Just off the Nieuw Amsterdam, great cruise but…….

[doublebzz]

Even IF this rule was in effect, does anyone really think that HAL would enforce it????

 

HAL will change the policy only when it is in their financial interest to change it. Letters will not help-don't waste your money on the stamp.

 

Bookings and people voting with their feet are the only things that will lead to a change in policy.

 

You are absolutely right. I sail on a fully booked Nieuw Amsterdam in 24 hours on a Transatlantic by folks obviously not concerned about the smoking issue.

[Drico]

 

Did you fail to notice that I thought the cruise was great!!!!!! I came here to report on a great cruise.

 

 

 

Yes, I read your one paragraph about enjoying the cruise.

 

 

 

The fact that we couldn't enjoy our veranda completely was not bit**ing but rather an observation. I happen to be a major HAL chearleader and have been on the board for years. In other words keep your snide comments to your self . Times change and just maybe HAL might want to look at the issue again.

 

 

You must not be much of a cheerleader if you are considering another line with more restrictive smoking policies.

 

Again, you knew smoking was allowed on balconies. You knew there would be a chance a neighbor smoking may keep you from enjoying your balcony. That's what happen and now you want to complain about it.

[frankc98376]

HAL knows which cabins request ash trays for their veranda. I'd guarantee they the have and probably still track the on board spending of the guests in these cabins. I'm confident they also track the casino use for these guests. I know it can be done as I worked in Nevada casinos for many years- and they knew who much smokers and non smokers spent. Millions could have been saved in maintenance and insurance if the casinos switched to non smoking.

That was back in the early late 70's and 80's and we all know there is still smoking in casinos- Nevada exempted them in the smoke free laws.

The bottom line is their bottom line- is it profitable. It must be for HAL, NCL, Carnival, and a big part of Seabourn. Interestingly I see very few threads about smoking on those boards and the threads I have seen have been very "civil". No, I'm not a smoker- just very practical and a big fan of HAL for many many years. I'd actually rather be on my HAL balcony with a smoker next door than on the road behind a truck spewing diesel exhaust.

Edited April 5, 2014 by frankc98376

[Drico]

 

The bottom line is their bottom line- is it profitable. It must be for HAL, NCL, Carnival, and a big part of Seabourn.

 

 

Cunard also allows smoking on balconies.

[mountainmare]

One thing that HAL could do to dip its feet in the water is to take a lesson from

Carnival (yes I said Carnival) and have the Spa cabins non-smoking including balconies. If it looked like all of a sudden spa cabins were selling like hot cakes that might tell them something.

(this is completely selfish--we have stopped sailing HAL and miss it, I only lurk here hoping for some good news. We even let our last FCC expire rather than take a chance)

[doublebzz]

My 20% is empirical and fairly accurate according to CDC "An estimated 42.1 million people, or 18.1% of all adults (aged 18 years or older), in the United States smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is more common among men (20.5%) than women (15.8%)."

 

 

Using your statistics, I believe the population of HAL cruisers fall into these 4 categories:

 

Those that smoke: 20%

 

Those that can't abide smoke: 20%

 

Those that are comatose: 5%

 

Those that have no issue with smoking: 55%

 

I say let the majority rule and end this thread that has long outlived its usefulness if it ever had any.

[rjrpar]

I think, and I am speaking as a 4star non smoker, that this is an overblown issue. Okay so flame me. I may have in all my sailing days noticed someone smoking next to me. This even after the latest changes. I have more problems walking into the grocery store or even Target where the 'cigarette' towers are right at the front than on the cruise ship. I don't do the casino so I don't have that issue.

 

You are correct, it is an overblown issue. I don't smoke, never have, and on 15 cruises on 4 different cruise lines, I have never smelled smoke on my balcony. Since it's politically correct to bash smoking, everyone is on the bandwagon.

[jimmy2x]

It doesn't have to be 50/50. The smokers just have to be towards the aft end of the ship. For example, HAL might designate the aft half of the port side as smoking balconies for a 75/25 split. Alternatively, HAL might designate the aft 25% of cabins on both sides so that everyone still has a choice of port or starboard cabins. The inside and ocean-view cabins would remain open for all.

 

This solution is so simple and effective. There is no reason to bicker about the issue.

 

igraf

 

Not a bad solution - but people would still complain.

[geocruiser]

(--we have stopped sailing HAL and miss it, I only lurk here hoping for some good news. We even let our last FCC expire rather than take a chance)

 

I have all so stop sailing HAL because of their smoking policy. I hav e three stars on HAL, and Until thing change I will not make four stars. I want to be able to enjoy my balcony with out smoke. So, now I chose a line were the smoking policy is more in line to what I want.

[GeriatricNurse]

I have all so stop sailing HAL because of their smoking policy. I hav e three stars on HAL, and Until thing change I will not make four stars. I want to be able to enjoy my balcony with out smoke. So, now I chose a line were the smoking policy is more in line to what I want.

 

 

Well, I haven't stopped sailing HAL because of their smoking policy! I always book an Interior Stateroom, (where there are no issues with sidestream/secondhand) smoke as there are on the balconies/verandahs), & avoid all the smoking areas onboard! ;) If people wish to smoke to the detriment of their health, then that is their problem! ;)

[iancal]

We seldom purchase anything on any cruise line. We find the selections very poor and the pricing no better, sometimes higher, than we pay at home. That, despite the 'tax free' and discount claims. No point in carrying back things that we can buy at home for less money.