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

[HamOp]

Joanie,

Without getting into a tiff with you, the difference is you are telling me (and, therefore, others as well) to not ask a question which interests some of us.

 

By you telling me to 'pass on by' in this thread, you seem to be attempting to say what I can and cannot ask. I'm not sure you mean to do that?

 

I still think it a legitimate question. If I am mistaken, kindly indicate to me where this same question has been asked in the recent past. I do not recall seeing it asked or answered.

 

The difference here is if you do not think it something you wish to discuss, you skip by the question and don't have to bother with it.

 

In any case, no problem.

Clearly, unless instructed by a Moderator, I shall continue to ask the questions for which a seek an answer if I think them reasonably appropriate. :)

 

 

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Good answer, Sail.

 

It would be interesting to post a similar question to the NCL and CCL boards to see how many are switching to HAL in order to smoke.

[ghstudio]

We have been cruising almost exclusively on Celebrity, always in a cabin/suite with a balcony. We found a somewhat unique cruise on Holland America and we have booked it for next year (our first on HA).....but we chose to book an "outside" cabin rather than a veranda due to the HA smoking policy. I may also choose not to gamble in the casino which based on past performance also means lost revenue to Holland America.

 

But the itineary was unique enough so they now have a chance to entice us to take other HA cruises...or decide that our health values don't mesh with HA's policies.

[sail7seas]

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Good answer, Sail.

 

It would be interesting to post a similar question to the NCL and CCL boards to see how many are switching to HAL in order to smoke.

 

 

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

 

 

[ASIWISH]

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

 

I'm sure the Troops, and the vast majority of us, would follow you anywhere!!!

 

(... again, please don't ask me to provide a source for my "the vast majority of us" comment. I haven't one!)

[Randyk47]

I'm surprised no one who smokes has commented they have moved over to HAL. Seems our theory about that happening may be exaggerated?

 

No big secret my wife and I are smokers who no longer consider Holland America as our cruise line of choice. Now before everybody gets too excited that two smokers left Holland America because of the smoking policy I've got to say that while it indeed was a factor it wasn't the only factor and, in fact, no even the major factor. As I've said before, and I won't rehash all our reasons, our decision to look elsewhere for our cruising experience came about as the result of changing our focus to more distant itineraries than the Caribbean and because of numerous changes in the overall quality of the Holland America cruise experience that we had come to love and to stick with for the better part of 16 years. We're happy with our choices since we left and at this point, while we still consider Holland America when looking at potential itineraries, have no immediate plans to return. The salient point I guess for this particular thread is that Holland America allowing smoking on their verandas is not sufficient enough reason for us to come back. It would take a lot more than that.

[NMLady]

Don't shoot me but I'm really interested and, therefore, asking.....

 

Have you or are you planning to switch to HAL because you can no longer smoke on your favorite cruise line's verandah?

 

Have you or are you planning to switch cruise lines because you do not like that HAL continues to permit smoking on verandahs?

 

Do you have friends or family who are doing one or the other?

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

I wish your subject heading asked if they're switching to/from HAL because of balcony smoking rules.

Then I would not have opened this thread. I skip all smoking threads.

Edited July 24, 2014 by NMLady

[NMLady]

It's a new angle on it and information which really interests me. That is why I asked.

 

No need to read it if you don't wish.

CC has a great feature some people may not be aware of. You can hover your mouse over the thread title and it will show the first words of the post. It is usually enough for you to know if you are interested.

 

 

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.

[Winters in NZ]

We have been on 25 cruises, the majority of which have been with HAL. It's like a comfortable pair of slippers....once we fell in love with HAL's service and ships, we have stayed with it, even if there are smokers around.

 

Big deal if smoking is taking place on any passenger's balcony. It doesn't ruin our cruise. We are life-long non-smokers.....anyways, live and let live.

[Mary Ellen]

We have started sailing other lines. As others have mentioned, this is at least in part because of the erosion of what HAL used to offer. Over the decades we've sailed on HAL we've booked inside, outside, verandah, superior verandah (or whatever they're now called - a SS), and deluxe (now Neptune) suites. HAL allowing smoking on balconies is one of the reasons we've returned to inside cabins - the other being not wanting a bathtub.

 

My last two cruises have been on other lines. As neither line permits smoking on balconies, I did book a Concierge verandah on Oceania and a Suite on Princess. Both cabins offered a separate shower stall in addition to a tub.

 

No clear cut answer from me. We still sail on HAL, but I book nicer/more expensive cabins on cruise lines that don't allow smoking on balconies. HAL's smoking policy does impact the types of cabins we book with them.

[taxmantoo]

While as you say it is personal choice, it is also personal choice to respond once in a while, most especially when someone speaks up with common sense, such as CaveDiving did. They are to be commended when they speak the words that so many of us think, but are to doggoned chicken to say because of some attitudes on the HAL Boards on certain subjects.

Joanie

 

It is certainly not common sense on these boards, or any other boards for that matter, to tell someone to "give it a rest". It is just plain rude and ignorant! For someone to condone that behaviour is just as bad and shows a total lack of judgement :rolleyes:

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

We already cruise on other lines although HAL is generally our first choice. We are non-smokers but so far have not had problems with others on balconies smoking except once when a cigar smoker lived next door back when one could smoke in the cabin and it filtered through the ventilation system- that was not fun. At the moment not looking to abandon HAL over smoking.

[QueenGlassHalfFull]

After over 20 cruises with HAL, our next three cruises are with Royal Caribbean, Oceania, and Celebrity. Our past 10 cruises with HAL and our next 3 cruises with non-HAL lines were/are in Neptune Suites and equivalents. We are non-smokers who want a smoke free balcony. We are tired of paying money for space that we cannot use.

 

HAL has most likely lost our business unless changes are made soon to the smoking policy. On our cruise survey completed earlier this year as well as in an email sent to Guest Relations last week, I told HAL the same thing. I am still waiting for a response to my email.

 

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[cruz chic]

<snip>

 

HAL has most likely lost our business unless changes are made soon to the smoking policy. On our cruise survey completed earlier this year as well as in an email sent to Guest Relations last week, I told HAL the same thing. I am still waiting for a response to my email.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

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.

[HamOp]

It is certainly not common sense on these boards, or any other boards for that matter, to tell someone to "give it a rest". It is just plain rude and ignorant! For someone to condone that behaviour is just as bad and shows a total lack of judgement :rolleyes:

 

Well said!

[PathfinderEss]

Don't shoot me but I'm really interested and, therefore, asking.....

 

Have you or are you planning to switch to HAL because you can no longer smoke on your favorite cruise line's verandah?

 

Have you or are you planning to switch cruise lines because you do not like that HAL continues to permit smoking on verandahs?

 

Do you have friends or family who are doing one or the other?

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

To answer your question Sails, no, no, no. There are so many other aspects of cruising that we consider, way beyond this smoking issues. Smoking, not to smoke, where to smoke, where not to smoke, just isn't all that important in our decision who were going to cruise on.

Personally I'm am tired of these smoking threads too, only because they seem to consume so much of our board, and they are so negative and confrontational. We love to cruise and we love our cruise line of choice. We know that even when Hal makes the decision to discontinue smoking on their balconies it won't be the end of the issue because there are people who want the world to be smoke free and they will never give up.

 

I have sever allergies to perfume (so does Joanie). It is a problem for me, but no one is going to quit wearing perfume for me. I just have to be careful and avoid it as much as I can, but you don't hear me making a big deal out of it and starting thread after thread on perfume issues. There are times when I can't use my balcony either because there's a person that has drenched theirselves in perfume standing out on their balcony at the same time.

 

We got it, you don't want people to smoke around you, but as long as it is a legal substance they are not going to outlaw it on cruise ships, because people are allow to have a little space to enjoy their vices, be it smoking, drinking or whatever. I'm sure with all the brow beating on this subject, you will get your way. Though I kind of wish Hal would stick to their guns on this issue, because I know whether they allow smoking on their balconies or not, they will continue to have lots of customers..........and there will still be complaints about smoking.

[Barrheadlass]

We took a cruise on Oceania this year and won't go back to HAL, but it had nothing to do with smoking (which I cannot stand...part of it being a cancer survivor who wonders why people endanger their health that way)...We did a TA on the Prinsendam last November, and I actually noticed how few people seemed to be smoking. Maybe they were all on their balconies! On our Oceania cruise, there was a "smoking section" on the pool deck. It is the only place where smoking is allowed, and it had a dozen or so folks at all times...

 

I have an upcoming cruise on Hurtigruten, it will be interesting to see how smoking is handled there.

[SeagoingMom]

It's a new angle on it and information which really interests me. That is why I asked.

 

No need to read it if you don't wish.

CC has a great feature some people may not be aware of. You can hover your mouse over the thread title and it will show the first words of the post. It is usually enough for you to know if you are interested.

 

The problem is, there are many who are interested all right -- interested in being troublemakers and nay-sayers -- just not interested in responding helpfully to your question. Just can't get away from them -- and they let you know that, too! Where I come from, they are referred to as "buttinskies!"

 

As to your question:

 

I won't be "switching away" from HAL, even though I did switch, recently (not for the smoking reason.) Actually, my having switched away -- having tried another line in spite of how much I had loved HAL from my one and only HAL cruise -- is what makes me want to switch back ASAP!

 

Before HAL, we had sailed on Celebrity and Carnival. HAL, though, had always been the line I had thought I would like best. It proved to be so when we finally sailed with them. But then, I wanted to try Princess, because much of what I had read on CC and elsewhere made me believe that if HAL had any competition in the mass market, Princess was it. The image I had gotten from Princess fans and presumably Princess advertising was that Princess was elegant and refined, with excellent service and superior food. Also wraparound promenade decks! I will not say it was not that, but Caribbean Princess, at least, did not distinguish itself enough from Carnival for us to feel it was in competition with HAL. I had satisfied my curiosity about Princess, and have little motivation to return.

 

So back to HAL we will go, and soon, I hope.

 

As to the smoking policy: yes, of course, I am concerned about the idea that HAL may be overloaded with balcony smokers, as we (non-smokers) would not sail except with a balcony. I simply am hoping that everything I love about HAL would keep me from fretting too much if I ended up surrounded by smokers. I hope I could maintain a live-and-let-live attitude. I hope.

 

I suppose that if your goal was to get HAL to see that folks are leaving in droves because of the smoking policy, my post doesn't help. Sorry. :o But then again, perhaps smokers will be coming to HAL in droves because of the policies of other lines... I can't help with that either! But it is certainly true that I would like to see HAL prohibit smoking in cabins and on balconies. That would be a great thing, and enhance my love for the line! If on my next cruise, an overabundance of smoking is a problem for me, I will feel compelled to rethink whether HAL is still for me. :(

Edited July 24, 2014 by SeagoingMom

[LindaM]

I'm not sure we should be saying here we are going to stick with HAL if they continue to allow smoking. I truly believe HAL will NOT be the only line to allow smoking. It doesn't make sense. Smokers aren't welcome in too many places...why would HAL allow it? They will still get the business of smokers. It will just be more difficult for smokers.

[scm1848]

We cancelled our November cruise with Carnival after it announced it's smoking policy change, and booked with NCL for December. A few days later, we cancelled that for the same reason. We have an August Med. cruise booked with HAL, and will only sail with HAL because of it allowing balcony smoking. We are hoping to do a 14 day New Zealand cruise, plus an added 10 day south Pacific cruise after that, next autumn. If they ban balcony smoking, we will be done cruising. FYI: we book suites and buy lots of wine. Lots of money for HAL to lose.

 

Why don't all of you non-smokers just go to a different cruise line, instead of constantly harping on HAL and its policy??

[holacanada]

YOLO fellow cruisers !

 

 

Holacanada from Quebec City

[cruz chic]

We cancelled our November cruise with Carnival after it announced it's smoking policy change, and booked with NCL for December. A few days later, we cancelled that for the same reason. We have an August Med. cruise booked with HAL, and will only sail with HAL because of it allowing balcony smoking. We are hoping to do a 14 day New Zealand cruise, plus an added 10 day south Pacific cruise after that, next autumn. If they ban balcony smoking, we will be done cruising. FYI: we book suites and buy lots of wine. Lots of money for HAL to lose.

 

Why don't all of you non-smokers just go to a different cruise line, instead of constantly harping on HAL and its policy??

 

or why don't you take a road trip, stay at a hotel, go to an all inclusive or have a stay-cation?

[fm6175]

I am a smoker . A considerate one I hope . Definitely not a chain smoker . When I notice a neighbor on their veranda and I think my smoke may blow their way , I stop smoking . We have sailed HAL three times . We book aft corner cabins , more for the view than any other reason . We sail on HAL because we like many things about the ships and the overall experience . I have sailed Carnival and Princess and prefer HAL . Smoking on the veranda is one of the things I like about sailing on HAL

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Himself]

Don't shoot me but I'm really interested and, therefore, asking.....

 

Have you or are you planning to switch to HAL because you can no longer smoke on your favorite cruise line's verandah?

 

Have you or are you planning to switch cruise lines because you do not like that HAL continues to permit smoking on verandahs?

 

Do you have friends or family who are doing one or the other?

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

I have not smoked in 22 years and I am NOT leaving HAL.

[FredT]

We sail HAL due to their itineraries, pricing, and small(er) ships. Once we decide where we want to go, we check EVERYONE. (And more often than not end up on HAL.)

 

Smoking? Who cares. You have an entire ship, and numerous decks to wander if (And I do mean IF) you happen to get an inconsiderate smoker who "happens" to be on the next balcony that ""happens"" upwind from you. It could be a crying baby or screaming kid, could be a loud obnoxious drunk, could be someone who plays the TV or radio loud all day. (Every one of those has happened to me FAR more often than a chain smoker next door (upwind)).

 

HALS service is as good as their (equal priced) competitors, their food (ditto) and their itineraries (and time in port) better. I'll smile every time my research tells me "HAL" next time.

[ausrobbo]

To answer the OP I am a smoker. I was booked on NCL to do a cruise in and out of Venice next year. I have always booked a forward suite under the bridge so my smoke goes up (covers eyes for backlash:().

 

I am now looking at HAL or Seabourn soley due to the smoking policy. The only downside is that both are much more expensive than NCL which makes cruising in the Europe too expensive when airfares are taken into consideration - not to mention the fun of travelling 25+ hours just to get over there.

 

As a final comment perhaps one reason smokers have not posted on this thread is the "catish" comments that seem to be unleashed if one comes out - as a smoker;)