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

[Lizzie68]

Please define "they". One person commented on it and now you infer that all non smokers are involved in that complaint.

 

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[seapals2]

That is probably not the case here since the smoking policy did not go into effect until 7 Jan on Eurodam.

 

We didn't leave the ship until the 14th Jan .. 2 weeks back to back.

[pumpkinpatch4]

I was on the Koningsdam last week and only smelled smoke one time, when we were exploring the boat and found the outdoor pool. We were a deck above so could see/smell the smokers. Since I had kids with me we never used that pool, only the inside pool which was smoke free. I was pleased that the new rule went into effect right before our cruise and was relieved to be able to enjoy my balcony smoke-smell-free.

[marycruz]

We didn't leave the ship until the 14th Jan .. 2 weeks back to back.

 

Sorry - I kind of figured that after I reread your first sentence where you said from New Years Eve. :D

[sheba2008]

I never thought that I would say this but YUK! I am now close to 4 years smokefree. I was on the Koningsdam 11/13/16 to 12/4/16. There was no excaping the cigarette smoke at the Seaview pool, the Casino, the walk around deck and upon leaving the ship on the gangway the smoke was awlful.

 

Smoker's need their space, I know that... but for goodness sake!

 

How the employee's that do not smoke stand the smell in their enviroment much be awlful.

 

I do not mean to hurt anyone's feelings, REALLY!

 

I was on the same cruise as you and I only saw smokers at the aft pool smokingarea, I don't play in the casino so I never went there.

On the walk around deck I saw nobody smoking, on the gangway I saw nobody smoking.

That the employee's are working in the smell, smokers order drinks so they get money out of it.

 

For the record I am a non smoker but I understand that the smokers need a space to smoke and now they need a even larger space because of the new balcony rule. The space on the Koningsdam was in november to small for all the smokers.

 

Why are some of the nonsmokers complaining? No more smoking on the balcony insn't that you all wanted?

 

A smoke free ship is NOT coming, I believe Carnival tried this already, they change it back to smoking ship.

[Yknot]

From HA:'s Website 1-24-2017

 

Is Smoking Allowed On Board?

 

To better align with guest wishes and health concerns, Holland America Line will implement a new smoking policy beginning in January 2017. Please see below for details.

Smoking Policy through December 2016:

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. 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
  
• Sea View Bar (not available on ms Rotterdam and ms Veendam)
  
• Outside Decks
  
  • Sports Deck
    
  • Observation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)
    

  [*]Casino*

  • Active players only, when the casino is open
    
  • Designated slot machines only
    
  • Each sailing will offer one or more non-smoking nights depending upon the length of the voyage
    

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed. 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.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

*ms Noordam Casino is non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise

Smoking Policy beginning January 2017:

Effective with the first sailings for all ships beginning in January 2017, the following smoking policy is in effect:

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

SHIP NEW SMOKING POLICY BEGINS ms Maasdam January 2, 2017 ms Rotterdam January 2, 2017 ms Volendam January 3, 2017 ms Noordam January 4, 2017 ms Veendam January 4, 2017 ms Zuiderdam January 4, 2017 ms Nieuw Amsterdam January 6, 2017 ms Eurodam January 7, 2017 ms Westerdam January 7, 2017 ms Koningsdam January 8, 2017 ms Zaandam January 10, 2017 ms Oosterdam January 13, 2017 ms Amsterdam April 26, 2017 ms Prinsendam May 6, 2017 The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted:

 

• Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side only. On Prinsendam, Koningsdam, and Nieuw Statendam, smoking is allowed on the port side only
  
• Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam
  
• Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam
  
• Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking
  
• Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos*. Oosterdam and Eurodam casinos are completely non-smoking. Noordam Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise.
  

 

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

[OceanTraveller4ever]

Just got off the Eurodam. The smoking was minimal, except for a few that were a part of a charter group, and smoked on the upper promenade.

Nonetheless, the new smoking policy on HAL is just great.

[OceanTraveller4ever]

deleted

Edited January 30, 2017 by OceanTraveller4ever

[CTBob]

Just off B2B on the Koningsdam and love the new policy. Once I realized that I could avoid the casino by walking to and from the World Stage on deck 2 I hardly ever smelled any smoke. I also avoided the aft adults only pool where smoking is allowed on one side. Fortunately I don't go on a cruise to swim so it didn't matter to me.

 

Bob

[marycruz]

Just got off the Eurodam. The smoking was minimal, except for a few that were a part of a charter group, and smoked on the upper promenade.

Nonetheless, the new smoking policy on HAL is just great.

 

The upper promenade? I thought smoking was only allowed by the adult pool. Or did they just smoke in a non-designated area?

[OceanTraveller4ever]

They had a private party at the Lido pool, and still wanted to hear their music, so they lit up on the deck overseeing the party.

Did not feel like challenging, so just walked on.

Edited January 30, 2017 by OceanTraveller4ever

[richstowe]

I had to revisit this thread after the balcony ban came into effect . Interested in reading comments on how this change is going . Specifically on whether it is being enforced and secondly , how crowded the remaining smoking areas are . I guess the jury is still out .

 

One other point , just because (Sheba and various others) you say you're a non-smoker ,it doesn't make it so .

 

 

We were on Eurodam from New Years Eve and as this was only our second cruise with HAL and we are non smokers we were unaware of the policy change.

However we had not noticed this smoking area previously and then suddenly it was crowded. Perhaps the new ruling has had a knock on effect and now far more passengers gather there. You know it's a smoking area way before you see it.

 

Then people should be pleased that balcony passengers are observing the new rule.

 

The increased amount of smoke and odor in the smoking area when additional people were sent there could not have been a surprise to those who changed the policy. When you corral people into a smaller and smaller space, there are going to be consequences. This is not the fault of the smokers.

[cabinluvn]

Report it to the front desk -- especially the marijuana.

When you are out on your verandah and you smell the marijuana -- call right away for someone to come and smell it.

If you are in a Neptune Suite -- have one of the concierges come and smell it.

 

 

 

We are off the ship now. Did not smell the marijuana again. They may have smoked all they had, did it when we were not out on our veranda, someone else reported it it or they read cruise critic and decided they better not smoke it anymore. The cigarette smoke kept up, but it may have been coming from the aft lido deck as we were in a deck 7 aft cabin. I did not call about that. The smoke in the casino was choking to walk through as was the smoke on the aft lido if you needed to go to the bar there. I guess I was under the impression that the only place for smokers anymore was the casino. Disappointed that it has not been phased out more

 

 

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[peaches from georgia]

So right Cruisermom, they finally got what they wanted...no smoking on balconies, and now complain about the one place where people can smoke. Non smokers have the entire rest of the ship to enjoy smoke free, now they all want to be on the one side of the aft area where smoking is allowed. It truly is unbelievable.

Actually it's not unbelievable at all. Totally expected this is what would happen.

Edited February 1, 2017 by peaches from georgia

[sandij]

We just returned from the NA, had booked a balcony a year out for my DH who smokes. Of course they changed the rules in the meantime. But the smoking area on the aft Lido was nice and under cover from the elements. It was however very crowded, maybe they don't really know how many people do smoke, plus the crew or at least the officers were there also. I didn't smell any smoke from our balcony but then I never did before either, and we were directly below the smoking area. Maybe I'm not that picky or unforgiving.

[Delmerboy]

I would like to see in this new policy that electronic cigarettes not be allowed to be used in staterooms also. Besides the smell there are more and more accidents (explosions) with the use of these items. Times are changing and cruise ships need to come up with strong smoking policies and enforce them.

[OVgirl]

I would like to see in this new policy that electronic cigarettes not be allowed to be used in staterooms also. Besides the smell there are more and more accidents (explosions) with the use of these items. Times are changing and cruise ships need to come up with strong smoking policies and enforce them.

 

Safety issues are with cheap batteries and mechanical mods. Better quality mods have a safety cut off switch. And I don't think the strawberry scents will linger too long.

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't smoke, but just like to be educated.

Edited February 1, 2017 by OVgirl

[Mary Anne R]

Hello. We are considering a cruise on the Oosterdam. Does anyone know which deck and area is the outside smoking area(s)? We took a cruise on another line and 2 decks above us was the smoking area. At times we couldn't use our balcony because the smoke would blow down. And yes, I did verify that no one around us was smoking next, below and above us. I appreciate any information. Thank you

[Crew News]

Hello. We are considering a cruise on the Oosterdam. Does anyone know which deck and area is the outside smoking area(s)? We took a cruise on another line and 2 decks above us was the smoking area. At times we couldn't use our balcony because the smoke would blow down. And yes, I did verify that no one around us was smoking next, below and above us. I appreciate any information. Thank you

 

Outside smoking on HAL is limited to the right side of the Aft Lido Deck 9 on the Oosterdam. The area is covered.

[catl331]

On the O-dam Dec 16>23 last year we were surprised to see smoking permitted on the port (left) side of the Lido deck back by the stern. IIRC it was not being allowed in the usual starboard by the door area.

[senorjim]

January 13-27, 2017 on Oosterdam smoking was only permitted on deck 9 aft. Starboard side only. There were a couple of smokers sitting in loungers on the promenade deck and after a few people brought this to the attention of guest services a small notice in the daily On Location print out reminded smokers of the only allowable place to smoke.

 

 

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[Becoming]

I'm booked on the Noordam this summer for Alaska. I'm realizing my balcony cabin is 2 decks below the smoking area. Now I'm thinking I should switch cabins so I'll be further away from the smoke. I certainly don't want to pay for a balcony and not be able to use it. Any input?

 

Thanks!

[jtl513]

I'm realizing my balcony cabin is 2 decks below the smoking area.

Unlike Mary Ann R a couple of posts back, we've only smelled smoke when the smokers were beside or below us. Smoke is hotter than the surrounding air and tends to rise.

[Becoming]

Unlike Mary Ann R a couple of posts back, we've only smelled smoke when the smokers were beside or below us. Smoke is hotter than the surrounding air and tends to rise.

 

Thanks for your response! Some of the posts lead me to believe there are lots of smokers in the smoking area at one time. My only concern with booking with HAL was their liberal smoking policy and then they updated it which thrilled me. Today reading this thread made me realize how close I'll be to the smokers.

 

Any other input?

 

Thanks!

[Mrponderosakid]

Balcony smokers ruined our cruise as they continue to put other passengers health and fire safety at risk out at sea. Unfortunately a ship may catch fire again or passenger bookings fall drastically, before cruise lines realize the non smokers have a very real financial impact, when we are dissatisfied with our cruise experience and that we have many other vacation choices then to be trapped on a cruise ship where we cannot escape this awful sickening unhealthy second hand cancer smoke. :mad: