Non-smoking casino ships?

[39august]

I understand that a few of HAL's ships have non-smoking casinos. Do any of those ships have Caribbean itineraries, please? 

[kazu]

1 hour ago, 39august said:

I understand that a few of HAL's ships have non-smoking casinos. Do any of those ships have Caribbean itineraries, please? 

 

This is a screen shot from HAL’s site.:

 

 

The ships with no smoking in casinos certainly do Caribbean.  Just choose from the first group  where no smoking in casino is listed.

 

 

[Cruise Suzy]

When I searched for "smoking" in the FAQs, I found a slightly different answer - mostly pertaining to e-cigarettes

Edited December 12, 2020 by Cruise Suzy

[Hlitner]

Just book Celebrity where there is never any smoking in any of their casinos.  Not sure why HAL makes it so darn complicated.

 

Hank

[kangforpres]

I think HAL has "Non-Smoking Nights" in the casino during a cruise, also some of the Casino is designated as non-smoking, although that doesn't help with the second hand smoke problem.

[kazu]

3 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

When I searched for "smoking" in the FAQs, I found a slightly different answer - mostly pertaining to e-cigarettes

 

Yes mine was from the “know before you go”.  Both agree on the same 6 ships which have completely non smoking casinos.  

[canadianbear]

What surprised me is when the Koningsdam started sailing why they wouldn’t make it a non smoking casino right away.  We did walk through the casino and the ventilation was very good so didn’t notice the smoke smell like other ships.  

[Roger88]

2 hours ago, canadianbear said:

What surprised me is when the Koningsdam started sailing why they wouldn’t make it a non smoking casino right away.  We did walk through the casino and the ventilation was very good so didn’t notice the smoke smell like other ships.  

People want to relax and have fun. Maybe they are afraid of losing their clients. In any case, I believe that smoking should be banned on any ship. Its too dangerous to take such a risk. Its dangerous for everyone. There should be any open fire on board 

[canadianbear]

4 minutes ago, Roger88 said:

People want to relax and have fun. Maybe they are afraid of losing their clients. In any case, I believe that smoking should be banned on any ship. Its too dangerous to take such a risk. Its dangerous for everyone. There should be any open fire on board 

I agree as we are non smokers but I don’t think the smokers would be happy.  I’m thankfully it’s not allowed on balconies any longer though.  
 

We were on board one year when there was an electrical fire where the BBKings were playing late one night.  It was scary. The Captain and crew were great.  Thankfully they got the fire out quickly but a lot of people were sleeping and were startled awake I’m sure with the Captain announcements etc. 

[edgee]

I spend lots of time in the casino and cannot handle smoking. We like to cruise HAL but as a result of their decision to ban casino smoking only on most of their older ships, we have not been able to enjoy their newer ships, like Konigsdam and New Stat. Hoping the new Rotterdam will ban casino smoking but am not optimistic.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

7 hours ago, Roger88 said:

People want to relax and have fun. Maybe they are afraid of losing their clients. In any case, I believe that smoking should be banned on any ship. Its too dangerous to take such a risk. Its dangerous for everyone. There should be any open fire on board 

It will come one day ...

[Hlitner]

I am not going to rekindle the no-smoking issue other then to strongly criticize HAL for their absurd policy (I hinted at this in another post).  Most cruise lines have a clear published policy vis-a-vis smoking as the where, when, and what.  That policy is generally consistent across the entire cruise line (fleet).  So, as I mentioned earlier, if you cruise on Celebrity you know there is no indoor smoking (even in their casinos).  Cruise on MSC and you know that you can smoke it parts of all their casinos.  But cruise on HAL and it depends upon which ship.  And finding the current rules is about as difficult as finding a new book in a HAL library.  HAL did the same thing with entertainment and had different standards on different ships (such as on the Maasdam EXP cruises).  Do you have a BB King group on your ship?  That would depend on the ship.  What does "Club Orange" mean on a particular ship (it varies between ships)?  etc etc

 

For several years HAL seems to have been a cruise line that was really several lines in one...depending on the vessel.  I guess some of this was dictated by the variety of vessels and their amenities.  But I think some consistency would be helpful in establishing a real identity,  And it also makes it easier to book a cruise when you have a good idea of what to expect without having to carefully research the particular vessel.

 

Hank

[39august]

Thanks for the info. Have been cruising Celebrity, but looking for a similar experience for perhaps a little less $$. 

[DaveOKC]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I am not going to rekindle the no-smoking issue other then to strongly criticize HAL for their absurd policy (I hinted at this in another post).  Most cruise lines have a clear published policy vis-a-vis smoking as the where, when, and what.  That policy is generally consistent across the entire cruise line (fleet).  So, as I mentioned earlier, if you cruise on Celebrity you know there is no indoor smoking (even in their casinos).  Cruise on MSC and you know that you can smoke it parts of all their casinos.  But cruise on HAL and it depends upon which ship.  And finding the current rules is about as difficult as finding a new book in a HAL library.  HAL did the same thing with entertainment and had different standards on different ships (such as on the Maasdam EXP cruises).  Do you have a BB King group on your ship?  That would depend on the ship.  What does "Club Orange" mean on a particular ship (it varies between ships)?  etc etc

 

For several years HAL seems to have been a cruise line that was really several lines in one...depending on the vessel.  I guess some of this was dictated by the variety of vessels and their amenities.  But I think some consistency would be helpful in establishing a real identity,  And it also makes it easier to book a cruise when you have a good idea of what to expect without having to carefully research the particular vessel.

 

Hank

I agree.  I think that HAL needs to have more consistency from ship to ship, especially in its rules and policies.  It can be confusing, especially for newbies.   

[Hlitner]

29 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

I agree.  I think that HAL needs to have more consistency from ship to ship, especially in its rules and policies.  It can be confusing, especially for newbies.   

LOL I am a 5 Star Mariner and often confused. 

 

Hank

[DaveOKC]

6 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

LOL I am a 5 Star Mariner and often confused. 

 

Hank

Me too!

[Laminator]

4 hours ago, edgee said:

I spend lots of time in the casino and cannot handle smoking. We like to cruise HAL but as a result of their decision to ban casino smoking only on most of their older ships, we have not been able to enjoy their newer ships, like Konigsdam and New Stat. Hoping the new Rotterdam will ban casino smoking but am not optimistic.

The Rotterdam casino will be exactly like the the Koningsdam and the NS.

[edgee]

1 hour ago, Laminator said:

The Rotterdam casino will be exactly like the the Koningsdam and the NS.

I know it will be physically almost the same. Question I was raising is whether there will be a policy change on casino smoking. I am assuming you are correct...just expressing my wish that things change.

[Dunmore2]

After cruising on Celebrity many times, we found an itinerary on HAL that really interested us. I thought I’d researched thoroughly, and  booked on the Zuiderdam , which was then swapped out for the Volendam. Now I’m second guessing myself because of HAL’s smoking policy in the casino.  I would assume the ventilation is adequate. What have you found? A hazy room or just a whiff now and then?

Edited December 13, 2020 by Dunmore2

[kazu]

10 minutes ago, Dunmore2 said:

After cruising on Celebrity many times, we found an itinerary on HAL that really interested us. I thought I’d researched thoroughly, and  booked on the Zuiderdam , which was then swapped out for the Volendam. Now I’m second guessing myself because of HAL’s smoking policy in the casino.  I would assume the ventilation is adequate. What have you found? A hazy room or just a whiff now and then?

 

Smoking area on the Volendam is very small.  It wasn’t hazy when we were there.  You could smell a bit if people were smoking but the ventilation was pretty good when we were on.

[Dunmore2]

Perfect, I was hoping that was the case.

[kazu]

23 minutes ago, Dunmore2 said:

Perfect, I was hoping that was the case.

 

I should have added that there are non-smoking nights in the casino on certain nights as well where smoking is not permitted at all.  

[Dunmore2]

That’s good to know. Or perhaps not, as I’ll be more likely to play a few games!

[Laminator]

3 hours ago, edgee said:

I know it will be physically almost the same. Question I was raising is whether there will be a policy change on casino smoking. I am assuming you are correct...just expressing my wish that things change.

Sorry. I wasn't that clear. Smoking will be allowed in the casino on the Rotterdam just like it is on the Koningsdam and the NS. This comes directly from my PCC who i just booked a cruise on the Rotterdam with 10 days ago.

[edgee]

Just now, Laminator said:

Sorry. I wasn't that clear. Smoking will be allowed in the casino on the Rotterdam just like it is on the Koningsdam and the NS. This comes directly from my PCC who i just booked a cruise on the Rotterdam with 10 days ago. 

Thanks. I am not surprised.