Thank you

[Begete]

This why I love Cruise Critic.com

 

We were about to book a Wonders Down Under Cruise from HAL in January on the MS Volendam. Usually we travel with Cruise West or Lindblad, but the dates of this particular cruise, the itinerary and the price made it a very attractive option.

 

Never having travelled with HAL before, I spent some time reading the posts here and learned that, basically, one cannot escape cigarette smoke on HAL cruises.

 

For that reason we will not be taking a HAL cruise.

 

I am most grateful to Cruise Critic for allowing passengers to post information that help people choose cruises that are right for them, and avoid cruises that are not.

 

Thank you.

[brucory]

This why I love Cruise Critic.com

 

We were about to book a Wonders Down Under Cruise from HAL in January on the MS Volendam. Usually we travel with Cruise West or Lindblad, but the dates of this particular cruise, the itinerary and the price made it a very attractive option.

 

Never having travelled with HAL before, I spent some time reading the posts here and learned that, basically, one cannot escape cigarette smoke on HAL cruises.

 

For that reason we will not be taking a HAL cruise.

 

I am most grateful to Cruise Critic for allowing passengers to post information that help people choose cruises that are right for them, and avoid cruises that are not.

 

Thank you.

 

You picked a hot topic to talk about on this board...

 

Trawling through the posts and many threads, you can find whatever you want to, including things that you don't want to find...

 

For the record, we have been on 3 HAL cruises in the last 14 months and cigarettes were few and far between. It was a pleasant surprise as we had expected more after looking through these boards. We don't smoke and we don't like walking through it wither.

 

Of the ships visiting Australia and New Zealand this coming season, HAL is a really good choice.

 

Hope you will reconsider...

 

:D:D:D

[dandro]

I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke. On our cruise, the ONLY place I could smell smoke was when we were walking through the casino on our way to/from the showroom. All but a very few of the public areas on HAL ships are non-smoking areas. Simply avoid those few areas where smoking is allowed and you should be fine.

 

The staterooms are cleaned thoroughly and do not smell of smoke.

 

You would be missing a great experience if you were to avoid cruising on HAL due to a non-issue.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We done 51 HAL cruises and we are sensitive to smoke.

So we just avoid the smoky areas -- rarely walk through the casino any more --- there are ways to avoid that area of the ship.

Our biggest problem has been a couple of times on our verandah when we the people next to us smoke constantly.

[BlackJack2]

Are you kidding???? You gave up a HAL cruise because the cigarette smoke might have been bad???

I am VERY sensitive to cigarette smoke - It gives me terrible headaches. We were on the Volendam last Christmas and never got a whiff of cigarettes, even in the casino. In fact, when we departed in Sydney, we smelled cigarette smoke and realized that we had gone 17 days without the smell.

[GatorV]

I am astouned you think the smoke could be worse on HAL than any other ship UNLESS its a totally smoke free ship! ONLY in the Casino is it bad enough to avoid and easily done.

 

I find it interesting to see what people zero in on to make a decision...plenty of posts on this subject but as intolerant as I am of smoke I never find it EVER approaching a problem

[Taxguy77]

Stick to your guns. Although smoking wasn't bothersome on HAL, if you move anywhere around the ship you will encounter some, and worst case scenario you could have a cabin next to heavy smokers!:eek: On Azamara, only 1 inside and 1 outdoor locations are smoking and you REALLY want to avoid the one by the pool and deck chairs nearby.

[catl331]

Casino is about the only place I have been bothered by smoke. Usually it is gamblers holding their cigarettes away from their SO. Also there have been times that the casino is smoke-free. On one Vista cruise there was a cigar room but that was easy to avoid.

[sail7seas]

I am among those who want smoking limited as much as possible but definitely do NOT feel we cannot avoid the smokers. The only place we have difficulty avoiding it is Casino on some ships, some nights. Also, sometimes it is annoying on our veranda but otherwise, there is very little smoke around the ship.

 

No smoking in any dining area, no smoking in some lounges including our favorite, no smoking in the show lounge, no smoking in corridors or elevators and no smoking in Lido Deck at the pool or anywhere under the glass enclosure. It used to be permitted there so maybe you read old information. If not current posts, you may not realize the changes that have been made.

 

I think you have misread and/or misunderstood the smoking threads you read.

Really a shame you have passed up a chance to sail the very beautiful Volendam due to misunderstanding and incorrect assumptions.

 

If it isn't too late, you seriously should reconsider.

 

[Gsel]

We were in NZ/AUS last Jan/Feb on the Volendam. Hate the smell of cigarette smoke. Never had the problem of smelling it on this ship. Surely you mis-read this forum! Wonderful itinerary, you will be missing a lot, sorry!

[jtl513]

Never having travelled with HAL before, I spent some time reading the posts here and learned that, basically, one cannot escape cigarette smoke on HAL cruises.

 

For that reason we will not be taking a HAL cruise.

I'm sorry that you were misinformed, and you'll never learn how nice HAL is. :(

[bcd2010]

I think it's easy to get the wrong impression from reading forum threads. People are expressing thoughts/memories, limited to addressing the topic, backing it up with specific experiences. So, for example, when I read the recent/ongoing thread about smoking and saw that some people told of problems with using their balconies due to smoking on nearby balconies, I started thinking I might have wasted money on a verandah that I wouldn't be able to use. But then we have a thread like this that balances it out, gives a broader perspective. Thank you all for that!

[Kween Karen]

I have never been bothered by cigarette smoke on a HAL ship. I have not traveled as extensively as some others here so would listen carefully to their opinions......which seem to be the same as mine actually.

[Nutbunch]

We were on a packed cruise, so there were a number of smokers as well as a majority of non-smokers.

 

The only time I smelled it then avioded the area was:

 

the bar outside of the casino - surpisingly on our cruise the actual casino was smoke free.

 

The sports pool deck on lido level. Smoking was permitted there (it is NOT permitted in the Lido buffet, Dining Room, etc) As it was designated a smoking area, there were a lot! It bothered us because the ping-pong tables were also there, like 1 foot away from table of smokers.

 

I think HAL should move either the ping pong tables, further down the sports pool deck away from the tables, or move the tables. Kids use the ping pong tables and it's not that great that smoke wafts through play.

[Begete]

I do appreciate all the replies, but with our luck, we would be stuck in a cabin next to that of a heavy smoker. Fortunately, there are other cruise lines that prohibit smoking in cabins and on verandas. It's a shame because we really did like the HAL itinerary.

[Jana White]

I agree with all the above posts. My husband and I are VERY sensitive to smoke, the only place it has ever been a problem is occasionally in the casino. We do not gamble, so it is easily bypassed. We have never had a problem with a verandah, though I can see there being one if you had a chain smoker next to you and the wind is just right. I am sorry you are choosing not to cruise with HAL for this reason, especially since the itinerary is so attractive to you.

[robertmnch]

I do appreciate all the replies, but with our luck, we would be stuck in a cabin next to that of a heavy smoker. Fortunately, there are other cruise lines that prohibit smoking in cabins and on verandas. It's a shame because we really did like the HAL itinerary.

 

Let's see, I'm NOT going on the train because they might have an accident! I'm not going to fly because I might be on a plane that is going to crash! I'm NOT going because we might be..........etc.:confused:

 

Go and enjoy yourself! There are way too many places to go on a ship and NOT encounter smoke!:eek:

 

I've been on 27 HAL Cruises since 1987, and smoking has NEVER been an Issue!:)

robert

[CowPrincess]

I do appreciate all the replies, but with our luck, we would be stuck in a cabin next to that of a heavy smoker. Fortunately, there are other cruise lines that prohibit smoking in cabins and on verandas. It's a shame because we really did like the HAL itinerary.

 

Isn't it nice that there are enough cruiselines to meet most passenger requirements? Enjoy your non-HAL cruise.

[sail7seas]

I do appreciate all the replies, but with our luck, we would be stuck in a cabin next to that of a heavy smoker. Fortunately, there are other cruise lines that prohibit smoking in cabins and on verandas. It's a shame because we really did like the HAL itinerary.

 

 

Have a great cruise. ;) Remember to wave if you see us pass by. :D

 

[SDHALFAN]

This why I love Cruise Critic.com

 

We were about to book a Wonders Down Under Cruise from HAL in January on the MS Volendam. Usually we travel with Cruise West or Lindblad, but the dates of this particular cruise, the itinerary and the price made it a very attractive option.

 

Never having travelled with HAL before, I spent some time reading the posts here and learned that, basically, one cannot escape cigarette smoke on HAL cruises.

 

For that reason we will not be taking a HAL cruise.

 

I am most grateful to Cruise Critic for allowing passengers to post information that help people choose cruises that are right for them, and avoid cruises that are not.

 

Thank you.

 

 

What a crying shame that you will never know what you are missing. Obviously you have misread or misunderstood the posts re: smoke problems. Many on this thread are very much against smoking; the smell of smoke; second-hand smoke, etc. but report no problems on HAL ships, with the exception of the Casino and occasionally on balconies.

 

I hope that you will enjoy your cruise, whichever line it may be. I wish that I could say that we will miss you but, honestly, I just can't.

 

Fair winds and following seas.

 

Valerie:)

[innlady1]

We, too, are very sensitive to smoke, and have never been bothered on HAL except passing through the Casino. Having learned that, it's easy enough to avoid.

 

Sorry that you're not sailing on HAL because of poor information.

[Nutrioso]

We have done many cruises with HAL and are approaching 100 nights aboard. Only once do I remember being bothered by smoke. You are probably aware that most of us on Cruise Critic are something of "lurkers" - we faithfully read the posts every day but seldom add our two cents worth, much less get involved in the smoking threads which can be pretty nasty sometimes. You have to take it all with a grain of salt. ----Penny

[OVgirl]

I totally understand that you have to make a decision based on information that is available on forums like this. Many times you will find that negative posts outweigh the positive ones, especially on a topic like smoking. This isn't necessarily because it's that big of a problem, but just a bit of human nature wanting to complain (just because we can). I know years ago we canceled a hotel reservation because of a number of negative posts. Would it have been a bad hotel? We will never know, but the final choice we made was fine.

Hope you choose the cruise that appeals to you the most and I'm sure you will truly enjoy it.

[marma495]

Now after reading all these posts I dont know what to make of smoking conditions on HAL. I am looking for a cruiseline which permits smoking. According to the website it says designated smoking area,s in most lounges. Not quite sure if it,s up to date. Help please.

[kalliekae]

I do appreciate all the replies, but with our luck, we would be stuck in a cabin next to that of a heavy smoker. Fortunately, there are other cruise lines that prohibit smoking in cabins and on verandas. It's a shame because we really did like the HAL itinerary.

 

I was very surprised to read your OP. We absolutely detest cigarette smoke. That said, we have never had a smoking problem on any HAL cruise. We have had balconies, too, and have never had a problem with smokers. In fact, we find that smokers are definitely in the minority nowadays.