A ? for HAL non-smokers

I know the smoking issue has been discussed on other threads, but I would like to ask the non smoking HAL fans if they feel the amount of smoking is to the point of being uncomfortable.

I booked the Nieuw Amsterdam for a late 2014 cruise. I would really like to experience this ship. I have read here that not only do they allow smoking on balconies but on one of the pool's deck and on the walk around promenade.

So, is it possible to avoid the smell of smoke and still enjoy the ship?

Please let me know what you think.

Also, are passengers in a Signature Suite allowed to use the Neptune Lounge.

Thanks, Mark

Was on the Noordam in JAn. HAd a sig suite. I knew smoking was allowed on the balconies but didnt think it was a big deall cuzz it's outside right? Well the guy next to me was apparently a heavy smoker and I swear the smoke just drifted across to my verandah and made sitting outside and enjoying my verandah nearly impossible.

Also, smoking is allowed on the back deck on one side of the back pool. Smoking is also allowed in the casino ( although some of the table games are smoke free).

Also those in the sig suites DO NOT have access to the Neptune Lounge, but from what I have seen it is no big deal to have access to the NEptune Lounge. I have spoken to passengers who have had access and they tell me it is over rated.

The only time I find the smoking annoying is when passing through the casino. Never have had an issue on a balcony or promenade deck.

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I generally avoid these threads with a passion, but I figured I might jump in here. Your second question first - No, the Neptune Lounge is only for passengers in the Neptune and Pinnacle suites.

As to smoking, it really depends on how averse you are to the smell of smoke. We are both non-smokers, but are not as rabid as a number of folks who usually post on these threads.

Yes, HAL allows smoking on balconies, in certain spots on the Promenade, in the Casino and in an area in the aft pool section. I can say that on our numerous HAL cruises we have not been bothered by the smell of smoke.

Still there are others who tell you that the "smoke" from electronic cigarettes (which is nothing but water vapor) bothers them, so again, it is a very personal thing.

We have not had an issue with smoke on the balcony of the Eurodam but we have been lucky in having non-smokers next to us. I think only once have we had a smoker next to us and it wasn't too bad. I guess it would depend on how much one actually uses their balcony and how port intensive the cruise is.

I have had issues in the casino and do try to avoid walking through it. However, sometimes, it really is the fastest route to go through it. I try to hold my breath!

If someone on a balcony near you smokes there, you'll know it if you're outside at the same time. This is, of course, most noticeable while in ports.

Other than that, we've never noticed smoke (but we don't visit the casino).

I'm a non-smoker who has absolutely no problem with smoke on HAL ships.

I do not book balconies, and don't gamble, so those smoking areas don't have an impact on me (I can pass by the Casino, or go around another way.)

The outdoor pool smoking area is a fairly small spot, which I can easily avoid by going to the other side. I do love to sit out on the promenade, and that is not a smoking area, as per the HAL smoking policy. The Observation Deck is, and I just stay away from it.

I believe that smokers have a right to smoke, and therefore a right to designated smoking areas. I have a right to know where those areas are, and a responsibility to stay away from them. Since balconies don't come into the picture for me, then I'm not bothered.

We don't always book balconies, but the times we have, we were lucky and had no problem with smokers near by. On the other hand, on one cruise we were with DS and DBIL and they had non-stop smokers next to them. They gave up on using their balcony. It was a shame, as it was their first HAL cruise.

We walk the deck every day and have never had any issues with smokers there (of course we're moving at a good clip) ;):D We don't use the casino, but passing through is smoky. I hold my breath and walk fast.

Of course you can enjoy the ship as a non-smoker. Just do what you most likely do already - avoid the areas where there are smokers.

If you find the mere smell of smoking offensive, you need to accept that a passenger next to you may be smoking on the balcony. On the plus side, a signature suite has a larger balcony so it won't be as noticeable. When we were on the Eurodam we were in a Neptune Suite and the couple next door smoked constantly. They spent most of their cruise lounging on their balcony in the nude, listening to music, ordering room service and smoking. I didn't let it bother us at all. Ya never know who will be cruising next to you, it's all part of the experience.

As for the Neptune Suite, no you will not have access to it, and as others have stated, it is far over rated. For us, it was the most un-enjoyable place on the ship.

The only time I find the smoking annoying is when passing through the casino. Never have had an issue on a balcony or promenade deck.

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This has also been our experience. We spend a lot of free time at the aft pool and the area reserved for smokers is not really a problem either.

We had no issues with smoking in 12 days on the N.A. Two ex-smokers and two never-smokers. Balcony cabins on different decks.

This is the original poster for this thread.

Thank you for your thoughts.

What a nice group of people the HAL Cruise Critic members are!

I have a tough decision to make as if I can smell smoke when we are on the balcony, it would pretty much make for an unenjoyable cruise. I booked one of the angled balcony rooms but with my luck I would have heavy smokers on each side of me. I know I could avoid the other areas, but the balcony issue is my concern. I was not aware of the smoking policy when I made the reservation

Will let you know what I decide on.

Mark

If smelling smoke on your balcony would make your cruise unenjoyable, I suggest that you not cruise on HAL. It really is just sheer luck as there could be smokers beside you or under you and it would be a shame for you to not have a good time. Also keep in mind that it is inevitable that HAL attracts smokers from other lines with more restrictive smoking policies.

This is the original poster for this thread.

Thank you for your thoughts.

What a nice group of people the HAL Cruise Critic members are!

 

I have a tough decision to make as if I can smell smoke when we are on the balcony, it would pretty much make for an unenjoyable cruise. I booked one of the angled balcony rooms but with my luck I would have heavy smokers on each side of me. I know I could avoid the other areas, but the balcony issue is my concern. I was not aware of the smoking policy when I made the reservation

 

Will let you know what I decide on.

Mark

I hope if you do cancel that you let HAL know why.

If smelling smoke on your balcony would make your cruise unenjoyable, I suggest that you not cruise on HAL. It really is just sheer luck as there could be smokers beside you or under you and it would be a shame for you to not have a good time. Also keep in mind that it is inevitable that HAL attracts smokers from other lines with more restrictive smoking policies.

I would suggest instead, that if smelling smoke on your balcony would make your cruise unenjoyable, you simply switch to an ocean view room. This is what we have decided to do, as we were unable to use our balcony on our last two cruises due to chain smokers on both sides of us. It is their right to smoke, and I will simply use the money I save for other things.

If you would be unhappy without a balcony, you may need to switch to another line for a time, and as Linda and Vern mentioned, let HAL know why.

I quit smoking 20 years ago, but for me smelling smoke is no big deal. I think people overreact. What about being in the city, with the gas and diesel exhaust. Smelling a little smoke while passing through a casino will not kill you. It may smell a bit nasty, but there are plenty of nasty smells in life. If you are allergic that is different, you should take a different cruise line in that case. My sister smoked and had the balcony room next to us. It never really bothered me. I wouldn't like to be next to a cigar smoker though. :eek:

HAL will probably allowing smoking or curtailing where you can. Right now they are getting all the smokers who can't take other cruise lines. We vote with our feet, and right now a lot of feet are still on HAL.

Of course you can enjoy the ship as a non-smoker. Just do what you most likely do already - avoid the areas where there are smokers.

 

If you find the mere smell of smoking offensive, you need to accept that a passenger next to you may be smoking on the balcony. On the plus side, a signature suite has a larger balcony so it won't be as noticeable. When we were on the Eurodam we were in a Neptune Suite and the couple next door smoked constantly. They spent most of their cruise lounging on their balcony in the nude, listening to music, ordering room service and smoking. I didn't let it bother us at all. Ya never know who will be cruising next to you, it's all part of the experience.

 

As for the Neptune Suite, no you will not have access to it, and as others have stated, it is far over rated. For us, it was the most un-enjoyable place on the ship.

I'm just curious---how did you know they were out there in the nude and ordering room service?

Diane

I'm just curious---how did you know they were out there in the nude and ordering room service?

 

Diane

The nude part is easy - you could see the reflection off the clear balcony panels. Room service was evident as they left their used trays out in the hallways for pick up.

HAL's smoking policy is similar to what the other's cruiselines used to be. Celebrity and Princess have very strict smoking rules.

Friends that smoke now only sail HAL due to its more liberal smoking policy.

We are sailing HAL in May, hope that we don't have a balcony smoking issue--but for a late May/early June Baltic cruise, I doubt if we will be spending hours out on the balcony unlike a Caribbean cruise.

The nude part is easy - you could see the reflection off the clear balcony panels. Room service was evident as they left their used trays out in the hallways for pick up.

This is something that should NOT be done, because it presents as a safety hazard in the hallways! :mad: The correct procedure is to call Room Service @ x92 & ask that someone come to pick up the trays! Or leave them in your room! ;)

This is something that should NOT be done, because it presents as a safety hazard in the hallways! :mad: The correct procedure is to call Room Service @ x92 & ask that someone come to pick up the trays! Or leave them in your room! ;)

Hopefully this works better with HAL than it did with Celebrity! We finally had to wait until we saw someone with a cart from room service and took our tray to them. Our cabin attendant, who was one of the worst we have ever had, said he would take care of it--ha, ha!

If the smell of smoke really bothers you then you have three options.....assuming that you will avoid the casino:

-book a verandah and take a chance that you will not have smokers nearby and be prepared not to use your verandah if you do and if the smell bothers you

-book an outside or an inside cabin

-select a cruise line that has a smoking policy that reflects your preferences.

Your choice. No one can really make the decision for you.

We personally don't have a problem with it as long as it's confined to an outside deck.

I have resisted replying as I don't treasure the snipers shooting me in the back BUT we recently returned from a partial transit on the Zuiderdam. We have rarely encountered smoking issues on many previous cruises however, this time it was different. We chartered the Pinnacle Suite and quickly found out that use of the balcony was not to be. The inhabitants on the aft cabin smoked cigars and cigarettes frequently to the point that we could smell their fumes in our cabin. I did not get a survey request from HAL but our family has decided that we will not seek our fourth star on Mariner's Program despite only needing 6 days since our trip was totally RUINED by these obnoxious neighbors. We could not use our balcony on most days except the days that they did tours. We are currently looking at Celebrity for our next cruise. Yes, sniper, you have the right to smoke on your balcony and I have the right to vote with my wallet...

We are 4 star mariners with close to 400 days on HAL. It was obvious to us on our last cruise in January that HAL is indeed becoming the preferred cruise line for smokers. We will not be booking another cruise on HAL unless they also prohibit smoking on balconies. Our next cruise is on Royal Caribbean and we are also looking at cruises on Celebrity and Oceanea. If the OP books a verandah cabin and has a problem with smoking neighbors, there is a possibility the OP will be paying for a verandah that can't be used. We are also talking with our feet and we've let HAL know that we won't be back unless they change their smoking policy for verandahs.

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