smoking...

[Scorpiorose]

I don't want to start something here, but as a newbie to HollandAm. I am wondering about the issue of smoking. As a nonsmoker who is highly allergic I have to ask so I know what i"m in for.

 

Is it limited somewhat? Where and When? I hate getting cabins with a smoky smell from the cruise before.

 

I appreciate input!

[vbmom87]

Like you I was very concerned about smoking issues on the cruise ship. I have asthma which is triggered by smoke. However, on our cruise, I noticed very few smokers. Most were found on the promenade deck, but I did not see smokers everytime I was out there. Since the deck is covered, if there were smokers, it did tend to hover. We did not go to the casinos, so I can't what it was like in there, but on our cruise they had three non smoking nights in the casino. Our room did not have any odors, but I had read that you can request your room steward to use some kind of machine if there is an odor you detect. It supposedly works well. I was even surprised that the Crow's nest was relatively smoke free. They have smoking areas in the Crow's Nest. Most times we were there, I did not notice smokers. Once we did leave because I could smell some smoke and we noticed a smoker in the smoking section of the lounge as we were leaving. We did not go to the other lounges, so I can't say what it was like there. I imagine it is different from one cruise to the next. YOu just don't know who will be on the ship with you. I was just very relieved when we walked into our cabin and I smelled nothing!! :) The hallways were always smoke free too. It was wonderful that the dining rooms are completely non-smoking. I have to say, it was a great cruise for us. I hope you will find the same.

[Scorpiorose]

great to hear! I'll have to ask when and if I smell anything, I'm very sensitive about overpowering smells. Today I had a huge issue with a lady and the powdery smell of her perfume...wow, all I can say is wow! Anyway, on our last RCCL we always smelled smoke in the hall outside of our balcony cabin. AND they have a no smoking in cabins, any, policy. Obviously, some dont follow it.

 

I'm excited none the less and glad you had a good cruise in this way!

[Pokeynose]

The Westerdam had two smoke free nights in the Casino, you could smell no smoke and as soon as someone tried to smoke they were ushered out immediately. Of course they could smoke in the bar area but you still couldn't smell it.

[Scorpiorose]

too bad I dont play in the casino ;)

[startwin]

Like you I was very concerned about smoking issues on the cruise ship. I have asthma which is triggered by smoke. However, on our cruise, I noticed very few smokers. Most were found on the promenade deck, but I did not see smokers everytime I was out there. Since the deck is covered, if there were smokers, it did tend to hover. We did not go to the casinos, so I can't what it was like in there, but on our cruise they had three non smoking nights in the casino. Our room did not have any odors, but I had read that you can request your room steward to use some kind of machine if there is an odor you detect. It supposedly works well. I was even surprised that the Crow's nest was relatively smoke free. They have smoking areas in the Crow's Nest. Most times we were there, I did not notice smokers. Once we did leave because I could smell some smoke and we noticed a smoker in the smoking section of the lounge as we were leaving. We did not go to the other lounges, so I can't say what it was like there. I imagine it is different from one cruise to the next. YOu just don't know who will be on the ship with you. I was just very relieved when we walked into our cabin and I smelled nothing!! :) The hallways were always smoke free too. It was wonderful that the dining rooms are completely non-smoking. I have to say, it was a great cruise for us. I hope you will find the same.

 

I've never had a problem on our HAL cruises, though there were often smokers on the promenade deck in the mornings especially. However, very few. On the other hand, the smell of stale cigarettes in the Crows Nest was quite bad at times, and we stayed way on the far side away from the smoking area. It never bothered me anywhere else onboard. I am taking my first RCI cruise next April, and am quite apprehensive about the smoking policy on their ships.

[Sir PMP]

I don't want to start something here, but as a newbie to HollandAm. I am wondering about the issue of smoking. As a nonsmoker who is highly allergic I have to ask so I know what i"m in for.

 

Is it limited somewhat? Where and When? I hate getting cabins with a smoky smell from the cruise before.

 

I appreciate input!

 

The worst smoking areas are always the Ocean Bar and the Sports/Casino bar,dining rooms have no smoking, the real problem is that the crew, including some captains, stage dancers, spa workers etc. are heavy smokers...

[BumperII]

Smoking is pretty much a non issue. I am a former smoker with heart problems, and more intolerant of tobacco smoke than anyone who never smoked at all, actually sort of a smoke ****.

 

On our last 14 day b2b on the Maasdam, fourteen days, we smelled cigarette smoke for only a few seconds, it is that rare. In over a hundred days on HAL, I have only seen a HAL employee smoking on one occasion and that was a ship's officer!

 

Bon Voyage

[Krazy Kruizers]

I also can not tolerate smoke.

 

Should you get to your cabin and smell smoke, contact your cabin steward and he had a special spray/cleaner that he can use to get rid of the smell.

[Two if by Sea]

I had the same worries and fears ahead of this vacation.

 

Here is what I experienced, on the Maasdam last week:

 

Zero smoke smell in my cabin.

 

Zero smoke smell in the dining room, library, Neptune Lounge, CASINO (not a soul was smoking in there), theatres, Explorer's Lounge, nor anywhere on the Lido deck, nor out on the promenade walkaround.

 

On occasion, I smelled smoke while passing someone else's room, but it was confined to the area immediately outside their door. (I believe someone either next door or two rooms over from us smoked a lot. It had NO effect on my room.)

 

Once or twice I smelled a bit of smoke out on my balcony, but it passed quickly away in the wind and didn't affect my enjoyment thereof -- and I am extremely sensitive to it.

 

The only place I couldn't hang out was the Crow's Nest. It was too smoky for me. Also there was one day when we left the Ocean Bar due to smoke, but on the other days nobody was smoking in there either, and there was NO residual smell.

[Scorpiorose]

Startwin - Dont worry about RCCL, their new smoking policy is more restrictive than other cruise lines so if Hal didn't bother you you will be fine on RCCL.

 

On Hal is there one side of the ships decks that are smoke free?

[Desdemona01]

Startwin - Dont worry about RCCL, their new smoking policy is more restrictive than other cruise lines so if Hal didn't bother you you will be fine on RCCL.

 

On Hal is there one side of the ships decks that are smoke free?

 

you can smoke on the promenade deck but I can't say if it's only one side--perhaps smokers can answer that. I do know that the area around the aft pool has smoking and non-smoking areas

[MikeT718]

The only real time I had a problem with somking aboard was on the balcony on our last cruise (Alaska) someone forward of our cabin was smoking a cigar and the smell of it blew back to our Balcony:mad:

[Scorpiorose]

Mike - that is awful, I hate cigars the most but at least he did it in what he thought was his own space and not in a bar, they are bar in loungest because the smell is twice as strong - IMHO!

[Boytjie]

I don't want to start something here, but as a newbie to HollandAm. I am wondering about the issue of smoking. As a nonsmoker who is highly allergic I have to ask so I know what i"m in for.

 

Is it limited somewhat? Where and When? I hate getting cabins with a smoky smell from the cruise before.

 

I appreciate input!

 

 

From the HAL wbsite:

Smoking

 

For the comfort of all of our guests, designated smoking and nonsmoking areas are available in most lounges. Smoking is not permitted at any time in dining areas. Our ships do not have "nonsmoking" staterooms; however, all rooms are thoroughly cleaned after each cruise to assure the comfort of our guests. All showrooms are nonsmoking during performances.

It does not address decks, so I assume all decks are smoking areas.

[cf_chuck]

From the HAL wbsite:

Smoking

For the comfort of all of our guests, designated smoking and nonsmoking areas are available in most lounges. Smoking is not permitted at any time in dining areas. Our ships do not have "nonsmoking" staterooms; however, all rooms are thoroughly cleaned after each cruise to assure the comfort of our guests. All showrooms are nonsmoking during performances.

It does not address decks, so I assume all decks are smoking areas.

 

This has not been my experience. There are deck areas where smoking is not permitted.

[PathfinderEss]

...... In over a hundred days on HAL, I have only seen a HAL employee smoking on one occasion and that was a ship's officer!

 

Bon Voyage

Apparently you don't frequent the bars late at night much, because there are always white suite's in those bars smoking, smoking, smoking and especially on formal nights, don't ask me why, I can't tell you. Lots of Hal employee's smoke. Though I can say with over 200 days I have never smelled smoke in any room. Hal does a geat job of keeping there ships smelling good!

[m steve]

and always take a veranda cabin so the smoke rises most of the time if the ship is maving. We try to take an aft or back cabin so my partners smoking limited to balcony won't affect other passengers. Cigar smoke can be a problem for some but I like the smell better than cigarettes. I am a non smoker who is tolerant of others. I wish more passengers tried that and not deliberately thru smoking areas bit--ing about it when there are other ways to tans the ship.

[Gonzo70]

You may want to consider Celebrity; they offer a simwhat comprable product to HAL but beginning October 1, 2008 have severely restrictive smoking policies (no smoking in any staterooms, balconies, most bars/lounges, most of casino, and one side of public outdoor decks.

[Scorpiorose]

Well, I loved RCCL's new limited smoking policy but couldn't pass up the great price on HAL on this cruise. I was on Carnival and RCCL both before any limited smoking ban as is now on RCCL and I loved the cruises anyway! Except that I do wince up when I pass a smoking area or am near it. Do the Hal crew come up and mingle and smoke on the upper decks? I never saw a single crew member on any other cruise of RCCL or Carnival.

[jtl513]

Do the Hal crew come up and mingle and smoke on the upper decks? I never saw a single crew member on any other cruise of RCCL or Carnival.

Like BumperII, I have never seen any HAL crew member smoking either. Actually I haven't seen an awful lot of crew members in their off-duty hours. Most that weren't working were taking a lunch break in the Lido, but one night we saw a table of four officers in the Crow's Nest for a while. They weren't smoking. :)

[PathfinderEss]

Well, I loved RCCL's new limited smoking policy but couldn't pass up the great price on HAL on this cruise. I was on Carnival and RCCL both before any limited smoking ban as is now on RCCL and I loved the cruises anyway! Except that I do wince up when I pass a smoking area or am near it. Do the Hal crew come up and mingle and smoke on the upper decks? I never saw a single crew member on any other cruise of RCCL or Carnival.

No, you don't see crew members mingling on the upper decks smoking but as I said you do see officers late at night in the bars especially the Crow's Nest or they also like the Ocean Bar on the Vista ships because it is really quite private. When crew members are not working those long awful hours they do, you can find them in the crew quarters, what goes on in the crew quarters, stays in the crew quarters, you know that saying. I don't get why we're interested in if crew members or officers smoke, apparently being most of you have never seen them, they are pretty discrete about it if they do.

[sallytoo]

each crew cleans the cabins well....but sometimes we do smell lingering smoke odors.....anyway....hope lots of folks sign up for the ship building contest .....they do it by teams and it is fun finding stuff around the ship for creating a sea-worthy ship....and lots of prizes.....

[Sea King]

the real problem is that the crew, including some captains, stage dancers, spa workers etc. are heavy smokers...

 

what is this supposed to mean?

 

if the captain smokes (and by the way very few do), does that mean the dining room and show lounge are now non smoking:rolleyes:

 

if some of the crew smoke, how does that impact anyone on board .. I've never seen a crew member (excluding officers at perhaps the Ocean Bar smoking section) ever "light up" in public

 

what's the basis for any statement that stage dancers (as opposed to go-go dancers) and spa workers are "heavy smokers":confused:

 

some things are fair, others are not.. IMHO the comments made by the poster are unfair and inaccurate

 

HAL has yet to ban smoking .. let there be no doubt, I am anti-smoking

 

however, until Seattle decides differently (and the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned), smokers have the right to "light up" in designated areas

 

that, however, is for passengers .. not crew

[Sea King]

the real problem is that the crew, including some captains, stage dancers, spa workers etc. are heavy smokers...

 

what is this supposed to mean?

 

if the captain smokes (and by the way very few do), does that mean the dining room and show lounge are now smoking:rolleyes:

 

if some of the crew smoke, how does that impact anyone on board .. I've never seen a crew member (excluding officers at perhaps the Ocean Bar smoking section) ever "light up" in public

 

what's the basis for any statement that stage dancers (as opposed to go-go dancers) and spa workers are "heavy smokers":confused:

 

some things are fair, others are not.. IMHO the comments made by the poster are unfair and inaccurate

 

HAL has yet to ban smoking .. let there be no doubt, I am anti-smoking

 

however, until Seattle decides differently (and the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned), smokers have the right to "light up" in designated areas

 

that, however, is for passengers .. not crew