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

[kazu]

Jacqui, the NA is nieuw to me, but on some dam ships, Hold 'em players are quite near slots where players can (and do) smoke. Usually, smokers respect other non-smoking card players, and take a smoke break away from the table; not so with slot smokers. Hope the table and smoking slots are far apart.

Enjoy this, and everyone you're on!

 

 

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Hi Ken, I can't recall the NA casino layout - sorry. I didn't do casino on that ship. It was mostly closed due to Noro for 20 days, so sorry, I can't help.

 

On the ships I have been on recently, there was a good space between the slots and the tables but I did notice one table on the Westerdam was in between the smoking and no smoking zone.

 

Hopefully all will be good for you. Enjoy your cruise :)

 

The ashtrays are just behind the bar. Take one out if you need it. What else are they going to do when in port & bunkering. Can't smoke outside (even before the upcoming January change). Only ship with a dedicated indoor space is the Noordam with the Oak Room.

 

I'd rather have them smoking in a closed Casino than outside when bunkering. Much safer.

 

No one should be smoking when there is bunkering going on. Totally agree with that. But, never gone looking for an ashtray either in the casino and I doubt I will ;). Just not a rule breaker ;)

Edited November 5, 2016 by kazu

[whogo]

I am just off the Prinsendam. At times the smell of cigarettes spread all the way from the casino to the front desk, that is all of the public areas of deck 8. Walked through the casino at a smoky time to find all three slot players smoking, wondered if they only played so they could smoke. I remember being surprised that the library smelled like an ashtray at 6:00 AM.

 

A fellow cruiser reported that his balcony was unusable because of nearby cigar smokers. The cigar smokers changed cabins for the last half of the cruise.

 

The smoking area of the Lido deck is delineated by a fake hedge.

[ne1travel]

I am just off the Prinsendam. At times the smell of cigarettes spread all the way from the casino to the front desk, that is all of the public areas of deck 8. Walked through the casino at a smoky time to find all three slot players smoking, wondered if they only played so they could smoke. I remember being surprised that the library smelled like an ashtray at 6:00 AM.

 

A fellow cruiser reported that his balcony was unusable because of nearby cigar smokers. The cigar smokers changed cabins for the last half of the cruise.

 

The smoking area of the Lido deck is delineated by a fake hedge.

 

Thanks so much for this....guess this is what would keep from sailing on her.

[sammiedawg]

I am just off the Prinsendam. At times the smell of cigarettes spread all the way from the casino to the front desk, that is all of the public areas of deck 8. Walked through the casino at a smoky time to find all three slot players smoking, wondered if they only played so they could smoke. I remember being surprised that the library smelled like an ashtray at 6:00 AM.

 

A fellow cruiser reported that his balcony was unusable because of nearby cigar smokers. The cigar smokers changed cabins for the last half of the cruise.

 

The smoking area of the Lido deck is delineated by a fake hedge.

 

We had a similar experience two and a half years ago on the Prinsendam. I'm fairly sure the HVAC system couldn't begin to handle the smoke emissions from the casino. We liked the comfy coffee bar next door but could not stand the smoke smell and pollution in there. Smoke smells overwhelmed the library as well.

I expect someone will post to refute this assertion. Keep in mind smokers lose their sense of smell and taste.

[Delmerboy]

Electronic cigarettes should not be allowed to be used in staterooms. There are getting to be more and more cases of sudden explosions from using them and they can cause devastating injures. Plus you do not to have a fire in the rooms.

[Sonora5]

Electronic cigarettes should not be allowed to be used in staterooms. There are getting to be more and more cases of sudden explosions from using them and they can cause devastating injures. Plus you do not to have a fire in the rooms.

 

Agreed

[crusinpsychRN]

No indoor smoking on Oosterdam--just off. I did watch a woman on Lido in the smoking area drop her ashes on the deck rather than in the ashtray in front of her. Ugh!

[Bootman4U]

Nobody EVER confronts these people who think only of themselves, do they? Too bad, too.

[albingirl]

Nobody EVER confronts these people who think only of themselves, do they? Too bad, too.

 

I am way over confronting anyone at any time. I saw a woman chain smoke on the Promenade deck not long ago. Nobody said anything to her.

[Liz54]

Can someone who has been on board recently tell me where smoking is permitted. Literature is generic and says only that smoking is permitted on some decks. For those of us who do smoke it is surprisingly hard to get specifics. Would be useful in relation to cabin selection etc.

 

No need to point out the evils of smoking or all the spots where smoking has been observed in contravention of the rules!

[Mary Ellen]

Can someone who has been on board recently tell me where smoking is permitted. Literature is generic and says only that smoking is permitted on some decks. For those of us who do smoke it is surprisingly hard to get specifics. Would be useful in relation to cabin selection etc.

 

I found it quite easy to find specifics about the smoking policy on the HAL site.

[OVgirl]

Can someone who has been on board recently tell me where smoking is permitted. Literature is generic and says only that smoking is permitted on some decks. For those of us who do smoke it is surprisingly hard to get specifics. Would be useful in relation to cabin selection etc.

 

No need to point out the evils of smoking or all the spots where smoking has been observed in contravention of the rules!

 

On Nieuw Amsterdam there is smoking at the aft Seaview bar area, starboard side. And there is smoking allowed in the casino when it is open, for those playing. Otherwise, that's it.

[Liz54]

Thank You! Now I know....:)

[whogo]

A cordoned off area near the Lido pool (forward, port side) was used for smoking during our October/November cruise. This is not listed on HAL's website as a smoking area that I can see.

[Liz54]

A cordoned off area near the Lido pool (forward, port side) was used for smoking during our October/November cruise. This is not listed on HAL's website as a smoking area that I can see.

 

Thanks! If only one outdoor spot, it will be overflowing and will upset the non smokers. More calls for us to walk the plank will ensue!:D

[bUU]

On Nieuw Amsterdam there is smoking at the aft Seaview bar area, starboard side.

I thought I just read somewhere else that on NA it is port side. No?

[Liz54]

Well, I can find it. I will look for ashtrays!:)

[OVgirl]

I thought I just read somewhere else that on NA it is port side. No?

 

In my mind, I'm doing this left/right kind of thing. The smoking section in the past was on the side with the Seaview bar. I think that's starboard. If they've changed it to the other side, that would be a good thing because there are a lot more tables over there. Guess we'll see when we board.

[Liz54]

See you there! Better than a meet and greet!:D

[RuthC]

In my mind, I'm doing this left/right kind of thing. The smoking section in the past was on the side with the Seaview bar. I think that's starboard. If they've changed it to the other side, that would be a good thing because there are a lot more tables over there. Guess we'll see when we board.

The smoking side was starboard when I sailed the Nieuw Amsterdam.

It always comes in handy to know which side is smoking, since I can rely on someone going in/out to help me with the one set of doors that don't have the electric eye.

[roboref]

The ashtrays are just behind the bar. Take one out if you need it. What else are they going to do when in port & bunkering. Can't smoke outside (even before the upcoming January change). Only ship with a dedicated indoor space is the Noordam with the Oak Room.

 

I'd rather have them smoking in a closed Casino than outside when bunkering. Much safer.

 

Does anyone have recent information from actually being on board that this is correct?

[bUU]

Keep in mind that we talking about something that the cruise line has said will change in the month. So the vagaries of implementation after the upcoming change are invariably going to be open issues for at least that long.

[Cruising Canuck]

Please pick up your holier than thou card at the door. Smoking is not illegal. They have changed the rules AFTER we made a booking.

 

I am a considerate smoker. But I smoke. My rights have been violated. So my b to b cruise has been cut by half. I entered my contract in good faith. Wish Holland America returned the favour.

 

Not looking for attacks or sympathy. But at the very least please recognize there are at least two sides to every story.

[bUU]

If the cruise line make a change so significant after you book, even though they reserve the right to do so, fairness dictates that you should be entitled to cancel your cruise without penalty assessed by them.

Edited November 30, 2016 by bicker

[Liz54]

Cruise lines do a poor job of creating smoking areas. If there is only one smoking area and inadequate seating and overflowing ashtrays and many people trying to use the area it just elicits more complaints from non smokers.

On Princess two years ago there was a smoking area right by the aft pool. A wall ashtray and very near the outdoor eating. No place to sit. They had moved it DOWN from the level above.

 

A high deck, near a bar , with some rain shelter and seating...

 

Most people don't smoke. But if 20% do that is hundreds on each cruise ship. A wall astray makes everyone miserable.