Did You/Are You Switching Cruise Lines Because of HAL's Smoking Policies?

[Linda&Vern]

I posted on facebook asking when they were going to change their smoking policy. They replied by telling me to send an email to guest relations. My guess is that I'll never hear back. I will continue to post on their Facebook page.

Please do. My thought is that while there are many HAL fans saying "ban balcony smoking" ... if no one is directing their displeasure directly to HAL, then all these smoking threads will have accomplished nothing.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Linda&Vern

[sppunk]

Thank you for saying what 99.99% are thinking!!!

 

Joanie

 

As of this post, the 2,252 views and 73 replies prove your rudeness is flat-out wrong. My good friend wandb said what else I was going to, so I'll let sleeping dogs rest.

 

We have been fortunate to not having issues with smokers, but will be looking elsewhere for a change of pace to experience more luxury. HAL can't offer that, understandably so, so it's no real fault of theirs.

[cbr663]

No, we would never leave HAL because of its smoking policy. If the smoking policy bothered us at all then we simply would never have sailed with HAL in the first place. Yes, we have had fellow passengers smoking on their balconies next to us and we refused to let it bother us. We have had fellow passengers smoking on their balconies that were beneath us and we did not allow it to bother us. And yes, we have visited the casino and did not allow the smoking to bother us.

[Tante Amalie]

We are switching cruise lines because of the terrible drop in quality of Holland, not because of smoking, although I wish they would ban it on verandas.

 

I don't understand something. The smoking threads have thousands of views and many pages of discussion. Why do people think it should be reduced or banned? Obviously, the smoking threads are among the most popular topics. Why don't the people who are bored simply read other things instead of telling us we shouldn't discuss this topic? I don't get it.

[SeaSharp]

I don't have that much problem with smoking on the balcony, especially if it's just an occasional cigarette. The only problem I truly have is when several members of a large family gathering get together on someone's balcony, and use that particular balcony for the entire cruise as a place to congregate and smoke, morning, noon, and extremely late into the evening. We had that problem this year when we sailed Maasdam for 11 days in late January. I knew I was in trouble when I overheard my next door cabin neighbor ask the steward to please bring her TWO ash trays. We particularly enjoy booking suites to enjoy the large relaxing balcony, but when the people next door share their balcony with other family members and friends, simply as a "place to gather to smoke", it gets a little disgusting. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened to us. For that reason, yes, I'd like to see HAL restrict smoking on the balconies; but am I going to switch??? I doubt it!! I've sailed the last 40 years of my life, and too satisfied with HAL to wander too far. In my opinion, in the very near future, HAL will more than likely ban smoking on the balconies. Just hope it's before I cruise in late November!!

[cruz chic]

We are switching cruise lines because of the terrible drop in quality of Holland, not because of smoking, although I wish they would ban it on verandas.

 

I don't understand something. The smoking threads have thousands of views and many pages of discussion. Why do people think it should be reduced or banned? Obviously, the smoking threads are among the most popular topics. Why don't the people who are bored simply read other things instead of telling us we shouldn't discuss this topic? I don't get it.

 

Me either. I think the smokers think that the non smokers will influence Hal's policy. Hal will do what Hal will do.

[freestyling]

We wouldn't leave HAL due to current or any future smoking policy. I was a cigarette smoker and do not like the smell but have not had any problems on balcony. We enjoy the itineraries and HAL's fleet.

[POA1]

Smoking policies have no bearing on whether or not we take a particular vacation. I can honestly say that we've never been bothered by smokers while we were out on our balcony. I say this as someone who has had asthma and allergies since age 3. Maybe we've been lucky. Perhaps we'll be driven from our balcony by a hail of colloidal micro particles on our next cruise.** Who knows?

 

We're fortunate that we aren't bothered by smoking very much. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to take a very enjoyable vacation in Greece. Spain and Austria would have been out as well. The Baltics and most of Asia? Forget about it.

 

If we ever got to a point where something really bothered us about a travel provide, we'd simply stop using them. If people decide to leave HAL because of balcony smoking, I can respect that choice.

 

I do think it's premature to think that HAL is or is not going to ban balcony smoking at this point. What's it been since the other two lines announced their change? A week? A week and a half? If Holland America decides to evaluate the impact of being one of the last lines with balcony smoking, my guess is that they would need a longer period to evaluate the situation. (Unless late July is a crazy busy booking time. It could be, but I don't think so.)

 

[Editor's note: "[D]riven from our balcony by a hail of colloidal micro particles"?? Does that even make sense?]

 

[Author's response: Back off man! Smoke is a colloid. I'm upset. The houseplants died from root rot brought on by over watering.]

[Kudos2Fly]

Yes we will be cancelling out Feb cruise with Carnival because of the smoking policy. My husband is a cigar smoker and I do smoke with him at home at times and while on trips. We are NOT chain smokers and do respect peoples time out on the balcony.

 

But while on longer cruises we like the choice to smoke. Carnival at this time does not provide a good place to smoke. We don't do the casino and would like a nice quite location away from crowds. We are not wanting to bother anyone with our smoke. But Carnival and most cruise lines are not providing an indoor location, some did way with the cigar bar.

 

Mind you my husband and I only do this once per night. So we have switch to Holland and frankly paying double what we would be paying for our Carnival Cruise in Feb.

 

We know cruises other then "short" ones may not be in our future travels due to smoking bands on balconies. But while Holland does allow this we will partake. But also we will be mindful of our neighbors. Despite what others say on here of "rude" or "low education" smokers. Which we are NOT.

 

Which I have a few smoking friends and none of them are RUDE when it comes to them smoking!

[Hlitner]

We always smile when this type topic is on CC. Why does it have to be "switch" cruise lines? Having cruised on 14 different cruise lines (over many years) we never even think in terms of "switching" lines. We simply book whichever cruise best meets our own criteria for what we want at the time. Our decision is based on itinerary, price, amenities, quality, etc. HAL is one of our favored lines (we are 4 Star Mariners) and we book HAL when they offer a great itinerary at a decent price. However, because of the recent drop in overall HAL quality, the slowing down of its ships and shorter port times or fewer ports, the smoking policy (we do not like to eat smoke on our balcony), etc. we tend to book several other lines rather then HAL when the other lines have an itinerary that meets our needs. Although HAL continues to get our business (38 days this year) they now get a much smaller percentage of our business then they would get if they had maintained their previous quality and adopted a no-smoking on balcony policy. We recently took a 25 day Ruby Princess Cruise which would have been a longer HAL cruise except that we went with Princess because we knew that we could enjoy our balcony with no risk of smoke. Our future HAL transpacific cruise met our needs, and we were willing to gamble on the smoking issue and the other quality issues that have been gradually turning us away from HAL. Will it be our last HAL cruise? Perhaps. and perhaps not. This will depend on what HAL does in the future and what we can find on other competitive lines.

 

Hank

[cruisemom42]

I am a nonsmoker, an equal opportunity cruiser, and not loyal to any particular line. Whether or not smoking is allowed onboard ship -- or where it is allowed -- has zero bearing on whether or not I book a cruise on a particular line. (Unless it were allowed in the MDR; THAT would be a dealbreaker.)

 

On the other hand, my parents are (relatively light) smokers. Maybe 5-6 cigarettes a day. Since Princess changed their smoking policy they have exclusively sailed with HAL. Should HAL change their policy to not allow balcony smoking, it's very likely they will no longer cruise (unless there is a very reasonable accommodation made for smokers to be able to go somewhere inside, which is not currently available on HAL).

[Copper10-8]

Thanks, HamOp

I think I shall do just as you suggested.

I'm on my way to NCL and CCL boards. :)

If I get lost finding my way away from HAL, please send the troops to find me. :D

 

 

 

Just set off some flares and we'll find ya! ;)

[sheba2008]

Smoking cigarettes is still legal, after all. Non smokers should stay out of the area.

 

We stick with HAL, I don't smoke but my husband do. We never book a balcony cabin so he has to smoke in the smoking area en thats fine by him.

Sometimes we book Celebrity also, no smoking reason, sometimes a better route or price.

I want to quote this : Smoking cigarettes is still legal, after all. Non smokers should stay out of the area.

Sometimes people walk by and waving hands for the smoke, that is getting on my nerves, if you don't smoke PLEASE go the other way so it won't bother you.

We don't drink alcohol but others do, it's also legal and not good for your health, it don't bother me.

Every person have a right to smoke or drink or do both.

My smoking husband still want to sail with HAL if they decide to ban smoking on the balcony.

 

Greetings Sheba2008

[wander]

NO, to Sail's initial question. I enjoy a few lines with HAL being the one I cruise on the most. Why? 1. Itineraries!!!!! 2. The crew from the Philippines and Indonesia,love them!.

 

I cruise to go to unusual and sometimes exotic ports and 90% of the time that is the reason I select a particular cruise. Since HAL was the first cruise line to commonly go to many ports in Asia, South America,the South Pacific and even many places in Europe (I'm going back in time folks, my first true cruise was almost 40 years ago), I have sailed with HAL a lot. Now other cruise lines go to many of the same ports as well, but as I like to hit at least a few new ports each cruise - HAL still comes out ahead for me.

 

Smoking - as we usually have an OV cabin - verandah smoking is a moot point for us. However, in 2013 I sailed with HAL over 100 days with a verandah cabin. I NEVER, not even one time, smelled any smoke. Never, and I am quite sensitive to smoke of all types. We had friends also in verandah cabins for many of our cruise days in 2013 who had no problem as well. (Yes, I usually spent at least a few hours a day/evening on the verandah.) I felt VERY fortunate I must say after all I read on CC. Walking near the casino or the small smoking corner of the lido deck - well that is another story.

[NYteacher]

We don't cruise HAL exclusively and are non-smokers. My husband likes an occasional cigar, and will go on a ship where it is allowed.

 

We plan to continue sailing on HAL, with one exception. If it does become the smokers' cruise line of choice, leading to a huge increase in smokers, we will probably look elsewhere.

 

I'm glad our upcoming half Voyage of the Vikings (4 days to go!) was booked before NCL and CCL changed their policies.

[HamOp]

Just set off some flares and we'll find ya! ;)

 

No need for flares, she got an EPIRB.

[Seago2]

iPads do not have a mouse. If there is a way on an iPad to see the first words of a post without opening the thread, I have not found it.

 

Press lightly on the thread title. TA-da!

[Seago2]

It would be entertaining to see elements of this thread play out with swords and nunchucks on a cruise sometime.

 

Yearly I sail Carnival because I still have an underage child who loves the kids club and I like the convenience of a northeast or middle Atlantic ship. If HAL moved a Vista class ship back up to NY I'd be thrilled.

 

However, there is still the yearly or every-other-year trip for just the two of us that we will fly for. Will that be HAL this winter and will the smoking policy affect that choice? Possibly. I hate the smell of smoke, believe me. What remains to be seen is how crowded the lido decks of NCL and Carnival get with smokers who now cannot smoke on their balconies or in cabins. If I have to walk by a massive cloud and if the tables on one side are always taken by people who sit there all day smoking that might drive me to HAL, even for the yearly cruise with the kiddo. Balcony smoking is horrible (the worst is an aft balcony with a smoker below) but I have a feeling things are about to get worse.

[Flyingfish]

We've always preferred HAL. We're 3 star with HAL. However, we've soured on the smoking issue as well as flying in general. HAL for reasons of their own, don't sail on a regular basis in/out of NYC. So sad to see the last of them leaving with the Veendam Bermuda run. We've done 23 sailings, tried them all and always came back to HAL. Next one is Oceania. A Montreal to NYC. Being driven to Montreal and sailing into NYC. HAL, "come back to NYC" we'll be your best friend!

[Aquahound]

But Carnival and most cruise lines are not providing an indoor location, some did way with the cigar bar.

 

Take a look at Royal Caribbean Voyager and Freedom Class ships. Those 8 ships have a really nice connoisseur club on board that is staffed with a bartender every evening. I'm not a smoker, but even I think these rooms are really nice.

[DeeniEncinitas]

We are staying! 7 cruises so far and counting! Next one B2B Western/Eastern Caribbean. We live in a beach town along the coast of San Diego, Ca. Very convenient for us since HAL is a home port for us with cruising. We also are non smokers, but again never have had problems with smoking cruise mates. HAL is home for us it has such great cruise ports and the crews are the best!!!! We were on a 24 day Med cruise Barcelona-Venice a year ago today, and had two members of the crew in the Crows Nest that surprised us on the day of sail coming up to us and were so happy to see us and remembered our names! They were on the Oosterdam with us on our Mexican Riverea Cruise! This is home!

Also we love our balconies too!

 

Happy Cruisng! :)

3StarMariner becoming 4Star on our next cruise

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

[lolane1]

If HAL becomes one of the last standing cruise lines to allow smoking, I figure many smokers will book with them. Therefore, I would definitely have reservations since I love booking a balcony stateroom. As I have done in the past when smoking was permitted on most lines, I would have to "hold my breath" and hope for the best when booking, pardon the pun.

[Copper10-8]

No need for flares, she got an EPIRB.

 

EPIRB will work also! ;)

[idiebabe]

We still plan on cruising HAL! We're 3 Star now and will make 4 Star after our TA in November. Never had a problem with neighbors or balcony smoking!

 

We enjoy the smaller Ships, the Crew, the food, and the atmosphere HAL has to offer, etc. :)

 

Only reason we would not continue to sail HAL is if the quality deteriorated!

[sail7seas]

Just set off some flares and we'll find ya! ;)

 

No need for flares, she got an EPIRB.

 

 

 

I made it to CCL, enjoyed my visit and found the way back to HAL easy. So happy you two would have searched for me had I lost my way!! :D

I think I'll go feel my way over to NCL today now that I know the cavalry will rescue me. :) Thanks. ;)

 

The quick recap of the thread is there does not seem to be a mad rush to 'move on over' to HAL for those verandah cruisers who can no longer smoke on CCL verandahs. Maybe those who are rushing to book HAL just didn't speak up?

Edited July 25, 2014 by sail7seas