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

[Just_a_cruiser]

It's not smokers wanting it all, it's nonsmokers not wanting ANYONE smoking, even if it doesn't affect them.

 

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Your post makes no sense. Please explain how the smoke is contained on the smokers balcony.

[Just_a_cruiser]

Additionally, I have suggested what you said above, having certain cabins (maybe on one side or closer to the back or both) be smoking only. The only response I have had from this group is that it has been tried and didn't work with another cruise line and suggest that I go back within this same thread to find out the information. Well, I have been through this thread no less than 5 times and STILL have yet to find this elusive reference.

 

But this also brings up the question, why NOT leave one cruise line that will allow smoking on balconies? There are no others, period! I can understand that some have frequent cruising points on HAL and they really don't want to lose them by moving to another cruise line. But they had to have acquired them with the exact same smoking policy in place.

 

In my prior post, I referenced how non-smokers don't want ANYONE to smoke, even if it doesn't affect them whatsoever. Where I live, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, they have passed strict laws about smoking (or not) in restaurants and/or bars. It still allows for smoking, but it has to be a completely separate section with it's own ventilation system. There is a bar we frequent, who adheres to this law. But there are many people in my community who, mind you, have NEVER even set foot in this place, want it closed because it allows smoking. Why? I mean if it has no effect on someone, why are they imposing their opinions on those of us that freely chose to do something?

 

While this thread does bring up some good discussion, it seems the overall consensus is that it is a "When will HAL become a non-smoking cruise line" thread. Anyone with a dissenting view is bashed.

 

Moderator (Walt), if you feel the need to delete this post, could you at least prune the off topic portion (the last paragraph). It all, however, seems relevant to the title of the thread though.

What choice did we have? Smokers have had their way for years and years. Now the tables have turned in favor of non smokers. All the other lines manage with smokers on them just fine. People adapt. I don't see one line going out of business due to more restrictive smoking policies.

[Just_a_cruiser]

IMO it is unreasonable for non-smokers to insist that no one smoke any time or any place.

 

Sure, tobacco smoke does alter the scent of smokers' clothing. But so does perfume. And some that I personally find very offensive, Shalimar being one. There are some places and homes in the US that ban the wearing of any scent whatsoever! Would I insist that Shalimar be banned? Of course not. Nor would I make uncomfortable in my home any guest who wore it.

 

I don't like alcohol. Don't like the taste, the smell, or the effect it has on behavior. My mother was killed by a drunk driver when I was but 15. Would I insist that alcohol be banned? Of course not. We are a non-drinking household. But don't ban or degrade any of our guests who chose to drink.

 

Smokers pay the same good money for their cruises as non-smokers do. Prohibition didn't work because of its extreme stance. Bootleggers did very well for themselves. Live and Let Live say I!

 

It's been rare on this board that anyone insists that smoking should be totally banned. That is not realistic in any way. I think most non smokers are pretty open to having smoking elsewhere on the ship except for balconies. I don't know why some smokers insist on painting all non smokers in this way. It's very closed minded.

[IRL_Joanie]

Perfume doesn't kill you; second-hand smoke will.

 

It can if you are allergic to it, have asthma, etc., just not a lot heard about it and it is not as rare as you might think. But, this is a smoking thread so back to that subject.

 

Joanie

[LMaxwell]

I'm all for an enclosed interior lounge with its own air handling system; comfortable furniture, nice decor, perhaps even its own bar or coffee station, some snacks, nice windows with sea views, etc. that is a dedicated smoking lounge. That way there's no confusion about what you will smell in there. Many ships on many lines have just such interior lounges/bars and I think it's perfectly acceptable.

 

What I don't want is to smell smoke on a balcony I've paid a premium for versus an interior or oceanview room. There's no way to contain smoke smell on a stateroom balcony.

 

Why are smokers so adamantly against designated smoking spaces that do NOT impact others?

[smokinmike]

The nonsensical issue of First World Problems has been resolved.

 

We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

[Adoptionmsw]

It's not smokers wanting it all, it's nonsmokers not wanting ANYONE smoking, even if it doesn't affect them.

 

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But it does affect non smokers. It drifts from the casino to adjacent areas. Depending on the prevailing winds, it makes the sea view pool an unpleasant place to be, even on the non smoking side.

We recently voted to make our coop apartment complex nonsmoking. The catalyst was a fire which caused a death and made four units uninhabitable. The cause: improperly extinguished smoking materials. Smoking kills.

[Neferteria]

I never said I was a smoker BTW although there is one in my household!

 

Smokers have paid the same premium to be able to smoke on their balconies as non-smokers have for theirs. Many want to be able to have a smoke and a cup of coffee in their bathrobes on their verandah first thing in the morning while on vacation. I don't know how far the odor of smoke travels, but a workable solution might be for disclosure of "smoker" cruisers so that stateroom assignments can be made accordingly and those with strong objections placed away from them. I have read 12 feet but can't pinpoint the source off-hand.

 

I am very sensitive to the off-gassing of petroleum based products. That would include fabrics, their dyes and finishes, upholstery materials, mattresses and pillows, even the paint on walls and finishes on furniture. I find it incumbent on me to provide my own protection, which includes having a stateroom with a window or door I can open and/or carrying with me an enzyme-eating product which eliminates rather than covers up these odors. As our ship will not be long out of dry dock when we sail, this is a real possibility, especially if our stateroom is unused on the voyage before us. Off-gassing diminishes in time as does tobacco odor and even third hand smoke. As a now retired high end residential interior designer, I have had to deal with these issues on numerous occasions.

 

The point I am making is that workable and manageable solutions and proposals have a much higher prospect for success than all or nothing scenarios from either position.

 

BTW, an odor is not second hand smoke. And yes, there are highly sensitive individuals for whom a strong perfume can provoke a life-threatening situation.

[DizzyDallasDi]

I'm an ex-smoker but really don't mind enjoying the smells and all-too-brief whiffs of second hand smoke.I don't smoke or wear perfume and enjoy the company of smokers as well as non. No kidding! Based on what I've read in this thread, I'm your perfect balcony neighbor. :D

[texast518]

Since the smoking rules changed on the other lines we have gone to oceanview rooms, why pay for a balcony. I have decided to try another HAL this coming cruise just so my DH can smoke on the balcony. I do not smoke but I enjoy the balconies so it's a hardship on me as well when I don't have one. Thanks for this thread.

 

There ARE reasons to enjoy a balcony other than smoking. 38 balconies an still going.

[DeeniEncinitas]

We are #42!!!!!

But still my mother died of Lung Cancer at the age of 59!

I have missed a lot of my mother.

It has been well over a year that I believe I left a msg on the smoking blog here. I was hoping that by the time we sail again on The Eurodam in Oct 9th. Smoking would finally be banned. Oh well still will not stop me from my balcony on HAL. We are schd on The Viking Ocean and world cruise on Regent so hopefully we will see HAL as no smoking by then! This blog has been going on forever, and as I see it it will still be a smoking on balconies.

Sorry I love HAL but if you saw my mom die at home with hospice when I was 34 it was awful! I lost my best friend and our daughter lost a grandma. Sorry but that is how I feel! I am 63 hrs. Old retired DDS and still miss her!

Love HAL though. We really love the staff and the ports!

Everyone has opinons and to me you have a choice to smoke or not! I have to chose no smoking for me, but so far people who do smoke on HAL have been gracious to us when we have gone out to eat our breakfast or dinner!

To everyone Happy Crusing all!

Denise:)

[Aquahound]

In my prior post, I referenced how non-smokers don't want ANYONE to smoke, even if it doesn't affect them whatsoever.

 

Saying it twice only makes you wrong twice. I want balcony smoking eradicated. Period. And that's because it does affect me. The stench is awful.

[Djptcp]

Our balcony is about the only place left on board where we can smoke besides the casino. It's outdoors for heaven's sake and there are constant breezes. I would prefer no kids allowed on the balconies because of their noisy and obnoxious behavior and constant letting the balcony door slam!

[Just_a_cruiser]

Our balcony is about the only place left on board where we can smoke besides the casino. It's outdoors for heaven's sake and there are constant breezes. I would prefer no kids allowed on the balconies because of their noisy and obnoxious behavior and constant letting the balcony door slam!

 

I've been on many cruises with no kids in sight and there are obnoxious adults and door slams. Contrary to the belief of smokers, smoke doesn't get whisked away in the breeze. You can also smoke at the sea view bar. Hal should have another indoor space for smokers.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

It's also been my experience that most of the door slamming is from adults who are either oblivious as to the impact of their actions or who simply don't care. I hasten to add that this same conclusion can likely be made of select smokers as well.

 

The cruise lines can at least address the slamming door issue by installing a slow close feature. Many cruise lines employ only sliding doors for balconies, which virtually negates the slamming potential.

 

As for the cruise lines addressing the smoking issue - many have, and the rest eventually will. As a good friend of mine likes to say, I'll just put on my patience pants (or try)! :)

 

Tom

[LMaxwell]

I hardly think the solution is to start discriminating by age. Who comes up with this stuff?!?

[kennicott]

It's also been my experience that most of the door slamming is from adults who are either oblivious as to the impact of their actions or who simply don't care. Many cruise lines employ only sliding doors for balconies, which virtually negates the slamming potential Tom

 

Yes true, I can't recall the last time we had a balcony with hinged doors. But for the slamming, I agree it occurs all the time and I can't recall if we ever had any kids in adjacent cabins to us so can't blame them. So I agree, it is adults who are responsible for door slamming. Rather than it being the balcony door which slams though, the slamming occurs when the balcony door is left open and the cabin door slams violently shut because of the pressure differential in the cabin, this due the balcony door open.

 

Which all leads to a question that I have been wondering about. Since it is obvious, from our cruising experiences, that the balcony doors are left open a lot (even though they are not supposed to be) and on HAL they allow balcony smoking, how is it that the smoke on the balconies doesn't permeate the respective cabin? Admittedly, I haven't seen any mention of this so it may not be an issue. Or, maybe it simply hasn't surfaced yet.

[albingirl]

Yes true, I can't recall the last time we had a balcony with hinged doors. But for the slamming, I agree it occurs all the time and I can't recall if we ever had any kids in adjacent cabins to us so can't blame them. So I agree, it is adults who are responsible for door slamming. Rather than it being the balcony door which slams though, the slamming occurs when the balcony door is left open and the cabin door slams violently shut because of the pressure differential in the cabin, this due the balcony door open.

 

Which all leads to a question that I have been wondering about. Since it is obvious, from our cruising experiences, that the balcony doors are left open a lot (even though they are not supposed to be) and on HAL they allow balcony smoking, how is it that the smoke on the balconies doesn't permeate the respective cabin? Admittedly, I haven't seen any mention of this so it may not be an issue. Or, maybe it simply hasn't surfaced yet.

It certainly does. Smoke travels and, as we all know, not necessarily in the direction intended. We were on the Maasdam, not long ago, in the Southern Caribbean, and had a lanai cabin along the Promenade deck. Quite far away, at the end of the deck, a women took it upon herself to light up at every opportunity. The smell was strong and obnoxious and no one ever stopped her. Those of us sitting outside on the deck were annoyed. I could have reported her but my policing days are long over.

[erewhon]

It certainly does. Smoke travels and, as we all know, not necessarily in the direction intended. We were on the Maasdam, not long ago, in the Southern Caribbean, and had a lanai cabin along the Promenade deck. Quite far away, at the end of the deck, a women took it upon herself to light up at every opportunity. The smell was strong and obnoxious and no one ever stopped her. Those of us sitting outside on the deck were annoyed. I could have reported her but my policing days are long over.

 

Did she use an ashtray supplied by HAL?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Did she use an ashtray supplied by HAL?

 

I take it you're asking if she was in a smoking (approved) area?

 

Tom

[kevingastreich]

Our balcony is about the only place left on board where we can smoke besides the casino. It's outdoors for heaven's sake and there are constant breezes. I would prefer no kids allowed on the balconies because of their noisy and obnoxious behavior and constant letting the balcony door slam!

 

In a way, I hope that my verandah neighbors on both sides and top and bottom DO smoke on my next cruise because although I gave up cigarettes many years ago, I do plan on smoking a nice Cuban cigar that I picked up in the Dominican Republic.

[avian777]

This Thread has now reached 186 pages in length (with over 3,600 posts) and y'all are still wondering about HAL's Smoking Policy?

 

On page 17 of the current "Know Before You Go" brochure, HAL sets forth the Smoking Policy as follows:

 

SMOKING POLICY

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins),

showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated nonsmoking.

While smoking is not permitted in staterooms,

guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking

is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks.

The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows

unless otherwise noted.

• Stateroom verandahs

• Casino (Active players only)

• Seaview Bar

• Outside Decks

ºº Sports Deck

ººObservation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam,

ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam,

ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the

ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking

is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic

cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public

areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as

smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms in violation of

our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of

violation.

 

I hope this helps. But if you still don't understand it, I suggest you contact HAL Ship Services, as I'm certain someone there can clarify anything that you don't understand.

Edited April 25, 2016 by avian777

[Lizzie68]

Avian, you may not have noticed, but this thread is not about what the smoking policy actually is, but rather a discussion about the smoking policy. For reference, please see the very first paragraph in the first post by the moderator.

 

You can just bypass the thread if it annoys you.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Lizzie68

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

 

I hope this helps. But if you still don't understand it, I suggest you contact HAL Ship Services, as I'm certain someone there can clarify anything that you don't understand.

 

I'm not sure that anyone can really be "certain" that HAL SHIP SERVICES (or any cruise line one calls) will give 100% up-to-date and correct information on any given topic! :eek:

 

It's usually a matter of phone roulette !!

 

Tom

[albingirl]

I take it you're asking if she was in a smoking (approved) area?

 

Tom

 

She was not. Banned smoking area.