This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies

[wavesoffun]

I am quite disappointed to hear that HAL still allows verandah smoking. My last cruise was on NCL before they banned balcony smoking. Our neighbours were smokers and there were days we couldn't use our balcony. I would not have booked HAL, but am going with a group and this is the line that gave the best offers. I have booked a verandah and am hoping for non smoking neighbours.

[jtl513]

Not a big chance of that anytime soon, as most of the general public will sit by and simply wait for change!

Probably because most of the general public simply don't care strongly about it one way or the other.

[Tom O.]

Fact 1: Smokers are not harmed in any way by being around non-smokers.

Fact 2: Non-smokers are greatly affected by being around people who are smoking.

Fact 3: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved, if the smokers would just smoke in a smoking designated area.

[peaches from georgia]

..........

Fact 3: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved, if the smokers would just smoke in a smoking designated area.

Verandahs ARE designated smoking areas and there still seems to be a lot of conflict. :rolleyes:

[Blue Mudshark]

Fact 3: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved, if the smokers would just smoke in a smoking designated area.

 

Prefacing a statement with "Fact" doesn't actually make it factual.

[IRL_Joanie]

Fact 1: Smokers are not harmed in any way by being around non-smokers.

Fact 2: Non-smokers are greatly affected by being around people who are smoking.

Fact 3: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved, if the smokers would just smoke in a smoking designated area.

 

Posted as a Tongue in cheek, meant to bring a grin and some lightheartedness to a serious topic.

 

Fact 4: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved,if the non-smokers stopped their complaining about smokers smoking in designated smoking areas, to include their verandahs:D

Joanie

Edited December 19, 2015 by IRL_Joanie
Trying to get Grin Code to work

[Daisyloo]

We just got off three weeks on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Other than in the Casino and a small section by the aft seaview pool, we never smelled any smoke. We don't gamble so the smell in the casino as we walked through to access the showroom didn't concern us. Out by the pool we just avoided the smoking area.

We were in a balcony cabin and never smelled any smoke.

Just an FYI. I am an ex-smoker and don't like the smell of smoke and my husband hates smoke.

What bothered us was 2 things: People who wear WAY too much perfume or cologne. We had to move a few times in the theatre to get away from people who reeked. Also the first week of our cruise the four cabins next to us had their balcony dividers all open and the four couples would sit out there and party. They were loud when they were all out there together, and we couldn't enjoy sitting out when they were there. We were thankful that they were quiet at night.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

What bothered us was 2 things: People who wear WAY too much perfume or cologne. We had to move a few times in the theatre to get away from people who reeked. Also the first week of our cruise the four cabins next to us had their balcony dividers all open and the four couples would sit out there and party. They were loud when they were all out there together, and we couldn't enjoy sitting out when they were there. We were thankful that they were quiet at night.

 

Indeed!

 

We've had a few neighbors who seemed to lack volume controls when out on their balconies. Some people are just plain loud. Not sure if they grew up in a household where they had to amp it up to get recognition or what - but they can be obnoxious!

 

Every few weeks, when at the gym on a piece of aerobic equipment (where I intend to stay 30+ minutes) someone will take the machine right next to me and you'd think that they were going out for the night... When you're really exerting yourself (breathing fast/deep) what you don't want next to you is someone who has overdone it with the cologne or perfume ... and yes, those who apparently don't bathe either ! :eek:

 

Common sense and courtesy are dwindling traits.

 

Tom

Edited December 19, 2015 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[Lizzie68]

Posted as a Tongue in cheek, meant to bring a grin and some lightheartedness to a serious topic.

 

Fact 4: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved,if the non-smokers stopped their complaining about smokers smoking in designated smoking areas, to include their verandahs:D

Joanie

 

Actually, it would be resolved if the smokers would find a way to not share their smoke and keep it restricted to their own balcony. Maybe what we need are giant fans to blow it back at them. Tongue in cheek, obviously.:rolleyes:

[cruz chic]

Probably because most of the general public simply don't care strongly about it one way or the other.

 

While you might not mind all, the non smokers I know hate the smell. I have a friend that smokes and she is not considerate. Many times she'll pick me up when we go out as its on the way. She waits until she gets to my house to light up. She could have one on the way as she lives about 10 minutes away. I asked her who is having Christmas this year in her family and she told me. I asked her if they ever have it at her house and she said no because her family refuses to come over because she smokes.

 

Hal will eliminate it when they want. One thing for sure is it will happen one day.

[Aquahound]

Fact 4: All conflicts between smokers and non-smokers can be resolved,if the non-smokers stopped their complaining about smokers smoking in designated smoking areas, to include their verandahs:D

 

One big thing missing with that "fact." The only thing that would make it an actual fact is if the putrid stench did not extend beyond those designated smoking areas, to include verandahs.

[OceanTraveller4ever]

Smoking is on its way out. Kids picking it up are the lesser strata with no real upwards capacity in society.

The older addicts are dying off prematurely on average.

 

So, heads up everyone, smokers are dying off at a pretty good clip....

Edited December 20, 2015 by jpelleti007
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[kennicott]

Doesn't appear to be much new of importance, as of late, regarding the HAL balcony smoking issue, other than it is becoming quite evident that more and more loyalists from other lines are being attracted to HAL due their lenient smoking policies.

 

Hard to say whether those new HAL guests are outnumbering those leaving because of the smoking situation. I know fellow cruisers not even posting here that are aghast at HAL for allowing balcony smoking to continue as they detest smoking, yet, at least in one specific case, they turned around and booked a HAL world cruise. As is evident herein, others continue to sail with HAL even though they are vehemently opposed to balcony smoking.

 

In our case, it is not such a big deal as we don't mind the smoke that much except we don't want to get stuck with a chain smoking cigar smoker on the adjacent balcony for weeks on end. So we quit booking HAL and even canceled two cruises, totaling over 80 days, albeit in the first cancellation smoking was only a minor consideration. We have over 200 days sailing with HAL and probably will never return as our cruising days are limited. Too long in the tooth.

 

Some point to the failure of past smoking prohibitions on cruise lines and ships although those all took place some years ago and the results highly debatable anyway. What I find is that by far the majority of cruisers now-a-days would prefer complete bans on shipboard smoking. All one needs for evidence of that is to look at the Celebrity poll on this website. Over 93% applaud no balcony smoking and over 83% favor the elimination of casino smoking. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2279152 The hand writing is on the wall, like most eateries in the US now experience, smoking is history.

 

Some suggest that the majors have a significant problem of enforcing their no smoking policy. All I can say is that, based on our 86 days of cruising on four Princess ships and 32 days on Regent over the last year, we witnessed absolutely no evidence of that whatsoever. Furthermore, friends of ours who cruise NCL and Celebrity tell me that such assertions are contentious at best and bogus at worst. NCL was the last of the majors to do away with balcony smoking and for a while some of their faithful smokers rebelled, civil disobedience, Haw.

[cruz chic]

Doesn't appear to be much new of importance, as of late, regarding the HAL balcony smoking issue, other than it is becoming quite evident that more and more loyalists from other lines are being attracted to HAL due their lenient smoking policies.

 

Hard to say whether those new HAL guests are outnumbering those leaving because of the smoking situation. I know fellow cruisers not even posting here that are aghast at HAL for allowing balcony smoking to continue as they detest smoking, yet, at least in one specific case, they turned around and booked a HAL world cruise. As is evident herein, others continue to sail with HAL even though they are vehemently opposed to balcony smoking.

 

In our case, it is not such a big deal as we don't mind the smoke that much except we don't want to get stuck with a chain smoking cigar smoker on the adjacent balcony for weeks on end. So we quit booking HAL and even canceled two cruises, totaling over 80 days, albeit in the first cancellation smoking was only a minor consideration. We have over 200 days sailing with HAL and probably will never return as our cruising days are limited. Too long in the tooth.

 

Some point to the failure of past smoking prohibitions on cruise lines and ships although those all took place some years ago and the results highly debatable anyway. What I find is that by far the majority of cruisers now-a-days would prefer complete bans on shipboard smoking. All one needs for evidence of that is to look at the Celebrity poll on this website. Over 93% applaud no balcony smoking and over 83% favor the elimination of casino smoking. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2279152 The hand writing is on the wall, like most eateries in the US now experience, smoking is history.

 

Some suggest that the majors have a significant problem of enforcing their no smoking policy. All I can say is that, based on our 86 days of cruising on four Princess ships and 32 days on Regent over the last year, we witnessed absolutely no evidence of that whatsoever. Furthermore, friends of ours who cruise NCL and Celebrity tell me that such assertions are contentious at best and bogus at worst. NCL was the last of the majors to do away with balcony smoking and for a while some of their faithful smokers rebelled, civil disobedience, Haw.

Hal is still my favorite cruise line but that is getting eroded. I am no longer booking balcony rooms. If I didn't like Hal I wouldn't care what their smoking policy was and wouldn't bother to comment on this thread.

[OceanTraveller4ever]

It just gets so complicated, where I am so happy to get my best friend to join us on a cruise, but his wife has sworn to never cruise HAL again. She was so disgusted at smokers on a verandah next to hers on a prior cruise.

 

So I am now promising to her that the odds dictate that she will not get smokers next to her cabin on this special cruise.

 

It is so disheartening that smokers can have such an outreach at spoiling so many peoples' dream vacations "(

[cruz chic]

It just gets so complicated, where I am so happy to get my best friend to join us on a cruise, but his wife has sworn to never cruise HAL again. She was so disgusted at smokers on a verandah next to hers on a prior cruise.

 

So I am now promising to her that the odds dictate that she will not get smokers next to her cabin on this special cruise.

 

It is so disheartening that smokers can have such an outreach at spoiling so many peoples' dream vacations "(

 

Well good luck to her. While I have not been bothered by smokers on a couple of cruises I would have to say on at least 75% I have. In fact, on my last cruise I had booked a cabana. I love it because it's non smoking. One jerk decided he was going to light up a cigar. When the cabana steward told him he couldn't smoke he said he paid for the cabana and he was going to smoke. Luckily the steward made short work of that.

[Vineyard View]

As long as all the people who do not agree with HAL's smoking policy continue to sail with HAL - well......where is the evidence to point to HAL changing their policy? Just saying......

 

Almost 160 pages of this thread and people complain more than support - but continue to sail. We loved HAL - but we won't sail again with this policy.

 

We will look forward to Viking Oceans, and many other options and check back again in the future. I guess this thread will either be many pages longer with smoking still allowed.......or not.

 

Right now, clearly, HAL does NOT care. Sad.

[cruz chic]

As long as all the people who do not agree with HAL's smoking policy continue to sail with HAL - well......where is the evidence to point to HAL changing their policy? Just saying......

 

Almost 160 pages of this thread and people complain more than support - but continue to sail. We loved HAL - but we won't sail again with this policy.

 

We will look forward to Viking Oceans, and many other options and check back again in the future. I guess this thread will either be many pages longer with smoking still allowed.......or not.

 

Right now, clearly, HAL does NOT care. Sad.

 

Hal will do what Hal will do. Do you really think they miss anyone that's left? I know they wouldn't miss me. I'm not ready to walk away for this particular reason but I'm not booking a balcony either. Let the smokers do that. I get tired of hearing people should just leave Hal. If that works for you thats great. Maybe you have a lot less invested than many. Just sayin'. Hal cares about money. To think otherwise will lead to being disappointed.

Edited December 20, 2015 by cruz chic

[sail7seas]

As many here know, I have sailed a huge number of cruises with HAL, all in a Neptune or Pinnacle, and I have no HAL cruises booked at the moment. I sailed NCL this summer for various reasons and loved I didn't have to worry about losing use of my verandah. Smoking is not the only reason I have not sailed HAL for a while but it is a real consideration for me.

[SS Exeter]

Fact: HAL allows smoking on verandas.

 

How can you get aboard a HAL ship and be "surprised and offended" when someone is smoking on the next balcony - when you knew before you went aboard that HAL allows smoking on verandas?

 

You know the company policies - and then you make your choice.

[Aquahound]

As long as all the people who do not agree with HAL's smoking policy continue to sail with HAL - well......where is the evidence to point to HAL changing their policy? Just saying......

 

Almost 160 pages of this thread and people complain more than support - but continue to sail. We loved HAL - but we won't sail again with this policy.

 

There are people who are no longer booking, and I am one of them. I had an otherwise lovely cruise in October on Oosterdam but after having a cigar smoker next to me and a cigarette smoker below me, DW and I collectively decided we will not book anymore HAL cruises until this policy changes. It's not a hard decision for us since we are not brand loyal.

[LMaxwell]

So I am now promising to her that the odds dictate that she will not get smokers next to her cabin on this special cruise.

(

 

I would not make that sort of promise, nor twist someone else's arm, to get them on to a vacation with me that they might regret over people doing something allowed.

[GeriatricNurse]

While you might not mind all, the non smokers I know hate the smell. I have a friend that smokes and she is not considerate. Many times she'll pick me up when we go out as its on the way. She waits until she gets to my house to light up. She could have one on the way as she lives about 10 minutes away. I asked her who is having Christmas this year in her family and she told me. I asked her if they ever have it at her house and she said no because her family refuses to come over because she smokes.

 

Hal will eliminate it when they want. One thing for sure is it will happen one day.

 

And you know this thing for sure how? :rolleyes:

Edited December 20, 2015 by GeriatricNurse

[cruz chic]

And you know this fact for sure how? :rolleyes:

 

And you know for a fact it won't happen how :rolleyes:?

[Suzcruz57]

We are official non smokers after many years of smoking. It's possible to quit if you want to. We are proven testaments. Good luck to all you smokers that want to quit. [emoji120]🏻