midwest 852

If you use luggage direct they print your boarding pass for you.

HAL has many Loyal Guests that are still sailing with them and are non-smokers as I am but have no problem with their Smoking Rules.

 

When I see some say they will no longer cruise HAL because of the Balcony Smoking it appears that doesn't seem to be the real reason for their decision. Many who repeatedly post stating this on this thread are also posting how they are no longer happy about many things with HAL but yet put the balcony smoking as their main reason. Some have not sailed on HAL in years and have no clue how limited the smoking has become on HAL's Ships.

 

OP stated she saw smoking on NCL's Balconies even after the Ban. Cruz Chic has stated (as has others) she experienced balcony smoking on Princess. These people who are still smoking on Celebrity, Princess, NCL are those that are LOYAL to their lines and not jumping over to HAL.

 

 

Hope you have a wonderful Cruise!

 

 

 

No disrespect intended but I don't quite understand why you repeatedly post on a HAL thread when your Cruise History reads that you have only sailed HAL a few times and not for quite sometime! Except for the Balcony Smoking you have no first hand experience how restricted Smoking is on HAL Ships.

 

I see you are booked on Carnival Miracle. In case you're not aware the Miracle has a very liberal Smoking Policy (compared to HAL's) especially in the Casino that actually allows smoking at the Bar and tables in the bar area there and also on Lido Deck forward there is smoking. Disco also allows smoking. Also, lots of reported smoking on the balconies going on and that is by those who are doing it.

 

The Miracle is a wonderful Ship. Enjoy your Cruise!

mrdillion very well said agree completely

First time on HAL, do they hold the duty free liquor from their store until the last day or can you take the bottle back to your cabin?

They hold it

9-1-2014 Amsterdam they gave them to you at the time of purchase.

There is a separate thread dedicated to the subject of HAL's current smoking policy. It includes a lively discussion about the policy and about predictions of changes to that policy.

 

As I understand it, the only bases for the current policies by HAL and other cruise lines is a combination of health concerns for and by passengers and to address the negative reaction of passengers to the possible ingestion of tobacco smoke.

 

However the concern about carcinogens and negative customer reaction appears to stop at the balcony rail.

 

It has been conclusively proven that the exhaust from bunker C diesel contains far more carcinogenic material and yet there seems to be no significant expression of concern among cruise passengers, or, indeed, from any government or the United Nations.

 

In addition, consider the significant "carbon footprint" created by leisure travel starting with air transportation and added by the carbon output into the atmosphere of these huge ships.

 

I can only conclude that the absence of any concern about these malevolent characteristics is the result of the huge economic benefit to the shareholders of Carnival Cruise Corp. and the other cruise lines, plus the huge amount of tax and other revenues generated for the USA and all other countries.

 

When I sail on Rotterdam, or Maasdam, or Ryndam, etc. I am occasionally doused with exhaust fumes and particulate matter emanating from the stacks. Fortunately it happens only when the winds are blowing the wrong way and/or there's a temperature inversion, but when it happens, usually without warning, it's unavoidable except by ducking into a room that is protected by an air filtration system designed to clean the nastiness out of the air.

 

The good news, not heralded much by the press or, for that matter, by HAL, is the use by HAL (and presumably other cruise lines) of various forms of "arrestors" in its engines and stacks that reduce the amount of toxins spewing forth.

 

The bad news is that those who decry any form of tobacco use on board a HAL ship and who call for a total ban on any type of smoking seem to be totally silent with regard to the pernicious negative health effects, not to mention the basic unpleasantness of exposure to diesel exhaust fumes.

 

Isn't it time that the Surgeon General starts requiring that cruise lines warn cruise line customers and potential customers of the possible negative health impact of cruise travel?

 

We, in California, have Prop. 65 warnings posted virtually everywhere that possible carcinogens are present. In many cases product labels for products sold in California require similar warnings. Every gas station, drug store, grocery store, even fast food outlets now have the omnipresent Prop 65 warning posted on premises, usually at the front door.

 

This sign satisfies the requirements of Prop. 65 according to the Attorney General of the State of California. But, to my knowledge, such a warning is not posted on any HAL ship or in any of their advertising. (I can't say anything about other cruise lines because I am not familiar with any of them.)

 

 

Isn't a movement to address this serious issue long past due? If the clearly valid concerns about smoking are widespread, where's the outcry about other health (and environmental) concerns?

I agree

:D we love reading about your cruise's! :D

Not in a Neptune suite

if you look at the pics on halfacts.com - specifically 7045 http://halfacts.com/7045-zuiderdam/ while there is no pic of the window - if you look at the deck chairs that are the most forward ahead of the hot tub, they are outside of the bedroom. There is a door there in the bedroom to go out onto the deck so yes, you will see the ocean. the PS is very nice on the Vistas IMO and we really enjoyed it.

There is no door in the bedroom to go out onto deck. The door to the deck is from the dinning room. The bedroom has a large window.

There is on the Westerdam & Oosterdam

He hasn't had a trial or been convicted yet. ;)

Innocent until proven guilty.

 

He confessed of being guilty!

I don't understand why no one took a photo or video. if I was going to complain

I would want proof to back me up.

Any posters still on the cruise take a photo of the offense.

Ok so passengers have tried to speak with the owner & HAL officials.

Now start video taping the "lady" & dog! I would make sure she knew that I was taping her and the she could watch it on youtube. (as long as your in public areas on the ship there's nothing she can do about it)!

If it's truly a service dog no angency will place another animal with her.

A properly trained Service Dog would never eat in their owners lap. When taken to a dining venue, a proper service dog will sit quietly under the table. After reading all these posts it sounds very much like this particular "Service Dog" was a service dog only in the mind of its owner. Unfortunately, since cruise lines do very little to ascertain a dogs true status (the laws in the US make this a tough situation) there are a few folks who take advantage. We saw a similar situation on a RCI cruise, although that particular dog was well behaved (but not a real service dog). The owner's attitude was that she could stand to be away from her dog, so she took the dog everywhere and claimed it was for emotional support.

 

Hank

A lot of service dogs for people in wheelchairs are trained to set on the owners lap not under a table.

It's too easy to get a fake service dog certificate these days and according to ADA rules, no one is supposed to ask what your disability is if you say the dog is a service dog. (Not sure how that works on a ship before boarding.)

 

Unfortunately, this can not be a real service dog. They are trained not to bark, to be obedient and not to poop all over the ship. I hope HAL is paying attention. They are probably afraid to do anything because they're not sure if the ADA is really involved here in what seems to be a fake service dog with a certificate you can get off the net. I can not see how this can be a real service dog if they leave it on the ship while in port.

 

It sounds like an awful situation.

You are misinformed numerous alerts are barking alerts.

Please enlighten us, as wonder why you would call Elemis products crappy? Are you a professional in the skin care business & know of a harsh ingredient which is causing these allergies?

 

Elemis is the leading luxury skin care company in the British Isles & their products are quite expensive.. They are also sold on Amazon. & there are many who purchase these products & can use them safely..

 

IMO every skin product on the market have had people who are allergic to their products & just because some or you were allergic would you also call those products crappy?

 

We have Friends who are allergic to peanuts & DH is allergic to the skin of the Mango fruit, but I would not call peanuts & Mango's crappy.. I'm allergic to alcohol & even having one drink can give me a headache but we do serve alcohol to our guests & don't call it crappy.. Sometimes I even have a mudslide even though I know it will give me a headache..:)

 

BTW I do bring my own shampoo & a bar of Dove soap on cruises only because I like my own products, but have used the Elemis shower Gel without problems..

The ingredient is CAPB & in most all soaps. I would not call Elemis a crappy product but CAPB is cheap and that is why they use it. It is very toxic.

A cruise I was considering for mar 2015 went down about $700 today. Too little, too late. I've booked with princess. Now hal will be having a fire sale on that cruise come January.

You are so unhappy with HAL's smoking policy, and pricing why would you want to cruise on HAL?

I would think that Princess Cruise line is the right fit for you.

I've had the same experience with people wanting to see our suite and I have never hesitated to let them take a look. What's the harm? I probably would have liked to see one before we started booking suites. If they ask politely and seem like nice people, I think it's rude not to honor a request by a fellow passenger.

I agree. No one has ever knocked on my door & asked but when I open the door many times people will try to peek in. I always ask if they would like to come in and look around.

On my last cruise my son opened my door 2 ladies were standing there. He asked if they would like a tour? As they came in i called out "be careful the kitchen floor is wet"! They both laughed took a look around and on their way out I hear "O my they do have a kitchen".

If I traveled alone I wouldnt feel comfortable letting anyone in.

Since the gratuity is included with the Explore4 card, has anyone tipped a little cash 'extra' to a special bartender in a favorite bar?

When the bartender would see me walking towards the bar she would have my drinks ready when I got there. And yes I did tip her on the last day.

:eek:- I will usually say , loudly, "excuse me , people getting off here "

that will make them back off, and this coming from a very shy canadian girl,,:cool:

lol! But would'nt that be rude

We will be sailing on the Zuiderdam next July and have a question about the beverage package. I am assuming that even though it says "no sharing" DW and I would be able to use it to get sodas for our teen sons. Also, if all 4 of us sit down at a table and order something to drink, would we be violating the "one at a time" rule?

You can only get 2 drinks at a time (one on each card) then you have to wait 5 mins before you can scan that card again. As long as you get the soda you can give it to who ever you want. You cannot share your card.

All Coke products, nothing more than colas.

Vitamin Water is a Coke product & is available on the ship but not diet.

like button!

Because there are people who refuse to sanitize their hands and do not use proper etiquette for serving themselves buffet food ... I would vote for Code Orange every day. :eek:

 

That's just me.

I agree.

like button!

This gets my vote

Are any other diet soft drinks (gingerale, rootbeer, sprite, etc.) besides colas available on HAL ships?

Amsterdam had no diet gingerale.

I'm another one who never saw anyone mention having a Pinnacle dinner delivered to their cabin. Were you by any chance in the PH? Who did you see to make this happen?

Thanks. I'm guessing this is probably a PH perk.

You know that's what I thought also. But last year I said the service was different between the Neptune suites & the PH. And a lot of CC posters informed me that "the service is no different"! The only difference was the size of the room.