smoking policy

[snobby]

It seems to me that all ships have different smoking policies even within the same cruise line. Does anyone know the current policy on the Rotterdam? Especially on the Lanai stateroom deck i.e. lower promenade.

[Boytjie]

HAL's smoking policy is stated on their web 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.

[snobby]

Thanks for 'standard' HAL reply which of course I have read, but having just returned from a cruise on the Volendam this was not the case. Smoking was only allowed on the port side outside deck.

[POA1]

Thanks for 'standard' HAL reply which of course I have read, but having just returned from a cruise on the Volendam this was not the case. Smoking was only allowed on the port side outside deck.

 

Wouldn't that be the "certain designated outside deck" of which the policy speaks?

[snobby]

No mention then of port or starboard ? This is only specified on the ship ?

[SeaBands]

keep beating it.

[sail7seas]

Hi snobby.

Welcome to CC. Happy you found us. :)

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Yes -- it does tend to differ by ship -- i.e. -- on the outside decks.

I have seen the metal hanging ash trays on both starboard and port sides of ships. I have also seen people move the ash trays from the starboard side tables by the aft pool to the port side tables -- and no one said anything to anyone. I had always thought that the ash trays were to remain on the starboard side by the aft pool -- guess maybe I was wrong.

[PathfinderEss]

Knew we couldn't go a week without another smoking thread.:)

[KirkNC]

Yes, welcome to CC!

[sapete]

Knew we couldn't go a week without another smoking thread.:)

 

 

Was it a whole week?:D

[kjw869]

Knew we couldn't go a week without another smoking thread.:)

 

Was there any doubt???

[erewhon]

Thanks for 'standard' HAL reply which of course I have read, but having just returned from a cruise on the Volendam this was not the case. Smoking was only allowed on the port side outside deck.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Were there metal hanging ashtrays on the port side of the Lower Promenade Deck?

[PathfinderEss]

Was it a whole week?:D

 

No..........:D:D:D

[GlennG]

Knew we couldn't go a week without another smoking thread.:)

I'm a relative "newcomer" to the cruise critic forum. The smoking issue for me and my wife is an important one. I can understand that long-time contributors (tens of thousands of posts) find my interests in this controversial issue to be tiresome and boring. For me, the comments and opinions, however, help clarify our personal issues with the HAL smoking policy. Could you please show some tolerance and understanding of our continuing interest in the smoking policy and its application to Holland America Line?

[midwest 852]

I'm a relative "newcomer" to the cruise critic forum. The smoking issue for me and my wife is an important one. I can understand that long-time contributors (tens of thousands of posts) find my interests in this controversial issue to be tiresome and boring. For me, the comments and opinions, however, help clarify our personal issues with the HAL smoking policy. Could you please show some tolerance and understanding of our continuing interest in the smoking policy and its application to Holland America Line?

 

 

Tolerance and understanding! LOL

[mountainmare]

Actually the last two smoking threads have been by relative new comers to either cruisecritic or the HAL boards. If you look at their original posts they each asked a very specific question about their cabin choice.

The last smoking thread was started by someone who was specifically asking about aft (or stern) veranda cabins, I remember because I answered using our personal experience on two cruises.

This poster has specifically asked about smoking on the public promenade deck specifically in front of Lanai cabins, something that is somewhat fuzzy when reading the "official" HAL statement if one is not sure what the various outside decks are called.

It would be nice if people would carefully read the original question and be polite to newcomers who mistakenly commit the sin of asking about smoking.

[HamOp]

I'm a relative "newcomer" to the cruise critic forum. The smoking issue for me and my wife is an important one. I can understand that long-time contributors (tens of thousands of posts) find my interests in this controversial issue to be tiresome and boring. For me, the comments and opinions, however, help clarify our personal issues with the HAL smoking policy. Could you please show some tolerance and understanding of our continuing interest in the smoking policy and its application to Holland America Line?

 

@GlennG,

 

I think many of us who have been hanging around the boards for a while, may forget that even though a topic may be over-worked and all too frequently brought to the surface, to a newer poster, such as yourself, it is new information.

 

Kind of like an old joke. If you've never heard it before, it's not old!

 

As you will discover, any thread here that deals with smoking is a "hot button" topic that can linger on for page after page.

 

After a while you will come to know what to expect from whom, and learn to read between the lines.

 

Welcome!:)

[hrhdhd]

I'm a relative "newcomer" to the cruise critic forum. The smoking issue for me and my wife is an important one. I can understand that long-time contributors (tens of thousands of posts) find my interests in this controversial issue to be tiresome and boring. For me, the comments and opinions, however, help clarify our personal issues with the HAL smoking policy. Could you please show some tolerance and understanding of our continuing interest in the smoking policy and its application to Holland America Line?

 

Thank you for your common-sense plea. Naturally many of the posters with tens of thousands of posts have achieved that level by making unnecessary comments unrelated to a poster's question, such as the one you replied to.

 

Don't want to see another smoking thread? Move along. Or don't even click on the title when it clearly indicates the topic.

[solocanadian]

I will never understand why people book a cruise on HAL when they are so concerned about where smoking is permitted. Why do they not sail on another line that has no smoking. Tiresome/boring do not describe the way most of us feel when this issue comes up again and again.:rolleyes::p

[kazu]

I'm a relative "newcomer" to the cruise critic forum. The smoking issue for me and my wife is an important one. I can understand that long-time contributors (tens of thousands of posts) find my interests in this controversial issue to be tiresome and boring. For me, the comments and opinions, however, help clarify our personal issues with the HAL smoking policy. Could you please show some tolerance and understanding of our continuing interest in the smoking policy and its application to Holland America Line?

 

Well, I certainly welcome you to the boards.

 

 

BUT when it comes to smoking - it is permitted on certain outside decks. Now, here's the way I perceive it (for what little it is worth) There are certain outside decks on the promenade where ashtrays have not been removed. So people are going to use them.

 

I think that indicates that it is still permitted there.

 

To be honest, whatever anyone reports from the Rotterdam is only as good as their experience was - things can change overnight. Most of the ships I had been on had the ashtrays there (perhaps just not removed - not sure).

 

I have to say, I groan when I see another smoking thread - as they can turn 'hot'. I know that is not your intention - it's just a worry. In any case, there are only specific areas where smoking is allowed on HAL. It is not prolific on the ship.

 

will it happen on your deck as you saw before? very possibly if the ashtrays are still there. Will it happen a lot? I think not. But that is only our experience and we basically walk the promenade deck. We haven't noticed a lot of smokers or smell.

[PathfinderEss]

I'm a relative "newcomer" to the cruise critic forum. The smoking issue for me and my wife is an important one. I can understand that long-time contributors (tens of thousands of posts) find my interests in this controversial issue to be tiresome and boring. For me, the comments and opinions, however, help clarify our personal issues with the HAL smoking policy. Could you please show some tolerance and understanding of our continuing interest in the smoking policy and its application to Holland America Line?

 

There is a search function in the upper right hand corner that can be used to search all the smoking threads and I'm sure in there somewhere all your question can be answered. Below is Hal's stated smoking policy and as of yet it has not changed. Seem to me it is self explanatory. I'm sure when it ever does, there will be a big announcement.

 

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.

[cruz chic]

I will never understand why people book a cruise on HAL when they are so concerned about where smoking is permitted. Why do they not sail on another line that has no smoking. Tiresome/boring do not describe the way most of us feel when this issue comes up again and again.:rolleyes::p

 

I always wonder why people say go to another line. It's just like telling smokers to go camping or to an all inclusive. I would never do that. I really am begging posters to stop saying that. I like HAL for various reasons. I like Princess too. If I liked Princess better I would sail them exclusively for their smoking policy. Next thing you know I'll be told what a horrible person I am for posting this:rolleyes:. It happened last week. Just think, if every non smoker left to another line how much the fares will be when they can't fill the ship.

Edited June 6, 2014 by cruz chic

[PathfinderEss]

I always wonder why people say go to another line. It's just like telling smokers to go camping or to an all inclusive. I would never do that. I really am begging posters to stop saying that. I like HAL for various reasons. I like Princess too. If I liked Princess better I would sail them exclusively for their smoking policy. Next thing you know I'll be told what a horrible person I am for posting this:rolleyes:. It happened last week. Just think, if every non smoker left to another line how much the fares will be when they can't fill the ship.

 

I agree with your thinking cruzchic. People can and should make their own choices on whom to cruise with, whether your a smoker or non. Certainly no one should tell a passengers to go cruise with someone else but if all you want to do is complain about your choice then doesn't it kind of make sense that maybe you need to rethink your cruising choices. Maybe go somewhere else to spend your cruising dollars that would make you happier?

[LindaM]

I don't find the smoking threads tiresome or boring. People don't have to read any threads they aren't interested in. That's the part that totally kills me---when people complain about threads no one is forcing them to read!

 

There is no way most of us can read everything on CC. I don't have a job, and I don't have time. Actually, I spend too much time reading about my favorite HAL topics ie Prinsendam, smoking and wine!