New HAL smoking policy

[Gunther1]

Just got this from a friend of mine that works for HAL:

 

This just in:

In keeping with the majority of guest preferences today, Holland America Line has announced a change to the shipboard smoking policy on its fleet of 15 ships. In addition to those public areas of the ships that are already non-smoking, all stateroom interiors will now also be non-smoking. This change is effective for sailings departing on or after January 15, 2012.

For those guests who wish to smoke, there will continue to be designated areas available for this both inside and on outside decks. In addition, smoking is permitted on stateroom verandahs. As is already the case, cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed inside.

The new policy is being communicated to travel sellers as well as guests booked on sailings departing January 15, 2012 or later and will be posted on www.hollandamerica.com. Updated smoking policies also are being announced concurrently by Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises, though policy changes differ by cruise line.

[mightycruisequeen]

This is fantastic news! :D

[sail7seas]

Not for me, it isn't.

 

Princess gave HAL the chance to 'step up to the plate' but they passed.

HAL will have more smokers than ever and they will be in the veranda cabins.

 

[DizzyDallasDi]

Until I read the part about continuing to allow smoking on balconies, I was a tad disappointed. I guess I'll just be spending more time smoking on my balcony instead of dividing my time between inside and balcony. :)

[rafinmd]

I'm not sure I trust 2nd hand information, but this is now on the HAL blog:

 

http://www.hollandamericablog.com/

 

I like it since I don't typically book balconies.

 

Roy

[Cruisin Suzin]

I agree this is great news..

[Randyk47]

Good thing I enjoyed my last, and I do mean last, HAL cruise. Guess I'll not be making that fourth star afterall. Just did to find the right phone number and email address so I can withdraw from HAL and stop the now annoying mailings and emails.

[fann1sh]

Not for me, it isn't.

 

Princess gave HAL the chance to 'step up to the plate' but they passed.

HAL will have more smokers than ever and they will be in the veranda cabins.

 

 

I'm an ignoramus about Princess. Can you clarify, Sail?

 

When I Googled, I found a USA Today article saying HAL, Princess and Carnival have all opted for this policy. Hope this link is allowed:

 

http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2011/06/smoking-ban-princess-carnival-holland-america/174594/1

[erewhon]

Gunther1,

Thank you for posting this news.

We are very disappointed that HAL will continue to allow smoking on balconies.

[InTheWASide]

Direct from HAL's website... here's the WHOLE policy

 

For the comfort of all of our guests, based on an increased desire expressed by the majority of our guests, we are changing our smoking policy as of January 15, 2012.

Presently, all indoor areas are designated non-smoking with the exception of:

 

• Casino
  
• Northern Lights Disco (ms Eurodam, ms Oosterdam, ms Noordam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam & ms Zuiderdam only)
  
• Seaview Bar (except ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam & ms Statendam)
  
• Sports Bar
  
• Crow's Nest (except ms Eurodam, ms Oosterdam, ms Noordam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Westerdam & ms Zuiderdam)
  

 

 

All showrooms are nonsmoking during performances.

There are selected areas of the outside decks where smoking is allowable. Cigar and pipe smoking is only permitted on the outside decks.

Our ships do not currently have "nonsmoking" staterooms; however, all rooms are thoroughly cleaned after each cruise to assure the comfort of our guests

 

 

For all cruises departing on or after January 15, 2012

All staterooms will be non-smoking areas, in addition to the other areas that were already defined as non-smoking. Smoking will continue to be permitted outside on stateroom verandahs. There are designated areas available for smoking both inside the ships and on outside decks as detailed above.

[SilvertoGold]

Great! Wonderful!

The fire hazard in the staterooms is number 1 for me and this is an improvement. I would prefer no smoking on the balconies, too, but I think this will come eventually. Good for HAL!

[blueboro]

A step in the right direction but still does not go as far as the smoking policy on Celebrity. Disappointed they still will allow on balconies and in the casino.

[mightycruisequeen]

A step in the right direction but still does not go as far as the smoking policy on Celebrity. Disappointed they still will allow on balconies and in the casino.

I agree. We'll just save money booking inside or oceanview cabins, and stay out of the casino.:)

[fann1sh]

As much as this is helpful to me, I have a lot of smoking friends.

 

They are going to be so disappointed.

 

Randyk47, I understand your position.

 

What lines remain as options for those who wish to smoke in their cabin?

 

(P.S. - Cruise Critic has already updated their "Cruise Line Smoking Policies" page to reflect the changes,)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have to agree with Sail, I suspect this will drive more smokers to Holland America and like mentioned they will all be booking balcony or higher categories.

 

I talk to so many that love HAL but are trying Celebrity frequently because of their non smoking ships. With Princess making the move of no smoking on the balconies and cabins ( no surprise here) from their experience several years ago.

[fann1sh]

I have to agree with Sail, I suspect this will drive more smokers to Holland America and like mentioned they will all be booking balcony or higher categories.

 

I talk to so many that love HAL but are trying Celebrity frequently because of their non smoking ships. With Princess making the move of no smoking on the balconies and cabins ( no surprise here) from their experience several years ago.

 

I missed the part where smoking is NOT allowed on Princess balconies. :o

 

Sorry for the earlier query, Sail. Thanks for pointing this out, Lisa.

[iancal]

HAL wimps out again. This is no surprise, HAL tends to sit so firmly on the fence on many issues that their collective management backsides must be petrified by now.

 

I am not sure if this will harm or help them in the short term, but I do think that it will hurt them in the long term. The orders book will be the ultimate judge.

[bellebaby]

I have to agree with Sail, I suspect this will drive more smokers to Holland America and like mentioned they will all be booking balcony or higher categories.

 

 

Exactly... HAL will become (if it isn't already) the smoker's line of preference...

 

B

[Lesinindy]

A Non-smoker here that likes the middle ground and that is what HAL took. We can live together and I save money with an oceanview to boot.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Not for me, it isn't.

 

Princess gave HAL the chance to 'step up to the plate' but they passed.

HAL will have more smokers than ever and they will be in the veranda cabins.

 

 

Given the choice for smokers between Princess & HAL it appears that the smokers will be flocking to HAL in great numbers after Jan 15.

I don't know what the situation was before but I would hate to see what it'll be like in the new year on the balconies.

[kazu]

Good thing I enjoyed my last, and I do mean last, HAL cruise. Guess I'll not be making that fourth star afterall. Just did to find the right phone number and email address so I can withdraw from HAL and stop the now annoying mailings and emails.

 

really? because no smoking in the cabin? or because people will be smoking on the verandah? just curious as I was hoping to meet you on a cruise:D

[fann1sh]

I'm answering my own question again :rolleyes: Sorry for the airhead posts today - I'm home and ill with bronchitis/fever. I guess someone should take my keyboard away from me. Apparently my IQ has also dropped about 50 points. (Some here may maintain the drop is not noticeable :D)

 

For the record (according to the CC cruise smoking guide) the remaining mainstream lines which will continue to allow smoking in cabins are

 

Costa

Norwegian Cruise Lines

 

Also add to the list Crystal (but prohibited on balconies), Cunard, Saga, Seabourn, Silversea (also prohibited on balconies) and Windstar.

 

The remaining mainstream cruise lines which will continue to allow smoking on balconies are

 

Carnival

Costa

Disney

HAL

Norwegian

Royal Caribbean

 

Add to the list Cunard, Fred. Olsen, P&O, Saga, Seabourn.

[CtheW0rld]

Given the choice for smokers between Princess & HAL it appears that the smokers will be flocking to HAL in great numbers after Jan 15.

I don't know what the situation was before but I would hate to see what it'll be like in the new year on the balconies.

 

the view will be something like this, after the new policy:

 

[Gunther1]

Do people think that the general cruise population (as opposed to CC readers/posters) would pick a cruise ship based on their smoking policy ? I personally doubt if most will, as they (smokers) can still smoke on parts of all ships on all lines.

[1 HappyCruiser]

the view will be something like this, after the new policy:

 

 

That's pretty much what I've seen on Costa a number of years ago. :eek: I imagine HAL, NCL, RCI & Costa will be overjoyed with this news.

I'm really glad we didn't build up our cruise credits on HAL instead of Princess.