Smoking on balconies - why does HAL still permit it?

I knew you were feisty, cruz chic, but didn't realize that you were looking for fights! :)

I guess I should have put the roll eyes in there:D.

I guess I should have put the roll eyes in there:D.

Or provided towels for the dripping sarcasm! :D

All other cruiselines have now prohibited smoking on balconies and the lone exception is HAL.

Having cruised on Oceania and Celebrity just recently we assumed that HAL had adopted a similar policy and we are disturbed to discover that smoking is still permitted. I really wish I had not booked our upcoming Med cruise with them. Had I known I would have opted for a different company.

We would urge all other non-smoking passengers to bring pressure to bear on HAL to have a no smoking policy which permits smoking only in designated areas. It works very well on all other major cruiselines and there is no reason for HAL to continue with a policy that causes serious inconvenience - and is a health risk - to non smoking passengers.

 

Cassandra, you are not exactly right with your facts, Hal is not the only cruise line that allows smoking on it veranda's.

Balconies are a designated area.

Hal is not responsible for your health, only your safety.

Cassandra, you are not exactly right with your facts, Hal is not the only cruise line that allows smoking on it veranda's.

Balconies are a designated area.

Hal is not responsible for your health, only your safety.

 

Given the great amount of attention that HAL and other lines pay to preventing outbreaks of norovirus onboard their ships, I'd say that HAL most certainly has assumed responsibility for passengers' health. I'm equally sure that there is legislation ensuring that cruise lines take responsibility for both health and safety issues.

Hopefully you will go on your cruise and it will turn out to be a none issue. The Last two cruises we were on we did not experience smoke on our balcony. We are booked on two more cruises one in sept. and one in May fingers crossed the luck continues ! :)

All other cruiselines have now prohibited smoking on balconies and the lone exception is HAL.

Having cruised on Oceania and Celebrity just recently we assumed that HAL had adopted a similar policy and we are disturbed to discover that smoking is still permitted. I really wish I had not booked our upcoming Med cruise with them. Had I known I would have opted for a different company.

We would urge all other non-smoking passengers to bring pressure to bear on HAL to have a no smoking policy which permits smoking only in designated areas. It works very well on all other major cruiselines and there is no reason for HAL to continue with a policy that causes serious inconvenience - and is a health risk - to non smoking passengers.

 

If smoking is so important to you that you would book based on smoking policies, why did you not do your research first?

Given the great amount of attention that HAL and other lines pay to preventing outbreaks of norovirus onboard their ships, I'd say that HAL most certainly has assumed responsibility for passengers' health. I'm equally sure that there is legislation ensuring that cruise lines take responsibility for both health and safety issues.

I'm sorry, I think you are comparing apples to oranges.

I'm sorry, I think you are comparing apples to oranges.

Are you suggesting that norovirus is a health issue but smoking isn't?

Perhaps - but it were me, I would wait a bit and see if future bookings are improving due to NCL and other lines now discontinuing smoking. If no significant change, likely they will move forward to no smoking.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see the CCL, NCL masses rushing to a cruise line like HAL, regardless of smoking policies. Maybe once, but not as a line of choice. They're just too different. My opinion....I don't think this is a subject in which HAL wants to be the lone standout.

All other cruiselines have now prohibited smoking on balconies and the lone exception is HAL.

Having cruised on Oceania and Celebrity just recently we assumed that HAL had adopted a similar policy and we are disturbed to discover that smoking is still permitted. I really wish I had not booked our upcoming Med cruise with them. Had I known I would have opted for a different company.

We would urge all other non-smoking passengers to bring pressure to bear on HAL to have a no smoking policy which permits smoking only in designated areas. It works very well on all other major cruiselines and there is no reason for HAL to continue with a policy that causes serious inconvenience - and is a health risk - to non smoking passengers.

 

Further down the track HAL will be sued by Casino Staff who suffer more than anyone with passive smoking. I am not against smokers but not anywhere inside ships, we had a Caribbean cruise ruined by a cigar smoker who flatly refused to stop. More worrying is I believe he was smoking in the cabin.

Further down the track HAL will be sued by Casino Staff who suffer more than anyone with passive smoking. I am not against smokers but not anywhere inside ships, we had a Caribbean cruise ruined by a cigar smoker who flatly refused to stop. More worrying is I believe he was smoking in the cabin.

Are you trying to switch the topic from the anti-social aspect of smoking to the anti-social aspect of our litigious society?

HAL allows smoking on balconies because it's a legal activity, and they have (so far) determined it is in their financial best interest to do so.

If and when the time comes that the decision is made that HAL can make more money by banning smoking on balconies than by allowing it, they will jump changing the policy.

Follow the money.

Every decision by a cruise line is about money. HAL must be making more money permitting smoking on verandahs than they figure they will make by banning it...... so far. It might be a game changer that Carnival and NCL both have now banned it.

Every decision by a cruise line is about money. HAL must be making more money permitting smoking on verandahs than they figure they will make by banning it...... so far. It might be a game changer that Carnival and NCL both have now banned it.

 

You are correct - my concern is that, as other lines ban, or seriously restrict, smoking, the truly committed smokers will concentrate on HAL - giving HAL a tempting lock on a still-significant market segment - meaning that as long as there remains a sizable smoking population - which other lines reject - HAL will be motivated to cater to that segment.

You are correct - my concern is that, as other lines ban, or seriously restrict, smoking, the truly committed smokers will concentrate on HAL - giving HAL a tempting lock on a still-significant market segment - meaning that as long as there remains a sizable smoking population - which other lines reject - HAL will be motivated to cater to that segment.

I have to agree with aquahound. While smokers may come for one cruise the product is totally different than ncl and carnival. I doubt they will stay. I wonder how many smokers they got from celebrity or princess when they banned smoking. I bet not many and those lines are similiar. People like to talk the talk but don't walk the walk. I think its always a good idea to not let your mouth write a cheque that your butt isn't going to cash.

I think its always a good idea to not let your mouth write a cheque that your butt isn't going to cash.

You mean like a spicy bean burrito? I'm confused by the metaphor. ;)

My husband is a smoker and whether HAL allows smoking on the balcony or not will not factor into our future cruise plans. As I have stated on other threads we had no idea that smoking was allowed on balconies when we booked our recent cruise so it didn't impact our decision at all. We may or may not cruise HAL again, it didn't feel like the perfect fit for us. Plus, frankly though smoking is allowed we spent so much time worrying about offending others on their balconies my husband spent more time smoking in the designated on deck areas than on our balcony.

Contrary to the portrayal of smokers by many posters on this subject, most are courteous people who are not interested in imposing on others. And as long as I am on my soapbox-to those who say to ban it all together-smokers aren't doing nothing illegal and their money spends just the same as anyone else. They have the right to live, cruise, experience just like the rest of the non-smoking population. If you are offended by or sensitive to smoke and have a balcony next to a smoker, why not try the novel idea of knocking on the stateroom door and having a non-confrontational conversation.

My husband doesn't want to smoke in the cabin, casino, restaurant or a bar. He would like a clean, protected and convenient place to smoke where those who are offended or sensitive can avoid the area. He uses the approved ashtrays and is as aware of the fire hazard as any non-smoker.

In the long run I believe HAL will bow to pressure and balcony smoking will be banned. I hope when that happens that all cruise lines will make some accommodation for smokers, but I fear there will always be those who will not be satisfied until those who smoke are banned from cruising.

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God bless HAL! {for now} I enjoy sitting on my balcony having a cocktail and a smoke. If and when HAL stops smoking on balconies, I go to land-based vacations.

I understand that Australia is ahead of North America in regards to regulating smoking. Carnival Australia had no smoking on balconies since it's inception.

 

Europe is catching up fast ... I think much of Asia isn't on the same page in regards to smoking. :)

Way ahead, cruise on P & O Australia for example and no smoking anywhere inside the ship, including the Casino. Only allowed in selected outside areas of the ship.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see the CCL, NCL masses rushing to a cruise line like HAL, regardless of smoking policies. Maybe once, but not as a line of choice. They're just too different. My opinion....I don't think this is a subject in which HAL wants to be the lone standout.

I enjoy cruising on both Norwegian and Holland America. Not just once, but over and over again.

You mean like a spicy bean burrito? I'm confused by the metaphor. ;)

Behave:D.

but seriously, I do need to agree with everybody else here. why do we need another smoking thread?

A good way to end them is not to post to them.

when you consider yourself disgusted/offended/endangered by the lawful behaviour of some of your fellow patrons at a commercial establishment you frequent, you have options:

a) get over it

b) take your business elsewhere

c) attempt to convince/threaten/cajole the business into believing your are a more important/profitable/nicer client than the one(s) that offend you.

d) start/contribute to another smoking thread on CC

You mean like a spicy bean burrito? I'm confused by the metaphor. ;)

LOL! Thanks for the laugh. :D

I enjoy cruising on both Norwegian and Holland America. Not just once, but over and over again.

I'm sure you do. I'm an equal opportunity cruiser as well. But you and I are different. We are not strictly loyal to one brand and are looking for another brand to be loyal. People who are loyal to lines like CCL and NCL, for the most part, aren't likely to change to such a radically different cruise line like HAL just because of a policy that restricts smoking on balconies. I could be wrong, but that just sounds bizzarre to me.

when you consider yourself disgusted/offended/endangered by the lawful behaviour of some of your fellow patrons at a commercial establishment you frequent, you have options:

 

a) get over it

b) take your business elsewhere

c) attempt to convince/threaten/cajole the business into believing your are a more important/profitable/nicer client than the one(s) that offend you.

d) start/contribute to another smoking thread on CC

You hit the nail on the head! Everyone has a choice. I think there are a lot of smokers on this board but are afraid to say much due to being flamed. I am a smoker. I did not book HAL so I could smoke. But it will be a nice privledge. If it bothers my neighbors, I will put it out.