Thank you

[CowPrincess]

Seriously, why bother trying to convince someone they may be incorrect? The OP has decided HAL is not the cruise line they want. Good thing there are so many choices available.

[RuthC]

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.

There aren't nearly as many smoking areas as there used to be, but it is not banned entirely.

On HAL you can still smoke in your cabin, and on your balcony (if you have one).

Many, if not most, of the Crows Nest lounges have a smoking section. I know there is no smoking section in the E-dam Crows Nest.

There is no smoking in the Ocean Bar, the Piano Bar, or the Explorers Lounge. There are four ships with a Piano Lounge; there is a small separate bar there, and smoking is allowed.

Smoking is allowed in the Sports Bar; this may also be referred to as the Casino Bar. It's allowed in the Casino.

Smoking is allowed on outside decks. On the Lido aft it's allowed on one side.

 

I think this breakdown is still correct, but smoking areas change so fast these days I could be wrong.

[tamsocal]

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.

 

Begete-

We just lived the experience you have intentionally set out to avoid. A heavy chain smoker in the cabin next to us in our Deluxe Verandah Suite. UGH!!:( We had to leave the balcony several times due to the heavy smoke. The HAL guest also flicked her cigarette butts and ashes off the side of the Verandah as well. Sometimes there were peoples heads you could see viewing off of their verandahs below & she still leaned on the railing & flicked the ashes off.

I was thrilled to see an extra comment card on the Amsterdam last week asking if I would still cruise with HAL if they banned smoking on the Verandahs and also would I cruise w/ HAL if they banned smoking entirely..... Absolutlely and would pay extra $$ as well. Not sure that it will ever happen but glad they are exploring the option.

[tamsocal]

Forgot to add...... Other than the neighbors that we wished we were not subjected to -- there were no other areas on the ship that we noticed heavy cigarette smells.... few times on Deck 8 aft-- but this was minimal and the breeze usually moved it quickly maybe a few similar occurences elsewhere but nothing significant:)

[DFD1]

I think the OP made the right decision. Had she sailed on HAL with her preconceived ideas about smoking on HAL, she would have had a miserable time....even though, in my opinion, she has received bad information.

 

You can't please all of the people all of the time.

[marma495]

Thanks for the info Ruthc

[Begete]

Can you tell me please when you had that experience of having a cabin next to a heavy smoker, and being disurbed on your verandah, could you smell your neighbor's smoke inside your room if you closed the door to the verandah?

 

Maybe we would just book an oceanview cabin without a verandah???

[brucory]

Can you tell me please when you had that experience of having a cabin next to a heavy smoker, and being disurbed on your verandah, could you smell your neighbor's smoke inside your room if you closed the door to the verandah?

 

Maybe we would just book an oceanview cabin without a verandah???

 

Good idea... Or you could book the most forward verandah...

 

Let us know if you do change your mind!!

 

:D:D:D

[jtl513]

Maybe we would just book an oceanview cabin without a verandah???

That would save you some money, but the odds are high that you would not be next to a heavy smoker on a verandah.

[CowPrincess]

OP -- One thing you DO need to believe in the reports about HAL ships is the problems with air conditioning and room temps.

[cruiseing marly]

I think that the smokeing changes made this year are a great improvement over the older policy.If they stoped smokeing on the balconies it would be complete. If you are down wind from a smoker it can it means you wont be able to use a perk you paid a lot for.

[tamsocal]

Can you tell me please when you had that experience of having a cabin next to a heavy smoker, and being disurbed on your verandah, could you smell your neighbor's smoke inside your room if you closed the door to the verandah?

 

Maybe we would just book an oceanview cabin without a verandah???

 

the only time we could smell smoke in our room was when we had the verandah door open and then realized that they had started smoking again, by then when we closed the door some of the smoke was still in the room. We could also smell it when we were walking down the hallway to our room-- they would leave their front door ajar lots of the time-- I think the grandparents booked the suite and the other family members that had cabins elsewhere on the ship would come to visit-- but the smell in the hallway wasn't annoying-- just minimal cigarette smell--

We have been unlucky 2 cruises in a row-- but never before that-- we had heavy smokers on our Carnival cruise in May-- but we had 2 side by side balcony rooms so we would just move over to the other balcony and it was far enough to get away from the carcinogens

 

not sure that I would completely change the type of cabin I wanted based on the possibility of smokers next door even though it was disappointing -- just chalking it up to bad luck 2 times in a row, couldn't possibly make 3 in a row right??. We have been in insides to suites and have had great cruises in all cabin types-- our last cruise did rank the lowest though :(

[Begete]

Can you please direct me to the thread about airconditioning and room temp problems?

I don't want to make a big deal, but I have a medical condition that causes me to be extremely sensitive to heat (as well as cigarette smoke).

[CowPrincess]

No, actually I can't direct you to one particular thread. Read some of the reviews in the "Member Reviews" section, and you'll see some ships named pretty regularly for having A/C problems. Then I suppose you could search the HAL forum for the names of those ships. The threads are around, I just remember having read a number of them.

 

For us, the Ryndam had some issues on every port day in our cabin. Not intolerable, but warmish. IMHO if being guaranteed a specific temp is a requirement of a cruise, there are few HAL ships that you can consider. It seems that most have A/C issues.

[hal lover]

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've got to be kidding!??? :eek:

[suse]

Um, I never smell it. I don't smoke and I never smell it. I think because there is a more mature population on HAL, there is less of it. You see, they are more mature because they don't smoke and therefore, live longer.

That's a fact, Jack.

[jtl513]

... when we had the verandah door open and then realized that they had started smoking again, by then when we closed the door ...

Your verandah door should only be open when are passing through it, as per the sign posted on it. Propping it open interferes with the HVAC. Others in your zone (particularly those in any inside cabins) will get reduced cooling as you allow the air to take the path of least resistance out your door. :mad:

[Begete]

We did book the HAL cruise after all, but chose an oceanview room without a veranda as I would really hate paying for one I could not use in the event a neighbor was a smoker.

 

We also filled in the "Special Conditions" form stating that we must have effective airconditioning and that we were concerned by the comments here that the airconditioning was problematic. I assume the HAL staff reads these boards and knows there is a problem and given their reputation is taking care of it.

 

Thanks for all of the input.

[Two@Sea]

Had you decided to book a verandah or deluxe suite cabin, and ended up next door to us, if you asked politely I would refrain from smoking when you were there... and not even be peeved about it! I would want you to enjoy your cruise as much as I do! Compromise is a good thing.

[CowPrincess]

We did book the HAL cruise after all, but chose an oceanview room without a veranda as I would really hate paying for one I could not use in the event a neighbor was a smoker.

 

We also filled in the "Special Conditions" form stating that we must have effective airconditioning and that we were concerned by the comments here that the airconditioning was problematic. I assume the HAL staff reads these boards and knows there is a problem and given their reputation is taking care of it.

 

Thanks for all of the input.

 

Nothing like setting yourself up for disappointment. Mechanical stuff breaks ALL the time, and there are no guarantees that it can be fixed in a time frame that is satisfactory to you. To suggest that HAL "is taking care of it" is IMHO really quite unrealistic. Stuff breaks. It is like saying "I shouldn't have a flat tire -- I just bought new tires". Stuff happens. HAL ships are regularly reported to have issues with their air conditioning.

 

I cannot for the life of me figure out why you would do this, seeing as other posts you have made on other CC forums indicate you'd found a cruise line that worked for you. This is your health you are putting in jeopardy.

[Rutland Gate]

Good Bye!