Smoking policy on Holland

[Sun&Sand52]

I am sorry if this is a repeat of a question on the topic of smoking, but CC search is "broken" and I thought I would simply post this question here....

 

Considering a last minute March or April Caribbean cruise on HAL, and have never sailed her. DH and I are non-smokers. On Celebrity they do not allow smoking on balconies, cabins or even the casino. They only allow smoking in a couple of select spots. So that policy was great for us, but I am considering trying a new line for a change of scenery. But truthfully am worried about HAL's smoking policy as I thought it was much more lenient than some other lines.

 

So, I guess my question to you seasoned HAL cruisers, is how is the smoke situation on board?

[kazu]

HAL's smoking policy is clearly spelled out in the 'know before you go'.

 

The policy is not that lenient other than that smoking is permitted on verandahs. the remaining places are very limited - the casino, a small portion of the sea view pool, etc.

 

Will smoking bother you? If you have a verandah, possibly. Some report no issues and others do. There is no guarantee.

 

smoking is a 'hot' topic on these boards so I am trying to answer in a straightforward way and hope that this thread doesn't go up in flames - so to speak.

[Krazy Kruizers]

From HAL's site:

Is Smoking Allowed On Board?

 

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. While smoking is not permitted in staterooms, guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.

 

• Stateroom verandahs
  
• Casino (Active players only)
  
• Seaview Bar
  
• Outside Decks
  
  • Sports Deck
    
  • Observation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)
    

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation.

[Essiesmom]

Although smoking is not allowed in passenger cabins, apparently it is in crew cabins. I have stayed in K1116 on both Westerdam and Nieuw Amsterdam. It's an inside cabin, and there is a corridor at the rear of the elevator lobby with a door that leads to some senior crew cabins. On both ships, I could go past that closed door and the area reeked of stale smoke. EM

[Copper10-8]

Although smoking is not allowed in passenger cabins, apparently it is in crew cabins. I have stayed in K1116 on both Westerdam and Nieuw Amsterdam. It's an inside cabin, and there is a corridor at the rear of the elevator lobby with a door that leads to some senior crew cabins. On both ships, I could go past that closed door and the area reeked of stale smoke. EM

 

Smoking inside crew cabins by crew is not allowed. Violations will result in discipline

[Hlitner]

One can draw their own conclusion to how strict the smoking policies are on HAL. However, if you happen to have a veranda you might find yourself with a cigar smoker on one side and a cigarette smoker on the other side and they would both be totally within their rights to puff away. As to casino, they have tightened up the rules by technically allowing only those who are gambling to smoke. But the reality is that HAL casinos generally smell like dirty ashtrays....with attempts to cover the tobacco smell with various chemicals used in the carpet. We regularly cruise on HAL and simply avoid the casino, hope we get lucky if we pay for a veranda, and try very hard to find a place on deck that only smells of the fresh sea air.

 

Hank

Edited February 28, 2014 by Hlitner

[legalslave]

I used to smoke and I don't any longer. Last cruise was in January on the Noordam. There were very few smokers. There was no smoke smelling areas that I noticed. The casino was not smokey. Yes, there were a few people smoking cigarettes but it wasn't bothersome to me. It may be for others. What was funny is DH bought me an E cigarette, non-nicotine that only uses a liquid mint flavor. If I get the craving, it really helps. I was on the balcony, standing next to cabin next to us. The people in the next door cabin were on their balcony and started coughing when they saw what appeared to be smoke but was only mint vapor.

 

I couldn't help but lean over and let them know it wasn't a real cigarette and it was only liquid vapor. I showed it to them and I think they were a little embarrassed. So, what appears to be a cigarette may not be one. Yeh, I know, maybe it was rude to be putting an extremely light scent of mint into the fresh air.

 

Diane

Edited February 28, 2014 by legalslave

[Aussiepair]

Do not even consider a balcony cabin on HAL if you are a non smoker. You will also need to keep clear of the casino.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Although smoking is not allowed in passenger cabins, apparently it is in crew cabins. I have stayed in K1116 on both Westerdam and Nieuw Amsterdam. It's an inside cabin, and there is a corridor at the rear of the elevator lobby with a door that leads to some senior crew cabins. On both ships, I could go past that closed door and the area reeked of stale smoke. EM

 

Interesting -- I always thought that the crew were not allowed to smoke in their cabins either.

[sail7seas]

Smoking inside crew cabins by crew is not allowed. Violations will result in discipline

 

Interesting -- I always thought that the crew were not allowed to smoke in their cabins either.

 

 

Copper10-8 said crew are not allowed to smoke in cabins.

 

[HamOp]

Copper10-8 said crew are not allowed to smoke in cabins.

 

 

Wonder if that includes the officers?

[Copper10-8]

Wonder if that includes the officers?

 

Yes Sir; all crew incl. officers from the Captain on down. How's the bug?

[boulders]

I had the same issue as a previous poster in an inside cabin. The stench of smoke was a lot worse in my inside cabin on the Nieuw Amsterdam on the balcony or cabin of my recent cruise on the Zaandam.

[zelker]

I posted on another smoking thread a few weeks ago that I had emailed customer service re: HAL's archaic smoking policy as it relates to continuing to allow smoking on verandahs. Some on that thread asked me to post if I got a follow-up reply so I will post it here instead since that thread has been closed for some reason. (side note: I was surprised to receive an actual letter in the mail rather than an email reply)

 

In my email to them, I asked why HAL doesn't follow the same non-smoking policy on verandahs that sister companies Princess, Cunard, and P&O have implemented as well as competitors such as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, and reiterated that second-hand smoke is a known health hazard as well as a safety issue on a ship, and that most businesses, hotels, and public buildings no longer allow smoking.

 

This was their response:

 

Thank you for the email regarding your ms Zuiderdam sailing departing February 14, 2014.

 

We understand your concerns regarding smoking on board and truly regret any negative impact this had on your recent sailing. We endeavor to keep up with current trends and to balance the needs of both our smoking and nonsmoking guests. Currently, our policy is to allow guests to smoke on their stateroom verandahs and designated areas on deck as well as in the casino if actively playing; cigar and pipe smoking is restricted to outside decks and verandahs. However, guest input is always welcome and as attitudes toward smoking continue to change we will revisit this policy with comments such as yours in mind.

 

Thank you once more for contacting our office and bringing your issue to our attention. Mariners like you are the core of our business and the reason we continue sailing and we hope we will have another opportunity to welcome you on board in the very near future.

 

Best regards,

 

Rebecca Reichel

Special Advisor

Office of the President

---------------

 

The take-away for me is that if enough people voice an opinion, HAL will listen (just like they did with the wine policy). You be the judge.

[HamOp]

Yes Sir; all crew incl. officers from the Captain on down. How's the bug?

 

The bug is pleased to announce that he quit smoking 50 days ago today! As did "Mrs. Bug"

[Copper10-8]

The bug is pleased to announce that he quit smoking 50 days ago today! As did "Mrs. Bug"

 

Good for them! ;)

[sail7seas]

I posted on another smoking thread a few weeks ago that I had emailed customer service re: HAL's archaic smoking policy as it relates to continuing to allow smoking on verandahs. Some on that thread asked me to post if I got a follow-up reply so I will post it here instead since that thread has been closed for some reason. (side note: I was surprised to receive an actual letter in the mail rather than an email reply)

 

In my email to them, I asked why HAL doesn't follow the same non-smoking policy on verandahs that sister companies Princess, Cunard, and P&O have implemented as well as competitors such as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, and reiterated that second-hand smoke is a known health hazard as well as a safety issue on a ship, and that most businesses, hotels, and public buildings no longer allow smoking.

 

This was their response:

Thank you for the email regarding your ms Zuiderdam sailing departing February 14, 2014.

 

We understand your concerns regarding smoking on board and truly regret any negative impact this had on your recent sailing. We endeavor to keep up with current trends and to balance the needs of both our smoking and nonsmoking guests. Currently, our policy is to allow guests to smoke on their stateroom verandahs and designated areas on deck as well as in the casino if actively playing; cigar and pipe smoking is restricted to outside decks and verandahs. However, guest input is always welcome and as attitudes toward smoking continue to change we will revisit this policy with comments such as yours in mind.

 

Thank you once more for contacting our office and bringing your issue to our attention. Mariners like you are the core of our business and the reason we continue sailing and we hope we will have another opportunity to welcome you on board in the very near future.

 

Best regards,

 

Rebecca Reichel

Special Advisor

Office of the President

---------------

 

The take-away for me is that if enough people voice an opinion, HAL will listen (just like they did with the wine policy). You be the judge.

 

 

Thanks for posting this, Zelker.

 

They've been sending this form letter No. who knows what for years. They full well know less than 20% of North American adults smoke. One of these days, they will realize they do no one any favor (most of all themselves) with their verandah smoking policy. They are attracting verandah booking smokers from other cruise lines but losing more non-smokers. They must like their being known as 'ashtray of the seas'. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

[zelker]

Thanks for posting this, Zelker.

 

They've been sending this form letter No. who knows what for years. They full well know less than 20% of North American adults smoke. One of these days, they will realize they do no one any favor (most of all themselves) with their verandah smoking policy. They are attracting verandah booking smokers from other cruise lines but losing more non-smokers. They must like their being known as 'ashtray of the seas'. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

Well, that's disappointing to hear, to say the least. :( (Oh well, at least I tried.)

[YubaSutter]

They've been sending this form letter No. who knows what for years. They full well know less than 20% of North American adults smoke. One of these days, they will realize they do no one any favor (most of all themselves) with their verandah smoking policy. :rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

They are doing smokers a favor.

[sail7seas]

They are doing smokers a favor.

 

 

That's a debate for another thread. :cool: :rolleyes: :D

[SeaWatch]

Many joke about non-smokers complaining, but if they had their balcony portion of a cruise ruined because of a coughing, chain smoker on the verandah next door as I did, perhaps they would be more concerned.

 

Sorry if this moves the thread to page 3.

[solocanadian]

"Saw a guy who looked like a smoker leave the mens room without washing his hands"

What does a smoker look like? I'm really curious.:rolleyes:

[luv4cruises]

Although the beautiful Promenade Deck is not listed as one of the outdoor decks where smoking is permitted, there are ashtrays around the entire deck. When I complained on the Nieuw Amsterdam last December I was told that they were in keeping with company policy. The aft pool also can be uncomfortable. The outside railing had portable ash trays attached. I love HAL, but their smoking policy is outdated and contrary to their stated concern for the well-being and comfort of all their guests. Celebrity, Princess, and Royal Caribbean have all instituted new smoking policies that prohibit smoking on balconies and most public areas of their ships. Celebrity is best as they have a smoke-free casino. Even though I don't gamble, it's nice to walk by without the smoke filled air.

Unfortunately on HAL's Vista and Signature class ships the casino is adjacent to the Piano Bar and the Northern Lights Night Club. You can't help being exposed to the smoke in order to access these places.

 

This topic comes up again and again on the boards. I, personally, am happy to keep it alive in hopes that HAL will take action to insure the health, well being and comfort of all guests in keeping with the latest scientific evidence as to the health hazards of smoking.

 

I find it ironic that so much attention and care is given to dietary allergies, hand washing, and general safety and smoking continues to be permitted with total disregard for its general health hazards and no concern for the particularly vulnerable guests with asthma, breathing problems, smoke allergies, and children.

 

Please HAL follow the lead of Princess, Celebrity, and RCI.

Edited February 28, 2014 by luv4cruises

[sail7seas]

Although the beautiful Promenade Deck is not listed as one of the outdoor decks where smoking is permitted, there are ashtrays around the entire deck. When I complained on the Nieuw Amsterdam last December I was told that they were in keeping with company policy. The aft pool also can be uncomfortable. The outside railing had portable ash trays attached. I love HAL, but their smoking policy is outdated and contrary to their stated concern for the well-being and comfort of all their guests. Celebrity, Princess, and Royal Caribbean have all instituted new smoking policies that prohibit smoking on balconies and most public areas of their ships. Celebrity is best as they have a smoke-free casino. Even though I don't gamble, it's nice to walk by without the smoke filled air.

Unfortunately on HAL's Vista and Signature class ships the casino is adjacent to the Piano Bar and the Northern Lights Night Club. You can't help being exposed to the smoke in order to access these places.

 

This topic comes up again and again on the boards. I, personally, am happy to keep it alive in hopes that HAL will take action to insure the health, well being and comfort of all guests in keeping with the latest scientific evidence as to the health hazards of smoking.

 

I find it ironic that so much attention and care is given to dietary allergies, hand washing, and general safety and smoking continues to be permitted with total disregard for its general health hazards and no concern for the particularly vulnerable guests with asthma, breathing problems, smoke allergies, and children.

 

Please HAL follow the lead of Princess, Celebrity, and RCI.

 

 

^^ Like. :)

 

[Cruising-along]

What does a smoker look like? I'm really curious.:rolleyes:

 

Pretty sure it was an attempt at a joke. :rolleyes: