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

[LMaxwell]

 

As RuthC has posted in the past, there needs to be a nice insdie location created with proper ventilation.

 

I really don't think that ships need to design new interior areas to accommodate smokers.

 

I don't have an issue with a fully enclosed / ventilated interior smoker lounge. But it should be designed adequately to not disturb non-smokers. I have been on ships with lounges like this and it has not been an issue. But will smokers be happy with their own designated lounge area?

[Lady Arwen]

Plenty means sufficient and adequate. So unless the smoking area has people elbow to elbow, standing room only, and can not accommodate the amount of people who want to use it, I would think calling it plenty is just fine.

 

I agree 100%! Celebrity has a very strict smoking policy, no inside and a few outside areas only. Ships sail full, casino is hopping until the wee hours, bars and lounges are filled to capacity and everyone is happy, including the smokers, most of whom do not complain about the restrictions. I think that HAL's smoking policy is more than generous to smokers and, I repeat, plenty of areas for smokers to indulge.

[kazu]

I really don't think that ships need to design new interior areas to accommodate smokers. Inside smoking is banned pretty much everywhere you go and most outdoor venues have restrictions, too. Very few people smoke now and hopefully even fewer in the near future. Giving smokers new indoor areas to smoke is a step back. As an ex-smoker (for many years) I appreciate the issues smokers face, however, it's time for everyone to accept that smoking is not acceptable anywhere except your own home. Rant over. Thank you.

 

Rant away ;). But that statement is the type that causes trouble on this thread and on board. There is no reason that smokers and non smokers cannot get along and smokers do not bother non.

 

For example, Oceania which is an "upscale" line (a matter of opinion of course) has an inside smoking roomin Horizons (their Crow's Nest) as well as the mid pool area.

 

Everyone seems happy with that.

 

And it is not just on that ship. Others do the same thing.

 

It's called an amicable solution and fair to all. JMO.

 

I don't have an issue with a fully enclosed / ventilated interior smoker lounge. But it should be designed adequately to not disturb non-smokers. I have been on ships with lounges like this and it has not been an issue. But will smokers be happy with their own designated lounge area?

 

It seems to work well on other ships where I have seen it. I didn't hear smokers or non smokers complaining ;)

Edited August 14, 2016 by kazu

[sammiedawg]

I really don't think that ships need to design new interior areas to accommodate smokers. Inside smoking is banned pretty much everywhere you go and most outdoor venues have restrictions, too. Very few people smoke now and hopefully even fewer in the near future. Giving smokers new indoor areas to smoke is a step back. As an ex-smoker (for many years) I appreciate the issues smokers face, however, it's time for everyone to accept that smoking is not acceptable anywhere except your own home. Rant over. Thank you.

 

I pretty much agree with this but I recognize Holland America is now dependent on its smokers to fill their ships so I doubt they will total ban it. I say put smokers in a glass cage and ban it everywhere else.

[Lady Arwen]

I pretty much agree with this but I recognize Holland America is now dependent on its smokers to fill their ships so I doubt they will total ban it. I say put smokers in a glass cage and ban it everywhere else.

 

I really doubt that HAL is dependant on smokers to fill their ships and I believe that they will eventually come in line with a policy similar to Celebrity's. I think smokers are entitled to areas to smoke, as long as it does not impede the enjoyment of fellow cruisers. If Celebrity can do it and everyone is happy, I don't see why HAL cannot do the same.

[kennicott]

Rant away ;). But that statement is the type that causes trouble on this thread and on board. There is no reason that smokers and non smokers cannot get along and smokers do not bother non.

 

For example, Oceania which is an "upscale" line (a matter of opinion of course) has an inside smoking roomin Horizons (their Crow's Nest) as well as the mid pool area.

 

Everyone seems happy with that.

 

And it is not just on that ship. Others do the same thing.

 

It's called an amicable solution and fair to all. JMO.

 

It seems to work well on other ships where I have seen it. I didn't hear smokers or non smokers complaining ;)

 

I agree and also with the post that HAL is now heavily dependant upon smokers booking their product. I can't see where HAL is going to get away from allowing balcony smoking unless they provided exclusive smoking lounges like Princess and Regent do. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear they are inclined to do this anytime in the near future.

Edited August 14, 2016 by kennicott

[midwest 852]

With less than 15% of the US population smoking today with less than that percentage cruising, having the Seaview Bar and Casino available should be enough area. I have sat in the Seaview Bar area because of lack of seating elsewhere on deck and noticed that there were less than six people smoking.

 

I think the major concern for most passengers is use on balconies. I guess it will take a fire on board a HAL ship like the Star Princess to change the policy. And that will be driven by the underwriter.

 

 

May I ask where you got the number of less than 15% from?

[Aquahound]

May I ask where you got the number of less than 15% from?

 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/17/health/smoking-rate-decline/

 

I agree and also with the post that HAL is now heavily dependant upon smokers booking their product. I can't see where HAL is going to get away from allowing balcony smoking unless they provided exclusive smoking lounges like Princess and Regent do. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear they are inclined to do this anytime in the near future.

 

I disagree that HAL is "heavily" dependent on smokers. If no other line was, it stands to reason that HAL also is not.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Aquahound

[Cruise Junky]

May I ask where you got the number of less than 15% from?

 

It was 16.8% in 2014 and seems to be showing a steady drop of just under 1% a year so 15% is probably not far off

[RuthC]

As an ex-smoker (for many years) I appreciate the issues smokers face, however, it's time for everyone to accept that smoking is not acceptable anywhere except your own home. Rant over. Thank you.

It's attitudes like this that make it impossible to come to a reasonable solution that is acceptable to both smokers and non-smokers alike.

 

Smoking is a legal activity, and so long as it remains so, and allowed on HAL, then smokers do have a right to smoke in places other than their own homes.

While smoking in designated areas on the ships, they have the right to the same degree of comfort as those in the non-smoking areas.

 

When some of the ships had the Oak Room, closed off from non-smoking areas, well ventilated, comfortable, with access to the outdoors, it was an excellent place where smokers could go in inclement weather, without bothering anyone else.

Such a venue should be part and parcel of every Holland America ship. So what did HAL do? They removed it from most of the ships where it had been available. :rolleyes: Even when it was still there, it was taken over, made temporarily non-smoking, and used for a private party.:eek:

[Airnocker]

It's attitudes like this that make it impossible.

 

Smoking is a legal activity, and so long as it remains so, and allowed on HAL, then smokers do have a right to smoke in places other than their own homes.

While smoking in designated areas on the ships, they have the right to the same degree of comfort as those in the non-smoking areas.

 

When some of the ships had the Oak Room, closed off from non-smoking areas, well ventilated, comfortable, with access to the outdoors, it was an excellent place where smokers could go in inclement weather, without bothering anyone else.

Such a venue should be part and parcel of every Holland America ship.

:

 

Right. I have an attitude about tobacco smoking. It's killed my parents, my parental in-laws, and friends. Right, again it's legal. That does not imply a right to a comfortable place to spread tobacco toxins. HAL is way over acomidating to smokers. I'd suggest a place akin to Club HAL area, venting into the smoke stack, for a tobacco den.

HAL cannot eliminate tobacco smoking soon enough.

Over.

[mllewis48]

WOW over 4K posts about smoking?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ken the cruiser]

Without going back and reading all 4,000+ posts on this thread, has anyone say in the past year or two ever actually asked HAL customer relations when or if they are ever going to change their policy about smoking on the verandas to more coincide with the rest of the major cruise lines?

[Aquahound]

Smoking is widely considered to be an anti social activity, Google this topic if you doubt my assertion. Even smokers know public smoking is a social isolating behavior. Non smokers will never turn back the clock and accept public smoking in shared airspace.

Smoking on cruise ships should be confined to an enclosed space, if that happens I guarantee non smokers will never enter. I do feel sorry for crew members having to work in smoke infested spaces.

 

"like"

 

Double like. I laugh when I see people talk about smokers' "rights." Smoking is a privilege not a right, and HAL needs to ban the balcony privilege ASAP.

[taxmantoo]

Without going back and reading all 4,000+ posts on this thread, has anyone say in the past year or two ever actually asked HAL customer relations when or if they are ever going to change their policy about smoking on the verandas to more coincide with the rest of the major cruise lines?

 

You think that they would actually answer that question ? :rolleyes: You are more likely to get an answer along the lines of "We value all our customers input and will pass on your comments to the appropriate area a.k.a. the big garbage bin out back."

[Ken the cruiser]

You think that they would actually answer that question ? :rolleyes: You are more likely to get an answer along the lines of "We value all our customers input and will pass on your comments to the appropriate area a.k.a. the big garbage bin out back."

 

Probably. But I just sent off the question to Shawn Davidson at HAL Customer Relations. If I actually get an answer other than which you rightfully described, I'll post their answer. But, I'm not holding my breath.

[OVgirl]

I would question your phrase "there are plenty of other areas on the ships that allow smoking" One small corner of one deck, ie the Seaview Bar, does not equate to plenty of areas.

 

Plenty means sufficient and adequate. So unless the smoking area has people elbow to elbow, standing room only, and can not accommodate the amount of people who want to use it, I would think calling it plenty is just fine.

 

If you look at the aft Seaview Bar area, so will see that it is usually full of smokers, sometimes with standing room only. And even there, the non-smokers complain.

[Fouremco]

Without going back and reading all 4,000+ posts on this thread, has anyone say in the past year or two ever actually asked HAL customer relations when or if they are ever going to change their policy about smoking on the verandas to more coincide with the rest of the major cruise lines?

There have been a few, including:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=45390474&postcount=1336

[sammiedawg]

I often read various CC''ers posting about all the socializing they do on board with roll call friends, fine and dandy. Do they feel real social when they sit on a balcony and light up a cigarette? Just asking.

[tip]

Smoking is widely considered to be an anti social activity, Google this topic if you doubt my assertion. Even smokers know public smoking is a social isolating behavior. Non smokers will never turn back the clock and accept public smoking in shared airspace.

Smoking on cruise ships should be confined to an enclosed space, if that happens I guarantee non smokers will never enter. I do feel sorry for crew members having to work in smoke infested spaces.

 

Very well-said!

 

If smokers want to have an enclosed space in which to smoke on cruise ships, I have no problem with it. I certainly for one will not enter it. My problem is smoking on balconies. Me darling wife and I have been on twenty-six cruises including six on HAL. We enjoy the HAL product, its ambiance and low key atmosphere, the classical music and many other things. However, we shall not return until smoking is banned on balconies. On our RCCL cruise this past winter, we often stood on our smoke free balcony in various ports and watched HAL ships, but until HAL moves to the 21st Century, that will be as close as we get.

 

Smoking may be legal, but it is socially unacceptable for smokers to pollute the air that we breathe with second hand smoke.

[Richie2pies]

I'm a non-smoker. I laugh at the posts of those who want to limit smoking. Hurrah for those who want balcony smoking.

[Cruise Junky]

I'm a non-smoker. I laugh at the posts of those who want to limit smoking. Hurrah for those who want balcony smoking.

 

Quit did you?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=43503609&postcount=43

[sherryf]

I would question your phrase "there are plenty of other areas on the ships that allow smoking" One small corner of one deck, ie the Seaview Bar, does not equate to plenty of areas.

 

On the Westerdam a few weeks ago, it was also allowed on the Observation Deck, just outside the entrance to the Explorations Lounge. It wouldn't have been too big a deal to me, but the Crow's Nest was closed for large portions of the cruise due to private art auctions, so you could not enter from the other side. We would often go for walks on the Observation Deck and then go into Explorations for a coffee or to check out the puzzles and warm up a bit. The only way in was past the smokers. (Well, I suppose we could have gone down the little spiral staircase to the Lido deck, inside to the stairs by the spa, and back up to Explorations. :rolleyes: )

[EagleRockers]

I'm a non-smoker. I laugh at the posts of those who want to limit smoking. Hurrah for those who want balcony smoking.

 

Thank you! I'm taking my first HAL cruise next year and chose it, among other reasons, because I can smoke on my balcony.

[Mosaic]

Please do not smoke next to me. Thanks.