What is the policy on smoking on HAL?

[jimmy2x]

HAL has been conducting a smoking/non-smoking survey on all the ships so they have real numbers by which to make decisions.

 

Must be overwhelmingly non-smokers as they have tightened restrictions on smoking and only in the last several months started to bar smoking in Ocean Bar, fleetwide. They are getting more restrictive and I've been told verandahs are next to be on the 'no smoking' list.

I am certainly aware of the survey and, of course, as you are far more connected to the upper chain of HAL that most of us, I respect your opinion. As noted earlier, I am not trying to be confrontational.

 

If they actually do away with smoking on the verandah, I can only hope that they wait til after our scheduled November cruise. I'd hoped to continue to sail with HAL thru the upcoming years, but that would be a deal-breaker.

[Toad]

First, Usha, the important stuff. Love the pooches, but I can't find any Mini Schnauzers, our faves.

 

Now onto the topic. We don't smoke. But we have been sailing on HAL ships since our first cruise, an Alaska 7-day deal on the Nieuw Amsterdam, and have never had any problem with their smoking policies even though my DW is sensitive to tobacco, including smoke and just the smell of tobacco products. Back in 1987, I really don't recall any specific HAL policies relating to smoking but I also recall my DW commenting on how well HAL constructed the ships and controlled air circulation on board to minimize the effect of tobacco smoke.

 

Back then smoking was permitted in specific sections of commercial aircraft and she would always be affected by smoke drift into our no smoking section but that problem never occurred on board a HAL ship.

 

In other words, you say that HAL's smoking policies, which have become a whole lot more restrictive these days compared with 20 years ago, are still "too liberal." I say that HAL's engineers have done a fabulous job in constructing HAL's ships and in maintaining atmospheric controls to minimize the effect of smoke on non-smokers while not shutting down the cruise experience altogether for smokers.

 

HAL's current policies as described in this thread seem to be quite reasonable and accomodating to all of its customers, not just avid non-smokers.

 

I very much agree with you. I remember when HAL had smoking in the dining rooms as well. My other concern is, admittedly I saw this on another thread, but if smoking is stopped on verandah's people will sit in their rooms and smoke and the halls will be blue. Personally I would rather allow smoking on balconies than in rooms!

[gflo]

We just returned from a TA on the Oosterdam to Europe (March 14) and returned on Cunard's QM2 (May 2). HAL does a much better job filtering smoke through it's duct system than Cunard. Both ships had similar smoking area policies but we almost never smelled smoke on the HAL ship.

 

QM2 reeked of smoke and we suffered with headaches and sneezing. Our stateroom bedding, curtains, carpet, upholstery was horrible. We requested a change of staterooms twice and were refused and told there is no such thing as a non-smoking cabin on Cunard. Overall, we found the maintenance, cleaning and upkeep on QM2 far below that of HAL. Hallway carpets on QM2 were stained---especially on the 9th deck.

 

We are new to cruising and still trying different ships and companies, so do have an open mind. There are so many things that make a cruise fun & memorable. To us, service, food, entertainment are priorities. We didn't find these any of these areas outstanding on the QM2. Perhaps we'll give Cunard another chance someday but it won't be our first choice.:cool:

[suse]

This past December, we were on Westerdam. Very few smokers. Maybe because it's an older crowd? No, I didn't say old!!! It is far different from some other cruiselines, however. Carnival seems loaded with smokers. We don't sail with them anymore. Not for that reason alone. Don't you think it's like trying to get a smoking room in a fine hotel? The way things are going, this will all be a distant memory.

[KeysRes]

RE an earlier post...

 

Just off the Westerdam on Sunday May 17th. There were no non-smoking nights in the casino... While you could smell a bit of smoke there, I thought it was filtered well - and never smelled any smoke on verandahs. But I still find that strange that smoking is a problem on outside verandahs.....

[Host Walt]

This is the original topic.

 

 

 

Please respond to the topic. If you want to discuss the health aspects and/or government policies relating to smoking, please do so on forums dedicated to that subject. (There are many such forums on the web.)

 

This thread is now closed, following the removal of several posts that were off topic.