How's the new HAL non smoking policy working out?

[sugarcharlie]

HAL was supposed to start their non smoking policy last week. They said they were going to ionize and deep clean all the staterooms, etc. Just wondering if recent cruisers noticed anything different. i.e. did the cabin have a stale smoke odor, were there more balconies used for smoking, where exactly do they let you smoke on board now. I imagine the casino, but any of the other public rooms, bars, cabana's etc?

 

HAL now has the same non smoking policy as most of the other major cruise lines except that they are the only one who still allows smoking on balconies. I wonder how enforcement is taking place. A first warning or a zero tolerance rule and fine?

 

All you recent cruisers, both smokers and non smokers, please weigh in on this issue.

[fann1sh]

Well....I sorta already have....http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1554577

[hammybee]

HAL now has the same non smoking policy as most of the other major cruise lines except that they are the only one who still allows smoking on balconies.

 

Last I checked, most mass marketed cruise lines allow smoking on balconies:

 

Canival

Costa

Cunard

Disney

HAL

NCL

RCL

[1 HappyCruiser]

I suspect there would be a more noticeable problem on balconies since it one of the more convenient places to light up.

 

On Princess, where they began non smoking in rooms & balconies on the same date, there is a significant increase in smoke problems for people sailing on the port side deck just above the promenade deck where that allow smoking on the port side only. It appears that since the smoking has become more concentrated in certain areas the problems are much more noticeable in those adjacent areas.

[Randyk47]

It's worked well for me....I've stopped getting a lot of HAL mailings and emails as I asked them to remove me from both. I've also stopped wasting time researching HAL itineraries as we have little to no interest in them now. :)

[twinkletoes4445]

Last I checked, most mass marketed cruise lines allow smoking on balconies:

 

Canival

Costa

Cunard

Disney

HAL

NCL

RCL

 

Hey!! How have you been doing? Long time, no see. :)

 

I wonder if the no-smoking in cabins is going to make a difference (pushing more people to the balconies)? I guess we'll find out soon enough. :)

[hammybee]

Hey!! How have you been doing? Long time, no see. :)

 

I wonder if the no-smoking in cabins is going to make a difference (pushing more people to the balconies)? I guess we'll find out soon enough. :)

 

Imagine running into you here, on the same day.

 

Winter has arrived and need a cruise.

[twinkletoes4445]

Imagine running into you here, on the same day.

 

Winter has arrived and need a cruise.

 

No kidding! The stars aligned. :)

 

We have been so lucky this winter. Not much snow and no ice ... so far. We've got a cruise planned but FIL isn't doing well so I am not sure if we're going to be able to make it or not. Stay warm!

[PattiG]

Sorry, SugarCharlie, seems you're not getting an answer to your question. As a smoker, I am also interested. Would be nice to get a real answer instead of this nonsense.

[COLLEYBERRY]

 

 

No harm in(it gives the board some personality) CC friends briefly saying Hello to one another and if I am not mistaken talking about cruising.....I am sure given enough time ,it's early days ,the question will be well discussed/answered :rolleyes: Perhaps policing the board should be left to the moderators:)

[VermeulT]

It's worked well for me....I've stopped getting a lot of HAL mailings and emails as I asked them to remove me from both. I've also stopped wasting time researching HAL itineraries as we have little to no interest in them now. :)

 

But apparently you still have enough interest to read the HAL boards....

[gelo7]

But apparently you still have enough interest to read the HAL boards....

Good point...

[Krazy Kruizers]

I keep hoping that someone will post telling us their experence since the new smoking policy went into effect.

 

In the past we have had problems with people smoking on the balconies / verandahs -- and now I am worried that there will be even more smoking out there as people as not suppose to smoke in their cabins.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I keep hoping that someone will post telling us their experence since the new smoking policy went into effect.

 

In the past we have had problems with people smoking on the balconies / verandahs -- and now I am worried that there will be even more smoking out there as people as not suppose to smoke in their cabins.

 

Of course there will. Where else can they conveniently go for a quick smoke?

[kazu]

I'm thinking it has not had a major effect. No one has posted or mentioned it in their reviews or perhaps it's just too early?

 

Probably like many things the experience will vary from ship to ship

[Randyk47]

But apparently you still have enough interest to read the HAL boards....

 

That's true. Part of it is that I feel comfortable with the people here. I've "known" many of them for years. Secondly I have a cruise booked, albeit on another cruise line, so I'm still using Cruise Critic for research and planning. If history is any indicator of the future I'll probably spend less and less time here after our next cruise, especially since we're not researching or planning a cruise beyond our Med cruise. Finally I don't "hate" HAL for their decision. It doesn't work for us but that doesn't make HAL a bad cruise line, it just doesn't meet our needs. I've never said we absolutely won't cruise HAL again it's just unlikely right now.

[kazu]

That's true. Part of it is that I feel comfortable with the people here. I've "known" many of them for years. Secondly I have a cruise booked, albeit on another cruise line, so I'm still using Cruise Critic for research and planning. If history is any indicator of the future I'll probably spend less and less time here after our next cruise, especially since we're not researching or planning a cruise beyond our Med cruise. Finally I don't "hate" HAL for their decision. It doesn't work for us but that doesn't make HAL a bad cruise line, it just doesn't meet our needs. I've never said we absolutely won't cruise HAL again it's just unlikely right now.

 

Stick around Randy:) Just because you don't have a HAL cruise booked now, doesn't mean you can't be among us :) I've been on the Costa threads and I don't sail Costa;) but I think many of us have been there lately

[fann1sh]

Reason no reports yet ? Probably because only Sunday disembarked Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam pax have yet completed a "new rules" cruise. They both left on January 15, first day the change took effect, and both had a short 7 day voyage.

 

For example, Eurodam sailed January 14...so, old rules. It's only when people who embarked January 21 disembark this Saturday, January 28, we'll get first reports from that vessel.

 

And, people usually take a couple days to adjust to the Real World. Pax should be posting soon...just not yet.

 

Experts, please check my facts. But, after Nieuw Amsterdam/Westerdam, I believe we'll hear from:

 

Maasdam - January 27

Zuiderdam - January 27

Eurodam - January 28

Ryndam - January 29

Volendam - January 31

Noordam - Feb 3

Statendam - Feb 3

Oosterdam - Feb 4

Veendam - Feb 4

Zandam - Feb 5

 

Amsterdam - how *are* they handling world cruise segments?

 

Prinsendam and Veendam - sorry, don't know their back schedules.

[m steve]

and will see if there is a difference. Since we booked guarantees instead of our usual aft cabins we will be on the side of the ship, one port and one starboard. I doubt if there will be a big difference. My partner who smokes won't do it inside a cabin.

[Krazy Kruizers]

That's true. Part of it is that I feel comfortable with the people here. I've "known" many of them for years. Secondly I have a cruise booked, albeit on another cruise line, so I'm still using Cruise Critic for research and planning. If history is any indicator of the future I'll probably spend less and less time here after our next cruise, especially since we're not researching or planning a cruise beyond our Med cruise. Finally I don't "hate" HAL for their decision. It doesn't work for us but that doesn't make HAL a bad cruise line, it just doesn't meet our needs. I've never said we absolutely won't cruise HAL again it's just unlikely right now.

 

Stick around Randy:) Just because you don't have a HAL cruise booked now, doesn't mean you can't be among us :) I've been on the Costa threads and I don't sail Costa;) but I think many of us have been there lately

 

Randy -- I agree with Kazu -- stick around and give us your opinions as well.

I haven't sailed on Costa but I certainly have been over there a lot reading and collecting information.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Reason no reports yet ? Probably because only Sunday disembarked Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam pax have yet completed a "new rules" cruise. They both left on January 15, first day the change took effect, and both had a short 7 day voyage.

 

For example, Eurodam sailed January 14...so, old rules. It's only when people who embarked January 21 disembark this Saturday, January 28, we'll get first reports from that vessel.

 

And, people usually take a couple days to adjust to the Real World. Pax should be posting soon...just not yet.

 

Experts, please check my facts. But, after Nieuw Amsterdam/Westerdam, I believe we'll hear from:

 

Maasdam - January 27

Zuiderdam - January 27

Eurodam - January 28

Ryndam - January 29

Volendam - January 31

Noordam - Feb 3

Statendam - Feb 3

Oosterdam - Feb 4

Veendam - Feb 4

Zandam - Feb 5

 

Amsterdam - how *are* they handling world cruise segments?

 

Prinsendam and Veendam - sorry, don't know their back schedules.

 

Thanks for posting the dates.

As for the world cruise -- just a guess -- the new smoking policy will probably start when one segment ends.

We were in the middle of a Collectors cruise when the changes for the Beverage cards took place. First segment -- old prices -- second segment one new card and price changes all the old cards except the soda card.

[Randyk47]

Thanks Kazu and Krazy Kruizers. I reread my initial posting and I suppose, without knowing my mood or sense of humor, folks might take that as a sour grapes comment on my part. It really isn't. Sure I'm disappointed but I'm not throwing a fit or stamping my feet about it. As I did with Celebrity when they changed their policy I simply asked HAL to stop sending me brochures, mailings, and emails. They've very graciously done that and that's all I really wanted or meant to say in my initial posting. I've sailed with a number of fellow HAL CC'ers and communicate off line with them and a number of others. It could turn out we say "to heck with it" and we'll adapt so you'll see us on a HAL ship in the future, maybe not. It's pretty typical of us to get "cruised out", meaning we'll cruise every year for several years and then take a break for a couple of years. We're kind of at that point right now and that has really nothing to do with HAL's smoking policy though it doesn't help either. We're destination cruisers and if we're "full" and don't see an intineary that gets our attention then we'll not cruise. Never say never......

[kazu]

Thanks Kazu and Krazy Kruizers. I reread my initial posting and I suppose, without knowing my mood or sense of humor, folks might take that as a sour grapes comment on my part. It really isn't. Sure I'm disappointed but I'm not throwing a fit or stamping my feet about it. As I did with Celebrity when they changed their policy I simply asked HAL to stop sending me brochures, mailings, and emails. They've very graciously done that and that's all I really wanted or meant to say in my initial posting. I've sailed with a number of fellow HAL CC'ers and communicate off line with them and a number of others. It could turn out we say "to heck with it" and we'll adapt so you'll see us on a HAL ship in the future, maybe not. It's pretty typical of us to get "cruised out", meaning we'll cruise every year for several years and then take a break for a couple of years. We're kind of at that point right now and that has really nothing to do with HAL's smoking policy though it doesn't help either. We're destination cruisers and if we're "full" and don't see an intineary that gets our attention then we'll not cruise. Never say never......

 

You better not look at the Prinsendam's itinerary for the TA Baltics' collectors cruise (May, 2013) then Randy;) I never do spring TA's and have to confess we couldn't resist :):)

[rafinmd]

Reason no reports yet ? Probably because only Sunday disembarked Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam pax have yet completed a "new rules" cruise. They both left on January 15, first day the change took effect, and both had a short 7 day voyage.

 

For example, Eurodam sailed January 14...so, old rules. It's only when people who embarked January 21 disembark this Saturday, January 28, we'll get first reports from that vessel.

 

And, people usually take a couple days to adjust to the Real World. Pax should be posting soon...just not yet.

 

Experts, please check my facts. But, after Nieuw Amsterdam/Westerdam, I believe we'll hear from:

 

Maasdam - January 27

Zuiderdam - January 27

Eurodam - January 28

Ryndam - January 29

Volendam - January 31

Noordam - Feb 3

Statendam - Feb 3

Oosterdam - Feb 4

Veendam - Feb 4

Zandam - Feb 5

 

Amsterdam - how *are* they handling world cruise segments?

 

Prinsendam and Veendam - sorry, don't know their back schedules.

 

I guess I'm timing this perfectly. Sounds like I should be one of the first pax boarding the Zaandam who can be pretty sure nobody smoked in the cabin the cruise before. Correct?

 

Roy

[Randyk47]

You better not look at the Prinsendam's itinerary for the TA Baltics' collectors cruise (May, 2013) then Randy;) I never do spring TA's and have to confess we couldn't resist :):)

 

I'm almost afraid to look at that cruise. Mrs. K really wants to do a cruise in that part of the world, it's certainly high on her "bucket list". :) Me, I'm more into a full transit of the Panama Canal. We did a partial transit a few years ago and I initially thought that would satisfy my requirement but in retrospect it didn't. Only being able to do one major vacation a year right now means it takes a bit of researching, planning, and scheduling to get that just right cruise or vacation. Silversea has cruises in that part of the world so we'll probably see how our Med cruise goes and if Silversea meets our expectations. Since we're talking smoking issues I'll add that Silversea has pretty much the same restrictions as HAL for public areas. The one major difference is that right now they permit smoking in their cabins but not on their verandas which, if you've read my other posts on other threads, is acceptable to us and actually our preference.