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

[scm1848]

senior/boomer who will no longer be cruising on HAL. Here we come, Costa!!

[Liz54]

I find the comments here about smokers being in denial just rude. The majority of us are quite happy not to smoke on the balcony and are just trying to clarify

where the smoking area will be and whether it will be sheltered and how crowded it will be. All the cruise lines have all but done away with smoking and most of us can live with the restrictions. It is however frustrating when the smoking area is not big or well enough ventilated and non smokers have such difficulty avoiding that one area.

[Lizzie68]

I find the comments here about smokers being in denial just rude. The majority of us are quite happy not to smoke on the balcony and are just trying to clarify

where the smoking area will be and whether it will be sheltered and how crowded it will be. All the cruise lines have all but done away with smoking and most of us can live with the restrictions. It is however frustrating when the smoking area is not big or well enough ventilated and non smokers have such difficulty avoiding that one area.

 

I also dislike the personal comments about smokers, it is unfortunate that some actually are in denial, however. Also unfortunate that certainly not all have your great attitude.

On some of our cruises, the smoking on the balcony has not been a major issue, but on others - oh my, it has been dreadful, and really does lead to not being able to use our own balcony much of the time.

So now it's a level playing field across much of the cruise lines, with HAL no longer being the only one that allows balcony smoking. But there are areas where smoking is allowed, and I have faith that one of these days HAL will institute a nice indoor area - like the Oak Room on the Noordam - where smokers can relax in comfort.

[dogo88]

We have a cruise we booked a year ago for mid January, 2017. I didn't receive anything from HAL telling us of the policy change. The only reason I know about the policy is from being a regular here on CC.

The new policy was in the cruise contract when we checked in, but it was buried deep in the fine print. I doubt if many people even read the contract.

I suspect there are going to be a lot of shocked smokers on my cruise! I hope they don't mutiny!

 

Tom,

 

On our upcoming Oosterdam Cruise in March, our TA received an email from HAL, detailing the new smoking policy which they forwarded to us. HAL sent that out in Oct. If you used a TA perhaps they didn't get it or missed sending it to you? But I would be upset too if I didn't get the info and was a smoker.

 

Dan

[marycruz]

Yes, there is an area that is covered and somewhat enclosed. It's fairly protected from the elements, even in cold, rainy, weather.

 

Thanks for your response! Happy Holidays.

[sheba2008]

How many smokingplaces on the Zaandam and where?

Is it more than one, Koningsdam had only one.

Thanks for the information.

 

Linda:)

[OceanTraveller4ever]

It is a good sign that most smokers understand the changes in HAL policy.

Let's move forward, and adapt to new healthy ways...

[jujuyu211]

It's been a week since HAL's new "no-smoking" policy came into effect. I wonder if folks on board see any differences on their cruise (passengers, balcony, public areas, etc.). Were smokers informed or surprised? Did they follow guidelines on smoking/non-smoking areas and how heavily enforced was it by the staff? Just curious.

[tallyho8]

In the last 20 years, smoking tobacco has been banned in at least 90% of the places it used to be allowed and places with legalized marijuana have increased over 1000%.

 

It would not surprise some of us if tobacco smoking was completely banned on cruise ships in 10 more years and marijuana smoking was allowed. :eek:

[Toad]

So I may be wrong, but I thought I read that smoking was allowed on the "sports deck" For our upcoming cruise on the Rotterdam. Somehow that seems just wrong... Sports and smokers doesn't seem like a sensible combination . Is this true or is there a more appropriate place?

 

 

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[Liz54]

The placement of smoking areas often seems designed to create conflict! On Princess I have seen them on the Promenade deck among the walkers and runners and at the adult Terrace Pool, a small quiet confined area. Wall astray steps from the pool. This was moved from an isolated area one deck up!! Its not good for ANYONE!

[DeeniEncinitas]

As a dedicated HAL cruiser of 9years I have never complained about the smoking on the balconies.

I have never smoked, but grew up with a mother who did and died at a young age of 59 of lung cancer.

I wrote on this blog several years ago.

I feel now ( I am a non smoker )I am so happy for no smoking on the balconies. Finally.

That said smokers over the years of sailing have always been courteous

To us that if we had lunch or dinner or even breakfast on the balcony they would say we're finishing up so you can enjoy your food!

I remember though on one of our cruises a couple who would

Flick there ashes on the deck of there

Balcony and several times their ash trays would

Be so full with the wind at times would blow everywhere.

It will be cleaner and no worries!

Smooth sailings to all!

Denise:)

[marycruz]

It's been a week since HAL's new "no-smoking" policy came into effect. I wonder if folks on board see any differences on their cruise (passengers, balcony, public areas, etc.). Were smokers informed or surprised? Did they follow guidelines on smoking/non-smoking areas and how heavily enforced was it by the staff? Just curious.

 

I hope someone comes in and answers this. I am curious also.

[taxmantoo]

I hope someone comes in and answers this. I am curious also.

 

They have always enforced the rules for smoking in the public areas. I have seen it done many times in the SeaView Bar area where folks were smoking outside the designated area.

 

As far as enforcement on balconies, how would anyone know unless they complained of a neighbor and the issue was resolved. Even then, it could be they were just lucky and not on their balcony when the neighbor was still smoking out there.

[mrscopper]

We just returned from a Christmas/New Year's b2b on the Oosterdam. It was so nice not having the casino smell like an ashtray. We had a SS cabin and could smell smoke at times on the verandah. I think the non-smoking for the Oosterdam does not go into effect until next week. I am an oxygen user and very sensitive to smoke, so after many cruises where we could not use the balcony, we are very pleased with HAL's decision.

[Cruzaholic41]

So I may be wrong, but I thought I read that smoking was allowed on the "sports deck" For our upcoming cruise on the Rotterdam. Somehow that seems just wrong... Sports and smokers doesn't seem like a sensible combination . Is this true or is there a more appropriate place?

 

Well, it might seem odd on other lines but "HAL" and "Sports Deck" are a bit of an oxymoron.

[Slarty]

Well, it might seem odd on other lines but "HAL" and "Sports Deck" are a bit of an oxymoron.

 

LOL.

 

At this point, I guess I can assume that my suggestion to Carnival (tow the smokers in a dinghy behind the ship) didn't cut it. :)

[albingirl]

Really happy for the decision. I hope that smokers can cope...I think it was inevitable and best for the majority. We were hoping for this for a long time. And yes, we moved to another line and have moved back to HAL. Thank you Holland America!

[DrKoob]

HAL's new smoking policy change is the best news in cruising this year.

 

Well done!:)

[Charlieatl]

I hope someone comes in and answers this. I am curious also.

 

Hi Mary -

I cruised Eurodam 1/7-1/14 in 8108, a VA Veranda stateroom. Throughout the cruise, I sensed tobacco smoke, but figured it was just blowing in from the stern Sea View area where smoking is promoted. However, in chatting with table mates, I learned that other folks smelled tobacco smoke throughout the ship; I make no conclusion based upon this.

The last night of the cruise, I was on my balcony just prior to departure and smelled tobacco smoke and peaked around the partition to the adjoining veranda, and yep, there sat someone smoking.

The question remains however, was this individual unaware of the new policy, or just chose to disregard it?

HAL could have easily affixed signage on all balcony doors indicating no smoking but chose not to do so, and this is regrettable.

[cruiseing marly]

It is easy enough to turn any one smoking in ! I'm sure they would stop as it will get expensive !

 

 

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[DrKoob]

Hi Mary -

I cruised Eurodam 1/7-1/14 in 8108, a VA Veranda stateroom. Throughout the cruise, I sensed tobacco smoke, but figured it was just blowing in from the stern Sea View area where smoking is promoted. However, in chatting with table mates, I learned that other folks smelled tobacco smoke throughout the ship; I make no conclusion based upon this.

The last night of the cruise, I was on my balcony just prior to departure and smelled tobacco smoke and peaked around the partition to the adjoining veranda, and yep, there sat someone smoking.

The question remains however, was this individual unaware of the new policy, or just chose to disregard it?

HAL could have easily affixed signage on all balcony doors indicating no smoking but chose not to do so, and this is regrettable.

 

To make this work there has to be some consequences. Like the huge cleaning fees that hotels charge when you smoke in non-smoking rooms. Or even better, you smoke on your verandah, you get one warning, then you leave the ship at your next port.

[marycruz]

Hi Mary -

I cruised Eurodam 1/7-1/14 in 8108, a VA Veranda stateroom. Throughout the cruise, I sensed tobacco smoke, but figured it was just blowing in from the stern Sea View area where smoking is promoted. However, in chatting with table mates, I learned that other folks smelled tobacco smoke throughout the ship; I make no conclusion based upon this.

The last night of the cruise, I was on my balcony just prior to departure and smelled tobacco smoke and peaked around the partition to the adjoining veranda, and yep, there sat someone smoking.

The question remains however, was this individual unaware of the new policy, or just chose to disregard it?

HAL could have easily affixed signage on all balcony doors indicating no smoking but chose not to do so, and this is regrettable.

 

Thanks. I've seen this on Royal Caribbean also but it's still new so maybe they didn't know about the new rules or the staff is afraid to confront anyone yet. I think most people will follow the rules in the future.

[RuthC]

I cruised Eurodam 1/7-1/14 in 8108, a VA Veranda stateroom. Throughout the cruise, I sensed tobacco smoke,....

 

The question remains however, was this individual unaware of the new policy, or just chose to disregard it?

What was the effective date of the balcony smoking ban on the E-dam?

 

I know it wasn't the same date on each ship, so was yours the first cruise on your ship where balcony smoking was banned?

Were there notices about the ban in the cabins, in the daily program, or anything along those lines?

[freestyling]

We disembarked the Koningsdam on 12/23 and there was a notice via "business card size" much like the turn back your clocks noting no smoking effective 1/7/17 placed on the stateroom desk and noted on the daily program. I assume for those staying on the next "collectors cruise portion"