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

[Turtles06]

I spoke with HAL customer service today and I was informed that they are trying to figure out the best way to enforce the balcony no smoking rule. The representative I spoke with was very apologetic but I suspect they don't have any idea how to get people to comply as the non smoking policy is not followed on Carnival and Norwegian.

The Hal rep also told me she was directing my complaint to the upper management. I asked her to please contact me again after they had more information on how they would proceed with the enforcement and then I would reconsider her offer of an on board credit due to my unsatisfactory experience.if I am grateful that my cruise was only 10 days in duration. I am on vacation to relax not to battle this problem.

What a distressing reply from HAL! It sounds like they adopted the non-smoking policy without giving any thought to how they'd enforce it; how foolish. There's no wheel that needs to be reinvented here.

 

Thanks again for pursuing this and keeping us informed. If HAL isn't committed to enforcing no-smoking on balconies, we'll have to revisit our new booking with them.

[JudithLynne]

Doesn't Princess have a fine if a passenger is caught smoking on a balcony?

[Mosaic]

Throw them overboard.

[bUU]

how foolish.

Nonsense. The default expectation of voluntary compliance is reasonable. What's foolish is the self-centeredness underlying the neglectful or willful decision on the part of passengers to not comply.

[grayjay]

Agreed. (At the very least.) Celebrity has a successful no-smoking policy that bans smoking on balconies.. Surely HAL can do it too.

 

We have sailed Celebrity ships quite extensively and they really DO something to enforce the rules ( at least those about smoking, not so much the ones about chair-hogging at the pool...:cool: )

Security personnel is very quick in politely telling people about the ban, if complaints are lodged again a fine of I think 250 $ follows.

We had problems with heavy smokers once on a neighbouring balcony on Celebrity Silhouette and despite of me politely asking and pointing out my problems with asthma they didn't quit. Well - two calls on two days to the front desk cleared up that problem. The only thing we had to live with the following 10 days were daggers in eyes...

On our HAL cruise we were very fortunate so far - just one cruise with the occasional cigarette being smoked next to us which wasn't bothersome. But personally I'm still happy to enjoy a smoke-free balcony which is expensive enough to book...

[Turtles06]

Nonsense. The default expectation of voluntary compliance is reasonable. What's foolish is the self-centeredness underlying the neglectful or willful decision on the part of passengers to not comply.

Even assuming it's reasonable to expect voluntary compliance, my point was that it was foolish to adopt a policy without giving any consideration to what you'd do as to those passengers who don't "voluntarily comply." Because it is totally predictable that there will be some of those. Totally.

[DrKoob]

Even assuming it's reasonable to expect voluntary compliance, my point was that it was foolish to adopt a policy without giving any consideration to what you'd do as to those passengers who don't "voluntarily comply." Because it is totally predictable that there will be some of those. Totally.

 

You are so right about that. It never ceases to amaze me that there are so many people who think that rules apply to everyone but them. Not just on ships. I live in a condo community and we have rules. Things like your dog has to be on a leash and you aren't supposed to leave your trash cans outside after trash day. It is amazing how many people do it and then when you asked them if they know the rule they have an excuse...my dog is old...I'm too busy to take my trash cans in..etc.

 

It's the same thing with these people and the chair hogs and those that save seats in the theater. Yes, they know the rules but they just don't think those rules apply to them.

 

Sorry, this is my pet peeve.

[bUU]

...not so much the ones about chair-hogging at the pool...:cool: )

In my experience and from what I've read, that's a good example of a rule for which cruise lines generally rely on voluntary compliance.

 

Even assuming it's reasonable to expect voluntary compliance, my point was that it was foolish to adopt a policy without giving any consideration to what you'd do as to those passengers who don't "voluntarily comply."

As long as there isn't a "Chair-hogging at the pool Patrol," and as long as there aren't routine, thorough inspections of passenger cabins for contraband alcohol and drugs that made it through the security checkpoints, we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

It never ceases to amaze me that there are so many people who think that rules apply to everyone but them. Not just on ships. I live in a condo community and we have rules. Things like your dog has to be on a leash and you aren't supposed to leave your trash cans outside after trash day. It is amazing how many people do it and then when you asked them if they know the rule they have an excuse...my dog is old...I'm too busy to take my trash cans in..etc. It's the same thing with these people and the chair hogs and those that save seats in the theater. Yes, they know the rules but they just don't think those rules apply to them.

 

Sorry, this is my pet peeve.

And it is a significant and valid annoyance, but why doesn't your condo community have a security guard on duty 24/7 to issue fines to each and every violator? Probably because they prefer to rely on voluntary compliance and accept a certain level of violation will occur regardless.

[kennicott]

Thank you! For both that answer and your service.Disclosure: I am a nonsmoker and I hate smoking. BUT I do not believe that a total ban is the answer. Carnival tried it on one ship and they gave up. Granted, that was more than 10 years ago. But it still wouldn't work. If they don't allow people to smoke somewhere on the ship, they will lose business. The balcony ban probably is bringing in more people than it's losing, but I think a total ban isn't likely to bring in more.

 

A total ban is also hard to enforce. It would definitely slow down the x-ray/search process.

 

As a non-smoker too I agree with some of what you say, in that I believe there should be considerations given for smokers. However, I believe that is probably not going to happen judging from contemporary events.

You mentioned a Carnival ship, years ago, that was smoke free, but later changed due pressure from smokers. Also many point to Renaissance, which went bankrupt around 2000 and apparently had very strict no smoking rules, as being one cause for their demise.

I can't attest to the validity of either one of those examples however that was then and now is now. It appears to me that a number of major cruise lines are rapidly approaching no smoking---period. HAL almost overnight has went from one of the most smoker friendly lines to almost zilch, since they don't have any exclusive smoking lounges, except one. Celebrity doesn't have them either nor does X allow any smoking in their casinos, X is very close to allowing no smoking at all and they are going strong as a solvent cruise line. Our most recent experience is sailing on Princess, a lot, we notice very little smoking there, I have made friends on Princess who are smokers and they are very displeased with these developments but indicate they are still sticking with Princess as rules have tightened everywhere.

 

 

[erewhon]

I spoke with HAL customer service today and I was informed that they are trying to figure out the best way to enforce the balcony no smoking rule. The representative I spoke with was very apologetic but I suspect they don't have any idea how to get people to comply as the non smoking policy is not followed on Carnival and Norwegian.

 

Thank you for reporting the response from HAL.

[suz1607]

Why don't all of you -- smokers and non-smokers-- read about the history of Prohibition! All this reminds me so much of the arguments for and against alcohol! Guess every generation has to have something to complain or "get on the bandwagon" about. In the past situations such as this have quickly disappeared only in the face of threats to our country from outside our borders! Seems, as Americans [ or maybe humans ], instead of being thankful for the blessings we have, we must always have something to complain about or feel superior about! This is not meant to just address smoking issues but also "chair hogs", pushing in line and other forms of behavior that do not respect people or their individual freedoms with common courtesy. Maybe we should change things by focusing on what we can do to help others instead of wasting our time and energy always complaining and finding fault.Thanks for letting me rant from my soapbox!

[DrKoob]

Why don't all of you -- smokers and non-smokers-- read about the history of Prohibition! All this reminds me so much of the arguments for and against alcohol! Guess every generation has to have something to complain or "get on the bandwagon" about. In the past situations such as this have quickly disappeared only in the face of threats to our country from outside our borders! Seems, as Americans [ or maybe humans ], instead of being thankful for the blessings we have, we must always have something to complain about or feel superior about! This is not meant to just address smoking issues but also "chair hogs", pushing in line and other forms of behavior that do not respect people or their individual freedoms with common courtesy. Maybe we should change things by focusing on what we can do to help others instead of wasting our time and energy always complaining and finding fault.Thanks for letting me rant from my soapbox!

 

 

Smoking is NOTHING like drinking. When you drink in a bar, your room or on your verandah you don't bother me one single bit unless you become drunk and belligerent. But if you smoke, I immediately get a horrid sinus headache due to a sinus condition I have. It means that I have to go back to my cabin, take medication and lie down in the dark until it goes away--which for me can be six to eight hours.

 

How is that like Prohibition? If someone drank it was only affecting him or her. Unless they drank to an excess. Sorry, on this one you are missing the mark. I do not want smoking banned because I like to complain, I want smoking banned because it makes me physically ill. I would also like to ban overuse of perfume and aftershave as it does the same thing, but since I can't do that, I will fight for smoking to be prohibited in public spaces.

[Charlie1422]

Smoking is NOTHING like drinking. When you drink in a bar, your room or on your verandah you don't bother me one single bit unless you become drunk and belligerent. But if you smoke, I immediately get a horrid sinus headache due to a sinus condition I have. It means that I have to go back to my cabin, take medication and lie down in the dark until it goes away--which for me can be six to eight hours.

 

How is that like Prohibition? If someone drank it was only affecting him or her. Unless they drank to an excess. Sorry, on this one you are missing the mark. I do not want smoking banned because I like to complain, I want smoking banned because it makes me physically ill. I would also like to ban overuse of perfume and aftershave as it does the same thing, but since I can't do that, I will fight for smoking to be prohibited in public spaces.

Agreed. The point of all these posts is that HAL has banned smoking from balconies and the OP stated they were not enforcing THEIR rule. Alcohol consumption (unless to the point obnoxiousness) does not affect their fellow passengers enjoyment or health. As long as the ships officers are sober, that is.

 

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[suz1607]

I asked that you read the history and arguments used during prohibition. Think you will find them much the same. Did not ask to be flamed by people who have no idea what I mean because they have no knowledge of what I mean.

[DrKoob]

I asked that you read the history and arguments used during prohibition. Think you will find them much the same. Did not ask to be flamed by people who have no idea what I mean because they have no knowledge of what I mean.

 

 

I have my doubts that anyone argued for Prohibition because the second hand smoke made them ill. What you basically did was tell those of us who are anti-smoking to get over it. Because it just isn't that important. You know what, to those of us who get ill from second hand smoke, it is that important.

[KenNMB]

Big difference, which you'd have identified had you any expertise in alcohol regulation. Used in the manner recommended (i.e., moderately, not abusively, and not at all if pregnant), alcohol has been proven harmless to most, and perhaps beneficial for some, under limited circumstances. No amount of smoking benefits anyone.

[Host Walt]

Please stay with the topic, HAL's onboard smoking policies, not the 18th and 21st Amendments to the US Constitution.

[Charlie1422]

Please stay with the topic, HAL's onboard smoking policies, not the 18th and 21st Amendments to the US Constitution.

Thank you.

 

 

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[JudithLynne]

I am a senior and an avid non smoker, never smoked. As a child of heavy smokers I have suffered life long upper respiratory problems. I had my tonsils removed twice during childhood.

We are taking a two week cruise to Alaska this summer (7-3.) When HAL changed its smoking policy we splurged and upgraded from an OV cabin to a Vista balcony cabin and were so excited.

I am now concerned that there are reports of smoking on balconies and that HAL does not really have a procedure to handle violations.

What I would like to know from all of you is would you recommend that we go back to an OV room or hope for the best with a balcony?

Thanks for any thoughts....

 

Judith

[bUU]

I plan on asking my neighbors to please not smoke on their balconies.

[Charlie1422]

We have booked a balcony cabin and are hoping for good neighbors. If not, will probably look elsewhere for our next cruise. We enjoy the balcony too much to go back to an OV.

 

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[hal lover]

I am a former smoker. I swore I would never say a word about anyone smoking. NOT...

On my last cruise the cigarette smoke was terrible. I was on the non smoking side of the outside pool and still it was seeping over.

IF I book a balcony in the future and either of my neighbors are out smoking, I will report it. I will not be satisfied with the front desk telling me that they can not do anything about it. It is now in the cruise contract and or Need to Know. They WILL do something about it or they can refund me my cruise fare.

Smokers have rights. Non smokers have rights. Smokers, smoke where it is allowed, Non Smokers, stay away from where they are allowed to smoke.

Just do it!:cool:

[JudithLynne]

Is it actually in writing in the Cruise Contract?

[Charlie1422]

I am a former smoker. I swore I would never say a word about anyone smoking. NOT...

On my last cruise the cigarette smoke was terrible. I was on the non smoking side of the outside pool and still it was seeping over.

IF I book a balcony in the future and either of my neighbors are out smoking, I will report it. I will not be satisfied with the front desk telling me that they can not do anything about it. It is now in the cruise contract and or Need to Know. They WILL do something about it or they can refund me my cruise fare.

Smokers have rights. Non smokers have rights. Smokers, smoke where it is allowed, Non Smokers, stay away from where they are allowed to smoke.

Just do it!:cool:

I wish there was a LIKE button!

 

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[DrKoob]

I wish there was a LIKE button!

 

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Amen to that!