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

[mightycruisequeen]

So, my question: with the seemingly endless options afforded cruisers who don't smoke and don't like smokers on the verandah, why do they choose HAL, which permits it, over the other lines which prohibit it? What am I missing?

 

In my case, verandah smoking is pretty much the only thing I don't like about Holland America, so we book outside cabins without balconies while we wait for HAL to get up to speed with their smoking policy.

[Danni3ll3]

Itinerary is one chief reason to choose any particular line over another.

 

 

Yep, this is why we chose HAL. I had no idea that smoking on balconies was allowed until long after we had booked. Hopefully it won't be an issue and if it is, we try to make the best of it.

 

 

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[luvs2read]

I would like to thank everyone for being civil since I first posted. Your input has been enlightening. Will be booking our cruise soon.

[snapdragon7]

I really like you!!! I'm with you on refusing to be bullied:)

 

Glad you are able to take your hubby and yourself on an anniversary cruise. Enjoy and ignore the comments here. What we see here on these boards in a speck of dust compared to the people on the ships. Someone mentioned a while back that CC members are only about 2% of actual cruise passengers, I believe it and ignore the regular anti- smokers who take offense at what we find to be an enjoyable habit. I find that the more we present our case(s) for our smoking, the more vocal some become against us. So, just grin and bear it and know it will not be like this on your cruise:)

 

Joanie

 

Joanie, why is it "bullying" when others take offense at what you find to be an enjoyable habit, but not "bullying" when you lobby to ban wearing perfume? Honestly, I wouldn't object to seeing both go, but I assume perfume wearers also find that to be an enjoyable habit. Simply objecting to either habit is not bullying.

 

As to smokers actually trying to force non-smokers off their balconies and vice versa, I have never seen anything like that. I believe most people in both groups are able to behave like adults despite their differences... I don't think "bullying" is a major part of this issue on either side. :o

Edited February 9, 2015 by snapdragon7

[jimmy2x]

"People can say what they like about it "only" being an internet forum, but it's been shown in other contexts that threats made on the internet often eventually translate into real-life actions on the part of some.

 

I know that I regret sharing some of the posts made here with my parents (smokers) who now are somewhat afraid that if they cruise they will be met with some sort of bad behavior from others"

 

Please keep in mind that you are contemplating a HOLLAND AMERICA cruise. In 15 cruises (10 on HAL), I have yet to witness ANY confrontation that was not caused by over-indulgence of liquor. And none at all on any of the HAL cruises which tends to attract an older crowd, not a bunch of militants.

 

The vast majority of posters to this board are well mannered and courteous. Don't worry about those very few who sometimes flex their "internet muscles" - they won't do it in real life.

[JLBellaCC]

I just learned of the smoking policy on the HAL line, which seems very liberal to me- especially smoking on verandahs and the casino. My guess is this will be my first and last HAL cruise. I can only hope it is better than it seems it is going to be- the smoking areas list is way too long for this non-smoker. I appreciate the fact that smoker's have rights, but HAL doesn't seem to be a good fit for us.

[qsuzi]

Welcome to HAL. FYI it is board policy to post all comments regarding smoking here:

This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 ... Last Page)

Edited February 10, 2015 by qsuzi

[JLBellaCC]

Yes, what an awakening. I only wish I had known this before I booked. It never occurred to me that it would be any different than other lines.

[JLBellaCC]

Also, after this I will reluctantly go to the other thread. Am I to understand that smoking is allowed on all open decks? So will people just be wandering/standing around smoking anywhere in these areas? And the casino- on the Nieuw Amsterdam- will it be totally smoke-filled, or are there non-smoking areas?

[ithaca gal]

Also, after this I will reluctantly go to the other thread. Am I to understand that smoking is allowed on all open decks? So will people just be wandering/standing around smoking anywhere in these areas? And the casino- on the Nieuw Amsterdam- will it be totally smoke-filled, or are there non-smoking areas?

 

Yes, this belongs on the other thread but I will tell you this:

 

Smoke bothers me and I notice it right away when it is near. Except for the casino, however, I never notice it on my HAL cruises and I've been on eleven of them.

 

I play blackjack every night until the casino closes. Most people ask before they smoke at a table or even step away.

 

Don't worry.

[nb125]

Also, after this I will reluctantly go to the other thread. Am I to understand that smoking is allowed on all open decks? So will people just be wandering/standing around smoking anywhere in these areas? And the casino- on the Nieuw Amsterdam- will it be totally smoke-filled, or are there non-smoking areas?

 

I don't know who told you that but it's rubbish. Smoking is only allowed on one small area of one side of one deck. Easy to avoid.

[JLBellaCC]

Thank you for the positive remarks. I will go into the cruise with a positive attitude- what else is there to be done at this point, right? So, onward and upward and I do believe I would rather be on a smoking ship than at home in the cold. But I will not book on HAL again.

[Mar56]

Thank you for the positive remarks. I will go into the cruise with a positive attitude- what else is there to be done at this point, right? So, onward and upward and I do believe I would rather be on a smoking ship than at home in the cold. But I will not book on HAL again.

 

I don't understand why you didn't check it out on the Holland America website before you booked?

 

Anyways, enjoy your cruise.

[OVgirl]

You will find that the smoking areas on HAL ships are actually fairly limited. You shouldn't have any problems avoiding these.

Now if you neighbour smokes on the verandah, it's a different story.

 

Hope you enjoy your one and only HAL cruise.

[Dave in NJ]

Just last month on Maasdam, the outside smoking areas (excluding verandas) was very limited - one ash tray in a corner just outside the rear open deck door behind the Crow's Nest area, and a few tables on the port side by the Sea View bar. Ditto for Statendam last Fall except it was on the starboard side by the Sea View bar. So as a smoker, I'd say their outside smoking areas are very restricted.

[JLBellaCC]

You know (Mar56) that is a really good question, because I love and enjoy researching - especially when it comes to travel and cruising. After thinking over your question I guess the answer is, that because smoking has never been an issue for us on any of our previous cruises, and never have I experienced smoking inside a ship casino, must have lead me to believe that this is how all ships/cruise lines operated. Plain and simple, I never gave it a thought. All this aside- I know we are going to have a fabulous time in spite of this policy- I am very excited about the itinerary, our cabin location, we are trying a cabana- which is a new thing on a ship for us- looking forward to the piano bar, all sorts of fun in which to look forward! Afterward, we most certainly can evaluate if HAL is the right line for us and go from there!

[nb125]

You know (Mar56) that is a really good question, because I love and enjoy researching - especially when it comes to travel and cruising. After thinking over your question I guess the answer is, that because smoking has never been an issue for us on any of our previous cruises, and never have I experienced smoking inside a ship casino, must have lead me to believe that this is how all ships/cruise lines operated. Plain and simple, I never gave it a thought. All this aside- I know we are going to have a fabulous time in spite of this policy- I am very excited about the itinerary, our cabin location, we are trying a cabana- which is a new thing on a ship for us- looking forward to the piano bar, all sorts of fun in which to look forward! Afterward, we most certainly can evaluate if HAL is the right line for us and go from there!

 

I am a bit puzzled by this response. I see from your signature that you sailed with RCI in April 2013 when balcony smoking was still allowed and, I believe, smoking in the casino is still allowed now so I cannot see how it has never been an issue for you but is now:confused:

[The Sunset Glow]

I am a bit puzzled by this response. I see from your signature that you sailed with RCI in April 2013 when balcony smoking was still allowed and, I believe, smoking in the casino is still allowed now so I cannot see how it has never been an issue for you but is now:confused:

 

I wondered this as well but maybe they didn't have a balcony on that cruise so wasn't aware. And the casino on Oasis and Allure is essentially 2 casinos - one side smoking and one side non-smoking with a bar separating the spaces.

[JLBellaCC]

Haha- my bad!! I never knew they smoked on RCI!!! I must have been in that wonderful, glorious, glazed-over cruise happy frame of mind! I think I must have increased my gambling on my cruises since my Oasis! :D

 

Anyway, thank you, Cruise Critic pals- you have enlightened me and I feel so much better. What would I do without everyone here to set me straight- someone has to keep me in line! :)

[brentp]

Anyway, thank you, Cruise Critic pals- you have enlightened me and I feel so much better. What would I do without everyone here to set me straight- someone has to keep me in line! :)

 

LOL, always someone here to do that. :)

 

Anyway, we took our first HAL cruise 2 years ago and I too was a little nervous about this. Seriously, other than the casino (which we do not play, simply walk through), we didn't notice much of a difference from either Celebrity or RCI. We did avoid walking through the Casino though, and if I was a player, it might have had more of an impact. We have booked on HAL again, if that says anything.

 

Enjoy the cruise and you will have the chance to "set others straight" when you get back. :)

[Host Walt]

As a reminder, here is an extract from our guidelines:

Discussion of our management policies and procedures -- including post deletions-- is considered off-topic discussion for our cruise boards and will be removed without notice. All decisions regarding any action taken by management shall remain final.

 

Some posts in the thread have been removed because they were not in conformity with this guideline.

 

Now the good stuff.

 

Among the objectives of making this the single thread for the discussion of HAL's current smoking policies and the possible direction of future changes to those policies was to permit full, frank and comprehensive discussion by all members who wished to do so.

 

Thanks to all of you who have done your best to stay within the guidelines and permitting this thread to break the putative record for longevity of a smoking thread on the Cruise Critic boards.

 

The discussion has included several different aspects of the various issues associated with HAL's difficult challenges in crafting a new set of policies such that if and when HAL announces changes to the policies you all will have a good basis for understanding how and why the changes were made even if you don't necessarily agree with some or all of the changes.

 

One last matter. The thread has generally remained free of personal attacks and has included in depth explorations of a number of issues associated with smoking. This despite the fact that there are those who hold strongly held opinions on both sides of the subject.

 

Although a few posts have had to be removed, by and large this thread demonstrates why, in my opinion, the HAL boards are a pleasure to moderate.

 

Thanks to all of you for that.

[qsuzi]

Walt, just wanted to say thank you. Being a Host is not an easy thing at times I'm sure especially when it comes to a smoking thread.

Edited February 11, 2015 by qsuzi

[Host Walt]

Walt, just wanted to say thank you. Being a Host is not an easy thing at times I'm sure especially when it comes to a smoking thread.

Thanks for your kind comments. Compared to the many smoking threads over the 20+ years I've hosted the HAL and other boards, this thread has been, by and large, well handled by the members which is very much appreciated.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Host Walt

[Bookited]

Is this still up and running?

[taxmantoo]

Is this still up and running?

 

Yes, they empty the ashtray and start over every few weeks :D