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

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I am not a smoker and do not enjoy walking by there when a crowd is smoking BUT I have to agree that some of them are in need of repairs. On our last Zuiderdam cruise (January 2016) one of these tarps had a hole in it the size of a basketball hoop :eek: It was in fact making so much noise flapping around that after a few days they took down the entire tarp and never replaced it for the duration of the cruise.

 

Agreed. If they're going to designate an area for smoking, they definitely need to make sure it's usable.

 

Tom

[chrispb]

Come on. "Leaks badly?" I've never seen those covers leaking, let alone "badly."

 

Non-smokers wouldn't see the leaks, would they? Only we smokers are daft enough to venture out.:cool:

[cruz chic]

Non-smokers wouldn't see the leaks, would they? Only we smokers are daft enough to venture out.:cool:

 

I know I sure wouldn't. Do non smokers spend a lot of time there especially when the weather is bad?

[LMaxwell]

It depends what the material is. Usually anything that is color fast is a dyed canvas, that when saturated, yes, WILL leak. A Stamoid material is not as colorfast and may not look "as nice" but it will NOT leak. The dyed canvas usually, IMO, looks higher end and provides a nicer appearance. Stamoid is more like rent-a-tent, but works better.

[Lizzie68]

I wonder if HAL is even concerned enough to want to spend money on fixing or sealing these holes. Seems to me it doesn't deter anyone from sitting there.

[wannagonow123]

We sit there, because we have to. I could just sit in the casino and smoke, but I do understand that smoke travels to non-smoking areas, so I try to sit outside whenever possible. When it is raining however, the least HAL can do is leave some towels so I can dry a seat.

 

Yes, it gets that bad.

[cruising_Bif]

Did I read before that the smoking policy has changed on the Noordam? If so, what is it, and how does it differ from other HAL ships?

[kennicott]

I have to side with the smokers on this issue of out door smoking in inclement weather, even if there exists a quasi roof and some sort of partition on the side(s). Over the last 15 months we have been on three of Princess's largest ships which involved sailing in the upper north Atlantic during some pretty unpleasant conditions. I felt for them trying to enjoy a smoke in the chill, sleet and wind. And that was on Princess where they have an exclusive indoor Churchill's smoking lounge.

 

Except for one ship, HAL does not offer such, no wonder so many smokers on HAL are forced out onto their balconies. Some of us have been discussing for some time that HAL is unlikely to be able to prohibit balcony smoking, under the circumstances they now find themselves in, unless and until they have interior areas dedicated to smokers on all their ships, like they do on many other lines, for example the Churchill rooms on Princess and Cunard or the Connoisseur smoking rooms on Regent, Carnival and other lines. HAL has only one ship with such and their newest ship is coming out without one, to do so for their entire fleet will involve a lengthy and expensive undertaking.

 

Personally I don't get my knickers in a knot over the smoking stuff, other than we dumped HAL almost two years ago now due balcony cigar smokers. Actually, I welcome having a pipe smoker on the adjacent balcony. An occasional cigarette doesn't upset me either. But since we usually book long voyages getting stuck with a cigar smoker is too much. Worst case scenario is what one HAL guest experienced, they had a cigar smoker on the adjacent balcony, but what really made it bad was that he would invite his cigar smoking buddies to join him. Now, if there had been a smoking lounge on that HAL ship chances are the little group would have gotten together in that venue.

[cruz chic]

Did I read before that the smoking policy has changed on the Noordam? If so, what is it, and how does it differ from other HAL ships?

 

Yes, they have an indoor room on the ship. They are encouraging smokers to smoke in there instead of their balcony. I woulld think that wouldn't be popular.

[Lizzie68]

Yes, they have an indoor room on the ship. They are encouraging smokers to smoke in there instead of their balcony. I woulld think that wouldn't be popular.

 

Maybe that's what they are thinking of doing on all the ships now instead of forcing the smokers to huddle under a broken tarp in all winds and weathers..... I would think it would be far preferable to that.

[kennicott]

Maybe that's what they are thinking of doing on all the ships now instead of forcing the smokers to huddle under a broken tarp in all winds and weathers..... I would think it would be far preferable to that.

 

I would think so and agree with that assessment myself, Stein Kruse even made pertinent remarks suggesting that himself, albeit a while back. But that then begs the question, why is Stein Kruse coming out with a brand new ship without?

Edited February 24, 2016 by kennicott

[cruising_Bif]

Yes, they have an indoor room on the ship. They are encouraging smokers to smoke in there instead of their balcony. I woulld think that wouldn't be popular.

Did I also read about how the Noordam's casino allows smoking only on certain nights, or is that the case with all HAL ships?

[cruz chic]

Did I also read about how the Noordam's casino allows smoking only on certain nights, or is that the case with all HAL ships?

 

I believe smoking is no longer allowed in the casino on any night on the eurodam and Noordam according to posters on the board.

[3rdGenCunarder]

If so, that's a MAJOR move in the (in my opinion) right direction. If this is the case I can't, for the life of me, understand why HAL would not make some sort of news or press release out of this. If nothing else, to at least give a heads up to smokers who arrive on a ship only to find that the rules have changed. If I were a smoker, I would not appreciate that!

 

Tom

 

I think Joanie was just referring to Noordam. We were on Oosterdam and there were some people smoking in the casino on some nights. Other nights it was nonsmoking. I didn't pay a lot of attention, I just noticed it as we were walking to/from the showroom. On the smoking night, the smoke was not very heavy.

 

I'm amazed that they didn't plan ahead and put a smoking room on Kongingsdam and then ban balcony smoking. A new ship is a good time to try a new plan.

[richstowe]

I believe smoking is no longer allowed in the casino on any night on the eurodam and Noordam according to posters on the board.

Wow - that is a change . Surprised that they went to a non-smoking casino before non-smoking balcony's .

The Veendam had a single night of no smoking in the casino last summer. I was skeptical but the stink was almost gone .

[CRUZBUDS]

Wow - that is a change . Surprised that they went to a non-smoking casino before non-smoking balcony's .

The Veendam had a single night of no smoking in the casino last summer. I was skeptical but the stink was almost gone .

 

That would be an interesting choice on HAL's part, only Celebrity has 100% non smoking casinos -- it isn't the casino that is keeping us from booking another HAL cruise - it's the good chance of not being able to enjoy clean air on our balcony.

[idiebabe]

I have to side with the smokers on this issue of out door smoking in inclement weather, even if there exists a quasi roof and some sort of partition on the side(s). Over the last 15 months we have been on three of Princess's largest ships which involved sailing in the upper north Atlantic during some pretty unpleasant conditions. I felt for them trying to enjoy a smoke in the chill, sleet and wind. And that was on Princess where they have an exclusive indoor Churchill's smoking lounge.

 

Except for one ship, HAL does not offer such, no wonder so many smokers on HAL are forced out onto their balconies. Some of us have been discussing for some time that HAL is unlikely to be able to prohibit balcony smoking, under the circumstances they now find themselves in, unless and until they have interior areas dedicated to smokers on all their ships, like they do on many other lines, for example the Churchill rooms on Princess and Cunard or the Connoisseur smoking rooms on Regent, Carnival and other lines. HAL has only one ship with such and their newest ship is coming out without one, to do so for their entire fleet will involve a lengthy and expensive undertaking.

 

Personally I don't get my knickers in a knot over the smoking stuff, other than we dumped HAL almost two years ago now due balcony cigar smokers. Actually, I welcome having a pipe smoker on the adjacent balcony. An occasional cigarette doesn't upset me either. But since we usually book long voyages getting stuck with a cigar smoker is too much. Worst case scenario is what one HAL guest experienced, they had a cigar smoker on the adjacent balcony, but what really made it bad was that he would invite his cigar smoking buddies to join him. Now, if there had been a smoking lounge on that HAL ship chances are the little group would have gotten together in that venue.

 

This is so true! Now add to that those who have mobility issues that have to try and deal with the elements! I posted something similar quite a long time ago! A couple of posters posted "they should quit smoking"! I guess their answer to it all! Lol

 

Out of my last four Cruises only one was balcony friendly for sitting out! That was a Carib cruise. Even then we spent very little time out there! On the other three Cruises no one spent time on their balconies due to the weather being too cool or the Itinerary being very Port Intensive.

 

The Prinsendam is the only Ship that has an outdoor smoking area which is sheltered especially since they added the row of fake trees. The Seaview Bar is not very sheltered and can be brutally cold and windy! Anyone who has sailed in cold, windy weather especially down around the Horn in March will agree! Anyone who has gone out there to take pics when it's cool and windy can agree!

 

When I read all this angst about balcony smoking it just makes me wonder do you all just sail in the Carib and warm weather? Also, do you really spend your entire Cruise sitting on a balcony when you do? I'm not being facetious! I'm really curious!

 

Thanks!

[cruz chic]

This is so true! Now add to that those who have mobility issues that have to try and deal with the elements! I posted something similar quite a long time ago! A couple of posters posted "they should quit smoking"! I guess their answer to it all! Lol

 

Out of my last four Cruises only one was balcony friendly for sitting out! That was a Carib cruise. Even then we spent very little time out there! On the other three Cruises no one spent time on their balconies due to the weather being too cool or the Itinerary being very Port Intensive.

 

The Prinsendam is the only Ship that has an outdoor smoking area which is sheltered especially since they added the row of fake trees. The Seaview Bar is not very sheltered and can be brutally cold and windy! Anyone who has sailed in cold, windy weather especially down around the Horn in March will agree! Anyone who has gone out there to take pics when it's cool and windy can agree!

 

When I read all this angst about balcony smoking it just makes me wonder do you all just sail in the Carib and warm weather? Also, do you really spend your entire Cruise sitting on a balcony when you do? I'm not being facetious! I'm really curious!

 

Thanks!

I see you come from a fairly warm climate. I do not. We have winter here pretty much 8 months of the year so I do warm cruises and most of them are Caribbean. Why would anyone get a balcony if they don't intend to sit out there :confused:. Are we not allowed?

[richstowe]

I see you come from a fairly warm climate. I do not. We have winter here pretty much 8 months of the year so I do warm cruises and most of them are Caribbean. Why would anyone get a balcony if they don't intend to sit out there :confused:. Are we not allowed?

Winter ... 8 months of the year ? ;) (old joke - We have 8 months of winter and 4 months of lousy skiing .)

[ithaca gal]

I see you come from a fairly warm climate. I do not. We have winter here pretty much 8 months of the year so I do warm cruises and most of them are Caribbean. Why would anyone get a balcony if they don't intend to sit out there :confused:. Are we not allowed?

 

I can only answer for me, but I have to have a balcony because I am claustrophobic and have to feel that there is a possibility that I could get out of the room onto the balcony. I know -- it doesn't make sense, but phobias rarely do. We do not sit on our balcony and only step out on it a couple of times during our cruise!

 

I will reiterate here again that there is no smoking whatsoever in the Eurodam casino. We just returned from our February 7 - 14th cruise.

[albingirl]

What I think Hal should do is eliminate smoking on balconies and make part of the lower promenade the smoking area. I'd be interested to see if that would change the minds of those that are not bothered by smoke. I won't be bothered by smoke on my next cruise because I am taking an oceanview as I'm sick of being smoked out.

 

Agree. Norwegian uses that exact model. No balcony smoking and an area on the Promenade is approved for smoking. There is so much air flow thru the promenade that you can barely notice the smoke if you are a walker. I'm with you on the OV. I'll take a balcony on NCL but never on HAL. It's hard to understand why people still bother with smoking, really. It seems to be a huge hassle, never mind health hazard.:confused:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

... It's hard to understand why people still bother with smoking, really. It seems to be a huge hassle, never mind health hazard.:confused:

 

I think the word addiction sums it up pretty well.

 

In order to quit, one must first (really) decide to quit and then have the willpower to follow through. It's certainly not a slam dunk. Cheryl quit almost 30 years ago, but that was only after becoming pregnant with our first child.

 

Tom

[wannagonow123]

My keyboard is acting up so forgive any typos.

 

What about converting Northern Lights to a smoking lounge, then make the casino non-smoking? On all the cruises I have been on with HAL, the only time there is ever more than a handful of people in NL is when they have trivia. Such a nice place, underutilized. The bar is never open. They use the casino bar is service is even offered.

 

I play I the casino a lot. I also smoke a lot. If HAL makes the casinos non-smoking, and I have to go all the way to the Sea View Bar to have a smoke, I will forgo the casino however, if there was an area nearby to smoke, I would still play and slip around he corner. NL is not near a main walkway

[cruz chic]

My keyboard is acting up so forgive any typos.

 

What about converting Northern Lights to a smoking lounge, then make the casino non-smoking? On all the cruises I have been on with HAL, the only time there is ever more than a handful of people in NL is when they have trivia. Such a nice place, underutilized. The bar is never open. They use the casino bar is service is even offered.

 

I play I the casino a lot. I also smoke a lot. If HAL makes the casinos non-smoking, and I have to go all the way to the Sea View Bar to have a smoke, I will forgo the casino however, if there was an area nearby to smoke, I would still play and slip around he corner. NL is not near a main walkway

 

I believe they have gotten rid of the northern lights on the eurodam.

[Lizzie68]

I think the word addiction sums it up pretty well.

 

In order to quit, one must first (really) decide to quit and then have the willpower to follow through. It's certainly not a slam dunk. Cheryl quit almost 30 years ago, but that was only after becoming pregnant with our first child.

 

Tom

 

Very true, it is an addiction and very hard to quit. I know so well.:( However, an addiction should not demand that others suffer along with you often to the detriment of other people's health. HAL's balcony-smoking policy does just that, and smokers demand that it continue. I think the least they could do is ensure that they are not causing discomfort to others.