Smoking: Holland America vs Celebrity

[usha]

just go book on X. They gave into your demands and leave HAL alone.

Are you saying that the majority of the cruising population should only have 1 choice for a mainstream cruise line?

[m steve]

but those who don't want smoking already have several lines to choose from and have no right to expect others to change for their benefit. There's also Regent and Oceania. And we don't sail them do to their policy.

[usha]

Regent & Oceania aren't mainstream cruise lines.

As things are now, Celebrity is the only mainstream cruise line that offers smoke-free staterooms & balconies.

[Two@Sea]

Regent & Oceania aren't mainstream cruise lines.

As things are now, Celebrity is the only mainstream cruise line that offers smoke-free staterooms & balconies.

 

Well, kinda. You may not smoke in cabins on Disney, MSC, or RCCL. I would consider these "mainstream" lines. Haven't been on them, tho.

[usha]

Well, kinda. You may not smoke in cabins on Disney, MSC, or RCCL. I would consider these "mainstream" lines. Haven't been on them, tho.

It's true these lines don't allow smoking in cabins,

but Disney & Royal Caribbean both allow smoking on balconies.

Hmmm, interesting that MSC doesn't allow smoking on balconies.

Gotta check them out...:cool:

[hulamoon]

I have considered MSC, since their policy change, even though they seem to be having a little trouble with the CC crowd. Children cruise for free on this line.

 

They provided buses into ports for free, or they did the last time I was in the med. Their drivers kept trying to pick us up.

 

At first I thought I would learn Italian to take the cruise and practice but then I learned the staff isn't all Italian.

 

Disney may be mainstream for others but it isn't our mainstream. No offense Goofey and Micky.

[Sam_127]

I enjoy a glass of wine and a cigarette on my balcony.

I booked hal over celebrity

[iancal]

I have no issue with people smoking on their verandahs or in designated areas on deck. I would not like to be assigned a cabin that smelled of stale smoke though. Fortunately, this has never happened on any of our cruises. I really think that reasonableness has to be the watchword unless of course the cruise line decides, for safety reasons, to implement a particular policy.

[mudscraper]

Unfortunately our grandaughters have aquired the smokeless tobacco habit (SKOAL). They will travel with us on our Bermuda cruise and will require a Verandah cabin.

 

 

Rich

[Gablin]

Unfortunately our grandaughters have aquired the smokeless tobacco habit (SKOAL). They will travel with us on our Bermuda cruise and will require a Verandah cabin.

 

 

Rich

 

Yuck. I don't think I want to know the details.

[SailorNYC]

"just go book on X. They gave into your demands and leave HAL alone."

 

 

Explain to me the thought process /justification behind the smoking minority's right to so vehemently (and in some cases rudely) demand that non-smokers leave their first choice line.

 

Why should the majority, who are not adversely affecting the health of anyone, be limited in their options in any way?

 

I am simply not following the logic.

 

Clearly, people will do what is right for them, but the negativity towards non-smokers - called the "smoking nuts" by an earlier poster - is absurd.

 

By the way, is that a pun - "smoking nuts" - who are the real "smoking nuts"? Sorry, but I think the smokers are.

 

I am still flabbergasted that smoking is even permitted on cruise ships; I had no idea it was allowed - a clear health and safety hazard as far as I am concerned !

 

Good luck!

[CtheW0rld]

a ship is not a democracy, so the whole majority/minority thing is pointless. HAL is a business. if i don't like a business' policies, i spend my money elsewhere. plenty of companies are happy to take it, so why waste time and energry with the constant brow-beating and complaining.

[m steve]

ahmen!!!

[Sea King]

 

 

Explain to me the thought process /justification behind the smoking minority's right to so vehemently (and in some cases rudely) demand that non-smokers leave their first choice line.

 

Why should the majority, who are not adversely affecting the health of anyone, be limited in their options in any way?

 

I am simply not following the logic.

 

Clearly, people will do what is right for them, but the negativity towards non-smokers - called the "smoking nuts" by an earlier poster - is absurd.

 

I am still flabbergasted that smoking is even permitted on cruise ships; I had no idea it was allowed - a clear health and safety hazard as far as I am concerned !

 

 

well put

 

hopefully Seattle will read this and other similar comments and finally, and at long last, restrict on board smoking even more

 

imagine a Christmas present from HAL that would end smoking:D

[m steve]

and see that more will leave the line than they will get if they limit smoking on balconies.

[bajakiter]

HAL is going completely non-smoking effective July 1st.!! I read it on the internet so it must be true!

In the meantime all you smokers keep enjoying your blank,blank,blank...... habit.:rolleyes:

[Sea King]

and see that more will leave the line than they will get if they limit smoking on balconies.

 

can't agree at all

 

put aside the fact that I am anti-smoking in every way, shape or manner

 

the pure facts are that on any given cruise, the # of non-smokers is probably around 75-80%

 

that leaves about 20% who "indulge"

 

BUT, the simple reality is the 20% can literally "ruin" the cruise experience of non-smokers by smoking in rooms (smoke goes into corridors), smoking on deck and on balconies (wind carries the odor) and in Casinos (where you fear to enter simply because your eyes begin to burn)

 

the truth is the vast majority of the adult population doesn't smoke AND doesn't want to be near or in the company of those who do

 

HAL can survive if the smokers "abandon ship" .. it will hurt but it will recover

 

what HAL or any cruise line that sails in and out of the US can't afford is to have the non-smokers head toward a cruise line with a stricter non-smoking policy .. the reason is simple: once you lose a customer, it's pretty tough to bring them back into the fold

 

promise: no more comments from me on this thread

[m steve]

Just look at the numbers responding to this thread and survey. It's not 80% anti smoking on balconies. It's about 60/40 allowing others to smoke where they are permitted rather than demanding the line change their policy to suit them. Remember, I am not a smoker but have never found it a problem on my balcony.

[TracieABD]

It has not been a huge problem on other cruises that I have been on. I do stay out of the casino on "smoker's nights". Heck, I even save a bit of money!

[jena1]

HAL is going completely non-smoking effective July 1st.!! I read it on the internet so it must be true!

In the meantime all you smokers keep enjoying your blank,blank,blank...... habit.:rolleyes:

I spoke to HAL in Seattle this afternoon and they do not know anything about your quote of no more smoking after July. Where in the internet did you see that article?

We are cruising in Dec on the Maasdam and I told HAL that if there is no more smoking WE WILL CANCEL.

[jimmy2x]

I spoke to HAL in Seattle this afternoon and they do not know anything about your quote of no more smoking after July. Where in the internet did you see that article?

We are cruising in Dec on the Maasdam and I told HAL that if there is no more smoking WE WILL CANCEL.

 

Poster is pulling your leg. Relax.

[hulamoon]

I am sure this is leg pulling.

 

There are no non smoking ships as far as I know, just some are more limited than others in cabins or balconies. HAL has been pretty clear they have made all the limitations they are going to for awhile at least. This sort of announcement would take many, many months to implement. I doubt any line would do this over a couple of months, it just isn't enough notice for smokers.

[m steve]

Bajakiter is the expert. Ignore his post. I'm sure he'll disappear faster than smoking on board.

[jtl513]

I spoke to HAL in Seattle this afternoon and they do not know anything about your quote of no more smoking after July. Where in the internet did you see that article?

We are cruising in Dec on the Maasdam and I told HAL that if there is no more smoking WE WILL CANCEL.

bajakiter is just being sarcastic: "I read it on the internet so it must be true!"

[sail7seas]

Smoking in the Casino on Maasdam was absolutely disgusting.

I can assure you dozens of non-smokers gave up even trying to use the casino night after night on our 14 day cruise. My DH really felt like having some fun on a slot machine and tried at least 4 or 5 nights. He could not stand it. His eyes literally stung so badly, he had to leave and I assure you HAL lost the chance for him to contribute to their casino profits. We are never at a casino on land and he has fun with slots when it is a pleasant atmosphere. It was not pleasant on Westerdam, Eurodam or Maasdam and he failed to gamble on all three ships in the last 6 months. That is five weeks of cruising they got no money from him (or me.) I don't imply he gamgle huge sums but enough for him to have fun.

 

We spoke with so many others who couldn't even stand at the Casino Bar to look at the scores of the ball games. It was intolerable. Night after night there was almost no one having a drink there. It used to be possible to have an after dinner drink and watch a few minutes of a ball game but no longer. We could not stand the stink.

 

We were VERY fortunate this cruise that we had non-smokers on both sides of our cabin so no veranda smoking bothered us. That was a huge plus. I would have been willing to pay a smoker just to keep them inside smoking after having our unpleasant Eurodam experience and denied use of our veranda for the whole second week of our b-to-b. It was miserable.

 

We don't know if true or not but we have heard from at least 4 or 5 people are in postion to know about what they speak, and anyone who says there will be changes to HAL's smoking policy in the near future are almost surely mistaken. If what we heard is true and I suspect it is, say bye bye to veranda smoking. HAL is seeing they are absolutely losing cruisers to lines with more strict smoking rules and the casinos are suffering from so many of us walking out night after night. I personally heard people say to casino workers why they were leaving the casino and would not be returning until they barred smoking. It was too many to ignore.

 

The first cruise line who has the courage to ban all interior smoking will be cheered by most and it is almost definite all the others will follow suit. It takes the first one to dare doing it and the rest will have their hand forced.

 

We loved, loved, loved our Maasdam cruise as we always do and still marvel at her amazing crew (and there were a great number of changes in high positions) and I'll be posting a review soon but smokers - start looking at other lines if you cannot quit or go without your cigarettes. Your upcoming HAL cruises may have new rules.

 

I can list right here exactly who will be here to argue the point and dispel the accuracy of my report but time will prove the fact.

 

I'll not argue the issue. I'm only posting what I consider to be reliable information.

Do with it what you wish..... or don't.