HAL the last line allowing balcony smoking

[Oceanwench]

True, Sail.

I have been trying for months to get info on the new ship, and all I get is "when wer're ready to release the info, we will let you know."

[Fouremco]

True, Sail.

I have been trying for months to get info on the new ship, and all I get is "when wer're ready to release the info, we will let you know."

And there's no confirmation of the rumour that the new ship will be totally smoke free! ;)

[sail7seas]

And there's no confirmation of the rumour that the new ship will be totally smoke free! ;)

 

That is true but I would be willing to put myself 'out there' and say there will be no verandah smoking on the Pinnacle Class ship if it joins HAL's fleet. ;)

 

[luv4cruises]

Hard to believe that HAL is now the ONLY mainstream cruise line to allow balcony smoking! Good for Carnival and NCL!

[SeaWatch12]

FYI - It is being widely reported on the Norwegian board that a smoking ban policy will be rolled out this week. Customer service already confirming by phone.

This leaves HAL as the last of mainstream cruise lines with balcony smoking. I have a source who claims a similar policy will be in place by mid 2015.

This is just for informational purposes.

 

I hope this is true about HAL.

The balcony smoking policy is the reason I have not booked HAL, although I really want to sail on the Nieuw Amsterdam.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

That is true but I would be willing to put myself 'out there' and say there will be no verandah smoking on the Pinnacle Class ship if it joins HAL's fleet. ;)

 

I'll hopefully not start a rumor by speculating that HAL will announce a balcony smoking ban along with the announcement of the Pinnacle Class ship, to make it a "big news" day for HAL. It would make sense to intro the ban on a new-build with no existing bookings, then spread it fleet-wide.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Ryndam2002

[LMaxwell]

That is true but I would be willing to put myself 'out there' and say there will be no verandah smoking on the Pinnacle Class ship if it joins HAL's fleet. ;)

 

As of this time the plan is that when the new ships enter service there will already be a no balcony smoking policy in place; therefore you would be correct.

[Host Walt]

Please stick with the topic. Thanks.

[richstowe]

I have followed the discussions on the respective CC boards as the various cruiselines have tightened

their smoking restrictions including balcony smoking bans. There has been a certain sameness

in the arguments as well as a lot of anger as would be expected in such a strongly dividing issue.

With HAL being the last american brand allowing smoking on balconies ,the arguments are slightly different.

We gave up on Carnival balconies a while ago as I didn't wish to pay a premium for joy of being

aggravated by not being able to go out and enjoy our balcony.

 

BUT as HAL is now the last holdout , I'm not sure it makes sense for them to follow the crowd.

They should do it for many good reasons but not from a financial perspective.

Each cruise brand tries to set themselves apart and by not moving HAL has something unique to appeal to the smokers .

Again , I hate smoke but from a business perspective I'm not sure ,at this late date, they should play catch up.

Having said this, they will cave in before the end of the year rather then being known as the smokers line.

 

Thanks for this report. I was unaware of the NCL news also. To be honest, I'm a little surprised. I always thought NCL and CCL would be the last 2 hold outs. I'm baffled why HAL, an arguably nicer cruise line who, I guess, competes with Celebrity and maybe Princess, would be one of the last hold outs. JMHO.

I am on record as being sure NCL would be the last hold out. Oops.:o

[luv4cruises]

All smoking threads trivialize the fact that a business, HAL, permits a condition to exist on its ships that is a known, scientifically proven health hazard to its guests and a fire hazard.

 

It is difficult to justify the continued adherence to a policy that places their guests in harms' way. All other mainstream cruise lines, airlines, most public venues in cities, including university campuses-indoor and outdoor, parks beaches, restaurants, airports etc have banned smoking.

 

All arguments in favor of smoking on balconies ignore the scientific facts and the responsibility of the cruise line to provide a healthy, safe, and comfortable environment to its guests.

 

I am a former chain -smoker so I do understand how smokers feel, but that does not give them the right to pollute the air of other passengers. I also love HAL, but for the first time in almost ten years have not booked a HAL cruise for next year.

[Sow There]

All smoking threads trivialize the fact that a business, HAL, permits a condition to exist on its ships that is a known, scientifically proven health hazard to its guests and a fire hazard.

 

It is difficult to justify the continued adherence to a policy that places their guests in harms' way. All other mainstream cruise lines, airlines, most public venues in cities, including university campuses-indoor and outdoor, parks beaches, restaurants, airports etc have banned smoking.

 

All arguments in favor of smoking on balconies ignore the scientific facts and the responsibility of the cruise line to provide a healthy, safe, and comfortable environment to its guests.

 

I am a former chain -smoker so I do understand how smokers feel, but that does not give them the right to pollute the air of other passengers. I also love HAL, but for the first time in almost ten years have not booked a HAL cruise for next year.

 

Read your post but this time while asking the question "...then why is tobacco still a legal substance?"

 

Unless and until tobacco is banned, smoking cigarettes or any other tobacco products is a legal activity.

 

Now that pot is legal in some states, is it OK to smoke a joint (which is not tobacco) but not cigarettes in a no smoking venue?

[chrispb]

but that does not give them the right to pollute the air of other passengers.

 

Your air will remain unpolluted if you keep out of the very limited smokers' area:cool:

I also love HAL, but for the first time in almost ten years have not booked a HAL cruise for next year.

 

Very sensible. Horses for courses, etc.

[sail7seas]

Very sensible. Horses for courses, etc.

 

 

 

:confused: What is 'horses for courses, etc'?

I've never heard that expression.

 

edit: Never mind I googled it. :)

Edited July 22, 2014 by sail7seas

[fuzzywuzzy]

We have sailed many times on HAL. Wr are non smokers. We have never had a problem with smokers on the balcony. But having said that I do wish HAL would ban smoking altogether.

People will still book. We have had a no smoking in public places here in Ontario and the restaurants are still full.

[mountainmare]

:confused: What is 'horses for courses, etc'?

I've never heard that expression.

 

edit: Never mind I googled it. :)

 

At long last--a good horse reference in a smoking thread!

Back on topic I really thought there might be a rumor of an announcement soon, I'll have to ditch those rose colored glasses.

[PathfinderEss]

All smoking threads trivialize the fact that a business, HAL, permits a condition to exist on its ships that is a known, scientifically proven health hazard to its guests and a fire hazard.

 

It is difficult to justify the continued adherence to a policy that places their guests in harms' way. All other mainstream cruise lines, airlines, most public venues in cities, including university campuses-indoor and outdoor, parks beaches, restaurants, airports etc have banned smoking.

 

All arguments in favor of smoking on balconies ignore the scientific facts and the responsibility of the cruise line to provide a healthy, safe, and comfortable environment to its guests.

I am a former chain -smoker so I do understand how smokers feel, but that does not give them the right to pollute the air of other passengers. I also love HAL, but for the first time in almost ten years have not booked a HAL cruise for next year.

 

Its Hal's responsibility to provide a healthy environment.......... really/why? Its Hal's responsibility to provide a comfortable

environment..........really/why? Where is that written that Cruise Lines need to keep you healthy or comfortable? If that were the case they wouldn't serve alcohol - soft drinks - and we would all be eating vegetarian. etc.. They would get rite of those bar stools at the Lido bar. Safe yes, they are responsible for our safety but the rest is really not up to the cruise line. I feel that banning smoking on balconies has nothing to do with Hal worrying about our health, it has to do more with preventing fires which is a good thing.

[DeeniEncinitas]

Been on this thread since the beginning. Question? I just got on my B2B western eastern Caribbean cruise always seeing if my price will go down. Booked our cruise last Sept. After we came back from our Med cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam. On that cruise the price dropped almost 8,000.00 for our 24 day cruise. So far I have been cking prices daily no budging BUT today it went up in price by 200.00! Per person! Do you think it increased due to maybe getting smokers from Carnival and NCL? Just a thought.

It has been 11 mos. and no increase, but now a jump. Any thoughts.

Happy Sailing!

 

3 Star Mariners

Sailing Nieuw Amsterdam 3/15/2014 B2B Western/Eastern Caribbean Cruise

[Fouremco]

Been on this thread since the beginning. Question? I just got on my B2B western eastern Caribbean cruise always seeing if my price will go down. Booked our cruise last Sept. After we came back from our Med cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam. On that cruise the price dropped almost 8,000.00 for our 24 day cruise. So far I have been cking prices daily no budging BUT today it went up in price by 200.00! Per person! Do you think it increased due to maybe getting smokers from Carnival and NCL? Just a thought.

It has been 11 mos. and no increase, but now a jump. Any thoughts.

Happy Sailing!

 

3 Star Mariners

Sailing Nieuw Amsterdam 3/15/2014 B2B Western/Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Personally, I doubt it. If you think there's a correlation, you could check to see if there is a fire sale for similar Carnival and NCL cruises.

[kakalina]

We have sailed many times on HAL. Wr are non smokers. We have never had a problem with smokers on the balcony. But having said that I do wish HAL would ban smoking altogether.

People will still book. We have had a no smoking in public places here in Ontario and the restaurants are still full.

 

You are in a restaurant for at most 2-3 hours. You are on a cruise ship for anywhere from a few days to a few months. You are comparing apples and oranges. :eek:

[jimmy2x]

You are in a restaurant for at most 2-3 hours. You are on a cruise ship for anywhere from a few days to a few months. You are comparing apples and oranges. :eek:

 

Don't let the obvious get in the way of a righteous post.;)

[DeeniEncinitas]

Personally, I doubt it. If you think there's a correlation, you could check to see if there is a fire sale for similar Carnival and NCL cruises.

 

Ok I got online with Carnival, no long cruises to Caribbean 6 or 8 days really inexpensive, so how can what you call their fire sale be of any importance? Spoke with my husband and he figured the same as me, maybe HAL wants to see if people will book due to smoking band. Still just an opinion.

Happy cruising :)

 

3Star Mariner sailing Nieuw Amsterdam 2/15/2015 B2B Western/Eastern Caribbean Cruise

[RDC1]

Read your post but this time while asking the question "...then why is tobacco still a legal substance?"

 

Unless and until tobacco is banned, smoking cigarettes or any other tobacco products is a legal activity.

 

Now that pot is legal in some states, is it OK to smoke a joint (which is not tobacco) but not cigarettes in a no smoking venue?

 

Not so. The states (Colorado and Washington) that have legalized pot has placed it under the same non-smoking areas as cigarettes, plus additional restrictions. So if it non-smoking for cigarettes it is still non-smoking for pot.

[luv4cruises]

Its Hal's responsibility to provide a healthy environment.......... really/why? Its Hal's responsibility to provide a comfortable

environment..........really/why? Where is that written that Cruise Lines need to keep you healthy or comfortable? If that were the case they wouldn't serve alcohol - soft drinks - and we would all be eating vegetarian. etc.. They would get rite of those bar stools at the Lido bar. Safe yes, they are responsible for our safety but the rest is really not up to the cruise line. I feel that banning smoking on balconies has nothing to do with Hal worrying about our health, it has to do more with preventing fires which is a good thing.

 

Seems like NCL is concerned about the health and well being of its guests. Their announcement of their new smoking policy begins with their concern for HEALTH ...see NCL's statement below. HAL and any good host should be concerned about the health and well being of its guests.

 

Dear Valued Guest,

 

As the health and well-being of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance, Norwegian Cruise Line will institute changes to its smoking policy for all sailings on or after November 1, 2014. The specific changes prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies and limit smoking in the casino to players. On Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, smoking on The Waterfront will be permitted on the starboard side, except by the outdoor dining areas.

 

You can view Norwegian's complete smoking policy HERE.

 

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation and look forward to welcoming you on board your upcoming cruise.

 

Sincerely,

 

Norwegian Cruise Line

[erewhon]

We have sailed many times on HAL. Wr are non smokers. We have never had a problem with smokers on the balcony. But having said that I do wish HAL would ban smoking altogether.

People will still book. We have had a no smoking in public places here in Ontario and the restaurants are still full.

 

You are indeed fortunate that you have never had a problem with smokers on nearby balconies.

[kjw869]

You are indeed fortunate that you have never had a problem with smokers on nearby balconies.

 

We are also indeed fortunate that we never had a problem with smokers in our 15+ cruises with HAL. And we spend hours upon hours on our balconies.

 

As I've said in previous posts, we've found very few people on their balconies on HAL ships. We see more of them on our annual Alaska cruise than we do on the Caribbean cruises.

 

That's probably why smokers have never bothered us on our verandahs.