Single Smoking Thread (Use for all smoking discussions on HAL) )

[Fouremco]

There have been many studies (over lots of years) that have shown a high correlation between gamblers and smokers. The most accepted theory is that both gamblers and smokers have an addictive personality. But since a higher percentage of gamblers do smoke then the general population, many casino owners do their best to cater to smokers.

 

Hank

There were studies that also showed a high correlation between drinking and smoking. When smoking was banned from restaurants and bars, the owners protested that the ban would be the death knell for their establishments. Guess what, in spite of the many dire predictions, business boomed as the non-smokers flocked in ever-increasing numbers to the bars and restaurants to enjoy a drink or meal in a smoke-free environment.

 

The experience of Av8rix is totally consistent with this reality, one that HAL must be aware of too. Unfortunately, as with its balcony smoking policy, HAL is so-o-o-o slow to change.

[KroozNut]

HAL is so-o-o-o slow to change.

 

Which probably correlates directly with their demographic, or niche in the market... sloooooow to change.., so in that sense, it doesn't surprise me.

[Miss Melly]

Isn't the simple solution for the cruise lines to install good ventilation systems that are used in most land-based casinos. I have walked into casinos that I thought were non-smoking only to notice ashtrays at the slots and then realize that many players were smoking. The ventilation system was so good you really could not tell there was a lot of smoking going on.

[Fouremco]

Isn't the simple solution for the cruise lines to install good ventilation systems that are used in most land-based casinos. I have walked into casinos that I thought were non-smoking only to notice ashtrays at the slots and then realize that many players were smoking. The ventilation system was so good you really could not tell there was a lot of smoking going on.

A simpler and far cheaper solution would be to ban smoking in the casinos like the rest of the cruise industry.

[winddawn]

Whenever they started smoking, that's when I would get out my harmonica and play some bars. BTW, I sound terrible.

 

Great idea! Thanks for sharing it. Sounds like I need to tuck a harmonica into my suitcase just in case.

[bUU]

A simpler and far cheaper solution would be to ban smoking in the casinos like the rest of the cruise industry.

I think there are some folks, especially among smokers, who don't understand how ventilation is a disproportionately inadequate remedy, especially with regard to the impact smoking has on those with respiratory concerns.

 

This message may have been drafted using voice recognition. Please forgive any typos.

[KroozNut]

A simpler and far cheaper solution would be to ban smoking in the casinos like the rest of the cruise industry.

 

Except that not all cruise lines have banned smoking in their casinos, so your point is moot.

 

https://cruises.affordabletours.com/search/SmokingPolicy/

[Fouremco]

Except that not all cruise lines have banned smoking in their casinos, so your point is moot.

 

https://cruises.affordabletours.com/search/SmokingPolicy/

OK, "like most of the cruise industry". Happy? :cool:

 

BTW, you appear to have missed the essential point of my post, which is that it's far cheaper and easier to ban smoking. Moot? Not at all.

[bUU]

BTW, you appear to have missed the essential point of my post, which is that it's far cheaper and easier to ban smoking. Moot? Not at all.

I agree. I think it is worth pointing out though that it wasn't the case years ago. Back then, the loss of revenue from being "the" cruise line that banned smoking was greater than the cost of installing (inadequate) ventilation systems and the loss of revenue from passengers who wouldn't cruise until smoking was banned. Things have changed.

 

For people who have smoked for fifty years, and blinded themselves to how society has been changing beginning (slowly at first) fifty years ago, the bans probably came as bit of a shock. Nicotine addiction is something that they literally cannot control without a lot of work and going through a process, so they feel victimized and lash out in response, even though it was their own denial of how things have been changing over fifty years that is the real reason for their current predicament.

 

I'll relay some encouragement though: A vacation is the best time to adopt new behaviors. Let's be clear: I am not saying that it is a good time to kick a nicotine addiction. I am an eyewitness to that not working. However, I am also an eyewitness to a vacation successfully helping a nicotine addict kick smoking. While I would like the addict to stop chewing the gum, as well, at least the addict has left behind the damaging effects of the ammonia, arsenic, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, etc., as well as the tar.

[ATC]

Someone on a Konigsdam Roll Call posted that Konigsdam casino was non-smoking since January of this year. Can anyone else confirm that?

[aka~pella]

That sums it up nicely. We lived in Las Vegas for 13 years. Tried to basically stay away from casinos because we knew what the odds of winning are. The times we went, however, the preponderance of gamblers were smoking. Even saw one little old lady wearing an oxygen cannula and smoking a cigarette! Since smokers are gambling with their health/lives, I suppose we can surmise smokers are gamblers!

 

Good point. Smokers (including myself) are addicts just as non-smokers are reformed addicts. Get an addict into a potentially addictive situation and a decent percentage will embrace it. Addicts spend a great deal of money on their drug of choice, be it smoking, alcohol/drugs or gambling and that's why you have an open door policy for smoking in a casino. :)

[aka~pella]

It's been absolutely proven that prohibiting smoking in the casino will not impact the revenue of the cruiseline. There has been an indoor ban, including the casino, on Celebrity for years and their ships are filled to capacity and the casino is hopping til the wee hours of morning. More crowded than on any HAL ship I've been on. MORE people will use the casino if there is no smoking, not less. The vast majority of people do not smoke and using a casino where smoking is allowed can be a deal breaker. I spend lots of time in the casino on Celebrity ships and a lot less on HAL ships that still allow it.

 

I'm curious and I'm not trying to burn you here. Has there been an actual study or is your statement a result of your observations?

[aka~pella]

Nicotine addiction is something that they literally cannot control without a lot of work and going through a process, so they feel victimized and lash out in response

 

In recent years and especially on this forum where I see so many people complaining about smokers, I feel less victimized than marginalized. And sure, I find it upsetting, especially given that said random people don't know me. They don't know any of the smokers they're shaming, whether they're doing it intentionally or not.

I'll relay some encouragement though: A vacation is the best time to adopt new behaviors. Let's be clear: I am not saying that it is a good time to kick a nicotine addiction. I am an eyewitness to that not working. However, I am also an eyewitness to a vacation successfully helping a nicotine addict kick smoking.

 

Indeed! I'm sailing with a friend who has proclaimed herself a smoking n*z*. I know her though, so that doesn't bother me. Point being is that I intend to wear a patch every day of the cruise and although I may not be able to quit -- I intend to give it my best.

[wdw1972]

Someone on a Konigsdam Roll Call posted that Konigsdam casino was non-smoking since January of this year. Can anyone else confirm that?

 

I was on the Koningsdam in March of this year, and they allowed smoking in the casino. It stunk walking through there on several occasions. I don't recall if they had any no-smoking nights (11-night itinerary), as I wasn't about to spend time in that area just because no cigarettes were lit ;-)

 

Sue/WDW1972

[tkwbear]

I was on the Koningsdam in March of this year, and they allowed smoking in the casino. It stunk walking through there on several occasions. I don't recall if they had any no-smoking nights (11-night itinerary), as I wasn't about to spend time in that area just because no cigarettes were lit ;-)

 

Sue/WDW1972

 

Sue is correct about the smell in the casino on Konigsdam. I visited on a nonsmoking night and it still stunk.

 

I was on the Westerdam a couple of weeks ago, and visited the casino for about 10 minutes. That's all I could stand of the smell. No active smokers were in sight but they may as well have been all around me.

[ATC]

Thank you for your responses. I was on the Koningsdam last December and only used the casino once in 12 days due to the smoke. Will be back on it in October for 24 days and thought it might have changed due to comment on another roll-call board. Unfortunate.

[JMorris271]

Sue is correct about the smell in the casino on Konigsdam. I visited on a nonsmoking night and it still stunk.

 

I was on the Westerdam a couple of weeks ago, and visited the casino for about 10 minutes. That's all I could stand of the smell. No active smokers were in sight but they may as well have been all around me.

If someone wipes their hand on any surface where it is not cleaned daily, they will find a film of tar residue on that surface. All the rest of the tar is on peoples clothing or in their lungs.

[Chelly]

Has anyone on HAL had experience with reporting smoking on a balcony? How quickly does staff respond after reported? If at all.

[2XTRADIRTIES]

Supervisors will check a cabin if you report that you smelled a smoke odor but they’ve never caught the perpetrators in the act so nothing can be done. It’s very frustrating!

 

 

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[pugmadkate]

Just got off the Eurodam. Smoking is only allowed in one small, outdoor area. No smoking in the casino or anywhere else. Unless you go to the smoking area, there is no smoke smell.

[KroozNut]

Just got off the Eurodam. Smoking is only allowed in one small, outdoor area. No smoking in the casino or anywhere else. Unless you go to the smoking area, there is no smoke smell.

 

Sailing Eurodam later this year. Good news for me (non-smoker), not so good news for DW (smoker and casino fan)..

[JeffElizabeth]

I really miss having a nice cigar on my verandah. Last cruise I did have a couple cigars on the Lido deck outside area. Good place to pick up on scuttlebutt because the crew smokes there too.

[corkpopr]

:cool: I agree, more crew and especially officers smoking than anyone else. I need my two cigars a day!

[*Miss G*]

Cigars give me an instant migraine. I don’t know why. I am so thankful they’re only in one place now.

[BrokenArrow55]

We have not sailed Holland before. Mainly because of their past smoking policy. Very allergic. Recently we decided to book a trans Atlantic. I understand from Holland’s site that smoking is prohibited on balconies. But after reading some reviews I am concerned. Many say that passengers still smoke out on their balconies and even after reporting the problem the crew does nothing. Am I just a bit over concerned??

We have sailed HA numerous times and there has always been someone smoking on balcony’s. Casino is horribly smokey and so is the outside deck area. I complain every time I write a review.