Smoking and Verandahs

[cruiseapril]

Good Morning-

 

We are planning on going on the Westerdam in 2008 and would like to know if there are concerns with smoke from neighboring verandahs. Has anyone here had this concern?

 

We are concerned because of allergies.

 

Also, is the smoking policy on HAL any different than on other Carnival owned lines (Princess, for instance?) Thanks in advance for any information.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have encountered problems a couple of times with people smoking on the verandah next to us. A lot depends on the wind direction and movement of the ship. We have been unfortunate to be on the wrong side of the smokers and got a full blast of it. Several times we had to leave our verandah as it got too much for us.

[WindyCity]

For the life of me, I cannot understand how people are affected by smoke from a neighboring verandah. First of all, the barrier between verandahs would deflect most of the smoke, so only a small amount from above and below would come directly into the adjoining verandah. Whereas, the smoke from the front of the verandah would by dissipated by the wind.

[Gsel]

The only time it becomes a problem is when you are in port. We encountered it when the "gentleman" in the next cabin smoked a huge cigar. The smell was awful! Plus instead of using an ashtray he was just flicking the ashes overboard. That is when we went to the front desk and complained. We also ran into the same problem on a Carnival ship last year, people in the cabins on both sides of us smoked and it seemed to come thru the walls.

[Sea King]

For the life of me, I cannot understand how people are affected by smoke from a neighboring verandah. First of all, the barrier between verandahs would deflect most of the smoke, so only a small amount from above and below would come directly into the adjoining verandah. Whereas, the smoke from the front of the verandah would by dissipated by the wind.

 

it's not just the smoke: it's the smell:eek:

 

incredible as this may seem to you, smoke travels in the "wind" so that if you're smoking on your balcony and the wind is blowing in a certain direction, you'll in all likelihood impact at least 1 of your next door neighbors with either smoke or this "awful smell":mad:

 

so far, there's no prohibition about smoking in cabins or on verandas

 

inside, each of the lounges has a non-smoking area; so far, only Noordam has a smoke free casino; no smoking is allowed in any dining room or in the show room

 

hopefully, your next door neighbors will be non-smokers :)

[peaches from georgia]

 

inside, each of the lounges has a non-smoking area;

Saying the lounges have a 'non-smoking' area makes it sound like the lounges are mainly 'smoking allowed' with a separate non-smoking section. Makes the non-smoking portion of the lounge sound small.

 

In reality it is the opposite- the major portion of the lounges are non-smoking with only a small section allowing smoking, usually just around the bar itself.

[starysacz]

Unfortunately, our cruise to Hawaii (15 days) was not great. We had a verandah and had cigar smokers on both sides of us. It was not the smoke, but the odor. We did discuss the situation with both parties, but their response was that it was their right. They both started at 7:00 a.m. and smoked frequently during the day while we were at sea. The only relief we experienced was when we were in port and they were on shore. So, our ten days at sea were not enjoyable because of the cigar smoke.:mad:

[sail7seas]

To OP.....

 

There is a current thread here on this board discussing smoking on Prinsendam. I think that will give you the information you are seeking as to where smoking is permitted on HAL ships. Actually, there are fewer places where it is permitted.....in line with the fact there are far fewer smokers these days.

 

Of course the smoking area in Ocean Bar (for example) has shrunk. There are fewer people who smoke so fewer tables are required to accomodate them.

 

The percentages are now somthing in the range of 80% non-smoking and 20% smoking. Not all 20% of the smokers on a given ship at a given time are going to be in the Ocean Bar at the same time so a small section is all that is required.

 

 

 

[cruiseapril]

Thank you for your replies. I am mostly concerned about the Verandahs, as we have always had Oceanviews and had no concern about smoke in our cabins.

 

It's true that the smoking issue has been discussed over and over, but this is a specific question about Verandahs and you have answered my question.

 

We have not had much of a problem with smoke on any cruise yet. Smoking policies seem to be working on many ships.

[cruiseapril]

Thank you, Krazy Kruizers-

 

We'll stay with the Oceanview cabin after reading today's replies. Some day we may try a verandah on a short cruise. I see the Westerdam now has a 3 day cruise.

[MSEm]

If all of the non-smoker filled out their comment cards requesting SMOKE FREE VERANDAHs maybe the cruise line would make one side of the ship smoke free. What would happen if all non-smokers asked for a smoke free serandahand if the cruiseline will not accomodate you, tell them you will take an OceanView. No need to waste money on a balcony you may not be able to use. If non smokers stopped paying for the balconies the cruiseline will notice. It's like the casino's in Mississippi, the casino's all have NON SMOKING gaming space. Lose to many clients to the the casinos that offered non smoking gaming space. Also Marriott has gone NON smoking in all properties. Also if you do choose to smoke in your room at a Marriott property be prepared to pay the $50-$200 deep cleaning fee.

[NoNoNanette]

 

We'll stay with the Oceanview cabin after reading today's replies. Some day we may try a verandah on a short cruise. I see the Westerdam now has a 3 day cruise.

 

That's disappointing to read, cruiseapril, but you know what's best for your daughter.

 

At home, I limit myself (with the help of my husband) to 2 packs of smokes per week. He smokes MAYBE a cigar a week.

 

BUT.... when on vacation, all bets are off. I smoke like a chimney, and he has at LEAST a cigar per day.... on our balcony. :(

 

Can I offer a suggestion?

 

If you were to book a balcony FAR FORWARD, you wouldn't get the down-draft while the ship was moving. Just a thought, kiddo. :)

[frchteaze]

If all of the non-smoker filled out their comment cards requesting SMOKE FREE VERANDAHs maybe the cruise line would make one side of the ship smoke free.

 

As a smoker, I actually think this is a great idea. Let us smokers have one side and you non-smokers can have the other. I'd much rather be able to go out on my balcony and smoke any time I choose without worrying about whether I'm disturbing the people next door to me.

 

For the poster who said smokers don't care about non-smokers breathing in 2nd hand smoker -- not true. Some of us smokers do realize what effect we have on others around us and try our best to avoid 2nd hand smoke for anyone near us. But, we are going to smoke. And as long as the cruiselines allow smoking on our balconies, we will be out there smoking. Some of us actually book balconies so we can have a place to go smoke without all the non-smokers on the decks making comments and giving us dirty looks. It's a no-win situation for us. :cool:

[kryos]

For the life of me, I cannot understand how people are affected by smoke from a neighboring verandah. First of all, the barrier between verandahs would deflect most of the smoke, so only a small amount from above and below would come directly into the adjoining verandah. Whereas, the smoke from the front of the verandah would by dissipated by the wind.

Not to mention that if the ship is moving ... which is when most people would be lounging on their verandas ... the smoke should be quickly dissapated by the wind. How could it possibly become that much of a problem?

 

Also, has anyone considered just politely asking your neighbors for some relief if the smoke is really bothering you? Nine times out of ten, if you ask a smoker politely to either put his cigarette out, or move ... he will comply ... especially if his smoke is aggravating a physical problem that a neighbor may have. After all, how often is it that the smoker and the person being bothered by it are out on their balconies at the exact same time?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Krazy Kruizers]

Bon Voyage Gonzo70. Good luck with your verandah neighbors.

[sail7seas]

Ditto, KK....

 

Have a wonderful cruise, Gonzo, on that gorgeous Noordam. You Will LOVE that ship and her crew.

 

Fair winds and a following sea...........

 

 

 

[cruznon]

Smoking/non-smoking sides of the ship sound good to me.

I do love the idea of mentioning on comment cards that we want smoke-free verandas.

[caviargal]

We were unable to enjoy our balcony on our Century cruise last November because we had very heavy smokers on both sides. Normally, we sleep with the balcony door open, but the smell was too much.

[jtl513]

Congrats on making "Blue Ribbon Cruiser"! :D Had you been watching it approach? :)

[jtl513]

Normally, we sleep with the balcony door open, ...

Please do not keep the balcony door open for extended periods like that, particularly if you are near any inside cabins, as it messes up the air conditioning air flow. The air takes the path of least resistance, so the people in the inside cabins stifle while the cool air goes out your door. :(

[peaches from georgia]

Congrats on making "Blue Ribbon Cruiser"! :D Had you been watching it approach? :)

Thank you, John. No, I never pay any attention to # of posts and couldn't have told you how many I had- 500 or 5000. It doesn't matter at all to me, though it is super-important to some posters. But thank you for being alert and telling me. :)

[Mary Ellen]

We have a verandah on the E'dam inaugural and I'm seriously considering downgrading to an outside just because of the smoking issue. I can't imagine asking someone on their own verandah to stop smoking because it bothers me. It IS their verandah, but I sure don't want to pay for a verandah I can NOT use if there is any smoke nearby - and the door just gives the smoke particulates entry into my room/sinuses.

 

Currently we split our vacations between HAL and Disney World. Given Disney's recent smoking policy they will be the frontrunner.

[BamaBaby]

This thread should be renamed "The Thread That Refuses To Die". Come on folks, I don't think the OP meant to stir up all this hostility! Actually, she tried to quiet it down one time but everyone seems to feel they must continue going over the same thing again & again & again! I think the horse is dead! Please stop beating it!

[Host Walt]

The OP was responded to satisfactorily. This thread is closed.

 

(A while back I suggested that we assign the right side of Cruise Critic to smokers and the left side to non-smokers. Got shot down. Concern was that there may be Democrat smokers who want to be on the left and Republican non-smokers who want to be on the right.

 

So in a compromise we decided that any thread about smoking be a cruise related thread and that it cannot veer off topic, as this one did.)