Decision Made and It's Not HAL

[PatriciaF]

I posted a question about smoking on HAL. After briefing my husband on the difference between HAL Veendam South America and Celebrity Infinity South America, itinerary, cost, dates, the smoking policy pushed him over to Celebrity.

We won't be going to the Falkland Islands and a Concierge Level balcony (without bathtub) is the same price as the luxurious large Veranda cabin on HAL with whirlpool bath.

Thanks to everyone on their input--but all in all, rather safe than sorry as many recommended, especially for the cost and 12 plus days on board.

[Ya Ya Cruiser]

Glad you made a decision you're comfortable with - after all, that's what it's all about and this IS your vacation.

Have a great trip!

YaYa

[wingit]

Why the "Unhappy Face" icon? You made a decision that will work out great for you. Have a wonderful cruise!:)

[Travalerie]

I know you had to give up some things going on Celebrity, but you can be secure knowing you won't be bothered with smoke! Have a great trip!

[PatriciaF]

Why the :(? I really wanted to be in an affordable luxurious cabin, go to the next level as a HAL passenger, and go to the Falklands--but my husband pointed out how much I would grouse if there was too much smoking nearby or a lingering smell in our cabin.

I am sure it will be a great cruise on Celebrity! Wish we could afford a cabin with a bathtub though--I know its silly--but I usually don't take a shower at home and 14 days with a shower only is a bit daunting for me. No luxuriating in the tub reading a book.

[jghllnd1]

Sorry you feel the need to go to another cruise company due to possible smoke issues, but either way, you will have a wonderful time.

I have asthma and have problems with smoke, especially cigar smoke, but have never had a problem with HAL. I just avoid the casino and other areas that tend to be smoke filled. Never had a problem out on the veranda with neighbors smoking and have never smelled smoke in my stateroom. But, I am sure there is always that possibility.

I wish you the best on your cruise.

[solocanadian]

Sorry you feel the need to go to another cruise company due to possible smoke issues, but either way, you will have a wonderful time.

I have asthma and have problems with smoke, especially cigar smoke, but have never had a problem with HAL. I just avoid the casino and other areas that tend to be smoke filled. Never had a problem out on the veranda with neighbors smoking and have never smelled smoke in my stateroom. But, I am sure there is always that possibility.

I wish you the best on your cruise.
I agree with jghlnd1 100%. I am a loyal HAL cruiser and have NEVER smelled smoke in my cabin when I first entered. Enjoy your cruise on Celebrity and shower.

[Essiesmom]

You can always take your book and relax in the hot tubs...EM

[SwissMyst]

I am no fan of smoke but I can't remember having any problems with smoking on any of our three HAL cruises, except for them constantly asking the "smoking question" whether it would affect our choices if HAL also banned smoking.

Never had a problem with either a room smell or a neighboring balcony smoker so I don;t know how bad it would be. But if this is a deal killer, then OP made the right choice .

But glad to learn this was a significant tradeoff still making HAL the better choice in my book with the better itineraries and certainl the nicer cabins and balconies. Appreciate hearing about the difference, and the compromises between different lines.

[Gablin]

I'm faced with this difficult decision too, on my own behalf and that of my friend who will go with me.
I prefer never, ever to breath tobacco smoke. My friend is almost as "difficult" about this as I am.

However, we have both cruised with HAL three times, total of 38 days, and never with Celebrity.

And, there is the wine issue...

I continue to read about others' decisions and fail to make my own.

I'm also intrigued with HAL's lanai cabins on Veendam, adding to the decision dilemma.

[PatriciaF]

In response to some of the posts above:

The itinerary was also a consideration. Although the Infinity doesn't go to the Falklands, the Veendam made very few ports of call--while Celebrity had several more. Felt that with 12 days at sea, we needed to be on land a few more times than HAL offered.

There is a review somewhere of those Lanai cabins--not very positive. People sitting in the lounges marked for your cabin only. People walking by your cabin frequent--if you had the drapes open, view may be blocked due to people standing at the rail. While they are cheaper than the Verandah's--I don't think they are that much cheaper.

I didn't know if smoke would be a problem or not (don't remember it being one the last time I sailed HAL)--but with the long time at sea on the HAL itinerary--didn't want to be disappointed or not comfortable on the very expensive verandah cabin we paid for.

I read books occassionally in our hot tub at home, so guess I can try it on the cruise ship. I am hoping due to the time of year and length of cruise, few kids jumping in and out of the hot tub.

We have friends going on the Millenium in February who just went on Princess Sapphire early fall. We are waiting to hear their comparison.

[HWY 101]

there is a website called cruise diva that also mentions this subject... oh stinnnnky

[SwissMyst]

Don't know which SA cruise you are comparing but it sounds like from 90 Day Ticker you are taking one of the Antartic ones since you were comparing going to the Falkands or not.

What I found was a 14 day Infinity cruise from BsAs and back again, compared to a 12 day Veedam from BsAs around the Horn to Santiago Chile. I counted more stops with the HAL cruise. Are we talking about the same ones here?

They are really two entirely different cruises for comparison. So it looks like non-smoking matters a lot to you because itinerary and price were not competitive to make Infinity the "obvious" better choice. YMMV

Buenos Aries is a wonderful city and I hope you get to spend a few days exploring it, either coming or going. Not sure how strict they are in SA about public smoking. But this is a very walkable city so you can do a lot of things outdoors.

[room010]

I have never smelled smoke in my HAL cabin, but I have been bothered by it on the verandah because we were unlucky enough to have smokers on either side and below. And that's what it was, bad luck. Not enough to make us change cruiselines but I do understand that for some people the smoking issue is a deal breaker.

[brucory]

While people might despise smoking threads, I'm with you... It stinks and is unpleasant. It should not be allowed in cabins. Last cruise, the aircon went off in our section and the whole area quickly began to stink like an ashtray...

If there is a line without the smoke, go for it!!!

:D:D:D

[world~citizen]

The weather being what it is - unpredictable, the ship might not be able to go to the Falkland Islands anyway.

Enjoy your X-cruise.

Smooth sailing...

[Krazy Kruizers]

I know how you feel about smoke. We have some issues using our verandah -- or lack of being to use it due to heavy smokers on the next verandah.

Due come back and tell us all about your Celebrity cruise.

[Taxguy77]

You'll enjoy Celebrity but miss the larger cabin and great beds. Enjoy the cruise.

[cruiseing marly]

The only smokeing policy that needs to be revised is the balcony. If you happen to have a cigar smoker forward it will reck the balcony use for most people.Some one might smoke on a cigar for up to 1 hour. That would not be a good thing.

[GmaPajama]

As much as I love Holland America, I certainly acknowledge it isn't for everybody. I think it's wonderful that there are so many choices today - and that we can each seek out the cruise line, and the ship, that will fit us best. Enjoy your cruise ... it's sure to be fantastic.

[Randyk47]

We enjoyed Celebrity and found the experience to be very similar to HAL on the whole. Some things were better some things not as good as HAL. Opposite to the OP we've gone away from Celebrity and Azamara because of their smoking policy and have removed ourselves from both automatic email notification systems.

[Jade13]

Why the :(? I really wanted to be in an affordable luxurious cabin, go to the next level as a HAL passenger, and go to the Falklands--but my husband pointed out how much I would grouse if there was too much smoking nearby or a lingering smell in our cabin.

I am sure it will be a great cruise on Celebrity! Wish we could afford a cabin with a bathtub though--I know its silly--but I usually don't take a shower at home and 14 days with a shower only is a bit daunting for me. No luxuriating in the tub reading a book.

I didn't get the sad face since you made the decision. I would have told you to take a forward Verandah (no smoke).

[BlueCat1105]

The OP should be happy, not sad. Above all else - the tub, the beds, the ports - the possibility of smelling smoke on occasion was the most important factor in their enjoyment of their cruise. Celebrity provides that for them. Celebrity seems like a very nice alternative. It's all good. I don't smoke, and if I catch an occasional whif, it doesn't bother me in the least, so I'm thrilled with my choice to try HAL - and the bath tub! I just cancelled a Celebrity cruise in favor of Eurodam in March and I couldn't be happier.

[sail7seas]

You made the best choice for yourselves as should be the case.
I'd love if HAL stopped permitting smoking on verandas. I don't mind about the cabins as they clean them so well.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise and please come back and tell us about it.

Safe sailing....

[shootr]

I SO appreciate the OP of this thread. Did the research, went with her better judgement to insure she will have a great cruise.

It seems there are so many threads from people that don't want to face reality just because it isn't what they "want" the reality to be. (The "About to Expire Passport thread, assorted formal night threads, etc. come to mind)

Karma is already going to take care of you OP; it'll be day 2 on your itinerary, you'll be in one of the Jacuzzi's reading a book you've been saving just for this trip, possibly even sipping a beverage of indulgence, with not even a hint of regret from your decision!!!

[mountainmare]

I agree you made the best choice. You would have be very unhappy if you were unlucky enough to have heavy smokers beside or below you on the veranda--or like us had heavy smokers in the whole hallway so the hallway reeked of smoke. For us on a TA there was no escape.
We have sailed Celebrity in a regular veranda cabin and the experience was close to HAL. While we prefer HAL, for a longer cruise (longer than seven days) we will pick a cruiseline that does not permit smoking on the veranda. We can live with it if we are unlucky for a port intensive seven days.

[fann1sh]

I'm faced with this difficult decision too, on my own behalf and that of my friend who will go with me.
I prefer never, ever to breath tobacco smoke. My friend is almost as "difficult" about this as I am.

However, we have both cruised with HAL three times, total of 38 days, and never with Celebrity.

And, there is the wine issue...

I continue to read about others' decisions and fail to make my own.

I'm also intrigued with HAL's lanai cabins on Veendam, adding to the decision dilemma.

Gablin, it's a truly difficult decision for those of us who are "smoke challenged". I have severe health issues with all smoke (not just tobacco) and its residue.

Like Sail, I don't find cabins an insurmountable issue. I had a stinky HAL cabin once. I drew the steward's attention to it. Resolved by extra cleaning - all soft surfaces including the rug were steam cleaned - and heavy duty ionization machine.

I always travel with a portable ionizer (or 2) - not just on cruises, but everywhere: restaurants, hotels, cars, even friends' homes! I strongly suggest you and your travel companion look into buying and packing one or more. There are models which run on wall current and/or batteries; there are models you can wear around your neck for excursions; there are USB models that plug into your computer plus operate on backup batteries!

Ionizers often turn a smoke situation I couldn't cope with into something manageable.

HAL balconies remain the issue for those of us who can't/won't be exposed to smoke. While this hasn't been an issue on most of my HAL cruises, it was on 2 of them. Sometimes, it's possible to co-operate with neighbouring smokers about balcony time.

However, I understand smokers who are unwilling to do so, as they have become such a marginalized group. They book a HAL cruise on expectation of being able to smoke on their balcony when they want. They have no obligation to limit themselves....and non-smokers who book HAL truly roll the dice regarding balconies.

Lanai cabins definitely seem to have pluses and minuses. I hope you've read this very helpful thread?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1104380

I continue to regard HAL as my first choice of cruise lines despite the smoking policy, due to the other pluses - wine policy, cabins (especially suites), etc. I understand and respect those for whom the balance tips the other way.

[Bakincakes]

Better that you go on another line than obsess about whether you might get a whiff of smoke on HAL.

[Pettifogger]

For me, one of the joys of sailing on HAL is that there is an absolute minimum of imposed discipline. For example, one can bring one's favorite wine on board if one wishes. I don't, but I like knowing that I could. On one cruise, I thought the very amiable Chief of Security was the Guest Relations Manager until someone corrected me.

Fortunately, HAL attracts passengers that don't need discipline. I like smaller ships so I've sailed with only perhaps 5,000 or so other HAL passengers, but I have never once wished that someone would quiet down. Before I found HAL, I can remember lying in bed in my cabin on another cruise line trying to sleep, but instead having to listen to very happy passengers tell off-color stories while waiting for the elevator and laughing at such a high volume that they seemed determined to share their fun with me and anyone else trying to sleep anywhere nearby.

I don't go on cruises seeking discipline, I get enough of that at home, but for those who do, there are enough cruise lines with different regimens that, with a little luck, anyone should be able to find a line with the desired imposed discipline level.

[KirkNC]

While our cruises on HAL have been great, the smoking policy is one reason we are trying X this month. On our last cruise, the Med last summer, our enjoyment of our balcony was significantly reduced due to smokers below and next to us. The casino was bad on the Veendam but not too bad on the Ossterdam.

Kirk

[suse]

I was on the Westerdam, Nov. 29th, and definitely smelled cigarette and cigar smoke from my verandah. Ok, it wasn't too strong but annoying if you don't like it and I don't.
Until HAL changes, you made the right choice. I am thinking a Europeon cruise and it won't be with a smoking ship.

[SailorNYC]

Allowing smoking in cabins is a safety risk for all passengers. I am surprised cruise lines permit it.

On the Amsterdam for a 2-week cruise, both the casino and the starboard side of the pool smelled like a large ashtray after the first few days. I don't enter the casino, but simply walking by once was bad enough that I tried to avoid walking down that area of the 5th deck ever again.

I think you made the right decision! Have fun! :)

[PatriciaF]

Decided to delay the cruise to 2012 because the X Infinity is going into drydock for a major remodel.

Thanks to all the fellow cruisecritic members who helped with all of my agonizing over our South America cruise plan.

[gentlemancruiser]

I agree with jghlnd1 100%. I am a loyal HAL cruiser and have NEVER smelled smoke in my cabin when I first entered. Enjoy your cruise on Celebrity and shower.

I agree, I am a former smoker and I don't like being around smoke anymore.
I've never had a smokey cabin on HAL, I did with Celebrity and thier answer was to spray air freshener, what a joke. Have seen the measures that HAL takes to remove the odor from cabins, I always smile when I see the guy in the white suit with the breathing mask.
I have been in a corridor and smelled smoke from other cabins, and yes you will smell it in the casino. If it bothers me in the casino, I just move to another section.

On my last cruise there was a gentleman who smoked cigars every afternoon about the same time each day and always on the lower promenade deck on the port side, right near the bow, so the smell drifted down the deck.... It bothered me and I told the front office, I was pleased they address it with the gentleman. I still don't know why HAL cannot make an enclosed smoking lounge or room. Cunard has Winston's

[RuthC]

I still don't know why HAL cannot make an enclosed smoking lounge or room. Cunard has Winston's
And yet the ones they have had were removed or converted to another (non-smoking) use. Perhaps the non-smokers who would like to see smoking confined should be petitioning HAL to restore those rooms.

[SwissMyst]

I agree with having dedicated smoking lounges. Seems like it would be a great place to enjoy the company of like-minded souls in perfect peace. Though hopefully with good ventilation so when one emerges from this enclosed smoking space one does not carry a lot of the embedded fumes with them to the outside world and convert them into second hand smoke.