An unpopular subject - smoking

[valeriequeenofthesea]

Ok, I know I'm in the minority here, and not a popular group, but I have to ask. What can a smoker expect as far as accomodations on the Oosterdam or any of HAL's ships?

[jhannah]

You may smoke in your cabin, and out on deck. No smoking in public rooms except for the casino. The lido deck is generally split where port side is non-smoking and starboard is smoking. (That may be opposite ... I can't remember for sure.)

 

'Vegas Jim

 

[valeriequeenofthesea]

WindyCity,

Thanks for your comment. We certainly don't intend to offend anyone with our smoking and are always considerate of our surroundings. I am surprised that smoking is allowed in the cabins, though. How nice!

[OCruisers]

In the past on HAL there were sections in the bars/lounges where smoking was allowed. Never noticed any sort of problem .........

[Tatka]

On RCCI and Celebrity pax can smoke anywhere inside (except for restaurant, show longe and some other places) on startboard side.

 

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

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>

<LI>Zuiderdam 8/21/04 FLL - Key West - Cozumel - Grand Caymans - Half Moon Cay - FLL

<LI>Splendour of the Seas 05/15/04 Barcelona - Marseilles - Villefranche - Livorno - Chivitavecchia - Naples - Barcelona

<LI>Century 07/12/03 Eastern Caribbean FFL-San Juan - St. Thomas - St.Maarten- Nassau -FFL

<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/91 Moscow - Astrahan' - Moscow (honeymoon)

<LI>Komarno(Volga)07/90 Moscow - Astrahan'- Moscow

<LI>Admiral Nachimov(or Nakhimov) (Black Sea)04/1986 Odessa - Batum

 

GO BRUINS!!!!

[Southbound]

Smoking is not permitted in the dining rooms, showroom and a couple of the lounges. Smoking is permitted in your cabin, verandah (if you have one), Sports Bar, Casino Bar. Also, designated smoking area in the Crow's Nest & at the bar; designated smoking area in Ocean Bar. Also, bar and port side of the Lido out by the pool but, be forewarned, that occasionally a metal "smoking" sign will sneakily be removed by an anti-smoker out there, the replacement of which I am not bashful about procuring. I certainly would like to believe that anyone smoking on their verandah would be considerate of their neighbors.

 

Most importantly, NEVER discard a lit cigarette over the verandah balcony.

 

Common courtesy and common sense make for a pleasant and safe shipboard experience for all on board.

[kryos]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by valeriequeenofthesea:

Ok, I know I'm in the minority here, and not a popular group, but I have to ask. What can a smoker expect as far as accomodations on the Oosterdam or any of HAL's ships?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

No smoking in the dining room, but you can smoke pretty much anywhere else, in the designated areas. Just look for the tables with ashtrays on them. Also, from what I understand, there really are no "non-smoking cabins." Just make sure your travel agent informs HAL when booking that you are a smoker. This way they'll make sure there is an ashtray in your cabin.

 

I am a smoker too and I was also concerned about how smokers would be treated onboard. I had no problems whatsoever. In fact, I spent many an early morning up on the Lido deck enjoying a cigarette since my cabinmate was a non-smoker.

 

Blue skies and happy cruising!

 

--rita

[kryos]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Also, bar and port side of the Lido out by the pool but, be forewarned, that occasionally a metal "smoking" sign will sneakily be removed by an anti-smoker out there, the replacement of which I am not bashful about procuring.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

I just find a deck steward and ask for another when someone removes the ashtray. Also, I notice that oftentimes there will be few ashtrays out on the deck. Then I just plop down at a table with a group of smokers and ask "mind if I share?"

 

I've found that sharing ashtrays is a great way for a single cruiser to meet a lot of interesting people!

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[alwaysfrantic]

Please tell me cabins don't smell smoky. I didn't know it was permitted in cabins. Now I am scared to death that my week will be spent wheezing since a smoker might have just vacated the room I'm in hours before my arrival.

[seatrial]

alwaysfrantic,

 

I have been on only 13 cruises and I can honestly say that two of them have been really impacted by my cabin smelling of smoke. The last was on Oosterdam. I had a balcony. The cabin smelled of smoke so badly that I had to complain. There was really nothing that could be done. The steward said that the person the week before was a chain-smoker. Everything from the sofa to the carpet was simply ruined. I had a headache all week. The cruiselines will say that they can get rid of the smell, but the truth is; in some cases if it's bad enough nothing but time will remove the smell. By the end of the week our cabin still smelled. I hope you don't have a problem. If I ever get a cabin that smells like the one on Ooster, I will either be changed to another cabin or will leave the ship with a full refund, or will file a law suit for a refund. It was simply unacceptable. I really think that it's unaccepatable that the lines do not have nonsmoking cabins. It really hurt my trip. I have had smoking problems on every balcony I have ever had, and I have decided that the whole balcony/smoke thing is not worth it so I just book window cabins now. Why smoking is stilled allowed in public places or in hotel rooms/ship cabins is truly amazing. I still think that it is a matter of a few year before this will be stopped. The latest smoking studies are really conclusive. It really isn't fair for anyone who desires not to smell tabocco smoke to forced to do so.

 

Go ahead and flame me, it really doesn't bother me. I'm sick of smelling smoke and tired of being afraid to speak up. Very little political correctness here.

[wcolucci]

I don't think you'll get flamed Seatrial, most smokers wouldn't want a room that reeks either.

 

On my only cruise experience I noticed a lot of smokers, sat with them or near them on the decks or in casino, hey no problem w/ me or most others I saw on board. Just follow the rules, everyone has rule, not just smokers, and have a great trip

 

 

As a "born again"...(ie quit smoking 1+ pack a day after 20+ yrs), I find the smoke bothersome and am fully aware of the effect it can have on others, but hey to each his own, I can see the attraction of a morning smoke on the balcony, or a cig after a great dinner overlooking the wake. I used to run 6 miles in the morning, every morning, and halfway through couldn't wait to get done so I could have my coffee & cigarette, I still run but don't smoke any more, kinda need a new motivation. FOOD!! hence my new found love of cruising

[wcolucci]

what a horrible thought, what if they go after consumption of food in public places, ...or you can't eat in your cabin......ugh, no icecream in bed,

 

I can hear it now, the pax that have my room after this week will complain that the mattress smells like cookies & cream or butterpecan...dang it, there are spoon marks on the nightstand..and how will they ever get those sprinkles out of the carpet!!!!!

[Somewhere]

Here we go again!

 

A question was asked. The question was answered.

 

Then out comes the 'aint-it-awful' crowd.

 

Nowhere did I see in the question anything about whether you like or dislike smoking, whether smokers/non-smokers are treated 'fairly' or 'why do non-smokers steal smoking tables?'. The question was 'what are the rules?' and nothing more.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Oosterdam

 

Although we are not smokers, we did notice that the Oosterdam has more smoking areas on the ship than on any of the older HAL ships.

 

For example, the Ocean Bar is divided into 2 sctions. The section on the starboard side is smoking. Across the Atrium where the muscians are, it is non-smoking.

 

In the Explorer's Lounge, there is a separate room for the smokers.

 

And on the starboard side of the Crow's Nest, there is a room called the Oak Room. They sell cigars here. The room even has a fake fireplace.

 

[cruise freak]

I too am a smoker and noticed while on the Zuiderdam they were fewer places to smoke than I had ever experienced on any ship on any line.

 

 Till the Big Z

 Till Infinity and Beyond

 

[wcolucci]

good point somewhere

[Orcrone]

seatrial,

 

don't see any reason for you to be flamed (of course I'm a non-smoker). Hotels reserve a certain number of rooms as non-smoking rooms, no reason cruise ships can't do the same.

 

One difference is that hotels rarely fill up, so they usually will have some smoking and non-smoking rooms available at any time. A cruise ship though will want to sail with all rooms filled. They may worry that they will have non-smoking rooms empty and smokers wanting to travel so the ship will not be full. But they could set aside a relatively small number of non-smoking rooms, and charge a premium for them. People such as you and me would probably welcome the opportunity to have a non-smoking room for a little extra money.

 

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America

4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration

10/30/2004 - Maasdam

 

Till sailing on the Maasdam

[General Max]

Just as a followup question; does HAL sell cigarettes on board?

 

Orcrone, why should non-smokers have to pay a premium for a non-smoking designated cabin? It would also be unfair the other way around, if smokers would have to pay a premium for a smoking room. Smokers pay enough in taxes and life insurance premiums.

 

If cruise ships have designated non-smoking rooms, people would smoke in them anyway. i have experienced non-smoking rooms at hotels with the familiar smell of smoke.

 

General Max

 

08/27/2004 Ryndam Alaska

 

8/27/04 Ryndam Southbound from Seward

 

 

 

[InterestedBystander]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>...Now I am scared to death that my week will be spent wheezing since a smoker might have just vacated the room I'm in ...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>That's a really neat way to look forward to your cruise.

 

It ranks right up there with worrying about tsunamis and West Nile mosquitoes.

[Orcrone]

General Max - First the easy question. If a PAX is caught smoking in a non-smoking room, he or she is put off the boat at the next port. I believe Carnival has that policy with their totally smoke free Paradise.

 

The first question is a little more difficult to answer. Currently all rooms on just about every cruise ship are smoking rooms. That means that if there is a PAX looking for a room and a room available then it will be filled. However, when you put restrictions on rooms (e.g. non-smoking only) the cruise line can run into a situation where there is a potential PAX and an empty room, but it doesn't get filled.

 

Now I know that hotels have the same situation, but hotels don't rely on having most rooms full. They plan on a certain vacancy rate. Most of the times there are plenty of vacancies. So it just means that some vacancies are smoking rooms and some are non-smoking. However cruise ships ordinarily don't sail with many vacant rooms.

 

Ideally they would reserve a "maximum" number of rooms as non-smoking rooms so that every non-smoker would have one. But if they did this then there will be times that not all the non-smoking rooms would be full and there would be the potential of it sailing with empty rooms. So one solution would be to make a "minimum" number of rooms non-smoking. Few enough that they would sell out each cruise. Then their just left with the smoking rooms, same as now. I would love it if they sold those rooms at the same rate. But from a business viewpoint they would have a product with more demand than supply, and hence could demand a higher price.

 

I know that some people are saying that this did not work for Carnival on the Paradise. It was often heavily discounted and they're doing away with the policy when it repositions to the west coast. But that was one ship. I'm sure that some people cruised on it simply because it was non-smoking. But most people don't make that their sole criteria. They're more interested in the cruise line, size of the ship, activities on the ship, food, entertainment, itinerary, etc. So by making an entire ship non-smoking you're limiting yourself to people interested in that particular itinerary/ship who don't smoke. However, making a portion of every ship non-smoking would just mean that non-smokers will choose their cruise as they normally do. They would just select a non-smoking room.

 

Marc

 

1/1990 - RCCL Song of America

4/13/2003 - Carnival Inspiration

10/30/2004 - Maasdam

 

Till sailing on the Maasdam

[darnapar]

What surprises me is that they allow smoking due to the possibility of fire. I would think a cigarette would be a bigger hazard than an iron and they don't allow those in the cabin.

 

What happens if you do get a room that has a problem? Is there any way to change? My son has developed asthma since our last cruise and cigarette smoke is a big problem. I'ld hate spend more time in medical than by the pool.

[elmorejj]

To answer someones post, yes, HAL does sell cigarettes. You can buy them by the carton in the duty free shop or buy them by the pack in any of the lounges...jean

 

PS, bring your own matches or lighter as you cannot get either on board

[seatrial]

darnapar,

 

You might be able to change cabins if the ship isn't full. When I experienced my problem the ship was full. I think that it is difficult for some smokers and even nonsmokers to understand how much the smell of tobacco smoke bothers some people. When I got home from the Oosterdam, after staying in the smelly cabin, all of my clothes smelled. Even my luggage smelled. Every night my head was right next to the sofa. I think the person must have smoked while sitting on the sofa much of the time as it smelled really bad. Even the bed pillows smelled. They were eventually replaced. I think that there should be no smoking in cabins; smoking should be allowed only on balconies and open decks. The open deck smoking area should be restricted to areas downwind (while underway) from nonsmoking areas. Smoking on balconies should be limited to one side of the ship and smokers should be booked from the rear of the ship forward to place them downwind while underway.

 

By the way eating in cabins is really quite different than smoking. In most cases, even the worst food stains can be cleaned (at least to some degree). On the other hand, removing tabacco and nicotine smells and stains is almost impossible (and what about cigarette burns). Also most food residue is noncarcinogenic.

[PrincessMelody]

In all fairness, some people are allergic to smoke. Some people may have asthma and not be able to tolerate smoke. It is understandable that a person who has not been on a cruise before, or has not been on HAL before may be concerned about the issue. Asking more experienced cruisers about it is not unreasonable. Worrying a bit about it is not obsessive.

 

I am a former smoker (2 packs a day-quit 5 years ago) and yet DH still smokes, so I know how sensitive the issue can be. However, I believe that the vast majority of smokers do not want to offend anyone, and will go out of thier way not to. I feel that HAL accomodates both smokers and non-smokers. I was a little concerned about it when we went on our cruise that all the public areas would be smoky, but it wasn't a problem at all.

 

BTW, HAL does sell cigs in the gift shop.

 

HAL Maasdam 01/04

 

[alwaysfrantic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by InterestedBystander:

That's a really neat way to look forward to your cruise.

 

It ranks right up there with worrying about tsunamis and West Nile mosquitoes.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

I trust the captain to steer clear of storms, I trust my Cutter Family to keep the bugs away. I can't trust that the previous guest wasn't a chain smoker, leaving the room in such a state that I wouldn't be able to breathe. Nice as the islands are, they really are not where I want to be hospitalized.