Appropriate HAL related topics

[localady]

I just noticed that the board's manager told those that were discussing smoking on a cruise ship to go to the smoking boards as it was not a germaine topic:/ I myself am bothered with 1. the way it was said and 2. interpretations of appropriateness. We have beat the "no alcohol on ship" postings to death, and the moderator didn't stop the conversation or suggest we take the discussion to an AA website. Maybe it would be helpful if our moderator join into conversations more, rather than issue judgments from ahigh.
Maybe someone could further elaborate on why one issue is germaine and the other is not, cause I am sure stumped.

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Veendam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[Vic The Parrot]

I kinda agree with you. Just last night, I was tempted to throw in my 2 cents on the smoking issue. But then I thought why add gasoline to the fire?

In a way, I think it is appropriate to close a topic when things get out of hand. But my other side is saying, "Please stop violating our right to free speech"

A warning of some kind will do the trick, then maybe, just MAYBE, the people who insist on taking everything to the extreme will finally
shut up.

This isn't the 1st time I've witnessed obnoxious behavior on this board, and those who enjoy ripping other people apart seem to always have thier way by becoming downright a**holes, and NEVER get any kind of reprimand, and always continue to cause trouble.


Like with the smoking issue. I'm pretty sick and tired of this nonsense with some of these jerks who take over a topic, and start bashing those who smoke. The lady who started the original post only asked a simple question.

Then, the wolves came out to jump on everyone who smokes! All I have to say at this point is, you people really need to get a life.

16 - HAL
10 - Cunard
4 - Home Lines
2 - NCL
2 - Royal Viking Line


"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines"

[gizmo]

Usually these smoking threads get way out of hand on all the boards. They all get locked or deleted. I believe Walt locked it before it went too far. In the past the same suggestion has been made to go to a forum that discusses smoking.

[CruisinMatt]

Amen localady. I have also seen the various "Sex on the veranda" or "Christening the cabin" threads on other boards, which I find totally offensive go on forever.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=da70d6&cdt=2005;3;26;19;30;00&timezone=GMT-0800
HAL Oosterdam - Mexican Riveria

[imsulin]

I agree! I didn't find anything on that thread that violated the CC guidelines! There was no name-calling or use of obscenities. Those "smoking"..."non'smoking" boards to which we were directed by Host Walt have nothing to do with Cruise Critic, and they are - IMO - very lame! I know we're not allowed to ask why a thread has been stopped/deleted, but this one was really pretty non-offensive. I don't know if we're allowed to ask Host Walt about this. Anyone????

[Host Walt]

The subject of smoking and its related health aspects has nothing whatever to do with cruising. When the subject starter simply asked about the HAL rules about smoking and his/her question was fully answered, there was no legitimate reason to get into a health and societal discussion about smoking that has nothing at all to do with cruising.

During my 8 years in this Hosting gig, I have yet to see a discussion on smoking that hasn't become a screed by one side or the other, with resultant hurt feelings and issues.

This is CRUISE CRITIC and the discussions on this message board are intended to be about cruising.

Thanks.

Walt Tuthill
Cruise Board Moderator

Contact at Shiptender@aol.com

[imsulin]

Thanks, Host Walt. I appreciate your reply. If I may say, I don't agree with your decision, but I respect and appreciate your reply. Thanks again!

[localady]

Ditto!

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Veendam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[seatrial]

Host Walt,

I would like to respectfully voice my sincere disagreement with your choice to stop the discussion about smoking. The statement "Smoking and its health aspects has nothing whatever to do with cruising" is sort of like saying that eating has nothing to do with cruising. Smoking has certainly had something to do with my cruises. Two cruises have be impacted by smelly cabins and every cruise has smokey areas that need to be avoided. I think that it is important to let cruiser know what to realistically expect. These boards are a wonderful place to get useful information, but I think that we need to take the good with the bad. If a discussion gets out of hand; that's one thing, but I think this discussion was OK.

thanks

[F5Loar]

Smoking or lack thereof is related to cruising in everyway. But unfortunatley you can not choose your cruise mates the week you go. It's possible to be on one week and have only a handful of smokers while the very next week could be full of them. It is a valid issue that the cruise lines need to address. If you voice our opinions here maybe they will read them and act acordingly. Most lines do enforce a one side smoking the other side nonsmoking and even some split up the lounges and HAL is the last to hold out on the smoking at dinner so changes are being made related to smoking on ships. Now if the lines can go one step more and go with nonsmoking cabins or no smoking at all in cabins which in IMO it should be we have allowed by voicing our opinons here to make for happier cruising for the majority. As national and state laws regarding smoking are changing we too need to be abreast at these changes. When someone on these boards reports stale smoked rooms we need to know about it.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;07;19;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;3;7;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
until we sail on the Disney Wonder
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2003;10;09;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
til we sail the ms Maasdam
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;05;29;11;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[Host Walt]

I understand the points but, once again, the thread started with a simple, limited question, "What can a smoker expect as far as accomodations on the Oosterdam or any of HAL's ships?" That's it. When the discussion turned ugly, including several removed posts telling Valerie, the original poster, that she should quit smoking together with nasty personal comments directed at her, and because her question had been answered, it was clear that the thread needed to be closed.

Fortunately, it appears, the nastiness was removed sufficiently quickly that few people saw it.

When a question is answered and the discussion becomes nasty and/or non-cruise related, we will either close the thread or remove it altogether.

Quoting from our guidelines,

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Harassment, Flaming and Trolls
The harassment of our members is not allowed.

Cruise Critic is committed to providing an online environment that is free from these types of harassing postings. Please, don't attack another poster personally. Do not harass, threaten, embarrass, or do anything else to another member that is unwanted. This means: don't say bad things about them, don't keep sending them unwanted Instant Message notes, don't attack their race, heritage, etc. If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person. Postings of this nature will be removed from the boards.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I hope that explains the reason why the thread was closed.

Walt Tuthill
Cruise Board Moderator

Contact at Shiptender@aol.com

[lknick]

Whether smoking is your personal agenda or not is not the point.

If I want information on smoking, drinking, STDs, drug usage, political thought, religion, or almost any other topic or to express my opinion on any of these, I can go elsewhere.

My understanding is Cruise Critic is to report on cruise experiences and ask question on cruising, not to blow off on my agenda of the day, week, year or life time.

By your thinking that "Smoking or lack thereof is related to cruising in everyway" then I think I should be able to discuss President Bush's activities for he did land on an aircraft carrier.

And for the record, I really don't care how you might feel about any of the above topics.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[WindyCity]

Well said Iknick!

Westerdam Eastern Caribbean 12/12/04

[tomc]

I guess I can't ask why the nondemoninational religious services turn into a lot of sects talk.

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[iluvcruzin]

I'm in agreement with Walt when it comes to subject matter that changes it's intent and turns into a mud-slinging event. Sometimes that portion needs to be put to rest at the expensive of losing others important points of view.

I want to commend the posters here on the HAL boards. I have to say in the past couple weeks that I have visited here, I have not encountered much of this type of activity. I can't say that about other boards such as RCCL where it's a daily event. I wish you would monitor that board better Walt.. There's always a hate-fest going on.

Maureen

MS Maasdam 10/30/2004
Princess Sun 2/27/2005
Mariner of the Seas 10/16/2005

[krimpet]

After reading the last post I guess the question should be asked why is this board subjected to stopped posts on certain subjects and the other boards are not? Just wondering!!!

RCCL SUN VIKING/ 6/86
CARNIVAL JUBILEE/ 8/01
CARNIVAL PRIDE/ 7/02
HAL VEENDAM/ 4/03
CELEBRITY GALAXY/ 6/03
HAL ZAANDAM/ 3/04
CARNIVAL GLORY/ 8/04

[tomc]

Another CC board had deleted-thread problems recently, which I took up privately on e-mail. It's like umpiring: you calls them as you sees them and the players don't always agree.

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[gizmo]

Krimpet,

This question has been asked before. Walt, please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think the board monitors read every single post everyday. There are certain subjects that tend to get out of hand and smoking is one of them. When the title of the post has smoking as the subject, it is probably choosen by the monitor to read, because of a past history of getting out of hand.

OT: Is Churchville the town where the ducks have the right of way? If not, which one is it?

[tomc]

I think there are 144,000 posts per month. I'm not sure where I saw that, but it was directed to me by Host Laura. It's not in my e-mail, so it might be on a thread. She said every one is read, but I'm not sure how often.

* * *

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[krimpet]

Gizmo... Its not this one.... This one is were all the priest and pastors hang out!!!LOL

RCCL SUN VIKING/ 6/86
CARNIVAL JUBILEE/ 8/01
CARNIVAL PRIDE/ 7/02
HAL VEENDAM/ 4/03
CELEBRITY GALAXY/ 6/03
HAL ZAANDAM/ 3/04
CARNIVAL GLORY/ 8/04

[BorderLady]

Locking or deleting threads:

I suspect it has to do with those little triangles down in the right lower corner. They would alert the Admins to read a thread.

Apparently (at some point) this one got nasty and personal.

I'd prefer the offending posts be removed but leave the rest of it, perhaps with a cautionary note from the Admin.

Iluvcruzin makes a good point. On other boards, things get entirely out of hand yet the threads go on without Admin intervention until people simply get sick of them.

[Globaliser]

I'm glad someone has raised the issue of why that thread was closed, because it puzzled me as well. I moderate another board (nothing to do with Cruise Critic) and I'm interested in this because I didn't think that the discussion had really got off topic, even if some things were being said in a rather pointed way.

First principles:-<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>It's not my train set, it's Cruise Critic's, and I play here for free by the rules they set and apply through the moderators.<LI>Never participate in an Internet message board expecting to open or change minds.[/list]But having said that, this is what I don't understand. It's true that the original question ("What are the rules?") had been answered. But is that the be all and end all of these boards? Are CC boards supposed to be limited to answering the questions posed? As one of the answers was "You can smoke in your cabin", is it not legitimate to continue a discussion about what a non-smoker can do if their cabin smells of smoke? Even revneal (http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=077097554&m=272108932&r=298104342#298104342) had something helpful to say about this but didn't get there in time before the thread was locked. The thread was still well within the subject of "smoking on cruise ships and the impact of the rules on smokers and non-smokers".

__________________________________________________ __________

Jewel of the Seas 1-3 May 2004 - see my review here (http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&m=904107102&f=069097554), and my photos here (http://community.webshots.com/album/140741580OdzpCX).

[Host Walt]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Globaliser:
I'm glad someone has raised the issue of why that thread was closed, because it puzzled me as well. I moderate another board (nothing to do with Cruise Critic) and I'm interested in this because I didn't think that the discussion had really got off topic, even if some things were being said in a rather pointed way.

First principles:-+ It's not my train set, it's Cruise Critic's, and I play here for free by the rules they set and apply through the moderators.+ Never participate in an Internet message board expecting to open or change minds.But having said that, this is what I don't understand. It's true that the original question ("What are the rules?") had been answered. But is that the be all and end all of these boards? Are CC boards supposed to be limited to answering the questions posed? As one of the answers was "You can smoke in your cabin", is it not legitimate to continue a discussion about what a non-smoker can do if their cabin smells of smoke? Even http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=077097554&m=272108932&r=298104342#298104342 had something helpful to say about this but didn't get there in time before the thread was locked. The thread was still well within the subject of "smoking on cruise ships and the impact of the rules on smokers and non-smokers".

__________________________________________________ __________

Jewel of the Seas 1-3 May 2004 - see http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&m=904107102&f=069097554, and http://community.webshots.com/album/140741580OdzpCX.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In the thread in question, Doug and I removed about 15 separate posts and a few were snagged systemically because specific banned words were employed.

When that occurs with the level of vitriol we experienced it is clear that no good will come from leaving the discussion open.

In one memorable exchange on that thread, I had removed a comment referring to the Member who started the thread as an uncaring and unthinking *&$%# and was immediately assailed, on the thread, as restricting that psrsons free speech rights.

The point is that the thread had served its purpose and was attracting an inordinate amount of inapproriate traffic.

As for the subject of smoking and the residual aroma in a cabin, of course that is permitted. There is no reason anyone cannot start such a topic right now.

Thanks for understanding.

Walt Tuthill
Cruise Board Moderator

Contact at Shiptender@aol.com

[lknick]

Anyone with strong feeling on any given topic just can't understand why another person does not embrace or understand their point of view.

But why must we have an individuals point of view forced on us.

This was not a discussion of smoking rules...or cabins...or anti-smokers invading smokers space...or anything like that. It was an issue of insults and 'I'm going to make you a believer.'

Now the same group is back 'making us believers' but in a different way.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[Globaliser]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Host Walt:
In the thread in question, Doug and I removed about 15 separate posts and a few were snagged systemically because specific banned words were employed.

When that occurs with the level of vitriol we experienced it is clear that no good will come from leaving the discussion open.

In one memorable exchange on that thread, I had removed a comment referring to the Member who started the thread as an uncaring and unthinking *&$%# and was immediately assailed, on the thread, as restricting that psrsons free speech rights.

The point is that the thread had served its purpose and was attracting an inordinate amount of inapproriate traffic.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Walt, thank you for clarifying that with this explanation. It certainly helps to explain more of the problems that were going on behind the statement "This forum is about cruising, not smoking. If you want to discuss smoking and associated subjects, please go to a Message Board designed for such discussion:" that ended that thread.

__________________________________________________ __________

Jewel of the Seas 1-3 May 2004 - see my review here (http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&m=904107102&f=069097554), and my photos here (http://community.webshots.com/album/140741580OdzpCX).

[Southbound]

F5Loar:
..."and HAL is the last to hold out on the smoking at dinner"...

As far as I'm aware, smoking is prohibited in all of the dining rooms, including the Lido buffet. At least it was on the three sailings we took in the past year (Volendam, "Z" and "O").

[localady]

Ilnick-
When starting this thread I was not intending to "make anyone a believer", rather I was truly posing a question as to the criteria for appropriate HAL discussion. Frankly I find conversations about dirty baby diapers in pools being more offensive than a smoking issue but that is JMHO.

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Veendam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[ekerr19]

Southbound-

You are correct. There is no smoking in the diningroom.

Localady-

I am not reading Iknick's post that way... I think he is trying to make a point. Many times the topic changes either to a more negative or less negative view point depending on the topic & posters involved.

I have seen some posters on this board steer topics away from negativity and that's fine by me.

The diaper thing is gross, no doubt - but there are pax out there that actually think it's ok to have a baby in swim diapers in the pool. In the wake of Norwalk virus, sorry, the argument just doesn't work for me. Maybe by reading the opinions and arguments against it, they will think twice about doing it... the same with smoking (or not smoking). Nothing irritates me more than to see someone sitting in the smoking section and complaining about the smoke... I don't smoke, but if I choosed to sit there, I accept the obvious.

Good topic, I've often wondered why the threads disappear too. Now we know - we may not be seeing all the posts that cause the moderator to yank them.

Noordam 1984
Veendam 1999
Amsterdam 2000
Noordam 2001
Statendam 2001
Noordam 2002
Zuiderdam 2003
Maasdam 2004.
Noordam 2004

[localady]

Thanks ekerr!
Wasn't sure what was meant, and I truly didn't mean to offend anyone. I walk softly and carry a big stick these dayshttp://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Must come from 25 years in the legal field ya think??

Happy Cruising!

7/04 Ryndam Alaska B2B
12/04 Rotterdam Panama Canal
7/05 Prinsendam Baltic
11/05 "Veendammers" Carribean

RCCL x2(1999), Volendam (2000), Millinneum (2000), Veendam (2001), Disney (2001), Statendam (2003), Amsterdam (2003)

[ekerr19]

Well, I don't think you offended anyone. It was a good topic.

Keep the stick, tho http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif you never know when the next diaper thread will come along, lol!

Noordam 1984
Veendam 1999
Amsterdam 2000
Noordam 2001
Statendam 2001
Noordam 2002
Zuiderdam 2003
Maasdam 2004.
Noordam 2004

[tomc]

My kid likes to swim in her diaper.
I said, "It's ok, 'cause I wipe her."
Nobody gets close;
They all say it's gross.
And I say, "Your smoking is lots riper."

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[ekerr19]

tomc -

harhar, LOL! But I might be the minority http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

I don't smoke and I don't swim in HAL pools anymore...

Noordam 1984
Veendam 1999
Amsterdam 2000
Noordam 2001
Statendam 2001
Noordam 2002
Zuiderdam 2003
Maasdam 2004.
Noordam 2004

[lknick]

The more you argue for what you think is right, the more I become convinced my way is correct and you're a fool.

And that's the total result of proselytizing.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[ekerr19]

Iknick-

Not sure if proselytizing is the correct term - maybe localady was just curiously asking the question why the post was edited/deleted - perhaps more a question regarding freedom of speech rather than trying to impact others' opinions?

But hey, that's just mine... worth far more to me than anyone else.

Noordam 1984
Veendam 1999
Amsterdam 2000
Noordam 2001
Statendam 2001
Noordam 2002
Zuiderdam 2003
Maasdam 2004.
Noordam 2004

[lknick]

Main Entry: pros·e·ly·tize
Pronunciation: 'prä-s(&-)l&-"tIz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -tized; -tiz·ing
intransitive senses
1 : to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2 : to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
transitive senses : to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause
______________________

Your assumption that I was addressing localady is incorrect. I was addressing our resident humorist.

Also, freedom of speach is a constitutional issue which has to do with the right of criticising governments and has nothing to do with just saying what one thinks. Some things are not protected under Amendment One.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[This message was edited by lknick on 06-13-04 at 09:51 PM.]

[ekerr19]

Iknick-

I stand corrected on the issue of freedom of speech.

I think I'm getting the rest of it now. Sorry - I'm not always the sharpest pencil in the drawer...

I always enjoy your posts - most definitely a perspective not often found on the boards, food for thought - for many of us. I wish you would comment on the work Visa thread - no doubt you may be able to shed some light on my question about the various ships' registries.

Noordam 1984
Veendam 1999
Amsterdam 2000
Noordam 2001
Statendam 2001
Noordam 2002
Zuiderdam 2003
Maasdam 2004.
Noordam 2004

[This message was edited by ekerr19 on 06-13-04 at 11:15 PM.]

[This message was edited by ekerr19 on 06-13-04 at 11:17 PM.]

[F5Loar]

Southbound, You must be sailing a different HAL line then the one I just got off of last week or else they have changed since you last were on one. Page 35 of the "Know Before You Go" booklet provided to all passengers before they board says "Smoking is not permitted at any time in dining areas" This would include the Lido if I read it correctly. I do think you can take your plate from the Lido outside and smoke at those designated tables. If anyone else that has sailed HAL recently knows of a different set of rules of smoking I sure would like to hear about it because if they do allow smoking in dining areas I have sailed my last HAL ship.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;07;19;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;3;7;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
until we sail on the Disney Wonder
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2003;10;09;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
til we sail the ms Maasdam
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;05;29;11;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[tomc]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I was addressing our resident humorist.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Lew - you mean me? That was just a limerick, with all the depth of a saucer and all the conviction of Dr. Pangloss from "Candide."

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[lknick]

F5Loar--this is what happens when you live in the age of sound bytes. History is longer than the last 2 seconds.

The statement was HAL was one of the last lines to abolish smoking in the dining rooms, not that you could still smoke in designated dining areas today.

If my memory is correct, smoking was allowed in specific areas of the dining rooms on HAL as recently as 1999.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[lknick]

ekerr--I was unable to find your question on ship registry and visas.

If you would repost it, I will try to answer it based on my understanding of the facts.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[elmorejj]

lknick, I think it was Feb. 02 when smoking was abolished in the Dining room and lido- inside...jean

[2rg]

Smoking is not allowed in any of the dinning rooms, including the Lido. I'm a smoker, I know. You can take your tray from the Lido out by the pool and use the smoking area by the Lido bar. On some cruises you have no problem getting a table there and on others it's been a real chore to find one open. Can't comment on the lounges and other bars, seldom use them. On some ships smoking is limited to 1 side of the promeade and on others both sides are allowed.

HAL - 15 cruises - 157 days
Mistakes - 1 cruise - 7 days

[F5Loar]

iknick, thanks that's what I meant. I was unsure of the date but HAL seemed to hold out on making dining areas exclusively nonsmoking running several years behind other lines.
So it is possible that as times change we will see some changes about smoking in cabins which to me just makes a common sense safety issue for all passengers and crew. Just as smokers are seeing changes in certain states concerning smoking in public places it's a matter of short time before the cruise industry in general will lay down the laws in enclosed areas around the ship.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2003;07;19;13;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;3;7;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
until we sail on the Disney Wonder
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2003;10;09;12;01;00&timezone=GMT-0500
til we sail the ms Maasdam
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;05;29;11;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[lknick]

F5loar--You're probably right. The number of seats in lounges have steadily declined and the Vista class ships have separate rooms for smokers.

As to cabins, I think cruise lines will have the same success as hotels today.

Following the progress of Oceania will tell whether the time has come for your suggestion. Will their almost smoke free policy succeed, will they sink like Renaissance, or will they abandon the policy like Paradise.

40 cruises: mainly Cunard, Carnival, HAL, NCL, RCI, Starclipper, Seabourn. ~511 days total, ~325 on HAL

[This message was edited by lknick on 06-15-04 at 09:26 AM.]

[marco]

At least that started out as a cruise related question. ie: "What is the smoking policy on such-and-such ship". True...it digressed, but on one board I saw, "what do they call it where you live, "Pop" or "Soda"?" Interesting topic, but obvioulsy has NOTHING to do with cruising. It didn't get pulled!