity (sailed with them 4x), I would seriuosly consider HAL.

[PatriciaF]

I think if you had put South America in your title you would get more responses regarding whether Celebrity Infinity or the HAL Veendam has a better itinerary. I agree that that smoke can be bothersome and share your concern about the balcony. We cruised on Oceania in South America. The Falkands with the penguins excursion was the highlight of the trip. The Veendam not only visits The Falkands but the tip of Antartica. As much as I love the very restrictive smoking policy on Celebrity (sailed with them 4x), I would seriuosly consider HAL.

 

Still need to finalize with the husband--but I do want to go to the Falklands and Celebrity doesn't do that. Doubt if we will be in that part of the world again for a long time--so we are trying to make the most of the time and budget.

 

Tried to edit the original post with your suggestion--but couldn't.

[Mpowered]

My guess is, just like cruise ships that are tailoring specific cruises for singles, girlfriends, theme cruises etc, there will always be cruises for smokers.

 

While horseback riding last week on Half Moon Cay, I asked the Jamaican guides if they smoked in Jamaica and they started laughing...;)

 

:) How did you like the horseback riding? I am signed up for the same excurision.

 

Joan

[jghllnd1]

Back to the OP question about smoking. I am a non smoker and have been on 3 HAL cruises. I have asthma and tend to avoid any area that anyone is smoking. With that said, I never had a problem on HAL with smoke even outside on my veranda. I can only think of one time that I even smelled smoke drifting from the veranda and that wasn't bad, the ship was moving and must have blew the smoke away.

 

Hope that helps

[ookpik]

My guess is, just like cruise ships that are tailoring specific cruises for singles, girlfriends, theme cruises etc, there will always be cruises for smokers.

 

While horseback riding last week on Half Moon Cay, I asked the Jamaican guides if they smoked in Jamaica and they started laughing...;)

 

Tee Hee !:D:cool:

[HWY 101]

Horseback riding?:p

 

The para sailing and ocean ride were cancelled because of rough seas, and from the latest reports the ship could not go into the Cay this week...