HAL just lost my business because of cigarette smoke

We were considering a relaxing 11-night cruise next month on the Koningsdam. However, after reading so many negative reviews (even one from a smoker) about smoking permitted in the casino and it wafting into the musical venues making for an unpleasant experience, HAL, we'll take our business elsewhere until you start to value clean air and your customers' wellbeing.

We were considering a relaxing 11-night cruise next month on the Koningsdam. However, after reading so many negative reviews (even one from a smoker) about smoking permitted in the casino and it wafting into the musical venues making for an unpleasant experience, HAL, we'll take our business elsewhere until you start to value clean air and your customers' wellbeing.

NO SMOKING!!!! In the casino or any other INDOOR space, to include cabins and verandahs!

Only 1 or 2 Outdoor smoking areas, Lido Aft "Sea View Bar" and most Observation Decks as far forward and highest deck (usually located OUTSIDE of the Crow's Nest.)

Please do NOT be put off on the OLD reviews of smoke bothering anyone. It just AIN'T true.

Believe me I KNOW!!!

Joanie

I have done two cruises on the Koningsdam, and the only place I remember smokers is outside on the aft pool deck, port side. It was never any issue for us, we just stayed on the other side. I honestly don't think I saw it anywhere else.

On the Rotterdam in January 2017 smoking wasn't a problem for the non-smokers. Smoking was limited in the casino to certain, well defined areas, and on at least half the nights smoking wasn't permitted anywhere in the casino. There was no smoking in cabins, and I think this was the first cruise I'd been on where smoking was also prohibited on the Verandahs.

Indeed, the smoking restrictions appeared to be problematic for smokers because there were many times when it was impossible for them to smoke at all (and for many hours at a time) due to the outside spaces, nominally set apart for them, being closed due to the ship bunkering or due to poor weather conditions and/or heavy seas. There really should be one enclosed and independently air conditioned lounge (i.e. a "smoking room") set aside for them and open all day ... but that's not going to happen. I recently told a friend who was thinking about cruising on HAL that they might be well-advised to give up smoking before taking their cruise, and that they should try and get past the bad part of the withdrawl before boarding the ship.

Bon Voyage! [emoji8]

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Nice to see you posting Pastor!

Check the date of those posts. I’d bet they were before this year. I know someone complained earlier this year of smokers while they were on their balcony but they should have reported it. It is not permitted.

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NO SMOKING!!!! In the casino or any other INDOOR space, to include cabins and verandahs!

Only 1 or 2 Outdoor smoking areas, Lido Aft "Sea View Bar" and most Observation Decks as far forward and highest deck (usually located OUTSIDE of the Crow's Nest.)

Please do NOT be put off on the OLD reviews of smoke bothering anyone. It just AIN'T true.

Believe me I KNOW!!!

Joanie

Thanks, Joanie, but how do you know this? I just went back to the Koningsdam reviews and this is an excerpt from a July, 2017 cruise:

Sail Date: July 2017

Destination: Baltic Sea

Embarkation: Amsterdam

Ship:

Lovely new ship, everything is lovely and new. Public areas are really nice. Shame the smoking is still allowed in the casino and its in a public area you have to walk through, it also spills onto the deck below.

...and this from a June, 2017 sailing (read last sentence in first paragraph):

Our stateroom was deck 4, starboard, forward. The constant clouds of cigarette smoke in the passageway was unbearable. I suffer from a congenital lung disorder and my wife suffers chronic bronchitis. We were looking forward to a cruise in the fresh air of Norway. That was totally ruined on board. We both wore masks in the passageway. We had to be very quick entering our stateroom so as to minimize the smoke that we dragged in. This was all because there is a crew smoking area at the end of our passageway at the front of the ship. All the smoke blows in through our passageway. There is a constant parade of crew marching down our passageway to smoke and whilst in port we could not sit on the balcony because of the cigarette smoke. At times the smoke in the hallway was so thick it even came under the door. It got so bad in our room at times that I demanded something be done about it and fans were put in the passageway. Sort of like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. Why on earth a smoking area is put in an area where the smoke can blow back through the ship is beyond me. Even the smoke from the casino wafts through the other areas of the ship and it's very difficult to find somewhere healthy to relax.

This was to be the cruise of a life time and coming from Australia, it cost us a lot of money only to have it ruined by the unhealthy habits of others, and poor planning by HAL.

NO SMOKING!!!! In the casino or any other INDOOR space, to include cabins and verandahs!

Only 1 or 2 Outdoor smoking areas, Lido Aft "Sea View Bar" and most Observation Decks as far forward and highest deck (usually located OUTSIDE of the Crow's Nest.)

Please do NOT be put off on the OLD reviews of smoke bothering anyone. It just AIN'T true.

Believe me I KNOW!!!

Joanie

According to this announcement on Cruise Critic of the change in HAL smoking policy, "Smoking-designated areas for active slot players will be located in all casinos except Oosterdam and Eurodam, which have entirely smoke-free casinos."

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7263

And a slightly modified version of the same is on the HAL website (modification being to state "Noordam Casino is completely non-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise."

https://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard%20Life&contentMenu=Onboard%20Policies&contentSubMenu=Is%20Smoking%20Allowed%20On%20Board%3F

Neither of these suggests that the Koningsdam casino is completely smoke-free. Has that changed?

Oh my! I nearly dropped HAL off my list based upon those old reviews (and even some recent reviews) regarding smoking. Thank you for the updated link to the new policies. Eurodam sounds nice :-)

I read the policy too. There would be a “designated area for active slot players “

On the K dam. There some outdoor areas. Anyone smelling smoke on their balcony should report it unless you are aft as it appears the aft pool location is a smoking area .

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But they still allow smoking in the casino. Will that be a bother to people like myself that are pretty allergic to cig smoke? I don't imagine that they have a separate ventilation system for the casino. The smoke has to go somewhere.

Thanks for the info, Cruisemom42.

As of last November on the koninsdam, smoking was allowed in the casino. It would be fine if u could just avoid the casino but with the layout of the koninsdam and obvious poorly designed ventilation, the smoke would consistently waft down the staircase and right into the piano bar area and Lincoln stage area. It was awful

As of last November on the koninsdam, smoking was allowed in the casino. It would be fine if u could just avoid the casino but with the layout of the koninsdam and obvious poorly designed ventilation, the smoke would consistently waft down the staircase and right into the piano bar area and Lincoln stage area. It was awful

That would surely ruin it for me. Does HAL have irrefutable statistics that smoking slots players stay longer and spend more?? Even if that's the case, get a conscience and offer your customers clean air! On my next cruise, I vow to go to the smoke-free casino and spend some dough as a "thank you" for the smoke-free atmosphere! :)

There are a lot of things I like about Celebrity and a smoke free casino is right up there. Try them instead

Thanks, Cruise Junky, ... just one of the many things I like about Celebrity.

Just off the K-dam three days ago, and there is, without a doubt, smoking in the casino. The casino STINKS of smoke, and I just can not believe that HAL allows these smokers to ruin their ships. There are one or two nights that they highlight as "smoke free nights" in the casino, but the air even then is not fresh-smelling. What a stupid decision for the company to allow smoking anywhere on a cruise ship in this day and age.

Thank you all for posting. We are scheduled on the Koningsdam in Dec. I am an oxygen user and am very sensitive to smoke. This is very disturbing. What is the matter with HAL don't they understand that smoking kills people..

DH and I did a 14 night Baltic cruise on Koningsdam in mid May of this year. Smoke was never a bother in the casino because there was rarely anyone in there. It was not a problem at all.

Just copied the following from the HAL website and takes effect fromJanuary 2017:

“For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins),showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroomverandah. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unlessotherwise noted:

Sea View (Retreat) Bar/Pool on starboard side only. On Prinsendam, Koningsdam,and Nieuw Statendam, smoking is allowed on the port side only

Sun Bar on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam

Sports Deck forward and aft of Crow’s Nest on starboard side on Maasdam, Veendam, Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam and Amsterdam

Oak Room on Noordam only, including cigar and pipesmoking

Designated areas for active slot players in Casinos*. Oosterdam and Eurodam casinosare completely non-smoking. Noordam Casino is completelynon-smoking, with the exception of two nights per cruise.

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it isonly permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in otherpublic areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation ofour policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and willrisk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify thesmoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

Just off the K-dam three days ago, and there is, without a doubt, smoking in the casino. The casino STINKS of smoke, and I just can not believe that HAL allows these smokers to ruin their ships. There are one or two nights that they highlight as "smoke free nights" in the casino, but the air even then is not fresh-smelling. What a stupid decision for the company to allow smoking anywhere on a cruise ship in this day and age.

Well said.

Thank you all for posting. We are scheduled on the Koningsdam in Dec. I am an oxygen user and am very sensitive to smoke. This is very disturbing. What is the matter with HAL don't they understand that smoking kills people..

Mrscopper, I'm sorry this has been upsetting for you, but I suppose it's good to know what you may be encountering. There are cruise lines that allow no smoking indoors such as Celebrity, Azamara, I think Oceania and I'm sure there are others. I would think HAL would let you cancel without penalties, especially with a note from your doctor.

I used to smoke so I get it, however, I try to stay away from smoke filled rooms as I can't stand the smell, it's disgusting. I am sailing on the Koningsdam in 2019, if HAL still allows smoking in the casino, my hope is they investigate the smoke eaters or filters some of the newer hotels in Vegas use as I walked thru some newer casinos and never knew I was in a smoking section til I saw people smoking.